As we previously reported, Misha Collins was nominated for Cybersmiler of the Year in the 2020 CelebMix Awards. We are happy to report that Collins has now advanced to the second and final round of voting!
The Cybersmiler of the Year award is sponsored by The Cybersmile Foundation, an organization that works to “promote kindness, diversity, and inclusion by building a safer, more positive digital community.” The nominees for this award are celebrities that the organization believes have exemplified these qualities through their actions, “spreading kindness and awareness about various social issues.” In addition to Collins, the rest of the nominees who have advanced to the final voting round are Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, and Little Mix.
Once again, Misha Collins isn’t the only Supernatural nomination on the board. The SPN Family has also advanced to the second round of voting in the Best Fandom category! The SPN Family is up against the Mixers, Louies, and Little Monsters for the title of Best Fandom.
Warning: This review contains mild spoilers of both the miniseries and the novel!
James Marsden as Stu Redman in ‘The Stand.’ Courtesy of CBS All Access.
The Stand is an adaptation of Stephen King’s epic pandemic novel. A deadly, government made respiratory virus (sometimes referred to as the “superflu” and sometimes as “Captain Trips” – a reference to Jerry Garcia and LSD) is accidentally released, killing 90 percent of the human population (along with the majority of dogs, horses, and cows as well). The remaining humans are lured to two locations: those choosing the side of Good go to Boulder, Colorado to meet Mother Abigail (Whoopi Goldberg), and those choosing Evil go to Las Vegas (or “New Vegas”) under the thrall of the demonic Randall Flagg (Alexander Skarsgard).
If that sounds like it might be too close for comfort during our own actual pandemic – fear not! This show skips straight to the aftermath (and missing much of what makes King’s classic so compelling and timely in the first place, but I’ll get to that later!). The show follows the residents of “The Boulder Free Zone” as they try to rebuild the town and defend themselves from an imminent attack by Flagg and his peons in “New Vegas.”
I’ll be frank. The show is a major misfire on multiple levels. However, its one bright spot is the casting. James Marsden is Stu Redman, and while he’s not the blue collar everyman of the novel (at one point a doctor in a government bunker wonders why Stu is immune and looking at his enormous pecs and blue eyes it feels quite obvious that he is immune because he’s Superman!), he still oozes charm, warmth, and genial goodwill. Odessa Young is solid as the new-mom-to-be Frannie Goldsmith. Alexander Skarsgard is his sexy menacing self as “The Walking Dude” Randall Flagg. Whoopi Goldberg is, of course, perfect as the mysterious yet grounded Mother Abagail (even if the show is not actually sure what to do with her character). But the real stand-out star is Brad William Henke (of Orange is the New Black) as Tom Cullen. It’s a remarkable feat, considering how easy it is to go wrong or offensively cartoonish (see Ezra Miller’s performance as the Trashcan Man for example) when playing mentally disabled characters, but Henke keeps it simple. He focuses on Tom’s optimism, his good nature, and his love of helping others. His performance is the savior of the show. M-O-O-N and that spells Brad William Henke! Unfortunately, as mentioned above, Ezra Miller’s cartoonishly deranged Trashcan Man is outrageously offensive, and speaking of cartoonish, Owen Teague’s interpretation of ultimate incel Harold Lauder is mostly mugging – contorting his face and body in what feels like an imitation of Jim Carrey’s Ace Ventura.
However, the biggest problem with The Stand, the one that feeds and amplifies every other issue, is the narrative structure. By taking King’s sweeping epic about the slow collapse and eventual rebuilding of society and reducing it to a series of flashbacks (and flashbacks within flashbacks within flashbacks, literally there are multiple triple flashbacks) the story becomes a muddled and confusing highlights reel. The structure change is baffling considering this is a nine hour miniseries and not a two and a half hour movie. There is certainly time for the story to be told properly. But it isn’t, and so character motivations and arcs are shattered. Major secondary players in the novel, like Ray or Judge Harris, are reduced to empty pawns. They show up occasionally, and the other characters care about them, but you – the audience – are unclear why because the show spares no time for their stories. Which feels particularly egregious for Ray and Judge Harris because these characters have also been gender-swapped from male (in the novel) to female (Ray is played by Irene Bedard and Judge Harris by Gabrielle Rose). It’s a waste of story and of the talents of these two actresses, not to mention it’s an insulting tease at the possibilities of gender-swapped storytelling. It feels like a crass attempt at grabbing those highly sought after 2020 “woke points.” Like saying “Look! We cast two actresses over 50! And one of them is indigenous!” and then giving those actresses almost nothing to do. It’s a bait and switch, whether purposeful or not.
