The Small Fries

The newest episode of Game of Thrones illustrates that there is definitely something big on the horizon for us viewers. Many of our beloved (and not-so-beloved) characters are starting to advance their season storylines along. SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT.

The episode opens with Arya Stark sailing to Braavos. She goes straight to the House of Black and White looking for Jaqen H’ghar. A man answers saying no one by that name is there. As persistent as she is, Arya sits on the steps for what appears to be several days, turning her coin over and obsessively going over the names on her personal hit list. Becoming frustrated, Arya tosses her coin into the sea. She storms off and kills a pigeon when a group of boys attack her, only to be scared off by the mysterious man who had answered the door days ago. The man gives Arya the coin and reveals himself to be Jaqen. When Arya asks why he lied to her, he said he didn’t go by that name anymore. He is No One.

Maisie Williams as Arya Stark in front of the House of Black and White

Brienne and Podrick are still on the road searching for Sansa. While in a tavern, Podrick spots Sansa and Petyr Baelish. Brienne goes over and swears her sword to Lady Sansa, but Sansa refuses the help of someone she knows nothing about. Brienne then sets the horses free and rides off with Podrick. An epic fight occurs between Brienne and Baelish’s guards, which results in her saving Podrick’s life. This scene definitely showed some character development for Brienne, who before now only thought of Podrick as an annoyance.

Meanwhile, Cersei receives a snake head with a Lannister medallion in its mouth from who she assumes to be the Martells. Obviously disturbed, she confides in Jamie that she is worried about their daughter. Jamie then volunteers to go to the Dorne to bring Myrcella back home to Kings’ Landing. While Jamie is away, Cersei has given out orders for Tyrion’s head to be delivered to her. However, the men who deliver her a head obviously cannot distinguish one imp from another. Disappointed, Cersei exclaims that is isn’t him, but knows that “there will be mistakes made”. The head is then taken for experimentation. She then appoints a new council for the king. When she offers her uncle the title of Master of War, he declines, saying that she is “the queen mother and nothing more”.

Lena Heady as Cersi Lannister and Nikolaj Coster-Waldu as Jaime Lannister

In Dorne, Ellaria confronts Doran about his inactivity following Oberyn’s death. She wants Doran to send Myrcella back to King’s Landing limb by limb, but Doran refuses to go to war. The first glimpse of Doran shows him to be a wise leader. I am interested to see what happens with his character as the season unfolds.

In Mereen, Daario and crew find a Son of the Harpy hidden in a wall. They take him prisoner as Daenerys’ council decides what to do. An ex-slave demands his execution, but Ser Barristan pulls Daenerys aside and convinces her to give the man a fair trial. However, before the trial occurs, the ex-slave on the council murders the man. Daenerys then publicly sentences the council member to death, the decision creating riots in the streets of Mereen. While pondering over the decision she made, her lost dragon, Drogon, returns and shows Daenerys affection before flying away again. Daenerys’ storyline in this episode is important because it shows that rulers have to make decisions that are difficult, and Daenerys has not been faced with this difficult a decision thus far.

Drongon finally returns to Daenerys

Back on The Wall, Stannis calls upon Jon Snow for showing mercy on Mance Rayder. He strikes a bargain with Jon and offers him to be the Lord of Winterfell. Jon has been dreaming of this moment his whole life, but comes to the realization that backing down on his oath to the Nights’ Watch would not make people take him seriously as a leader. Sam nominates Jon for Lord Commander of the Nights’ Watch, which he then wins by a close call. This is great for Jon, having finally found his place in the world.

Kit Harington as Jon Snow confronting Stephen Dillane as Stannis Baratheon

All in all, this episode was miles better than the season premiere. A lot of characters have been set up with intriguing new storylines, which is a lot more interesting than the “here’s what you missed” feeling of the first episode. This episode seemed to heavily feature the women of the show, which was awesome because their storylines and characters are all very interesting and diverse. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Watch Game of Thrones Sunday nights at 9ET on HBO.

Season 1-4 now on sale!

--Julie

It has been a long winter, and we have waited even longer for the season five premiere of the hit series on HBO, Game of Thrones. Last night ended the “long night.” For the non-book readers, we were left with many questions at the end of last season. We had no idea what was in store for Tyrion – having just killed his father—or Arya and Sansa. What was going to happen to our watchers on the wall? What about Ser Jorah? Well, hopefully these questions can be answered, and soon. Last night focused on four major characters, with a glimpse at Sansa’s story. For those of you that haven’t seen last night’s episode: SPOILER ALERT! DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ SPOILERS!

Young Cersi. She obviously hasn't changed much in facial expressions.

The newest episode opens with a flashback on a young, golden haired girl, who I quickly and correctly guess to be Cersi, hunting for a witch’s home in the woods. She stumbles across it and demands the witch tell her prophecy. The witch tells Cersi that she will marry a king, but have three children; where the king will have twenty. She will rule as queen until another, younger woman comes along and takes everything away from her. Thus, explaining her hatred for Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer).

Cersi, with a similar facial expression, on her way to her father's funeral. She has what you would call permanent resting bitch-face.

Flash forward to the present. Cersi (Lena Headey) is on her way to pay her respects to her deceased father. Jaime, standing guard, tells his twin-sister-lover-mother-to-his-children something everyone is thinking: with Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) dead, everyone will come for them. One can only hope. As much as I love Cersi as a villain, I really hate her and hope she gets what’s coming soon. Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is right though, with their father gone, they’re now weak. Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), their own brother, has killed their father; now there is no one to protect his children. His legacy. Cersi is furious with her lover-brother for setting free “that little monster.” She has shown no effort in hiding her hatred for Tyrion, so why start now?

