Category: TV

Eyes of Wakanda Review

Published on by Kyra2 Comments

Happy Friday, Geekly Gang! Marvel Studios Animation released its fifth project in its short four years of existence with Eyes of Wakanda. This series looks amazing. The premise of time-hopping through history, showing Wakanda’s secret spies, the Hatut Zaraze (War Dogs), retrieving Wakanda’s advanced technology, sounds exciting. And Eyes of Wakanda is fun, I can see where storyboard artist Todd Harris wanted to go with Eyes of Wakanda’s story, but the reduced episode run makes it difficult for the Eyes of Wakanda to find its stride.

The War Dogs’ mission is to sneak into outside countries and recover lost Vibranium artifacts that, if they fall into the wrong hands, could expose or bring harm to Wakanda. The Hatut Zaraze do their best to keep Wakanda hidden from the outside world. This idea dovetails into the first Black Panther film; Killmonger found a Wakandan artifact on display in a museum. More on this moment later. Eyes of Wakanda’s first season features four key moments in Wakandan history: the Bronze Age, the Trojan War, the beginning of China’s Ming dynasty, and the First Italo-Ethiopian War. Each episode leans into the region’s cultural aesthetics. Eyes of Wakanda shows accurate depictions of the people who lived in each location during that time. I can’t say it enough, the art style is fabulous.

I also like how these four episodes are stand-alone stories. You don’t need to watch either of the Black Panther movies or do any other MCU homework. Everything you need to know is contained in four half-hour episodes. The first and final episodes of Eyes of Wakanda’s first season stand out above the middle two. I like the idea of reintroducing Iron Fist in the third episode–there’s hope we’ll have another Iron Fist sighting in the MCU–but the middle two episodes don’t do as much to explore Wakanda. The first episode shows how far advanced Wakanda is from the rest of a Bronze Age society. The fourth directly ties into Black Panther and Killmonger (this is the artifact, the axe, Killmonger steals from the museum). I have mixed feelings about forcing Eyes of Wakanda to connect with Black Panther, but the MCU is going to MCU. The bookend episodes also delve further into their protagonists.

In the first episode, we follow failed Dora Milaje candidate Noni, while the fourth episode centers on eager Wakandan Prince Tafari. I didn’t see the same character development in the middle two episodes. Or at least, the middle two didn’t stand out as much.

Eyes of Wakanda’s short run works against it. A couple more episodes like the first and fourth could’ve allowed Eyes of Wakanda to find its footing. Several television shows need at least two or three episodes to “really get going,” and I got that vibe from Eyes of Wakanda. With a larger episode order, Marvel Studios Animations could’ve shown more sides of Wakanda.

Still, what’s here is fun, and two hours isn’t a long investment for an animated series. And I can’t stress how amazing Eyes of Wakanda’s animation is. To this point, What If? was Marvel Studios Animations’ crowning achievement for art style and direction. Eyes of Wakanda gives What If? a run for its money. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Ironheart: Episode 4-6 Review

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Happy Friday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here, and we’re going to discuss Ironheart’s final three episodes. There’s little chance that we’ll cover this subject without major spoilers, so this is your spoiler warning. Last week, Ironheart finished strong, but I wondered if it would continue this momentum during its second episode release. In short, it did.

Ironheart managed to raise the stakes with almost every scene; that’s good to see. Sacha Baron Cohen was electric as Mephisto. Unlike my thoughts from last week (I guessed Ironheart would show Mephisto ruing its fifth episode), Ironheart held off showing Mephisto until its final episode. That’s a fantastic choice. This kept Mephisto from being watered down over two episodes. The MCU has been building toward Mephisto for a while. (Yes, there will be some minor MCU homework, but Ironheart does a good job revisiting Dormammu and the events of the first Doctor Strange.) The show ends on a cliffhanger. It looks as if Mephisto wins. That’s an intriguing ending for what would’ve been Ironheart’s first season. We’ll have to discuss Ironheart’s future at some point. Why not now?

Few Marvel shows on Disney+ have received second seasons, and that’s before considering Ironheart’s potential for underperformance. Disney+ hasn’t yet released its streaming numbers for Ironheart, but I’d imagine it didn’t do well because the show starts slow–really slow–and there’s a chance fewer viewers will give Ironheart episodes 3-6 a watch. Seriously, the last four episodes save the show. Despite leaving a lot of bread crumbs, I doubt Ironheart receives a second season. We’ll see Mephisto and Ironheart again in future MCU projects, but it’s a shame their story won’t continue through a second Ironheart season or an Ironheart special. I’d be okay with a one-shot Ironheart Disney+ special.

Getting back to Ironheart’s final three episodes, the characters grew on me. I was warming up to them during episode three, but Ironheart really did ramp up the tension and/asked interesting questions with each of its scenes. Of course, there were the ubiquitous battles. Ironheart wouldn’t be a Marvel project without the fights growing in intensity. But Ironheart did enough groundwork to make Riri’s showdown against The Hood’s gang, Zeke Stane, and The Hood meaningful. Each of these factions (and yes, The Hood’s gang and The Hood) has different goals and desires, and I like how Ironheart pitted these characters’ motivations against each other.

