lundi 1 mai 2017

Endangered TV Series List


It's almost decision-making time...

In the next couple of weeks, we'll be getting final decisions on a ton of network TV series and discover what's been renewed and what's been cancelled. Some shows have already had that decision made -- whether the news was good or bad -- but for many others, it will come down to various factors as the networks order new series and decide what shows they want to keep on the schedule alongside them.

Below you'll find the list of shows whose fate is up in the air, while the other pages display the shows definitely not coming back next season, and those that are returning for sure.

Look for frequent updates to this page, as more shows have their fate decided.

Please keep in mind this list is for the broadcast network TV series only -- CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX and CW -- and doesn't apply to cable or streaming shows who don't follow the same September-May TV season and decision-making pattern.

Endangered_Inline

Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed

Agents of SHIELD may not be a ratings powerhouse, but following its move to a later timeslot this season, it's probably returning for another season. After several years on the air, and with so much Disney/Marvel corporate synergy behind it, it's unlikely the show doesn’t at least get the dignity of a proper finale down the line.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

This look at a Tony Stark-esque billionaire genius taking control of a police station and giving the cops high tech gear hasn’t gotten much attention. The show’s creator, Matt Nix, has a new pilot at FOX – tied into the X-Men franchise – that will probably be where his focus (and FOX’s) is next season.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

While tremendously acclaimed, American Crime continues to barely register with viewers. ABC no doubt hoped the positive reviews would turn into higher viewership, but after three seasons, it’s probably the end of the line for the anthology drama series.

Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed

ABC’s new comedy may not get the buzz off many of their other half hour series, but it has a good shot at coming back for a second year.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

With the show it begat from still doing okay – but no longer the sensation it once was – there hasn’t been many talking about the recently launched spinoff.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

NBC has had a problem for years maintaining the success of shows that felt like big hits when they aired after The Voice – and history is repeating itself with Blindspot, which fell a lot in its sophomore year.

Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed

The chances of FOX canceling Jake and the gang at the 99 feel slim. Season 5 is looking like a safe bet at this point.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

Shonda Rhimes’ importance to ABC was probably a big reason the network gave a second season to The Catch, but it still hasn’t caught on with viewers like her other series. Rhimes or not, this is probably not getting a third season.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

CBS has high ratings standards and Code Black, while getting a second season, hasn’t been living up to them.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

Maybe some shows aren’t meant to be franchised? Criminal Minds has been a massive hit for CBS for years, but unlike CSI and NCIS, its spinoffs (Beyond Borders is the second) have failed to resonate. While Borders was given a second season, a third will be a struggle to pull off.

Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed

ABC put all their promotional weight behind this Kiefer Sutherland drama, and its look at a low level cabinet member thrust into the presidency. While it was a bit overshadowed by other new series last fall (most notably, the huge success of NBC’s This is Us), Designated Survivor is still doing well enough to likely secure a second season.

Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed

While not quite as secure as the long-running show its paired with, Last Man Standing, Dr. Ken continues to bring in a different audience on Fridays, with its family comedy dynamic, than the hour-long, drama-heavy night tends to provide.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

Having dropped quite a lot in the ratings since its early days, things are looking pretty shaky for Sherlock Holmes and Watson. On another network, it would feel like Elementary would at least get a shortened final season to wrap the story up, but CBS isn’t known to be so precious about their crime procedurals…

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

This long in development reimagining of the Wizard of Oz didn’t get much attention when it finally debuted.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

As The Exorcist’s season built, buzz around it grew, with some noting it turned out to be much stronger than it initially appeared to be. However, that buzz never turned into much in the way of viewership, meaning its future is doubtful.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

The CW’s new take on the story told in the movie of the same name got a bit lost in the shuffle of time travel (or in this case, cross-time communication) series on the air and was notably absent from the network’s large list of early renewals.

Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed

While not the big hit it once looked like it could be, Gotham continues to be a decent enough performer for FOX and is close to securing a renewal for a fourth season.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

The only new CBS comedy to not get an early renewal, this Joel McHale-fronted series’ fate may come down to the wire based on what new series the network decides to order or not.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

This offbeat look at a woman who begins to see her childhood imaginary friend again was a big swing that was going to need a lot of positive response to fuel it beyond a first season. And it hasn’t gotten that.

Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed

Don’t worry too much, iZombie fans, the well-reviewed series is probably coming back for a fourth season. As always, the network’s dilemma is a lack of real estate, given they only can program ten shows at a time on their more limited schedule, but the CW is also not known for cutting off a multi-year show like this without warning.

Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed

The defiantly quirky comedy continues to be a unique presence on network TV. And while it’s the cult series it was destined to be, Last Man on Earth should probably continue to do its thing for another year.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

Another entry in the “Too many time travel shows” category, Making History boasts a likable star in Adam Pally, but hasn’t garned much attention.

Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed

It's Jess! ...But will she be back for Season 7? It feels like it's probably going to happen, but New Girl's producers still had to craft a season finale that could also function as a series finale just in case.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

Like Frequency, No Tomorrow stands out for not getting an early renewal from the CW. This is a network who measures success very differently than the others, so could something like, say, notable success on Netflix (where the show quickly debuted after its finale, thanks to a new deal with the CW) lead to a semi-surprising renewal? Perhaps… but it still feels like a long shot.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

While The Odd Couple make it to a third season, its relatively weak numbers for a CBS comedy indicate it’s a long shot to come back for a fourth season.

Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed

After five years, Once Upon a Time’s audience has dwindled considerably, and it is possible this is the final year. However, it seems more likely the network brings back the synergistic series. Like Agents of SHIELD, this feels like a show that will probably at least get the consideration to have a pre-announced conclusion rather than an unceremonious, un-definitive ending.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

With The Vampire Diaries over, it’s possible its spinoff could also come to an end this year as well, especially if the CW orders enough new series that finding a spot for it becomes overly difficult. Still, there's a decent chance the story of the first vampires ever will be back again.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

There is a notable amount of love for this show from a core fanbase, but whether it’s enough to get it a renewal is a big question.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

FOX recently renewed The X-Files revival for another season, more than a year after its “first” return season aired. As with that show, actor availability (and deal-making) will no doubt be a big factor in whether or not Prison Break comes back again, though its ratings haven’t been as notable as X-Files either.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

Looking like a hit when it debuted, Quantico has failed to hold on to its early buzz or audience in Season 2.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

An experiment in programming on the mostly-abandoned Saturday schedule, Ransom didn’t do much to overhaul the belief that most audiences simply aren’t interested in new shows on that night.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

Amongst many bigger successes, this sophomore year comedy hasn’t connected for ABC and is probably not coming back for a third year.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

Turning out to be entirely dependent on a strong lead-in for its once-strong numbers, Rosewood would be a surprise renewal at this point.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

Renewed for factors usually reserved for CW series -- including its strong social media presence -- Scream Queens wasn’t nearly as notable on the pop culture landscape in its second year.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

The long break between seasons didn’t help, but this Juliette Lewis-led crime drama (which featured completely different cases and supporting casts in its two seasons) seems like it will come to a quiet ending.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

This spring entry and its topical look at crime and race relations hasn’t gotten that much buzz, but we're not counting it out quite yet.

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

There were many surprised that Sleepy Hollow returned for a fourth season after it lost one of its two central stars. Season 4 gave the show a big overhaul and change in setting, but without the dynamic that originally drew many in, this is probably the end for Ichabod Crane’s modern day adventures.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

This blend of live-action and animation was always a risk, and hasn't found the audience the network's more traditional animated series have. There's a lot of talent involved on this show, but it remains to be seen if it'll get a second year.

Current Status: Likely to Be Renewed

ABC has gotten good reviews and audience response to this family comedy, which feels at home on its lineup. A second season is close to a lock.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

In the midst of reboot-mania, this was always an eyebrow-raiser. Not really standing out in the TV action landscape, Taken's run looks to be short.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

Boasting an impressive pedigree -- Shawn Ryan and Eric Kripke teamed for this series -- Timeless still had the obstacle of being one of oh-so many time travel shows airing concurrently. There's a fandom out there for the show, but is it enough?