Jaime and Cersi discussing Tyrion's escape

Tyrion Lannister, our favorite imp, has landed himself in Pentos with Varys (Conleth Hill), who is trying to convince Tyrion to fight for Westeros. Throughout the episode the two debate on the state of the world that Tyrion has given up on. Finally, Varys lets him in on the conspiracy he has been a part of since season one: help restore House Targaryen to their rightful place.

Varys: “You could help another take the steps to climb to that seat [the Iron Throne]…the seven kingdoms need a ruler loved by millions with a powerful army and the right family name.”

Tyrion: “Good luck finding him.”

Varys: “Who said anything about him?”

Of course, Tyrion couldn’t care less about meeting and helping Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) take the Iron Throne. His only concern is to be able to drink himself to death on the road to Meereen.

Tyrion in Pentos talking with Varys

Speaking of Daenerys, she’s struggling to keep her queendom under control. A rebellious group, Sons of the Harpys, have attacked her unsullied and the masters at Yunkai are testing her by offering a compromise: letting go of slavery for bringing back the human fighting pits. Of course, Dany is not about to bring back “human cock fighting.” She refuses to make any compromises and basically says that she is the queen. They must do as she commands. *insert z snap here* However, later in the bed chamber, Daario Naharis (Michiel Huisman) tries to convince her otherwise. His argument is the fighting pits made him the man he is today, which led him to her. Sorry, I do not ship these two, so I am rolling my eyes at Daario. (Jorah + Daenerys foreva!) Not only is he trying to convince her to bring these back but to also release her dragons. Drogon hasn’t been seen for weeks, and Daenerys admits she can’t control her dragons. Daario says , “A Dragon Queen without Dragons is not a queen.” Honestly, I agree. She is the Mother of Dragons. Hiding these Dragons is hiding her true power.

Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, Mother of Dragons and Breaker of Chains

Daenerys visits her other two Dragons, Rhaegal and Viserion. Both of which are less than happy to see their “mother.” They are attempting to take their anger out on her by breathing fire and snapping at her. She quickly leaves their cage in fear for her life. “A Dragon Queen without Dragons is not a queen.”

Between all of these major plot points, we get a small glimpseat what Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) is up to. She is stuck with her creepy “uncle” Lord Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish (Adian Gillen) and her cousin Robin Arryn, who is hilariously failing at combat practice. I’m pretty sure I could hold a sword better than he did. All we know about Sansa is she is leaving with Littlefinger and headed west. Sansa has definitely grown up since the last time we saw her at the end of season four, and I am hoping that Baelish keeps his hands to himself – seeing as he had a hard time with that last season…ew.

Sansa Stark and Lord Baelish

Finally, Jon Snow (Kit Harington). At The Wall, there are quite a few things happening. Aside from training new recruits, recovering from the major battle, and the threat of White Walkers, Alliser Thorne (Owen Teale) is hoping to be chosen as the new Lord Commander – Vote Snow 2015! Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) and his...Melisandre (Carice van Houten), are wanting to take back the North with the help of the Wildlings; so long as Mance Rayder (Ciaran Hinds) bends the knee. However, things are NEVER that easy in this show. Mance rejects the thought of bending the knee and going against everything he’s ever fought for, and thus he burns at the stake. Thanks, Lord of Light. The night is dark and full of Mance’s screams and burning flesh.

Jon Snow trying to convince The King Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder, to bend the knee

The season is off to an interesting start with the body count at two. I had high hopes for this episode, and was a little let down at how mellow it was compared to other episodes. However, from all the speculation surrounding this season and new additions to the cast (The Sand Snakes!), I know that it’s going to get better from here. There have been various reports released by HBO and George R. R. Martin stating that this season will be straying from the books even further, much to readers’ dismay, causing many characters to die who do not die in the books. This only goes to show us, no one is safe this season. But as fans of the series, we all know one thing: Valar Morghulis.

Game of Thrones is on HBO, Sunday nights at 9ET

--Kasey

Merry of soul she sailed on a day / Over the sea to Skye....

In episode ten of the premier season, we catch our favorite couple at Castle Leoch in the midst of – erhem, moving on.

Moving on, people!

Murtagh informs Jamie that the Duke of Sandringham (Simon Callow) has arrived near Leoch. The Duke is Jamie’s next opportunity to clear his name. However, the lovely little Sassenach throws a wrench into the plan when she tells Jamie that the Duke is a close friend and ally to Black Jack Randall. Jamie, knowing that the Duke fancies him, hopes to use this to his advantage but seeks the advice from Ned Gowan – the clan’s “lawyer." Ned drafts a formal complaint of Randall’s crimes against the Scottish people in the hopes of him being reassigned to somewhere in the West Indies, and thus helping Jamie clear his name.

Simon Callow as the Duke of Sandringham meeting Claire for the first time

While he is consulting with Ned, Claire decides she is going to confront Laoghaire about the “ill-will.” Laoghaire threatens Claire saying Jamie is and always will be hers, and one day she will have him. Claire slaps her after the lassie says how sorry she feels for Jamie having to “share his bed with a cold, English bitch. He must have to get himself swine drunk at night before he can stand to plow your fields.” I would have slapped her too! You go, Sassenach! However, Claire immediately apologizes, but the fuel has already been added to the fire.

