11.22.63: "Other Voices, Other Rooms" Review

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Dallas welcomes Lee Harvey Oswald.

By Max Nicholson

Warning: Full spoilers for the episode follow.

Coming off a tense but ultimately fillery episode, this week's 11.22.63 got back to the meat of the story and introduced a host of new characters. While Bill made his first appearance last week, his status was bumped up to "sidekick" in "Other Voices, Other Rooms" as he joined Jake in his effort to stop JFK from being assassinated. On the one hand, it was nice having someone for Jake to bounce his thoughts off of and keep the viewer in the loop so that he didn't have to talk to himself or flashback to Al over and over. On the other hand, Bill himself was pretty frustrating as a character and didn't have much chemistry with Jake once they became allies.

Regardless, this episode moved at a good clip. The Jodie sequences, for example, were a welcome addition here, and those characters worked better than Bill. It made sense that Jake would eventually need to find employment in order to blend into 1960s society, and teaching at a high school seemed like the obvious choice given his modern-day occupation. I particularly enjoyed his interview with Deke Simmons (Nick Searcy) and his answer to the Catcher in the Rye question. ("Land of the free, home of the brave -- I think we can handle it.") Jake's handful of scenes with Ms. Mimi (Tonya Pinkins) were also sweet and, again, emphasized the American culture of the time.

I was also surprised to see this episode make a two-year time jump to 1962, as both Lee Harvey Oswald (Daniel Webber) and Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon) hit the scene. We met Sadie briefly in the premiere, but her role was much more prominent this time around. And unlike Jake's static relationship with Bill, Franco and Gadon's rapport felt very natural. (The dance scene was a fun break from the more serious moments in this episode.) Granted, it was a little weird that Jake wasn't more hesitant to date someone from the past, which was something Al clearly warned Jake against before he died. Undoubtedly, this will factor into future episodes. Regardless, their subplot this week was one of the better through lines of the episode and offered a nice emotional counterbalance to the more plot-driven Oswald storyline.

Speaking of which, "Other Voices, Other Rooms" also did a good job of pushing the espionage elements, and most of these sequences were suitably taut and well-executed. I got kind of a Coppola's Conversation vibe, particularly with the bug-planting scene. I also couldn't help but laugh when Jake and Bill finally got Oswald and George de Mohrenschildt's first meeting on tape only for them to realize the two men were speaking a different language. ("F***, I should have spent the last three years learning Russian!") That said, the fact that Jake and Bill's landlord Raphael stole all their tapes and ripped them to shreds seemed a little contrived, after all they'd done to get that far.

This episode also gave us our first taste of Oswald's home life and his family dynamic. Understandably, this seemed to give Jake a little pause in doing what needs to be done when the time comes. However, the final scene at the Walker rally offered a sobering reminder of what Oswald is really capable of and that he is more dangerous than he first appears.

The Verdict

While not as harrowing as "The Kill Floor," this week's 11.22.63 brought Jake and us back to the task at hand, as the rest of the series' main players were introduced. In addition to bringing in Lee Harvey Oswald, "Other Voices, Other Rooms" began a charming (though ill-advised) romantic subplot between Jake and Sadie, which was handily more engaging than Jake's continued "friendship" with Bill. This episode also jumped ahead two whole years, advancing the historical timeline considerably -- another advantage to this only being eight episodes long.

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Better Call Saul: "Amarillo" Review

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Who you gonna call?

By Terri Schwartz

Full spoilers for Better Call Saul continue below.

"You and I both know you can do this job. But please, you just have to do it right."

This is the key issue at the heart of "Amarillo," the third episode of Better Call Saul: Season 2 that sees Kim (Rhea Seehorn) not taking lightly to Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) bending the rules to get a win. Jimmy is a person who cuts corners for his own success; he's not afraid to think outside the box to get things done, and when challenged to find a way to make something happen, he usually can. It's just not always the right way.

We see that happen twice in this episode: first, when he solicits people at a senior home on their bus to get their business at Davis & Main, and again when he discards Cliff's (Ed Begley, Jr.) approved ad for a more salacious commercial that he directed. Both times Jimmy's decision gets better feedback and more people for their case, but both times it ultimately backfires.

It's inevitable that Jimmy's choice to not run the video by Cliff was going to get him in trouble -- the question was simply "when?" That blow up came at the end of the episode when he got a call from his boss with an ominous order to have a meeting the following morning. Would this backlash been as severe if Chuck (Michael McKean) hadn't called Jimmy out on his practices in the conference room meeting? Maybe, but if there's one person who's not going to let Jimmy cut corners, it's his older brother.

The other bomb that's ticking is how Kim will handle Jimmy's repeated lying to her. She laid out why his behavior is so important to her: she vouched for him, and if that was a mistake then it reflects poorly on her in a big way. She's taking his laissez-faire attitude with the law personally, and she should be. I know I feel a sense of dread every time they have an interaction when she calls him out on his bad behavior, because we as the viewer knows how this story ends, and it's not with Jimmy doing his best to be a stand up lawyer.

As much as making the TV commercial was a bad idea, it did show how savvy Jimmy is at what he does, which also underlines the continued draw toward the dark side we're seeing play out this season. That commercial also was a great excuse to get Mrs. Strauss (Carol Herman) back into the mix and prove that no character is throwaway on this show.

Speaking of which, Mike's (Jonathan Banks) storyline was pretty tangential this week as he dealt with some fears his daughter-in-law Stacey (Kerry Condon) was having. The big build up was for the reveal of Nacho (Michael Mando) coming to Mike for help at the end of the episode, which was a great hook for next week's episode.

The Verdict

Better Call Saul is right for leaning into the sense of dread its existence creates, and it does a great job of using that to its advantage in "Amarillo." Jimmy's bad behavior might be the right call for getting the job done, but it's hard not to wish for a day where he gets on the straight and narrow and has a happily ever after with Kim and Davis & Main -- something we know will never happen.

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Gotham: "Mr. Freeze" Review

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Strange days have found us...

By Matt Fowler

Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

Exit Theo, Jerome, and Barbara (for now) and enter Victor Fries and Hugo Strange. For the second half of Gotham's second season - titled "Wrath of the Villains."

Oh, sure Tabitha's still around. And Butch. And they've been paired up. He's now the de facto leader of the underworld, drillin' folks with his drill hand just for kicks. And she's looking to partner up again. Using the days she spent torturing him as her psychological foot in the door. Well, that and planting that kiss on him. By the way, Butch has been irreparably tortured and brainwashed twice now, right?

But that's not the headline here. Gotham's all about Mr. Freeze and Hugo Strange now. With my excitement leaning way more into B.D. Wong's Strange than in Nathan Darrow's Freeze. Mostly because Strange has never been portrayed in person before. He's been a big part of animated shows and video games, but Wong's the first actor to play him. And yes, it's odd (almost used "strange") to see Strange on a show like Gotham because of how much we associate him with a boner-fied Batman obsession. Because of his role in the Prey storyline from the comics. But here he is without Batman. As head of Arkham. Ready to coldly inflict his "cures" on the mentally ill. Which, for Penguin surely means a lot of drugs and abuse.

