Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. Today, our writers share what they’ve been watching over the past month. You’re welcome to join the fun and share what you’ve been watching, Geekly Gang. I’ll get us started with the movies I watched.
Kyra’s Movies
All our geekly writers watched the two movies I’ll be discussing. I’d like to see what Season and Skye have to say about each of these films.
In short, Weapons had too many point-of-view (POV) characters. If you’re like me and you thought Weapons started strong, dragged in the middle, and found its footing at the end, that’s because the movie had too many POVs. The teacher made the best choice as the first POV. Good job there. The audience needed at least one parent’s POV. Great choice to include one, but I question this POV’s placement in the movie’s sequence. I didn’t like how the parent immediately followed the teacher. Director Cregger didn’t trust his audience to remember someone painting “Witch” on the side of the teacher’s car. This will be an ongoing issue.
Then, we get a few POVs we didn’t need. The cop adds nothing. The junkie actively made the story worse. How cool would it have been if the first time the audience saw the kids in the basement was when the father found them? Instead, a random junkie undercuts that potential emotional weight. And the principal’s POV is repetitive. And what was with making the principal gay? This inclusion reeks of tokenism. Within ten minutes of learning the principal is gay (which we only learn because we’re in his POV), the principal kills his husband. Hollywood needs to uphold the tired trope of Bury Your Gays.
Weapons gets back on track with the kid’s POV, and then it’s relatively smooth sailing–from a story perspective. Weapons is a good movie, but it’s overhyped. It doesn’t deserve a 93% fresh rating. Limiting Weapons to three POVs (the teacher, the kid, and the father, and in that order) and bouncing between the three would’ve given Weapons a chance to dig deeper into these characters. Weapons is praised as a “smart film,” but it treats its audience like imbeciles. Writer/Director Zach Cregger doesn’t trust his audience to piece together things, which is why the movie spells out everything in the principal’s POV, even when all the information delivered in the principal’s POV can be obtained through the other POVs. We’re left with puddle-depth characters and inconsistent world-building.
Oh, and what was with dropping the machine gun references and imagery outside of the teacher and father’s POV after the beginning? Again, if we only got three POVs (specifically, the three I mentioned), the idea that Weapons is a metaphor for school shootings would’ve been clearer.
Objectively, Weapons is a better movie than The Monkey, but I had a lot more fun watching The Monkey. Even though it’s a horror comedy, The Monkey does a better job setting up stakes for its characters (we actually have a ticking clock of the father losing visitation rights with his son after the weekend) and building emotional resonance than Weapons. So, maybe The Monkey is the better film.
Make no mistake. The Monkey is ridiculous. Its acting is over-the-top but in the best possible ways. I laughed out loud during Elijah Wood’s scene; he’s a treasure. Some of the lines and character choices are jarring, but in a deliberate, self-aware manner. I loved watching the Final Destination-like deaths occur, preceded by the titular wind-up monkey drumming its tune. I especially like the bus filled with cheerleaders at the movie’s end. I won’t say any more, but it’s hilarious. And the nods to other Stephen King stories were fun.
The Monkey doesn’t have a lot to say, but doesn’t need to have a greater message. Sometimes you just want–or need–a good laugh.
Kyra’s Show
I’m back to watching true crime. While writing this post, I’m eagerly awaiting the final episode of Hulu’s Murdaugh: Death in the Family. I first learned about the Murdaughs when Netflix released its documentary series years ago, so I was somewhat familiar with what to expect. But Hulu’s docudrama Murdaugh: Death in the Family lives up to the craziness surrounding this case.
I forgot a lot of the specifics for the Murdaugh Murders. I’m fighting the urge to rewatch the Netflix documentary before finishing Murdaugh: Death in the Family. Going in blind must be a treat. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the Murdaugh Murders are perfect fodder for true crime series, movies, and much more. There are so many elements to this story. Money laundering. Drug abuse. Infidelity. Wire fraud. Witness tampering. Wrongful deaths–plural. And this all happens before Mags and Paul Murdaugh are slain. The suspect pool for the Murdaugh Murders is limited to the entire state of South Carolina. Who wouldn’t be a suspect?
At least, that’s what I would’ve thought if I hadn’t watched the other content before watching Murdaugh: Death in the Family. If you haven’t seen anything else about the Murdaughs, refrain from doing so until after watching this series. The acting is on point.
That’s all I have for this month. What’ve you been watching, Season?
Season’s Movie
I’m going to be honest. I didn’t watch much this past month. I’ve been busy and haven’t had time to sit down and watch something. However, I do like to have something playing in the background while I fall asleep. For that, A Goofy Movie is perfect.
I’ve been feeling nostalgic, and I remember owning A Goofy Movie on VHS. I watched it so much, my mom eventually hid it. I remember jamming out to Tevin Campbell’s music (“I2I” and “Stand Out”), which was the main reason I watched A Goofy Movie. This time, I focused on the parent-child relationship. It holds up, even after removing nostalgia glasses. A Goofy Movie is a good watch for all ages.
What are you watching, Skye?
Skye’s Movie
The Monkey was my introduction to director Osgood Perkins. I’m not dissatisfied. Kyra came to me on Halloween and told me about this ridiculous horror comedy that had to be seen to be believed. Funny thing: I’ve seen it, but I’m still not sure I believe it. Did I enjoy The Monkey? Without a doubt, yes. The Monkey was the most insane horror comedy I’ve seen in recent years, which kept me laughing even when the screen was covered in gore. Yeah, this movie loves its body parts. Everything is just the right amount of wrong, and the fact it all revolves around a monkey doll turns the absurdity up to 11. I highly recommend The Monkey, just not too soon after mealtime.
Skye’s Show
Um, sure. Since I watched Monster: Ed Gein last month, Monster: Jeffrey Dahmer felt like the next logical step. Technically, Monster: Jeffrey Dahmer is better than Monster: Ed Gein, but that’s a low bar. Simply put, it’s obvious why people call Monster: Jeffrey Dahmer insensitive. It’s dead set on violating the stories of real-life murder victims, and some episodes were downright infuriating. True crime has always fascinated me, but there’s a right and a wrong way to do it. Monster: Jeffrey Dahmer is definitely the wrong way. If you’re curious about these true stories, it’s better to watch documentaries or read dissertations about them. Don’t be Ryan Murphy.
Kyra Kyle again. It looks like Skye enjoyed The Monkey. Yay! Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Black Cat Day, Geekly Gang! That’s right. Today is Black Cat Day. I didn’t know a day like this exists. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’re celebrating Black Cat Day by listing five famous (and popular) black cats in media. Oh, it’s about to get spooky up in here.
5) Pluto (“The Black Cat”)
We’ll start this list with the titular feline in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat.” Often read as the companion piece to “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Black Cat’s” point of view character gets spooked by Pluto, walling him beside his deceased wife. Poe may have had some unresolved issues.
Originally published in 1845, “The Black Cat,” like many of Poe’s works, has stood the test of time. Loose adaptations have cropped up over time. More recently, the Black Cat returned in Netflix’s Fall of the House of Usher, and Wednesday (another Netflix offering) makes more than one reference to this short story. Not bad for a black cat with only one eye.
4) Salem Saberhagen (Sabrina: The Teenage Witch)
Many 90s kids know Salem Saberhagen from Sabrina: The Teenage Witch. Salem is a 500-year-old witch serving a 100-year sentence for attempting to take over the world. Salem’s old self gives off mad supervillain vibes. Getting transformed into a powerless American shorthair robbed him of a modicum of his sassiness.
Salem serves as a mentor for Sabrina as she navigates her life as a teenage witch. Sympathetic and often self-serving, fans of Sabrina: The Teenage Witch know that Salem’s the real star. Yas, Queen!
3) Luna (Sailor Moon)
Luna (from Sailor Moon) stands out from many of the other black cats on this list. The crescent moon on her forehead makes her visually stand out, but her serious nature runs counter to many other black cats in anime, who are usually sarcastic or silly or both. Luna assembles the Sailor Senshi on Earth. She’s Usagi’s mentor, and her serious nature plays well against Usagi’s childish nature. Someone needs to be the grown-up. Who cares if the grown-up is a cat?
2) Thackery Binx (Hocus Pocus)
Thackery Binx was a 17th-century boy who was transformed into an immortal cat by the evil (but fabulous) Sanderson sisters. Binx spends eternity guarding the witches’ house, ensuring no one lights the black flame candle. Fast-forward to modern-day when Binx befriends Max, Dani, and Allison. The three kids light the candle. This alerts the sisters, so Binx does what he can to help his friends defeat the witches. In the end, Binx’s soul leaves the cat’s body and reunites with his sister. This is such a great moment. Can someone pass the tissues?
