Time to bring out the Kleenex people as HBO Home
Entertainment brings to Bluray the sixth and final season of GIRLS.
It has been a while since Hannah’s (Lena Dunham) article in
The New York Times about Jessa and Adam (Adam Driver) and she is off to the Hamptons. She meets
Paul-Louis there which makes the trip not as bad as she thought.
The happiness between Ray (Alex Karpovsky) and Shoshanna (Zosia
Mamet) are clearly evident which is driving Marnie (Allison Williams) a little
nuts. It happens to divorce people who just aren’t ready to see that sort of
goings on. When the group goes on a trip to Poughkeepsie, Desie (Ebon Bachrach) is busted
for using Oxycontin and Marnie is not about to have any of it.
Hannah has a clear moment and realizes that she is so into
her own life that she didn’t even notice that her friend was in trouble. If
that isn’t drama enough, Elijah (Andrew Rannelis) and Shoshanna get into a hot
mess bringing up past-peeves and accusations and maybe even a tad bit of
jealousy towards Jessa (Jemima Kirke).
Once again Hannah has to answer for something she did, or in
this case wrote. Chuck Palmer isn’t pleased with an article Hannah has written
accusing him of funny business with his students. Instead of a lecture, Chuck
and Hannah talk about their work, how he treats women and how she needs to work
on her fact checking skills. Just when she thought all was well, in a single
second it all changes.
Ray isn’t having an easy time either not feeling appreciated
by Marnie but that seems to be the least of his worries. He learns that life is
fleeting only in Ray’s case a little more fleeting on this particular day.
Not feeling well physically, Hannah heads to the ER and runs
into Joshua from “One Man’s Trash”. Not ready to deal with that? Well, then she
isn’t about to deal with the news that someone is pregnant!
Adam and Jessa want to make a movie together and they want
it based on what happened with Hannah, and ask for her okay on it. Loreen shows
up and Hannah blurts out the news which is a bad idea since Loreen is dealing
with a cannabis situation of her own. When Loreen goes missing, Elijah and
Hannah track her down and she blurts out Hannah’s news. Sending Elijah into a
blunt moment, he announces his feelings about the matter.
Ray is on an emotional roller coaster about Hermie and
Marnie doesn’t really care and Ray spills how he’s feeling about it all. Marnie
finds out about Hannah but wants to know who the father is and in a moment of
frustration Hannah tells Adam her little secret which in turn frustrates Marnie
who finds out from Adam!
Knowing she can’t put it off any longer, Hanna tries to find
Paul-Louis to no avail and sees part of Adams
film and is surprised by it. Babysitting an ex-boyfriend for Elijah so he can
go on an audition only to come back and find the two eating pizza.
Marnie gets a wake up call with a notice on her door, a
parents who won’t enable and the eye opening realization that some things in
her life just aren’t as real as she thought. Having a moment of clarity she
reaches out to Desi. Speaking of moments of clarity, Adam decides that he wants
to be a baby-daddy and for a second there is a recons illation for he and
Hannah.
Ray hits it off with Shoshanna’s former boss, Hannah
interviews for a college job, there is an engagement party, Marnie wants to
clear the air with everyone and Jessa knows who she wants in her life.
That doesn’t stop Hannah from the biggest decision of her
life and that’s leaving the city but she didn’t expect a new roommate as Marnie
goes with her. It also doesn’t mean that drama doesn’t follow as the finale
episode gives us all one more reason to love these GIRLS.
This has been a story about friendship, craziness and the
life of GIRLS!
HBO Home Entertainment has an extensive array of
critically-acclaimed and groundbreaking programs found on Bluray, DVD and
Digital HD. They have provided viewers with some of the most amazing programs
with huge fan bases that include the shows True
Blood, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, True Detectives, The Wire, Entourage and Game of Thrones. Launched in 1984, HBO
is world wide in viewed entertainment in more than 70 territories around the
world! For more of what they have to offer please visit www.hbo.com.
The Bluray includes the Bonus Features of Enjoy a Goodbye to Girls: Extended Cut –
a special version of the series’ finale – and an exclusive Audio Commentary with Lena Dunham,
Judd Apatow and Jennie Donner. Plus get Inside
the Episodes and Favorite Moments
Features spotlighting each of the girls most memorable scenes.
Also includes on the Bluray is two-discs of over 310 minutes
of girl time (yes we love you too Adam!) along with a Digital HD Ultraviolet
copy that can be played on your television, laptop, tablet or Smartphone.
GIRLS premiered on HBO in 2012 with a story created by Lena
Dunham with Judd Apatow as executive producer. This comedy-drama has allowed
audiences to follow the lives of four completely different though all together
same women. In 2013, GIRLS won a Golden Globe Aware for Best Television Series.
Dunham has taken us on a wild ride through relationships,
hardships, sadness and the realities of life with GIRLS and we are truly sorry
to see them go but – in our hearts wish them well. Yes, we get that involved
with our characters sometimes and its okay with me.
Lets be realistic here, there is no way to cover everything
at the amazing and huge Comic Con 2017. So I will do my best to bring you what
I can but also let you know there is so much more with something for everyone.
Comic book alley in the main convention hall is always abuzz
with the latest stories, amazing art with authors and artists always ready to
talk about their work. To this day I have an original water color from HOW TO
TRAIN YOUR DRAGON that hangs on my wall. It is rich in color and a story in
itself so please stop by and see what made Comic Con what it is today.
Also in the main hall there are offerings from film,
animation, television, cable and the fantastic set ups that are there for
everyone to enjoy. Be careful around meet-and-greet time as fans just explode
when their favorite actors and actresses sign their posters!
So let’s start off with where Thursday takes me and for more
of what we manage to photograph, it will all be available at http://moviemaven.homestead.com.
Here we go to Comic Con 2017!