And they aren’t the only female characters to be underserved. The only female character given any space in the show is Frannie Goldsmith, the pregnant college student who becomes one of the leaders of the “Boulder Free Zone.” And again this goes back to the problems with the show’s structure. So much of what is compelling in King’s novel is watching these characters first in their everyday lives, then navigating the slow collapse of society and the loss of everyone they know, and finally seeing the choices they make when given the opportunity to rebuild the world. Will they try to create a truly free and equal utopia or will they choose the path of slavery and executions because it gets the lights on faster? Following their small threads as they weave into the larger pattern of the age old story of good versus evil. So much of what informs their choices at the end begins when they meet each other on the road to Boulder. When you take that away, it’s impossible for the audience to understand why characters make the choices they do unless they have also read the book. The biggest example of this disservice is one of the show’s antagonists Nadine Cross (Amber Heard). Without giving away too much of either the book or the show, Cross is… a double-crosser. But, unlike the book, you never see her doubts, her fears, her journey of increased isolation, her moments of possible salvation (i.e. finding Joe and becoming his surrogate mother); you only see her fully committed to Flagg’s dark purpose. And so when she does have a moment where she begs Larry to save her, it comes completely out of left field. It rings empty and false. You don’t understand why she would do this, and it feels like the show’s writers don’t either except that it happened in the book.
They don’t understand what to do with most of their characters. Mother Abagail is transformed from a badass old woman living off the grid in her own home to one who is passively waiting for Nick Andros to rescue her from her nursing home. Nick Andros (Henry Zaga), the deaf mute man who suffers unspeakable hardships but becomes one of the leaders of Boulder, becomes nothing more than the go-between for “Mother A” and the rest of the Boulder team. Larry Underwood (Jovan Adepo) is a narcissistic, drug addicted, rock star who struggles with putting others first but ultimately manages to become a better man is transformed into just a good dude who had a hit song one time. Even Harold Lauder, the one character the show is obsessed with dwelling on (the show opens from his point of view!) and giving moments of empathy and grace to, feels fundamentally misunderstood. The show feels both dependent on the audience already knowing the characters and being able to fill in the blanks themselves, while also missing the point of what makes them compelling characters completely.
And perhaps that is what it really boils down to. The show’s writers have a source material that they don’t understand. What makes the novel so compelling (despite its more dated and problematic elements) is that it’s not just a story about the final battle of “good versus evil” (In fact, the “battle” itself is quite brief!) but the journey of those final people and the choices they make along the way. Without the journey, there are no choices, and without those choices the characters have no sides to stand on.
What better way to marinate in your feelings over The Mandalorian season finale than with the second volume of the season 2 soundtrack?
When the Disney+ live-action Star Wars series The Mandalorian first premiered to audiences in 2019, fans were immediately taken by composer Ludwig Göransson’s soundtrack. Göransson, who has also worked on other titles such as Black Panther and Tenet, has continuously accentuated every single episode of The Mandalorian thus far with a catchy, beautiful, and downright epic soundtrack.
Instead of a separate release for each episode, which was done for the first season, the season 2 soundtrack was split into two separate volumes. The first, which was released back in November, contains songs from “Chapter 9” through “Chapter 12.”
Today, the season finale of The Mandalorian premiered, and with it came the second volume of the season 2 soundtrack for “Chapter 13” through “Chapter 16.”
The Mandalorian, set after the fall of the Empire, follows a lone bounty hunter named Din Djarin (portrayed by Pedro Pascal) as he traverses the outer reaches of the galaxy. Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming exclusively on Disney+.
Check out volume 2 of the season 2 soundtrack of The Mandalorian now on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you listen to music!
Ever wanted to get a behind-the-scenes look at voice acting? Now’s your chance.
MasterClass, the streaming platform best-known for offering anyone a chance to learn any subject from the best in the world, has announced its first-ever animated voice acting class.
The virtual learning experience will be hosted by Emmy award-winning actress Nancy Cartwright, the actress behind Bart Simpson, Chuckie from Rugrats, and Rufus from Kim Possible. The class is designed for beginners, intermediate voice actors, and those simply interested in learning more about voice acting. Cartwright’s class will be taught using both custom animation and live-action demonstrations of her own vocal techniques.
Cartwright’s MasterClass will give a step-by-step look at her creative process for recording animated characters, including voicing brand-new characters with original sketches showing her techniques. Cartwright will discuss performance tips and how to succeed in voice acting. She will also discuss the importance of having a mentor, and the differences between an agent and a manager, how to find representation, and handling auditions while using rejection to your benefit.
