TV Review: Peacemaker Season 2 - When Worlds Collide

For the most part, we're getting a fresh start for an interconnected DC Universe through film and TV. That being said, we still have some holdovers from the previous DCEU while not necessarily acknowledging an in-universe reason for the change-up. Which brings us to Peacemaker. While "The Suicide Squad" and season one of the surprise hit show were part of the DCEU, events of those two stories are at least semi-canon to James Gunn's new DCU. There may be initial questions about how they would blend the old with the new, but it's mostly inconsequential. Seeing more of John Cena's character and his friends is the important part, and Gunn tells a story that's quite different from the previous outing and deepens our emotional investment.

As we pick up with the 11th Street Kids, they're kind of in rough shape. Even though they saved the world last season, there's a lack of respect and appreciation for them and it puts some of them on self-destructive paths. It reminds me of the second seasons of "Jessica Jones" and "Doom Patrol" where despite a big win, there's still personal issues to deal with. But the best comparison is to another James Gunn project, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2". Much like that film, a big part of this season is testing the bonds of the team. You can also get an idea of the tone they're going for compared to the first one based on the opening credits. ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky" is an upbeat song with something sinister lurking underneath and "Oh Lord" by Foxy Shazam invokes similar feelings.

By comparison to the first season, things seem a little more focused in both story and comedy this time around. This results in some shorter episodes while all the awkward comedy seems relegated to the new character of Langston Fleury, played by SNL alum Tim Meadows, though he does grow on you after awhile. In another contrast to last season, the larger universe connections are more prevalent. The first season came out during the time when the DCEU dropped any long-term goals and multiple projects were greenlit to see what would stick. Now that James Gunn has become to DC what Kevin Feige is to the MCU, the toybox is unlimited. Despite the DCU just starting, characters from "Superman" are already making follow-up appearances here and setting up plot points for the sequel in 2027.

With this being the DCU project immediately following "Superman", fans may feel a little whiplash from the first episode of the season alone. I think that goes to show the range of James Gunn where he can go from an uplifting story that instills hope to raunchy and violent escapades, and yet both still suck you into wanting things to work out for our protagonists.

While many of Gunn's tropes are present, he does seem to take chances that move away from his formula, particularly in the finale. I won't go into spoilers, but it really subverts expectations one expects from the season finale of a superhero show and Gunn seems to break one of his biggest rules when it comes to storytelling. Still, we should be expecting the announcement of a new project based on the ending sometime soon.

I think a big risk the season took was diving into the multiverse, especially since the DCU isn't even a year old yet. The multiverse as a concept has been played out across different forms of media for nearly a decade with DC being guilty of it as well with the Arrowverse and the Flash movie. Where Gunn deviates from this though is not making it part of a sprawling epic and instead using it for Chris' character arc and personal desires. I think it pays off in the penultimate episode where we see the character reach a breaking point and Cena's performance elevates the heartache. On a brighter sidenote, he at least gets a Vegeta moment if you think real hard about it.

One of the best parts of the season is Eagly, as he gets a lot more to do this season. We get to see how much of a threat he can be and what happens to those who get in his way; if he and Krypto ever teamed up, there would be no force powerful enough to stop this dynamic duo of super pets. Eagly even gets an arch enemy with a dynamic reminiscent of Looney Tunes in a subplot that I feel could have gone longer than it did.

It's kind of a "no duh" to say, but "Peacemaker" continues to be a great show. I'd be hard pressed to expect anything less from James Gunn at this point and I look forward to what comes next from the DCU.

Retro Review: "Supernatural: The Anime Series"

 

I've been wanting to revisit this for awhile, and with 2025 being the franchise's 20th anniversary (not to mention spooky season is right around the corner), now seemed like the opportune time.
For those unfamiliar, "Supernatural" follows the Winchester Brothers, Sam and Dean, who were trained since childhood to hunt and kill all manner of inhuman creatures by their father after the bizarre death of their mother. While it reached creator Eric Kripke's original five season plan, the series continued for another ten years before concluding with season fifteen in 2020. Its run had its ups and downs (with seasons eight and nine being my least favorite), but I believe it ended on a high note. There are some parts of the fanbase that disagree, but I believe they miss its deeper meaning.
During the series' run, we saw the release of an anime adaptation in 2011, though it seems to have been forgotten in the grand scheme of things. I haven't watched it in a long time, but I remember my initial feelings being "so-so". My rewatch garners the same results, but my years in reviewing now allows to better articulate what works and what doesn't.

The anime was produced by Japanese animation studio Madhouse, probably most well-known for "Death Note" and I'll note that it contributed two segments to the "Batman: Gotham Knight" anthology film in 2008. Between the horror of "Supernatural" and the overexaggerated nature of anime, it's a match that heightens the experience, from expressions, to creature designs, to the action and gore.
Character design wise, it appears that they only got the likeness rights to Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki (Dean and Sam's respective actors). Though I will say that Dean kind of looks like Tristan from "Yu-Gi-Oh" and Sam looks like Chad from "Bleach". Jared Padalecki provides Sam's voice for the entirety of the dub while Jensen Ackles only voices Dean for the two-part finale "All Hell Breaks Loose". Andrew Farrar voices Dean for the rest of the series before that and does a good job, though Jensen's inclusion is a double-edged sword. It's good he was able to be involved in the project (and it's clear he's a better voice actor than Jared), but it kind of makes you wish he was there from the beginning and downplays Farrar's contribution.
Other characters from the series appear but look much different from their live action counterparts. The characters' traits are still there, but I feel like some of the charm brought by actors like Jeffery Dean Morgan (John Winchester) and Jim Beaver (Bobby Singer) is missing. I will say though that Azazel's depiction is much creepier here. Meg Masters is also present, but her depiction is much younger, and one episode brings some very uncomfortable implications. I also give props that they elevate the character Missouri Moseley to a level she never got in the original series.