1) Jiji (Kiki’s Delivery Service)
This cat’s story isn’t as bittersweet as Binx’s. I promise. I love the scene where Jiji finds a black cat mug, points to it, and says, “Hey, Kiki, it’s me!” Jiji is by far the cutest black cat on this list. Add the fact that he’s voiced by the late, great Phil Hartman, and you have a character who can’t be beat. Kiki’s Delivery Service is a fantastic Studio Ghibli film. The Jiji character highlights what makes Phil Hartman great as a voice actor. Jiji stole the show with his sarcastic wit and endearing nature, quickly becoming one of the film’s most beloved characters.
At the end of the film, Jiji stops talking, which remains a mystery for fans. According to Hayao Miyazaki, the film’s director, the young witch and her pet lose their ability to communicate because Kiki grows up and doesn’t need her “other self” to rely on anymore. Okay. This story is bittersweet. I did it again. I’m not crying. You’re crying.
That’s our list of famous black cats in media. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. This past week confirmed a months-long rumor: Warner Bros. is for sale.
Bugs Bunny looks enthused with being on the market. We’ll discuss Warner Bros. posting a for-sale sign and this week’s new releases for board games and video games during this week’s Geek News.
Warner Bros. For Sale
No. Yakko and Wakko aren’t for sale. Warner Bros., as a property, is for sale. After months of speculation that Paramount would purchase all of Warner Bros., Warner Bros. removes all doubt by announcing it intends to sell, but the entertainment giant states it wants as much money as possible. If that means a single party purchases Warner Bros., great, but if Warner Bros. can accrue more money by slicing its properties into smaller pieces, fantastic.
My guess–and this is just a guess–is Warner Bros. will choose to split up its properties. Unless one entity blows away Warner Bros. with an offer for everything, the studio will most likely sell to numerous buyers. Of course, Paramount has expressed interest. The rumors appear to have been true, and Warner Bros. rejected Paramount’s first offer. Apple TV has also expressed interest. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney wanted to acquire a property or two. Looney Tunes could be added to classic Disney characters. Marvel and DC Comics could have crossover movies. I could continue. The possibilities are endless; only time will tell what will become of Warner Bros.’s properties.
Geekly tends to cover superhero movies, so we’ll focus on what a Warner Bros. sale would mean for the newly minted DCU. While DCU Chairmen James Gunn and Peter Safran could lose their jobs after DC Studios is sold, I doubt this will actually happen. Love Gunn and Safran’s DCU or hate it, I don’t expect new leadership to pull the plug on a profitable franchise this soon after it launches. And yet, profits may regulate the DCU’s future.
Producing DCU films and shows costs a lot of money. At the moment, Gunn and Safran intend to accelerate the DCU’s slate of projects. Lanterns, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Clayface are slated for a 2026 release. We could see another season of Harley Quinn and Creature Commandos next year, too. And the DCU has plenty more scheduled for the not-so-distant future. Wonder Woman: War of the Gods, The Brave and the Bold, The Batman 2, Booster Gold, and Waller have all been rumored or announced for a 2027 release. New ownership may slow down the frequency of upcoming DCU releases.
I don’t believe anything will change with the DCU’s release schedule until after a sale takes place. So, the DCU’s 2026 release schedule should remain mostly untouched. Who knows? Depending on DC Studios’ buyer, nothing may change. Who would you like to purchase DC Studios?
While I wouldn’t mind a single Marvel-DC Comics crossover movie (or even a trilogy of them) or a series, I prefer these two worlds to remain separate. Apple could use the content more than Paramount, but it’d be interesting to see Star Wars and Marvel on one platform, while Star Trek and the DCU were on the other. Share your thoughts in the comments.
Threshold Launches on GameFound
Blending tactical card-based combat, deep character customization, and endless loot, Threshold immerses its players in a massive, open, living world that responds to their choices. While I have yet to play Threshold, player turns appear easy to understand. Each player’s round plays out with the same rhythm: 1) Draw 5 cards from your deck, 2) Spend cards to perform actions, 3) Enemies act, and 4) Advance the day. I like the Threshold’s streamlined design.
As of the writing of this post, Threshold has yet to launch, so I can only speculate on its gameplay. It appears as if players may mismatch the cards in their deck, creating a unique character. If that’s the case, count me in. Combat seems quick and tactical. I like the idea of Threshold’s world adapting to my choices, but I hope that extends beyond combat. Threshold’s description suggests that players will travel from region to region, where dynamic events occur. Could this be a great blend of MMOs and action RPGs?
I’ve been looking for a good RPG in board game form. Threshold piques my interest. If you’re interested in Threshold, check out its GameFound page.
Drawing Dead Launches on GameFound
After meeting an untimely end in a saloon poker game turned deadly, you awake in purgatory. With new powers and a set of poker cards forged from your soul, you must play your way through the three gates of purgatory and ride into the afterlife. Drawing Dead has a killer theme. Pun intended. I love the Solo Game of the Month company. I don’t know how they’re able to produce stellar solo games most months (I’ve seen them skip one or two months here and there). I’ve been playing a ton of Balatro recently, so Drawing Dead is right up my alley.
Drawing Dead’s player deck is a fully functional poker deck. I am down with the four-colored suits and may pick up a few copies of Drawing Dead to play standard card games. Just ignore the special effects printed in the middle of each card. While we don’t yet know the pledge values for Drawing Dead, Solo Game of the Month tends to sell their games for around $30. If you’re interested in Drawing Dead, check out its GameFound page.
Joyride: Full Throttle Speeds onto GameFound
Who wants to play a destruction derby? Joyride: Full Throttle is equal parts Formula D, Mario Kart, and Destruction Derby (this was a Mad Max-like video game back in the day). Comic book artist Ant Williams’ work gives Joyride: Full Throttle character. Joyride: Full Throttle oozes character from its pores. I can’t wait to drift around the beachfront boardwalk and abandoned mall. Each map has its own identity.
And each driver and vehicle has their own vibe, too. And you know I’ll be loading up on Thumpers, Wrenches, and Volleybombs, waiting for the perfect moment to drop them on my opponents.
Push your luck as you take corners at speed. Manipulate dice on your dashboard, balancing precision and speed. Smash into your rivals to knock them off course. I love how interactive Joyride: Full Throttle is. And publisher Rebellion Unplugged just announced full miniatures. I’m certain these will cost extra (as an upgrade) when Joyride: Full Throttle releases its pledge details later this week. We don’t yet know these pledge details, but if you’re interested in Joyride: Full Throttle, check out its GameFound page.
Cascadia: Alpine Lakes Launches on KickStarter
I may need a refreshing dip in a lake after that last entry. Fortunately, Cascadia: Alpine Lakes has you covered. Alpine Lakes is the standalone sequel to the wildly popular Cascadia. Take your tile-laying to new puzzly heights with Cascadia: Alpine Lakes.
Cascadia: Alpine Lakes is designed by Randy Flynn, creator of the original Cascadia. Alpine Lakes shakes up the original gameplay by adding double hex tiles. These tiles add to the strategic nature of the original, and the development team behind Alpine Lakes is the same award-winning team behind Calico, Verdant, Fit to Print, Nocturne, and Knitting Circle (Molly Johnson, Robert Melvin, Shawn Stankewich, and Dylan Mangini). And Beth Sobel returns as the artist.
Cascadia: Alpine Lakes builds off the original in interesting ways. You won’t need the base Cascadia game to play this version, but there is a pledge level that includes the original Cascadia. Pledges range from $39 to $129. If you haven’t yet played the modern classic Cascadia, Cascadia: Alpine Lakes may be a great place to start. If you’re interested in Cascadia: Alpine Lakes, check out its KickStarter page.
Garage Rock Crashes the KickStarter Party
Garage Rock transports gamers back to the 1980s: big hair, cassette tapes, and BMX bikes ruled the neighborhood streets. Garage Rock is a medium-weight, worker-placement game where players step into the shoes of a teenage garage band. Fight for glory in the high-stakes “Battle of the Bands,” hosted by the infamous local pirate radio DJ, Johnny Law.
I love Garage Rock’s table presence. Check out that treehouse dice tower in the middle of the board. The stage (in the top right-hand corner) looks amazing. Garage Rock looks as if it uses a lot of table space, but that’s okay. Its toy factor and theme make up for what appears to be a large game. Who wants to rock out with me?
Compete against other players to perform at gigs. Grow your band’s popularity. And it looks as if Mariposa Games thought of everything for this game’s box insert, even a spot for the Jean Jacket expansion, should you choose to add it to your pledge. Garage Rock looks amazing. The bits are thematic like demo tapes, song tokens, talent ribbons, and 16 unique transparent acrylic instruments. Pledges range from $79 to $250. If you’re interested in Garage Rock, check out its KickStarter page.