Beginning with 20th Century Fox the panels
include KINGSMAN: The Golden Circle with Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, HalleBerry, Jeff Bridges
and, ready for the screaming – Channing Tatum can be found in Hall H. Along
with MEDINAH with a WorldPremiereSneakPeak and Sony Pictures
Classics THE FANTASTICAL WORLD OF BRIGSBY BEAR.
IFC bring John C. McGinley, Janet Varney and executive producer
Dana Gould for a peek at season 2 of STAN AGAINST EVIL.
From the world of television, Carlton Cuse, the creator of
LOST and Ryan Condal host COLONY: Season 3 Revealed with a question and answer
session with a look back at the season’s shocking finale. MTV’s mega hit TEEN
WOLF comes back to Comic Con to take a look back at where wolfing began as the
show comes to an end after this season.
SYFY: Battlestar Galactica Reunion brings Ron Moore, David
Eick, Tricia Helfer, Marcy McDonnell, Grace Park, Michael Trucco and Aaron
Douglas back to discuss the shows iconic run and – the truth about Cylons! Also
on stage is VAN HELSING Season 2 with exclusive footage of the new season. Z
NATION is currently in production for its fourth season as Kellita Smith, DJ
Qualls, Keith Allen and Russel Hodgkinson are on panel to talk about it all, or
at least what they are allowed to talk about.
FX is giving us all more of THE STRAIN with a screening and
Q&A with Carlton Cuse, Chuck Hogan and stars Corey Stoll, David Bradley,
Kevin Durand (hold me back!), Ruta Gedmintas, Miguel Gomez, Richard Sammel (is
he not the best evil?) and Max Charles.
FOX’s seriously amazing hit THE EXORCIST is heading back for
it’s second season and Alfonso Herrera, Ben Daniels, Kurt Egyiawan and
producers Jeremy Slater and Sean Crouch bring a fan tribute panel and
highlights for the new season.
Netflix brings its showings with BRIGHT as a story set in
present time with humans, orcs, elves and fairies starring Will Smith, Joel
Edgerton, Noomi Rapace directed by David Ayer. Yes, there will be footage so be
prepared for that! DEATH NOTE. Also, CASTLEVANIA brings a video game franchise
to the screen. Hear the behind the scenes story from Jessica Tseang, Sam Deats,
Kevin Kolde and Adi Shankar. MEDINAH as the first sci-fi series to be staged in
the Middle East. It is a story of survivors
both human and not so human with stars Eric Roberts, Natasha Henstridge, Rick
Ravanello, Tamoh Penikett and Eyad Hourani.
The animation and television have their own offerings with
UNIKITTY! who has become a fan favorite from THE LEGO MOVIE. A new episode will
premiere followed by a Q&A. CALL OF DUTY: WWII Nazi Zombies are the new
dark chapter for the Call of Duty fans.
DreamWorks brings VOLTRON: Legendary Defender as a Netflix
Original Series to fans who also get a debut look at the first episode of
season 3 and an exclusive poster by the Voltron crew!
THE NERDIST PANEL with Chris Hardwick returns with Jessica
Chobot, Kyle Hill, Dan Casey, Rachel Heine, Andrew Bowser and John Ford to talk
about everything Comic Con!
Finally, an amazing ADAM WEST CELEBRATION brings Kevin
Smith, Ralph Garman, James Tucker and Gary Miereanu along with more celebrate
my Batman – Adam West.
If you miss any of the action or a panel you were really
wanting to see, Comic Con has come up with a fantastic solution. Hall H and
Ballroom 20 replay the panels so you have an opportunity to hear from all your
favorites and on the big screens it’s just like being there, sort of.
That’s what we have so far for Thursday and we will make
sure to have Friday’s craziness ready for you as soon as possible. This year we
are going to be outside as well because even though inside the convention
center is amazing, outside is spectacular with so much to see it’s
geek-overload!
Please visit www.comic-con.org
for scheduling that will tell you everything you need to know and show you
exactly where to go – and for me that’s important. It’s also a great way for
the family to get together and form a game plan to divide and conqueror!
So if you happen to see us round and about please say hello,
of course you know it’s like playing ‘Where’s Waldo?’ to do so but it is
interesting to see how many people actually do. Thank you for that – it means
the world to us!
It’s here and it’s as epic as ever. San Diego Comic Con
International begins the next four days with Preview Night and it always brings
in the crowds. Everyone is looking for something special, one of a kinds or
hitting all the fun exhibits and hands on attractions that are pretty darn
cool.
Everything in the main hall at the Convention Center can be
found up and down each of the aisles. To give you a bit of a heads up of what
you can expect to find, I’m going to run down as much as possible. Here we go!
Warner Bros., Lionsgate and ABC are in the 4500-4200 block
of the hall with their offerings of what is coming in theatres and on
television. Sharing real estate is AMC and their fantastic programming and 20th
Century Fox ready to give you a shocker or two.
BBC America always captures my attention as I am a huge
ORPHAN BLACK fan and it is also the home of the famous DOCTOR WHO. Next door is
STARZ and you can be sure your favorite OUTLANDER series will be represented to
the maximum. Netflix is going to grab the attention of fans of so many of their
original programs and if you haven’t seen STRANGER THINGS, well I have to
wonder what planet you have been on.
Lucasfilms is close by and that’s where many people I know
are going to be stationed to get word on what is to come and all the new
goodies for fans. Seriously, I couldn’t walk past that exhibit if I wanted to
as most know I’m a huge fan from before time was time. I plan to go to the
Princess Leia gathering to celebrate the life of our own unique Princess – Ms.
Carrie Fisher.
Animation isn’t about to be left out of the loop as
Funmation brings their characters out to play, Cartoon Network is equally loved
and you can be sure I’ll be looking for my favorites as well. Nickelodeon
always brings the family fun and this year is no exception.
If it’s toys you happen to be looking for – you know – for
the kids and the kid in all of us, well Hasbro, Mattel, Lego and Toynami can
help you fill your bag so you might want to bring a couple of extra. You will
probably find me in the Funko section because I have to get the Game of Thrones
Funko’s, it is a moral imperative.