Current Status: Likely to Be Cancelled

This was already facing a tough road to renewal, but the tragic death of the beloved Bill Paxton seems to have sealed Training Day's fate - barring a dramatic overhaul of the series.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

NBC's comedic take on the true crime drama hasn't made huge waves, but with the network rebuilding its comedy brand, it's possible they give it another shot - and another case to tackle.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

CBS pointedly left 2 Broke Girls off their long list of early renewals, even as most of their other veteran comedies were secured for another season. A deal could still be made, but these Girls' fate is more precarious than usual.

Current Status: Could Go Either Way

24: Legacy faced a tougher fight than fellow FOX reboots The X-Files and Prison Break, lacking the central characters -- most notably Jack Bauer -- audiences loved. We'll see if this different attempt at franchise building pays off with a second season.

Continue on for shows that won't be back next season.

Continues

Let's block ads! (Why?)

First May Free Xbox Games With Gold Available Today


Twisted Temple Force: The Complete Saga.

May's line-up of free Xbox One and Xbox 360 games for Gold subscribers has been announced.

The full lineup, plus when they'll be available, is:

  • Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Director's Cut — May 1-31 (Xbox One)
  • Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris — May 16 - June 15 (Xbox One)
  • Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 — May 1-15 (Xbox 360 & Xbox One)
  • Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga — May 16-31 (Xbox 360 & Xbox One)

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is a surprisingly challenging 2D puzzle-platformer, while Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is an isometric shooter spin-off we gave an 8.1 and said is "almost as essential as Lara's third-person excursions."

360 gets a Star Wars-themed month, perhaps to coincide with the recent Last Jedi trailer and Battlefront 2 reveal. The Force Unleashed 2 was, by our reckoning, "fails to tell an interesting yarn, but also somehow manages to make the cool combat mechanics feel relatively pedestrian".

Luckily, Lego Star Wars is a better proposition - we gave it an 8.0, saying "if you've waited until now to try Lego Star Wars, this is definitely the game to buy".

As always, both 360 games will be available to play on Xbox One via backward compatibility, and April Game with Gold, The Walking Dead: Season 2 will still be available on Xbox One until May 15.

Joe Skrebels is IGN's UK News Editor, and he would play that Lara Croft game if only he had friends. Pretend to be a friend on Twitter.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

dimanche 30 avril 2017

Go Hands-on With Injustice 2 at IGN AU HQ


IGN has teamed up with Warner Brothers to give 75 of our lucky audience members and their friends the chance to be the first in Australia to go hands on with Injustice 2. To win a double pass to the event all you need to do is let us know, in 25 words or less:

What’s the ultimate showdown between two characters in Injustice 2 and why?

Answers will be judged on creativity, enthusiasm and relevance to the topic. The best answers will be selected to win.

ENTER NOW

PLEASE NOTE: Please note that this competition is open to Australian residents only aged 18+. Winners will be notified by email on Friday 5th  May.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Into the Badlands: "Black Heart, White Mountain" Review


Share.

M.K. finds a friend in Baijie.

Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

Into the Badlands was a very Sunny-driven show in its first season, but much less so in Season 2. That's generally been to the show's benefit. If anything, "Black Heart, White Mountain" proved that it's possible to focus too much attention on Sunny and the gang, to the detriment of the show's other major players.

Sunny may have defeated Cyan in mortal combat last week, but Cyan nearly had the last laugh as he left his opponent to die a slow, painful death while tormented by visions of the life he might have had. A solid premise, to be sure. There was certainly an emotional weight to seeing Sunny "reunited" with Veil and meeting his son for the first time. Sunny this season has been a man truly haunted by the ghosts of his past and the hundreds of lives he took as a Clipper. This hallucination/fever dream brought all of that psychological drama to the forefront.

My problem with this storyline is mainly that it felt a little repetitive and drawn-out. These scenes tended to lose their impact after a while as they kept recycling the same beats - Sunny is happy to be with his family, something strange and unsettling happens, the real world begins to intrude, etc. It all wrapped up well enough with Sunny's one-man stand against hundreds of spectral opponents, but I was still left with the impression that too much time wsas being devoted to these dream sequences and not enough to the other subplots.

