Latest Movie News From Moviefone |
- The 10 Most Unforgettable 'Goosebumps' Episodes
- '99 Homes' Is a Blood-Boiling Thriller
- Meredith Relives Derek's Death in This 'Grey's Anatomy' Sneak Peek
- CBS Refuses to Air 'Truth' Ads, Calls Dan Rather Scandal Pic 'Disservice' to Journalism
- 21 TV Shows-Turned-Movies That Shattered Expectations
- Jennifer Lawrence May Join Darren Aronofsky's Next Film
- 7 Things That Need to Happen in Marvel's 'Doctor Strange'
- Hayden Panettiere Takes 'Nashville' Leave of Absence During Postpartum Depression Treatment
- 11 Times Jim and Pam From 'The Office' Were #RelationshipGoals
- Playboy Offers Tina Fey Spot in Final Nude Issue After 'SNL' Jokes
- 13 Scary Movies (and Shows) You Should Watch This Halloween on HBO Now
- 'Game of Thrones' Season 6 Marks Return of Characters Missing Since Season 3
- 'The Boy' Trailer: Lauren Cohan Is the Terrified Nanny of a Creepy Doll
- New 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Poster, 3 Sneak Peeks Drop Before Trailer
- Why Some Bernie Sanders Fans Are Angry About Larry David's 'SNL' Debate
- J.K. Rowling Names Favorite, 'Most Cathartic' 'Harry Potter' Chapter
- What's New on TV, Netflix Streaming, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: October 19-25
- 'The Walking Dead' Season 6, Episode 2 Recap: Cigarettes Will Kill You
| The 10 Most Unforgettable 'Goosebumps' Episodes Posted:  "Goosebumps" being turned into a movie has given us a kick right in our nostalgia feels. These are the 10 episodes of "Goosebumps" that both scared and delighted us as children.This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| '99 Homes' Is a Blood-Boiling Thriller Posted:  "99 Homes," starring Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, and Laura Dern, is one thriller of a movie.Based on true events about the home foreclosure crisis, this movie will have your blood boiling and you gripping the arm rest in anger knowing people really were losing their homes left and right -- and given only minutes to vacate them. "99 Homes" centers on a greedy, heat-packing real estate broker (Shannon) who makes money by evicting people from their foreclosed homes. He shows up with sheriff's deputies and a lock smith, and gives people two minutes to pack up all their worldly possessions and get out. Most people are stunned and still on the phone with their lawyers or their banks, trying to modify their home loans but to no avail. One of his evicted victims, Garfield's Dennis Nash, is jobless and so desperate that he goes to work for the man who evicted him and starts making money doing the same dirty deed to others. Together they steal, pillage, and forge legal documents to make more and more money evicting hard-working people. Eventually, Garfield's conscience catches up with him. "99 Homes" was written and directed by Ramin Bahrani, who also directed "Good Bye Solo" and "Man Push Cart." While you've likely never heard of those movies, "Homes" will have you hooked by the trailer and talking about it days after you leave the theater. In 2009, legendary film critic Rodger Ebert declared Bahrani "the new great American director," and this movie shows that he's earned that title. Everyone should see "99 Homes," if not for the amazing filmmaking then to better learn how banks caused the housing market crash that devastated so many Americans, and the greed and profiteering that followed. Wendell Escott is a student at El Camino Community College and a contributor to Moviefone's Campus Beat. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Meredith Relives Derek's Death in This 'Grey's Anatomy' Sneak Peek Posted:  On last week's episode of "Grey's Anatomy," recently-widowed Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) came face-to-face with an unwelcome reminder of Derek's (Patrick Dempsey) death: The doctor whose bungled medical care killed him, and who also just so happens to be Callie's (Sara Ramirez) new girlfriend, Penny (Samantha Sloyan).This awkward meeting plays out throughout the series's next installment, set to air on Thursday, when Callie brings Penny to a party at Meredith's house. Meredith, realizing who Penny is, rushes upstairs, clutching a photo of her late husband. As she paces around her daughter's room, reminders of Derek everywhere (including their marriage Post-it), Meredith flashes back to the awful day that Derek died, and her last conversation with Penny, when the tearful doctor apologizes for her lack of skill. In the present, Meredith hyperventilates, dreading returning to the party. The scene is part of the show's landmark 250th (!!) episode, which will also feature Arizona's (Jessica Capshaw) nervous first meeting with her ex's new GF. Check it out below. "Grey's Anatomy" airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| CBS Refuses to Air 'Truth' Ads, Calls Dan Rather Scandal Pic 'Disservice' to Journalism Posted:  CBS has