The series is made up of 22 half-hour episodes that covers the overarching plot of the first two seasons. They adapt episodes from those seasons to varying degrees of success. While some episodes are able to hit the main points of the original, the reduced runtime can hinder the story or lessen the impact of personal moments ("In My Time of Dying", "Heart", and "What Is And What Should Never Be" as examples). An adapted episode that really stood out for me was "Nightmare" as it gives the character of Max Miller an even more sympathetic backstory.
Some of the episodes are also original stories, although some of them feel inspired by other episodes from the live action series ("Ghost on the Highway" is similar to "Route 666" while "Savage Blood" is similar to "Bloodlust" for examples). It doesn't necessarily take anything away from those stories, but a keen-eyed "Supernatural" fan will likely pick up on that sort of thing. In addition to giving Lily and Jake focus episodes before their appearance in "All Hell Breaks Loose", the anime would have been remised to not dive into Japanese mythology for the episodes "The Spirit of Vegas" and "What Lives in the Lake".

The anime only lasted one season, and I think that's part of the reason it's been lost to time. It reminds me of what happened with the 2004 film adaptation of "A Series of Unfortunate Events". Despite it being a thirteen-book series and the film covering the first three, any plans to continue it with a similar formula never materialized and we wouldn't get a complete adaptation until the Netflix series came about. I definitely could have seen the Supernatural anime covering season three for its second season and seasons four and five for its third, at the very least reaching Kripke's original Lucifer endgame. There was lot of potential left untapped.
While it's hard not to make comparisons, it's best to go into "Supernatural: The Anime Series" as its own thing. And considering the main series did establish a multiverse, there's a good argument that the anime is part of the overall canon.

Movie Review: "Fantastic Four: First Steps" - Fourth Time's The Charm

 

July 2025 is probably one of the most important months in the history of comic book movies for the big two. Superman's first appearance in 1938 was the dawn of the superhero and what would become the DC Universe. The Fantastic Four's debut in 1962 was the beginning of the Marvel Universe we know today. While Superman's latest film has achieved success on par with the original, the Fantastic Four have desperately needed a win on that frontier. From a so bad it's good 90's film that was never officially released to a moderately successful duology in the 2000's and the disastrous reimagining of the 2015 film, Hollywood hasn't been kind to Marvel's first family. Now with Marvel Studios finally in charge of the property that put them on the map, "Fantastic Four: First Steps" gives fans the film they've always wanted in what could be considered a love letter to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's original run.

While there were plenty of real life and story reasons to set this outside the Sacred Timeline, giving the Fantastic Four their own universe (named Earth-828) to play in was the right call. The filmmakers did an excellent job in capturing the retro aesthetic of the 60's while incorporating elements of what future technology would have thought to be like in that time period. If the film's style reminds me of other superhero films, it's The Incredibles films and surprisingly "The Batman." The Incredibles films had a similar retro style and the family themselves were inspired by the Fantastic Four, so seeing it done in live action with the archetype of the superhero family was a real treat. And much like how "The Batman" created a Gotham that felt so distinct from any real-life city, Earth-828 showcased a world similar to our own but had its own flair. It was a breath of fresh air from the rest of the MCU films and the superhero genre altogether.

I don't think this film could have casted a more perfect ensemble for the Fantastic Four. The actors nail what have made these characters endure for over six decades, from their mannerisms, interactions, and (with the help of the effects team) their abilities. Pedro Pascal captures Reed's intelligence and struggle to properly express his emotions. Ebon Moss-Bachrach is able to shine the humanity of Ben Grimm through the monstrous exterior of the Thing. Joseph Quinn's Johnny Storm will probably surprise viewers, because while he's still the youngest and most impulsive of the group, he shows he's not to be underestimated in other areas. And Vanessa Kirby steals the show as Sue. While she's already depicted as a strong woman, her badass-ness is elevated from her need to protect her newborn child.

In a change from the traditional story, the film takes the "Earth X" route by making the Silver Surfer Shalla-Bal (Norrin Rad's love interest). While some crowds would call this change "woke", it's actually to add a parallel to Sue's story as Shalla swore herself to Galactus mainly to protect her own child. It's what makes her arrival on Earth not just a warning of the extinction Galactus will bring, but it could also be seen as her trying to give them a chance to save their world as she did. I really have to applaud Julia Garner's performance as even before she begins to turn from Galactus, you can see the subtle touches in how she's not fully on board (pun slightly intended) with her lot in life. It results in what I think is a better redemption story than what was presented in the 2007 film and will make you want to see more of her.

Then there's the big planet eater himself, Galactus, portrayed by Ralph Ineson. Depicting a comic accurate Galactus on the big screen can be a challenge, but the way Marvel approached it was brilliant. It's said that's he's been alive for an incalculable amount of time, and we can see that in his ship, armor, and face. There's a dirtiness and sickness in his aura that makes his presences even more foreboding than one would already expect from this type of character. He's like an addict with how his hunger will never be fully satisfied. When he finally makes his move, we get what I believe to be Marvel's first real kaiju moment as he creates a path of destruction through New York. It makes for an exciting climax and in turn an emotional aftermath.

This July delivered a win for DC and now for Marvel. "First Steps" finally does right by the Fantastic Four on film and reaffirms Marvel is getting itself back on track as the road continues to the next two Avengers films. The new FF will return for that and I look forward to seeing them becoming part of a larger universe than they know.

Movie Review: Superman - Old Fashioned Hero For Troubled Times

 

My first review on this blog was for "Man of Steel", which kicked off the DC Extended Universe. Now here we are again with a Superman reboot acting as the first film of a new live action DC Universe. If we can surmise how a shared universe will do based on how its first film is received, I believe the new Superman film will take the DCU to greater heights compared to what came before.

For better or worse, what Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve brought to the first cinematic version of Superman became the archetype for the character on film. So much so that filmmakers after the Reeve films had a hard time cracking how to bring Superman to the modern age of superhero movies. Bryan Singer stayed too close to the Donner aesthetic for comfort with "Superman Returns" while Zack Snyder's version strayed too far from it, both failing to achieve mass appeal to movie goers. But now James Gunn has succeeded in showcasing classic Superman sensibilities while connecting to today's audience. And as much as WB tried to make John Williams' classic score work for Cavill's Superman (who already had his own theme from Hans Zimmer), it fits so much better here and will have you humming along once it hits.
While I appreciate Snyder's grounded "first contact" take, Gunn made the right call diving into a universe unafraid of embracing its comic book roots with Superman and other heroes firmly established, allowing us to jump right into the story. It's a very timely one at that as one can draw parallels to current events from military conflicts to political figures; it really drives in the hope Superman is meant to inspire in others in story and in real life. But there's plenty of fantasy and action to escape into as well, with plenty of ideas keen eyed comic fans will be able to pinpoint their inspiration.