Video games are high on the list of places to visit in the
hall as PC Games, Nintendo, Capcom, Xbox and more will tease and tempt the
gamers with their latest adventures.
Of course what would Comic Con be without – comic books!
There are plenty represented by DC, Marvel, Dark Horse Comics, IDW publishing,
Torpedo Comics and so many more. I don’t know how anyone is going to have time
to go through them all but a way will be found because once a die hard comic
fan, always a die hard comic fan.
Of course please visit the artists that bring their work to
Comic Con each and every year. I have found some of the most amazing
illustrators from superheroes to action, fantasy and more. They are always so
gracious and excited to talk about their work. Support them by stopping by and
seeing all the amazing pieces and stories.
Making my way outside I knew it was time to have a little
fun. First I began with the BLADERUNNER 2049 Experience and let me tell you –
go there! It is an immersive experience that will give your more to look
forward to with the films release.
Also, the sci-fi outdoor experience THE EXPANSE is right
next door so you can jump from one awesome interactive bit of fun right to the
other. THE EXPANSE is celebrating it’s second season and I had the chance to
interview Cas Anvar about his role so being part of their outdoor experience
was uber cool.
Then, Amazon Prime welcomed me to THE TICK experience. THE
TICK is a series coming August 25 and I couldn’t be more excited. Going through
their interactive offerings I had the chance to test my knowledge about THE
TICK and then challenged armed with my super wrist band to tap my way to find
out what kind of superhero I am. In case you are wondering, I’m a “Super
Citizen – When Destiny Calls You Answer!” so back off me man I’m a super
citizen according to THE TICK!
There are so many interactive exhibits to visit and you can
be sure that I will let you know about everyone one of them. In the mean time,
eat a hearty dinner and then rest up because tomorrow brings a day with a
little something for everyone.
In bookstores this week from Penguin Random House are
beloved characters that have been lovingly cared for by writer J.M. Lee with
the release of Song of the Dark Crystal.
The year was 2013 when The Jim Henson Company along with
Grosset & Dunlap of the Penguin Young Readers Group put out the call for
author submissions. The Dark Crystal Author Quest sought a prequel to Jim
Henson’s 1982 iconic The Dark Crystal.
Seeking a new novel over 500 writers took up the challenge.
It would be J.M. Lee’s story The Ring of Dreams that would take the prestigious Author Quest and
lead to Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal:
Shadows of the Dark Crystal. Released in 2016, the story is years before
The Dark Crystal in Thra as Naia, a young Gelfling, takes on the quest of
proving the accusation of her twin brother’s treason to be false.
Her journey leads her to clues to prove his innocence but
also something dark is in Thra and Naia is headed straight into the heart of
it. You’re thinking ‘that’s it?...going to leave me hanging like that?’ The
answer to that is – would I do that to you?
This week J.M. Lee brings readers of all ages back to the
lands of Gelfling with Jim Henson’s Song
of the Dark Crystal.
The journey from Thra to the Gelfling Capital is even more intense as Naia
seeks to warn others about the Skeksis. It won’t be easy as something is
following them making trusting anyone difficult.
Born and raised in Minnesota
(one of my favorite states), Lee is also a graduate from the University of Minnesota
with a degree in linguistics. He has not only taken up the mantle of The Dark Crystal but also is the writer
and creative consultant on the Netflix prequel series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with author J.M.
Lee about his own journey into The Dark
Crystal as its new story teller and keeper of reader’s dreams.
Jeri Jacquin: Good morning Joe, thank you so much for taking
the time to talk with me this morning.
Joe Lee: Thank you too.
JJ: I’m very excited to talk to you because my kids have
been fans of The Dark Crystal since forever. They are in their mid-30s now so
that tells you how long that fandom has been going on.
JL: That’s so great.
JJ: Tell me how you got involved with writing the next
chapters of The Dark Crystal
storyline?
JL: Sure, in 2013 Grosset & Dunlap sent out a call for
submissions specifically for this project. My agent emailed me letting me know
it was going on and wanted to know if I’d be interested. She didn’t know this
but The Dark Crystal was one of my
favorite movies growing up as well. So I said ‘yes I do’ and read what they
were looking for. I wrote my submission and a couple of years later the first
book Shadows of the Dark Crystal came
out. That’s how that happened and here we are with the second book Song of the Dark Crystalcoming out.
JJ: When you were writing your submission, that had to not
only be intense but you are delving into something so iconic.
JL: Absolutely, when I first was reading through the
material that was presented for the submission I had seen the movie but didn’t
know there were so many other publications produced. There were the graphic
novels and so it was all pretty new to me. I was very excited to know there was
so much existing mythology for The Dark
Crystal so I nerded out on it. There is so much extended world information.
At the time when I was first writing my submission there wasn’t that pressure
yet, it was more just entering a contest. I think it was when Penguin called me
and said I was a finalist and wanted to know where I would take the story as a
full length novel that I began to feel the pressure. It was very intense in the
beginning but I think now I’ve become acclimated to it. I think there is so
much that I wanted to make sure it was on brand and cannon.
JJ: Did you know that you were going to get so involved even
further into it as you are now?
JL: No, I had no idea! The original contest was for one novel
and when we were wrapping up Shadow’s of
the Dark Crystal my editor came to me and said, ‘it just occurred to me to
ask if you wanted to do more, I just assumed you did’. I said absolutely and
the books were happening and then the involvement on the television series was
a total treat and a surprise for me. The whole thing has been a fun and crazy
ride.
JJ: Speaking of the series that had to be the ultimate
geek-out! In my family you have three generations of The Dark Crystal fans so watching your words spring into being had
to be amazing.
JL: The book writing process is so long, it takes time to
write and edit and it can be years between writing a book and finding it on the
shelf. You think you are ready for it but there is something so special seeing
a book on a shelf in a store and especially seeing The Dark Crystal logo on it. There is something that doesn’t feel
totally official until you see it in a story, it’s like magic.
