Harley Quinn Movie Reportedly in Works

Suicide Squad hasn’t even made it’s theatre debut yet, but rumours have arisen of a Harley Quinn-centric movie in the works at Warner Bros., with Margot Robbie to reprise the role, as revealed by The Hollywood Reporter.

Margot Robbie, who currently holds the role in Suicide Squad, is reported to not only star as the character again, but produce as well. The movie also won’t just be a solo act – it’s rumoured to feature other female DC Comics stars, including Batgirl and Birds of Prey. Warner Bros. certainly isn’t commenting on this. The Hollywood Reporter also let on that a script is being written – it’s not confirmed who, but the writer is reportedly a woman.

With DC’s huge line up of popular and incredible heroines and villainesses, it would be one hell of a movie to present – and with it’s already large female fanbase, coupled with DC’s amazing “DC Superhero Girls” (a project involving a line of comics and products deliberately targeted to a young female fanbase, also rumoured to be partly Margot Robbie’s work) it’s an absolute no-brainer that this movie would be a massive success with Warner Bros., and fans should keep their eyes open for further news. Hopefully this isn’t an instance of too good to be true.

DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow SN1 EP15 – ‘Destiny’

When we last left our Legends, Rip had discovered, much to his chagrin, that the Head of the Time Council, Zaman Druce (Martin Donovan) is actually *gasp* in league with Vandal Savage. And so, by extension, are the rest of the Time Council. Ray, Martin, Kendra and Rory are in cells at the Vanishing point, Carter is medically out of it, and Sara and Snart are hiding somewhere in the WaveRider. Jax, meanwhile has been sent to 2016 on a one-way trip in the jumpship to reverse the aging effects of the Time Drive reboot.

The opening scene revisits the night in 2016 when Rip showed them the future that he wants to avoid, after he had forcibly rounded them all up. When they each leave to think about it (or not), Stein tries to convince Jefferson into the trip. He asks Jefferson to meet him in his office the next morning. Jefferson agrees and leaves. Future Jax asks Stein’s help to get him back to the Vanishing Point.

In the cells at the Vanishing Point Martin is dying, because he sent Jax back to 2016 to save his life. As we know, Stein and Jax must merge occasionally to keep their separate physical bodies coherent. Rory knows his worth to the Time Masters as Chronos, so he knows they will try to re-induct him. He survived his first induction by focusing on his need for vengeance against Snart and the team. Troopers enter the cell block and take Kendra away, while Rip is taken to Druce. Druce offers to release the others if Rip will help him to capture Snart and Sara. He shows Rip the invasion of the world by warlike beings from Thanagar in 2175. Apparently, without Savage uniting the world under one rule, all life is extinguished. Rip tells Druce that he is as mad as Savage if he thinks that Savage is the world’s only hope. Druce tells him that they have considered the time line carefully, and that there is no other hope. But he has something else to show Rip that may help to convince him.

Snart and Sara climb out from under the bridge floor where they have been hiding. Len wants Sara to get into the Captain’s chair and get them out of there, because he feels that the rest of the team is done for. Sara refuses. Snart pulls his cold gun on Sara. She tells him he is not the same cold-hearted bastard that she first met. She recalls how Len stopped her from killing Stein in Russia. Snart replies “Yeah, because you seemed to have a problem with being a killer. I, however, don’t.” She dares him to shoot her. Len hesitates just long enough for Gideon to contact them through the antiquated telephone sitting on the desk. Land line on a time ship, lol. Why not? She was able to upload herself into the latency core to avoid being wiped out. And she has come up with a plan.

Kendra wakes up restrained on the time ship that the Time Masters have given Savage. He tells her that Prince Khufu is on board in stasis. Savage has an appointment with destiny to keep in 2166.

Time Master Declan (Peter Bryant) has Rory strapped into the induction chair. He tells Rory that by the time they are done, temporal criminals and time pirates alike will tremble at the sound of his boot-steps. Mick retorts matter of factly “Well for your sake, you better hope that plan works, because if it doesn’t those boots are gonna crush your skull”.