The brief clash between the newly minted Baroness Jade and the Widow definitely suffered as a result. I would have liked to see more of this conflict, both the massive war unfolding outside and the big reunion between Jade and her ex-husband. What we did see was pretty enjoyable (Marton Csokas' ridiculous accent notwithstanding), but the whole thing felt a little truncated. That said, it is nice to see the Widow/Quinn alliance bearing immediate fruit. In general, Season 2 seems slightly better-paced than Season 1, despite being four episodes longer. That bodes well for Season 3, given the recent announcement that it'll be expanding to 16 episodes.

It will be interesting to see what role Jade plays in the remainder of the season. Jade again proved herself a stronger person than Ryder, remaining defiant in the face of certain death. Perhaps that's why Quinn spared her, or perhaps he simply can't bring himself to kill another loved one and relic from his old life. But given how much hatred Jade harbors for Quinn, you have to imagine it's only going to be a matter of time until she makes him regret sparing her life.

While Sunny's dream sequences bogged down this episode a bit, they did have the advantage of allowing the writers to build up a connection between M.K. and Baijie. I've mentioned before that Aramis Knight has a weirdly deliberate approach to line delivery that sometimes bogs down his performances, but if anything that only makes him more effective as the straight man to Nick Frost's jovial Baijie. It was fun watching the two get to know each other a little even as they raced against time to save the dying Sunny. Baijie continues to grow more compelling the more we learn about his tragic past as an Abbot and why he's tried so hard to leave that life behind.

Their quest culminated in an exciting showdown back at the Master's compound. I'm a little disappointed to see the Master devolving into more an overt villain character, but there was definitely something appealing about seeing M.K. and Baijie fighting a losing battle against several dozen Abbots and acolytes. Baijie showed himself to be quite the crafty fighter, turning the Master's own minions against her and transforming the claustrophobic battlefield into a sea of chaos.

None of the fight scenes in this episode necessarily stand out as the best of the season. Sunny's final sword fight was more about the significance of seeing him confront his demons rather than stylistic swordplay. As for M.K. and Baijie big battle, we're now seeing the limitations of casting Nick Frost in a role that suddenly demands a fair amount of martial arts action. Frost is a great physical comedian, but he's no martial artist. You could see director Stephen Fung doing his best to mask that problem, but the result is too many weirdly framed shots that detract from the flow of the action.

It's also disappointing that we didn't see more of the Master's martial abilities this week. Here was the perfect opportunity to show what the ultimate warrior in the Badlands is capable of, yet we only got a few brief glimpses of her swatting aside her bloodthirsty pupils and staring fixedly at M.K. and Baijie. It's all the more annoying that the final shot of the Master saw her surrounded by half a dozen opponents, yet the episode left the resulting fight completely up to the imagination.

The Verdict

While it definitely had its moments, "Black Heart, White Mountain" stands as the weakest installment of Season 2 to date. This episode spent too much time focusing on Sunny's repetitive dream sequences and not enough showcasing Widow and Quinn's dramatic attack on Jade. But at least M.K. and Baijie made for an entertaining duo, proving once again that Nick Frost is one of the show's strongest assets this year (even if he isn't much of a fighter).

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Breaking Down American Gods' Most Jaw-Dropping Moment


"There's more to come that will show a lot more."

Full spoilers for American Gods' series premiere, "The Bone Orchard," continue below.

At the Hollywood premiere of American Gods, no one in the audience seemed to know what to do after Bisques' intense, glorious "Somewhere in America" vignette played in the middle of the episode.

Played by Yetide Badaki, the sequence shows the washed up, struggling African love goddess bring a man she met off a phone dating app into her room, have sex with him, and then slowly absorb him up into her through her vagina in a graphic, stylized sex scene. After a moment of silence following the scene's conclusion, slowly one person, and then many in the Cinerama Dome auditorium, started clapping and cheering at what they had just witnessed.