David Corenswet delivers one of the most down-to-Earth Supermen of recent memory; Tyler Hoechlin also fits that bill, though his Superman was at a different stage of life by comparison. Corenswet captures what I believe James Gunn set out with this new version of the character, that despite all his power, Superman is at his core just a guy trying to do the right thing. They also make it clear Clark really is quite nerdy, and I think it's quite evident in the costume. It makes for great chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane as their ideologies clash. He's an idealist while she's a realist as they help each other see the wider picture of a situation.

Portrayed as an egotist with no regard for any life but his own, Nicholas Hoult makes the perfect antagonist to Corenswet's Superman as he takes on the role of Lex Luthor. Along with seeing direct inspiration from Grant Morrison's depictions of Lex in works like "All Star Superman" and their New 52 Action Comics run, there's undeniable allusions to Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

Saving the day along with Superman is the (name still pending) Justice Gang, made up of Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced). Gardner is brash and loves the limelight while Terrific is serious and calculating. Hawkgirl makes a good middle ground but she doesn't get as much time to shine compared to her teammates (which I feel is a wider problem with some of the supporting cast, including the Daily Planet staff).

And of course, there's everyone's favorite scene stealer, Krypto the Superdog! Covered in fur and wrapped in a red cape, Krypto is the definition of a "chaotic good boy". He may have powers but he's still a hyper dog that will probably make his inclusion worth the price of admission for dog owners and animal lovers everywhere.

All that said, I do have a couple minor gripes:
* Ultraman's identity is easy to figure out, though you may be wondering the specifics until the reveal. He does have an interesting relationship with Lex that makes me think of Stryker and Barakapool done right.

* The change in Superman's Kryptonian parents' intentions for their son kind of rubs me the wrong way, though I understand the intent for his character arc. Although, Gunn may have done an unintentional retread of "He may have been your father, but he wasn't your daddy".

Every few years, I think there's a superhero movie that comes around which reinvigorates the genre. James Gunn's "Superman" has arrived to shake off the fatigue audiences have been feeling the last few years and at a time a hero is sorely needed to make us believe in good. I don't usually make hyperbole comments like some critics do, but this is the must-see film of the year.

I Have Questions About Rick's Childhood (and Beth's)

 

*WARNING: SEASON EIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD*

It's been another crazy season of "Rick and Morty" so far. But between the moments of craziness are the moments of character insight. We already know Rick's origin story in regard to portral travel and the events that lead up to when we first met him in the pilot. But who was Rick before that? What was Rick like growing up that put him on the path to becoming the smartest man in the universe?

In episode 8.5, "Cryo Mort a Rickver", Rick and Morty infiltrate a space ark filled with people in cryo-sleep that's traveling to a new planet after wrecking theirs. Rick wants to rob the vault on board, but Morty's interference causes an explosion that initiates an emergency wake-up for those aboard. Rick and Morty rush to find damaged pods that caused their occupants to die so they can blend in. Rick unknowingly takes a pod that was occupied by a child and then has to pretend to be the rapidly aged version to the wealthy parents of said child, the Jamersons. While Rick's main goal is still to rob the vault, he begins to appreciate the loving nature of his "parents", showing guilt as he keeps up the charade and even protecting them when Morty inadvertently causes an uprising from the ark's working class.
It was pretty clear to me that Rick was getting something from this couple that he may not have gotten from his own parents. We really don't know much about Rick's adolescence. His father is referenced in season 2's "Auto Erotic Assimilation" and we see a brief flashback to Rick as a kid in season 5's "Rickternal Friendshine of the Spotless Mort" where he's shown to already have an affinity with robotics. While I don't really have anything about his mother to go off of, I get the sense that Rick and his father weren't as close as he would have liked. He probably wanted his father to be proud of him but they didn't share the same interest in science. Spending time with the Jamersons not only gave Rick the chance to be a kid again but also to feel some parental love.

But Rick's childhood isn't the only one that raises questions this season. In episode 8.6, "The Curicksous Case of Bethjamin Button", Beth and Space Beth use an aging pod to become children again. Now back in season 3's "The ABC's of Beth", Rick reveals Beth was a scary kid. Let's just say that listing off all the deadly childlike weapons was only scratching the surface of that claim. The two little Beths create chaos, constructing "Saw" like booby traps with a "Home Alone" aesthetic and even attacking neighbor Gene and leaving him for dead in his burning house.
I should point out that when it comes to the main Rick of the show, his version of Beth was killed along with his wife, Diane. While there are exceptions to the rule, it appears that most Ricks in the multiverse abandon their families once they develop interdimensional travel. Couple that with learning in season 7's "Unmortricken" that Rick Prime killed every Diane in existence, were there a multitude of Beths, including the main ones of the show, with a runaway father and a dead mother? I'm very curious what happened to Beth afterwards. It's fairly likely she entered foster care and went through therapy to not only deal with her loss but also temper her more violent tendencies by the time she meets Jerry in high school.

Admittedly, there are some inconsistencies across the episodes mentioned. I feel this can be attributed to the falling out between series creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland. Problems between the two began during season 3's production, leading to that season's late release and how long it took for season 4 to come after that. But the big thing to note is that after season 3, Roiland's only contribution to the show was his voicework up until being fired from the show in 2023. Without Roiland's input, it appears Harmon's ideas in respect to Rick and Beth found their way into the show's canon.