Kavango: Lodges Expansion Launches on KickStarter
Designed by conservationists, Kavango tells inspirational conservation success stories of southern Africa. In fact, 20% of Kavango’s profits are donated to African-based charities working to safeguard the region’s extraordinary wildlife. The Lodges Expansion marks Kavango’s first major expansion. I have yet to play Kavango, but Season has and swears by this game. Seriously, it’s on her Christmas list. She’s probably editing this post, and I expect a message suggesting we back Kavango: Lodges Expansion for “research.”
Kavango uses simultaneous turns, which I love, because it keeps gameplay fast. Kavango’s theme is an important one, and I also love that Mazaza Games commits to charity. It’s a good feeling knowing your pledge goes toward a worthy cause. Kavango’s pledges are also reasonable: $20 (for just the expansion if you already have the base game), $40 for all the extras without the base game, or $60 for everything, including the original Kavango. If you don’t have the base game, I’d go with the $60 pledge; you get a lot of game for the price point. If you’re interested in Kavango, check out its KickStarter page.
Video Game Round-Up
I already covered six board game releases in quick succession. This week saw a ton of new releases, because we’re ramping up for the holidays. I’m going to go through video games quickly as well. Like the board games, these won’t be the only video games that were released this past week. Consider this section video game new release highlights.
Ninja Gaiden 4 was released over a decade after Ninja Gaiden 3 (2012). According to multiple critics, Ninja Gaiden 4 is a triumphant return to the series and well worth the wait. Like other games in the series, Ninja Gaiden 4 features punishing gameplay. Ninja Gaiden was the video game that made players “Git Gud” before Dark Souls, and 4 continues that brutal legacy. Ninja Gaiden 4 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Sticking with the theme of older video game titles receiving their first new entry in over a decade, Katamari returns for the first time in 14 years with Once Upon a Katamari. I’ve spent countless hours rolling that funky-shaped ball, trying to get as many objects to stick to the katamari as I can. Once Upon a Katamari has received plenty of positive reviews. So, it looks like we’re two for two with returning franchises this week. I can’t wait to pick up a copy of Once Upon a Katamari. It’s available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
The streak doesn’t continue, it would seem. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines fans–like me–have waited 21 years for a proper sequel to the open-world, action role-playing indie. According to many critics, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 stumbles to live up to the original. This doesn’t surprise me. Bloodlines 2 had a torturous development cycle. The lead game designer changed multiple times. The lead writer was canned over a year before the game’s release. But Bloodlines 2 has a silver lining. From what I’ve heard, the writing is stellar. Any outlet that gives Bloodlines 2 a higher grade will most likely mention how deep and well-written the story’s characters are, but the janky combat and occasionally woeful performance issues make Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 a game I may wait to pick up at a discounted price.
Plants Vs Zombies: Replanted compiles all the game’s various iterations over the past 16 years, but the final product has been leaving critics wanting. Plants Vs Zombies’ original gameplay stays mostly intact–for better and for worse. The original game was fair and balanced most of the time, but the game had some unwarranted difficulty spikes that Replanted does little to quell. Plants Vs Zombies: Replanted tries to update the graphics, but many of the upgrades don’t quite land. Plants Vs Zombies: Replanted’s ending music video may be the most egregious. Players watch the original video on a tube television (picture inside of a picture) with downgraded graphics, which diminishes the ending’s impact.
But Replanted’s best addition may be the Cloudy Day Mode, where gameplay cycles between day and night. I may have found my way of new way to play Plants Vs Zombies. Plants Vs Zombies is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Ever want to run your own dinosaur theme park? That’s the theme of Jurassic World Evolution 3. Yes. Jurassic World Evolution 3 is the third entry in this popular game series. Jurassic World Evolution 3 has received good reviews. I’m certain Season has played at least one game in this series. Let us know if you’d like to see a future review.
I knew little about Bounty Star before its release this past week. Bounty Star’s subtitle, The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem, sums up the game’s story. Bounty Star begins with the worst day of Clementine McKinney’s life. She hopped into a mech, tried to save the people she loved, and lost everything. Clementine McKinney died that day. Graveyard Clem was born from the ashes. Graveyard Clem rebuilds her life in the wastes. Bounty Star bounces between mech combat and daily life on a farm, raising chickens and growing crops. Gamers will embody all aspects of the flawed Graveyard Clem. Bounty Star offers two disparate gameplay loops that I can’t wait to try. Equal parts mech combat game and farming sim? Sign me up.
That’s all we have for Geekly News this week. With the holidays around the corner, we may do more quick recaps in the coming weeks. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. Since it’s Wednesday, our writers will be sharing what they’ve been watching (television or movies, or other content) over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been watching over this past month, too. We’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get us started with what I’ve been watching.
Kyra’s Movie
If Sinners hadn’t been released this year, Companion would be the best horror film of 2025. Despite how good Sinners is, it has limited rewatchability. Companion may be one of the most rewatchable recent horror films I’ve seen. Companion’s blend of comedy and horror helps. There are laugh-out-loud moments. Dialogue is on point. The characters are as well-developed as any you’ll find in Sinners. Sophie Thatcher’s portrayal of Iris (Companion’s main character and emotional support robot who f***s) is the reason I chose her to play Apex Legends’ Wraith in an upcoming Geekly Casting (scheduled for February 2026). Thatcher does an amazing job, growing from naive f***bot to self-aware heroine. Companion is a joy to watch over and over again. Perfect for Spooky Season.
While Sinners tackles systemic racism, Companion takes on misogyny, toxic masculinity, and male fragility. And Companion doesn’t bother with straw man arguments or spend too much time on obviously misogynistic men. Antagonist Jack Quaid is affable. He’s likable, even after he reveals himself as a complete jerk. It’s those affable misogynists who are the worst. Quaid’s Josh gaslights. He refuses to take any responsibility for his own actions. Josh is the perfect representation of peak incel, broculture. And it’s fun hating Josh and laughing at his impotence. You should give Companion a watch.
I also love Harvey Guillén. I’ll watch anything that features Guillén, especially now that What We Do in the Shadows has concluded, and I won’t get to watch any more Guillermo. And I adore the scene depicted above with Guillén’s Eli and Lukas Gage’s Patrick. It’s so good. Companion even managed to squeeze in a bizarro tender moment or two.
Kyra’s Shows
I watched Orphan Black when it first released over a decade ago and couldn’t remember when or why I stopped watching the series. Spoiler: I figured out why by season 3. But seasons 1 and 2 are some of the best television has to offer. Orphan Black was one of the shows–along with Breaking Bad and the better seasons of Game of Thrones–that made me (and a lot of others) think a decade plus ago was peak television. The series holds up. Tatiana Maslany deserves all the accolades she earned for Orphan Black. Maslany portrays over a dozen clones. With the somewhat cringy exception of Tony Sawicki (the transman Leda clone who shows up in a one-off episode in season 2), who’s little more than a male version of Sarah, most of the clones are chef’s kiss good.
Over the course of Orphan Black’s five seasons, all of the clones develop and grow. I’m going to take a moment and mention how five seasons seems to be a television show’s sweet spot. Breaking Bad lasted five seasons. Game of Thrones and Mad Men began falling apart after five seasons. Heck, What We Do in the Shadows only added a sixth season. And isn’t Stranger Things planning its fifth season as its finale? Five is the magic number.
Anyway, I won’t go into too many Orphan Black details. This show is best watched with little to no prior knowledge. Discovery is key. But I will say that season 3 is where Orphan Black originally lost me. It lost sight of its core characters by adding too many auxiliary characters, and that’s not just my opinion. Many of those extra characters were removed for season 4, and Orphan Black went back to brass tacks. Originally, I had given up on this show too soon. I’m glad I gave the later seasons a second chance, and if you’re interested in biopunk (sci-fi based in biotechnology), Orphan Black is a great place to start.
And Orphan Black pays homage to a novel that may have begun biopunk, H.G. Wells’s The Island of Dr. Moreau.
With the rumors of a Mindhunter season three or a couple of Mindhunter movies to close out the series, entering the zeitgeist, I rewatched the only two seasons of Mindhunter available on Netflix…for now. Simply put, Mindhunter is the best true crime series. Period. It chronicles the people who started the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) Behavioral Science Division. Because Mindhunter focuses on investigators, it manages to not glorify serial killers. It treats serial killers as cautionary tales and gives insight into how psychopaths think and behave.
You will find plenty of name-brand serial killers (or, in the case of Charles Manson, serial killer adjacent) in Mindhunters’ episodes. But the focus is always on what makes these people tick. Even the fictionalized versions of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Division’s founders explore how a push here or there may drive someone to do something unthinkable. Mindhunters is infinitely rewatchable. The show throws out so many references and breadcrumbs (for seasons that haven’t yet been released–fingers crossed), you’ll have to watch it more than once.
