Netflix has announced that Hugh Laurie and Mark Ruffalo have joined their adaptation of All The Light We Cannot See! It was previously announced that newcomer Aria Mia Loberti would portray the leading character of Marie-Laure.
The highly anticipated miniseries will follow Marie-Laure, a blind teenager in 1940s France who finds herself caught in a world of intrigue as the French Resistance forms around her. Ruffalo will portray Daniel LeBlanc, Marie-Laure’s secretive father who hides a priceless gem from the Nazi regime. Laurie will take on the role of Etienne LeBlanc, her great uncle, a reclusive former soldier living with PTSD from World War I who starts an underground resistance radio broadcast.
All The Light We Cannot Seewon the Pulitzer Prize in 2015 after critical acclaim and massive international sales. This series comes from Shawn Levy (Stranger Things) and Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) and will have four episodes. There is no word yet on a release date for the series.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is currently playing exclusively in theaters. The blockbuster which stars all three actors who have played Spider-Man in recent years – Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire – has earned more than $1.5 billion at the global box office to become the eighth highest-grossing film of all time. If you’ve been waiting to watch No Way Home from the comfort of your couch, your wait is nearly over.
According to Fandango’s digital movie retailer Vudu, Spider-Man: No Way Home will be available to own on digital soon. Pre-orders are available now for SD (standard definition), HDX (high definition), and 4K UHD (ultra high definition) through the Vudu website here. Each definition option is available at $19.99 each, and pre-ordering will automatically add the movie to your digital library on February 28. In addition to Vudu, Spider-Man: No Way Home is also available for pre-order on Amazon both digitally and as a physical DVD, through Apple on the iTunes Store digitally, and through Google Play as well.
In addition to the digital release, Spidey fans can also web up two exclusive DVD covers from Best Buy and Target. Best Buy will be releasing a steelbook which will come with the movie in 4K UHD (ultra high definition), Blu-Ray, and digital. The steelbook will feature exclusive artwork on the cover, which can be seen below. Target will also release the DVD with exclusive art, also pictured below. The Best Buy exclusive is priced at $29.99 while the Target exclusive is priced at $27.99.
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Best Buy Steelbook
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Target Exclusive
There is currently no confirmation if and when Spider-Man: No Way Home will be available to stream on any platform with a subscription.
It’s not time to say Au revoir to Emily just yet. Netflix has officially renewed Emily in Paris for two more seasons!
The renewal comes just two weeks after the sophomore season’s premiere on the streaming service. Season 1 introduced Emily, a quirky American marketing executive who trades everything she knows t move to Paris to work for a parent company. Along the way, she harnesses the power to create her own brand by becoming a social media influencer. Of course, she finds love along the way because you can’t move to the city of love without romance, right?
Emily grapples with a lot more than just living in a new country. Now things are twisty between her, Gabriel, and Cami. But she also meets Alfie (her newest love interest). With season 2’s cliffhanger ending on whether she’s staying in Paris or returning home, there’s many possibilities to explore next.
Disney has certainly come into the world of streaming swinging.
Despite only debuting a little over two years ago, Disney+ has become a powerhouse in a world that’s moving away from traditional cable. Two of the biggest franchises of today, Star Wars and Marvel Studios, keep fans subscribed and tuning into the relatively new streamer, which premiered in late 2019. Star Wars began first, dropping the fan-favorite series The Mandalorian upon launch of the service, with season 2 coming in 2020, along with a few animated series including The Bad Batch, the anime anthology Star Wars: Visions, and season 7 of the ever-popular The Clone Wars through 2020 and 2021. Marvel also debuted the start of their series in 2021, dropping WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Loki, What If…?, and Hawkeye, with all garnering (mostly) positive reviews from viewers around the globe.
Within the next year, Disney+ isn’t slowing down, with multiple series between these two studios and beyond debuting throughout 2022, and other highly-anticipated properties dropping new content. Our co-directors, Kaity and Lindsey, along with one of our editors, Hannah, have picked a few of their most anticipated releases coming to the service.
The One You See Coming will soon be making his live-action debut on Disney+. Marc Spector is Moon Knight, a complex vigilante who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. His Marvel Comics appearances date back to 1975, at which time he was created by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin. In the comics, Marc was a mercenary left for dead in the desert and brought back to life by the Egyptian god of the moon, Khonshu, in exchange for his service as Moon Knight. Marc’s exact number of identities is unknown, but two of his other distinct alters are millionaire socialite Steven Grant and cabbie Jake Lockley.
