The Gifted 2017

Warning: possible spoilers

After shows like Heroes and Alphas have already come and gone, how are we going to be entertained by The Gifted? Legion has been the first live-action show exploring mutants in the Marvel Universe. It's a shame that the X-men title is reserved for movies when the X-men cartoons were one of my memorable childhood pastimes. But the series tries to explore some of the mutant B-listers like Polaris, Sunspot (called Eclipse in this series), Thunderbird, and Blink. I'm not sure if the two mutant kids are new characters or known characters. I thought that the boy was like Legion while his sister was like Invisible Girl.

The huge robot Sentinels have been replaced by spider like ones which reminds me of a Metal Gear enemy.

The plot is similar to any mutant being rescued by the X-men when his/her powers manifest. But with the X-men incognito in this show, it's up to Thunderbird and his team to try and help out the newbie mutants and their parents. The first season of Heroes was actually cool in that you could not really predict where the story would go. I hope they can do the same in this series instead of the typical - kids gain mastery of their powers and become part of the team - team brings down the sentinel program (temporarily - cause we all know they'll be back in X-men Days of Future Past) and mutants live in peace.

I've always thought that a TV series involving mutants was an opportunity to explore the individual back stories behind our beloved characters - something that can't really be done in movies unless you're Logan, Professor X, or Jean Grey. Maybe we'll gain more insight into the lives of the mutants showing up in this series, whether hero or villian.  I think Smallville was successful because, although the characters were familiar, they either reinvented the origins and made the stories current. And I hope this ends up better than Defenders, cause fighting the Hand for the upteenth time becomes boring.

Star Trek Discovery 2017

Warning: possible spoilers

Just watched Star Trek Discovery's first episode, and so far, I'm impressed and I enjoyed it! So far, the audience knows that there will be an impending war between the Federation and the Klingons. The Klingons have entered Federation territory and destroyed one of their relays. The USS Shenzhou's investigation results in the death of a Klingon soldier under the hands of the ship's first officer, Commander Michael Burnham. (her name is pronounced like a guy's name)

Michael's parents were killed by Klingons in an attack when she was young. Flashbacks show that she went under the tutelage of Sarek, Spock's father. And even near the ending of the show, she consults with Sarek via a holographic interface (The captain also spoke with an admiral of the Federation using the same interface... Star Trek finally stole a Star Wars staple - think Princess Leah's holographic message which projected from R2D2).

Now, for some nit picking. Apparently, they haven't heard of drones in space for reconnaissance missions. Why send a first officer on a jetpack to an unknown object and risk her dying of radiation? Because that altercation with a Klingon warrior will serve as the motivation for war.

Why are cowards now part of a ship's crew? I'm referring to you, Saru... Maybe they learned from that robot in Star Wars Rouge One who was a foul mouthed C3PO and now, personalities with negative traits will be one of the highlights of the crew. Saru kind of reminds me of Odo from Deep Space Nine. I guess he is there to balance Michael's brashness (which is strange, considering she was tutored by a Vulcan).

Michelle Yeoh serves as the captain of the Shenzhou, but based on the credits, it appears that she won't be on the show for the long haul - unless she dies and Michael keeps getting flash back conversations with her. They apparently have been working together for seven years.

The timeline of this show is somewhere before the Original Series and The Next Generation. So, that means that at some point, peace will be achieved between the Federation and the Klingons (unless this show is in a Mirror Universe, in which case, we could end up with a scenario where they never attain peace in their alternate reality.) But if peace will be achieved, then what's the point? Is the journey better than the destination...

Wish they'd also showcase new tech which could influence our present geeks and idea generators to come up with better products. Like the new uniform designs, despite no distinction between ranks and roles. Am excited to see the next episode and see the interaction between other crew members. But am not interested in the Mot the Barber look a like. Replace him with some hottie chick, please, like Bridget Regan from The Last Ship. And maybe recruit the Rat King from The Strain, cause he needs a job. The ship probably needs a security officer with a coward science officer unable to accompany the commander on away missions.

Downward Dog 2017

Possible spoilers:

If you like to know what your dog thinks about you, you'll probably like the show Downward Dog. It kind of reminds me of Bryan in Family Guy, except it's a real dog. I didn't really like the show Wilfred - because that was a guy in a dog's costume, so I didn't think I'd enjoy watching Martin, the star of the show. But, after the first episode, I think I'll stick around for a few more.