That’s all I have for what I’ve been watching this past month. Let’s check in with Season and Skye.
Season’s Shows
I’ve had a pretty full schedule lately, Geekly Gang. I haven’t had as much time to branch out and find new things to watch. However, I discovered Haunted Hotel on Netflix and fell in love with it. Needless to say, this show is on my most rewatched list (I’ve been falling asleep to it). The show follows a single mom with her two children as the owner of a haunted hotel that gets no business. How is it still standing? Who knows? I like to think the ghosts sell ectoplasm.
Kidding aside, Haunted Hotel is a comedy that has an overarching plot filled with family issues and the meaning of companionship. Each of the characters copes in unhealthy ways, which leads to the main plots (sometimes subplots) of the episodes. Each episode is between 21-25 minutes long, and there are only ten episodes so far. Haunted Hotel is easy to binge-watch in an afternoon.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. What have you been watching, Skye?
Skye’s Movies
Most excellent! That’s how I’d sum up Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey. I didn’t have a reason for wanting to watch the Bill & Ted movies; I just felt like it. Oddly enough, that also seems like the vibe these movies give off. “I just felt like it.” Are they dumb? Yes. Are they pointless? Absolutely. But are they bad? I can’t bring myself to say yes. Despite centering around a utopian future created by a couple of lovable half-wit teenagers, I still really enjoyed the Bill & Ted movies. While they may not be winning any high artistic awards, the original Bill & Ted movies are great for some dumb fun. Party on, dudes!
Skye’s Show
You’re welcome for the 180° tone shift. After watching Monster: The Ed Gein Story, I can confirm that I enjoyed it. Only to a point, though. For the most part, Monster: Ed Gein felt like a deep dive into the creation of an infamous killer, which is what you’d want, but they often blended reality and fantasy in ways that were hard to follow. There are several rewinds and fast-forwards, which jumble the pacing even more. Charlie Hunnam’s (portrayer of Ed Gein) UK accent in the middle of small-town Wisconsin was distracting. Also, the overemphasis on Gein’s relationship with Adeline Watkins (played by Suzanna Son) didn’t feel right.
When you look at the real story of Ed Gein, Watkins was a long-time friend of his, but much of what’s shown on Monster: Ed Gein about her is heavily dramatized. It also makes bold claims by showing Watkins beating her landlady to death in New York City. In truth, much of Gein and Watkins’ relationship is unknown. All we know is what Watkins explained to reporters after Gein’s crimes came to light: they had known each other for 20 years and were relatively close. The prospect of romance was brought up by Gein when he proposed to her, but she declined. I wouldn’t mind this so much if Monster addressed these facts, but the show goes out of its way to paint her as a major influence on Gein’s character.
If you’re going to adapt a true story to the screen, particularly one as gruesome as this, you should try to be as truthful and forthright as possible. Implying that someone loosely connected to it had this much influence and could’ve even been a criminal themselves is insulting. I don’t always engage in true crime, especially if it’s a dramatized version of the real story. These stories are harrowing to listen to because they really happened, but when showrunners try to lighten up the events or change aspects, I get upset. These were real things that happened to real people, and that’s disrespectful.
Rant over. But if you enjoy true crime stories, you’ll probably enjoy Monster: Ed Gein. I’ll also say that I don’t think you’re wrong if you like it. While Monster: Ed Gein pushed specific buttons for me, it may be a perfect fit for you. What matters most is knowing the facts from fiction. What you’re watching is based on true events; it’s not a window to the past. Stay safe out there.
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. Those are the television shows and movies we’ve seen over the past month. Let us know in the comments what you’ve been watching. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another Whatcha post. Today, our Geekly writers share which television shows and movies they’ve watched over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been watching. We’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get us started.
Kyra’s Shows
Yes! It’s a Whatcha Wednesday, and I’m mentioning the show, Wednesday. I watched Wednesday for the first time this month, so I’m late to the party. I enjoyed the first season. I may even need to do a deep dive for the Wednesday Addams character as she’s had an intriguing transformation through the decades (I even have some of the original comic strips). So good. I liked the nods Tim Burton makes to the original Addams Family television show throughout Wednesday while allowing the show to forge its own path.
Wednesday isn’t just a retelling of the Addams Family. It’s a reimagining. And I appreciate how Wednesday has created this new boarding school environment. With Joanne Rowling showing her colors as a transphobe, Wednesday offers a great alternative for an LGBT community left disenchanted with Hogwarts. Of course, Enid and Wednesday’s budding friendship drives Wednesday’s first season. While a little predictable, the first season’s murder mystery was fun.
Wednesday’s second season may have a more complex mystery, but it suffers from bloat. The first season weaved in small callbacks to the original series; the second season pumps in more callbacks to the original series, the Nineties movies, and Wednesday’s first season. This season also pivots away from Enid and Wednesday’s relationship, which makes sense for the story (I won’t spoil it here), but the lack of this pair’s chemistry hurts.
This may be an unfair assessment for season two. I’m trying to stay ahead of weekly Geekly posts so I’ll have more time to work on my novel (something I’m sure Wednesday would approve of), and I’m writing this entry a week before the second half of Wednesday’s second season releases. I’m sure there will be some great payoff during Wednesday’s second half. You may get a second post for Wednesday next month.
I’m enjoying Wednesday’s second season and can’t wait for this season’s conclusion.
I also binged Netflix’s Trainwreck series. This series (of about hour-long mini documentaries) varies in its watchability. Each episode of Trainwreck has excellent production, don’t get me wrong. It’s the subject matter for each Trainwreck episode that makes or breaks the show’s watchability. I couldn’t stand the Storm Area 51 documentary. I wanted to reach through my screen a slap the kid who started that trend. But I felt for the Balloon Boy’s parents. It seemed like an honest mistake, and it was clear Balloon Boy Falcon’s mother wasn’t fluent in English. P.I. Moms was eye-opening. While I don’t care for reality TV, it’s a shame this show fell apart. And the Poop Cruise made me second-guess going on a cruise ship. Yikes!
That’s all I have for Whatcha Watching this month. Let’s check in with Season and Skye.
Season’s Shows
I got nostalgic last month, Geekly Gang. I remember watching the original Fruits Basket anime (2001) on my CRT TV from a folding chair in the basement, using my Nintendo Wii, while taking notes for my ninth-grade physical science class. Good times. I was upset that the 2001 anime never finished the Fruits Basket manga, which continued way after the anime ended. Being stunned when the 2019 anime came out, a few years after I graduated from high school, doesn’t begin to describe what I felt at the time.
Nostalgia aside, there are aspects of the story that haven’t aged well. The premise is goofy enough on its own–people turning into animals of the Chinese Zodiac when hugged by a member of a different gender (male and female in this story). Many of the characters in Fruits Basket adhere to ideas of masculinity and femininity. The men suck at housework while the women are expected to do it. At least, as far as Tohru Honda (the female lead) goes. There is a character in the show who enjoys wearing women’s kimonos because he feels more at ease wearing them, but gets made fun of for it by some of the characters. If you’re willing to look past these things, Fruits Basket (2019) is an enjoyable watch that lets you turn off your brain.
Fruits Basket (2019) doesn’t take itself seriously in the beginning. Things ramp up toward the end, but there are still many comedic moments. Most of the characters have a lot of depth. Even the side characters who were around for, like, two episodes.
Fun fact: The original English cast of Fruits Basket (2001) reprised their roles for Fruits Basket (2019). I’m not sure about the Japanese cast.
That’s all from me. What have you been watching this week, Skye?
Skye’s Movies
I’ve never been a huge fan of The Conjuring franchise. While I enjoyed the first film when I saw it 5 years ago, it didn’t make me eager to watch the rest. Only after the recent release of The Conjuring: The Last Rites did I think, “It might be time to watch The Conjuring movies.” Over the past month, I watched 9 Conjuring movies. This includes the Annabelle spinoff trilogy, the 2 Nun films, and The Curse of La Llorona. What did I learn? Hollywood loves doing the same thing.
Are all the Conjuring movies the same? No, but they have striking similarities. Typically, there’s a cursed object, haunted house, or tormented family. Spooky stuff happens, experts show up, the spirits freak out, and the power of Christ compels them. I must admit, of The Conjuring films I watched, the ones bearing the “Conjuring” title were my favorites. These movies owe their watchability to the star power of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga). Every time they were on screen, they shared an unrivaled chemistry that made their relationship much more real and adorable.