declined to air advertising for the new movie "Truth," the new Sony flick that details the network's infamous Dan Rather-George W. Bush scandal, calling the film "a disservice" to both journalists and the public.In a scathing statement about the film, which stars Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett, CBS spokesman Gil Schwartz said, "It's astounding how little truth there is in 'Truth.'" "There are, in fact, too many distortions, evasions and baseless conspiracy theories to enumerate them all," Schwartz's statement continued. "The film tries to turn gross errors of journalism and judgment into acts of heroism and martyrdom. That's a disservice not just to the public but to journalists across the world who go out every day and do everything within their power, sometimes at great risk to themselves, to get the story right." "Truth" goes behind the scenes of a "60 Minutes II" story reported by Rather (Redford) and produced by Mary Mapes (Blanchett), which questioned then-president Bush's Vietnam War-era service in the Texas Air National Guard. There was public outcry about the segment's accuracy, however, when the veracity of certain documents used to support the story was challenged. In the fallout, Mapes was fired, and Rather parted ways with the network on poor terms in 2006; Rather has maintained that there was underlying truth to the segment. Both Rather and Mapes are portrayed somewhat sympathetically in the movie, which could be the source of CBS's ire. The resulting scandal -- and subsequent firings -- at the network was embarrassing for all involved, and the Eye is no doubt unhappy that the story is surfacing yet again. "To get an official statement from them that is negative was not surprising to anyone involved in the film," said Brad Fischer, a "Truth" producer, about the network's response. "I think the one thing that surprised everyone was the tone and the emotional nature." And the move may backfire for the network: According to Forbes, publicly denouncing the flick could actually help promote "Truth" -- and make sure more people see it, the opposite of what CBS intended. "A film that will mostly be forgotten in a few months time is now much bigger news than it was 48 hours ago," the site reports. [via: Associated Press, Forbes] Photo credit: Sony This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 21 TV Shows-Turned-Movies That Shattered Expectations Posted: Sometimes a TV screen just isn't big enough. "Jem and the Holograms" is the latest in a long line of television series that have busted out of the small screen and hit the big time with a big-screen adaptation. But the small-screen magic doesn't always translate well as a super-size experience. So how do you know which ones to watch? That's where we come in. Here are 21 more movies based on TV shows that are definitely worth your time.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Jennifer Lawrence May Join Darren Aronofsky's Next Film Posted:  Fresh off her scathing open letter calling out Hollywood's ridiculous gender-based wage gap, Jennifer Lawrence may have set her sights on her next film project (and her next, deservedly-large paycheck).Variety reports that Lawrence is in talks to star in director Darren Aronofsky's next flick, which is currently untitled and doesn't have a logline yet (that we know about, anyway). The indie drama would be Aronofsky's follow-up to 2014's "Noah," which failed to yield the awards season accolades of his previous project, "Black Swan" -- the flick that nabbed Natalie Portman the 2010 Best Actress Oscar. Lawrence, of course, already has an Oscar under her belt, and three nominations total, but teaming up with Aronofsky may be her path to another little gold guy. She's also generating early awards buzz for "Joy," which is due out in December. The actress has been in high demand lately, currently shooting the sci-fi romance "Passengers" with Chris Pratt, and writing a screenplay with red-hot comedy star Amy Schumer. She recently exited what was to be her next starring vehicle, "The Rosie Project," reportedly due to the stress of her packed schedule (director Richard Linklater also followed Lawrence out the door); if she's looking to take some more time off, it's unclear just how soon Aronofsky's flick would begin production. Despite that possible obstacle, we think Lawrence and Aronofsky would be a good filmmaking match, especially if their collaboration yields a juicy, "Black Swan"-style role for the actress. Stay tuned to see if this partnership pans out. [via: Variety] Photo credit: Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 7 Things That Need to Happen in Marvel's 'Doctor Strange' Posted:  With a cast made up of Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, and Tilda Swinton, we know "Doctor Strange" is going to be good. But, in order for it to be great, we need to see these seven