So far, the show has introduced Martin, his owner, her boss, her boyfriend, and Martin's cat nemesis. It would be interesting to see if a lot of talking animals will have a part in the show, kind of like the movie Babe.

I don't know if Martin will somehow get lost and travel around helping people, or if every episode will be him interacting with his owner. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

The Flash Episode 21: Savitar's Origin Unsatisfactorily Explained

Spoiler Alert:

My head hurts. I'm trying to understand the explanation of Savitar's origin, but it just doesn't work for me. Savitar is Barry Allen's time remnant. Four years into the future, Barry Allen creates several time remnants to try and stop Savitar. So, if this was the case, who was the first Savitar? It couldn't have been the time remnant at the very first instance of Savitar's appearance. The writers could actually use this loophole to create a new storyline of the very first Savitar, and could probably borrow from comic book lore.

And Savitar, is for me, at this point of the show, is technically a speedster suit. So, it doesn't make sense at this point that Barry Allen created it cause Barry, despite being a scientist, isn't exactly a builder like Cisco. It could have been created by some other being, perhaps from some alien dimension. It could also have been created by Cisco and Team Flash, but for what purpose... before falling into the hands of the first Savitar - the one who isn't Barry Allen's time remnant. That way, continuity is established and this whole story line, despite being purely fiction, will sound more logical.
And unlike Arrow, which seems to be nearing the end of the series, there are still a lot of stories to explore in the Flash. We haven't even encountered Max Mercury, and Bart Allen - despite episode 21's attempt at making a pun at the expense of Barry's memory loss. It kind of sucks that the ultimate villain always seems to be a speedster. But I guess all heroes always go against a villainous version of themselves. Which I guess is the comic book world's way of saying that we are our own worst enemy - and it is up to us to make sure that the better version succeeds at the end of the day.

The Expanse TV Series 2017

This show is already in its second season, and the reason I haven't really written about it before was because its development was a bit slow paced for me. In a nut shell, season one was about the discovery of the Proto molecule - the first evidence of life that wasn't of earthly origin.

This show is the closest thing sci-fi fans have to a Star Trek like series nowadays. And so far, mankind has only been able to colonize Earth, Mars, and some parts of the Asteroid Belt. But mankind has been split into three factions, each trying to gain an advantage over the other, and the Proto molecule might just be the key in terms of building a superior military force. Some scientists have tried to merge humans with the alien tech to try and create new soldiers. But, me thinks working with alien tech is a bad idea. Predictions: the human factions might have to unite as one to beat this alien threat.

If you enjoy politics in a sci-fi series, this show sure has plenty of that. There haven't really been any mind blowing technologies featured on the show that geeks and nerds haven't seen on Star Trek or in movies like Iron Man or the X-men. It would be cool if they would feature mechanized suits that could help battle the alien threat. So far, their weapons and suits are more ala Mass Effect or Star Ship Troopers. But I guess the creators of the show are trying to be realistic with the tech humans can achieve.

One of the logos on the show kind of reminds me of the Federation logo. I guess if other alien species were to appear on the show, that would kind of make it cheesy like Defiance. Maybe for later seasons, but for now, a human focused show is actually a working formula for me.

It's also good that the ship's crew is kind of in flux at the moment. It reminds me of how the Voyager crew was formed. I have a feeling the big Aussie-accented Martian woman will become part of the crew at some point. Might even be a love-interest for Amos. And it sure wouldn't hurt to add a blond girl at some point.

And a big thank you for killing off the detective character. I didn't think he was actually of help to the show. And right now, the potty-mouthed female ambassador is the most interesting character for me. She should always have some kind of ace up her sleeve to show just how good of a strategist she is.

Powerless TV Series 2017

Warning: Possible spoilers

If there was a DC Comics show for girls, this would be it. Basically a show about a product development team that works for Batman. Think Community thrust into the DC Comic world. I'd probably give it one season at the most.

Training Day TV Series 2017

Warning: Possible spoilers

The only thing I will say about this show is the following: Having a baboon listen to daft punk music is an effective means of torture. That scene had me laughing so hard. Still, Lethal Weapon beats this TV show so far. Perhaps Die Hard should be converted into a TV series to try to take away some of Lethal Weapon's market share.