Poor Laoghaire after Claire slaps her

Claire then sets off to find her friend Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek), to confront her about selling Laoghaire the ill-will. She finds her deep in the woods performing a ceremony, similar to what she saw at Craig-na-Dune in 1945, and ultimately revealing that she is pregnant. Geillis confesses that the baby is Dougal’s, and they are in love. She was calling on Mother Nature to set Dougal free from his wife and herself free from her husband. As they walk back to Leoch, Geillis apologizes for the ill-will, claiming that she had no idea it was intended for her. Claire stops when she hears a baby crying. She begins to head up the faerie hill, against Geillis’s warnings that the baby is a changeling and it should be left alone.

Geillis Duncan portrayed by Lotte Verbeek and Claire on their way back to Leoch

When Claire reaches the baby, it has died. She cradles it in her arms until Jamie finds her and brings her back to the castle, where she learns of the document Ned drafted. He explains that with this petition, they will be able to leave Leoch and be happy at Lallybroch.

Jamie finding Claire on the faerie hill with the changeling child

Jamie leaves to meet with the Duke of Sandringham the next day, leaving Claire to tend to her old duties as the in-house doctor. She is summoned by Colum to calm Dougal, who is in a crazed and drunken state in the mess hall after learning that his wife has died unexpectedly from a fever...hmm. Claire pours a sedative in his wine, to which Angus hands to him.

Dougal in his drunken craze

Meanwhile, Jamie has met with the Duke, who has agreed to help Jamie, so long as he appears as his second in a duel against the MacDonalds – Clan MacKenzie’s rival clan. All of this has taken place behind Colum’s back, despite the fact Colum has invited the Duke to a banquet in his honor. This banquet is abruptly interrupted when Geillis’s husband suddenly dies. Claire immediately recognizes it as poison and looks immediately to Geillis, a recent widow who is not grieving. Instead, Geillis and Dougal share loving looks across the room that do not escape Colum’s ever watching eyes.

Jamie as the Duke's second in the duel against the MacDonalds

You could say after everything Colum would be a little upset, but that would be an understatement. Colum has banished Dougal to his own home until further notice and forbade him from marrying Geillis. Jamie is to escort Dougal as punishment for starting a fight with the MacDonalds that were present at the duel.

Jamie after a brawl with a few of the MacDonald boys

He was ordered to leave Claire at Leoch as assurance that Jamie will follow his orders. BAD IDEA, JAMIE! As Jamie is leaving, he warns Claire to stay away from Geillis, because she will be the next to suffer from Colum’s wrath. After a very passionate moment that makes Dougal want to gag, Claire cries after him, “Come back to me, James Fraser.”

"Come back to me, James Fraser."  "As soon as I can."

Knowing our little Sassenach, she isn’t going to stay out of trouble for long. Jamie hasn’t been gone a full day, and Claire rushes to Geillis’s side after receiving an urgent note from her; only to discover it is a trap as they are being arrested for witchcraft. We see, as Claire looks through barred windows, a very happy Laoghaire step out of her hiding place…that cold, Scottish….lassie.

Geillis Duncan just before she is arrested for witchcraft

The second half of the season has only just begun,, and it has already released two amazing episodes. Knowing what’s to come, it’s going to keep getting better. “By the Pricking of My Thumbs” has once again exceeded my expectations and displayed several changes from the book that were pulled off perfectly and worked well with the story. Geillis Duncan is being portrayed exactly how I imagined her in the book, making my argument from my previous review even stronger: this cast is spot on. I can hardly wait to see the witch trial and whether or not Jamie makes it back in time.

Je suis prest!

Outlander is on Starz, Saturday Nights at 9ET.

-- Kasey

...say could that lass be I?

We were left back in September with James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser in the window of Black Jack Randall asking to take his hands of his wife, Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp Randall Fraser, at gun point. In case you forgot, Claire had been captured by BJR’s men when she was making her way back to Craig na Dune, so she could pass through the stones back to her own time and to her husband Frank Randall.

Caitriona Balfe and Tobias Menzies as Claire Randall and Frank Randall

For those of you just tuning in, here’s the Sparknotes version of this amazing show:

 Outlander is a Starz primetime show based off the popular book series by Diana Gabaldon. It centers around Claire Randall who travels to Scotland with her husband, Frank, for a second honeymoon after the end of World War II. She falls/travels through the stones at Craig na Dune – which resembles a mini Stonehenge – and lands in 1746 Scotland, just before the Jacobite Rising. Here she befriends suspected Scottish rebels from the Clan MacKenzie. With them is the dashing young Scot, Jamie Fraser, a man with a price on his head. They help to hide her from her husband’s ancestor, the ruthless Captain Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall. This leads to Claire’s arranged marriage to Jamie and a very sexy wedding scene.

Sam Heughan as James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser (Jamie Fraser)

Claire, however, desperately wants to get back to her husband, Frank. When she makes a break for it, she finds herself captured by Black Jack. This is where the mid-season finale left us. The struggle has been so real as we have all suffered from what the fandom has dubbed this long period as “Droughtlander.” It left us with so many unanswered questions: What will Black Jack do to Claire? Is Jamie going to save her? What will Jamie say when he realizes Claire didn’t listen to him? Is Claire going to survive Randall? As a book reader, I know what to expect. I just couldn’t wait to have more JAMMF back into my life.