JJ: The interest part of this for me is that kids still want
to actually read a book, with all the technology out there it’s easy to get
away from an actual hold-in-your-hand book. It is amazing to see the ‘new’
generation of kids reading The Dark
Crystal and you are responsible.
JL: I was at a teen literature conference here in the Twin
Cities and it was on a Saturday held at a high school. I wondered how they were
going to get teens to come back to their high school on a Saturday. It was
packed! The kids were so excited to meet authors and to buy books and to share
with each other. They were having the best time and I am so happy to be part of
that. I think that there is something so special about fiction for young
people. There is something about the way teens love fiction and especially love
books. There is some sort of notion with adults that there is a pressure to
choose which book is the best and which ones aren’t and with kids all books are
the best. They have arms full of books from all different genres but they are
going to love them equally. To be able to give them more stuff that they love
is why I write.
JJ: That’s thrilling to me watching kids get focused on a
series of books, and I know a few kids like that who love a certain writer or
story and turn their rooms into libraries. Don’t need to paint the walls just
put up book cases and books become the paint and you are now part of that so
congratulations sir.
JL: Thank you and let me say I’m so happy to be here.
JJ: To go back into the world of The Dark Crystal you said you had to do research of your own, was
that process difficult because you don’t want to repeat what is already there.
You want to bring your own vision into the mix as well so was that on your mind
as part of the process, finding that balance between the source material and
are your own thoughts?
JL: It was definitely part of the process. I’m a very
collaborative person and I’ve done it with other writers and other situations
like this. I really enjoy the collaborative aspect and in my opinion the more
the merrier to a point. The one thing I really appreciated about that is that The Dark Crystal books had a story that
was unique to them but also fit into the mythology of The Dark Crystal world. So there is definitely a balance that had
to be found that was a balance between were can we go that we haven’t gone
before and a great opportunity before me. This is the first time that a novel
that would be in this mythology. You can do a lot in a novel that you can’t do
in a graphic novel and vice versa so there was a lot of opportunity there.
There is also maintaining The Dark
Crystal world and I wanted to make sure that it is true to The Dark Crystal, it’s true to the film
and it’s true to the character of the property. I would never say that it was a
challenge really in the sense that it prevented me from writing something. In
every case where I ever felt I needed to search for new material, there was
something there that existed in The Dark
Crystal. So it was more of collaboration rather than a challenge.
JJ: I told people I was speaking to you this morning and I
just mention the words The Dark Crystal
and there are gasps. They are very curious to know what’s in the story and of
course they worry about losing their childhood memory of the original. They
want things to be as they were and yet at the same time they want the story to
grow.
JL: Yes, I think there is some anxiety from the fan base
because every time something new comes out from an existing storyline they get
nervous wondering if they are going to like it. I would say speaking for myself
that whenever I would worry about letting fans down or not doing it right I
think to myself that The Dark Crystal
means as much to me as it does to a person who is a creator in that world. That
is the same with anyone that I have worked with who is part of The Dark Crystal, we are all fans first
which is why we want to do this. I think that whenever I would get stressed out
by that pressure I go to the feeling that I love The Dark Crystal and that’s why I’m doing this – I am a fan. That
always pointed me in the right direction thinking as a fan what would I want to
read about or see. That has served me pretty well.
JJ: I think that is very important to tell the readers who
are waiting for this. You are a fan and you embrace it as much as they do and
knowing that should alleviate their anxiety. Now that you are engrained and you
can’t get away, from The Dark Crystal
world where do you see this going for you?
JL: I don’t really know because there are so many places to
take The Dark Crystal. There is
endless opportunities and from a nerd perspective <which made me laugh>,
seriously if you look at the mythology of The
Dark Crystal it’s a huge universe, a huge world and a huge timeline. There
are nooks and crannies that we can explore so it’s up to Jim Henson and
everyone involved who want to know where we can go next and I’m here for that
and totally up for it.
JJ: I’m giggling to because this is Comic Con week so this
is the best place for The Dark Crystal
to be and there is always a group dressed as the characters. I love what they
do because you can see the love they have for the characters and story being
part of their lives. The best part right now is I’m talking to the person
keeping that story alive and now that you’ve done it everyone is going to
expect you to stay!
JL: That’s alright, I’m here and ready!
JJ: When people of all ages come across Song of the Dark Crystal what would you like them to take away from
the story?
JL: For me as a child, The
Dark Crystal had a couple of major take-aways that have lasted a lifetime
for me. I think that one of the major themes from The Dark Crystal film is one that I have been trying to really
reinforce in the books which is harmony. The harmony between people and their
different ideas or the harmony between the land, the earth and the people who
are here to take care of it. There is always the idea of challenges or problems
but that harmony is the key to solving or surmounting those challenges. That is
the big concept takeaway. The smaller level take away is that everybody has
something special about them that they can use to make the world a better
place.
JJ: I like that, that’s really important because most of the
young readers are looking for is someone to say ‘it’s okay!’ and it’s okay to
have a love of the written word and it’s okay that you are not on a computer or
playing a video game. Most of all that it’s okay to pick up a book and go into
another world.
JL: I think the main character of Shadow in the first book
is a tough, athletic girl and she is trying to find her place in the world. The
main character in the Song of the Dark
Crystal that is coming out tomorrow actually is kind of a bookworm and sort
of a nerd. The book is about how he doesn’t have to be like his friends in
order to be important or to have something to say in about helping the world.
It’s about embracing who you are even if that’s a bookworm and that story is
close to my heart.
JJ: Congratulations on the book and I can’t wait to jump
back into that world and see where you will take us next.
JL: Thank you!
After speaking with Joe I am anxiously waiting for the book
to be in my own hands. The Dark Crystal
is part of our family as well and I am always ready to pass down to my
grandkids the love of adventure through holding a book in their hands. In this
world of The Dark Crystal are themes
of loyalty, trust, relationships, good vs. evil and most of all learning to be
true to one’s self.