Riverdale TV Series 2017

Warning: Possible spoilers

Riverdale isn't the town it used to be when you were young, reading Archie Comics. In an effort to make the show current, the writers and producers have made a lot of changes. Archie is now a wanna be music composer who has an affair with Miss Grundy. And Miss Grundy is younger. Jughead is now a depressed loner narrator. Mr. Weatherbee is now black and thin. Josie of the pussycats is black, too. Reggie is Asian. Moose is gay. Veronica is poorer. Mr. Lodge is a con artist. And Archie's dad is Luke Perry of Beverly hills 90210 fame.

It's like they crossed How To Get Away With Murder with a high school show like Parker Lewis Can't Lose. The latter would probably have been my idea of what an Archie Comic TV series would be like.

Midge, Mr. Flutesnoot, Hotdog, Pops, Sabrina, and Chuck have yet to make an appearance.

I guess we all have to grow up at some point. And coming up with a rendition similar to Glee where you feel good and have positivity is rare these days. But if the point of a TV series is escaping from everyday reality, then I guess Riverdale feels more like the news.

Betty Cooper seems to be the only authentic character that stays true to the originals. It's like Flash went and thrust Betty into an alternate reality Earth 2.

It ain't authentic but it sure is interesting.

Supergirl Is Exposed to Red Kryptonite

I must say that I really enjoyed Melissa Benoist playing both a mean girl and a mean Supergirl. The episode revolves around Red Kryptonite. Based on Superman lore, I'm not sure all the other colors of Kryptonite are synthesized from Green Kryptonite. I always thought that all colors of Kryptonite came from Krypton's explosion. Kind of like the different metals we have on earth. It will be interesting if Maxwell Lord (this show's version of Lex Luthor) synthesizes other Kryptonite variants and each show explores what happens to Kara when she is exposed to that particular one.

But in terms of acting, I give Benoit an A+ in this episode. Perhaps she was born to play mean roles. She can probably play Cruela De Ville or one of the Mean Girls in Mean Girls if that movie is ever re-made. Perhaps she is a meanie in real life =) Just kidding. If Supergirl is revived ten years from now, she can certainly play Cat Grant.

Smallville's Supergirl is a Villain on Supergirl

The death of Supergirl's Kryptonian aunt has left a void among the ranks of her enemies, especially since female villains are fewer compared to their male counterparts. It's a good thing that Laura Vandervoort is back to save the day. She injected some life into Smallville and is now back - and hopefully will become a regular - on Supergirl. Amazingly, after all these years, Vandervoort has been able to retain her amazing figure. Too bad she has to be dressed up in a Mystique (from the X-men movies) like costume. I guess they are simply basing the get-up on Braniac from the Legionnaires comics. I don't quite understand if she is Braniac, since she is called Indigo / Braniac 8 on the show. Does this mean that she is the eighth version of Braniac, just like Windows 8? =)

The show would be better off in my opinion if Indigo retained her human appearance - the hacker persona - and get rid of the stupid violet costume. Or, if they really want a costume for this super villain, make it as cool looking as the Kryptonian villains, or even Supergirl's sister.

Also, it was cool that the show gave us a peak at the Fortress of Solitude and a Legionnaire ring inside. Will the Legionnaires become Supergirl's sidekicks - just like Arrow has Team Arrow, and Flash has Team Flash? I guess we will just have to wait and see. But as far as DC superhero shows are concerned, Supergirl now ranks second to the Flash in terms of story telling. Can't wait for Cadmus and Powergirl to enter into the plot. And will Supergirl ever visit the City of Kandor - which is what her movie is known for...

DC's Legends of Tomorrow

I have a bad feeling about this upcoming show, taking mediocre heroes from the DC Universe, and putting them together as a single team, hoping the show will have success. It's no Justice League - but people are probably saving that for the big screen just like they are protecting the Batman and Superman franchise.

Even Marvel has taken the mediocre hero route - with Agents of SHIELD, but that TV show ranks the lowest in my superhero show list. Arrow, Flash, and Supergirl - yes, Supergirl (which I initially thought would bomb, but is doing fairly well) are my top 3 shows as of this point. Jessica Jones was too dark for my taste. Daredevil was also dark, but somehow, it, for me, has been the best Marvel TV series to date. Agent's of SHIELD just barely wins over Agent Carter.