things happen. So, listen up Hollywood!This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Hayden Panettiere Takes 'Nashville' Leave of Absence During Postpartum Depression Treatment Posted:  Hayden Panettiere has reportedly taken a leave of absence from her ABC drama, "Nashville," following confirmation that the actress has sought treatment for postpartum depression.A report from Page Six says that Panettiere will "temporarily step away from her role" on the country music soap, and the "production will work around her" while she's checked into a rehab facility. It's unclear just how long the actress will be away, though the show made similar accommodations for her last season while she was pregnant, and after she gave birth to her 10-month-old daughter, Kaya, who she shares with fiance Wladimir Klitschko. Panettiere's rep revealed last week that the actress "is voluntarily seeking professional help at a treatment center as she is currently battling postpartum depression." The actress, who gave birth in December 2014, recently opened up about her own struggles with PPD, which her "Nashville" character, Juliette, also dealt with this season and last. "It's something a lot of women experience," Panettiere said in an interview with "Live! With Kelly and Michael" last month. "When [you're told] about postpartum depression you think it's 'I feel negative feelings towards my child, I want to injure or hurt my child' - I've never, ever had those feelings. Some women do. But you don't realize how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on. It's something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they're not alone, and that it does heal." According to People, Panettiere's "Nashville" storyline is pure coincidence, and was "planned and started playing out long before" the 26-year-old star gave birth. The series is currently in the midst of production on season four. [via: Page Six, People] Photo credit: Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 11 Times Jim and Pam From 'The Office' Were #RelationshipGoals Posted:  Nothing has ruined our real-life love lives as much as television has. Thanks to couples like Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) from "The Office," our romance expectations are ridiculously high. They love each other so much, sometimes it makes us want to cry.These are the 11 times Jim and Pam were so in love they were the epitome of #RelationshipGoals. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Playboy Offers Tina Fey Spot in Final Nude Issue After 'SNL' Jokes Posted:  Playboy was the (arm)butt of Tina Fey's jokes as part of her return to "Saturday Night Live" this weekend, but the magazine's Powers That Be weren't upset. They even offered her a spread!Tracy Morgan was the "SNL" host and Tina returned for the mini "30 Rock" reunion in his monologue, but also for some "Weekend Update" commentary on the end of Playboy's nude photo shoots. She joked that her dream of posing naked in Playboy will now never come true, and blamed the Internet for the magazine's lack of nude relevance, since we can all share our boobs for the world now without the middleman of Hugh Hefner, aka "a hundred-year-old sex monster." Tina got on the desk to show off some of the "arm butt" poses she does on her own for-profit porn site, MILTBFW (Moms I'd like to be friends with). She also demonstrated all the moves she was going to do if she ever got in Playboy, including that leg lift "on a bale of hay." Here's the sketch: As you can imagine, it's hard to offend Playboy and they laughed along with the bit. They retweeted SNL's Weekend Update post and invited Tina Fey to join the last nude issue: Very cheeky, Playboy. Just a guess, but we're thinking she got it all out of her system in those "SNL" poses. But thanks for the offer? Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 13 Scary Movies (and Shows) You Should Watch This Halloween on HBO Now Posted: Nothing gets us in the mood for a scary movie like Halloween, the holiest of all horror holidays. But who wants to bother with drunken teenagers at the local Cineplex, or wade through a sea of kids dressed like Pizza Rat to get to a Red Box? No one, that's who. But there's another option: HBO Now. The network's new platform allows subscribers to view hundreds of movies (and every episode of virtually every HBO series ever made) from the comfort of their own couch. Or bedroom. Or toilet. Or anywhere your preferred device gets Wi-Fi. So, here are 13 horror movies (and shows) you can watch this Halloween on HBO Now.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Game of Thrones' Season 6 Marks Return of Characters Missing Since Season 3 Posted:
They speculated about the possible return of Catelyn's brother Edmure (Tobias Menzies) who at least survived his own ill-fated Red Wedding. It's not clear if we'll see Edmure, though, it's just a hope/guess.