Do I recommend The Conjuring series? It depends on what you’re into, but if you like spooky films involving ghosts, demon possessions, and haunted dolls, I’m sure you’ll like the Conjuring franchise. Also, I gotta admit that I have a soft spot for Annabelle Comes Home. It’s just a fun romp through a carnival of horrors.
Skye’s Show
Watching the Netflix Ranma ½ remake came as an accident last month. I hadn’t intended to watch it anytime soon, until I woke up one day and decided to binge the whole first season. Overall, I feel like Ranma ½ (2024) did the original series justice while reintroducing it to a new generation. As a fan of the original, the main thing I noticed was a lack of alterations. The Ranma 1/2 (2024) team made changes like modernizing the animation, changing voice actors, and adjusting the pacing of the story. The show’s story remains untouched.
Because of that, I can’t help but ask, “Then why remake it at all?” I have 4 seasons of the original series on DVD box set, so why wouldn’t I just watch that? I know modern film and TV culture has shifted media consumption to online streaming, but Netflix could’ve just as easily put the original series in their library. I still enjoyed Ranma ½ (2024), but that’s essentially the same thing as saying I enjoyed Ranma ½ (1989). Take that as you will, and feel free to watch Ranma ½ (2024) if you don’t have access to the original. Otherwise, just watch the original.
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle again. Those are all the shows and movies our writers watched over the past month. What’ve you been watching, Geekly Gang? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Geekly started a new deep dive series about Autism Representation in media. Our first post in that series was about Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, and it was posted in May. Was it that long ago? Yikes! Well, Geekly’s back with another deep dive about Autism Representation. Today’s piece of media is the short-lived Netflix animated series, Dead End: Paranormal Park.
Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. As I mentioned in our previous Autism Representation post, I’m a late-diagnosed autistic person and ADHDer. Yes, you can have both. Ever since my diagnosis, I’ve been viewing media through a different lens, trying to see if a piece of media has good or not-so-good Autism Representation. I intended this series to be something Geekly released once a quarter. We’re getting this post right under the wire with Dead End: Paranormal Park because this series not only has an Autistic main character, but the other main character is transgender. I also happen to be trans and gender queer and intended to give Transgender Representation in media the same treatment. So today, we’re releasing two posts about Dead End: Paranormal Park.
Since Dead End: Paranormal Park only lasted two seasons (for a total of 20, 20-minute episodes), we’ll go through each pertinent episode in sequential order for both characters. Our subject for this post is Norma Khan, a 17-year-old bisexual and autistic Pakistani-American girl who gets a job at the park because of her adoration of the films made by character Pauline Phoenix. Already, I love Norma’s intersectionality. Let’s get started with Dead End: Paranormal Park’s first episode, “The Job.”
Season 1, Episode 1, “The Job”
We first meet Norma Khan in her room, decked out in Pauline Phoenix (the actress behind Phoenix, “Paranormal,” Park) paraphernalia: Pauline posters, Pauline bedsheets, and even a Pauline lamp. Norma has an episode of Dead End (one of Pauline Phoenix’s television shows) playing as she prepares for a job interview at Phoenix Park. Something tells me Norma listens to this show on repeat often. I’ve done the same. I may have audio taped cartoons (on cassette tapes) so I could play them at night to fall asleep. I’m sure Norma wouldn’t do anything like that. Wink.
Norma’s mother dotes on her. She worries more about Norma’s job interview than Norma does. She hugs and kisses Norma as Norma tries to break away. I can relate. We know little about Norma, but Dead End: Paranormal Park hints that Norma’s mother may want more affection than Norma is comfortable giving. This is in keeping with some autistic kids. This moment also suggests that Norma’s job interview may be her first time alone; it’s certainly her first step as an adult. Autistic people do tend to have a higher unemployment rate than the general population, and often, this is less about capability and more about finding the right work environment. It sounds like Phoenix (Paranormal) Park is Norma’s perfect job environment.
“The Job” sprinkles in some references to Norma’s hyper-fixations. In fact, when she believes she didn’t get the job at first, Norma flat out says, “Looks like I’ll have to find something else to hyper-fixate on for fifteen years.” Norma earns this line because she spews paragraphs of Pauline Phoenix facts while Norma and Barney are trapped in a haunted mansion. Only Norma doesn’t yet realize the two of them are trapped. She’s too busy info-dumping on Barney about her special interest. I watched this episode with one of my daughters, and she chuckled. You’re not like that at all, are you, Mapa? Yep. That happens sometimes. The train needs to reach the station before we can switch tracks.
Season 1, Episode 2, “The Tunnel”
“The Tunnel” begins with a Norma flashback. She’s a child attending Phoenix Parks and in line to visit Buster Scruffs (one of the employees dressed as a mascot). Norma panics. Her feet sink into the concrete. While I’m unsure if this sequence is directly tied to an autistic shutdown (where an autistic person retreats from their surroundings) or if this scene is just a child reacting to too much stimuli (which can cause autistic shutdowns), Dead End: Paranormal Park does a fantastic job of showing Norma’s internal world.
When we shift to the present day, Norma storms into the haunted mansion. She doesn’t care that Pugsley can talk (a side effect of his former demonic possession) and is livid that Barney clocked into work before her. The group brushes past Barney, staying the night at the park, and promptly finds a gold pass. I love how she prefers to go to the park’s staff meeting when presented with the option to do anything in the park. Dead End: Paranormal Park drops another line of Norma obsessed with Pauline Phoenix, before she wishes for the three-hour version of employee orientation. I can attest that I could withstand a three-hour orientation on my special interest. This tracks for an autistic person.
What also tracks for autistic people is Norma’s odd eye contact. When Badyah Hassan (leader of the staff orientation) begins orientation, Norma info dumps and gives Badyah intense eye contact. Norma bores a hole into Badyah. That made me laugh. It’s so accurate. Many people believe that autistic people can’t make eye contact, when it’s just as likely that autistic people will make intense eye contact. In short, autism leads to odd levels of eye contact: none or too much. And of course, Norma takes over the orientation after Badyah sarcastically asks if she wants to do so. Norma puts on a performance voice (another autistic thing to do), and I felt called out. Both of my daughters recounted a similar instance with me at a board game cafe.
Season 1, Episode 3, “Trust Me”
“Trust Me” centers around a team-building exercise at the beach. Norma is reluctant to leave her mother’s car because she believes everyone at work hates her, while Norma’s mother counters with no one knows you. This is a great representation of an autistic side-effect, rejection sensitivity. Rejection sensitivity may occur when an autistic person has experienced so many instances where they said or did the wrong thing, or they just acted like themselves (and not like a neurotypical or person without autism), and got rejected, so the autistic person believes people hate them even when there’s empirical evidence to the contrary. I’ve received a pep talk from a loved one like the one Norma gets so many times, I’ve lost count. I love that Dead End: Paranormal Park touched on this subject.
Before “Trust Me’s” volta (the turn), we get a lot of Norma being literal. The team-building guru speaks in metaphors, and each flies over Norma’s head. Physical things don’t bind us. Yes, they can. The opposite of trust is fear. No, the opposite of trust is mistrust. I agree with Norma on that last one. Autistic people can be very literal. I got diagnosed with autism after my younger daughter was diagnosed (autism is hereditary), and my daughter would always answer with specific times whenever someone asked what time it was. For instance, it’s 4:18, instead of 4:15 or 4:20. We didn’t know when she was younger, but that’s an autistic trait. I still agree with Norma that the opposite of trust is definitely mistrust.
And I like how Dead End: Paranormal Park mixes up Norma’s affect. When she says, the opposite of trust is definitely mistrust, her voice is flat. Other times, she’s very expressive, overly so. Excellent! The montage of Norma screwing up every trust-building exercise is also excellent. Her forward trust fall had me in stitches.
This next bit ventures into spoiler territory, but who are kidding? We’ve already shared some spoilers. The team-building guru is a fear demon in disguise, and he intends to feed on the gang’s fear. While everyone else enters a nightmare realm where their greatest fears come to life, Norma’s fear world is the real world. She worries about every interaction with people. She relives every social misstep. Eventually, Norma’s rejection sensitivity overwhelms the fear demon. I love how the animation style changes when we fully enter Norma’s perspective. It’s another subtle way Dead End: Paranormal Park portrays autism. The Norma we see in the picture above may be closer to how she views the world.
And that’s how autism works. It’s another way of viewing the world. Neurodivergent brains process things differently from neurotypical brains. This is another excellent example of autism representation. This may dovetail into Norma calling her coworkers by the attractions they monitor at the park. I like how most people take offense, but Badyah leans into her nickname death slide. Badyah’s the one who sits beside Norma on the beach and comforts her; Norma may have found a kindred spirit.