Lessons we all truly need to embrace and, on occasion,
remind ourselves that it is still truly possible. This week from J.M. Lee and
Penguin Random House is a reason to curl up in our favorite chairs and go on an
adventure with The Dark Crystal.
Coming to DVD this week from MGM and 20th Century
Fox Home Entertainment is the MTV hit series TEEN WOLF Season 6 Part 1.
The fifth season ended with the search for a cane-sword that
once was used to kill a Beast and the escape of a Nazi Alpha werewolf. Scott
McCall (Tyler Posey), Stiles Stilinski (Dylan O’Brien), Lydia Martin (Holland
Roden), and Malia Tate (Shelley Hennig) are back at Beacon Hills High for the
second half of their senior year.
Hayden (Victoria Moroles) and Liam (Dylan Sprayberry) find a
boy named Alex and when they take him home it seems someone has tried to make
them completely disappear. It becomes clear that the Ghost Riders have taken
them but to make matters even more difficult, anyone who sees them can be
erased as well. Stiles has seen one and quickly becomes forgotten.
When the Ghost Riders invade the school and taking students,
Corey can see them undetected. Each of them fights to remember the other as one
by one Corey recovers the student’s ID that helps him remember.
The Nazi Alpha werewolf that managed to escape is closer
than the gang imagined. When people begin to go missing, Chris (J.R. Bourne)
and Melissa (Melissa Ponzio) attempt to discover who is responsible. All of
this while Hayden is still seeking out the Ghost Riders and meets Gwen, (Alisha
Boe), wanting to protect her is going to take the whole gang.
Trying to protect as many as possible from the Ghost Riders,
Chris begins taking people to an underground bunker. When a group is attacked,
Gwen is taken while Chris and Malia are hurt. Shot by a Ghost Rider, Parrish
(Ryan Kelley) survives but now they must find some sort of relic that will help
them.
On another plane, Stiles is with others who have been erased
by the Ghost Riders. Knowing that the relic they need is in his Jeep in the
school parking lot, he discovers that he can contact Scott and Lydia through
an intercom that reaches the car radio! He says one word – Canaan!
A town called Canaan lost all its residents in 1980 and Lydia has a
vision of it all. Taking almost all those that are left there, it is quickly
apparent that the Ghost Riders made quick taking of them. One resident remains
in hiding, Lenore, a banshee and a little boy Caleb and she wants the gang for
her son!
Lydia
does some fast talking and Liam uses Kira’s sword bring Theo back. They do
manage to capture a Ghost Rider but can’t get any answers and even Parrish only
manages to be a part of it all briefly. The Ghost Riders are making quick work
of all they capture, teacher Mr. Douglas reveals what he needs and wants Chris
and Melissa to find Parrish. That’s not going to stop Scott, Lydia,
Malia, Liam, Theo and Sheriff Stilinski from escaping the Ghost Riders and making
their way back to Beacon Hills by remembering.
Knowing that remembering is the only think that will bring
back those who have been taken by the Ghost Riders, it takes something as small
as a kiss to break open the rift that is separating them all. They also piece
together that the one person they are suppose to trust in school is also the
one person who is trying to play both sides against each other. This isn’t
something Ghost Riders are apt to like as the train station becomes the staging
ground for the beginning of the end – but for whom?
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings
award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital
HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own
home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have
please visit www.fox.com.
The Special Features include Behind the Scenes of Beacon Hills, VGX Reel and a Gag Reel which is always one of my favorites to see. The DVD
includes the episodes Memory Lost,
Superposition, Sundowning, Relics, Radio Silence, Ghosted, Heartless,
Blitzkrieg, Memory Found and Riders
on the Storm.
MTV has really brought a series that has been growing and
ever changing. Every story arc has been unique in its telling and the ensemble
cast continues to bring it each and every episode. I love the originality of
the stories and that nothing is off limits yet everything is unexpected.
TEEN WOLF is a series based on a screenplay by Jeph Loeb and
Matthew Wiesman. Developed by Executive Producer Jeff David, the pilot was
written by David, Loeb and Weisman to be directed by Russell Mulcahy.
Posey, O’Brien, Roden, Hennig, Sprayberry, Ashby, Ponzio,
Kelley and Bourne bring it and having the TEEN WOLF Season Six Part 1 DVD means
you have the chance to revisit or catch up before the gang from Beacon Hills
comes back. A new story line is going to take us all on another 10-episode ride
and it’s going to be top speed from episode go!
TEEN WOLF – The Final Ten Episodes begins airing Sunday,
July 30th at 8/7 central on MTV. These ten episodes are going to be
completely amazing especially with the gang graduating and planning the next
stage in their lives but don’t think for one second that doesn’t mean things
won’t get intense!
The wait is over! FX has kept us waiting long enough for all
the answers to their highest rated sci-fi television show filled with vampires
and human endurance for survival from THE STRAIN.
For those who may not know about this fantastic series, let
me catch you up. Guillermo del Toro’s hands decided to bring the novel to
series and enlisted the help of Chuck Hogan. In 2009 fans were introduced to The Strain followed by The Fall and The Night Eternal in 2010 and 2011.
Bringing the story to FX was an incredible idea that brings
this storyline – a jet landing at JFKInternationalAirport
is filled with people who are infected with a parasitic worm. Dr. Ephraim
Goodweather (Corey Stoll) and Dr. Nora Martinez (Mia Maestro) investigate
finding four people alive. What they don’t realize is that in the cargo hold is
a large mysterious box that holds the key to everything.
Enter Abraham Setrakian (David Bradley), an elderly man who
informs them that the bodies on the plane must be immediately destroyed as well
as the intricately carved box that was found in the cargo hold. That isn’t
about to happen as far as Thomas Eichhorst (Richard Sammel) is concerned as he
takes control of the box.
From that moment on the city and the people begin to change
as a fight for survival begins. A race of vampires are on the lose and no one
is safe as it becomes every human for himself. That includes Eldritch Palmer
(Jonathan Hyde) a very sick man who will do anything for immortality and makes
a deal with Palmer and The Master, an Ancient vampire who is out for revenge
and the world.