I know "Rick and Morty" is a show where we just need to go along for the ride and not think too much about things (something they've been clear about before). But after eleven years and eight seasons, I think it's safe to assume people are invested in the characters for more than just their comedic sci-fi adventures, especially when it's guilty of having emotional moments. I don't know how likely it is we'll delve deeper into Rick and Beth's childhoods even with the show renewed up to season 12 at this point, but it's certainly an area worth a look.

TV Review: Ironheart - Flatlined

 

In 2022, Dominique Thorne debuted as Riri Williams in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" with the intention of leading into her own "Ironheart" series for Disney+. Between the Hollywood strikes of 2023 and the reevaluation of the Multiverse Saga plans, the series only now has arrived. And despite some enjoyable elements, the production delays didn't do it any favors.

After being expelled by MIT, Riri returns home to Chicago and resumes her goal of creating her own iron suit. To procure funding for her project, she joins a heist group led by Parker Robbins, affectionately called "The Hood" by his crew for his clothing namesake that grants him powers. But when curiosity and fear start to make Riri second guess her choices, she becomes more determined to finish her suit to protect herself and those she cares about.

I wasn't immediately hooked, but it was by episode 3 that I was starting to get into it. A big theme of the series is "magic vs. technology", specifically Hood's mystic abilities against Riri's high tech suit. Both are brought to life very well by special effects; the latter brings a particular breath of fresh air as we see a "practical" suit that harkens back to Tony's early days compared to the nano capabilities seen in his final battles with Thanos.

Unfortunately, the final episode kind of wrecks the whole thing for me. While it does have a good climax and brings in Sacha Baron Cohen (who gives a more subdued performance than what people would expect from him) as a character that fans have been clamoring for since Phase Four, it doesn't really bring finality and more so a tease for season two. But at this point, I don't see that happening. 

While Marvel Studios has recently decided to go "quality over quantity" approach compared to previous years, projects like "Ironheart" and "Agatha All Along" were already pretty far along in production. At least with "Agatha", the story was self-contained and had a real finale but leaves an opening to return to those characters. "Ironheart" ends similarly to "Secret Invasion" where there's huge ramifications but no guarantee of following up on them (unless "Ironheart" leads into potential Young Avengers plans like "Agatha" hints at).

Characters and performances are the real heart of the series though.

Dominque Thorne's return as Riri brings a lot of complexity to the character. It's already been evident the girl is smart. This series alone shows her building iron suits at home and inadvertently creating an AI based on her late best friend. She even gets her own "Iron Man 3" moment in episode 5 to show off her ingenuity without the suit. She's very goal oriented, which can be attributed to a past trauma. But as smart as Riri is, it also makes her closed-off and arrogant, leading her to make some questionable choices that would go on to impact her and those around her. She's kind of like Peter Parker in that way, but not as insecure. This may make her character off-putting to some viewers, especially by the end in spite of her development.

Anthony Ramos portrays Parker Robbins/The Hood, the main antagonist of the series. Ramos' portrayal here is kind of the flipside from when he portrayed Noah Diaz in "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts", where his actions are for the benefit of those he's taken under his charge. But Robbins takes darker methods to achieving these goals rooted in his deeper motivation and hood's influence. Robbins' journey parallels Riri's in a few ways. Besides the "magic vs. technology" theme, both lost their father figures in different ways and while we see Riri begin to let the people in her life help her, Robbins finds himself alone by the final episode.

Alden Ehrenreich portrays Zeke, the son of Obadiah Stane from the very first Iron Man movie. While Zeke would rather distance himself from his father's legacy, the events of the series push him into it, and based on Alden's performance, he's a chip off the old block. Something interesting that comes up though is apparently the cover story that his father died in a plane crash is still in play. You'd think the truth would have come out about it whether it be after Tony went public as Iron Man or when Natasha leaked all of SHIELD's secrets in "Winter Soldier."

Despite what works about "Ironheart", I'd overall find it hard to recommend to anyone outside of those who enjoyed Riri in "Wakanda Forever" or the MCU completionist.

TV Review: Dragon Ball Daima - Toriyama's Grand Tour

 

Dragon Ball Daima is an anime miniseries that marked the 40th anniversary of the Dragon Ball franchise as well as the last project with involvement from creator Akira Toriyama before his death in early 2024, releasing posthumously. While the build-up to Daima had a lot of fans not sure what to expect, I believe this turned out to be Toriyama's perfect swan song.

Set a short time after the defeat of Kid Buu but years before Beerus' awakening (technically), a power struggle begins in the Demon Realm (a separate plane of existence than Hell to be clear) after the death of King Dabura at the hands of Buu. Fearing the power of the mortals, the heir apparent Gomah makes a preemptive move by traveling to Earth and using the Dragon Balls to turn the Dragon Gang back into children, as well as kidnapping the now infant Dende. The now mini versions of Goku and friends mount a rescue mission and give chase to the Demon Realm, seeking its version of the Dragon Balls to restore things to normal.

To address the immediate elephant in the room, yes, this does sound very familiar to Dragon Ball GT, but with a few key differences. First, it's not just Goku turned back into a kid, so now we get to see characters like Vegeta and Piccolo acclimate to their smaller statures. Second, they're traveling a world of magic rather than the depths of space. Combine these and you actually get the perfect anniversary series. Like GT, Daima harkens back to the original Dragon Ball series with Goku traveling with friends old and new seeking the Dragon Balls with more emphasis initially on martial arts than energy fights. Making the setting the Demon Realm also brings the franchise back to its fantasy roots, skewing away from the sci-fi tone of not just GT but a majority of Z as well.
Something of note of the Demon Realm is that those originating from there have pointed ears, and this includes the Namekians and Kais. I'm a little on the fence about this new information, but it does help tie Piccolo back to his Demon King origins. A lot about the Demon Realm makes me wonder if Akira Toriyama was a fan of "The Owl House", especially when you compare the fictional settings and its inhabitants from both shows. Given it's been said that Toriyama was inspired by "Terminator" when writing the Android Saga, a similar situation honestly wouldn't surprise me.