I had the opportunity to sit down with several American Gods cast members, including Badaki, to discuss the premiere and that scene in particular. Here's their take on the jaw-dropping sequence and how it relates back to the themes American Gods is exploring.

IGN: Bilquis' scene in the premiere is insane. What is really interesting to you about that scene, what do you want the audience reaction to be about your scene?

Yetide Badaki: It was interesting when I first read it, because it was my audition scene.

IGN: Bryan Fuller didn't make it easy.

Badaki: Right. And, but the interesting thing is, when I first read it, and even in that room, I ended up in tears. Because the thing that initially drew me was this, was this absolute struggle for connection. And in this day and age, I mean, there's a New York Times article that's talking about how this generation is having less sex, you know. And beyond that, there's more articles about how there's less intimacy. I mean, the sex is only indicative of the intimacy. And they were pointing to things like technology, people having other ways to spend their time, you know, playing their video game or watching Netflix. And also, just the way that people are interacting seems to be kind of a little more stilted now, and kind of filtered through this cold medium. And so, that, in that short scene, that search of really wanting to connect with that other person, really missing what that was, that place, that we all still remember, at least at this point. I don't know about you all, especially when it comes to dating, but it seems to be getting harder and harder to connect. Like, you want to. But I blame, Technical Boy. #BlameTechnicalBoy.

IGN: But I mean, she consumes these people, right. So, would you, do you empathize with that? It's sort a villainous take.

Badaki: Well, there's more to come that will show a lot more.

Emily Browning: Pardon the pun, yeah.

Badaki: Oh, Emily. It shows more, I think as we watch more, we will learn. I think the biggest difference between the olden gods is that, with the old gods it's more of a symbiotic relationship. I give you this, you give me that. And both parties are knowledgeable of it. With the newer gods, it seems that people don't even realize that they're putting their belief and their energy into. So they're almost being leeched without knowledge. So, I only bring that up, because I can't quite say much more about what's going on, but with the old gods, there's always that symbiotic relationship.

Browning: Also, with the old gods it seems like there is a higher purpose, whereas with technology it's almost like, this is just, like, media, technology, it's sort of, this is our way of lulling into, you know, the worshippers would just become malleable. Whereas, even though Bilquis does essentially assimilate this man into her body, it's like he looked like he was having a great time, yeah. But, I mean, he's being sacrificed to love, whereas with the newer gods, it's hard to figure out what the meaning is.

Crispin Glover: I think the proper word for it is propaganda. It really is involved in this culture far more than people even start to think about. And I think there's a metaphorical element that Gaiman picked up on that's in there.

Terri Schwartz is Entertainment Editor at IGN. Talk to her on Twitter at @Terri_Schwartz.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Persona 5 Confidant Answers and Rank Guide


The following is IGN's Confidants guide for Persona 5. Confidants are Persona 5's version of Social Links. Building relationships with your confidants will give you more abilities, bonuses, and items as you progress and they are a cornerstone of the Persona series.

Spending time with your confidants will be your primary source of game time outside of Palaces. Use your time well as you don't have forever. Some days, confidants will be around in their locations, but you won't be able to spend time with them.

In most cases, you'll get a text from someone who wants to hang out with you, usually to progress your social link with them, but sometimes you have to go and look for them. The best way to do that is by bring up your map to see which areas have the blue card icon and then hitting Square over the location to see who is available. If it says "Up!!" over their name, you can rank up with them. If their name is greyed out, that means you either have not reached a requirement of their social link or you haven't spoken to them since you reached the requirement. If you just see a blue card, that means you need to spend time with them before you can get to the next rank.

Unlike previous Persona titles, confidants are not on set schedules. We have listed the days they are typically available, but their availability will vary due to the month, your rank with them, weather, and where you are in the story. Make sure you finish Palaces early because Phantom Thief confidants will usually be too on edge to want to hang out until after you've stolen a Palace's treasure.

Selecting a fun hangout spot is a good way to earn bonus reputation with someone when you're in between rank ups. Learning hangout spots can be a huge benefit to ranking up with all your confidants.