Marking his third run-in with Marvel following his villainous role in Fox’s X-Men: Apocalypse and his post-credits introduction as Spider-Man 2099 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (to be revisited in Across the Spider-Verse!), Oscar Isaac is finally set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Moon Knight‘s title character. When the series was announced at D23 in August 2019, news remained mum on who would portray the show’s lead. Rumors, unofficial leaks, and paparazzi photos ran rampant with no real news from Marvel, but Isaac himself finally confirmed that he was indeed stepping into the shoes of Marc Spector last May.
Considering the nature of the source material and the first tease of the show that was revealed during Disney+ Day last year, Moon Knight is likely to be a dark, elaborate, and groundbreaking new journey for the MCU. Isaac’s extensive filmography has often challenged him with complicated, layered characters and intense performances, which can most recently be seen in his roles in HBO’s Scenes from a Marriageand Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter. Because of this, I feel extremely confident in the likelihood that Isaac’s acting prowess will result in an exceptional performance as Moon Knight. This is, without a doubt, my most anticipated release across both film and television for 2022.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Lucasfilm
It’s truly a great time to be a Star Wars fan, because Disney and Lucasfilm have an unbelievable amount of content in the works. In 2019, The Mandalorian debuted as the very first live-action Star Wars television series, going on to become a critically acclaimed hit. But the creative team at Star Wars isn’t just crafting stories about new characters like Din Djarin and Grogu, they’re also dusting off some old fan favorites as well, such as the franchise’s latest venture with the infamous bounty hunter in The Book of Boba Fett. Now, audiences have another thrilling return to look forward to with the limited series Obi-Wan Kenobi, which sees the return of Ewan McGregor as the beloved Jedi Master and Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader.
Obi-Wan dates back to the first Star Wars film in 1977, A New Hope, at which time Alec Guinness portrayed the character. In 1999, George Lucas’ prequel trilogy went backwards in time to examine how a young Anakin Skywalker would eventually go on to turn to the dark side, and with it came a younger version of Obi-Wan, portrayed by McGregor. As Anakin aged, he was then joined by Christensen in 2002 in Attack of the Clones. Not much information has been revealed about Obi-Wan Kenobi just yet, but we do know that the story will take place 10 years after the dramatic events of Revenge of the Sith, in which Obi-Wan faced the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice. In addition to a collection of new faces, other returning cast members include Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse as Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, respectively.
Personally, McGregor’s Obi-Wan has always been my favorite aspect of the prequels, and it almost seemed too good to be true when unofficial chatter about the series began. My excitement grew exponentially once Christensen was confirmed, because despite the fact that the fate of both characters is already canonically written in stone by way of the original trilogy, it will be an emotional experience to see both actors on screen together again.
Andor
Lucasfilm
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hit theaters in 2016, introducing an array of captivating characters who would go on to steal the plans to the Death Star, thus leading to the events of A New Hope. While the film was incredible, it was a bittersweet journey, because all of our beloved new heroes sacrificed their lives for the Rebel Alliance when they died in the Battle of Scarif. A light flickered at the end of the tunnel a couple of years later in 2018 when an exciting announcement dropped — Diego Luna would be reprising his role as the Alliance Intelligence officer Captain Cassian Andor in a television series, Andor.
Minimal information has been revealed about the spy thriller, but we do know that it takes place five years before Rogue One. Given the fact that Cassian didn’t meet Felicity Jones’ Jyn Erso until the events of Rogue One, at which time she became involved with the Rebel Alliance, this means that we sadly won’t be seeing this brilliant pair cross paths again. But regardless, I’m certain that Luna will shine in this role, because his initial portrayal of Cassian was such a compelling performance.
The Star Wars franchise skyrocketed to fame with epic tales of the battles between the Jedi and the Sith. But with more recent ventures such as Rogue One, Solo, The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett, we’re finally being given the chance to delve into what else goes on in a galaxy far, far away for those that don’t wield lightsabers for a living. Andor presents not only the opportunity to explore the backstory of an intriguing character, but also to uncover more untold stories of the Rebellion as well.
Hannah’s Picks
She-Hulk
Disney/Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios will once again seek to prove that heroes can make a difference both on the streets fighting crime and fighting crime in the courtroom. Not only will this series tackle the justice system side of the MCU which we haven’t had much of a chance to see, but the series is also expected to contain plenty of humor with head-writer Jessica Gao (Rick & Morty) and directors Kat Coiro (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Anu Valia (Never Have I Ever). I’m personally a huge fan of when Marvel takes on more comedic themes within their movies and series, so I cannot wait to see the humor brought to the screen with She-Hulk.