Cartwright’s class is now available exclusively on MasterClass. You can get a sneak peek by watching Cartwright’s official MasterClass trailer below.
At the beginning of this year, Locke & Key premiered its first magical season on Netflix and magical it was because it was soon after renewed for a second season! Now, ahead of the premiere of season 2, Netflix has announced a renewal for season 3! Netflix’s Locke & Key adaption is based on the IDW Comics graphic novels by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. After their father is murdered under mysterious circumstances, the three Locke siblings and their mother move into their ancestral home, Keyhouse, which leads to them discovering that the house is full of magical keys that could be connected to the events of their father’s untimely death. As the siblings use the keys to explore their unique powers, a demon awakes that is hellbent on stealing the keys from them.
In September, it was announced that Aaron Ashmore (Duncan Locke), Hallea Jones (Eden Hawkins), and season 2 newcomer Brendan Hines were cast as series regulars. The show also stars Darby Stanchfield (Nina Locke), Connor Jessup (Tyler Locke), Emilia Jones (Kinsey Locke), Jackson Robert Scott (Bode Locke), Bill Heck (Rendell Locke), Laysla De Oliveira (Dodge), Coby Bird (Rufus Whedon), and Griffin Gluck (Gabe).
Season 2 is set to premiere next year, but season 1 of Locke & Key is available to stream on Netflix now.
2020 has been an intense year, but according to FOX, January is going to be even more intense. In the newest preview for season 2 of 9-1-1: Lone Star, which premieres in just one month, the 126 crew seems to be battling a lot more than just fires.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” asks Captain Owen Strand as a tank makes its way through the streets of Austin. Grace gets a 911 call that a swimming pool is on fire, thanks to lava, and Owen mentions he doesn’t want any surprises. “Besides the active volcano?” The massive wildfire that will be the big plotline in the crossover with 9-1-1 is making an appearance yet again, as well as Gina Torres as Paramedic Captain Tommy Vega being welcomed by Owen. In the previous preview released by FOX earlier this week, the firehouse also seems to be dealing with a heartbreaking loss, making season 2 even bigger than season 1. You know what they say: Everything’s bigger in Texas.
Season 2 of 9-1-1: Lone Star premieres on Monday, January 18 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT following the season 4 premiere of 9-1-1 on FOX! Season 1 of Lone Star is streaming now on Hulu and the FOX NOW app.
With just one episode until we reach the finale, Prodigal Son packs a lot into one episode! “The Professionals” was significantly reworked as the COVID-19 pandemic began forcing filming shutdowns, and the way the writers and production team were able to wrap up the season in just two episodes is an incredible achievement. From big reveals about Eve and Nicholas Endicott to the out-of-nowhere twist at the end of the episode, there’s a lot to unpack in our rewatch.
Family Reunion
Image Courtesy FOX.
This is one of the few times we see all four Whitlys in the same room, and what a memorable experience it is. Endicott was already with Jessica when she received news about Eve, and while neither of them wants to see Martin, he is also the man who has information. First of all, you don’t bet against Jessica Whitly, and second, Martin is just a man. As Jessica notes, “grab him where it counts and he’ll squeal like a pig.” When Malcolm and Jessica arrive they find Ainsley already there visiting her father. We find out in one scene that Sophie worked for Endicott, Martin let her live, giving him the plea deal of the century for a serial killer, and that Eve was murdered. Martin begins to unravel, wanting to focus on family instead, but Jessica points out they are just a group of people tragically bound to him by blood. After Jessica demands the truth, or no more reunions with anyone, Martin tells them the story Sophie told him. Never tell Endicott no, and as Martin says, it takes a special kind of monster to turn someone else into one. As it settles in just what kind of monster Endicott is, Martin wants to change the subject and play the family game highlights/lowlights, except he picks up on the fact that Jessica slept with Nicholas. She turns from her ex in disgust as she and her kids leave him behind when he quips, “good thing you never say no.”
Gil Goes on a Coffee Date with a Retired Mob Hitman
Image Courtesy FOX.
In this episode, we learn a bit more about Gil. When he hears that Eve was likely killed by a professional assassin, his immediate response is to take Malcolm out for coffee with an old contact. A contact who just so happens to be a retired mob hitman, Ciro, who Gil apparently never was able to catch while he was active. Unfortunately, Ciro is not exactly inclined to answer Gil’s questions, particularly after he pegs Malcolm as a federal agent. Of course, Malcolm, being Malcolm, rolls with this assumption and plays up his assumed FBI position to get the information they need out of Ciro. If we were not already invested in Gil and his backstory before, we certainly are now! How exactly does Gil know Ciro and why couldn’t Gil catch him?