Claire and Jamie on their wedding night

Not only am I in love with the characters in the books, but I am in love with the casting for the show. Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan are the closest thing to the perfect Claire and Jamie. Tobias Menzies even does an amazing job portraying both Black Jack and Frank. His characters are polar opposites, and their portrayals show just how talented Menzies really is. Both Julie and I agree that the casting for this show is nearly spot on. We both pictured Dougal and Colum MacKenzie to be slightly younger in the books, but Graham McTavish and Gary Lewis, respectively, do a fantastic job portraying such brooding characters. McTavish doesn’t give off the same vibe of being the creepy uncle that I felt in the book. He does every so often each time he goes after Claire (ew!). Don’t worry, those few scenes make up for how creepy he actually is in the book. I guess the only major problem I have is with Laoghaire, but that may be from my complete hatred for the character. Nell Hudson does a fine job playing this young “lassie.” Needless to say, this show is a very refreshing book to screen adaptation, and I am not the only one who thinks so.

Graham McTavish as Dougal MacKenzie

The mid-season premier, titled “The Reckoning,” is told from our dear Jamie’s perspective. I absolutely loved hearing Jamie’s thoughts, easily making this one of my favorite episodes of the season. We already know Claire is being held captive by Black Jack, but how exactly did Jamie find out.

Tobias Menzies as Captain Black Jack Randall holding Claire hostage

Last season we learn that Jamie could possibly clear his name as a wanted man, thanks to a man named Horrocks. Jamie orders Claire to stay behind, in case the meeting takes a wrong turn. Here is where our episode begins. When Jamie learns that BJR is the only witness to his alleged crime, he realizes he will never be able to clear his name. Here, Jamie also learns Claire has been taken by English soldiers. He, of course, rushes to Fort William to rescue her.

Jamie to the rescue!

BJR is overjoyed to see an armed Jamie there to claim his wife. He threatens to slit her throat if Jamie does not put his gun down and watch him rape Claire. Randall quickly grabs the gun and fires it at him, only to learn too late that the gun wasn’t loaded. This leads to a struggle and Jamie rendering Randall unconscious. Honestly, Jamie should have killed him. He is going to regret it later, trust me.

A scene from earlier this season. Black Jack flogging Jamie

Claire and Jamie successfully escape the fort and make a break for the forest with the rest of the troupe. This leads to the newlywed’s first fight. Jamie is looking for an apology from Claire, who claims she did nothing wrong. Eventually it leads to Jamie breaking down and confessing to her that he risked his life to save her with nothing but a blank gun. Jamie shows her how truly helpless he felt when Randall was on the verge of raping her before his eyes. Claire begs for Jamie’s forgiveness, but Jamie’s narrative tells us, “the truth is, I’d forgiven everything she’d done and everything she could do long before that day. For me there was no choice. That was falling in love.” *cue sobbing fangirls everywhere.*

Jamie and Claire's first fight

Seriously, how do you continue the episode on from that? The writers were able to find a way. As they continue on their journey to Castle Leoch, we notice the men ignoring Claire. She put all of them in danger, and they refuse to have anything to do with her until she fully understood. Jamie then realizes what he must do.

The following scene is a very controversial one and is highly anticipated by many readers. Jamie intends to punish Claire by spanking her. You read it right. He’s going to spank her. The scene in this show is much more comical in the book, to be completely honest, as Claire and Jamie play cat and mouse. As you can guess, our Sassenach does not wish to be spanked by our Highlander. She does put up a good fight, throwing dishes and kicking Jamie in the face, but she finally loses to him and is punished for her disobedience. Jamie tries to explain to Claire this is what is expected of Scottish women, and this is what has to be done. This causes an obvious rift between the pair.

Claire avoiding her punishment

The troupe finally make is back to Leoch, where our Laird Colum MacKenzie is most unwelcoming. He is upset with Jamie for marrying Claire. Since he has married a Sassenach, the rest of the clan will not support Jamie as Colum’s successor. Colum is not only furious with Jamie but with Dougal, as well. Dougal had been collecting money for the Jacobite cause, which is a treacherous act against the crown. Colum wants the clan to have no part in the support of Bonny Prince Charlie.

Gary Lewis as Laird Colum MacKenzie

Tensions are now high at Castle Leoch. Claire wants nothing to do with Jamie; Colum and Dougal are on the verge of a clan war; Laoghaire is heartbroken over Jamie’s marriage (She’s sixteen. I’m sure she’ll be fine).

Nell Hudson as Laoghaire

Jamie finally manages to convince Colum to give Dougal back the Jacobite money to spare the clan a civil war. With one problem resolved, Jamie gains another. The young “lassie,” Laoghaire, is hopelessly in love with Jamie. I actually can’t blame her for that, but that doesn’t excuse her behavior! She follows him to a creek and tries seducing him and stealing him from Claire. This little... “lassie” had me fuming the entire episode, especially since I know what is to come. Jamie rejects the little “lassie’s” advances and quickly returns to Claire.

Laoghaire following Jamie to confess her love for him

Jamie finally explains to his wife that he understands the normal way of Scottish life may not apply to their marriage. To prove to her he is sincere, he kneels before her and vows his fealty and loyalty on pain of death. When Claire doesn’t accept his vow, Jamie believes she no longer wants him. I wanted to shake her and say “what is wrong with you woman? The man is on his knees begging you!” Obviously she heard me, because Claire says she does want Jamie. Our newlyweds relieve the ridiculous amount of sexual tension in the air right there on the floor, and just as I think to myself “HALLELUJAH!” Claire holds a knife to Jamie’s throat and threatens, “If you ever raise a hand to me again, James Fraser, I will cut your heart out.” With that being said, our lovers FINALLY make up in a scene so steamy I guarantee it will cause your screen to fog.