Even Mephisto’s goals differ from The Hood’s. Did I mention Sacha Baron Cohen is amazing as Mephisto? I have? Well, I’d watch Ironheart just for his performance, but Ironheart had plenty of amazing acting performances. I don’t want to list them all here. Few, if any, Ironheart characters fell flat, but I’ll take this moment to give a shout-out to the surprise Doctor Strange (from the comics) character Zelma Stanton.

Regan Aliyah’s adorkable Zelma Stanton does a great job of tying Ironheart into Doctor Strange and Wandavision/Agatha: All Along. I like how Marvel digs deep into its comic book lore in odd but meaningful ways. Ironheart wouldn’t work without Zelma. Kudos for including her. I have one small gripe. The now iconic scene of Mephisto tempting Riri Williams is a little on the nose (from a writing perspective), but Cohen’s gravitas is outstanding, and I don’t care if I’ve heard a similar version of the devil.

So, is Ironheart worth your time? I’d consider skipping the first two episodes and watching the episode recap for episode three. I’d definitely skip Ironheart’s first episode; it’s a slog. I’m concerned about how the MCU will continue the stories introduced in this show, so I’d have to give Ironheart an incomplete. It ends with a compelling cliffhanger, but there’s little chance we’ll get a satisfying payoff. Please, give us an Ironheart Disney+ special. Beyond those early hiccups, Ironheart was a fun watch. It even manages to set up a solid foundation for future MCU stories.

Ironheart’s future is up in the air. I wish I could tell you that all the great story threads introduced in this show will get a satisfying resolution, but only time will tell. Honestly, Riri’s reunion with Natalia and showing signs of Mephisto taint gave me a smile. Not since Thanos have we seen a Marvel villain succeed, and Sacha Baron Cohen’s Mephisto can serve as a fantastic MCU villain.

Ironheart: Episodes 1-3 Review

Published on by Kyra1 Comment

Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. The first half of Ironheart’s episodes were released this past week, and I’ll share my thoughts, but as you can see, I’m not giving each episode its own review. JK Geekly has covered Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Daredevil: Born Again, and typically, we give each episode its own post. We’re not doing that for Ironheart because it drags. With these first three episodes, the show takes double the time it needs (for at least the first two episodes), so we figured we’d cover the first three episodes as if they were one and a half episodes or a single Marvel special.

At its heart–Ha! Heart was unplanned–Ironheart has the structure for a good story. It sets up an interesting conflict between tech and magic, I like the show’s social commentary, Riri has an intriguing (enough) backstory, and I like many of its characters. Ironheart’s execution is lacking. Quick note: We will go into spoiler territory throughout this review; you’ve been warned. Ironheart actively keeps why Riri Williams wants to make an iron suit a secret for over two episodes. Really? While it makes sense for Riri to obscure her motives from other characters, it hurts Ironheart’s story, keeping the viewers in the dark. Spoiler: Her dad, Gary, was a Tony Stark superfan, and that’s why she wants to build an iron suit. We could’ve gotten that information in any one of five flashback scenes with Gary, but Ironheart deliberately keeps the audience at bay.

And Ironheart uses too many flashback scenes, with none of these scenes pulling double duty. Those flashback scenes with Gary Williams show his and Riri’s relationship, but give few other details (like Gary is a Stark fan), and it isn’t just the flashback scenes. Most of the scenes in the first two episodes are one-note. This leads to the show doubling in length. Fortunately, Ironheart’s third episode, “We in Danger, Girl” picks up the pace. Joe turns out to be Obadiah Stane’s son, Ezekiel, and this is done in a scene that pulls double duty. 1) Riri needs tech to go undetected by The Hood. 2) Ezekiel reveals who he is and why he has so much advanced tech. In fact, Ironheart’s third episode sheds most of what bogs down the previous two episodes, so I’m cautiously optimistic about next week’s Ironheart offering.

While it’s not always about the action, “We in Danger, Girl” cranks up the action and tension while raising the stakes at most turns. It even manages to throw in a few welcome comedic moments. I like Riri’s panic attack side story. We don’t get enough superheroes struggling with the very act of being a superhero. Riri’s moral ambiguity at the beginning was also welcome. I even liked how Riri struggles because of her ethnicity. I just wish Ironheart’s story were tighter.