At least Strange still connects to the Waynes somehow. His Indian Hill projects are basically all the Wayne Industries experiments that were "shut down." Really, in truth, moved underground and overseen by Strange. And by the end of this one, Strange seemed to develop an instant interest in Freeze due to his own inability to crack certain cryogenics problems. So while Freeze was mostly played off like the "case of the week" - as in, he was the murderer being tracked by Gordon and Bullock - he might get drawn into some more seasonal arc stuff. Because Strange connects to the larger picture. The dark side of Bruce's family business that has been teased since the very start. Hell, we may learn it was Strange who had Thomas and Martha murdered.

So I really liked Strange here. And Wong's performance. Which I like to think is just an extension of his long-running SVU role. He's played many cool-voiced scientists and psychologists before so this feels like a natural, crazy extension of that.

The Freeze stuff (pronounced "frIes") was less effective. Though none of it was bad, per se. It just felt like a normal Gotham villain origin arc. Like we just went through with Firefly. Freeze will be stopped. And probably in such a way that seriously injures him and confines him to his own cryogenic suit. The end result is the same. We leave these characters right at a point where they could lay dormant for a decade and then pop up to menace a future Batman.

So Victor was busy icing people, trying to develop a possible cryo-state for his dying wife, Nora (believe me, his failed attempts to reanimate are quite - messy). No mention of McGregor's Syndrome here (*crosses fingers* please please please), but she's still in a bad place. And he's such a crazy person that he's just freezing random strangers in an attempt to get his formula right. And she's nuts too, I suppose. A little. Not only did she think he was freezing mice (and that that would somehow be good enough for her), but then she also didn't betray him when she got taken in by the cops.

Meanwhile, Penguin got caught (offscreen - WTF?) and magically sent to Arkham after saying he was crazy. Because you don't have to be declared mentally deficient on any legal level. You can just book a stay at Arkham like it was an Airbnb. For the first ten minutes (and after a long recap/catch-up of the events midseason finale), the suspense sort of hinged on "Would Penguin give up Gordon?" Which we knew he wouldn't. But the question was emphasized all the same. I guess, since we didn't see it happen, we're just to assume that Penguin gave himself up? Because he was so despondent? Either that or he knew Arkham's open door policy and thought he could easily run the joint from within.

As for Gordon's corrupt, vengeful side - they've sort of put a pin in it for now. Barnes is onto him, but powerless to do anything. So I'm not sure how much the show will continue down this road. There's no one Gordon wants to currently kill. Penguin's locked up so there's no cop-criminal partnership to exploit. The show might slap on a rest hold here and wait to lean into it at a later date.

The Verdict

"Mr. Freeze" gave us sort of a run-of-the-mill Victor Fries origin story. Basically, it was this week's cop case and will probably wind up being a two-parter. Like the fall's Firefly's arc. More interesting here was the first live-action appearance of Hugo Strange and his role as - possibly - the architect behind most everything sinister in Gotham dating back to the series premiere.

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Bravely Second: End Layer Review

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Nostalgia isn't enough to power Bravely Second to greatness.

By John Robertson

A doggedly traditional Japanese RPG in many respects, Bravely Second: End Layer is almost exactly as they used to make them in the old days. If you're of the mind that publisher Square Enix hit its peak during the 90s with the likes of Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI, then this is very much aimed at you. However, Bravely Second’s charming sense of nostalgia can’t fully make up for its failings. Whilst its turn-based battles are still engaging, and its art just as visually arresting, it tells a ridiculous and often patronizing story with lifeless, even frequently irritating voice work. It’s a game that swings from providing great joy to deep disappointment without any warning and, as such, falls short of the bar set by Bravely Default.

The setup is predictably straightforward, and lacks any nuance whatsoever. Pose Agnes, one of the previous game's protagonists, is kidnapped by the villainous (and subtly named) Kaiser Oblivion. It's up to you, as idealistic young knight Yew Geneolgia, to assemble a team capable of rescuing Agnes and, in the process, realign the forces of good and evil. Given that it's based in the same world, with some of the same characters and even returning locations, it does pay to have played through Bravely Default before starting the journey here. Honestly, though, even with the foundation of the first game embedded in your memory, it's a terrible plot.

Opening Movie

02:04

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We've seen this all before and you've likely already got a pretty good idea in your mind about how, in general terms, it all plays out. Things are not helped by some questionable voice acting and a script that tries too hard to be funny, and fails in the process.

Combat to the Rescue

And yet, Bravely Second’s gameplay manages to pull it out of these holes to become a mostly rewarding JRPG.

The strategic and highly adaptable battle system from Bravely Default returns essentially in unaltered form, with the 'Brave' and 'Default' options setting it apart from other turn-based approaches. If you decide to Brave then you can spend multiple future turns in a single move, whilst the Default option sees you go defensive by opting to miss a turn in return for building up spare attacks to use in future.

Having your healer Default regularly during boss battles, for example, tends to be a smart option as it allows you to unleash four healing spells in a single turn. Many of Bravely Second's more difficult opponents possess a single devastating attack that is capable of crippling the health of your entire party, so keeping health regeneration spells fully loaded is a good habit to fall into as quickly as possible. This system heavily rewards long-term planning, and properly punishes tactical short-sightedness.

“

Only in a JRPG could feeding someone a poisoned treat in the heat of battle bring success.

Bravely Second’s contribution to the system comes from layering on further complexity with a huge number of Jobs (read: classes) to select from and use. These include classes typical of the Final Fantasy series - such as the Thief, Monk, Dark Knight, and Black and White Mages - and range to more exotic ones like the Performer and Patisserie. The former is dressed in Elvis-style threads and sings to bestow stat buffs to allies, whilst the latter can create desserts that deal negative status effects. Only in a JRPG can feeding someone a poisoned treat, in the heat of battle, bring success.

Theoretically, the volume of Job opportunities should provide a sense of exhaustive diversity and limitless potential, but in reality I only ever bothered with a small handful of them. While there is an obvious advantage to having a single character become proficient in multiple areas, leveling them up requires such a big time investment that fixing each party member with a single job for life is the only way to play without Bravely Second practically taking over your entire existence. Yes, this approach means you miss out on seeing everything it has to offer, but it’s easily preferable to grinding the same areas for hours to get your new Job level to a point where you can take on the next area's enemies.

Wonderful World

And I always wanted to get to the next area sooner rather than later, because one of Bravely Second's primary joys is found in entering a new location for the first time.  Despite the story woes, there’s some excellent world-building here, with environments that allude to an engrossing history, and a potential future.