Marvel should actually just turn either the Fantastic Four or Spiderman into a TV Series. Like DC, it is protecting big movie franchises like the X-MEN and the Avengers, but I feel that there is room to explore a TV Series patterned after the Watchers What If comics. Then, they should monitor which hero gets a lot of crowd attention, and launch a spin-off.

I don't know why DC feels the need for Legends of Tomorrow when you already have Team Flash, Team Arrow, and perhaps Team Supergirl is gradually being built up. Spoiler: Didn't expect the Martian Manhunter to be part of that series. And this is all thanks to the Smallville formula after which these shows are patterned.

But I believe DC could have gone with a Green Lantern or Wonder Woman TV series before going for a team show. And there are lots of DC Teams that can be used - why not go with Team Titans or Justice League of America? Even a Wild CATS TV series would be better than this current roster for Legends of Tomorrow.

And I have always wondered why the actors for the guest heroes in Smallville never ended up with their own show. The actors playing Green Arrow, Impulse, and even Supergirl could have been the main actors for the current DC TV series, but it did not happen that way. How come, all of a sudden, DC is taking heroes from the current shows and using them for this new series? Is it simply for continuity and remaining current? But the formula of starting a show with a fresh set of actors seems to have worked fine. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

I also don't think Atom or Hawkman can lead this team. Don't teams always need a Superman type leader - one who can rescue the day when everyone else on the team fails? And why is there a need for two heroes with heat powers and two heroes with wings? Redundancy? I just don't get it. I hope that when I see the show, my perspective changes.

If this show is an attempt to gain market share from Agents of SHIELD, SHIELD will probably have an upper hand. But if there is a Marvel Team that is worth exploring - where characters have a lot of history, the X-MEN franchise would still be my best bet for a successful TV series. And I don't think it will hurt their movie franchise either. A show like Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters could explore a mutant per episode and then the TV show can be used to build anticipation for a movie release, in the same way Agents of SHIELD was used for the Avengers movie. Just my two cents worth.

The Messengers 2015

warning: possible spoilers

Initially, you'ld think that this show was about aliens. Kinda like a cross between Roswell and Heroes. But it's more of a battle between Lucifer and individuals gifted with angelic powers. One has the power of super strength. Another can read minds. Still another has the power of healing. And they are all trying to save a woman who was shot seven years ago and is now lying in a coma. Kinda like save the cheerleader - save the world.

Hope people will be interested in what the Bible really says about Satan and the end times. Viewers should compare what is really written in the Bible - like in the book of Revelations - and contrast that with what the writers of this show are peddling. Shows like Exodus: Gods and Kings and even Noah are good if they peak people's interest in God's Word. But be reminded of the distinction. These shows are fantasy - based on actual events. God's Word is truth. So you can believe in the Bible 100%. If shows like these start making people doubt God or His Word, then it might not be very useful or profitable.

There are some Christians who believe we are near that time of Jesus Christ's second coming. Check out this article: http://www.ucg.org/doctrinal-beliefs/seven-prophecies-must-be-fulfilled-jesus-christs-return/

With the special effects available today, shows that showcase what could happen in the end-times are helpful in pointing people to repentance and leading them to Jesus. When we realize that hell - an eternity of torment - is our destination without the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives, shouldn't we stop and re-evaluate our lives? Jesus is the true savior of this world. He is the righteous Judge, coming King and ever living God.

Daredevil 2015

Possible spoilers: read at your own risk

While MARVEL has ruled superhero movies, DC has always been king of superhero TV shows with hits like Smallville, Arrow, and The Flash. (Notice how I didn't mention Gotham :p) MARVEL has tried to get into DC's turf with shows like Agents of Shield and Agent Carter, but I don't think these have made that big of an impact. But that's all about to change if they can keep Daredevil the way it has been going so far.

Daredevil is different from the aforementioned superhero shows because it has a seriousness to it. The previous shows I've mentioned all feel cartoony - you're watching a Saturday morning cartoon show. Arrow may have started a bit serious, but as team Arrow was built up, they had to integrate comedy into the show, and that's something I'm hoping to get less of with Daredevil. It's feels like a superhero show crossed with True Detective, and it should stay that way, even if it only lasts a season. I think the producers and creative people behind it are doing an excellent job, and they should not be afraid to continue on this path. Better a show for a season that people say is memorable, than a show that drags for several seasons and becomes forgetful at the end.