Sometimes a confidant or the story will take you to a location that you can bring others to later, such as with Ryuji when he takes you to his favourite ramen shop, but you can also read about hangout spots in magazines and books. Going to a hangout spot with someone can yield unique rewards, but no such rewards or dialogue options will be available upon going to the same location more than once.

When hanging out with a confidant after any automatic/initial ranks, be sure to have a persona in your inventory that shares the same Arcana as their social link. This will provide a bonus point for all rewarding dialogue options.

Without Shared Arcana Persona With Shared Arcana Persona
0 0
1 2
2 3
3 3

Additionally, you can give items to female confidants in between rank ups. Different women like different items, so be sure to give them something that matches their tastes.

For all social links that involve a first rank that needs to be initiated by the player, such as with Yusuke or Makoto, the answers you select in the first rank do not yield any points, so you can pick whatever you want.

To explain the chart, the Arcana column is the confidant's designated arcana. Ranking up with them will give you specific rewards and grant bonus experience when creating a Persona via fusion of the same arcana. The name is the name of the confidant involved. "First Rank" is for social links that consist of automatic first ranks while "Available Starting" is the first day you can pursue or continue a social link with the designated confidant.

For example, you automatically get Ann's first rank on the 15th of April but she isn't available for further non-automatic ranks (of which she has no others) until May 6th, on which you can unlock Rank 2 with the lover's arcana by asking to hang out with her. She also has the requirement of having a Kindness rank of Considerate. You'll find such details by clicking on the name of the person you're interested in. Click on the arcana to see the Personas of that type.

You can pursue a romance with all female Confidants with the exception of Sae (Judgement).
Arcana Name First Rank Available Starting
Fool Igor 4/12 Automatic
Magician Morgana 4/15 Automatic
Priestess Makoto N. Player Initiated 6/24
Empress Haru O. Player Initiated 10/30
Emperor Yusuke K. Player Initiated 6/18
Hierophant Sojiro S. Player Initiated 4/24
Lovers Ann T. 4/15 5/6
Chariot Ryuji S. 4/12 4/19
Justice Goro A. 6/10 Automatic
Hermit Futaba S. 8/31 9/2
Fortune Chihaya H. Player Initiated 6/19
Strength Justine & Caroline Player Initiated 5/18, Conditional
Hanged Munehisa I. Player Initiated 5/6
Death Tae T. Player Initiated 4/18
Temperance Sadayo K. Player Initiated 5/27
Devil Ichiko O. Player Initiated 6/25
Tower Shinya O. Player Initiated 9/5
Star Hifumi T. Player Initiated 6/26
Moon Yuuki M. 5/6 Conditional
Sun Toranosuke Y. Player Initiated 5/6
Judgement Sae N. 7/9 Automatic

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Thor: Ragnarok's Hela Explained


Cate Blanchett’s Goddess of Death is gonna have Hela fun in the MCU sequel!

Cate Blanchett is set to appear as the most alluring and menacing incarnation of Hela we’re ever likely to see when Thor: Ragnarok comes out on November 3, 2017. But who is Hela exactly?

Well, we could easily go down the Asgardian rabbit hole on a subject like this, since Hela is one of many characters based at least initially on a figure from Norse mythology. But here we’ll only deal with the Hela of the Marvel Comics Universe, and that takes us first to…

The Basics

Hela is the Goddess of Death, ruler of the realms of Hel -- where the dead that fall in the middle ground between honor and dishonor dwell -- and Niflheim -- where those that are dishonored must go. An Asgardian with an often-complicated approach to a simple goal -- get as much power as you can as often as you can -- Hela has constantly crossed paths with Thor, his family and friends, and many other heroes of the Marvel Universe. As a cosmic being of great power, she is a formidable threat beyond that of a typical Earthbound entity, but her fortunes have nevertheless waxed and waned over time.