The moments immediately following the game's opening narrative twist, for instance, are indicative of the developers’ ability to bake a sense of drama right into the environment. The towering, pastel-shaded spires of Yew's home city punch themselves into the sky in powerful defiance against nature, their presence standing as evidence of the civilisation's power - a power undermined by evidence of an enemy infiltration and the realization that Yew and his people have been defenceless all along. If the writing were as sophisticated as the visual storytelling, then there would be far less to complain about.

In 3D, these beautiful environments look even better, making this one of the few games for Nintendo's 3DS that is unquestionably improved by playing in 3D throughout. To say that the visual design is worth the price of admission alone would be a gross overstatement, but it goes a very long way towards overcoming the bland plot and characters.

The Verdict

A good combat system and gorgeous visuals are significantly let down by an underwhelming and perfunctory narrative that can make progression a real chore. Whilst there are elements that work in isolation, Bravely Second doesn't manage to tie them together in a way that matches the quality of the original.

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Our Brains Are Made to Handle Star Trek-Style Teleportation

Beam me up.

By Cassidee Moser

Travel via teleportation is currently an impossibility seen only in popular science fiction. However, a recent study finds should it ever become a reality, our brains are naturally set up to handle it.

According to NPR and UC Davis post doctoral scholar Lindsay Vass, the brain produces a signal whenever we begin navigating around any given area. A slow electrical oscillation, the signal originates in the Hippocampus, takes place throughout any time a person is attempting to navigate, and ends when the person does.

The study's intended use was to discover whether or not the signal played an active role in navigation, or was simply a byproduct of the brain's functioning.

To conduct the study, Vass and a team of researchers evaluated three subjects. In order to give them a testing environment free from outside stimuli, the subjects played a video game in which they navigated around a virtual world. The world had several teleportation points allowing the player to jump from various locations on the map, including a number of different stores within a small city setting.

(Video credit: University of Californa - Davis)

To gauge the activity of this oscillation, players were told to find a specific location after being sent into another place randomly.

Throughout even the moments of darkness when teleportation took place, researchers discovered the oscillation remained, constantly helping the brain navigate through the use of memory and imagination. Once the player landed in a new location, the brain would continue its navigatory process, employing new forms of stimulation alongside memory and imagination. Additionally, the brain's oscillation would change depending on whether the player had been teleported long or short distances.

This process is known as "mental navigation," best described as the activity a brain engages in when orienting itself to its surroundings.

Evidence found by the survey reveals the brain would be able to orient itself and navigate just fine after being teleported, in the eventual day when teleporting becomes a reality.

"Our brain would be OK with that," senior study author Arne Ekstrom said.

Hopefully teleportation becomes a reality before NASA opens up its propsed space station hotels.

Cassidee is a freelance writer and the co-host of a freelancing podcast and a geek culture podcast. You can chat with her about comics, video games, and Corgis on Twitter. 

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The Walking Dead: "Knots Untie" Review

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"Confrontation's never been something we've had trouble with."

By Matt Fowler

Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

Thanks to a time jump, last week's Walking Dead opened up the show to new adventures, a brand new kung fu vagrant, and a new romance. This week's installment - "Knots Untie" - pushed the show into even newer territory, refusing to rest on its laurels. And I'm liking the quickened pace of this season's back half.

Rick, and most of the series regulars, left Alexandria to head over to Jesus' compound - a walled, wooded refuge called Hilltop. A place, we'd discover, is the main food provider for a network of communities that have entered into a trading pact. A place that's a little more Colonial Williamsburg than Rick's suburban slice of tract housing.

Where's Carol in all this? Not sure. We haven't caught up with her or Morgan yet. It's odd to not have her be a part of the away team here, but we briefly heard that she wasn't in town. So, presumedly, out on a run? The core RV team was pretty strong though. Rick, Daryl, Michonne, Abraham, and the parents-to-be. As mentioned, this episode could have taken its sweet time. In fact, the little pit stop everyone took, to rescue Jesus' comrades, felt like inserted danger. You know what I mean. Walker confrontations just sort of thrown into episodes that wouldn't have had any action otherwise.

That was not the case however as things got notably, and almost comically (darkly so), bloody in Hilltop very quickly. And one of my favorite parts of this episode was how much it really leaned into Rick's (and everyone's) ultimate worth. He's a killer. I know the Alexandria arc was all about him being a capable alpha saddled with a bunch of coddled, sheltered homeowners, but by the end of this episode - Rick took a kill mission. Hell, Daryl was even the one to broker this deal. Maggie solidified it, but Daryl spoke up about actually going out there and rescuing the missing dude and killing off Negan's men.

So what does Rick and company have to offer? In the end? After Rick's previous attempts to be a farmer? A cop? A father who wants to show his son a new world of prosperity? Well, they're thugs. Heavily armed, tactical thugs. A tight knit unit. Hardened after years of trauma and torment. They've seen SOME S***. And the show's always nicely played with the blurry lines between our heroes and the actual villains out there, prowling the landscape. So now, thanks to Maggie, Rick's crew are the new gang taking HALF of Hilltop's stash. I mean, they'll be nicer about it overall - they won't kill the town's citizens (well, not any more) - but it's still a shakedown. "Protection money."

Enter Xander Berkeley as Hilltop's leader-slash-douchebag. So far, the zompocalypse world has either turned people into psychos or cowardly mushes. Oh, the luxury involved in being able to remain a dick. Gregory was, basically, a jerk in a way you wouldn't assume the wasteland would tolerate for more than a minute. He was callous, rude, and fake-oblivious. And he ALMOST bit the dust here after Negan sent one of Gregory's own men back to kill him. A move that made Gregory not even want to rescue the guy's brother out of pure spite. And all the while, Jesus was trying to play intermediary. Like, "I know he's an asshat but hear us out."

I mentioned the comedy behind things getting so violent in Hilltop, but - of course - I don't mean "ha ha" funny. Just perversely so. Like, of course Rick's face is covered in blood soon after arriving at a new community. Only Rick and his crew can attract this type of trouble. And no, it's not their fault. That's the show. But this episode did bring Negan into the mix in a big way, even though he's still unseen. We now know how and why he and Rick will cross paths and what Negan's group is all about. Well, mostly.

I also enjoyed Abraham's scenes a lot this week too. Which was great because I haven't really been into any of his post-(fake)cure storyline at all. But right now he's in a bit of a pickle romantically. And torn about whether or not he himself would like to start a new family in the way that Glenn and Maggie are. The fact that Abraham's life has now slowed down, and calmed down, so much in Alexandria that he can even entertain the notion of leaving Rosita - and maybe trying something with Sasha - is both a blessing and a curse. The zompocalypse is suppose to have no room for these types of trials of the heart, so - again - I guess one could say Abraham's life is both in a good and bad place.