I had wished that Gotham was done in this tone. Or Batman, if it were turned into a TV show. But they've turned Gotham into a kiddie show now, so I'd lost hope for that show. How could DC counter? Do they have a character that's dark enough? Maybe go with the story when Superman got old and became the threat to Earth. As for Marvel, there are other dark characters that could follow in the footsteps of this Daredevil show like The Punisher. We live in dark times where justice has to take extreme measures.

This show excellently explores Daredevil's origin. From his father's influence to how he might have come up with the prototype for his weapon - and exploring uses for his heightened senses such as being a natural lie detector. And if the writers are bold enough, maybe they could go further and not go with the red devil suit. The Snake-eyes styled get-up works fine and blends better with the shadows, than a Halloween costume. (But then again - purists might complain, but I distinctively remember a time when Matt Mordoc having a change of costume that wasn't all red - and this could be an alternate reality where he could chose not to wear a silly suit - what if?).

And speaking of another TV series, MARVEL could explore the What If series with the Watchers and explore alternate timelines or universes where their trademark characters' lives are explored. Just wondering. I would love to be part of that gig.

So again, creative guys behind this new show, keep up the good work. And don't turn this into another hero team. DC's already got that formula used up and perhaps a different approach would be better for ratings.

Thunderbirds Are Go 2015

Warning: possible spoilers

I remember watching this show back when I was young. At first, there was a puppet version - which was very creative. The new show even retains some of the elements of that old puppet version like the palm trees bending to clear the runway for Thunderbird 2. There was also an animated version later on where Thunderbirds 1, 2 and 3 could merge into a single vehicle.

The Thunderbirds are an International Rescue team. Even back then, most of the episodes focused on rescuing people from natural disasters - and less on fighting bad guys. But times have changed and audiences have grown more sophisticated. So there has to be a storyline that spans the season, not just random rescues.

This time, a man bent on world domination (isn't there always one) is wrecking havoc by creating earthquakes all over the globe. This villian turns out to be the uncle of the Thunderbird team's security officer, Cato. There are other characters in this revival that I don't really remember in the old show like the grandma, and the spy with her chauffeur. A vehicle has also been added, called Thunderbird S - just for Cato.

I've always wondered what the numbers meant for the "crates" being carried by Thunderbird 2 - the "Hercules" transport of the team. I guess the numbers stand for the other Thunderbird vehicles but the only one which makes sense to carry would be Thunderbird 4. 1 and 3 and are simply too large - scale wise. 5 is a satellite station. And 2 can't carry itself, can it? Is there an extra Thunderbird 2?

A trick used by shows back then was to reuse the scenes where pilots enter their vehicles. Believe it or not, these parts were shown every episode, just like the show title and show credits, shaving off some minutes from the show's air time. And Thunderbirds wasn't the only show doing this. Voltron, Thundersub, and pretty much most Saturday morning cartoons had some part of the show which was rehashed from old footage. Good for production, but today's audiences might feel cheated or get bored. Even the Simpsons have invested in creating different openings for their audiences for each episode. And some TV shows have cut down their opening titles to 5 seconds of air time.

Still, over-all, I think the remake of this show is quite good. And I hope that we finally have a show that focuses on good values being passed on to the new generation - less about violence and fighting, and more about helping others especially in times of calamity.

The Flash Season 1 Episode 15

This episode is filled with a lot of goodies, so if you hate spoilers, stop reading right now!

First off - Sisko dies. Sisko finally discovers that Professor "Ed", (as I like to call him because of his TV show way way back) is the Reverse Flash. After the professor explains that he is from the future and has been trapped in the current timeline for 50 years, he also says that Barry Allen is the key to getting back to his own timeline. And that is the reason why he has been training Barry. The professor also reveals that he is Eobard Thawne - a distant relative of Joe's police partner, Eddie. How this will play out in future episodes is intriguing.

Barry and Iris finally reveal their true feelings for one another. And Barry also reveals to her that he is the Flash because he has to stop an incoming tidal wave that threatens to destroy Central City. This was generated by the Weather Wizard (Someone with powers like X-men's Storm) who is out to avenge his brother's death. The Weather Wizard blames Joe and is willing to kill an entire city just to quench his thirst for blood.

Flash tries to generate a barrier to counteract the incoming tidal wave by zooming back and forth - and in the process, accidentally travels back in time to a few days ago. Flash finally unlocks his ability to travel back in time - and this explains how he was present during his mother's death (and most likely battling Reverse Flash).