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| 'The Boy' Trailer: Lauren Cohan Is the Terrified Nanny of a Creepy Doll Posted:  We finally found a friend for Annabelle. It's Brahms, the equally creepy life-size doll from "The Boy," a horror movie coming out in early 2016, starring Lauren Cohan (aka Maggie from "The Walking Dead") as a nanny stuck taking care of a fake child. Or is he real?Cohan plays Greta, who takes a job in a remote English village, not realizing at first that the job is to take care of a doll, whom the parents care for like the real boy they lost 20 years ago. You'd think caring for a doll would be pretty low-maintenance, but this kid comes with a list of do's and don'ts, and when Greta violates the list, some disturbing ish goes down, leading her to believe this boy may be alive. The doll kind of looks like a young Tom Riddle, so there may be some dark magic at work. Whatever is happening can't be worth the pay or benefits, and it's probably going to stop Maggie from ever wanting kids. (Sorry, Glenn.) Here's the trailer: "The Boy" is currently scheduled for release on January 22, 2016. Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| New 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Poster, 3 Sneak Peeks Drop Before Trailer Posted:  Only "Star Wars" is allowed to post multiple sneak peeks to tease an upcoming trailer. Don't try this at home, other less-worthy franchises!As you probably heard, the new "Star Wars: Episode VII -- The Force Awakens" trailer is dropping tonight during Monday Night Football. Several very brief sneak peeks were shared to tease this event, and an awesome new film poster was revealed:
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| Why Some Bernie Sanders Fans Are Angry About Larry David's 'SNL' Debate Posted:  Larry David's impression of Bernie Sanders on "Saturday Night Live" was more than pretty, pretty good, but several Bernie backers were angered by this past weekend's cold open debate sketch.Larry's portrayal was a hit, even with Bernie himself, who quipped to ABC's "This Week" that his team might use the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star at their next rally. "He does better than I do." However, the Democratic Debate sketch was accused of being too pro Hillary Clinton. The real Hillary was on SNL earlier this season, and the SNL debate -- which included Alec Baldwin as Jim Webb -- was framed from the perspective of Hillary as the inevitable choice. The sketch even even had Kate McKinnon's Hillary end her closing statement with the "sobering thought" that "If you get into bed with Bernie Sanders tonight, you're going to wake up with Donald Trump tomorrow." Larry David's Sanders complained about podiums, then closed with, "Come next November, I will be ... Hillary Clinton's vice president!" Here's the sketch, see what you think: Some Bernie fans got prickly about the portrayal, arguing that Bernie was mocked more than Hillary and SNL was being too pro Clinton. Many complained about that "vice president" line and then things spiraled into a heated debate, as they tend to on the Internet. The SNL sketch has nearly 3 million views on YouTube -- with more than 10,000 thumbs up, and just over 1,000 thumbs down. Here are a few of the more than 2,300 comments, both attacking and defending the Bernie portrayal: "Butthurt" is one of the best words the Internet has ever given us, but it may be too juvenile to describe a serious political debate. Then again, this wasn't meant to be a serious political debate, it was a comedy sketch where Hillary was mocked for basically being a programmed robot, Webb kept complaining about lack of time then had nothing to say, Bernie was given "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" mannerisms, and O'Malley (Taran Killam) and Chafee (Kyle Mooney) were brushed aside as non-events. If anyone should be mad, it's Chafee and O'Malley backers ... if there are any ... but maybe Bernie backers are worried that the Tina Fey/Sarah Palin effect might take over and slant viewers' perceptions. Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| J.K. Rowling Names Favorite, 'Most Cathartic' 'Harry Potter' Chapter Posted:  Class, "Harry Potter History" is now in session; please open the seventh book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," and prepare to read along.Author J.K. Rowling continues to be kind enough to answer fan questions, even if she's covered the territory before, offering more details and insight into "Harry Potter" characters and, in this case, her state of mind during the writing process. A fan recently asked, "If you had to choose one chapter from the entire HP series as your favourite, what would you choose?" Here's her answer: Another fan responded, "really? Because I bawled..." So did Jo, as it turns out: So this is where we re-read the chapter and picture the author tearing up as she reviewed this heartbreaking part of Harry's journey. In the U.S. hardcover -- with the red-orange cover -- the chapter begins on page 691, with an illustration of Harry and his mother.