Our re-watch also brought about a new and interesting piece of information that makes this scene special: the espresso the actors were drinking in the scene was real! According to Lou Diamond Phillips (who plays Gil), there were multiple takes of the scene and he “loved that scene but was bouncing off the walls afterward.” It takes some special dedication to drink that much espresso for a single scene, but we do love the results.
Loved that scene but was bouncing off the walls afterward. The espresso was real and we did multiple takes! #ProdigalSonhttps://t.co/iubV0slt71
Can we just say FINALLY? The moment Prodigies have been waiting for arrived in episode 19 of Prodigal Son. It was a momentous occasion and it deserves its earned celebration. Fans may have noticed the not-so-subtle and intense moments that Jessica and Gil have shared throughout the season. Prodigies knew they had history: Gil was the arresting officer that brought Martin down, and Gil has looked out for Malcolm over the years as a father figure. After finding out Endicott is a terrible and slimy human being, Gil checks on Jessica and they talk as Jessica offers him a drink. Jessica feels that she attracts men who are monsters, but Gil reassures her that it’s not true. They talk about what could’ve been between them, but they went on separate paths. Right as Gil is leaving, Jessica confesses to Gil that the real reason she pushed him away was because she felt she wasn’t good enough for him. Gil, knowing just what to say, puts her mind at ease. Suddenly, they pull each other in close … and kiss! This was a long-awaited moment for Gil and Jessica, and we’re hoping to see much more in season 2!
Malcolm the Murderer?
Image Courtesy FOX.
It should be no surprise by now that the first season of Prodigal Son is full of twists and turns and the penultimate episode is no exception. Episode 19 ends with a major cliffhanger: As Malcolm is at home thinking about Eve and grieving, his door is broken down by JT, Dani and Gil follow close behind. Dani breaks the news that Eddie was killed at the hospital and Gil continues that Edrisa found DNA on the body. That DNA would be Malcolm’s. Malcolm tells them Eddie was alive when he went to question him, but Gil says it was not an accidental transfer. It was hair, skin cells under the fingernails. As Dani starts to handcuff him, Malcolm pleads with Gil, telling him he knows he didn’t do this. “Malcolm Bright, you’re under arrest for murder.” This plot twist is something many of us didn’t see coming but are now looking forward to seeing how it’s resolved, or continued, in season 2. Malcolm being framed for murder, especially with a serial killer father, is hard to ignore and it will be interesting to see what happens next!
Dani Kicks Ass
Image Courtesy FOX.
While it was already known that Dani was a badass, this episode really let the audience get a glimpse of how deep her skill set runs with an excellent hand to hand combat sequence. After Malcolm’s scene in the train station helps the team identify the assassin, Dani must give chase in order to stop her from getting away. Feeling cornered, the assassin tries to get the jump on Dani, resulting in a fantastically dynamic fighting sequence in which each woman tries to gain the upper hand. After a moderately quick (but action-packed) grapple, Dani manages to gain the upper hand by flipping the other woman over her shoulder, effectively pinning her in place and leading to her arrest. The assassin is so impressed by Dani’s fighting maneuvers that she mistakenly labels her as CIA, to which Dani replies, “No … NYPD”. That’s our girl! Hopefully we will get to see more of Dani’s skills crop up in season 2.
Edrisa: The Best Pathologist in NYC
Image Courtesy FOX.
Edrisa said it herself: any other pathologist would have done the usual examination of Eve’s body, seen no further reason for analysis, and ruled her death a suicide. But Edrisa isn’t “your average pathologist,” she’s the best dang pathologist in NYC because even with the commissioner breathing down her neck for an answer she takes the time to test the diatoms in Eve’s bone marrow. This, of course, reveals that the chlorophyll levels are different from the river where she was found and is the turning point for the investigation. It’s the confirmation the team and Malcolm need to prove that Eve was drowned elsewhere and then thrown from the bridge. Without this fact they wouldn’t have continued digging into the case and might never have uncovered what really happened to Eve, Endicott’s monstrous past, and Malcolm might never have found Sophie in the coming episode. We mean it wholeheartedly when we say Edrisa is an absolute rock star at her job in this episode, and we can’t wait to see more of her in season two.
Eve Is Dead
Image Courtesy FOX.
Probably one of the most heartbreaking and shocking moments in the entire season occurs in this episode as Malcolm finds out about the death of his love interest Eve. Eve’s death is a major motivation behind a lot of Malcolm’s actions in this episode, causing him to seek out her killer and ultimately leading him to Endicott. We also learn the plot twist that Eve’s killer was spying on her from the apartment above for months. We find out the killer is an assassin named Eddie hired by none other than Endicott! Which leads nicely into our next point …
Nicholas Endicott Is Proven To Be The Worst
Image Courtesy FOX.