The season is about to end and it should end with a bang. There are so many stories that can still be explored in future seasons. We haven't even seen an encounter with Gorilla Grod and Abracadabra and the Trixster. And of course, there are plenty of speedsters in the Flash lore. Can't wait to see the likes of Jessie Quick, Max, Jay Garrett, and Wally West. But all (hopefully) in due time. May the Flash have many more exciting seasons in the future.

The Flash Pilot Episode 2014

Spoiler Alert: Read at your own risk

STAR Labs has created a particle accelerator similar to CERN's large hadron collider. According to Barry Allen, CSI for Keystone City, this will allow mankind to increase their knowledge from a small dot to a huge circle. But because of an unknown reason, the particle accelerator explodes, creating meta humans all across the city. (Similar to the way Smallville's meteor shower caused many people to become part of the Wall of Wierd). The explosion also places Barry Allen in a coma.

But the people at STAR Labs help him out, and after 9 months, he wakes up and discovers he has super speed. There are times when everything else around him appears to be moving very slow, but a scientist explains that he is actually the one moving very fast.

The show goes on with Barry Allen testing his speed limits, fighting a villain (one of the meta humans) who can create a tornado, and eventually, saving the city from disaster.

After almost two decades, the Flash has his own TV Series once again. (At least I hope he does, cause you never know with the rate producers are pulling the plug on shows these days.) Grant Gustin stars as the Flash and Stephen Amel, the Arrow, even shows up on the show to provide some mentoring. (Actually, Flash runs all the way to Starling City)

Tom Cavanaugh, star of the TV show Ed, might be this show's villain. Barry Allen seems to recall a streaking red and yellow blur during his childhood which caused the death of his mother. Flash fans know that Barry Allen eventually becomes part of the speed force which grants Barry Allen his powers via the lightning that strikes him. So one theory is that, the speed force was the blur, perhaps trying to bestow powers on Barry at such an early age.

But the show also gives a glimpse of the red and yellow blur having a head similar to the Flash, but with a yellow color. That reminds me of Dr. Zoom, the "evil Flash". Before Dr. Zoom became evil, he used to be a Flash fan. He idolized the Flash so much that he wanted to become like him. And since he was from the future, where it is easier to recreate the same conditions that granted the Flash powers, he modifies his genetic make up so that he also gains super speed, then travels back in time only to discover that Barry Allen kills him as Dr. Zoom, the only villain the Flash is ever forced to kill. This turns him into the evil villain he eventually becomes. (Timeline paradox fans will probably enjoy this). And the show ends with Tom Cavanaugh standing up from his wheelchair, and looking at a newspaper article in the future where the Flash has disappeared. So I'm guessing that Tom is still Dr. Zoom before he becomes evil and he has traveled back in time to find out what happened to the Flash.

CW, please don't mess this TV Series up. I hope that this show will be able to reach 3 seasons at least. Smallville explored a lot of Superman lore, and I expect this series to do the same for the Flash - discovering the different things he can do with super speed - vibration through solid objects, multiplication (ala multiple man), time travel, etc. - team ups with Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Batman, Superman - and hopefully, we also get to see the other Flashes and Kid Flashes (Wally West, Impulse, etc.)

With so many DC projects in the pipeline (Gotham seems interesting, too), comic book fans are in for a treat this year.

Street Fighter Assassin's Fist Movie

Warning: Possible spoilers

Was able to watch the Street Fighter Assassin's Fist movie last night. This movie will start off the planned Street Fighter TV series. This movie tells how Ryu and Ken meet for the first time, and how they end up being trained by their master, Gouken.

The movie also explores the story of Gouken and his brother Goki. Goki, eventually will become Akuma, who I believe will be the final enemy in the series.

The actor who plays Ken really did a good job. He should have maintained the long hair instead of cutting it off in the end. He was way more bad ass looking sporting the pony tail.

Too bad the actor playing Ryu reminds me of Cho in the Mentalist. I don't know if this was the reason why I couldn't believe in his Ryu portrayal. But I guess Ken will be the main hero in this series, preventing Ryu from embracing the dark side.

I wish they could have found a Gouken who looked like the character in Street Fighter IV for Playstation 3. If they could get Akuma right, they should have gotten Gouken right. (Unless Gouken will undergo some kind of transformation that will allow him to look like the video game version).