And let's hear it for Maggie this week too. Her mostly offscreen job as leader/planner/stay-behinder wound up paying off this week during her back-and-forths with Gregory. He batted her around like a ball of yarn for most of the episode, but then she came back strong after he realized just how powerless he was against Negan's ever-increasing greed. So good on her. And good on the show for giving her a powerful scene outside of worrying about Glenn.

The Verdict

"Knots Untie" kept the second half of Season 6 moving quickly. A new community, a new (dickish) leader to deal with, a bloody brawl, new intel on Negan, and a bit of heartache. Of course, I think we can all safely assume that Daryl's underestimating the Negan threat. He can say "they ain't s***" all he wants, but he'd probably be dead now if he didn't have that rocket launcher when he did.

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Vinyl: "Whispered Secrets" Review

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Go ask Alice.

By Matt Fowler

Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

Richie Finestra's manic coke-fueled hustle continued this week in "Whispered Secrets," as the floundering exec made cuts to his label's catalogue, fretted and sweated over his participation in the murder of Frank "Buck" Rogers (whose body was discovered by the end), and agued with Devon about his decision to reject the buyout offer.

The show has very clearly set up The Nasty Bits as the "fresh" act that Richie will think can save his company, so a lot of these first three episodes have been a bit of a waiting game. For Richie to finally hear them play their actual sound and realize that it could be a punk goldmine. Of course, also set up is the heroin addition of James Jagger's frontman Kip. So any success on this front will mostly likely be short-lived. It's all a time bomb, basically. And a loud, raucous attempt at plate-spinning. Which can be exhausting.

The best parts of this week's chapter involved Clark's attempt to sign Alice Cooper. We're already well-aware that this show will often portray real rock stars of the era and not perpetually keep them offscreen. We've met Robert Plant. We're going to meet Bowie. This isn't an alternate timeline take on rock music. But we did spend A LOT of time Dustin Ingram's Alice. And it was really cool. Ultimately, his interest in becoming a solo act was all a long elaborate prank - part of overdue payback against Richie for not attending a meeting that Alice and his band scraped and crawled to get to years earlier.

And even though Richie wasn't involved at all in this side story, the end of it revealed just the type of label owner he'd become. The type who was so aloof and discourteous that he actually missed out on a big, unique act. The sort of act that he's now desperately trying to discover and use as a life jacket.

Devon may have come off a bit unsympathetic last week, what with her almost abandoning her children at a restaurant because of her restlessness. But this week worked to illuminate her situation even more. Showing us how she was encouraged to seek out art projects and interests in Connecticut and is now finding those efforts dismissed in the wake of Richie's decision to back out of the deal that would have made them both rich. She's got her eyes on sponsoring a dance company. Building up her own scene in Greenwich. And now it's a struggle. One that's not being supported in the least by Richie.

And - man - her scene to with Andy Warhol, where she went back with the portrait he drew of her so that he could sign it and she could sell it, was very powerful. Even more so considering that she broke down while he was filming her. Olivia Wilde was great in that scene, as was John Cameron Mitchell' Warhol - who was unexpectedly moved by her plight. His aloofness cracking a bit.

Also interesting was Lester's story, and his moment of harsh-throated singing that transformed into the dream (complete with his old pristine voice) of the life the he never got to experience. He's both on the cusp of rediscovering his old recordings AND the possible discovery of early hip-hop "turntablism."

The Verdict

I don't know if I'm on board, or will ever get on board, with Richie's various issues and assorted (self-caused) problems. Bobby Cannavale is tremendous performer, but there's just so much bluster to Richie. And it works to distance me from him. Like last week though, the side stories all worked well. Especially Clark's long night of drinking with Alice Cooper.

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Black Sails: "XXIV" Review

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"Congratulations on all that."

By Matt Fowler

Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

As we officially enter the back half of Season 3, Black Sails gave us one hell of a sword fight - and one awesomely great curveball in the form of Jack refusing to give up the money in an attempt to sink Woodes' entire plan to comfortably conquer Nassau.

You know a show is good when a sweet dramatic twist like that - one that feels earned and grounded - can make your blood rise even more than a big action scene. Because this episode had both, but it was Jack's crowning moment, and his coded letter to Anne, that made me audibly "yip." I just loved that part so much. Last week, I rolled my eyes a bit at Jack's decision to return for his pardon. Knowing, as we all did, that he'd get nabbed almost immediately. But this made that "mistake" worth it. Jack is still very much after making a name for himself. But now it's as the man who sinks Woodes' entire plot and gives birth to the second pirate regime.

Making his decision even more satisfying was the fact that, of all the characters, Jack could easily be assumed as the one to follow logic. And perhaps take Woodes up on his offer. The two of them had a great scene together - with Jack meeting, face-to-face, the type of "civilized" noble he'd always pictured himself as. But he chose to go severely against the grain, and the reveal that his letter to Anne secretly told her to kill and run was amazing.

And so the hunt for Anne begins! Woodes is desperate to find her and those gems, but now also Flint and Vane. Representing the friendlier side of the search, I suppose. With Vane knowing about her cache from the remaining intel the Spanish ship he and Teach raided. It's all coming together wonderfully, with Spain still looming out there - with their fleet docked in Havana - as an endgame boogeyman.

Now, let's talk Flint vs. Blackbeard. One of those moments where I did wonder if they'd kill off Blackbeard. Of course, it's not how h died in real life, but that didn't stop the show from rejiggering Ned Low's fate. Plus, this week we learned that Blackbeard's living on limited time as a piece of shrapnel from an old wound is creeping closer to his heart. So there was an opportunity to take him out here during this duel. Betrayed, for the second time, by his surrogate son.

Anyhow, he lived. Perhaps to return later, at the eleventh hour, for a much-needed assist. I can see him still doing that, after his tempter cools off. He's thinking about his life and legacy so much at the moment, what with death camped nearby, that I can't imagine he'd slink off into the sunset.

The fight was incredible. As we all know, this show can pull off spectacular stunt. With perhaps even one-on-one fights being a strong suit. Pistols, then swords. On legendary Ocracoke Island. And Flint almost pulled it off (much to the constant wonder of Bones, who was almost in awe of Flint's ability to skirt retribution). Flint landed his shot, but just to Teach's temple. From there, Flint admirable battled Teach, but eventually fell to the brute's size and skill. Vane stepped in to save. Because Flint - as he's ALWAYS able to do - was able to talk Vane into it. His ability to mobilize is truly incredible.

Elsewhere, we watched Silver - who stayed behind on the slave colony island - bond with Madi, the Queen's daughter, over his leg troubles and perceived vulnerability. Plus, we got to see, in flashback, a character who could come to represent the singular human side of the Spanish arc. A one "Juan Antonio Grandal" (James Alexander). The man who threatened Mrs. Hudson's children in order to make her a spy for Spain.

The Verdict

Vane and Flint are back together, and of one mind. Jack's thrown a devious wrench into Woodes' entire operation. Anne is in hiding, protecting the gems. This episode was riveting from start to finish.