Eph and Vasility Fet (Kevin Durand), a vermin terminator,
begin a quest to save who they can and find a way to destroy The Master and all
vampires before there is nothing left of the human race.
Cas Anvar is returning to reprise his role as Sanjay Desai,
right-hand man to the evil freaky eyed blinking Eichhorst played by the amazing
Richard Sammel. Sanjay is a character who knows how to get the job done in
bringing world domination to the vampires. This is a character that is hard to
read because he keeps his emotions away from the vampires staying in survival
mode every step of the way.
This actor has been keeping the pace with roles in both film
and television. In film he began in 2000 as Zakir in the film SEDUCING MAARYA
with his most recently film AS Deep Panday in MISS INDIA AMERICA.
In television I first saw him in 2010 as Omer Jarrah in
another series I can watch a million times over with LOST. This year he has
been doing double with is role as Alex Kamal in the series THE EXPANSE and now
his return as Sanjay Desai in the FX final season of THE STRAIN.
I had the opportunity to speak with Cas about his role,
returning to finish the job (so to speak) and all things THE STRAIN and a bit
of THE EXPANSE!
Jeri Jacquin: Hi Cas, thanks for taking the time to speak
with us today, especially since you are doing double duty between THE STRAIN
and a new season of THE EXPANSE. You are a busy man.
Cas Anvar: Yes, it has been a very good year and I’ve been
very fortunate. I’m enjoying it all.
JJ: You have to tell me how did you get involved with THE
STRAIN? I am really a huge, huge fan of the series.
CA: Yes? You are a little bit of a dark horse are you?
JJ: Yes, really dark. I have the Masters head on my desk
does that tell you anything?
CA: Oh my gawd.
JJ: But he’s next to Yoda so it’s kind of a yin/yang thing,
good and evil you know?
CA: That is so weird, I don’t think even Guillermo has the
Masters head on his desk.
JJ: Well, there is Darth Vadar, Buddha, Yoda and the Master
all lined up.
CA: Buddha? What! Oh my gawd.
JJ: See how it evens out?
CA: The duality, no I get it. I actually don’t really want
to know what’s going on in your head; it’s kind of scary <laughing>
JJ: Here’s the thing, I’m 56 years old but I’m young and
twisted at heart.
CA: You sound definitely, definitely…something <still
laughing>
JJ: So you know with Comic Con coming it’s the light of my
life.
CA: I can only imagine.
JJ: Back to business sir, how did you get involved with THE
STRAIN?
CA: I was very lucky; I was working on THE EXPANSE and April
Webster, a casting director that knows me very well casting me in LOST and a
few other things. She knows my work and they were looking for someone to play
this character in THE STRAIN. Desai wasn’t originally the character written for
the show and they changed it for me. She pitched me to the producers Carlton
Cuse and the gang. I don’t know how it happened but they offered me the role
without me reading for it. They saw my work and by the time they got to me they
changed the character from what ever it was to Sanjay Desai. They modified it
and customized it for me. From what I understand the character is a copulation
from a couple of different characters from the books. It was suppose to be a
completely different name and they thought I could do a good job of this and
the rest is history. I walked in and was excited about the role because it’s
the antithesis of what I’m doing on THE EXPANSE. Everything about it fell into
place, the shooting seasons were completely opposite so as one show is ending
the other begins, the characters are the opposite and the shows are very
different. It is a wonderful gift as an actor to play these totally diverse and
different characters.
JJ: What did you think when you read not only your role but
the part he plays in this crazy world that is THE STRAIN?
CA: I was excited because I think this is one of the darkest
roles I’ve had to do. I’ve played a lot of bad guys but this is a very fleshed
out, very realistic bad guy, not some two dimensional villain going on a
killing rampage. This character truly believes in survival and will do what
ever it takes to be on the winning team. What’s scary about it is how realistic
it is. If you look at our world right now, we are surrounded by examples of
self-serving individuals that will do or say what ever they have to to get what
they want.
JJ: Palmer is a prime example of someone we all know
<both of us are laughing now> that will say one thing to one person and
do something different to another. Anything to get that one thing that he wants
– in his case immortality.
CA: Absolutely. He reinvents history in every different
situation to just suit their own selfish needs and agenda. It is an important
show in that respect. Sure it is a horror genre and fantasy world but the
issues they are dealing with and the people they are dealing with are very
realistic and very much based on the world we are living in today.
JJ: The thing about the way the cast works together is that
not only do you see this survivalist mode, whether good, bad or indifferent,
but you see that they also haven’t forgotten how to be human. Like when Eph is
dealing with his drinking and the traits before all of this went down.
CA: Yes, they’ve kept all their human flaws.
JJ: Exactly. For your character, were you surprised when
they said ‘hey, come on back’?
CA: I was both surprised and excited because it ended in a very
questionable way and we didn’t know what was going to happen. I think they just
liked what I did and they gave me a complex character and I attacked it. I mean
I loved doing it, I loved the people and working with Richard Sammel who plays
Thomas Eichhorst. That combination of the writers, directors and producers and
co-stars was very inspiring and I had a really good time. I put my heart and
soul into making this a very-well fleshed out nasty three dimensional
character. I think by the time we came to the end of season three there was
room for him to come back. I think there are things in the book they decided to
merge with my character.
JJ: Sometimes that’s a really good idea because not
everything translates really well from book to screen. You have to be willing
to compromise.
CA: I think in a book it is a lot easier to have more
characters for a reader to follow a more complex story line. On television you
tend to consolidate a little more by having a cast of characters a little more
manageable.
JJ: I know you can’t tell us anything about what is going to
happen but for you and your character, do you feel like everything is wrapped
up neatly for fans or is there a little opening?