But “We in Danger, Girl” did enough for me to watch Ironheart’s next three episodes. The cast is excellent. I like this version of Slug better than the comic book version; I need more of this Slug. The story is picking up the pace. I’m excited to see how The Hood and Mephisto interact and how Riri’s not-so-good choices will impact her future. Riri is a flawed and compelling character, and her relationship with the AI Natalie (Riri’s friend who died) is top-notch, but I wonder how many viewers will sit through Ironheart’s first two episodes. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Daredevil: Born Again, “Straight to Hell”

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Daredevil: Born Again wrapped up its first season this week with “Straight to Hell.” This episode sees the return of Karen Page and The Punisher. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. Daredevil: Born Again’s first season was uneven but entertaining. I had guessed a week or two ago that this season would end with Kingpin leaking Daredevil’s identity, but I forgot about the MCU’s plan of turning Kingpin into the ultimate street-level threat. While I enjoyed Kingpin’s side of the story, Daredevil didn’t get the same care. In fact, this show could’ve been named Kingpin: Return of the King.

Let’s begin with the interesting half of Daredevil: Born Again’s story. Kingpin’s rise to power plays out like a Marvel-flavored House of Cards or Breaking Bad. Kingpin wheels and deals himself into the best position. Daniel Blake’s journey to become Kingpin’s right-hand man was a joy. Sheila Rivera and Commissioner Gallo, scrambling to adapt to the changing political climate (dictated by Kingpin) and attempting to fix corruption from within, delivered plenty of tense scenes. Gallo’s story culminates in the single most violent moment in MCU history (so far), and that includes a Deadpool movie. I won’t spoil it here, but you’ll know the scene when you see it. Even Daredevil’s most aha moment comes when he figures out Kingpin’s ultimate plan: turning Red Hook into his private city-state.

Kingpin establishing a vigilante task force is the thread that can drive countless MCU television shows. This one plot point could and should affect a Punisher, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist reboot. This task force could appear in a future Spider-Man movie. Depending on where these characters reside, Hawkeye and Moon Knight could get tangled up with the task force. This is why I believe Daredevil: Born Again should’ve been a Kingpin show like Max’s The Penguin. I haven’t even mentioned Vanessa and Wilson Fisk’s complicated relationship. There’s so much meat to this half of Daredevil: Born Again’s story. By comparison, Daredevil’s story is thin.

Daredevil was an afterthought in his own show. With the exception of a few scenes, Daredevil could’ve been deleted from the show, and the show would’ve ended up the same. As a result, most of Daredevil’s story failed to capture my attention. I mentioned Heather Glenn’s lack of chemistry with Matt Murdock for weeks. She jumps on the Kingpin train quickly during “Straight to Hell.” Makes sense. I don’t know if Murdock will even miss her; he doesn’t act like he does. I never bought the two’s relationship.

I wonder how integral Kamar de los Reyes’s White Tiger was to Daredevil’s half of the original script. If Daredevil: Born Again was supposed to be a Kingpin show, it would make sense if more than one vigilante were active during the bulk of the season. It would also make sense for Daredevil to mentor White Tiger during his exploits. Daredevil: Born Again did a good job of integrating White Tiger into Daredevil’s narrative where it could. The show also managed to honor Kamar de los Reyes. Rest in peace.

The Punisher is inactive for most of this season’s run and only resumes his vigilante activities during “Straight to Hell.” It almost seemed like Daredevil: Born Again saved all its juicy Murdock/Daredevil story threads for its season finale. The show reintroduces a potential love triangle among Daredevil, Karen, and Punisher. It’s difficult to establish a love triangle like this when two-thirds of the characters receive little to no screen time until the final forty minutes. What’s worse is that the Murdock/Daredevil supporting characters like fellow attorney-at-law McDuffie and cop turned private investigator Cherry serve little more than plot devices.

Murdock, donning his new duds, was fun, and Bullseye was electric in the few episodes toward the end where he appeared. I can’t wait to see where the MCU takes Daredevil, but Daredevil: Born Again season one was more of a Kingpin show, and that’s okay. I just wish Marvel had renamed the show to reflect the show’s true main character. Daredevil: Born Again season one was the street-level version of Avengers: Infinity War with Kingpin swapped for Thanos.

Let us know your thoughts on Daredevil: Born Again’s first season and the season finale “Straight to Hell.” Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Daredevil: Born Again, “Isle of Joy”

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Daredevil: Born Again ended this week’s episode, “Isle of Joy,” with a bang. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. Daredevil: Born Again’s first season draws closer to its end, and “Isle of Joy” tied up numerous story threads in satisfying ways and reintroduced a fan favorite character. I do have one major gripe, but let’s start with the several positives.

Kingpin and Vanessa’s story continues to drive Daredevil: Born Again. Matt Murdock/Daredevil’s story highlights stem from Kingpin and Vanessa in some form. The power couple resolves their differences and creates a unified front. By the end of “Isle of Joy,” Kingpin and Vanessa are equal partners in the criminal underworld and politics. This story thread is organic. I don’t want to spoil the big reveal toward the end of this episode, and I don’t want to beat this drum any further. Kingpin and Vanessa scenes are a must-watch.