Druce escorts Rip into the the ‘Holy of Holies’, the Oculus Chamber. The Oculus is the Time Master’s most powerful tool for looking into past, present and future. But it can also be used to manipulate time, as they see fit. The Captains know nothing of this tool because, well, ‘need to know’. Druce tells Rip that everything that has happened from the time he went rogue has all been according to plan. There is no such thing as free will, except here in the Vanishing Point. Rip is not convinced, as everything that he has done has been to save his family. No one controls him. Druce reveals that he and the Council ordered Savage to kill Rip’s family to spur Rip on. To give him purpose. To make him go rogue, so that he will be nudged in the correct direction. The words strike Rip like a hammer blow to the midsection. Druce invites Rip to see for himself. He makes contact with the Oculus, and sees that what Druce has said is true. Shockingly, he also sees Ray’s death. He is returned to the cells, a broken man.

In 2016, Stein and Jax are working to get the jumpship capable of getting back to the Vanishing Point. Stein is shocked that an auto mechanic knows more about it than a nuclear physicist, prompting Jax to say that he had forgotten how arrogant Stein was. Stein picks up on the past tense and, understandably concerned, wants to know what happens to him in the future. Jax, mindful of the dangers of future knowledge, can’t tell him. Stein asks who told him that, and Jax says “You did! Now why don’t you stop worrying about yourself, and get back to work instead of being an insufferable know-it-all!”.

Back in the induction chamber in the Vanishing Point, Time Master Declan apologizes for the pain of the induction. Modifications have been made, which can dig out the deepest rooted memories. Each time Rory says his name is Mick Rory he is zapped again, until finally we see something snap on Rory’s face and he tells Declan his name is Chronos. Declan orders his release and tells Chronos that he needs to hunt for Sara and Snart.
Sara and Len are busily booby-trapping the other time ships in the hangar.

In the cells, Ray is recapping their circumstance. Mick is being turned into Chronos, Stein is about to have a nuclear meltdown and the Captain thinks their future is already written. He calls them quitters, and reminds them that Sara and Len are still out there.

Sara and Snart, on the bridge of the WaveRider, are now waiting for Gideon to finish transferring herself back to the operating system and bring the time drive back online. Snart impatiently taps his pinky ring on a support. Sara wants to know why he wears it, so Len tells her that it is a souvenir of the first job that he and Rory pulled. 3 weeks of planning went south, and all he ended up with was this ring. So for him, it is a reminder that even the best laid plans can go sideways. Gideon announces that she is ready, and they strap in and pilot out of the hangar. A guard tells Druce that the WaveRider has time jumped. Druce orders all Captains to their ships to pursue. The pilots fire up their respective ships, and the booby traps kick in, which disables the ships and forces their AI’s to sing the old Captain and Tenille one-hit wonder. Off-key. Nice touch, Gideon!

Druce tells the prisoners that he has no use for them now, and orders the attendant guard to kill them. This guard tells Druce that the WaveRider has jumped to the present. The room shakes as Gideon opens fire on the Vanishing Point. Snart appears, and  knocks Druce out. A re-suited Chronos and Declan enter the cells, getting the drop on Snart. Len tells Mick to put it down. Declan tells Chronos to fire. Chronos says “sure thing”, and fires at Declan. Declan falls, and Mick says to Declan “If I recall, I made you a certain promise.” He walks over to Declan and stomps his skull. These boots were made for crushing not walking, apparently! Lol.
Len gets Stein into the med bay so that Gideon can help stabilize him. Rip tells Gideon to get them out of there, and Sara tells Gideon to punch it. And then realizes that she has perhaps overstepped. Rip is very okay with that, as Sara has proven to be quite adept at piloting the WaveRider. The Vanishing Point employs a tractor beam, Rory tries to tell them something about it, but is ignored. Rip and Ray try to disable it. They realize that they need to remotely tell it to turn off, and use Chronos’ OS to do so.

Back in 2016, Stein and Jax have completed the jump ship mods, and say their goodbyes. Stein apologizes for being an “insufferable know-it-all”, but Jax has come to learn that it is just Steins way of caring. Jax does tell Stein about the rufying, and that he will be pissed off about it, but that it will be the best decision he never made.

Back on the WaveRider, the team is discussing their next plan of action, the Oculus and the Time Masters’ manipulation of them. They try to figure out what they can do that will not be a manipulation, and decide to blow up the Oculus at the source. Snart voices his opinion. “This is madness.. I like it!” They set course for the Oculus Wellspring.