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The Expanse: Season 1 Review

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A deep narrative and interesting characters make this season a success.

By Chris Carabott

Warning: Full spoilers for The Expanse: Season 1 follow.

Ever since shows like Battlestar Galactica and Stargate: Universe left the airwaves there has been a void of quality space based science fiction entertainment. The Expanse, based on the series of book series from Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, is the science fiction space opera TV Series that we’ve been waiting for.

For most of the season The Expanse feels like two separate shows in one. There is the hard boiled detective story featuring Thomas Jane as Josephus Miller, a street smart agent of Star Helix Security on Ceres station, who is definitely a little rough around the edges but his heart is in the right place. Then we have the story of Jim Holden and the surviving crew of the Canterbury, who find themselves the unwitting pawns in an interplanetary conspiracy. Both narratives are linked from the start and part of the fun is watching both Miller and Holden work both sides of a shared mystery from two completely different angles.

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There is a third point-of-view as well. It’s not focused upon in the same way that Miller and Holden’s stories are but Chrisjen Avasarala’s (Shoreh Aghdashloo) narrative provides a much needed viewpoint of events taking place on Earth that are the backbone of the conspiracy. While she may not always share the same amount of screentime, Chrisjen’s powerful presence in the UN Earth government is entertaining to watch as she manipulates and fights to get a better understanding of what exactly is happening. None of what she does is with any malice though as she simply fights to reveal a dangerous truth, a truth that she is willing to risk everything to reveal.

The disappearance of Julie Mao, the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the solar system, is the basis for Miller’s journey. A simple missing person’s investigation quickly evolves into a system wide conspiracy that tests Miller’s seemingly unwavering resolve to find Julie and crack a case that no one wants solved. Jane feels perfectly fitted for the role of Miller and exceptionally conveys the character’s complex mix of self doubt, loneliness and determination. He feels like a present-day throwback in a future that is threatening to swallow him up whole, yet he endures.

Jim Holden and the remaining survivors of the Canterbury are in a continuous struggle to control their own destiny. Following the destruction of their ship, Holden and crew are bounced around between Martian warships and space stations as they try to find a safe haven and an understanding of the situation they are in. Holden is a street forward hero archetype. He’s always trying to do the right thing and save everyone despite the complex circumstances of his situation. The problem for Holden is that the world around him doesn’t necessarily play by the rules he expects so doing the right thing isn’t always necessarily the right thing to do. That’s a realization Holden has to come to terms with over the course of the season without losing what makes him stand apart from those around him.

The rest of the surviving Canterbury crew is incredibly realized as well. Naomi Nagata, a strong-willed engineer, acts as the mediator of the group and on multiple instances has acted as leader. Her experience arguably makes her more suited to make decisions than Holden but it’s a role that she never seems to want to embrace. Alex Kamal, the pilot, can be described as the heart of group. He generally keeps things light with well-timed one liners. Then there is Amos who is, well, he’s complicated. Out of all the characters, Amos is the one who took the longest to grow on me. He’s hard to place and relies heavily on Naomi for guidance and as a moral compass. When he finally clicks however, I would say he can easily be one of the fan favorites out of the cast. Amos is dangerous and loyal.

While the narrative is captivating enough to keep audiences coming back, the cast makes The Expanse what it is. This diverse group of characters has some phenomenal chemistry that feels genuine; and something that is a treat to come back to every week. There isn’t a boring or expendable one in the bunch.

As for the narrative and the world building, those who are looking for a rich science fiction universe with plenty of small little details and information that most audiences will just gloss over will find themselves at home here. Naturally, a show based on a series of novels, is going to have a lot of detail, but credit is still deserved for the crew who put effort into making the world of The Expanse visually stunning with plenty of information in every scene. The small things, like how gravity reacts in the asteroid belt, or how those born and raised in space may react to gravity on Earth are the types of details that a lot of shows will miss, but standout here. It’s this attention to detail that first got me excited about The Expanse and it never let up throughout the series.

The only real downside to The Expanse is also the fact that it’s based on a series of books. There is always a great deal of difficulty in making that transition to the small screen and sometimes complex relationships between nations or characters are not clearly laid out. It took me a while to really grasp the relationship between groups like the OPA and the Belters who both are pivotal to the series’ narrative. A quick Google search can straighten things out but then you run the risk of reading a spoiler. The show itself eventually sorts out all these complications, so if you’re lost early on just stick with it and you’ll be fine.

The Expanse is the science fiction space adventure we’ve been waiting for. It’s deep narrative, diverse and fascinating cast of characters, and it’s attention to detail are second to none in the current landscape of science fiction television. If The Expanse is Syfy’s attempt to create a series that reaches for the same standards as a show like Game of Thrones, I think they’re on the right path. That’s not to say this is ‘Game of Thrones’ in space however, it’s definitely its own thing. Actually there is nothing quite like The Expanse, that’s a good enough reason to give it a try.

The Verdict

A fun and rewarding ten episode season that's only temporarily hampered by a world that gets too complex at times. This is a great science fiction universe that shouldn't be skipped.

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Daredevil: Season 2 Premiere Review

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Nelson and Murdock look to save Hell's Kitchen from its new hero... The Punisher.

By Matt Fowler

This is an advance review of the first episode of Daredevil: Season 2, before Netflix debuts the entire season on March 18th. There will be some basic plot points discussed, but no major twists/spoilers revealed.

Sure, there's a somewhat wince-worthy moment in Daredevil's Season 2 premiere where a character says the egregiously trailer-ready line, "Hell's Kitchen's about to explode." But he's not wrong.

Things heat up very quickly in the show's highly-anticipated first episode back, as not only is there a heat wave sucking the figurative life out of New Yorkers, but there's a one-man army in town. Taking the very literal lives of criminals.

Yes, The Punisher's officially arrived and the premiere episode gets right into it. A very strong start to what looks to be an action-packed, drama-filled season of excitement. In the wake of Wilson Fisk's arrested, several gangs have tried to muscle in and fill the void. The Cartel. Bikers. The Irish mob. Nature abhors a vacuum. There's territory to claim. And that idea alone makes for a good starting point. The trouble is that Matt Murdock and friends aren't dealing with the new villains in town. They're dealing with the new "hero." A singularly-focused, shadowy mercenary who's bent on exterminating anyone trying to move in on Fisk's turf.

This is an advance review, naturally, as the new season doesn't land until March 18th, but I did want to mention that this character, The Punisher, is basically the kickoff story. I don't know what the full season will hold, but this is the gateway. I bring this up because of the sort of slow burn reveal that was involved with Fisk back in Season 1. Punisher does not get that treatment, though there are still some excellent elements here in the premiere that work to really, and quickly, portray him as a formidable boogeyman. There's sort of a mini-mystery element involved, in fact. Sparked by a low-level hood character named Grotto (from Daredevil's comic universe, here played by McCaleb Burnett).