CA: Lets put it this way, we all knew season four was coming
and the last season of THE STRAIN. The writers had free reign to have the best
story possible while honoring the characters. They are no longer restricted by
the restrictions of an ongoing series; they have the books as a guideline.
JJ: There is something freeing about that don’t you think?
CA: Yes, it allows you to take it and push the boundaries of
a story and what ever happens to the characters happens but it honors the over
all story. It allows for you to do some really amazing dramatic work. In the
case of Sanjay, man oh man, they took him on a roller coaster. What I can tell
you is that this character is based on and what excited me about this character
in the beginning was it was based on real people that existed during the World
War II. They were called “collaborators”; these are people who worked with the
Nazi’s to set up what would become Nazi Germany, the Reich and the
concentration camps. These are people that betrayed their own people for their
own good, their own survival, wealth and status. Fifty years later when they
are interviewed, these collaborators who were never put in the camps, they
can’t face what they did. They won’t admit that they did anything wrong and
somehow have managed to convince themselves they did not wrong.
JJ: A mental survival mode.
CA: Yes, they have somehow told themselves they made the
best of a bad situation. They attitude of ‘at least I saved a few people’ but
they participated in it and betrayed their own people to survive. That to me
fascinated me, this character who can go there and do that staying that
completely oblivious – a willful oblivion. Sanjay is a highly intelligent guy;
he’s a smart man who is driven and passionate.
JJ: But you also can’t see on his face what is going on. For
me it was hard to know what he was thinking or planning. Some characters you
can see on their faces the hamster turning the wheel and you go along with a
characters thought process; with Sanjay I couldn’t really do that because he
showed … nothing!
CA: Because he knows who he is dealing with and he knows how
incredibly perceptive the Strigoi (the vampires), especially Eichhorst are.
Sanjay is such a survivor so he doesn’t show his cards because he knows the
Strigoi can smell it. If he is scared he knows they will smell it. If he is planning
his own thing he knows they will smell it. He knows he has to keep everything
close to his chest and only give them bits and pieces so nobody knows what is
really going on in his head. The Strigoi are too smart, they are too
perceptive.
JJ: Absolutely, that’s what makes it all so difficult.
CA: Yes, he has to protect himself. In season three when
Eichhorst demonstrated the inefficiency of the machinery using my assistant,
that was a very brutal scene.
JJ: Absolutely brutal!
CA: If you watch that scene again you will see a bit of a
reaction, you can see some stuff going on but by the end of the scene when
Sanjay realizes who he is dealing with because he hasn’t had a lot of
experience with Eichhorst up to that point. He hasn’t spent a lot of time with
him or really seen him demonstrate his true power till that moment. So being a
survivor is like being in prison right? They tell you ‘don’t look scared’ or
‘don’t make eye contact’ – you have to look somewhere in the middle so that
people don’t target you. You have to learn this language of survival that makes
you not a threat but not prey either. Sanjay is a survivor, Sanjay is the guy
who knows how to read people and keep himself outside of the zone where people
are targeted. He had to think really quick in that scene as to how to interact
with Eichhorst so as not to show weakness and not lose his sh*t because of what
just happened.
JJ: That’s an amazing way to sum it up because with these
characters by the end of each season you become aware of their strengths and
weaknesses, every one of them. To have Sanjay come back it’s going to be ‘great
I have to figure him out for sure now’!
CA: Exactly, you are going to get a lot. They gave me a gift
in season four in terms of what they gave Sanjay to do. You aren’t going to
like him, far from it, but you are going to understand him a lot better.
JJ: That’s going to be fun, I’m excited.
CA: He gets put through the ringer I can tell you that.
JJ: And I’m okay with that! If I’m going invest my time in a
series, it better be dang well worth it. I’ve met Guillermo and he is one of
the most amazing people you can sit and talk to about creativity. This series
didn’t surprise me and he was first talking about it, but to see how far it’s
come from concept to book to series has been just an awesomely fun, intense and
gruesome ride.
CA: You’ve like it I see.
JJ: Absolutely, anytime you can get something that’s
original and filled with talented actors giving every bit to a storyline that
is just plain jaw dropping? Oh yea, I’m in. I know there is horror and gore,
and it may sound strange for me to say this but Guillermo puts it in THE STRAIN
and it isn’t senseless gore – wow that does sound strange.
CA: No, you are right, absolutely, it is a violent and dark
show but it’s surrounded by an amazingly rich crafted story. It’s not just gratuitous
stuff, the violence in his shows … it’s very poignant in that it’s all there
because it’s meant to shock and it’s meant to be difficult. The world is not as
pretty as we want to believe and sometimes that’s an important slap in the face
that we need to feel. You don’t want to be facing that 24/7 but it’s not
necessarily a bad lesson.
JJ: It’s an amazingly crazy world that has been created
that’s for sure. I’m going to be sad to see it go.
CA: Yes, I know, but it ends only for something new to take
its place.
JJ: And we still get to see you on THE EXPANSE, how is that
going?
CA: Amazing, we just finished the first few days with
episodes one and two. We are already stoked and nervous because season two went
really well and we delivered a powerful season two finale. The show is a big
show and it’s really hard for us wondering how to top it. I mean how do we go
to the next level? Season one is an introduction to all of the characters and
absorbing all the information and feel the universe and provide action that
doesn’t overload people’s brains. Then season two was nice because it was all
character and explore them and further the action in the plot. Now in season
three we have built the universe and really explore the characters because we
have got the plot going. How do we take it to the next level? Season three is
going to be about the characters everyone has fallen in love with and being
metaphorically split apart. We have fought to stay alive and fought to stay
together and we needed each other to survive. Now we are all grounded and
rooted in our life and in our world. We are surrounded by chaos but we are no
longer fighting just to breathe and survive, we are actually going to make
choices for ourselves. Everyone has individual believes and personalities and
they are able to come into play in terms of the direction the characters take.
It’s not just about the family that has come together to survive but
individuals in the group who have a voice.
JJ: So now you have gone from THE STRAIN knowing you can go
freely because it’s a final season, you are back to the other side where you
are restricted a bit trying to keep the story going from season to season.