The same can be said of Kingpin’s rise as mayor. Guevara’s Sheila Rivera and Gandolfini’s Daniel Blake are welcome additions. Blake’s character introduced reporter BB Urich (portrayed by Genneya Walton). I like the nod to Ben Urich, BB’s uncle, who was murdered during Daredevil season 3. This builds tension between the media (working under the table), the police who don’t see eye to eye with Fisk (like Commissioner Gallo), and Mayor Kingpin. Daredevil: Born Again has done a great job constructing this power dynamic and struggle.

Furthermore, Fisk’s vigilante task force shows the city’s pulse and the government’s corruption. We get little airtime for Rivera, Blake, Urich, Gallo, and Officer Powell, but the scant moments “Isle of Joy” spares for these characters pack a punch. I really like Officer Powell in this episode. He gets two minutes but does more work in those minutes than some scenes do in fifteen or twenty. Daredevil: Born Again illustrates that it can be character-driven while progressing a plot. I’m fighting the urge to drop the one gripe I have. Must. Continue with one final positive.

Wilson Bethel returns as Dex (Bullseye). Yes! He’s worth the wait. Every scene with Bullseye is electric. Pure adrenaline. This includes the final scene that we’ll discuss in a minute. “Isle of Joy” has a shocking ending. I’ve waited long enough. I must include the one negative. I don’t believe Matt Murdock and Heather Glenn’s story.

I know. I mentioned how awful the Murdock-Glenn story is in a previous episode, but “Isle of Joy” hammers home this point. Murdock wants Glenn to admit that Fisk is one of her patients. He’s a lawyer. He should know the law, and that Glenn can’t confirm that Fisk is her patient. Any time Murdock pressed this issue–which was often–he came off as a teenager who didn’t understand how things work. Glenn wasn’t much better regarding Murdock. He’s clearly upset that she’s accepting an invitation from Mayor Fisk for a black and white ball. Adult Teenager Murdock storms off, and Glenn gets butt hurt when he shows up late to the event. What did she expect? This makes me question if she’s good at her job as a therapist.

During the event, Glenn complains to Vanessa that she doesn’t even know Matt anymore. First, we’ve seen these two on one date the entire series. I don’t believe she knows him at all. Second, why is she confiding personal issues with her client? Again, this smells like she isn’t good at her job. You know what? No. Heather Glenn isn’t a good therapist. During this scene, she lost all credibility.

We end with the showstopper. Major spoilers for anyone who hasn’t yet seen “Isle of Joy.” You’ve been warned. Matt discovers that Vanessa ordered the hit on Foggy and confronts her. When Murdock hears a gun cock, he knows its Bullseye aiming for Fisk. Matt jumps in front of Fisk and takes the bullet, and “Isle of Joy” ends with Murdock bleeding out on the dance floor. This sequence had an amazing pace. I don’t know if I quite buy Murdock taking a bullet for Mayor Fisk. We know Murdock won’t die. The show’s named after his alter ego. But I’m interested to see how Daredevil: Born Again season one continues after this chaotic scene.

What do you think about Daredevil: Born Again, Geekly Gang? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Daredevil: Born Again, “Art for Art’s Sake”

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Daredevil: Born Again’s episode this week, “Art for Art’s Sake” has me torn. The pace is simultaneously fast and slow. Quick spoiler: Muse perishes during the episode. While the man behind Muse makes physical appearances earlier in the show, Daredevil: Born Again could’ve done more to develop him further. In short, “Art for Art’s Sake” sends mixed signals.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. Daredevil: Born Again’s weekly episode left me scratching my head. I don’t know what to make of its pacing. I expected the first season to end with Muse’s demise. Instead, they get right to eliminating the threat. I would’ve liked to have seen more of Muse before he left the show. While the show could travel interesting waters, Daredevil: Born Again raced to Muse’s end. I figured Heather Glenn’s strange patient was tied to Muse or was Muse. That ended up being true. He was conspicuously the next patient after Wilson Fisk and Vanessa. For what it matters, the idea of no one noticing Muse fits; I was more focused on the couple. But I wanted the show to explore Muse more.

I wouldn’t classify Muse as a villain of the week. He’s more than that. While I didn’t care for how fast Daredevil: Born Again gave him the boot, how Muse left was intense. Despite any reservations I may have, Daredevil taps the suspense vein. Is it too soon to make a blood reference? Muse met a fitting end; I hoped he would’ve stuck around longer.

So, if Muse isn’t this season’s main threat, what is? I have an idea of where Daredevil: Born Again intends to take the season finale (episode nine; thanks again for the clarification, MetalAusten of BlueSky), and if I’m right, it could be a doozy. At one point in the Daredevil comics, Kingpin reveals that Matt Murdock is Daredevil. Daredevil: Born Again looks to be building toward that end, but it’s taking its time. See what I mean by this episode’s pacing. It raced to the end of Muse while dragging its feet toward something bigger, like Daredevil’s identity getting blown.