I'm guessing a lot of Daredevil: Season 2 reviews will say it's "Punisher done right." Not that the movies weren't somehow able to capture the nature of a "distraught merc who wants to revenge-kill" (though they were not good movies), but TV allows the proper time to be taken for character building. It allows for one or more episodes to go by with someone like Frank Castle having little-to-no dialogue. It allows him to play in the shadows for longer. Bernthal's killer vigilante is great, and he's a huge part of the show right away, but the format still allows for things to be held back. Which is awesome.

Over on the Matt/Foggy/Karen front, the triple dynamic still really works well. Daredevil's first season seemed to get retroactively dismissed for a few months when Jessica Jones became all the rage last fall. Though as great as Jessica Jones was as a series, I consider Daredevil to be the stronger of the two. Not that it's a competition, but I'm invested in the world of Daredevil outside of Matt Murdock. In Foggy. In Karen. In Ben Urich, when he was around. And, particularly, in Fisk. Who was almost the show's second lead. I can't say the same about Jessica Jones, which felt lacking whenever we weren't watching Jessica Jones.

And so yes, it's still a joy to see the day-to-day legal life of Nelson and Murdock. We start off with Foggy worrying about Matt's violent, blood-drawing nighttime activities, but then settle into the struggling local law firm we've come to love. Now more recognized by citizens as "good guys who help little people." Usually, for no money. True altruists. To a financial fault. So are there seeds for a rift? Some in-fighting or drama? Sure, though the biggest moment regarding that happens right at the end of the episode, and I'm not giving it away. Though I will say, without revealing too much, that Karen now seems more drawn to Matt now. Which is either due to his usual "broken man" magnetism or a new added element to the situation...

The Verdict

An exciting, taut return for Daredevil, as the premiere episode fires on all cylinders. Matt's constant, violent neighborhood patrols (one of which opens the episode in glorious fashion) have now caused a bit of "escalation" on the vigilante front. And the Frank Castle/Punisher character feels like a wonderfully viable, logical, and dangerous addition to this world. And toward the end of this one, you begin to see why - despite some fans perhaps favoring Rated R-style heroes who murder - this solo sadist is a HUGE problem.

Daredevil: Season 2 debuts March 18th on Netflix. Look for our reviews of all 13 episodes to begin rolling out that day.

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Kanye West Names Next Album After a Game Console

Tommy Flanagan Joins Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

5 Cool Things in the New Pokemon Sun/Moon Teaser

New games, new locations, new Pokemon.

By Seth G. Macy

This morning's brief, Pokemon-themed Nintendo Direct gave us our first glimpse at Pokemon Sun and Moon versions. The games, due during the holiday season, are the first all-new Pokemon entries since 2013's X and Y.

Mostly, the video presentation was a celebration of 20 years of Pokemon. The original games launched in Japan February 27, 1996, and to celebrate "Pokemon20," Nintendo's video took us through the series chronologically. The video peaked with the official Sun and Moon reveal.

Even though the new games took up a small fraction of the overall video, there was a lot to see. From new designs, to a new Pokemon, to trucks and ambulances, we took a look at everything Nintendo packed into the announcement.

The games won't be coming out until "holidays 2016," which means there's plenty more to discuss and learn about the upcoming games. For all the Pokemon news, keep it here on IGN.

Seth Macy is IGN's weekend web producer and just wants to be your friend. Follow him on Twitter @sethmacy or check out Seth Macy's Youtube.

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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Gets a Prequel Comic

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Dragon Front Is Like Hearthstone Come to Life

Build your deck and see your characters come to life on the battlefield.

By Lewis Leong

I found myself wanting to play more of Dragon Front even after my 45 minute demo – despite the fact that I’m not a table-top or collectible card game player and the extent of my CCG experience is playing Pokemon in elementary school. I didn’t expect to get sucked into the Dragon Front, the world’s first VR collectible card game, but the immersion of the VR helmet proved too compelling.

Dragon Front transports players onto a 4 by 4 battlefield with beautiful environments and animated soldiers. Think of it as Yu-Gi-Oh come to life, but without the ridiculous hairdo. Your goal is to break through your enemy’s defenses and destroy their castle. The cards you play range from soldiers, spells, buffs, and even vehicles. For example, planes have the ability to shoot over enemies. Each person also gets a “hero” that requires a lot of mana to unlock before your can play him or her on the battlefield. It’s a turn based game, so there are some lulls in the action while you wait for your opponent. But there's also anticipation as you wait for your enemy to reveal what he or she has in store for you.

Dragon Front was developed first as a physical card game before the developers at High Voltage Software began turning it into a VR game. “It was a passion project for us,” said High Voltage Chief Creative Officer Eric Nofsinger. “We want [Dragon Front] to feel like you are playing with a friend at the same table, no matter where you are in the world.” Unfortunately, the physical version won’t be going on sale, though Nofsinger is kicking around the idea of selling limited runs of it in the future.

Although you can’t see your friend’s actual face, there are some human nuances recreated in Dragon Front. Both you and your opponent appear above a battlefield as floating masks. Your head movements are mirrored in VR, letting you see where your opponent is looking. It’s a small touch but it helps make Dragon Front feel more intimate. Strangely, there’s no voice communication to smack-talk your friends.

While Dragon Front is strictly 1v1 at the moment, High Voltage is looking to let other players spectate matches. I’d like to see Dragon Front offer different game modes that incorporate larger parties so groups of friends can play together.

There’s definitely a learning curve to Dragon Front, but it’s not nearly as complicated as other table-top card games as its visuals help to show what’s happening. Instead of having a friend who knows how to play the game explain its mechanics to you, Dragon Front makes it easy on new players with an informative 10-minute tutorial and easy to understand cards.

Given the choice, would I pick playing the VR version of Dragon Front over a physical version? Yes, though I will miss the physicality and collectability of physical cards. Dragon Front currently features two decks, 280 characters, 80 fortifications, and over 100 types of spells. There will, of course, be more cards and starter decks in the future, though High Voltage hasn’t decided how to price them. Dragon Front will be a paid game, which hopefully means it won’t be plagued with tons of paid DLC.

There’s no pricing or launch date for Dragon Front yet. High Voltage wants to release a beta of Dragon Front in Q2 of this year to help with balancing before the game’s official release. Dragon Front will be an Oculus Rift exclusive.

VR adds a layer of attachment to the in-game characters, and I felt guilty when my boneheaded moves resulted in a slain unit. It’s not the most immersive VR experience, but it got me, a person who has never been too interested in playing a collectible card game, excited about the genre.

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Fear the Walking Dead: Season 2 Teaser Trailer

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This Batman v Superman Toy Looks Incredible

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Weak 3DS Sales Mean Even Lower Nintendo Profit Projections

The Oscars: We Predict the Winners and Upsets

Plus, the latest on Deadpool 2, BvS, Civil War, PacRim 2, Angry Birds and more.