I hope the TV series will show the duo encountering a street fighter character every episode. Can't wait for Ryu and Ken to fight Guile, Chun-li, E. Honda, Blanka, Zangief, Vega, Balrog, Sagat, and M. Bison. There are plenty of Street Fighter character histories to explore. Each episode of the series could probably do that. And with new characters like Gen, Rose, Cammy, Sakura, T. Hawk, and many more, this series should last for 3 seasons at least, assuming they explore one character per season, and each season lasts about 10 episodes.

I'm still wondering if Gen was the old man who gave Ryu to Gouken.

Props to the Mega Man bit, reminding us of Street Fighter's relationship with CAPCOM. Also to Ken's pissed off comment about Dan, being the first student of Gouken. Wonder if we will see him in the series, and whether or not he will be as funny as his video game persona.

If the visual artists can do a great job with the hadoken animation, they can also work on Ken's flaming shoryuken.

Really excited about this series and hope it doesn't disappoint the Street Fighter fans worldwide.

   

Moira Queen Episode on Arrow

Warning: Possible spoilers

Moira Queen was killed by Slade Wilson on the latest episode of Arrow. In an attempt to replicate the agony he is going through because Oliver Queen chose Black Canary's life over Shadow, Deathstroke make Oliver decide who lives, either his mother or his sister. But instead of Oliver choosing, Moira makes the choice for him. As the mother of both Oliver and Thea, she chooses to sacrifice her own life so that her children might live.

While the episode would have been about Roy's struggle with the effects of the Mirakuru, for me, the episode was really about Moira Queen's character. She may have made poor and questionable choices in the past, but she always looked out for the welfare of her children. This episode would have been perfect for Mother's day, but I guess the timing wouldn't have fit the schedule of the show.

Will this sacrifice bring back the old Arrow who was willing to kill so that justice may be served? Will Oliver avenge Moira's death and kill Slade? The season is winding down. Let's hope it has a spectacular finish. Stay tuned and see how it ends. 

Anna Kendrick on SNL

I've been an Anna Kendrick fan since her role in Up In The Air with George Clooney. I thought that that particular movie gave her acting justice, compared to her roles in Twilight and Scott Pilgrim VS. The World. But I never thought she was a great singer. I think she could have played Kristen Bell's part in Frozen.

from http://www.aceshowbiz.com

So if you want to get a taste of Ms. Kendrick's singing prowess, watch the intro, where she sings as Belle in Beaty and the Beast and the Little Mermaid bit of her as guest in SNL. She's really funny and amazing. For more on Ms. Anna Kendrick, follow this link.

P.S. Kudos and props to Aidy Bryant for her role as Ursula.

Sherlock 2014

Warning: Possible spoilers

Fans of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman should be ecstatic. The 3rd season of Sherlock has started and we go fast forward to two years after the last episode of season 2 where the main character jumps to his death in order to save his friends from Moriarty's diabolical plot.

Sherlock, unlike most other TV shows, only has 3 episodes scheduled for the entire year. So after watching 3 episodes, fans have to wait a very long time, assuming there will even be a 4th season (probably dependent on how well this season's ratings will be).

The first episode that was shown was entitled The Empty Hearse and this refers to a group of people who have banded together to figure out if Baker Street's beloved detective has really duped everyone else with some ruse about his death.

Watson on the other hand has had difficulty moving on after his friends demise. He has found it so difficult, he has grown a mustache to prove it.

 

image from metro.co.uk

The first episode gives the audience several possible explanations on how Shelock faked his death. It also allows viewers to see how Sherlock reintegrates with the people he has left behind. (We even get to see his parents for the very first time).

Some of the funniest bits to watch out for would be Cumberbatch's French waiter scene and the exchange between Microft and Sherlock talking about their childhood. This episode also introduces Watson's new love interest as well as a new unknown nemesis who is shown as the show ends.

Since Moriarty killed himself in the last episode of season 2, the show requires a new antagonist for Holmes and Watson to pit wits against. And as far as the books were concerned, I believe Moriarty was already considered as the Joker to this show's dynamic duo. So the writers are exercising their creativity in coming up with a villain that can supersede, if not be on par, with season 2's main opponent. 

With a lot of TV shows on vacation (and even if they were not), Sherlock is a must see for both die-hard fans and newcomers. Newbies might even want to search back for the first two seasons for a sense on continuity. But even if you are new to this adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's character, this first episode is sure to entertain.