She-Hulk will star Orphan Black Emmy-winning star Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk. She-Hulk has been an A-list solo hero and an on-and-off member of the Avengers throughout 40-years of comic appearances, and she will finally be making her MCU debut. In addition to Jennifer’s introduction to the MCU, fans will also get to see Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner again. Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock is also rumored to make an appearance in the series following his brief but stellar introduction to the MCU in Spider-Man: No Way Home. As a long-time Murdock fan, I personally cannot wait to see how he is utilized in the MCU and hopefully in She-Hulk alongside fellow lawyer Walters.
Hocus Pocus 2
Disney
The dream of Hocus Pocus 2 will finally become a reality in 2022 after decades of waiting. Nearly 30 years after making their screen debuts, the Sanderson Sisters will return to be as sinister as ever in the sequel that is heading straight to Disney+. The three sisters will run amok, amok, amok in Salem once again after being unleashed by three young women. Like the original film, it is likely we will see the protagonists of the film hurry to stop the Sanderson Sisters from unleashing too much havoc on the quiet town of Salem … and draining the life-force out of children, of course.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are all set to reunite on-screen as the Sanderson Sisters. The only other confirmed returning cast member from the original thus far is Doug Jones, who will reprise his role as the undead Billy Butcherson. Hocus Pocus 2 will likely fly via broomstick onto Disney+ in October of 2022, just in time for Halloween.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Marvel/Disney
The Guardians of the Galaxy have had to wait quite a while for their own title following The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but thankfully the family of rugged misfits will be making their return in 2022. The team will first be seen in Thor: Love &Thunder before The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special makes its way to Disney+ in December 2022. Writer and director James Gunn brings inspiration from this project from the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special, which he unironically loved as a child. Gunn confirmed that The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will take place chronologically between Thor: Love & Thunder and The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Gunn has also revealed that filming for the holiday special will take place simultaneously as the filming for The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and use the same sets and (obviously) the same cast members. There will also be information in the holiday special that audiences will need to know going into The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, so definitely be sure to check it out when the special hits Disney+ in December if you don’t want to be confused when Vol. 3 hits theaters in 2023. The special is currently expected to be under 40-minutes in length, and my hope is that we get our introduction to Will Poulter as Adam Warlock during this special.
Kaity’s Picks
What If…? Season 2
Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios took its first venture into animation this year and while it was far from perfect, it was certainly entertaining. The freedom animation gave to explore these otherworldly possibilities with our favorite heroes was a welcome new medium to the franchise. While originally thought to feature stories that wouldn’t extend into the MCU live-action films, this was quickly debunked as Strange Supreme from season 1 episode 4 has been confirmed to be making an appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
I’m looking forward to more wild scenarios with heroes we know and love, along with little teases of what’s to potentially come in later live-action films. The writers have teased that this season will feature many fan-favorites from Phase 4, including Wanda Maximoff, Yelena Belova, and Shang-Chi! We’ll also get a formal introduction to the Gamora we met in the season 1 finale, along with a Sakaaran Iron Man. Unfortunately, it looks like Captain Carter will still play a heavy role heading into a new season, however. This has me wondering if the series isn’t as much of an anthology as it was advertised as, which would be a disappointment.
The Making of Lightyear Documentary
Disney/Pixar
Announced on Disney+ Day last year, a documentary focused on the making of the new Pixar film Lightyear will be speeding to the streaming service. I love a good behind-the-scenes look at the making of films and animation is always something that has intrigued me. The feature-length documentary will have all the backstage shenanigans with the stars, including the voice of Buzz Lightyear, Chris Evans, and possibly the legendary Taika Waititi in an unconfirmed role.
We’ll get to see just how this epic story came together and no doubt hear from the creators as they discuss their love and respect for one of the greatest film franchises of all time, Toy Story.
Secret Invasion
Marvel Studios
While it’s not a guarantee that this will be premiering in 2022, and with the pandemic still very much a factor it may ultimately get pushed, but I’ll remain hopeful. Filming supposedly began back in the fall of 2021, so they may still be on track for a late 2022 release.
After over a decade in the MCU, Nick Fury is finally getting the spotlight as he investigates a Skrull invasion of Earth. Like all Marvel projects, the details of this one are being kept under tight lock and key, but we know for certain that Samuel L. Jackson is back as Nick Fury, Ben Mendelsohn returns as the Skrull Talos, and Cobie Smulders will reprise her iconic role as Maria Hill. Other cast members not confirmed by Marvel but reported to have roles are Kingsley Ben-Adir, Olivia Colman, and Emilia Clarke.