CA: I know, exactly.
JJ: What a rollercoaster ride for you!
CA: Yes, it’s an actors dream right? To be able to play
these characters that are so different. I mean how different can Sanjay Desai
and Alex Kamal be. Its two completely opposite ends of the spectrum.
JJ: And you are digging it every step of the way.
CA: Oh man, I’m loving it. I was so lucky because the shows
shot at exactly opposite ends of the schedule. There was no overlap with THE
STRAIN starts Sunday and when it ends THE EXPANSE begins. One is horror and one
is sci-fi and I’m thrilled.
JJ: And you were meant to do both.
CA: I was meant to do both and it was wonderful and a gift
for me. Now what am I going to do?
JJ: Sit back and enjoy it a little.
CA: <insert colorful outburst here> I mean what am I
going to do once THE EXPANSE is done shooting? Jeez
<this is the time where the laughing has gotten contagious with
seriously good humor as if it hasn’t been the case the whole interview
right?>
JJ: Look dude, I think playing both these roles and being
seen, I don’t think you will be sitting around on your butt for too long.
CA: Awwww, that’s very sweet. I have huge aspirations for
THE EXPANSE. We have material for like ten seasons and there will be nine
novels by the end of it. There are already six or seven that have been written.
It’s like GAME OF THRONES; there is a huge bank of material and huge fan base.
I think we have the potential of having a series that will last a long time.
JJ: So what are you worried about?
CA: Every year, every year it’s the waiting game. It’s like
the lottery; fingers crossed waiting with baited breath waiting to hear. But
that’s my hope with THE EXPANSE, that we go for a nice long successful run and
then – feature films! I’m talking THE EXPANSE to go into feature films. Can you
imagine going the STAR TREK route? We are doing amazing work, when you look at
it on the big screen it looks like a feature film. I watched the premier of
season two in New Jersey at the Alamo Drafthouse Theatre on this gorgeous
massive like IMAX screen with Dolby surround sound and amazing imagery and I
walked into the theatre and I was like this looks like a feature film! Holy
moly! I wanted everyone who watches on their phones to get a huge flat panel
t.v. to see the awesomeness of show at the very least!
JJ: A series like THE EXPANSE and THE STRAIN…the bigger the
t.v. the better and put a sound bar on that puppy and crank it up.
CA: Go big or go home!
JJ: I don’t care if my neighbors ask ‘what’s all that
screaming’?
CA: Yea, call the cops!
JJ: You are hilarious!
CA: So feature film, that’s my call so you come back in
eight years and say ‘you were right’!
JJ: Trust me; I don’t plan to go anywhere for a few years so
I’m going to keep my eye on your happy little self. It was such a joy talking
to you this morning and I appreciate you letting me geek out a little bit.
CA: Oh absolutely!
JJ: Congratulations on both THE STRAIN and THE EXPANSE. Both
shows are uber-cool and you can take a bow for your part in both.
CA: Thank you so much Jeri. You have to let me know what you
think of Sanjay.
JJ: I’ll make sure to do that. I can’t wait, it’s going to
be nuts.
And that my friends was the conversation I had with Cas
Anvar this morning filled with craziness, fun, insight, doing good work and all
without spoilers – we don’t do that here folks. I’m always saying it because
it’s true, talking to an actor who not only loves talking about a project and
character but has a sense of humor it just priceless.
After this talk I will not only be watching Cas doing his
Sanjay thang in the final season of THE STRAIN beginning this Sunday but am
excited about the next season of Alex Kamal in THE EXPANSE. Well done sir!
This Sunday on FX is the final season of one of the craziest
and not-teen-angst vampire stories with a ride through history and intensely
complex characters I’ve ever seen or experiences with the final season of THE
STRAIN.
Prepare to get your Strigoi on because it’s going to be
epic!
Final Season of the Hit HBO® Series Available July
25, 2017 on Blu-ray™ and DVD
Digital Download Release Set for May
15, 2017
It’s the end of an era! Over the course of its first five
seasons, Girls, the
hit HBO comedy series created by and starring Emmy® nominee and Golden Globe®
winner Lena Dunham, and executive produced by Judd Apatow and Jenni Konner, has
continued to be one of the most critically acclaimed and buzzed about shows on
television. Now fans can finally find out how this instantly-iconic HBO series
ends when Girls: The Complete
Sixth Season will be available for Digital Download on May
15, 2017 and on Blu-rayTM and DVD on July 25, 2017. All formats
feature exclusive new bonus content, including an extended version of ‘A
Goodbye to Girls’ featuring never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage,
‘Inside the Episodes’ featurettes and more.
In the
sixth and final season of Girls,
HBO's hit comedy continues to follow the assorted humiliations and triumphs of a
group of 20-something friends in NYC. Season 6 picks up six months after the
end of Season 5, with Hannah (Dunham), enjoying new success as a writer while
her roommate and bestie Elijah (Andrew Rannells) considers getting serious
about his acting career. Marnie (Allison Williams), now in a relationship with
Ray (Alex Karpovsky), seeks to maintain her independence post-divorce from Desi
(Ebon Moss-Bachrach). Now also a couple, Jessa (Jemima Kirke) and Adam (Adam
Driver) decide to embark on a creative project to channel their passions, which
could become a source of contention. And Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet) finds herself
professionally on the right path, though personally she realizes that her
friendships may be holding her back. A time for closing chapters and new
beginnings, Girlsfollows
our four familiar friends as they attempt to get closer to becoming the women
they always envisioned – even as life sometimes gets in the way.
Girls has continued to
inspire critical raves in its sixth season, with The Washington Post hailing the
show for achieving “overall excellence” and The New York Times praising it’s “poignant hilarity”.
For fans of the show, it was difficult to say goodbye, but now you can relive
the hilarious “4 star” (US Weekly) series and complete your collection with the
upcoming release of Girls: The
Complete Sixth Season.