I should point out to those wanting to watch Daima that it starts off painfully slow. I think it was about episode eight for me that things really started to pick up steam. While I do commend Daima for having a tighter story compared to GT or Super given its limited run, it probably could have been trimmed down a bit. I would also contribute the limited run to the animation and fight scenes being consistently well done by comparison as well.
In terms of the dub, part of what helped me get through some of the slower parts was Stephanie Nadolny's return as the voice of young Goku, slipping back into the role like riding a bike. By comparison, the voice actors for the kid versions of other characters take a little time to settle into their roles but they get there the more they perform. But to be fair, I think that's normal for any voice actor in a long running role.

If Daima will be well-known for anything, it's Akira Toriyama pulling a Shenron by granting fans' wishes with the inclusion of Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta and Super Saiyan 4 Goku.

Vegeta reaching Super Saiyan 3 is something fans have wanted to see since Goku introduced the form in the Buu Saga. While Vegeta's had the transformation present in video games, Daima marks its first appearance in an official capacity. And I have to say that Vegeta made the form badass again after how much it got downgraded in Super.

Similar to how he rebooted Broly, Akira Toriyama gives Goku a new version of Super Saiyan 4 that's familiar but distinct from its GT origins. While it kind of comes across as an asspull and lacks some of the prominence the first transformation in GT had in my opinion, Daima maintains Super Saiyan 4 as the pinnacle of primal Saiyan power, culminating in probably the biggest Kamehameha in the franchise's history.

And once the characters are restored to adults, this allows Christopher Sabat and Sean Schemmel to cut loose in their respective roles and transformations.

Despite initial reports and continued insistence after the series, Dragon Ball Daima doesn't fit within the same timeline as "Dragon Ball Super". Goku and Vegeta's new forms in Daima alone prevent things from lining up. Much like GT can't happen after Super, Super can't happen after Daima. It is just a little surprising though considering Toriyama's involvement in both, though Daima had much more of it apparently. And while I had no luck in relocating the article, I remember seeing that Daima was considered by Toriyama to be his true follow-up to Z.

So after Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, you can look at it as a "choose your own adventure" map with Daima, Super, and GT as potential continuations, each having their own merits and drawbacks. While part of me still prefers GT for its natural story progression from Z and bringing finality to the Dragon Ball story, I think Daima is objectively the best out of all three. I didn't expect to like Daima as much as I would, but the overall story and animation was on par with the "Super Hero" movie in making me feel like a kid watching DBZ again.

For what would sadly be his last project in the franchise, Akira Toriyama knocked it out of the park with Dragon Ball Daima. And I would like to take this time to thank him for helping shape my childhood and beyond.

TV Review: Doctor Who Series 15 - Timey Wimey Woo

 

It's round two for the Davies/Gatwa/Disney era of Doctor Who, taking viewers aboard the TARDIS for more exciting new adventures. A lot of what made the last series great is present here, but there's plenty to help Series 15 stand out for better and worse (but not a lot on the latter). I will keep spoilers to a minimum until later on because there are major developments in the finale.

While Millie Gibson is still present as Ruby Sunday, the main companion role this series is filled by Varadu Sethu as Belinda Chandra. A nurse who gets abducted by robots to an alien planet in the premiere episode, Belinda is eventually being saved by the Doctor. There's a lot to like about Belinda, like her first instinct to help people when she sees them in distress; she reminds me a lot of Martha Jones, both of them being in the medical field adding to that fire. Belinda's a smart cookie too, immediately recognizing the risks of travelling with the Doctor and wishing to return home after her first adventure. However, something is preventing the TARDIS from taking her back to the moment she left with much of the season revolving around that mystery why that may be. Going off that, Belinda makes a good point that the Doctor is basically a time detective. This does make a Belinda a reluctant companion at first, which is a nice shake-up to the formula. As the Doctor works his magic to get her home, Belinda grows to trust him and have fun as they travel time and space. In fact, she would go on to be his closest companion since Clara Oswald.

Showrunner Russell T. Davies once again crafts a well-done series of episodes. Social commentary is ever present, touching on subjects such as AI, misinformation spreading, as well as stereotypes and discrimination. If I had one complaint though, it's that there are time Davies seemed to be copying himself from his first tenure as showrunner. I just noticed some ideas felt familiar from episodes like "The Girl in the Fireplace" and "Voyage of the Damned" for example. The final episodes of this series even hit a lot of beats of the last of series three. It's hard for me not to notice since I'm so familiar with the show. And when a show runs as long as Doctor Who has, you're bound to see recycled elements. It's all in the execution, which succeeds enough where it doesn't bog down my enjoyment.

 

Let's go through the episodes that really stood out to me:

* In "Lux", Alan Cumming voices a cartoon character of the same name, following in the footsteps of the Toymaker and Maestro as another of the Pantheon of Discord. If you remember the episodes featuring those two, you know the kind of craziness that can ensue. The episode also breaks the fourth wall in a way I don't think one would expect Doctor Who to do.
* "The Well" is a direct sequel to the episode "Midnight" from 2008. In my opinion, it's scarier than its predecessor while also making me appreciate that episode even more.

* "The Interstellar Song Contest" has a lot going on for it. It has one of the most horrific moments I've seen on Doctor Who, one of the craziest, and we get to see how Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor is when he's really angry. It brings about the darkest moment for this Doctor and one of the darkest for the character in general. The episode also reveals the secret of Mrs. Flood as it leads into...
* ...the two part finale of "Wish World" and "The Reality War", a reality warping story as we watch the Doctor and his allies set to make things right. While the first part basically shows us a right-winger's wet dream, the second gives a special effects heavy battle akin to a Marvel movie with the personal stakes for the Doctor having never been higher.

It's now time to delve into SPOILERS because, believe it or not, we have a regeneration occur at the end of "The Reality War".

In the altered reality first presented in "Wish World", the Doctor (as John Smith) and Belinda are shown to be married and have a daughter named Poppy. As they and the rest of the Doctor's allies recover their memories, they realize the risk of Poppy being erased if the proper reality is restored. Despite their best efforts to keep that from happening, Poppy does in fact disappear. Because there did end up being minor timeline changes after resetting things, the Doctor enters the TARDIS and initiates a regeneration, sending some of that energy into the time vortex to slightly alter the timeline some more so that Poppy exists once again. He is successful, although now Poppy was fathered by another man. After bidding farewell to Belinda and Poppy, the Doctor leaves in the TARDIS to allow his regeneration to proceed...