Season 1, Episode 4, “Night of the Living Kids”
“Night of the Living Kids” is more of a Barney episode. We get our first look at Patrick, Barney’s younger brother, who’s having an overnight birthday party at the park. Patrick plays Pin the Tail on the Dinosaur, and when Barney recognizes him, he takes cover. After Barney says that Patrick can’t see him, Norma doesn’t get the context and replies that he has the blindfold off now, so he can see Barney. Classic Norma.
And in classic Norma fashion, she finds the one kid at the party who’s as obsessed as she is about Pauline Phoenix. Vince even outbid Norma for Pauline memorabilia on an online auction. Norma finally has someone else she can talk to about her special interest. As Norma says, Finally, an intelligent conversation. The two’s conversation sets up the mystery of Barbora (not Barbera), Pauline’s angry and athletic stunt double. The two’s convo gets interrupted by children who lost all the sleep they ever slept, hence the episode’s name “Night of the Living Kids.”
Season 1, Episode 5, “The Nightmare Before Christmas in July”
“The Nightmare Before Christmas in July” takes a break from Barney and Norma and focuses more on their demon friend, Courtney. Courtney is stuck in the mortal realm, so Barney and Norma go on a devilish game show to snag them (Courtney) a ticket home. Note: I’ll mention this in the transgender representation companion post to this one, but the demon Courtney is non-binary/gender queer in the comics, but Netflix changed their pronouns from they/them to she/her; I’ll use Courtney’s preferred pronouns of they/them.
Even though “The Nightmare Before Christmas in July” is predominantly a Courtney episode, we get a classic Norma moment during the game show. When the demon host says the next leg is a “lightning round,” Norma shouts, Trivia. Nope. Not trivia, Norma. Actual lightning.
Season 1, Episode 6, “Wait Time: 22 Minutes”
“Wait Time: 22 Minutes” gets its title from the line for the newly opened Dr. Love Ride at the park. The Dr. Love Ride has been closed since before Norma was born, and naturally, she wants to experience the ride before spoilers flood her timeline. This is in keeping with everything we’ve learned about Norma. She and Barney get separated in the line because Norma takes the employee express lane, while Barney stays in the main line with Logan, who wants to make sure the wait time sign of 20 minutes is correct. Since Barney has a crush on Logan, he texts Norma incessantly.
In classic Norma fashion, she doesn’t get why Barney is freaking out, but it’s what she says that rings true for an autistic person. Barney’s in a line with Logs, so the danger seems minimal. Lol. Often, autistic people can brave large crowds if they have at least one person they know well. Norma doesn’t get Barney’s dread because she views Logan as a safe person to brave Dr. Love’s long line. Pugsley has to spell out the awkward social implications for Norma. I love this. I wouldn’t have been able to attend Pride if I hadn’t gone with some of my safe people. And I might’ve missed the social cues of Barney’s crush on Logan.
I also love Norma’s line to Barney. I’m the socially awkward one. Stop stealing my thing. The rest of the episode’s runtime, in reality, revolves around Norma, Courtney, and Pugsley possessing Barney and taking turns trying to woo Logan. Norma asks standard questions and gets frustrated when Logan answers them out of order. He needs to answer the questions in the order they were asked. I could see an autistic person getting frustrated by this, and the lesbian couple standing by Barney (possessed by Norma) bemoan that kids these days are too literal. Yeah. That tracks for an autistic person.
Throughout the body-swapping antics, Norma remains on task. What starts as helping Barney with Logan turns into saving Barney from the in-between, a place where possessed souls go. “Wait Time: 22 Minutes” ends with Norma finally getting on the Dr. Love Ride. She begins info-dumping to Logan as the ride begins, only to have the ride shut down as she’s about to enter. Awesome!
Season 1, Episode 7, “Norma Khan: Paranormal Detective”
The title “Norma Khan: Paranormal Detective” is a bit of a misnomer. At first, Norma takes the role too seriously. Norma’s covert scene with Vince (nice call back) is over-the-top, leading Badyah to say that the two of them are more suspicious than if they faced each other. Note: Norma and Vince sit on with their backs to each other, and Vince struggles to give Norma the magazine featuring Barbora that he mentioned during “Night of the Living Kids.”
Norma is blinded by her obsession with Pauline Phoenix that she ignores all the evidence that clearly paints Pauline as the one behind the missing Pauline impersonators. Tunnel vision can occur for autistic people. I’ve been blinded by my special interests. While this tracks for an autistic person, Badyah proves to be the better “paranormal detective.” I love Norma’s detailed evidence board. The picture above is a zoomed-in segment of that board. Trust me, Norma goes into excruciating detail, making her an autistic queen.
Norma refuses to view Pauline as a threat even at the end of “Norma Khan: Paranormal Detective.” It takes Pauline Phoenix’s ghost charging at Norma before she jumps into a haunted television screen. I’m sure this will end well.
Season 1, Episode 8, “The Pauline Phoenix Experience”
“The Pauline Phoenix Experience” casts the gang in Pauline’s former roles. That’s why we get that awesome black and white picture above. Even though this episode does a lot of heavy lifting for the Dead End: Paranormal Park’s main storyline, it does reveal the depths of Norma’s Pauline Phoenix fandom. She figures out they’re in Pauline’s movies/TV shows before Barney, but plays along because it’s her dream come true. She knows the lines. She’s probably heard them millions of times and this is her time to shine.
Norma goes as far as trying to “kill” Barney because her character tries to do so in the films. Talk about commitment. But she breaks when she comes to terms that Pauline was using her and all her fans. Autistic people tend to have strong moral compasses that can be obscured through the lens of fandom. By the end of this episode, Norma breaks down, but after she mourns the loss of her idol, she’s ready to exact change.
Season 1, Episode 9, “The Phantom of the Theme Park”
Dead End: Paranormal Park is a queer version of Scooby Doo. The park is based on a drag queen. It was only a matter of time before we got a musical episode. “The Phantom of the Theme Park” takes inspiration from several musicals, but its main influence, naturally, is The Phantom of the Opera. I love this episode. The music is spot on, and the musical does a great job of forwarding the action to season one’s conclusion. While “The Phantoms of the Theme Park” doesn’t show new aspects of Norma’s for us to discuss at length, it follows through on Norma’s strong moral compass.
She sacrifices herself to be Pauline Phoenix’s new vessel and hatches a plan to end the park’s suffering. Even though the plan doesn’t go as planned, Pauline is banished, but now we have the return of Temeluchus. Uh oh!
Season 1, Episode 10, “Into the Fire”
I’ll level with you. I can’t believe I’ve gone this far without mentioning Norma’s odd speech patterns. I grew up in the South and don’t sound like it. Sure, some of this is due to my moving away from the South, but not entirely. Even while I was living in the South, folks wondered if I had a foreign accent. Norma’s odd speech pattern is spot on.
Norma takes charge during the demon invasion. She reverts to calling park employees by the attractions they monitor. Death Slide and Norma to the rescue. Demon lords Zagan and Temeluchus battle for surface world supremacy. Demonic fun ensues, but everything turns out okay in the end. The demons leave. The humans are no longer turned to stone. After Phoenix Parks returns to normal (relatively speaking), the crew discusses what to do next, unaware of someone watching them. It’s a citizen of heaven.
But that will wait until season two.
Quick Break and Thank You
Thank you for reading up to this point. You’re amazing. Since the Dead End: Paranormal Park’s first season set up its characters well, the second season explores the other planes of existence, specifically heaven, so each individual episode’s write-up should be shorter. Thanks again for reading, and let’s get back to the show.
Season 2, Episode 1, “Take the Angels Bowling”
“Take the Angels Bowling” gives us our first full look at an angel, Fingers, who is a massive hand with a face in its palm. When Fingers extends its body (a long arm stretching from heaven), it resembles Gord’s, the red-skinned demon, who looks like a worm. Coincidence?
Most of “Take the Angels Bowling” sets up the impending denizens of heaven descending on Phoenix Parks, but there are a few wonderful Norma moments. Her friend Badyah knows Norma wouldn’t want to wear used bowling shoes, so she bought her a fresh pair. That’s thoughtful. Judging from the smell and look of the loaner bowler shoes, that’s a good call by Badyah. Norma and Badyah have started a podcast about ghosts and demons. Very on brand. Norma’s more interested in setting up a podcast schedule than bowling. Also on brand. And when Badyah info dumps about the finer points of bowling, Norma asks if that’s what she sounds like to Badyah. Awesome!
Season 2, Episode 2, “Evil Twins Are People Too”
“Evil Twins Are People Too” steers into the television trope of a character having an evil twin. Barney and Norma’s twins are the worst parts of themselves, but this becomes a blessing for Norma. She fears that Badyah isn’t as into their podcast or at least as into demons as her, which is true, but after an unpleasant exchange with evil Norma, Badyah tells Norma that she does the podcast to spend time with her. Norma makes the mistake of tying her relationship (spoiler: Norma is crushing on Badyah) with Badyah’s liking or disliking her special interest. This is fantastic.