However, just when we think their troubles are over, Claire finds an “ill-will” under their bed. Jamie says this is something someone makes to wish bad luck, harm, or death on someone. He doesn’t have to say it, but I know he automatically assumes that Laoghaire – that cute little “lassie” she is – placed it there.

Claire accepting Jamie's vows

The end of this episode has left me wanting more. Luckily I can go back and rewatch it again and again. I am pleased with it, much like I am for the rest of the show. So far this season has been very accurate compared to the book, with a few very welcomed changes. In the books we do not see much of Frank Randall and how distraught he is that his wife is missing. In the show, we learn more about his story and his search for Claire. Julie and I both agree that this makes it easier to feel sorry for Frank. He is clearly in love with his wife and wants nothing more than to have her home.

In “The Reckoning,” there are several changes and additions to the story that work. These changes have given us a deeper look into our favorite and least favorite characters. Colum does not find out about the Jacobite gold in the book, but the scene between him and Jamie shows the viewers that Jamie has such great potential to be an amazing leader and diplomat. That might come in handy in the next book, who knows...

Jamie and Claire

On top of these changes, there are several events that Julie and I can’t wait to see: the inevitable return to Lallybroch and the witch trial. I won’t say any more about these events for fear of spoiling the season for you.

This episode has definitely quenched my Outlander thirst for now. It was nice to sit down and watch a new episode again, and getting an episode where James Fraser is the centerpiece is a fantastic added bonus I think the writers should consider doing more often. If the rest of this season is as good as it has been, we are headed for some amorous and action packed episodes!

Watch Outlander every Saturday at 9ET on Starz!

Check out the book series at your local book store!

--Kasey

When looking for original, out-of-the-box content, the internet is definitely the place to venture. For this first installment of YouTube Spotlight, I’m going to the weird side of YouTube to shed light on the Don’t Hug Me, I’m Scared series.

Don’t Hug Me, I’m Scared is a collection of videos created by Becky Sloan and Joseph Pelling. The first installment was uploaded in 2011. In the video, a notebook takes our three main characters on an adventure to explore their creativity. It starts out very joyous and with similarities to a Sesame Street episode, but things take a dark, psychedelic turn. At the end of the video, the trio decides to never be creative again. In subsequent episodes, the main characters inquire about concepts such as time, love, and computers. They are then misguided by seemingly innocent teachers into a disturbing direction.

A year after the second episode, the creative duo made a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for 4 more episodes to be made. In a little over a month, they reached their goal of $96,000. The episodes are released erratically, which makes finding out about a new one even more exciting.

The thing that is so great about these videos is the ability to connect the feeling of nostalgia with absurdity and wild visuals. People who grew up on shows such as Sesame Street will appreciate the craziness of these videos. I find the best way to describe DHMIS is “Sesame Street meets Adult Swim”. It’s along the lines of Wonder Showzen, mixing adult themes into a whimsical aesthetic. However, DHMIS is not only for 90s kids with a cynical side. It definitely appeals to anyone with a dark sense of humor.

--Julie

From left: Corey Lubowich, Joey Richter, and Brian Rosenthal photo: tincanbros.com

If you’re looking for a good laugh, look no further. The Tin Can Brothers are the perfect comedians to fill the comedy gap in your life. They are an outrageously hilarious comedy group based out of Los Angeles, and with hours of weekly sketches, two live shows, and several live streams, TCB is bound to entertain . Corey Lubowich, Joey Richter, and Brian Rosenthal are at the helm of this crazy group. Actually, they are the only ones, but their videos also include special guests like Mary Kate Wiles, Carlos Valdes, Curt Mega, Ashely Skidmore, and many more. Each sketch is just another adventure waiting to be seen.

They are now headed into their second year , and they have pulled out all the stops. After their failed attempt to recruit a fourth Tin Can Member, the Brothers began their new “mini-series,” Spilled Milk. This is a four part series where each segment focuses on each brother and their special guest, Josh Berkowitz.

Josh Berkowitz in Spilled Milk: Part 1

Part one, released on March 10, 2015, starts with Josh happily pouring himself a well-deserved glass of milk. The milk jug is tragically knocked off the counter and spills all over the kitchen floor. This is where hilarity ensues, and it only gets better from here. They are out of paper towels; Corey leaves to get more. They are out of milk; Brian leaves to get milk. A very discombobulated Joey enters and decides to leave to find a new cup (which is not broken, mind you). Josh is left alone to deal with his spilled milk.

The dramatic background music adds to the already humorous situation, making him seem even more desperate than he already is. Josh finds remnants of toilet paper left on a role and attempts to clean up the milk and put it back in the carton. Things begin to look up, that is until he drops the wad into the milk carton. In an effort to get it out, he just makes things worse. He becomes so desperate that he uses a half-eaten chocolate chip cookie to mop up the mess while crying to himself, “How does doth thou friends abandon thee...woe is me. Woe is me! Oh gee.” I can’t help but just laugh at his whole situation, as he continues to make it worse. He eventually tries to scoop it up with his hands into the trash can, only to make the mess even bigger. The stress is obviously getting to Josh as he cries to the Heavens, “Is this all God playing a trick?” Honestly, I don’t know what is funnier: the actually scene or how much this reminds me of getting my life together post-graduation.

Josh attempting to clean up his mess.  Gif: cottognapple.tumblr.com

Finally, all the milk has been scooped into the trash can, and finally our Brothers return. A very bruised and beaten Corey bursts through the door with a roll of paper towels. A mustached, Nicolas Cage-esque Brian rings the doorbell holding almond milk, and a perplexed Joey in a kimono walks in with an Etch-a-Sketch drawing of the word “cup.” Josh asks the question we are all thinking: “What happened to you guys?” Naturally I tried to draw my own conclusions. It was obvious Corey was in a fight for the paper towels, but why? As for Brian’s and Joey’s stories, I had absolutely no idea where they were going.