You saw that right. Billie Piper, who once portrayed companion Rose Tyler, is the next Doctor. So why has the Doctor once again chosen a familiar face to wear? I do have a theory. As discussed before, the Fifteenth Doctor has been more emotionally open compared to some of his predecessors. As he left Belinda and Poppy, he told them that he loves them both. He even says it to the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker returning for a cameo), who appeared in the TARDIS due to the recent time shenanigans prior to enacting his plan; this catches her off guard as it's something the Doctor doesn't usually say. And if there's one thing that breaks the hearts of Whovians to this day, it's the fact that the Tenth Doctor never uttered those three words to Rose. Granted, that could be a reach. But going back to the Thirteenth Doctor interaction, maybe this could also be seen as a form of self-love.

The future of Doctor Who is kind of in the air at the moment, with no confirmation of a Christmas special this year of a sixteenth series. I do hope we see some continuation. For what it is though, the fifteenth series of Doctor Who is a high note to go out on, even with a cliffhanger.

Movie Review: Thunderbolts* - Spiritual Guardians

 

As "Avengers: Endgame" is considered to be the current gold standard of the MCU, only a few films in the franchise released after it have been considered to be at the same level: "Spider-Man: No Way Home", "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3", and "Deadpool and Wolverine." Much like "Endgame", those films also marked the end for the current era of those particular characters. But we have a surprise new entry for this club with "Thunderbolts*", a film that signifies a new beginning rather than a culmination of what came before.

In essence, "Thunderbolts*" is a team origin story in the same vein as the original Avengers and Guardians movies. What helps set it apart is its more grounded nature, with the main team members being a trained assassin in Yelena (Florence Pugh), three super soldiers in Bucky (Sebastian Stan), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), and Alexei (David Harbour), and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) with her intangibility. There's not much variety in the powerset, but it's part of the charm. It's a scrappy team that's down to Earth, which makes it easy to root for them. Not to mention it leads to fun action scenes that are easy to follow.

The Thunderbolts* are comparable to the Guardians of the Galaxy, being a group of criminals overcoming their shameful pasts to become something more. That said, it did lead to a little disappointment for me that the movie didn't have a unique soundtrack like the Guardians trilogy did after all four trailers had some stellar song choices. But then it hit me; another comparison to be made is with Suicide Squad, and I feel "Thunderbolts*" matches the tone of what David Ayer originally intended with his film (see the 2015 Comic Con trailer for reference).

Like any ensemble film, the heart comes from its cast. The interactions between characters highlights their individual strengths and shortcomings as they go from trying to kill each other to building comradery. As the film's central character, Florence Pugh gives her best performance as Yelena yet. The weight of loss and her past actions bear down on her, contrasting with the youthful energy she exhibited when we first met her. David Harbour is still highly entertaining as the Red Guardian, continuing his quest to reclaim his glory days while acting as a father to Yelena; and his brief interaction with Bucky is also great, carrying over their chemistry from the "What If...?" episode that showcased the two having a team-up. I also enjoyed seeing Ava having more control over her powers and gaining more confidence in the process. As for Walker, his douchiness carries over from "Falcon and Winter Soldier" which makes it nice when he acts humbler as the story goes.

We've seen Julia Louis-Dreyfus sprinkled here and there in the MCU as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, though it's been hard to really lock down what she's about. With this film, the answer is she's the anti-Nick Fury. She assembles the Thunderbolts*, though inadvertently, acting for her own self-interest and orchestrating to come out on top no matter the scenario. She's basically Amanda Waller with a more pleasant demeanor.

Lewis Pullman is the heart of the film as Bob. He's a character whose childhood trauma has shaped him, which allows Pullman to showcase his range as an actor. He goes from friendly yet socially awkward as Bob to getting a confidence boost as Sentry that leads to a literal god complex, exploding into a force of darkness as the Void. Void's design is simple yet unsettling, personifying the self-doubt within Bob that should resonate with some viewers.

If I had one gripe, it's that Taskmaster was done dirty. I think a majority of people knew what would happen with her, but damn, you could have cut her and lost nothing.

Overall, "Thunderbolts*" is a top tier Marvel film that deserves to be one of its biggest successes, so see it in theaters as soon as you can.

TV Review: "Daredevil: Born Again" - Delightfully Devilish, Matthew

 

When "Daredevil" premiered in 2015 and kicked off the series of Marvel Netflix shows, it was a real game changer. It brought a new perspective within the Marvel Cinematic Universe with its gritty tone and grounded approach and showed that superhero TV shows can be just as epic as the movies. It was such a loss when Netflix cancelled it along with its sister shows one by one due to corporate politics. But fans held out hope Marvel would bring back the Man Without Fear at some point in the future. After seven years with character appearances sprinkled in some other projects, Matt Murdock is "Born Again" and better than ever.

There was the possibility of a new Daredevil project taking a different approach from what came before. But for a variety of reasons, Marvel made the right decision to continue what the original series created. The first episode throws us right back into the world of Daredevil and showing our trio of "Avocados" enjoying themselves before tragedy strikes and shakes up the status quo (as well as reminds you how psychotic Bullseye is). This change helps propel the characters' journeys forward while still keeping the grounded tone and slow burn the Netflix shows were known for. The more violent action it was also known for is retained and actually elevated. There will be moments that will make you go "Damn, Matt!" because of how sudden and brutal the moment can be. Along with the fight choreography is brilliant cinematography that emphasize the importance of certain moments. "Born Again" brought about the same feelings in me as when I was watching the Netflix shows, something none of the Disney+ shows except for maybe "Echo" have.