Honestly, I’ve done the same at times. Because an autistic person views their special interest as an intimate part of them, they can tie relationships (or a relationship’s depth) to these interests. I even like how long it takes Norma to realize she has feelings for Badyah. There’s a reason I often talk things out to myself. I love this inclusion.
Quick Point: Badyah mentions that Norma does all the demon sounds during their podcast. This is most likely an example of echolalia, the repetition of phrases or noises that autistic people can make. I would guess that Norma makes these noises outside the podcast.
Season 2, Episode 3, “The Trials of Barney”
“The Trials of Barney” puts Norma’s story on the back burner. Secretly, Barney joins a demonic gym and trains to become a pro wrestler in the demon league. Barney proves to be one heck of a heel, earning the respect of most demons at the arena, especially his opponent, Asmodeus. Near the end of the episode, Badyah compliments Barney and then asks if he’ll be on hers and Norma’s podcast, proving that Badyah supports Norma’s special interest (demonology) and finds some enjoyment from it. Personally, I’ve found this to be the case. One’s loved ones can’t go long hearing someone enthuse about a topic without getting invested.
Random Note: The rock song (“Fight Like a Demon Boy”) that plays during Barney’s training montage slaps.
Season 2, Episode 4, “Eat the Parents”
“Eat the Parents” features Logan meeting Barney’s parents. For this reason, Norma doesn’t feature as prominently, but we get another round of her using a hilarious, ornate voice. Maître de Norma is so over-the-top it makes Barney question what’s wrong with her. This is so on point for many autistic people. You either get zero inflection or all the inflection in the world. I also like that Norma’s dream dinner guest is what she thinks is an adorable spider skull demon. To each their own, I guess, but this shows the depths of Norma’s special interest.
And clearly, romantic comedies were an obsession for Norma at some point. She goes full army general while discussing how crucial meeting one’s parents during a Rom-Com plotline is. I love how “Get Married” goes straight to “Buy Matching Coffins” on the timeline. Norma has watched enough Rom-Coms to know that all of them end after the couple gets married.
Season 2, Episode 5, “The Ride of a Lifetime”
Hurt feelings and a lover’s spat abound in “The Ride of a Lifetime.” Norma plans to tell Badyah how she feels about her, and Pugsley sees the conversation is not going well. Pugsley spends the entire episode’s runtime trying to avoid calamity of all kinds, physical and emotional harm, but you can’t rewind time to execute the perfect world. While this episode focuses on Norma’s love life, it still manages a callback to Norma knowing how long the Ferris wheel ride lasts. Excellent!
Badyah thinks Norma wants to cut her from the podcast, so she tries to prevent Norma from talking. Badyah doesn’t know what to think when Norma tells her that she “like-likes her.” I love how Dead End: Paranormal Park handles this scene. Badyah says she thinks she’s straight, but she doesn’t think about it too much. The showrunners have said that Badyah could be queer, but she comes out in a different way. I could also see Badyah as aroace (aromantic and asexual, where you don’t tend to have a lot of romantic feelings or sexual attraction). I would’ve loved to see where Dead End: Paranormal Park chose to take Badyah’s character.
Season 2, Episode 6, “My Super Sweet 1600”
Norma spends most of “My Super Sweet 1600’s” runtime avoiding Badyah, and she doesn’t attempt to hide her Badyah aversion. This tracks for an autistic person. Many of us, including me, have a difficult time masking irritation. I love how even when Norma attempts to “act normal,” her eyes narrow to pinpricks, and it gives away her emotions.
Badyah tries to smooth things over (from her rejecting Norma’s romantic advances) by hooking up Norma and the Gazan, the demon/vampire, celebrating her Super Sweet 1600 birthday. Gazan and Norma strike a friendship, and their heart-to-heart talk helps Norma see what she needs: space. “My Super Sweet 1600” ends with Norma quitting her job at Phoenix Parks. Gasp!
Season 2, Episode 7, “All Dolled Up”
Dead End: Paranormal Park does a great job of showing many ways a person can come out (with their gender identity and/or sexual orientation) and the responses that may occur when one does. More on that in a minute, but we’re talking Norma’s autism representation right now. “All Dolled Up” gives us a window into Norma’s childhood. We spend more time in her childhood home, see that she’s taken down all her Pauline Phoenix paraphernalia, but her mom clings to the Norma she used to know, the Norma whose dream job is Phoenix Parks, and she quit.
Norma’s mom cooks Pauline pancakes. This was one of Norma’s safe foods, as she ate it every morning growing up. This is definitely an autistic thing. Even as an adult, I still have safe foods, foods I know I can turn to for their texture, flavor, or even lack of flavor. My daughter, whose autism diagnosis led to my late diagnosis, ate chicken tenders/nuggets for every meal she could. I chuckled when Norma switched from pancakes to chicken tenders. Excellent.
By this point, Norma’s personality is set. Her status as an autistic queen is secure. “All Dolled Up” gives us the revelation that Norma is bisexual. I’ve said it before, but I love Dead End: Paranormal Park’s intersectionality. Norma’s scene where she comes out to her mom is heartwarming. It differs from Barney’s, and that’s the point. This show does what it can to show the spectrum of outcomes of coming out to one’s parents. We even learn that confident Logan is not yet out to his parents.
Season 2, Episode 8, “The Other Side”
“The Other Side” shows what Barney and the rest were doing during Norma’s doll infestation from the previous episode. Norma shows up at the end, making amends with Badyah. The two are friends, but Norma needs space. Fair.
This episode sets up the main conflict for Dead End: Paranormal Park’s second season. We’re headed to heaven, floor four.
Season 2, Episode 9, “Going Up”
Before we get into spoilers–there’s little chance I can cover “Going Up” without revealing some plot points–let’s discuss some quick Normaisms. Norma already has hers and Badyah’s next four hangouts and topics of conversation scheduled in her diary. While I don’t plan my days in this much detail or that far in advance, I am writing this deep dive in June, and it’s scheduled for mid-September. Yikes! Maybe I do plan that far in advance. Autistic people do like a regimen. I also like Norma’s wonder at heaven when she first arrives. As she says, I’ve spent so much time studying demons; I didn’t think about what was going on up here. Again, tunnel vision. I wouldn’t have Norma any other way.
Now, we get into spoilers for a show that’s been around for three years. You’ve been warned. Courtney learns they’re a fallen angel. Their “horns” are a broken halo, and they’re doomed to prune the universe’s timeline of all “unwanted” branches. While bleak in nature, this plot point metaphorically plays into Dead End: Paranormal Park’s main characters in profound ways. Fallen angels (angels whose halos are broken) no longer fit what it means to be an angel, so Courtney has more in common with Norma than they may have first thought. As an autistic person, Norma doesn’t fit in with neurotypical people. We’ll go more into the Barney side with the trans representation post, but Courtney’s subjugation in heaven rings true for a lot of autistic people.
Courtney isn’t allowed to be Courtney. Their personality–or any personality–runs counter to what the heavenly society can accept. There’s a lot to unpack with heaven’s insistence that everyone must conform and follow preconceived notions. One could rewatch Dead End: Paranormal Park multiple times and find new angles. This is the mark of a great show. One final point: I love how Barney asks if he can hug Norma at the end of this episode. Barney shows Norma respect with this question; Norma doesn’t always like human contact. I’m with you, sister.
One more major spoiler: Pugsley becomes The Watcher. The Watcher is the all-powerful heavenly sorcerer who serves as watchdog for anyone who steps out of line. Pugsley loses himself behind this onion-head mask. I don’t know if this was the intent, but Pugsley is literally masking. Masking for autistic people is when one attempts to look less neurodivergent. Dead End: Paranormal Park may be geared for kids, but it has many layers.
Season 2, Episode 10, “The Watcher’s Test”
“The Watcher’s Test” does for Pugsley what “Going Up” did for Courtney. Barney and Norma’s journey can be seen through Pugsley’s. Since this is our autism representation post, we’ll focus on how Pugsley’s journey mirrors Norma’s. Again, we’ll be going through some major spoilers, but if you’ve made it this far, spoilers won’t be that big of an issue.
Heaven (not sure if the character commanding Fingers is God, but they’re certainly from heaven) commands Pugsley to become The Watcher. Heaven insists there is no other way of thinking. Any other ways of thinking are incorrect, and that’s where Pugsley’s internal battle with Fingers’ programming mirrors autism. Most of the world runs on the neurotypical’s (someone who isn’t autistic) way of thinking, hence the term, neurotypical. Pugsley doesn’t think in the same way as Fingers and their boss (or bosses). Instead of allowing Pugsley’s different way of viewing the world, heaven forcefully changes his mind.