Ray has decided that since he is going to die, there is no point in keeping up with his diet, and so is gorging himself in the galley on sugary snacks. Rory joins him. He tells Ray that Time Masters do make mistakes. Ray says that he has to stop thinking about what may be part of the Time Masters’ plan, because the temporal implications are infinite. Rory agrees. “That’s why I don’t think”. He bites into a donut. Ray asks Rory how he managed to survive the induction process this time, Rory tells him that he focused on how royally screwed the team would be without him. He goes on to tell Ray that if he can survive not being turned back into Chronos, Ray can survive anything they throw at him. Then he adds “If you tell the team I actually care, I’ll shave your head!”.

Snart meanwhile is trying to apologize for holding Sara at gunpoint, but notes that he was apparently just following a script. Sara tells him that doesn’t excuse him for being a jerk. Snart agrees.  Sara feels responsible for everything she has done. Things that still keep her up at night. Snart tells her “It’s the things I didn’t do that keep me up at night. Maybe it’s being on this ship, travelling through time, I started to wonder what the future might hold for me…. And you…. And me and you”. Sara snorts “you wanna steal a kiss from me, Leonard? You better be one helluva thief!”.

Stein has been thinking about their plan. He thinks that they have a chance, however infinitesimal. He believes that the oculus is powered by a scaled down supernova contained at the bottom of the wellspring. Rip says that he and Dr. Palmer will deactivate the core containment which should create an anomalistic event. Mick looks somewhat confused, so Stein clarifies. “A very big explosion”. They exit the ship, only to be met by Druce and a platoon of Time Master Troopers, right on schedule. Rip tells him “For all your posturing, all your claims about doing what’s best for the time line, it all comes down to cold blooded murder”. Druce sneers “The difference between murder and execution is only a matter of authority. I have it. You don’t. Kill them”. The troopers are hit by laser fire from above. Jax is back! YAY! Stein and Jax merge to kick some temporal trooper ass. The three R’s enter the wellspring chamber, and Ray gets to work while Rip and Rory hold off the guards inside the chamber. Snart, Sara and Firestorm inflict major damage outside the chamber.

Flash to London, 2166. Kendra appeals to Savage to spare Rips’ wife and daughter, but Savage points out that cosmically speaking, it’s already done. He exits to keep his appointment with destiny.

Ray has removed his gloves and helmet to work on the containment more easily. Rip tells him that this is how he dies, but as long as it means that the team can work without Time Master influence, Ray accepts that. He discovers that there is a switch that needs to be held down in order to blow the containment field. He tells Rip and Rory to go. Rory knocks Ray out, and takes over holding down the failsafe. Rip shrinks Ray, puts him in his pocket and leaves. Snart wants to know where Rory is, and when Rip tells him, he races into the chamber. Rory tells him to get out of there, so Snart KO’s Rory, and takes over holding down the switch.

He tells Sara to get Rory out. Sara refuses, Snart says “just do it”. Sara plants a lingering kiss on Snart, right dead on the lips in front of God and everybody, and drags Rory and the heat and cold guns out.

Druce begs Snart to shut it down. Snart looks at him with those incredible blue eyes, and snarls “There are no strings on me”. Ka-BOOM!!

The mood is somber on the WaveRider. Ray tells Rory that Len was a hero, even though he wouldn’t want to be remembered that way. Sara tearfully agrees. Mick is in complete shock. Rip asks Gideon for a review of the timeline data, but because the Oculus has been destroyed, time is unmoored and there is no data. A review of news clippings from 2166 confirms that Rip’s wife and son are dead.

Rory, in the galley looking at Len’s pinky ring, is joined by Ray. Ray tries to comfort him, saying “From this point forward our actions are our own. We have free will. It means that Len didn’t die for nothing”. Rory tells Ray that he has killed Declan, Druce is dead and the Time Masters’ ship is destroyed, but he still feels a need to kill someone for Snart. Ray reminds him that Savage still has Kendra and Carter. Rory notes that he will do nicely.