Corey's return. Gif: cottognapple.tumblr.com

Each part was released once a week on Tin Can Tuesday, the best day of the week. So, the following week, we learn Corey was on the hunt for paper towels. However, Curt Mega kept beating him to each store, only to purchase the last roll each time. Finally, our hero has had enough and challenges Mega to an awesome ninja fight in the middle of a parking lot. This of course explains the one third of the ending to the previous episode. Corey then returns beaten and bruised with his paper towels, but we are still left wondering what happened to Joey and Brian.

Curt Mega in Spilled Milk: Part 2

A victorious Corey.  Gif: cottognapple.tumblr.com

Brian is our beloved hero in part three that leaves for milk and basically does not come back. This episode is slightly darker but still hilarious. Brian decides that instead of regular 1% or 2% milk, he wants to go with the much healthier choice, almond milk. Here is where we meet her. Holly Grossman plays Brian’s love interest. They both reach for the same carton of almond milk, and it is love at first sight. They fall in love, get married, and have a baby. Soon after, Brian’s wife falls ill with tuberculosis and dies. This leaves our hero as a single dad, hesitant of letting go of their almond milk. Obviously some time has passed since the original incident, considering Brian has a baby and now resembles Nicolas Cage with a mustache. He finally returns to the gang with the almond milk he bought so long ago.

Brian in Spilled Milk: Part 3

Brian returning with the milk. Gif: cottognapple.tumblr.com

Now , this leaves us with Joey. What happened to him? Why does he look so perplexed? Luckily the wait is over. Today, the Tin Can Brothers released the highly anticipated conclusion to Spilled Milk. It opens on Joey sitting in his bed contemplating on taking shrooms. SPOILER ALERT: he eats and entire bag. After the milk is spilled, we follow Joey literally out of the window on his drug induced adventure to find a cup. We are led by his imaginary friend/guide who is special guest and fellow Starkid, Dylan Saunders.

Joey listening to his Imaginary Friend/Guide, Dylan    Photo: GeekInTrainingJ

In all honesty, any summary I write for this finale will be sub-par. It had me crying I was laughing so hard. From Dylan’s high-pitched munchkin voice to Joey aimlessly following his directions, this finale everything I hoped for and so much more.

Joey Returning with "Cup"  Gif: cottognapple.tumblr.com

I went back and watched Spilled Milk from start to finish, and I definitely got my ab workout for the week. TCB never fails to deliver in their usual hilarious and unexpected way. If you aren’t familiar with these funny and ridiculously talented Brothers, this is the perfect introduction into the Tin Can Family. Thank you, Tin Can Brothers, for making me look at a glass of milk differently. I am proud to say I cried over Spilled Milk. I can’t wait to see what else you have in store for us.

Photo: GeekInTrainingJ

 If you want to see more hilarious shenanigans check out their channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/tincanbros

Also, their live shows are available for purchase at http://shop.annarbortees.com/s/tin-can-brothers-store

--Kasey

Last night was the season finale of The Walking Dead. For those of you that haven’t watched it or are not caught up, I warn you now: SPOILER ALERT! This episode was the most exciting and nail biting episode of the whole season. We are reunited with a character who has finally found our group after months of tracking them, our paradise has found its weakness, and a member of our team has been shot. Let’s not forget about The Wolves.

Lennie James as Morgan Jones

The episode, titled Conquer, opened on our beloved character, Morgan, being confronted by a young man with a familiar “W” on his forehead. We learn that he and his partner are there to kill Morgan and take him “home.” Morgan, out of nowhere, becomes a genuine Bad A$$ and beats these two to a pulp, leaving them for dead as he continues his journey to find Rick and the others. Rick is recuperating after a fight in the previous episode and being knocked unconscious by Michonne. The town’s leader, Deanna, has called a meeting to decide whether or not Rick should be banished from the community. Throughout the entire episode, Rick reveals to Michonne that he and Carol stole more than one gun from the armory, Maggie tries to persuade Deanna to not banish Rick, and Nicholas is trying to kill Glen. Daryl and Aaron are also still out recruiting people. However, things turn south for everyone involved pretty fast.

Nicholas shoots Glen, leaving him for dead as a swarm of Walkers move in. Maggie is only able to convince Deanna’s husband Reg, and Daryl and Aaron are trapped in a car surrounded by Walkers. Michonne does stay on Rick’s side though as they prepare for the meeting. Gabriel, our back-stabbing pastor, decides to take a walk in the hopes of being attacked by Walkers and killed. Though, once he comes across one, he rapidly changes his mind and kills it instead. He is the one to thank later on in the episode for leaving the gate open and letting all the Walkers in. Thanks, Gabriel. Rick nearly misses his whole hearing while he tries to slay all the Walkers that made it through. After proving himself to the citizens of the community by telling them of their weakness, Pete decides to crash the party with Michonne’s sword claiming Rick is not one of them. He kills Reg, possibly the only true and honest character on the show. This leads to Deanna giving Rick permission to kill Pete, in front of our new arrival, Morgan. With what seemed like a consensus to keep Rick freshly decided, the episode ends on The Wolves looking at pictures of our group in the new paradise. Pictures Aaron had dropped in his escape from the horde.