This is a fact viewers have known since we first laid eyes on one Nicholas Endicott: he’s a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad person. From his romancing of Jessica (still bleaching our eyes from watching him discuss Jessica with Malcolm and Ainsley over breakfast) to his shady business practices, Endicott is the embodiment of privilege and corruption. This episode, we confirm that he is orchestrating the massive conspiracy to eliminate Eve as a threat (and later, Malcolm). We see his charming yet menacing behavior towards Ainsley as she investigates him, not to mention his insincerity as he comforts Jessica when she hears of Eve’s death. While actor Dermot Mulroney is excellent as Nicholas completes his heel turn, the character of Endicott is still, officially, the WORST.
Malcolm Danger Count: 2
Turns out, faking an assault in a crowd is the quickest way to find an assassin. Another life hack courtesy of Malcolm Bright.
We will return with the final #NerdsRewatchProdigal event on December 29 – with only a few short weeks left until the season 2 premiere! You can check out our full breakdown of the latest trailer here, and be sure to catch up on the first season on Hulu and Fox Now.
Let the games begin — TVLine has exclusively released the first look at the Legacies season 3 premiere! With Hope (Danielle Rose Russell) and Landon (Aria Shahghasemi) still stuck in sleep mode, the race is on in order to find a way to save them, but from what we know so far, it seems as though Alaric will have that covered. Hope is locked into sleep after traversing through Josie’s mind to get her out of her own sleep and Landon has been stabbed with the golden arrow. Meanwhile, MG (Quincy Fouse) is leading the Salvatore Stallions in their first field day (will they have more luck with this than their football games?)
Season 3 also sees the return of Kaylee Bryant (Josie Saltzman), Jenny Boyd (Lizzie Saltzman), Chris Lee (Kaleb Hawkins), Peyton Alex Smith (Rafael Waithe), as well as previously promoted series regulars Ben Levin (Jed) and Leo Howard (Ethan).
Check out the TVLine exclusive photos below!
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The first promo for season 3 was recently released. If you missed it, check it out below.
Legacies season 3 premieres January 21 at 9 p.m. EST on The CW.
Everyone’s favorite God of Thunder, Chris Hemsworth, is set to participate in an exclusive autograph signing for Star Wars Autograph Universe! Hemsworth will be signing memorabilia from all throughout his extensive career, including films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Trek, Men In Black, and most recently, Extraction on Netflix.
Pre-orders for the summer 2021 event will begin tomorrow. You can send in an item for Hemsworth to sign (props, photos, figures), but please look carefully over the SWAU’s official send-in guide before doing so. For this signing, a CGC service will also be available. If you are unfamiliar with CGC Signature Series, comic books, magazines, posters, and prints are signed in front of a representative to prove their authenticity. When items are deemed authentic, they are given a yellow label. Collectors for this signing have the opportunity to send in their comic books, and further details for this will be explained on the order page.
Otherwise, SWAU will have officially licensed merchandise available to purchase to be signed by Hemsworth. For this signing, limited personalization, character name, and quote options will be available. Each pre-ordered item will come with a new and exclusive tamper-proof SWAU hologram. Beckett Witness Authentication is available for an additional cost.
Just a few weeks ago, the second season of Netflix’s romantic drama Virgin River premiered. Now, while we’re all still recovering from that killer cliffhanger that ensued in the season finale, an exciting announcement has been made — Virgin River has been picked up for a third season!
Virgin River, which is based on the book series by author Robyn Carr, follows the story of a widowed big-city nurse (portrayed by Alexandra Breckenridge) who moves to a remote town in northern California. As Mel meets many new faces and learns the ins and outs of living in a small town, she must subsequently learn how to heal and open up her heart again. Virgin River also stars Martin Henderson, Colin Lawrence, Lauren Hammersley, Annette O’Toole, Tim Matheson, and more.
Breckenridge took to social media today to share the good news with fans.
Additionally, two new cast members have been revealed for season 3! First up is The Flash‘s Zibby Allen, who is taking on a series regular role as Jack’s lawyer sister Brie. Stacey Farber (Diggstown), meanwhile, will be portraying Lilly’s daughter Tara Anderson.
Season 2 of Virgin River left fans on the edge of their seats, as Preacher suddenly found himself responsible for Paige/Michelle’s son Christopher, Doc received ominous news from his doctor, and Mel found Jack — who was shot — bleeding out on the floor at the bar.
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