Savage re-enters the time ship, and tells Kendra not to weep for the dead. He tells the ship to connect him with Druce, but another time master tells him that Druce is dead. “We have lost the ability to manipulate time. You are beyond our aid, Mr. Savage. We cannot help you any longer”. The Time Master continues “Without the oculus, time is unmoored, events will no longer unfold as we have seen, or as we have engineered”. Kendra laughs at Savage. “Looks like your friends have cut you loose. How long do you think you can hold onto power without them backing you up?”. Savage admits “Not long, I’m afraid. But they have provided me with a timeship. I no longer need to rule the world, Chay’ara. I now have the ability to change it.”.

Fade to black.

OMG!!! Does this mean that my favorite character will no longer be part of the team? How is that even possible? Never fear, Ledgendaires, according to writer Greg Berlanti in an interview with Deadline, the premise of time travel means that we have not seen the last of my beloved Leonard Snart. Thank all the DC gods!
Stay tuned for the Season Finale – Legendary, airing on May 19th. Teaser trailer!

Favorite Moments:

• Rory keeping his promise to Declan. Off-screen Gore, but SO satisfying!
• Rory’s growing humanity.
• Any scene involving Sara and Snart.
• Snart, Snart, and SNART!! ‘Nuff said.

Make sure to check out the rest of the Skatronixxx team’s work at Skatronixxx.com.

Once Upon a Time SN5 E22 & E23 – The 2-Part Finale

SN5E22: Only You      

Written By:  Andrew Chambliss & David H. Goodman

Directed By:  Romeo Tirone

SN5E23: An Untold Story

Written By:  Adam Horowitz & Edward Kitsis

Directed By:  Dean Wright

I’m combining the two episodes into one review.  It seems only fair since ABC combined both episodes into one finale.

I was really relieved to be able to watch this finale.  You see, when it looked like they were going to kill off Hook, I said I’d never watch the show again if they didn’t figure out a way to get him out of the Underworld.  I’m so glad they did, otherwise I’m just stubborn enough to quit watching.

After the miraculous appearance of Hook in the cemetery, I must admit that I spent this whole two hours waiting for Robin to appear out of nowhere.  Sadly, I was disappointed.  Hook was no sooner back and in Emma’s arms though, before (thanks to Gold) he was jerked from her arms and sent to the Land of Untold Stories… along with The Charmings and Zelena.

The build up was slow going.  In fact, it took them two hours to kick us in the head with an enormous OMG moment… even if I saw it coming.  When they decided to give Regina the Dr. Jekyll antidote, I knew things were gonna go South.  It’s Psych 101 that you need all three (the Id, the Ego, and the Superego) to be in balance so that you stay… well … balanced.  Now, obviously I’m a writer not Sigmund Freud so I don’t know which one the Evil Queen is, but if I had to hazard a guess, I’d go with the Superego.  But, all psycho-babble aside, I knew this was gonna go bad for Charmings & Company.  I mean, didn’t you all see it going bad when Regina and Emma had to work with Gold?

Henry was such a big part of the show in earlier seasons, but he’s been on the shelf (so to speak) for a while now.  So, it was nice to see a Henry-centric episode for the first half of the finale.  After all, he’s the “reason” we have the show to begin with, right?  He’s our starry eyed dreamer that keeps us all believing in fairy tales.  And, in this episode he got a few jaded New Yorkers to believe too.

In these episodes, we were introduced to some new characters that will obviously play a big part in Season 6… or at least the first part of it.  The whole Untold Stories arc should be interesting.  Maybe we’ll see a lot of those stories that aren’t quite fairy tales, but still legend – wait for it – dary.  Oh, and it looks like next season we’re going to get a DRAGON!  *fingers crossed*.

Call me a dreamer, but I’m still holding out hope we’ll see Robin again.

Shut up, it can happen!

Orphan Black – Clone Club Awesomness!!

We are already halfway through season 4, so why not recap what we know so far!

Season 4 of Orphan Black is proving to be the most entertaining season yet (this comment could be due to the meh nature of the first half of season 3). A lot has happened during the first 5 episodes, therefore we do need a quick recap before the release of episode 6 this week (to which I will do a more detailed review).

Needless to say beware of spoilers, but a warning is still mandatory. With that done, on with the review!!

‘Assassin’s Creed’ Movie Will Spend More Time In The Present Day

Assassin’s Creed marks Ubisoft’s first foray into the cinematic landscape, taking their unique IP and transporting it onto the big screen – with help of Michael Fassbender’s Hollywood heft of course.