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes

This episode had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was constantly worrying about Glen not surviving Nicholas, but instead he does. He even saves him and helps Nicholas back to the compound. I was biting my nails as Daryl and Aaron sat, trapped, in a car. This is, until Morgan came to the rescue. However, throughout the entire ninety minutes, no one had died, which made me even more apprehensive. It wasn’t until the end did someone finally lose their life. Each time I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong. Now the question remains: What is in store for Rick and the others next season? Will The Wolves find them? What will happen with Rick’s new status in the compound? Will everyone adjust to their new lifestyle Rick has proposed? This was possibly the best season finale The Walking Dead has had in a long time. I don’t want to wait until next season. Luckily, Fear the Walking Dead (premiering this summer) will be there to hold me over until Walk-tober.

--Kasey

Three cute British guys, acoustic guitars, and beautiful harmonies. No, I’m not talking about One Direction’s new opening act. I’m talking about BBMak, the brilliant but overlooked band from the early 2000s. Anyone who watched Princess Diaries or Even Stevens might be familiar with their music. However, beyond the kids who grew up listening to Radio Disney, many people don’t know who they are today. And that’s a shame.

By the early 2000s, the teen pop scene was dying down. Both the Backstreet Boys and  NSYNC were releasing their last albums and Britney Spears was trying to market herself to a  slightly older demographic. However, the music industry was in stasis. Record labels were trying  to replicate the golden days of mid-to-late 90s pop, so they were rolling out boy bands such as Dream Street and girl groups such as Play to attempt to fill that gap. The trio of Mark Barry, Christian Burns, and Stephen McNally were attempting to break into the music business at the same time.

Once crossing over to a United States audience, BBMak had songs featured on soundtracks for The Princess Diaries, Treasure Planet, and On the Line. Their debut single “Back Here” reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, by the time of their peak popularity, record labels started to give up on recreating successful boy bands. Between a lack of publicity and their unique sound, BBMak called it quits in 2003 after two albums.

I would venture to guess that if BBMak had become popular just a few years later than they did, they would have been much more successful. Their guitar and vocal based sound was slightly ahead of their time. You can hear remnants of their sound in the Jonas Brother a few years later, and even the acoustic-folk pop that is popular today. By no means did BBMak invent the wheel, but they were definitely a predecessor for some of today’s popular music.

--Julie

In his recent documentary, Tom Felton – famously known as Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter franchise – sets off to find out why superfans do the things we do. I would like to state right off the bat that this is a very accurate glimpse into the life of the superfans, fangirls, fanboys, or whatever else we go by. It shows that each of our obsessions means something more to us than just what’s on the surface, and Tom is on a mission to find out what exactly that is.

He was first inspired to find this explanation when his very own superfan, Tina, gave him a card about his dog passing. He had met her many times before, but this one special moment made him wonder; why does she care? Tina had once waited four hours outside of an event just to see Tom. She follows him to all of his events just for that picture, autograph, or just a brief moment with him. Tom wants to know what drives her.\

We start off by meeting “The Biggest Harry Potter Fan,” Steve. Honestly, I wouldn’t argue that statement. He has a basement full of Harry Potter merchandise; over 1000 pieces and worth more than $13,000. He has enough Harry Potter clothes to last him three months, without ever having to repeat an outfit. Steve is the ultimate Harry Potter fan. Tom took his time to sit down with him and find out why he is such a big fan. We learn that Steve was bullied as a kid for being a small, skinny nerd. Harry Potter helped him get through everything, and he carried this obsession with him into his adult life. He will tell you that “this never impacted my life negatively. It has never driven people away.” People accept him for his obsession with Harry Potter; it is a part of who he is. However, unlike many fans, Steve is not “fanboying” over the fact Draco Malfoy is sitting in his house. He recognizes the actors as “people playing the characters that I love.”

Steve and Tom

Tom, thinking he has a better understanding of what drives a superfan, decides to head “straight into the lion’s den,” to a comic book convention in Tulsa. There he meets William Shatner and decides to interview “the king of cons” and learn what he thinks of the fans. I couldn’t help but smile the entire time, because Tom was becoming very flustered in front of Captain Kirk – just like any other fan would. I don’t know if he caught on to it, but he was acting the way any fan would when meeting someone that iconic. Tom was starstruck. Here, he also met a young fan, Jade, who was another superfan. Tom learned that her obsession began when Harry Potter helped her through her depression. She described how the Dementors were the physical form of depression and reading the books helped her “escape into their [Harry Potter’s] world and not think about my problems.”

The creator herself, J.K. Rowling, even said that “literature’s most powerful effects is to tell everyone, ‘no, you’re not alone.’” I completely agree with this part of the film. Literature in general helps everyone escape from their reality and lets them live vicariously through their favorite characters. It can help the reader cope with their problems or overcome a terrible obstacle. People look at superfans and think they’re weird and different. This documentary sheds light on the fact that our obsessions run much deeper than some people want to believe.

Bryan and Tom

We meet a few more fans, one who waits outside places for stars to come out, and two others who are cosplayers. Bryan, the fan who waits, helps Tom understand the thrill of being recognized by someone you admire and look up to is what makes all this worthwhile. When Tom heads to his final con of the documentary in Birmingham, he decides to don a costume. Tom goes as the Joker and is instantly blending in with thousands of fans and enthusiasts. He says how contagious the atmosphere is and how much fun he is having.