Nick Fury has been off-world since he Blipped back after Avengers: Endgame, as learned in the post-credits scene of Spider-Man: Far From Home. Hopefully, this series answers the question as to why he was vacationing in space, and also that it follows a little of the comic storyline, with Skrulls impersonating some of Earth’s mightiest heroes.
This past weekend, the third and final season of the fantasy drama series A Discovery of Witches premiered in the United States. The show follows the story of a reluctant witch named Diana Bishop. The daughter of two powerful witches in their own right, the late Stephen Proctor and Rebecca Bishop, Diana chose early on to ignore her magic and decided to pursue a career as a historian of alchemy instead.
However, when Diana accidentally comes across a bewitched alchemical manuscript that sends the creature world into a frenzy, she can no longer keep the world of magic at bay. And to further complicate things, she finds herself entangled with Matthew Clairmont, a brilliant and handsome geneticist who just so happens to be a vampire.
If you’ve yet to get on board with this criminally underrated show, what are you waiting for? We’ve compiled the top five reasons to add A Discovery of Witches to your watch list.
5. It’s not your typical “supernatural” tale
There are plenty of stories about supernatural creatures currently milling about across film and television, especially vampires. While some passionately embrace the genre, others may feel a sense of oversaturation in tales about brooding, blood-drinking love interests. A Discovery of Witches is indeed a tale of forbidden, star-crossed lovers, but the object of our leading vampire’s affections isn’t a helpless human, she’s a witch. For all of the carefully composed danger that Matthew Clairmont exudes, the playing field is quite even between these two lovers, for Diana Bishop is a strong, independent, resilient woman with old, powerful magic flowing through her veins.
Beyond that, there are much “creature world politics” to be discovered in A Discovery of Witches, because vampires, witches, and the third species — daemons — are not meant to fraternize outside of their ancient governing body, the Congregation. The focus of the show lies not only on Matthew and Diana’s story but also the troubled, uncertain future of the creatures.
4. Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode
Simone Falso/SundanceNow/Shudder/Bad Wolf
At the heart of A Discovery of Witches is Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont, who are played by Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode, respectively. Separately, they each put on compelling performances, but together, their chemistry is astounding. Palmer’s calm and collected presentation of Diana perfectly rounds out Goode’s hypnotizing, sharp-edged portrayal of Matthew.
In order for a fictional romance story to kick off, one must be able to buy into the charged, captivating dynamic between its participants. Palmer and Goode pull this off flawlessly, quickly brokering dedicated audience investment in the relationship between their characters from the very first episode.
3. There are so many supporting characters to love along the way
Adrian Rogers/SundanceNow/Shudder/Bad Wolf
A Discovery of Witches not only has two fantastic leads, but the series also has an entire roster of incredible supporting characters to get invested in as well. There are amazing allies, wonderfully despicable villains, and riveting figures that toe the line between good and evil. In season 1 alone, viewers will meet characters like Diana’s aunt Sarah (Alex Kingston) and her partner Emily Mather (Valarie Pettiford), vampires Miriam Shepherd (Aiysha Hart) and Marcus Whitmore (Edward Bluemel), formidable members of the Congregation like Peter Knox (Owen Teale) and Gerbert D’Aurillac (Trevor Eve), and so many others. And as the show goes on, each subsequent season brings forth an array of more excellent characters to look forward to meeting as well.
2. The production quality
Robert Viglasky/SundanceNow/Shudder/Bad Wolf
Plain and simple, this show is just absolutely gorgeous to look at and a pleasure to experience as a viewer. A Discovery of Witches is a perfect storm, offering up a visual feast by way of cinematography, stunning sets, beautiful costumes that span across multiple time periods, lovely special effects, and a tight script that flows impressively well. The production quality alone makes it baffling how the series still remains so underrated in its third season, because this show truly provides audiences with such a rich viewing experience.
1. It’s based on a book series
Penguin Books
A Discovery of Witches is based on the All Souls series by Deborah Harkness, who serves as an executive producer on the show. Book readers will notice that some aspects of the book didn’t make the final cut in the show. This is a common occurrence in television and film adaptations, because not everything translates well on-screen, and there are limitations within the runtime of each episode. But regardless, the show has ultimately turned out to be a successful and worthy adaptation of the source material, finding ways to believably bring a rich and complicated supernatural story to life in a cohesive and coherent manner.