Although the debut trailer for the game adaptation hit-the-net last week. Fans have been left with questions regarding how much of the big-budget action will take place in the modern day vs the films 15th century past.

In a conversation with IGN, Executive Producer Pat Crowley revealed that 65% of the movie will exist in the present day as Fassbender’s convict Callum Lynch fights the nefarious forces of The Knights Templar. The other 35% will  take place in 15th Century Spain as Lynch projects his conscience into his ancestor Aguilar, via the Animus machine familiar to fans of the long-running game franchise.

“There are certain things that we absolutely want to respect in the game,” Crowley explained, “but we also want to bring new elements to the game […] This isn’t a video game that we’re making. We’re trying to make a cinematic experience, so there are new things that we have to introduce.”

In a post Marvel Cinematic World, it is understandable that Ubisoft would need to establish the present day in the this movie given the prospect of further sequels and possible spin-off’s featuring different heroes down the line. A situation that fans are more than accustomed too nine games in.

It will however be interesting to see how the filmmakers will get the balance right when Assassin’s Creed hit theatres December 21, 2016.

For all your Film News & Reviews, stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx

Michael B. Jordan Joins ‘Black Panther’ Cast

It’s been announced that Michael B. Jordan has officially joined the cast of Marvel’s Black Panther.

Jordan, known recently for his roles in Creed and Fantastic 4 (Marvel, once again rescuing the Johnny Storms!) hasn’t revealed his role yet, but a source has mentioned it could very well be a villain character.

Black Panther, due for release in 2018, will focus on the warrior king of Wakanda and his sudden ascension to the throne, and therefore the esteemed Black Panther mantle. Introduced to Marvel audiences in Captain America: Civil War, Chadwick Boseman will return as the lead role for the standalone feature, and will also star alongside Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Black Panther, being directed by Ryan Coogler, is due for release on February 16th 2018, with production scheduled to begin in 2017.

The Originals SN3 EP21 – ‘Give ‘Em Hell Kid’

SN3 EP21: Give ‘Em Hell Kid

Written By:  Ashley Lyle & Bart Nickerson

Directed By: Jeffery G. Hunt

OK.  The Vampire Diaries let me down.  So, I was hoping for a big Originals episode to make up for it.

They did NOT let me down.

I got home late on Friday night and had to watch this episode on the trusty DVR.  So, when I hit the play button, I said “Bring it, Mikaelsons.”  And, they did.

They soooooo did.

I knew there was going to be another Civil War in New Orleans after Davina died, and the first shots were fired in this episode.  If you want to avoid spoilers, don’t read any farther!

The whole “one by friend, one by family, and one by foe” prophecy finally makes sense.  It’s all one person… or vampire.  Marcel is the friend, the foe, and the family.  At least, that’s what Freya and Elijah saw when they watched the whole prophecy trailer play out.  And after seeing that, did anyone expect Elijah to react in any way other than he did?  I didn’t…. and yet, when he pulled out Marcel’s heart, I’m sure I had the same look on my face that Marcel did.  And, so did Lucy.  I was so stunned that I didn’t even remember to hit the fast forward button to rush through the commercials.  I just kept muttering “what did I just see?”  When I finally did hit a button, it wasn’t the fast forward one… I hit rewind.  I had to watch it again to fully let it sink in.

The goodbye scene with Davina and Kol was very sweet and sad all at the same time.  Wait, I’m a writer; I can do better than that.  It was bittersweet.  Yeah, that’s the word I was looking for.

We even got a Haylijah kiss in this episode.

But the thing that got me?  The very end when we learn that Marcel drank the win10 hybrid juice!  I kept saying, “Oh this is bad… this is very, very bad”.  Just how bad is it?  On a scale of 1 to Meghan Trainor …. this is Carly Rae Jepsen.  Yeah, that’s like a Spinal Tap 11, Readers.

This episode would’ve made one hell of a season finale…but we get that next week!  And, according to the scenes…. Rebekah’s back next week!!

Hey, TVD writers…THAT’S how you do a season finale!

Vampire Diaries SN7 EP21 – ‘Gods & Monsters’

SN7 EP21:  Gods & Monsters

Written By:  Brian Young

Directed By:  Michael A. Allowitz

I have to say that I wasn’t really impressed with this episode.  As far as season finales go, this one really sucked (no pun intended).  Hold off on the public stoning though, because I have a few things to say.