Kingpin has been sitting on Murdock’s identity for years. He’s known Murdock and Daredevil were the same person since the original series. Why wait until now to unmask Daredevil? Sure. Kingpin did warn Murdock not to resume his “activities” as Daredevil or else there would be consequences. But two episodes remain until the break, when this bombshell (if it does happen) will occur. Does Daredevil: Born Again intend to mark time until then? Why not build the tension while Muse continues his reign of terror? The show may have missed a symbolic gesture of Kingpin holding Muse’s mask while unmasking Daredevil.

And again, I can hear a sceptic ask, but what about Heather Glenn? She’s been set up as an anti-vigilante, and Matt says her name after he rescues her. First, Glenn’s anti-vigilante stance happened in the last episode or two. We haven’t known she’s been anti-vigilante for long, and the show has had opportunities for this inclusion. Second, Daredevil: Born Again hasn’t sold me on their relationship. The only time their relationship gets brought up (since the one date right after Foggy’s death and a couple of sex scenes) is when Heather asks where Matt was overnight. This was before Matt resumed work as Daredevil. The series hasn’t shown me that they’re close.

A quick tangent. While watching Daredevil’s side of this story, I’m reminded of Jim Plath’s pet peeve: the reluctant superhero. He’d say that the reluctant superhero cliche was overplayed, and that was ten years ago. Until the last two episodes, Daredevil’s story is a reluctant superhero story.

The Vanessa and Wilson Fisk angle remains the most intriguing. Venessa all but sends a gangster to attempt Kingpin’s murder. Or did she? She could’ve warned Wilson of the threat, but something tells me Buck (Kingpin’s right-hand man) always stands in the shadows while Kingpin eats. In a previous week, I mentioned that I like Heather Glenn more as Fisk’s therapist. I can’t wait to see how she tackles the layers of this relationship. Daredevil: Born Again could build an interesting dynamic of Kingpin using Glenn to get to Murdock before he reveals Daredevil’s identity.

Daredevil: Born Again Wilson and Vanessa Fisk

As much as it may sound like it, I didn’t hate “Art for Art’s Sake.” Most of the show’s better moments happen on Kingpin’s side of the ledger. Venessa and Wilson Fisk’s relationship has me wanting more. Kingpin navigating his role as mayor has been a treat. I loved Daniel Blake’s heel-turn in this episode. In one scene, Blake went from a sniveling Mayor Fisk superfan to a cold-blooded manipulator that Kingpin can and should use in the future. And it felt organic. The gangland unrest, while understated, simmers in a tasty way. And I like the inclusion of Kingpin’s anti-vigilante task force. Like many other elements (in the show), its formation was rushed, but Officer Powell galvanizes the team.

Kingpin’s rise as mayor is Daredevil: Born Again’s bright spot. While I question some of the show’s decisions, it’s done enough to hold my interest, and I can’t wait for the finale. There’s a chance we have more than one surprise in the offing. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

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Daredevil: Born Again, “Excessive Force” Review

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Daredevil: Born Again’s second episode this week, “Excessive Force,” ties several loose ends, and Daredevil makes his triumphant return in costume. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. I apologize for the delay this week. Everything ran smoothly with the family issue on Wednesday, so we’re back with more Daredevil: Born Again.

This week’s tandem of episodes had a similar feel to Daredevil: Born Again’s debut. If Disney+ had only released “With Interest,” fans may have been miffed (the first episode didn’t go far with the main storyline), but the streaming service dropped two episodes this week with “Excessive Force,” and I can see fans happier with the second offering. I enjoyed “Excessive Force.” As I said in the intro, it ties up several loose ends. That’s always appreciated. Wilson Fisk and Matt Murdock’s journey to find their true selves, their inner Kingpin and Daredevil, mirrors each other’s journey.

The inevitable fight sequence at the end has choreography that harkens to the original Daredevil Netflix series. Kingpin unleashes his baser instincts on Adam, the man with whom Fisk’s wife, Vanessa, cheated on him, while Daredevil rescues Angela Del Toro, Hector Ayala’s (White Tiger’s) niece, from Muse. Both scenes are earned. Earlier in “Excessive Force,” Vanessa and Wilson have an exchange that suggests Kingpin has Vanessa’s okay to revert to his mob boss ways, while Del Toro approached Murdock for help, letting him know where her uncle thinks a serial killer (Muse) is hiding, and Murdock has the idea to “f*** it” and rescue Del Toro himself as Daredevil. Since the police killed her uncle, Del Toro doesn’t trust the police.

I liked that Daredevil: Born Again brought back Angela Del Toro. In the comics, Del Toro dons her uncle’s White Tiger costume, and there’s a chance that Camila Rodriguez (who portrays Del Toro) could do the same. Del Toro does a good job of giving Murdock the kick he needs in the hindside. Running parallel to Del Toro’s mistrust of the police is that Fisk runs the police, and he’s formed a task force of dirty cops to find Muse. As I said, plenty of loose ends. Hamish Allan-Headley’s Officer Powell joins the newly formed task force. Powell has been one of the better side characters introduced in Daredevil: Born Again, but that’s because he’s had a handful of pivotal scenes. And that’s where Daredevil: Born Again has had issues.