Hela, Goddess of Death and ruler of the realms of Hel

Hela, Goddess of Death and ruler of the realms of Hel

Powers and Abilities

Come on, she’s a goddess! Let’s take it as read that she has the usual run of enhanced abilities in comparison to a regular human -- she’s strong, fast, agile, and capable of withstanding much more stress and surviving extreme conditions over a prolonged period of time. Her cloak also affords her additional protection (to say nothing of holding back partial decay over one side of her body and weakness that she otherwise suffers without the cloak’s presence), and she has great skill with her Nightsword. Oh, we haven’t even talked about magic yet. If you can think it up, she can probably do it, from astral travel to energy projection to the creation of convincing illusions and apparitions; and Iron Fist has nothing on Hela’s stunning Hand of Glory, which delivers quite the mystically-augmented punch!

hela-thor-2

And then there’s that whole “dominion over death” thing; she has a standing agreement with Death itself to claim those sent to Hel or condemned to Niflheim, and she can travel throughout the Nine Worlds when the story isn’t restricting her for one reason or another. She can kill puny humans and powerful Asgardians alike with but a touch, but in general she claims souls only after death and not due to her own actions. She can even reverse Death’s effects and send a soul back to its corporeal existence… but she really has to want or need to do that. And yes, folks, she can indeed marshal dead forces to her side and lead a veritable army of all those that have passed into her realm.

Origin and Background

Debuting in the Marvel Comics Universe in Journey into Mystery #102 (March, 1964), Hela first encountered Thor when he went in search of the Hel-bound Sif and offered his life in place of hers, moving Hela to allow them both to walk free from her domain (so she’s not without mercy and heart from time to time). Hela herself was the offspring of a previous Loki that existed in an earlier universal cycle (pre-Ragnarok) and a giantess. Odin installed her as the ruler of the dead, but her quest for greater power and control often fueled her escapades in Asgard and beyond.

Pages from Hela's first appearance in Journey into Mystery #102 (March, 1964)

Pages from Hela's first appearance in Journey into Mystery #102 (March, 1964)

Her eyes frequently fell on Valhalla -- eternal home of the honored dead -- and her machinations often involved seeking ownership of the souls of Thor, Odin, and others as well, including the mortals of Midgard (Earth). At one point, she even cursed Thor with an inability to die while his body collapsed into jelly within protective armor… but he got better. She has consorted with other Marvel cosmic beings of malevolent power, like Mephisto and Dormammu, and she’s even operated out of Las Vegas (of course she has). Basically, if there’s something dark and cosmic going on in the Marvel Universe, Hela may very well be involved or at least trying to take advantage of the opportunity to grab more power and afterlife territory for herself.

Other Helas

A technologically-engineered copy of Hela was created in the alternate 2099 Marvel Universe, while a more or less familiar variation on the goddess also played a role in the Ultimate line. And if you want to see Hela as a zombie, you can always find that in the Marvel Zombies series. As for other media, Cate Blanchett is preceded by a few voice actresses that have lent their talents to animated versions of Hela, perhaps most notably Vanessa Marshall’s incarnation in Avengers Assemble, where Hela is actually in charge of Valhalla and so bored by orchestrated battles between her skeleton armies that she jumps at the chance to watch Thor and Hulk go at it. Wow, imagine Thor and Hulk fighting… again!

Thor vs Hela from writer-artist Walt Simonson's classic run on Thor

Thor vs Hela from writer-artist Walt Simonson's classic run on Thor

Beyond the Comics

In Thor: Ragnarok, we know that an unleashed and angry Hela will seek power and send Thor on a wild ride after disintegrating Mjolnir with her touch! Based on Blanchett’s reported capoeira training, we know we’re likely to see Hela get her hands dirty and do some elaborate physical fighting too, but beyond that, it’s not entirely certain what the scope of her role in the sequel will be. One thing is certain -- after briefly appearing as a green-tinged, Ring-corrupted, evil Galadriel in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Blanchett’s performance here is likely to cause all sorts of cross-fandom ‘gasms and multi-versal fan theories. On your mark, get set… tweet!

What do you think Hela will bring to the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Who do you think will show up next from the Asgardian realm to plague or assist Thor in future films? March forthwith to the comments section and bestow upon us your pearls of wisdom, mortals!

Find Arnold T. Blumberg on Twitter at @DoctoroftheDead.

Let's block ads! (Why?)