But the heart of the show remains with its characters as Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio lead returning and new cast members in the next chapter of the Daredevil story. There is no shortage of poignant character moments. My favorites among them have Charlie's Matt interacting with Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle, whether it be a heart-to-heart talk that rivals their one in season two, or their banter and philosophical debates in this season's finale. And I just have to say that once again seeing the primal energy Bernthal brings as the Punisher makes me glad to see him back as well.
A new villain for the series is Muse, an artist themed serial killer from Charles Soule's run in the Daredevil comics. "Born Again" does a good job at slowly building up his reveal and confrontations with Daredevil, culminating in his final work.

One of the best things "Born Again" does is tap into the zeitgeist. The show does a great job at highlighting the problems of a flawed judicial system, the co-opting of the Punisher skull logo, and the current political climate (with the Fisk/Trump parallel from season three dialed up to 11 with somewhat uncomfortable results). It captures the hopelessness many are feeling right now, but it also highlights the importance of fighting for what's right, especially since the main conflict isn't something that can be easily fixed in one season. Daredevil in 2025 represents what I felt Wonder Woman did in 2020.

I think there may be some people who have a hard time with the series in how it's different from the other Disney+ shows as well as the original "Daredevil." I mean, Matt doesn't suit back up after the first episode until six so there's technically not much superhero-ing. But that's kind of the point. Matt and Wilson are using different methods to reach their goals, with their old selves bubbling beneath the surface until they fully embrace their true selves and fall into old habits. These are just two examples of how the title "Born Again" applies in a variety of ways.

Needless to say, "Daredevil: Born Again" is a revival that succeeds in recapturing and elevating what people love about the original. The dower note of the finale will leave you begging for next season, and hopefully Matt will bring in help from some old friends.

TV Review: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man - Sans Sony

 

As great and beloved as the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies are, there have been trials for Marvel to pull them off. They've had to play ball with Sony due to the character's film rights situation, and their partnership almost blew up before "No Way Home". This has lead to a common criticism that they shoehorn in more MCU references and characters compared to other characters' solo movies and pull away focus for a Spidey film. It does make one wonder how Marvel would have handled Spider-Man in the MCU without Sony in the mix. Which brings us to "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man"

Initially envisioned as a prequel to his debut in "Civil War", the web-slinger's Disney+ show takes place in an alternate timeline of the MCU where Peter finds himself being mentored by Norman Osborn rather than Tony Stark. Spidey already has a long history of animated series, and "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" is a welcome addition to that legacy.

For an experiment in reapproaching Spider-Man's introduction to the MCU, the results are successful. While there are MCU character guest appearances, the series focuses strictly on the Spider-Man mythos. It's just so interesting to see how things could have gone and what could be hints of things to come for Peter in the Sacred Timeline. This show also gives Marvel the chance to do things with Spidey either too small to explore in the movies or deliver things that may or may not come to pass. I mean, episode six gives us the closest thing yet to a Spidey and Daredevil meet-up. Plus, the Scorpion set-up from "Homecoming" feels like such a missed opportunity now after seeing how he was utilized here.

Aside from Aunt May, Peter has a totally different supporting cast compared to the movies. I feel this is due to a combination of trying to be different from the movies and possible rights and likeness issues with Sony, with Peter, May, and Gargan bearing resemblance to their live action counterparts. Despite the absence of Ned and MJ, the series still delivers a strong supporting cast. In this universe, Peter's best friend is Nico Minoru of "Runaways" fame. I love the chemistry they have here, and it makes me miss actress Lyrica Okano's presence in the MCU (bring her back, Feige!). There's also a surprise choice in making Lonnie Lincoln a friend of Peter's, but this leads to a compelling origin story for his turn into Tombstone.

Style wise, the show's animation is similar to the MTV CGI series and the Ultimate Spider-Man video game while applying the 60's Ditko and Romita aesthetic in a modern-day setting. It worked for me immediately, but it may take some getting used to for others. We also get the first full-on theme song for a Spider-Man series since "Spectacular", something sorely missed from the Ultimate and 2017 series. It's a real banger and made me realize that each Spider-Man theme song, also including the '67 and '94 shows, are reflective of their era.

I still believe "Spectacular" is the character's best series, but "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" is the heir apparent. It delivers a comparable coming of age story for Peter as he moves through his high school and superhero lives. "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" has the chance to reach the heights "Spectacular" aspired to before its early cancellation. With so much set up for the future in the season finale (including one shocking revelation no one will see coming), you'll be left eagerly waiting for the series' return.

Movie Review: "Captain America: Brave New World" - Phase One Callback

 

He was bestowed the shield in 2019. He accepted the mantle in 2021. Now in 2025, we finally get to see Sam Wilson take the lead in a Captain America movie. To quote Hope Van Dyne, "it's about damn time." But was "Captain America: Brave New World" worth such a long wait? I'd like to think so.

"Brave New World" brings us back to the political thriller genre that was prevalent in "The Winter Soldier" film and the "Falcon and Winter Soldier" series that preceded this film. What also gives the film some charm is how it seems to take Marvel back to their roots by going for a more grounded approach similar to the Phase One and Two era. This is mostly seen with the film's villains like the Serpent Society and main antagonist the Leader, foregoing outlandish costumes for a simple aesthetic.

As he has for over a decade now, Anthony Mackie continues to kill it as Sam Wilson. Picking up approximately a year after "Falcon and Winter Soldier", we find Sam settling into the Captain America role as the events of the film brings his first real test of mettle. Some may see this as retreading ground from the series, but while that was more about accepting Steve's choice in passing the shield, what Sam experiences in this film is living up to the ideals of Captain America and dealing with the pressures that come with it.

With the passing of William Hurt in 2022, the role of Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross is taken over by sci-fi legend Harrison Ford. Ford not only makes his own mark as the character but the way he's depicted makes sense for where his journey has brought him. He's an 80-year-old man who's been dealing with superhero crap over two decades and just elected president; the years have worn on him and things aren't getting easier. This eventually boils over into his transformation into the Red Hulk, leading to a good old-fashioned gamma induced rampage not seen since "Age of Ultron". One can also see parallels to real world politics which at the time of production were probably intended to be allegorical but now sadly just feels like wishful thinking.