Matt’s love interest (Heather Glenn) asks him if he knows any vigilantes he could introduce her to for a book she plans to write about vigilantes. While this could’ve worked, it came out of nowhere. We’ve met Heather Glenn more often than Officer Powell, and this is the first we’ve heard of this intention. Officer Powell’s motives are better developed. Angela Del Toro approaching Matt Murdock to help stop Muse makes sense (her character is well developed despite this episode being her second appearance), but Cherry (Matt’s ex-cop friend/employee) serves little more than a plot device when he warns Murdock against fighting Muse as Daredevil. We know next to nothing about Cherry. Even though he’s physically been in the series three times as much as Del Toro, I forgot he existed.

I mentioned the vlogger vignettes in a previous review. The shaky-cam on the street works better in a Spider-Man property. It’s out of place in Daredevil: Born Again, but further than that, it doesn’t do enough to show New York’s citizens. I don’t know if the audience should know who the vlogger is and follows them as another character (perhaps a friend of Murdock’s) or if the vlogger could attempt to interview Mayor Fisk, which could serve double-duty as a scene transition, or omit those scenes and show Murdock serve more citizens (than the one Fiddle Faddle thief) as a lawyer. Personally, I’d choose the latter. Showing Murdock trying to fix NYC’s issues as a lawyer, but needing to do more, would further the idea that the city needs Daredevil.

Those couple of sticky points aside, Daredevil: Born Again is a great Marvel show. “Excessive Force” saw the return of Tony Dalton’s Jack Duquesne/Swordsman. He’s an underused superhero (last seen in 2021’s Hawkeye as Kate Bishop’s wealthy stepfather), and I’m glad he gets another chance to shine. Thank you, MetalAusten (on BlueSky), for straightening out Geekly’s misunderstanding of Daredevil: Born Again’s schedule. The show WILL return next week, and we can’t wait. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

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Daredevil: Born Again, “With Interest” Review

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Brief schedule alert: Geekly will cover the first of the Daredevil: Born Again two-episode finale today and the second episode on Friday. Kyra, who covers Daredevil: Born Again, has a family issue on Wednesday morning and will need another day or two to cover the second episode. With that said, let’s discuss the first of Daredevil: Born Again’s finale, “With Interest.”

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. Daredevil: Born Again nears the close of its first season break. I’m still unsure how the program plans to continue after this. The last I heard, Daredevil: Born Again will have another four or six episodes next year, hopefully near the beginning of next year. Will this be the second half of season one? Since there’s a year gap in release, wouldn’t that make those next four or six episodes season two? Anyway, “With Interest” serves as a divergence if you’re charitable. It’s a filler episode if you’re less charitable. I lean more towards the former, but I was left wanting. “With Interest” shows Matt Murdock continuing down the crime-fighter path, and weaves his story into the greater MCU, and it’s the weaving of Daredevil: Born Again into the greater MCU that chafes.

Yusuf Khan, Kamala Khan’s (Ms. Marvel’s) father, makes a guest appearance in “With Interest.” This episode’s story revolves around Khan and the bank where he works. Bank robbers begin a heist immediately after Khan denies Murdock a loan for Murdock & McDuffie (Matt’s new law firm). Convenient. Before then, Khan talks about his daughter Kamala, Jersey City, and Jersey City’s own superhero Ms. Marvel. He spills the tea about what Kamala is up to (visiting friends in California, which could be Kamala recruiting Kate Bishop in San Francisco), and I half-expected him to brag that his daughter and Ms. Marvel were one and the same when he dug out his Ms. Marvel Funko Pop.

Matt chuckles at Khan’s antics. He gives him an annoyed chuckle that mirrors my own. Don’t get me wrong. I like Mohan Japur’s portrayal of Yusuf. He does a good job of conveying a doting father. My issue is with Khan’s inclusion. It felt forced. While a solidly written, acted, and directed episode, “With Interest” isn’t needed. One could’ve omitted “With Interest,” and season one of Daredevil: Born Again would’ve remained the same. It felt like a bottle episode that didn’t need to happen. I felt the showrunner marking time for the final episode.

The only two things I can say that “With Interest” adds to this season’s story are that Murdock’s law firm matches his (eventual) crimefighting, and Daredevil: Born Again exists within the MCU. Thank you for making it abundantly clear that Daredevil: Born Again exists within the MCU. Other nods occurred earlier this season to suggest that, but perhaps some viewers in the back row needed to be force-fed that information. As Yusuf says in this episode, Murdock takes on a lot of cases that don’t make enough money to sustain his business. That reinforces the idea that Matt does things because they’re the right things to do, kind of like his crimefighting. From a storytelling standpoint, the latter has more merit.