In addition to the three novels that each season of the show is based on, there is also a complete companion guide for them and a fourth novel that focuses on a secondary character’s story (Marcus). Harkness isn’t even finished with the All Souls series either, because she still has more books in the works! Whether you opt to read the books first or to dive into them after watching the show, there’s plenty of written material to quench your thirst and expand upon the All Souls universe.
How to watch
If we’ve successfully convinced you to check out A Discovery of Witches, you may be wondering how you can watch the show now. If you’re located in the US, the series is available to view on multiple streaming platforms, including AMC+, Sundance Now, and Shudder, all of which are currently offering free trials of their services.
Catch the next episode of the third and final season of A Discovery of Witches on Saturday, January 15. Follow along with all of our coverage on the series, including episodic recaps and more.
Agent Nelson Park, profiler extraordinaire. Since his arrival in Horseshoe Bay in season 3 of Nancy Drew, Nancy’s latest love interest has fans wondering if he is simply one side of a steamy love triangle … or a secret villain. Fans were divided about Park’s intentions from the start, and with the end of the season approaching, Park’s motivations have taken on a new importance. So we shall debate the question: is Park a friend or a foe? And what does that mean for our finale theories?
Evil or Good?
Shane Harvey/The CW
Jules’ Take:
The Nancy Drew writers are very intentional storytellers. They plant seeds early, and they almost always pay them off. There are a lot of signs pointing to Park not being who he says he is.
First, Park’s acceptance of the supernatural without question is a red flag, to say the least. There’s open-minded, and then there’s barely reacting when a light monster comes after you. Park doesn’t crack once in the face of major revelations, not even breaking a sweat before helping the Drew Crew.
The next clue is the way Park’s profile of the Copperhead is shot. After Ace is trapped outside the tunnels while Nancy and Park continue on, we immediately get a shot of Park as though Park somehow caused Ace to be shut out. They see an old Woman in White symbol etched into the stone, and Park pauses as though he recognizes it while Nancy notes it and moves on. The camera cuts to Park peacefully sitting in the Copperhead’s cell, face framed by the bars, as he asks Nancy if she’s ever been in love.
It’s odd, and Nancy’s reaction indicates she knows this, but Park smoothly explains it away as being a product of his profiler skills. But Park’s profile is far more emotional than a typical profile, and more importantly, it seems to serve the function of leading Nancy to a specific conclusion: that Beckett Dow is the Copperhead and that he was in love with Charity. That conclusion is borne out by Temperance’s visions, which we know were also manipulated by Temperance to get to Nancy. Coincidence?
It’s telling that Park only makes overt moves with Nancy when Ace is out of the picture. A moment that many fans caught in the last episode involves Ace attempting to communicate from the parallel dimension. Nancy hears the static from a police radio and seems intrigued, but Park turns it off quickly without a passing glance. If we read Park as evil, this is a deliberate attempt to keep Ace from escaping the parallel dimension.
We still know next to nothing about Park other than his traumatic stint in the ER. He appears to have arrived as Nancy’s perfect match, the kind of man that she should love. Nancy doesn’t want to risk blowing up her friendship with Ace for a “maybe,” and isn’t it convenient Park gives her an option allowing her to practice the tried-and-true Nancy move: avoidance.
There are other clues, like his strangely close relationship with Temperance and his arrival in Horseshoe Bay just as the Frozen Hearts Killer is most active. But overall, Park is just too good to be true — there’s a twist coming.
Colin Bentley/The CW
Brianna’s Take:
Where we find faults with Park we can also explain those suspicious actions. There is a strong argument for Park’s easy acceptance of the supernatural. While shocking, his encounter with the Burning Sorrows was highly stressful. Temperance was injured, Nancy and Bess were in danger, Park was in investigation mode, and all of his police training kicked in. First, remain calm under pressure and second, protect civilians. In this case, Park had to roll with the punches or risk injuring himself and three civilians. As Park himself stated, he trained at Quantico and can override immediate fear with professionalism. After his lifesaving table dive, Nancy points out Park was shaking. It’s not that he isn’t rattled, he just strives to maintain professionalism (especially with his growing affections for Nancy).
It’s true that Park’s biggest moments with Nancy are when they’re alone, but how often do couples make their first moves and grand gestures with an audience? While Nancy and Park become close, Park is still very much a stranger to the rest of the Drew Crew who are all involved in their own aspects of Horseshoe Bay. Nancy dives deeper into the crime solving world this season, which involves a relationship with law enforcement outside the Drew Crew. It’s natural that Park feels his most comfortable with Nancy when they are alone.