As I mentioned the Leader before, we see the return of Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns, finally paying off a 17-year-old set-up from "The Incredible Hulk". Incarcerated since his last appearance, Sterns is much more cold and calculating, with his gamma powered mind making him a formidable threat. I found Nelson's performance comparable to the Leader's appearance in the "Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes" animated series where he was voiced by Jeffery Combs. I only wish they kept his involvement secret so his appearance would have been a big reveal like the HYDRA twist in "Winter Soldier."

Critically wise, I'm seeing the reception to "Brave New World" comparable to "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" where it's on the lower side of the MCU. Much like "Quantumania", I don't think the hate is deserved. I mean, I will give way to the idea that this could have also worked as a Hulk movie given some of the prominent characters involved. And if I had one personal criticism, it's the fight choreography. When there's special effects involved, things flow pretty well. But when it's straight up hand to hand combat, it feels way more stilted when you compare them to the fight scenes from the Russo Brothers' Captain America films.

While it's no game changer like "Winter Soldier", "Captain America: Brave New World" is an entertaining film that cements Sam's position moving forward in the MCU as we prepare for the Avengers to reassemble next year.

Retro Re-Review: Power Rangers SPD

POWER RANGERS SPD (2005)

Adapted from Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger

Disney Era

The Power Rangers franchise is a bit in flux at the moment. Since talking about the final seasons with Dino Fury last year, the Netflix plans fell through and the potential reboot has been moved over to Paramount. But with it being 2025, I thought we'd take another look at a season I covered way back when I ranked them all up to Megaforce at that point.
While airing in 2005, Power Rangers SPD took place twenty years in the future. I posited the question on forums back then what the franchise would do if they reached 2025, and we were two years shy of finding out. But given we're in the year of SPD, it being its 20th anniversary, and it's chronologically the final season, I thought it'd be fun to give it another look. Besides the fact I haven't watched the season since its DVD release, it'd be interesting to see how well the series holds up on its own merits, how it fits with the established Power Rangers canon, and how its 2025 compares to our own. (Click the highlighted portion at the beginning of the paragraph for my original look back at the series.)

Within the now concluded main Power Rangers canon, SPD still fits in pretty well. It also helps that Beast Morphers and Dino Fury included some subtle references that help build up the setting for this season off-screen. If there are any inconsistencies that arise, it's within SPD's season itself, particularly when it comes to character backstories. The biggest hiccup to me is if each of the Ranger's parents secretly worked for SPD before they were born, why did Jack, Z, and Sam grow up on the streets unlike the others, especially if tabs were kept on all of them? Jack didn't even know his own birthday but referenced his parents were missionaries. Some things don't add up.

So how does the 2025 of SPD where aliens and earthlings reside together compare to the real world? Oh Power Rangers, you had such high expectations of us. We're still very far away from a world where humans live in peace and accept each other's differences, let alone live with aliens.
I feel like the team's police motif could be seen as controversial today. Modern perception of police is fractured to say the least given issues such as excessive force and profiling. The fact that SPD deals with alien-related crimes (even smaller ones compared to world domination like carjacking and bank robbery) doesn't help, especially when they're a government based public organization and not top secret like Men in Black. Funny enough though, Disney was kind of ahead of things because they had to tone down the violence while adapting Dekaranger. This included editing out bullets and creating the containment card system; otherwise, we'd be seeing our police officer protagonists killing every single criminal.
On the flipside though, SPD is full of instances of characters recognizing their biases and privileges, which in my opinion makes the series even more relevant than it was at its release. Character growth is a big part of the season not just for our main protagonists, but those associated with SPD that broke bad. It showcases the choice we all have to be the best or worst version of ourselves.

Back when I was ranking the seasons, I tried to give my overall thoughts on each one and rather than a deep dive focus like I did from Dino Charge to Dino Fury. But now that I'm giving SPD that treatment, I can talk about the two separate Dino Thunder team-up episodes.
The first episode entitled "History" shows Connor, Ethan, and Kira being transported from their high school reunion to the future via their Dino Gems by Broodwing, wanting to recruit them for his own plans in world domination. Why he thought he could persuade heroic figures from the past is anyone's guess. The three escape and encounter the SPD Rangers, eventually being given their old morphers from the SPD archives to assist in a fight with Grumm, Morgana, and an overwhelming number of Troobian foot soldiers before being sent back to the past with their memories erased. It was a pretty satisfying team-up, catching up with the core Dino Thunder Rangers and seeing them experience a future world and interacting with the current season's Rangers.
Another team-up entitled "Wormhole" sees Grumm traveling through a temporal wormhole back to 2004 where he hopes to conquer Earth without SPD's resistance. The SPD Rangers give chase, meet up with the Dino Thunder Rangers and together repel Grumm back to the future. "Wormhole" is a more traditional team-up that had come to be expected from the franchise up to this point, including the full rosters of each team and showcasing the Reds' battlizers. In that respect, I do prefer this over "History". But from a story standpoint, "Wormhole" feels out of place in more ways than one. Not only did this episode not air until the interim time between SPD's finale and Mystic Force's premiere, but the episode is placed directly after "History" on both the DVD release and how it's listed currently on Tubi where it simply doesn't fit. The only place this episode can happen is before the final three, and even then, there's a glaring continuity problem with Mora. By this point, Mora had been transformed back from Morgana and become fully corrupted by Omni, abandoning her more childish tendencies in the process, but they're still present in "Wormhole."

Besides these additional thoughts, my overall feelings toward Power Rangers SPD haven't changed since my season rankings. It's still a great season that cracks my top ten and giving it a rewatch for this occasion was a nice nostalgia trip. It holds up well and fans of the franchise should take a trip back to Newtech City this year to celebrate 20 years of SPD.

My Rankings of Power Rangers Seasons:
21. Megaforce
20. Operation Overdrive
19. Turbo
18. Samurai
17. Ninja Storm
16. Wild Force
15. Beast Morphers
14. Ninja Steel
13. Dino Charge
12. Zeo
11. Dino Fury
10. SPD
9. Lightspeed Rescue
8. Mystic Force
7. Lost Galaxy
6. Jungle Fury
5. Dino Thunder
4. Mighty Morphin'
3. In Space
2. Time Force
1. RPM