By Jim Vejvoda

Download Keepin' it Reel, Episode 317!

Welcome back to Keepin' It Reel, the IGN show where Jim Vejvoda and Terri Schwartz bring you the latest genre movie news.

With the 88th Academy Awards upon us, we wager which films and artists will win top honors and which might shock conventional Oscar wisdom.

We also chat up some new footage from The Angry Birds Movie we saw, as well as the latest on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, Deadpool 2, Captain America: Civil War, Pacific Rim 2, and more.

Finally, we curse the abysmal film that is Gods of Egypt, in theaters this weekend.

New to Keepin' it Reel? Catch up on the last five episodes:

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Please let us know what you think of the show in the comments or email us at the address below. Do you have a great idea or topic for a future episode of Keepin' it Reel? Email us: keepinitreel@ign.com.

Jim Vejvoda is IGN's Executive Editor of Movies. Follow him on Twitter.

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The Departed TV Series Adaptation Reportedly in the Works

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We're Ready for the VR Future

Plus, Superhot is genius but flawed.

By Mitch Dyer

Mitch Dyer, Alanah Pearce, Dan Stapleton, and Marty Sliva may not have the space or money for Vive or Oculus, but they sure are ready to embrace the most promising technology in gaming. Vive's latest application gives us insight into what Valve's been up to behind the scenes with "L4D3" and "HL3," whatever those mysterious things could possibly be, plus we're in love with Superhot despite its flaws.

Download Episode 22 (MP3)

New to IGN Overclocked? Check out our first 10 episodes.

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Aaron Paul Teases Better Caul Saul Cameo

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Childhood Movies We Want to See Remade

By IGN Staff

You might get angry just at the thought of your favourite films getting remade but this week the IGN UK crew talk about the films the childhood films they actually wouldn't getting an update. There's also a lot of nice words for Judd Apatow's new show, Love, we got to get up close and personal with the new Batmobile and we've got the highest ever scores in Keyword Countdown.

Get yourself down to Funky Town or failing that your podcast app and whack this new podcast in your ears!

IGN UK Podcast #320: Childhood Movies We Want to See Remade

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As always we'd love to hear from you on ign_ukfeedback@ign.com, by posting your thoughts in the comments below or by contacting us on Facebook or Twitter.

And don't forget you can check out all the previous episodes on iTunes. And why not subscribe while you're there? Couldn't hurt, could it? 

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Vikings Creator on Rollo's New Hair and Epic Queen of Mercia

Vikings: "Kill the Queen" Review

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Tower heist.

By Matt Fowler

Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

Coming off of last week's back-to-basics season premiere was a very busy, hectic episode featuring a ferocious end battle. Unfortunately, one involving a handful of creeps we don't actually care about. As impressive as the charge on the tower was, in a bloody attempt to rescue Kwenthrith, it was odd to see such a massive, violent, extended scene devoted to the Wessex/Mercia storyline.

Especially when it didn't involve any of the Norsemen. Just Aethelwulf (who we already dislike) and his men trying to rescue that bat*** Queen. With a large chunk of the fight devoted to Aethelwulf trying to get past the one guard at the front door to the tower. It was a very strange thing to put so much blood, sweat, and stunt work into.

More interesting however, over in Wessex, was Ecbert's adoration of Judith inspiring him to bring in a teacher for her. An uptight Athelstan clone - "Father Prudentius" - who instantly deemed Judith unworthy of illumination. Clearly, Judith won't have as easy a time seducing such a close-minded man, if that's to be the course of this arc. But it's not out of the realm of possibilities.

I guess, overall, I just don't know where the Wessex stuff is headed. In general. There was a big payoff last year when we saw what a nasty, big picture manipulator Ecbert was. And how his Norseman pact was all a ruse to gain more support and power. But now what? Assumedly, Ragnar will come to learn of Ecbert's betrayal and there'll be hell to pay. But that seems so far off. Who knows though, right? A few time jumps and we may get there. It's just that Ragnar also has Rollo to deal with. Should he ever get back to Paris. In the end, it was just a little jarring to revisit Wessex after so much time away. And to follow a story that's more or less now totally separate from the goings-on in Kattegat.

Plus - and this is just the way Vikings works sometimes - the stuff going on back in Kattegat, involving an escaped Floki, took place over a presumedly short time while the Wessex stuff was weeks of prepping, marching, and fighting. If not longer. But the show still cut back and forth between them.

So yeah, it was sort of a disjointed episode. We caught up with Bjorn, Ragnar, Rollo, and Ecbert - all in the same chapter. With, what felt like, a disproportionate amount of time devoted to the Anglos.

Back on the homefront, Helga freed Floki. A deed easily forgiven by Ragnar, though she still was now forced to live in cold exile. With her daughter, who wound up dead by the end of the episode. How? She didn't even want to answer (though I kind of wanted to know, darn it!). And, again, who knows how much time passed between Floki's escape (and quick capture) and the girl's death. Were they out there for a few days? Weeks? It's not always clear.

Still, Ragnar's story at this point is a rather singular one. It's about Floki and trying to get Floki to admit the real reason he killed Athelstan. Still physically mending, Ragnar's become obsessed with making Floki confess to petty jealousy. And he's become frustrated enough to smack Aslaug around (as if she needed another reason to overthrow him). At the end, we saw Floki trapped in a damp, dripping cave - tied up securely and painfully in some sort of water torture contraption. Will Floki confess and be spared? Or will he be spared due to some sort of "divine sign?" Basically, after so much time devoted to his capture, and re-capture, I'm assuming he'll live through this crucible.

Down in Paris, Rollo advised his new countrymen on how to best defend themselves when Ragnar returns. Then he got a hair and wardrobe makeover (which caused Gisla to mock him outright). Most interesting though was the reveal that Therese, Odo's BDSM concubine, was a spy for Roland. So there are a handful of double-crosses in the works down in Paris as well.

Also, Bjorn ate a fish.

The Verdict

After the premiere, and the back third of Season 3, it felt a bit cluttered to get an episode devoted to so many stories with so many different time tables. I'm sure it's all leading somewhere. I know the show's not wasting time, per se. But it did feel off to devote the season's first big battle sequence (not counting the two massacres in the premiere) to a Norseman-free Wessex/Mercia conflict. I understood the ferocity involved, I just wasn't invested.

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DC's Legends of Tomorrow: "Star City 2046" Review

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Life in Star City gets worse.

By Jesse Schedeen

Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

Other than the brief glimpse of Rip Hunter’s world in the pilot, Legends of Tomorrow has spent the vast majority of its time exploring the past. “Star City 2046” finally reversed that trend as it jumped forward several decades to show that, yes, life in Star City actually can get quite a bit worse than it currently is. The post-apocalyptic setting offered a nice change of pace for the show, even if this episode didn’t quite do enough to flesh out that setting.