This same aspect reappears when Park and Nancy are trapped in the tunnels. Nancy spirals as they hit a wall, and Park calmly pulls her back from the edge by asking her to sit with him and accept the not knowing. His distraction (which works, by the way) is highlighting that Beckett put himself in his cage. The bolts prove it was finished from inside. Park discusses love and the lengths to which it drives a person. It’s this chat that gives Nancy her theory on Charity and Beckett’s lovers’ pact.
Park’s winning personality has also been a point of suspicion, but this may well serve an entirely different purpose to the Nancy Drew plot. Thus far Park has been kind, supportive, and wholly on board with Nancy’s help in solving various local crimes (including the frozen hearts murders). In short, he’s everything she’s never received from law enforcement. Where McGinnis and Tamura were combative, Park genuinely finds Nancy brilliant. Does that description sound familiar? It’s because Ace is all these things for Nancy, minus the fancy badge. Park serves his purpose as a plot device (as much as I love Park, “interim police figure” never sticks around on this show); he’s forcing Ace to realize his romantic feelings for Nancy. If Park does stay longer than the next three episodes, he may also help Nancy realize she can have a healthy romantic relationship with a supportive man without it going up in flames. However, if he doesn’t last long due to some nefarious plot twist, the opposite holds. Nancy may question herself and shut down the idea of a relationship with Ace for fear of irrevocably ruining their friendship.
Romantic relations aside, we can also explain other “coincidences.” Park arrives in Horseshoe Bay after the first body. With Tamura gone, it makes sense for the department to call in a specialist and one who is familiar with the string of other frozen heart murders across the country. Park is a lot like Nancy: passionate about catching the bad guy and really good at it. As for the argument of Park actually being the Copperhead, have Park and the Copperhead ever been in the same space together? No, but neither have Ace or Bess or George or Carson … the list goes on. Park’s expertise in psychology, his ease around officers and in a position of authority, and his obvious frustration every time a new body drops are all things a monster locked away in a cage for 150+ years simply wouldn’t be able to fake well enough to fool our Nancy Drew.
Temperance’s Evil Plan
With Temperance’s plan becoming clearer, we need to question everything we thought we knew about her endgame. It’s time to examine what these two opposing Park theoriesmean for the narrative.
Shane Harvey/The CW
Jules’ Theory:
When we first saw her visions of Charity, it seemed that all Temperance wanted was to reunite with her daughter. But what if the Copperhead is actually working with Temperance, not against her? And what if Park is the Copperhead?
When Temperance tells Nick her plan to use Charity to “fulfill her destiny” and open the veil, it’s in contrast to the way she talked about Charity earlier. Before, it seemed like Charity was a willing participant in her mother’s plans. But what if Charity knew her mother needed her whole soul to complete her ritual — and decided to split her soul to keep that from happening? It is still an assumption that Beckett Dow is the Copperhead, not something that was conclusively proven. If Beckett assisted Charity to stop her mother and didn’t become the Copperhead, then who is the monster?
Here is where some intentionally missing information may come in handy. We know almost nothing about Charity’s father. What if, instead of Cora Dow creating the Copperhead and using her son to do so, Temperance created the Copperhead to help her find Charity and used her lover, Charity’s father? This would explain the Copperhead’s fascination with Charity’s doll and his inability to harm a Hudson.
But here’s where Park being evil takes on new significance. I believe that Park is the Copperhead in another form, working with Temperance to find Charity’s soul. If Park is the Copperhead, all of his actions make sense. He is working to find the other missing pieces of Charity’s soul, and the killings are done in a way that mimics a real life serial killer. No one would question the FBI sending in an agent to investigate, and we know from Temperance’s ability to change forms that the Copperhead could use the face of Agent Park to get close to Nancy.
It would also explain Park’s strange coziness with Temperance. Park is Temperance’s alibi for Jake’s death since he claims they were out getting coffee at the exact time of Jake’s murder. Could this be a convenient excuse? After all, Jake owned a coffee shop, and his body was found outside. What if Park/Copperhead killed Jake with or without Temperance’s help that day?
This also makes Park zeroing in on Nancy romantically important. He makes his move when Ace is out of the way, keeping them apart despite their strong connection. We saw that Ace was able to directly communicate with Nancy through the parallel reality in a way that Hannah could not. If their connection could spell doom for Temperance’s plans, it makes sense that she would want to break it.