But I could’ve seen this played out in a smaller or different scene. I know it sounds like I didn’t care for “With Interest.” The opposite is true. Taken by itself, “With Interest” is a fun romp. Matt Murdock thwarts a group of bank robbers and saves the hostages within the bank. There may be something I didn’t catch with the bank robbers themselves. The one who orchestrated the heist gets away. I hope she plays a bigger role later. My opinion of “With Interest” could change slightly if that’s the case. But until that happens, I’m viewing “With Interest” as a fun diversion before the main meal.

That main meal will have to wait. I won’t be reviewing the second episode of Daredevil: Born Again’s finale until Friday, March 28th. Until then, feed me some fake or real spoilers for the final episode. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

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Harley Quinn: “The Mess Is the Point” Review

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Season’s Thoughts

I’ll be the first to admit I teared up during the latter half of “The Mess Is the Point.” Harley Quinn managed to, once again, subvert my expectations while being comical.

“The Mess Is the Point” was another heavy episode, but it felt a bit lighter than “Bottle Episode (But Not a ‘Bottle Episode’).” I think that’s because I expected Harley and crew to be rescued in one way or another, so there was going to be a silver lining.

I never thought I’d say it, but I think I’d prefer Kyra’s prediction last week to how Frankette would get Harley and crew out of the bottle as opposed to what actually happened. By a small margin. I’m not overly attached to Frankette because she’s a new character, but seeing a baby get hurt is upsetting regardless of species. Frankette eating the Luthor siblings was par for the course.

Superman coming back to save the day was something I expected. I was really hoping he’d say some cheesy line about his and Lois’ Morse code exchanges to lean into Harley Quinn’s type of comedy. All he said was, “It sure is nice to be needed again.” Okay. I’ll admit it. That’s a line I expect out of superhero cartoons from decades ago, and I appreciate this inclusion.

Brainiac really tugged on my heartstrings this time around, too. I was tearing up when he sat with his family for the last time. He had so much buildup, but he didn’t seem like a villain. I was sad to see him go, but I don’t think Harley Quinn can do anything else with his character after season five. It seems like Harley and Ivy are staying in Metropolis. If there is a season six, I’m curious to see which of Metropolis’ rogues Harley Quinn will explore next.

Kyra’s Take

I agree with Season. Brainiac’s ending was heartfelt and fitting. Even though we didn’t spend too much time with Brainiac this season, he had a fleshed-out character arc. Harley Quinn did a good job juggling Brainiac and Lena’s storylines and tying them together at the end. I also don’t see Harley Quinn doing much with Brainiac beyond this season. Point of clarification: Harley and Ivy moved back to Gotham City by the end of “The Mess Is the Point.” Ivy claims that she stole the place from Cyborg. It may appear that Harley and Ivy stayed in Metropolis because Superman had placed Metropolis next to Gotham after he rescued the city from the bottle.

Speaking of cities in bottles, Harley Quinn can dip into countless DC Universe stories with the other cities Brainiac captured. This could lead Harley Quinn into Green Lantern, Blue Beetle, Hawkman/Hawkgirl, Legion of Superheroes, and Martian Manhunter storylines, just to name a few. Harley and Ivy even mention they will restore these cities in the future. And the Harley Quinn creative team has carte blanche to do whatever they want in the Harleyverse. It doesn’t affect the Canonverse. Max hasn’t officially announced a sixth season for Harley Quinn yet but with the show’s popularity and a desire by everyone involved in the project (per multiple entertainment news sources like Coming Soon who interviewed showrunner Dean Lorey), this may be a matter of time.

And speaking of time, allow me to time warp to season 5’s finale. It felt like a finale. Harley Quinn’s last two seasons failed to tie up loose ends. Season 3 focused on Harley becoming a superhero and her failing. Plot lines were dropped in season 4 after Nightwing gets killed and the ladies form the Gotham City Sirens. And that plot line got dropped in season 5’s opening minutes. Harley Quinn season 5 tied up all its Metropolis shenanigans while setting up potential future storylines. This ending tied up things so well that it made me wonder if Harley Quinn would be renewed for a sixth season. If Harley Quinn were to end with season 5, fans would at least have closure.

That said, I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters yet. I’m rooting for a season 6. The show can go in plenty of directions. Let’s assume Harley Quinn gets renewed. The audience got a hint of space during the season finale. Let’s see more intergalactic mayhem. Add a dash of some familiar madness, too. Harley’s mom has moved in with Harley and Ives. That should spice up their living conditions. Harley/Ivy, King Shark, Bruce, Joker, and Bane all have children. The show could mine these relationships further. And was Bane’s wife pregnant? Oh my! That’ll be interesting.

Harley Quinn season 5 was one of the series’ best and most cohesive seasons. Fingers crossed that we’ll see a sixth season. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

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Daredevil: Born Again, “Sic Semper Systema” Review

Published on by KyraLeave a comment

Daredevil: Born Again released another episode last night, “Sic Semper Systema,” and Geekly’s here to share their thoughts. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. Daredevil: Born Again approaches its season finale (or at least the cliffhanger before its break for the second half of the season), and the show manages to turn up the heat.