Tom cosplaying as The Joker

After being exposed to every aspect of what it means to be a part of a fandom, Tom still doesn’t quite understand what makes us tick. So, finally we get to meet Tina, and I think she sums it up perfectly. Seeing the characters grow up and watching them grow up on screen made it feel like we were watching our own family grow up, and we wanted to be a part of that family. Ask any fan around you and they will say it’s true. The fandoms they are involved in are their extended family. They’re people who understand them and essentially are just like them.

Tom's interview with Tina. Photo: Buzzfeed.

This documentary explains why we do the crazy things we do. Being a part of a fandom brings people together from all over the world, which explains why Comic-Con has grown into the multi-billion dollar convention that it is today. People come from all over to go to cons to dress up, meet stars, and find other members of their extended family. I suggest that anyone who wants to understand more about professional fans should watch Tom’s documentary. It is a perfect peek into what kind of effort we put forth to show support for our role models and helps show that fandoms go much deeper than the pages in the books or the movies on screen.

--Kasey

Once upon a time…

Everyone loves a fairy tale. They make us feel warm and happy inside. They help us escape from our bad days and give us hope that our happy ending is out there, somewhere. The newest adaptation of the classic Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tale, Cinderella, will do just that. From the beautiful story, the great cast, amazing costumes, and gorgeous scenery this movie is nothing short of perfect. This movie is one that will stick with you for a little bit, and after just seeing this movie, I can happily admit that I am still thinking of this movie. I honestly do not know where to begin singing my praises. Let me warn you, though, this is not the Cinderella we grew up with.

Cinderella opens on a beautiful setting of the countryside where we first meet our heroine, Ella, as a baby. Through brief snippets we watch her grow up and learn of her close relationship with her mother and father. Of course, her mother is ripped away from her very tragically by a severe illness when she was a young girl. Ella’s mother’s last words to her are “have courage and be kind.” This is the main theme and is repeated several times throughout the movie. Soon after her death, we see Ella as a grown woman with her father, when he is introducing the dreaded step-mother and her two daughters, Drisella and Anastasia . Ella’s father soon passes while he is away on a trip, and thus begins the traditional story we all know of the little cinder girl. The story continues on and pays tribute to the classic cartoon version in small details. The fairy godmother uses the phrase “Bippity Boppity Boo” several times when she is helping Ella prepare for the ball.

Helena Bonham Carter as The Fairy Godmother

Oh, and of course, Gus-gus, Lucifer, and all of the mice make appearances throughout the movie. As familiar as this story is, it was also very different from other versions of the fairy tale. It showed more of the hardships Ella had to face and how difficult it was for her to bear the death of her parents alongside her mistreatment from her step-family. The entire time I was cheering for her to get out of there and find her prince. This adaptation did an amazing job drawing the audience in and making it fall in love with its heroine. I felt as if I was going through everything with her instead of being a witness. Every aspect of the movie helped a great deal with that. Especially its cast.

The chemistry between the characters radiated off the screen. Especially between Cinderella and her prince. Lately I had been let down time and again with this type of chemistry and character development, so it was refreshing to find a movie that was able to fill that gap. Lily James portrayed our heroine and exceeded every expectation I had. Despite everything thrown at her, she stayed upbeat. She had courage and was kind. Ella even forgives her step-mother for everything in the end. She never gives up and eventually is rewarded for it; she gets her happily ever after. Richard Madden was our dashing and charming, young prince. I can honestly say, he portrayed every girls’ dream Prince Charming; right down to the smile.

(See? Perfect.)

Richard Madden as The Prince/Kit and his perfect smile.

Alongside our poor Ella, he is also going through his own hardships and pressures. Kit, the name he used to introduce himself to Ella, is facing the pressures of marrying for prospects instead of love on top of his father quickly dying. However, like Ella, he cares the words “have courage and be kind” with him which helps he carry on and continue searching for “the forgetful girl who loses her shoes,” or so the kingdom refers to our mysterious princess as. Our evil step-mother, Cate Blanchett, did a great job making me hate her. The moment she plopped Lucifer out of her carriage and paraded into Ella’s home, I felt an immediate sense of disdain and hatred toward her. Blanchett made her character truly evil. At one point she tells Cinderella that she treats her this way because she “is innocent and good.” Only a truly villainous person could be that cruel to a good natured person. Her character adds the serious and dark nature to the movie. However, our beautiful fairy godmother gives it some much needed comedic relief. Helena Bonham Carter is our bubbly fairy. She is a very picky builder when choosing the vegetable she will turn into a carriage. However, she “knows a thing or two about shoes,” or so she tells Ella. They could not have picked a better actor to portray such a classic role.

Lily James as Ella and Cate Blanchett as the Step-mother

If this movie is nominated for anything come award season, it better be for costumes. Each and every costume worn by all the characters were so detailed and beautiful. The dresses were so vibrant and full, especially Ella’s ball gown. The deep blue gown had so many layers and dimension to the dress, that it was a scene in itself to watch it move and flow as she and the prince danced. The glass slippers looked like they were made of diamond instead of glass that looked even more beautiful when the light reflected off them. I guess Carter does know a thing or two about shoes. During the entire ball, it was hard to decide what I wanted to focus on: the dancing or the gowns.

Lily James and Richard Madden in their ball costumes

There are so many different aspects of this movie that was near perfection. I applaud Kenneth Branagh for his amazing job directing this movie. It was a beautiful story and a stunning visual presentation for my eyes. The chemistry between the Ella and Kit could be felt off the screen. Call me a hopeless romantic, but their final scene made me feel warm and bubbly inside. I highly recommend for everyone to go see this movie this weekend. You may even run into me there for my second viewing.

…and they all lived happily ever after.

--Kasey