The big news this week is that Green Arrow successor Connor Hawke made his debut (played by Joseph David-Jones). This version of the character shares basically nothing with the comic book version beyond the idea of him taking up the mantle, but this revamp works well in the context of the Arrow universe. The reveal that Connor is actually John Diggle, Jr. was a nice touch. It told viewers everything they really needed to know about who Connor is and why he fights his losing battle. The only alternative might have been to introduce an older version of Ollie’s son William, which would have tied back nicely to what’s currently going on in Arrow. But the Diggle family connection works just as well, and maybe it’s a sign that another baby is in store for John and Lyla in Arrow Season 5.

David-Jones was perfectly solid in the role. The episode didn’t give him too many opportunities to shine outside of his first encounter with the team. His big moments were mostly action-driven rather than dramatic. I would have liked to see his relationship with Ollie explored in more depth, but that’s going to be sort of a running theme with this review.

This episode also introduced a much older and more world-weary version of Oliver Queen. This Ollie was basically an homage to the one seen in The Dark Knight Returns - old, bitter and missing an arm. The makeup used to transform Stephen Amell into a senior citizen version of himself wasn’t necessarily that great (particularly the beard), but Amell effectively portrayed his character as an old man burdened by hardship and defeat.

The third piece of the trinity this week came in the form of the new Deathstroke, Grant Wilson (played by Jaime Andrew Cutler). Whether there’s any truth to the rumors that Deathstroke is now off limits to the Arrow crew, the villain’s presence is definitely missed. Bringing in his son as a replacement is a nice consolation prize. Cutler made for a great villain this week, full of snarling menace and anger. Maybe he didn’t look quite old enough to be the costumed tyrant who has ruled Star City for 15 years, but he definitely channeled some of Manu Bennett’s charisma.

Again, it just would have been nice to get more insight into the relationship between Grant and his father and how that fueled Grant’s vendetta against Team Arrow. Deathstroke is far and away the strongest villain to appear on Arrow precisely because of that close, personal tie to Oliver Queen. We only saw hints of that personal rivalry at play here. With as much as this episode pulled from Arrow’s playbook, it’s enough to wish the writers had gone that extra step and included flashbacks to the fall of Star City. That would have lent a real weight and sense of gravitas to the conflict.

We asked for Ollie's beard, and we got it.

These missed opportunities stand out because of what the writers chose to focus on instead - the inane romantic triangle between Kendra, Jax and Ray. Romantic drama is a big element on both Arrow and Flash, and maybe the thinking was that Legends has to get in on some of that action, too. The thing, though, is that the romantic drama only works when it’s a natural extension of the characters and their relationships. What works for Barry Allen doesn’t automatically carry over here. Prior to tonight, there was never any sense that Jax or Ray felt a particular attraction towards Kendra. Until recently she’s been fairly isolated from the rest of the team. Plus, the idea that either character would think of flirting with her so soon after Carter’s death seems a bit tasteless. So this entire subplot wound up feeling awkward and forced. Only Professor Stein’s bumbling attempts to help Jax helped to salvage this story. The psychic bond between Stein and Jax was used to amusing effect.

Honestly, the worst part about the romantic triangle is that it paved the way for Kendra to deliver yet another variation on her “Three months ago I was a barista…” shtick. She seems almost pathologically unable to accept the reality of her situation. It’s no wonder Heat Wave is so ready to ditch these losers and go live in the Disney World of crime.

Speaking of which, Captain Cold and Heat Wave starred in a far more engaging subplot as the show explored the fraying bond between the two lifelong partners. As much as he’d like to pretend otherwise, Snart has already been profoundly changed by his time as a Legend. The idea of being a hero appeals to him, and he doesn’t want to squander his shot stealing fur coats and ordering around the cast of The Warriors. Rory doesn’t share that ambition, and that disconnect is driving a wedge between the two. It speaks to how well this show has been able to flesh out the two characters that their rift is so painful to watch. And luckily, it appears that the Captain Cold/Heat Wave feud will be front and center in the next episode.

Both Rip and Sara also had some strong moments this week. For obvious reasons, Sara was the most personally affected by seeing Star City transformed into a hellhole. This episode highlighted a major conundrum for the team - do they use their abilities to defend a timeline that isn’t necessarily even “real,” or do they remain focused on the mission at hand. Luckily, Sara’s argument won out. If this team of misfits are truly going to become legends, they have to be willing to fight evil whenever and wherever it strikes. This culminated in a memorable showdown as the entire team turned out to help Ollie and Connor take down Deathstroke.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the excellent set design and world-building in this episode. Star City had a very Escape From New York vibe to it, which really enhanced the general atmosphere. Seeing familiar locations like Team Arrow headquarters reduced to ruins had a very chilling effect. With the open-ended way Ollie and Connor’s story ended, there’s definite potential for the show to revisit this setting down the line.

The Verdict

As the first Legends of Tomorrow installment to focus on the future rather than the past, this wasn't a bad hour of television. The hellish setting was certainly memorable, as was the new take on the age-old rivalry between the Green Arrow and Deathstroke. Sadly, this episode missed some opportunity to delve deeper into that rivalry as it focused instead on a pointless romance subplot. Assuming the show ever returns to the Star City of 2046, hopefully it can atone for that mistake.

Editors' Choice

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Drew Barrymore Hosting Fancy Penthouse Pokemon Party

Ain't no party like a West Coast fancy Pokemon party.

By Seth G. Macy

Drew Barrymore is hosting a special, very fancy, Pokemon Afternoon Soire in Los Angeles at the Sunset Tower penthouse this Saturday, February 27.

While the chance for Barrymore to battle with her elite team of Pokemon will probably present itself, the main focus of the event is to celebrate the brand's "categorical expansion into unisex fashion."

"I'm immersed in branding and brand expansion every day with my own companies," Barrymore said, adding she believes "what Pokémon has done here is so smart and such a perfect way to expand their footprint."

This isn't like the Pokemon party your parents might have thrown you for your eighth birthday. It's a full-on, fancy Pokemon soire against the backdrop of the "breathtaking, panoramic views" of the Hollywood Hills.

"The most highly sought after stylists, bloggers and influencers," will be there to celebrate the official kick-off of Pokemon's 20th anniversary celebration. Guests of the penthouse Pokemon party will receive "specially curated gift bags for the family," as well as "complimentary Pokemon inspired nail art."

Special guest Pikachu will be on hand to lounge with guests in "this coveted locale."

"From Los Angeles to New York, entire families will don Pokémon inspired lifestyle fashion," the announcement reads somewhat menacingly.

It's not the first collision of Nintendo with the world of high fashion. Italian fashion house Moschino announced a line of Nintendo-inspired clothes and accessories in December.

Seth Macy is IGN's weekend web producer and just wants to be your friend. Follow him on Twitter @sethmacy or check out Seth Macy's Youtube.

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