Park is Nancy’s perfect man to such a degree that it’s unrealistic. It’s almost like he was perfectly crafted to lure Nancy in. Could they use Nancy’s affection for Park in their plans, perhaps using him for bait only for it to be a trap? Only time will tell, but Park being the Copperhead or working with Temperance is certainly a theory worth exploring.
Robert Falconer/The CW
Brianna’s Theory
We know Temperance plays fast and loose with the information she gives the Drew Crew, so when Nancy posits an act of love rather than Temperance’s idea of hate, nearly everything makes sense. Rather than cursing themselves so they can remain together always, I’m offering the option that Charity asked for her soul to be split. Temperance is bent on bringing Charity back so they can finish her ritual and unleash the evil under the town. But given the feud between the Hudsons and Dows, it makes far more sense if Charity asked Beckett to split her soul before she dies. This way, Temperance could never (or at least not easily) bring her back and force her to complete the ritual.
Beckett makes the vow but on the condition he protects her always. Charity concocted the Copperhead curse, and he sealed himself inside his cell. There he waited until Temperance lowered the barrier, triggering his release so he could once again gather the bits of Charity’s soul to protect them from Temperance.
If this is the case, then Nancy is correct that this is a tragic story and also supports the theory that Park is an innocent bystander who falls for an intelligent and passionate woman. Nancy Drew is all about the parallels, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Park ends up as either collateral damage in the final fight against Temperance or willingly sacrifices himself for Nancy. We already know Nancy feels responsible for everyone around her, and Park’s death would set her back emotionally. Loss usually drives characters in one of two directions: away from those they love or right into their arms. Either way this could set up more slow burn or rapidly accelerate Nancy and Ace’s relationship.
What are your thoughts about Agent Park? Is he everything he appears to be? Let us know in the comments! Nancy Drew airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. You can find our other coverage of the series here.
Marvel Studios’ latest Disney+ television series Hawkeye may have focused on the story of Clint Barton and his new protégé, Kate Bishop, but it also introduced another key character to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Maya Lopez.
Portrayed by newcomer Alaqua Cox, Maya Lopez is a fierce, young, deaf Native American woman tasked with overseeing the heinous activities of the Tracksuit Mafia in the wake of her father’s death at the hands of Ronin. Maya’s arc in Hawkeye followed her quest for vengeance against Ronin after the masked crusader popped back up on the streets of New York City — although it wasn’t Clint but rather Kate wearing the outfit after she had pilfered it from a black market auction. However, Maya’s anger simmered into something else when Clint came clean about his identity and told her that Kingpin was really the one who wanted her father dead, which was a painfully shocking revelation for her.
In the finale, Maya was shown packing her bags, ready to put the Tracksuit Mafia behind her. She wanted Kazi to join her, but he was in too deep, and she was forced to stab him to get away. In her final scene, she found Kingpin after his battle with Kate and shot him.
Marvel Studios
If Maya’s story felt intriguingly unfinished, there was a reason for it, because Cox will be getting her own Disney+ series focused on her character, entitled Echo. While minimal information is known about it at this time, Hawkeye has allowed us to start working on some predictions for the series!
Hero arc
Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios
Maya was born and raised within Kingpin’s crime syndicate, and she took on a huge responsibility at a young age when she continued running the Tracksuit Mafia in her father’s stead. When she realized that a man that she had considered family for most of her life was the reason her father was dead, her deeply rooted trust for Kingpin was shattered. This newfound clarity allowed Maya to finally decide to strike out on her own path, which is why we saw her leaving in the Hawkeye finale.
In the comics, Maya becomes a hero, working with teams like the Avengers to fight for the greater good. Therefore, it’s very likely that Echo will end up being Maya’s hero origin story as she shifts her life down a different path, at which point we can assume that she will take on “Echo” as her superhero title.
The return of Kingpin
Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios
Marvel wouldn’t have brought Vincent D’Onofrio back just for a quick appearance in Hawkeye, only for him to die off-screen, right … ? The return of D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk was an exciting surprise after his run in Netflix’s Daredevil series, and it’s very unlikely that this is the last that we’ve seen of him. Considering his extensive past ties with Maya, his would be a dramatic adversary for her to face once again in Echo.
What occurred between Kingpin and Maya is similar to a storyline from the comics, in which she shoots him with the gun that was used to kill her dad after she finds out that he was the one that was responsible for his death. Kingpin doesn’t die, but he is rendered blind afterward.