Furthermore, Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy, a therapy often used to change autistic people’s behavior, can be compared to animal (or dog) training. I don’t know if a link with Pugsley and his heavenly training (as a metaphor for ABA therapy) was Dead End: Paranormal Park’s intention, but if it was, that’s brilliant. Even if that wasn’t the show’s intent, the world’s a better place when Pugsley’s allowed to be Pugsley, and our world could be better if accommodations were made available for autistic people instead of forcing autistic people into boxes–or onion-shaped masks.
Random Thought: The dedication to Leon Fechner (one of the show’s animators) during Dead End: Paranormal Park’s closing credits is touching. We leave season two with Pugsley wandering a plane that isn’t heaven, hell, or Earth. This pays homage to Fechner, who had slipped into a coma and died before the show was completed. Rest in peace, Leon Fechner.
Closing Thoughts
Phew! This was long. It’s even longer if you read the companion piece, Dead End: Paranormal Park’s Transgender Representation. While this show’s geared toward children, Dead End: Paranormal Park does a stellar job with autism representation. I’m not the first to cite Norma Khan as one of the best autistic characters. The show handles Norma’s autism with grace and style. I love Dead End: Paranormal Park’s intersectionality. Each character is thoughtfully layered.
If you have any other movies or television shows that depict autism that you’d like us to cover, let us know in the comments. If you’ve made it this far, you’re amazing. We all know it. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Today’s Whatcha post will be what our writers have been watching, movies and television, over the past month. We won’t be including Fantastic Four: First Steps because we have a full review of the movie. Feel free to share what you’ve been watching this past month, because we’re all part of the Geekly Gang.
Kyra’s Movies
I didn’t know what a vivarium was before watching the Vivarium film. A vivarium is a glass enclosure where someone can examine a living being. This object is a fitting name for this film. The first two films I’m including in this month’s whatcha watching have a common theme: horror films that use liminal space. Vivarium is trippy. It puts protagonists Imogen Poots (Gemma) and Jesse Eisenberg (Tom) in a suburb functioning like a vivarium, but this suburb is more sinister than an observation bowl.
The human-like otherworldly being (behind the odd suburb the humans can’t escape) drops off one of its babies and commands the pair to care for it. During a classroom scene with Gemma during the film’s opening, Vivarium establishes an analogy of a cuckoo bird, a bird that replaces a baby bird with one of its own, tricking the mother bird to care for the cuckoo’s young. The cuckoo bird analogy fits. Vivarium also serves as a cynical version of The Giving Tree, with humans replacing the tree. Quick spoiler: When Gemma asks who she is in relation to the cuckoo humanoid, the cuckoo humanoid answers, You’re here to die. Yeah. Vivarium may be more of a pessimistic version of The Giving Tree.
Overall, Vivarium was a disturbing but enjoyable watch if you’re into films with an uncanny valley aesthetic. And thank you for the nightmares of an odd child screaming at the foot of my bed. I needed that, Vivarium.
I watched Vivarium on YouTube. There’s no telling if Vivarium is still available on YT as you’re reading this. Fingers crossed.
The above image sums up Skinamarink. This horror film follows two young children in the middle of the night. Their parents aren’t at home, the house loses its doors and windows, and an other-worldly presence is in the house with them. The film uses limited lighting. In fact, there are multiple scenes where the only source of light is a television or flashlight flickering on and off. That’s Skinamarink’s premise, but I don’t think the movie upholds this premise.
The doors and windows disappear and then reappear for “reasons.” I don’t know who or what the entity is. The entity has the power to erase the older sister’s mouth and does so because she calls out for her parents, but the same entity does nothing when the four-year-old boy calls 911. While Vivarium has a tight narrative, Skinamarink is all about the vibes.
Skinamarink gave me the impression of Community’s Abed making an atmospheric horror film. The shots lingered on images for too long. The images were often nonsensical. But hey, if you want to get creeped out by some bizarre imagery for an hour and a half, Skinamarink can scratch that itch.
I watched Skinamarink on Hulu. Hopefully, it can still be found on that service.
Nimona is a Netflix original film. I won’t go into too much detail. I’m writing a transgender representation deep dive for Nimona set for a December 2025 release. Yeah. Nimona offers some fantastic gender non-conforming representation, and I can’t wait to share that deep dive with you later this year.
Nimona gives me Shrek vibes, as in I haven’t watched an animated feature as refreshing as Nimona since Shrek. Nimona exhibits great storytelling. Its characters go on a roller coaster of personal growth. Good thing it’s infinitely rewatchable because I had to rewatch Nimona a lot for the deep dive. I highly recommend Nimona. In fact, one of the things my family did for Mapa Day (July 27, 2025: Parents Day, which is also for gender non-conforming parents) was watch Nimona. It was metal.
I don’t remember too many of the shows I watched over the past month. I’m certain I watched at least a few. Oh, well. I’m sure I’ll have shows for next month. Until then, let’s see what Season and Skye have been watching.
Season’s Movies
I haven’t been watching as much anime lately, but I had the itch. The Stranger by the Shore (or L’étrangerde la Plage) is a short love story about Shun Hashimoto, a gay novelist ostracized by his family, and Mio Chibana, who lost his family at a young age. Both of them struggle to connect with people, which draws them to one another. They end up separated for a few years when Mio moves to Tokyo.
I won’t go into too much detail, but as a romance, The Stranger by the Shore was grounded in reality. Shun has moments of internalized homophobia. He rejects Mio’s advances for most of the movie before accepting himself and Mio. A lot of BL (Boys’ Love) manga and anime tend to shy away from real-world struggles people of the LGBTQ+ community face (outside of trying to not get caught). I found The Stranger by the Shore to be refreshing. And super cute.
The only reason I watched Jurassic World: Rebirth is that I love dinosaurs, and I wanted to see them on the big screen. I don’t care for the hybrids, even though they’re supposed to be the big bads of the movie. Jurassic World: Rebirth followed a similar formula to the original Jurassic Park, even down to the timing of the main theme song. The theme song played when we saw the Titanosaurs in Jurassic World: Rebirth. In the original Jurassic Park, the theme song played when we saw Brachiosaurus. They’re both sauropods. Coincidence?
We also had an evil dude (I forgot his name) run away with the blood samples and got eaten (just like Dennis Nedry). Jurassic World: Rebirth played it safe with the plot. It wasn’t a bad movie. But it wasn’t amazing, either.
Jurassic World: Rebirth claims Quetzalcoatlus was the biggest pterosaur to ever live. Geekly Gang, of these two giant pterosaurs, do you believe Quetzalcoatlus was bigger than Hatzegopteryx? I’d love to read your answers. 😀
Let’s see what Skye has been watching.
Skye’s Movies
In light of the recently released remake (alliteration; you’re welcome), I felt the need to revisit the original The Naked Gun. Simply put, The Naked Gun is still funny all these years later. I can understand why you wouldn’t want to rewatch it. O.J. Simpson’s inclusion in the film as a side character, Officer Nordberg, is off-putting. I tugged at my shirt collar when I saw him on screen. However, Nordberg’s scenes involved him getting injured in a ridiculously over-the-top way. That makes those scenes go down easier.
Chungking Express plays like a slice-of-life film that highlights the complex lives of people we pass by on the street. We don’t know them, we never will, but here’s a movie about them. That may go against the director’s intention, but that was my takeaway. The most notable thing I got from Chungking Express was the fantastic cinematography, namely the masterful one-takes, which made Chungking Express feel so much more like a glimpse into people’s lives.
I hadn’t heard of Night Moves until a couple of months ago. I thought watching Night Moves would be fitting since the recent passing of Gene Hackman. Rest in peace. Put simply, Night Moves was a roller coaster mystery. Most of the film is slow-paced and low-key, but once you get to the final half hour, boy, does Night Moves deliver. Hackman’s Harry Moseby is a private investigator tasked with locating a has-been movie star’s daughter. He’s not John Shaft, but he’s got drive. What will he discover…?
I had never seen Titanic up until this past month. I figured it was about time. Titanic’s focus is the romance between its two leads, but I got more from the side characters. The string quartet that was playing as the ship sank to lift the people’s spirits. The captain and designer of the ship being distraught and mortified at what became of their pride and joy. The heart-breaking moment when the naval officer shot himself after realizing the error of his ways. Those were Titanic’s real emotions.
Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle again. That’s all our writers have for this month’s Whatcha Watching. Feel free to share what you’ve been watching; you’re part of the Geekly Gang, too. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
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.
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.
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