With four episodes in, Daredevil: Born Again proves it can build off the previous show’s success. The new series works best when it centers on Murdock and Fisk. With a few exceptions, the best moments are rooted in characters who originate from the original Netflix series. Wilson and Vanessa scenes have me hooked. I feared for Vanessa’s well-being whenever she and Wilson discussed her infidelity. That mistrust is rewarded in “Sic Semper Systema’s” closing. I won’t spoil it here, but there’s a great payoff.

Is it me or does Matt Murdock’s love interest Heather Glenn work better as the Fisk’s therapist than she does Daredevil’s lover? I love Margarita Levieva’s performance with the Fisks. I don’t know if Daredevil: Born Again has done enough to establish her as Murdock’s significant other. And I think that’s an issue with the new series. Again, four episodes in, and patterns emerge. Daredevil: Born Again had to rid itself of Karen Page and Foggy Nelson because they knew Murdock’s secret identity and would eventually support his vigilante work. Heck. Karen suggests that Matt don the cowl in the first episode. The new series wanted Murdock to fight returning as Daredevil. But it hasn’t done enough to build the new recurring characters in Murdock’s life. There are some exceptions.

As I said, I do like Heather as the Wilson’s therapist. Mayor Fisk’s advisors Daniel and Sheila are fantastic. “Sic Semper Systema” shows Kingpin’s former “business” peeking through his day-to-day as mayor. You know how the old Fisk would’ve handled Daniel’s mistake. Daredevil: Born Again does a great job of building this tension. And then throwing in a dark comedic moment. After Mayor Fisk says he won’t fire Daniel for his incompetence and Daniel insists that he’ll never be able to make amends, Sheila tells Daniel, that’s nice, now shut up. She put her job on the line for him and I saw in Sheila’s reaction to Fisk and Daniel’s “talk” that she feared for her and Daniel’s lives. Zabryna Guevara (Sheila) and Michael Gandolfini (Daniel) give great performances.

I also enjoyed one of “Sic Semper Systema’s” one-off characters. Charlie Hudson III’s Leroy Bradford works to show Murdock as a lawyer and the corruption of the legal system. Hudson is only on-screen for around ten minutes, but these moments are powerful.

Hamish Allan-Headley’s Officer Powell has been a standout for this young series. The scenes that include Officer Powell illustrate NYPD’s corruption. Powell serves as a great foil. He doesn’t factor into White Tiger’s murder (that we know of), but someone with connections to the NYPD is behind White Tiger’s death. Evidently, The Punisher has fans within the NYPD. The scene where Matt finds the casing from the bullet used to murder White Tiger is pitch-perfect. I don’t want to spoil it here, but moments like this hint at Murdock’s return as Daredevil. Sure, we physically see Murdock practice martial arts toward the end of “Sic Semper Systema,” but his investigative skills impressed.

Daredevil: Born Again handled The Punisher’s inclusion well. As I suspected, he wasn’t behind White Tiger’s murder. I’m glad he doesn’t steal too much screen time, and Frank Castle pushes Murdock’s buttons. Again, I’ll try not to spoil the scene, but The Punisher gives Murdock the push he needs to dust off his Daredevil attire. Jon Bernthal is a fan favorite for good reason. He embodies The Punisher. Daredevil: Born Again does a great job of hinting that The Punisher continues to fight the good fight. I can’t wait to see him in a future series.

And that brings us to this season’s main villain Muse. Our featured image above is one of Muse’s murals. You can see his name at the bottom right. I may be heading into mild spoiler territory here. Beware. We don’t see much of Muse. Daredevil: Born Again is holding him back for the final two episodes before it goes on break, and that’s a good choice.

In the comics, Muse is active while Wilson Fisk is mayor (Daredevil comics, circa 2016). He paints his murals with human blood, so the red “paint” above (and in this week’s featured image) derives from the blood of his victims. Also in the comics, Muse had superpowers like heightened strength and increased reflexes. He’s an inhuman and also targeted other inhumans. This could be a way to tie Muse (and Daredevil) into the greater MCU and potentially reintroduce the Inhumans. I wouldn’t be surprised if Muse was a standard-issue human, but I’d be a little disappointed if he didn’t have the last and most significant of his superpowers: imperceptibility.

People don’t notice Muse is around because his body is a sensory void. This ability also works on Daredevil. Daredevil: Born Again mentions Spider-Man repeatedly and one of Spidey’s greatest enemies is Venom. Low key, Venom’s best ability is that he doesn’t trigger Peter Parker’s spider-sense. Muse plays a similar role to Daredevil, and the series (specifically the scene when Matt does detective work) is building up to a reveal that no one can sense Muse.

“Sic Semper Systema” generates a lot of speculation. That’s a great thing for Daredevil: Born Again. The series had a rocky start, but there’s hope for a strong cliffhanger next week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.