Daredevil
Patrick Harbron/Netflix
Now where does Daredevil fit into all of this? Well, in the comics, Fisk sends Maya to throw Matt Murdock off of his scent when the attorney begins to dig into his illegal activities. The two end up falling in love. Fisk then convinces Maya that Daredevil was responsible for her father’s death. Unaware that Matt Murdock and Daredevil are one and the same, Maya goes after the vigilante. She eventually learns the truth though, which leads to the confrontation where Maya shoots Fisk and blinds him.
Despite the fact that this story already played out in Hawkeye sans Daredevil, it certainly doesn’t rule out an appearance from him in Echo. Charlie Cox — who portrayed Matt Murdock in Netflix’s Daredevil series — is now officially in the MCU. It’s unclear where we’ll see him next after his brief cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, be it his own film, a Disney+ Daredevil series reboot, or a role in one of the many upcoming Marvel series on Disney+. But if he’s going to show up in any series, Echo is one that feels very likely.
Kazi lives
Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios
While this last one seems the least likely, it’s still worth mentioning. In Hawkeye, Fra Fee’s Kazi Kazimierczak was depicted as Maya’s second-in-command, her sign language interpreter, and a childhood friend. When Maya made the decision to leave the Tracksuit Mafia, she sought out Kazi and asked him to come with her, but Kazi said that it was too late for him. Maya continued to encourage him, saying that if he’s brave enough, they could walk this new path together. Fisk wouldn’t let that happen, though. The two were forced to fight one another, and Maya ended up stabbing him.
Things could go either way for Fee’s character, because we don’t actually know if the stab wound was fatal. Given that Maya has seemingly lost everything now, the return of Kazi — either as a redeemed character or potentially a darker version that embraces his comic title, the Clown — presents an intriguing storytelling opportunity for Echo.
Stay tuned for more news on Echo and all of Disney+’s upcoming Marvel series!
At the Golden Globes this evening, Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose of West Side Story took home two coveted statues! Zegler won Best Actress — Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy while DeBose was honored in the Best Supporting Actress — Motion Picture category. It is the first Golden Globes nomination and first win for both. West Side Story was also awarded the coveted Best Picture — Musical or Comedy award.
Zegler and DeBose have been frontrunners throughout awards season for their portrayal of Maria and Anita, respectively, in West Side Story. Zegler previously took home the National Board of Review Award for Best Actress, while DeBose has won numerous Supporting Actress awards and is considered a lock for an Oscar nomination in the category.
West Side Story itself has been a heavy favorite at most awards shows this season, particularly for its performances and for Steven Spielberg’s direction. You can find our review and other coverage of the film here!
After a long wait, Euphoria‘s season 2 premiere finally aired tonight, kicking off with a bang. After that jam-packed first episode, a trailer has been released previewing what’s in store for the rest of the season. Check it out below.
Euphoria stars Emmy award-winning Zendaya Coleman, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, Sydney Sweeney, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Eric Dane, Algee Smith, Angus Cloud, Dominic Fike, and more.
Don’t forget to check out what’s coming for the rest of Euphoria season 2 in the trailer above. As always, stay tuned for more updates, and check out our other content on the show here.
The 79th annual Golden Globe Awards are here. In a private event, the Golden Globes celebrated some of the best the screen has to offer in television and film. Andrew Garfield brought home the award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his performance in Netflix’s tick, tick…BOOM!.
tick, tick…BOOM! marks the directorial debut for Grammy Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. Written for the stage by Jonathan Larson originally as a rock monologue and penned for the screen by Steven Levenson, tick, tick…BOOM! tells the story of Jon (Garfield), a young theater composer in New York City. Jon, much like many others in the big city, dreams of writing the next great American musical. Days before he’s due to showcase his work in a performance that could launch his career or destroy it, Jon is feeling the pressure from everywhere, especially those close to him. With the clock ticking, Jon is at a crossroads and must figure out what he, like all of us, must do with the time given to him.
Garfield has received increasing attention in the last couple of months since the movie’s premiere on Netflix on November 12, 2021 due to his performance as the late Larson. Audiences and critics alike seem to agree that Garfield not only delivered an impressive performance in his first musical, but that he was able to embody Larson in such a beautiful and impactful way. Garfield delivered an emotionally moving performance consistent with his history in the industry, and clearly awards season is off to a great start in proving that.
tick, tick…BOOM! is now streaming on Netflix, and you can check out which three songs moved us the most here.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