The chapter continues until page 704 and it's worth re-reading to experience the culmination of Jo's 17 years of work. This the (hor)crux of the story, and it'll probably give you chills and sniffles to read all over again. Harry is a true Gryffindor. He Who Must Not Be Named feared death, but Harry was brave enough to sacrifice himself for his friends. Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| What's New on TV, Netflix Streaming, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: October 19-25 Posted:  At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's streaming on Netflix, we've got you covered.New on DVD and Blu-ray "Jurassic World" Welcome to Jurassic World -- which is finally out on DVD and Blu-ray on October 20. The Chris Pratt blockbuster includes several special features in both versions, including deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of the movie called "Dinosaurs Roam Once Again," and a featurette where Pratt and director Colin Trevorrow interview each other. The Blu-ray alone includes four other in-depth bonus features. "Back to the Future 30th Anniversary Trilogy" Great Scott, this is heavy -- literally, because it includes all three films and more than two hours of bonus content. This is the perfect gift for the Marty McFly fan in your life. There's also a special "The Complete Adventures" set that includes the trilogy and the animated TV series wrapped up in an amazing light-up "Flux Capacitor" package. It's your density, er, destiny to check it out! "Paper Towns" Cara Delevingne and Nat Wolff star in this coming-of-age film based on the novel by "The Fault in Our Stars" author John Green. Both the DVD and Blu-ray (out October 20) include multiple featurettes and audio commentary, and the Blu-ray also has deleted scenes, an alternate scene and a full "The Making Of" featurette. New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital Only  "Trainwreck" Amy Schumer stars in one of the funniest movies of the year, which has its Digital HD debut on October 20. Schumer blows off rom-com conventions with her portrayal of an independent career woman whose hard-partying lifestyle is upended when she meets Mr. Might-Be-Right. The Judd Apatow movie will be available on Blu-ray, DVD an On Demand on November 10. "Terminator: Genisys" Ahhhhnold will be back -- on DVD and Blu-ray on November 10 -- but he's here on Digital HD starting October 20. Emilia Clarke, aka the Sexiest Woman Alive, plays Sarah Connor opposite Jai Courtney's Kyle Reese and Jason Clare's John Connor in an alternate timeline of the original "Terminator" movie. "Beyond Paradise" Ryan Guzman, Francia Raisa and Daphne Zuniga star in this cross-cultural romance, available on Digital HD and On Demand October 20. Talented music student Shahrzad (Raisa) flees Iran for Los Angeles and a semi-arranged marriage to a man she barely knows. She turns to the familiarity of music for comfort and begins piano lessons with the woman next door (Zuniga). However, a passionate relationship with her teacher's gardener and lover (Guzman) threatens to destroy everything she's sacrificed to achieve. Check out this exclusive clip:  New on Netflix  "Marvel's Avengers Assemble" Season 2 of the animated TV series based on the Marvel Comics characters starts streaming October 20. The 26 episodes aired on Disney XD from September 2014 to September 2015 but now you can binge them all at once. "Hemlock Grove" Season 3 of Netflix's original horror series premieres October 23. Based on the novel by Brian McGreevy, the show follows the strange doings in the fictional Pennsylvania town of Hemlock Grove. Famke Janssen, Dougray Scott, and Bill Skarsgard lead the cast. If you need to get caught up, the first two seasons are already available for your viewing pleasure. "Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection" Rejoice, Disney fans! This collection of beloved and award-winning short films will be available on Netflix starting October 25. The collection features introductions and interviews with the Disney Animation filmmakers themselves; the shorts included are "Frozen Fever," "Lorenzo," "John Henry," "Little Match Girl," "How to Hook Up Your Home Theater," "Tick Tock Tale,' "Operation Secret Santa," "The Ballad of Bessie," "Tanged Ever After," "Paperman," "Get a Horse," and "Feast." TV Worth Watching  "Da Vinci's Demons" (Saturday on Starz at 8 p.m.) Season 3, the final season of Starz's historical fiction on the "untold story" of Leonardo da Vinci's (Tom Riley) life, premieres October 24. Starz Managing Director Carmi Zlotnik teased in a statement (via Entertainment Weekly), "The steadfast fans of Da Vinci's Demons have been asking about the next installment of this story and we're excited to roll it out. David Goyer brought us a plan to portray the unknown early years of a genius and we think the fans will enjoy this final chapter which segues into the da Vinci that history knows." "Survivor" (Wednesday on CBS at 8 p.m.) The tribe has spoken -- you should be watching "Survivor" again! "Survivor: Cambodia" -- aka "Survivor: Second Chance," because fans voted for the returning players who lost in their previous attempts -- is the 31st season of the reality show but it feels as fresh as ever. There are so many personalities to root for and against (looking at you, Abi) and the October 21 episode, "A Snake in the Grass," promises more memorable highs and lows. "Quantico" (Sunday on ABC at 10 p.m.) ABC's freshman thriller, starring Priyanka Chopra, just got a full season order, after a strong debut. Catch up on the show On Demand, or on ABC's site, and prepare for the fourth episode, which airs October 25 with the intriguing title "Kill." Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'The Walking Dead' Season 6, Episode 2 Recap: Cigarettes Will Kill You Posted:  Well, it had to end sometime. After weeks of pretending she was nothing more than a mild-mannered housewife in sensible slacks, Carol "I used to make miracles happen with water chestnuts" Peletier finally had to drop the ruse and once again assume her rightful mantel of badassery on "The Walking Dead." It's just a shame it took watching one of her frenemies get hacked to death with a machete to do it.Yes, Shelly, cigarettes really will kill you, as the unfortunate Alexandrian learned when she went out for a smoke and was suddenly and viciously attacked by an invading Wolf. Truth.org couldn't have written a grimmer anti-smoking ad. Earlier, Carol had chided Shelly about her "disgusting habit," noting that there were already enough things out in the world trying to kill them. And then, those things showed up in the form of a giant pack of Wolves. It was them behind the honking horn that disrupted Rick's zombie parade last week, though that was more of a coincidence than any specific desire to strike while the sheriff's deputy was away playing walker wrangler. Instead, the Wolves found their way to Alexandria most likely thanks to finding Aaron's abandoned bag at the food factory, which he lost back in the season five finale; in it, he had lots of photos of Alexandria's walls, no doubt making it easy for them to locate and infiltrate the community. (Or, it could be because they've been there before. We'll see.) No matter why they chose this specific moment to pounce, it was clear that they were planning on making their attack count, quickly stabbing and butchering anyone that crossed their path. From the carnage they caused (and the mounting pile of body parts), we now know for certain that they're the ones who destroyed Noah's former home in Richmond; it's just still not entirely clear why. As one wild-eyed Wolf told Morgan, they didn't choose this life. So how, exactly, was it foisted upon them? The Wolf who met up with Morgan in the season five finale explained back then that the group represents a return to the time the area was originally settled, when Native Americans believed that people were wolves transformed into men. The animals were wiped out, the Wolf had said, but now, they're making a comeback; vengeance seems to be the name of the game for this pack, but it remains to be seen just who exactly is the target/source of their ire. Whatever caused the invasion, it caused Carol to snap out of her Stepford act and spring into action, wielding a knife again with ease and laying waste to Wolves left and right. She was too late for Shelly, and too late for her other friend, too, the one who told her earlier in the episode, when lauding her cooking prowess, "You're an honest to goodness hero." She never got to see just how true that statement is, but Carol clearly lived up to it throughout the rest of the episode. Even her gruff speech to Sam, pre-attack, was accolade worthy, if only for its amazing bluntness (and correctness). "Your dad used to hit you, and then he got himself killed," Carol told the glum-looking kid as he sat on her stoop. "It happened. Now it's done." Sam, understandably, was less-than-comforted by this little pep talk. Also dealing poorly with his terrible father's demise is older brother Ron, who sasses his mom when she attempts to give him a haircut (a ruse to get him to talk about his feelings). "This is bulls-t!" Ron declares as Jessie pleads with him. They're both Acting with a giant A in this eye roll-inducing exchange, though the significance of Jessie's scissors comes back into play when she later discovers a Wolf in hippie's clothing in her home, and goes berserk. She grabs the pair and savagely stabs the intruder -- perhaps the way she's always envisioned stabbing Pete, but never had the guts to do? -- and Ron walks in on his blood-soaked mother, maniacally thrusting her makeshift weapon. Not the best way to persuade her eldest son to get a haircut, methinks. Also in desperate need of a haircut (and if we're being honest, some scissor impaling) is Carl, who makes his first significant appearance this season. The show keeps trying to make us care about him, and by giving him a crush on fellow sullen teen Enid, we find the source of the episode's title, "JSS." The installment begins with a flashback to how Enid ended up in Alexandria, as her parents are killed and she's forced to survive on her own. The shot of her feasting on that poor turtle (RIP, little guy), her mouth rimmed with blood, was both gross and a nice parallel to all the similar scenes we've seen of zombies making meals out of whatever flesh they can find. As she winds her way through the countryside and eventually to the gates of her current community, Enid traces over and over the letters "JSS" -- into dirty car windows, into the ground, onto her grimy hand, even fashioning the characters out of turtle bones (once again, RIP). As she later reveals in a note to Carl, they mean "Just Survive Somehow," a mantra (there's one of those again) that's become her saving grace over the years - and one that could easily apply to anyone on the show now. Carol, with her quick-thinking plot to pretend to be a Wolf (complete with bloody W christening her forehead), already seems well-equipped to JSS. Morgan, not so much. After a couple false starts over the years, he's done alright for himself, transforming into the bo-wielding badass we were introduced to last season. But as his reluctance to kill proves, he's not quite ready to completely accept that the world he once knew is truly lost and gone forever. The last time he said the words, "Everything gets a return," he was face to face with a Wolf; this week, he meets the same Wolf again, and he realizes, sadly, that something needs to change. The Wolf taunts Morgan, telling the man he should have killed him when he had the chance. Morgan doesn't make the same mistake again, apologizing as he delivers the fatal blow. He must survive, somehow. The manner in which he chooses to do so (or perhaps, chooses not to) will almost certainly evolve as the season does. Other thoughts: - That whole scene with Carol and the other Alexandria homemakers was great. From the way Carol claimed to be a whiz with cream of celery soup, to telling Shelly she would teach her how to make homemade pasta if Shelly promised not to bring her stinky cigarettes inside -- just flawless. Did anyone else think they all pronounced "paprika" oddly? And did anyone else catch the hilarious throwback to the pasta maker mentions from last season's 13th episode, "Forget"? Turns out that Shelly was the one clamoring for Aaron and his fellow supply runners to be on the lookout for the magical machine (and annoying Sasha by talking about it at Deanna's house party). Too bad she never got to take her fellow Alexandrians on that "tour of Tuscany." - Another throwback to "Forget" this week was Sam clutching his "A" stamp, which he gave to Rick at the house party, and which he and his family proudly sported throughout that episode. Carol shoos Sam away from her stoop, and after the attack she sees he's left an A behind on the railing. The folks over at Pajiba have some interesting theories about the significance of that letter (tying back to the season five premiere), which may come into play later this season, as the Wolves' motives are revealed. - Speaking of poor Sam, my heart just about broke when he pleaded with his mother to stay with him as the Wolves descended on their home. And the fact that Jessie had already fashioned a hiding spot -- complete with lock -- for times when Pete was on the prowl, was especially agonizing. - Eugene, referring to something that annoys him: "It hams my biscuits." Never change, Eugene. - "I only kinda wanna throw up." -- New character Denise (the delightful Merritt Wever), talking about her sudden responsibilities as the community's only doctor, now that Pete is out of the picture. She also later tells Tara, who complains of a headache, "I'm pretty sure I can't kill you." Eugene's amazing response: "I mean, it is possible, if you miss like a hematoma or something." -- Father Gabriel sidles up to Carl and promises he's changed his tune when it comes to Rick's crew. Later, he fails spectacularly at his attempts to learn survival skills, getting cornered by a Wolf and then not understanding how to use a gun. There are not enough facepalms in the world for this guy. (The fact that Morgan later saves him made me groan. Not my first time when it comes to Gabriel, and almost certainly not my last.) - Morgan tells Gabriel he learned his skills from a cheesemaker. Morgan may be frustratingly obtuse when it comes to details about his past, but if he can come up with a similarly amusing new answer to this query every week, I'll let it slide. - One thing I can't let slide, though: The group of Wolves that Morgan allows to escape, one of them grabbing a gun as he flees. (And once again, Chekhov's gun makes a cameo on "TWD.") In addition to their knives and machetes, they now have ammunition, too -- and have even more reason to be pissed, since so many of their comrades have been killed. - I had to laugh at Carl carefully removing Carol's casserole from the oven, post-attack, as if nothing had happened. Then again, a teenage boy's gotta survive somehow -- even if it's on a cream of celery casserole. Photo credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
*Warning: "Game of Thrones" filming spoilers ahead*
Clive Russell was reportedly seen filming in Corbet, Northern Ireland. In September, Watchers on the Wall had reported that Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Bronn (Jerome Flynn) would be heading to the Riverlands together.
WOTW recently posted 
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