After the big build up last episode, I was disappointed by this one.  This episode seemed rushed, in a hurry to tie up all the loose ends and give us a nice little bow of a finale.  The only time I was even sort of on the edge of my seat was the scene with Bonzo when the stake was just about to pierce his heart.  At that point (pun intended), I was saying “Hurry up, Damon!”

I know that I’ve made my feelings about Matt perfectly clear.  But, I think the writers have too.  Seriously, Sheriff $h!thead is just an after thought to them.  No one even wondered where he was or if he made it?  I totally get it that Damon didn’t wonder about him, but come on… Hero Stefan didn’t even ask about him.  Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!  If the writers don’t want him to be a part of the group, why  not just vote him off the island… why have him be rescued at all?  Why not just let him go with Penny?

And now to the last point… I was all psyched up for a big cliffhanger.  I seriously hope that wasn’t the writers’ idea of a cliffhanger.  They’ve left us with this ending before… just some minor differences.  But Damon and Enzo on a killing spree?  Really? That’s their idea of a cliffhanger?

It needed work.

Let the stoning commence…. if you can find me, I can take it.

Penny Dreadful SN3 EP2 – ‘Predators Far and Near’

Welcome Back Dreadfuls! Apologies for the lateness of this review. Got some hardware upgrades and had to learn how to use ‘em! I’ll bet you can all relate!  On to the show!

In Predators Far and Near, it really is all about the Predators. Namely Dorian, Lily, Ethan, Hecate and this season’s big bad – Dracula. And to a lesser degree, Inspector Rusk, Sir Malcolm and Kaetenay.

In London’s Chinatown, Dorian and Lily alight from a hansom cab, and enter a building that is serving as a theatre of sorts. The main event is the torture and butchery of a young prostitute, for the enjoyment of a circle of well to do looking men. Did I say men? No, PERVS would be a better description! As Dorian and Lily take their seats, the victim, hooded and naked, is dragged in. The Executioner and Chief Torturer chooses his tools carefully, and rips her hood off. As he goes to strike her, Dorian and Lily spring into action, killing them all thereby rescuing the girl – Justine (Jessica Barden). Lily tells Justine that she is now hers.

In the West, we come across a photographer taking proof of death pictures of victims of the train massacre in their upright coffins. Morbid, right? But historically, this was a thing. A Federal Marshall makes his feelings known about the practice with this particular group of corpses; one must assume that these victims were also Federal Marshalls. The Marshall enters the Sheriff’s office, demanding to know where his prisoner is. He introduces himself to Inspector Rusk as Federal Marshall Franklin Ostow (Sean Gilder), and tells Rusk that his services are no longer required, as the recapture of Ethan is now a federal matter. Rusk plays the Imperial card, which trumps the Marshall’s territorial jurisdiction. He tells Ostow if he doesn’t like it, he can take it up with the British Ambassador in Washington. Rusk intends to bring Ethan to heel, at which point he will be turned over to the appropriate authorities of the US government. He clearly does not feel that Ostow is one of these authorities. As Rusk struggles one-handed to light a cigarette, Ostow inquires as to whether Rusk is familiar with the territory. Rusk admits that he is not, but that his military service has taught him how to endure long stretches on horseback, and how to hunt, track and shoot from the saddle. And besides, no tracking will be required as Rusk now knows exactly where Ethan is going. He points out the Talbot Range on the map behind the Sheriff’s desk. The wolf is returning to his den. Outside of the office, a woman appears to be resting on a bench, but the woman is Hecate, and she is eavesdropping.

Vanessa enters Dr. Sewards’ office, and is greeted by Renfield. As Sewards’ previous appointment leaves, not making eye contact with anyone, Vanessa is shown in to the Dr.’s inner sanctum. Dr. Seward immediately notes that Vanessa is wearing gloves, and tells her that the gloves are merely to remind Vanessa that the itch is still there. Seward sets up a recording device, and tells Vanessa that she records her sessions and takes notes later. Vanessa is uncomfortable with this, but Seward tells her the recordings are strictly for her own use, and invites Vanessa to tell her about her first “sin”. Vanessa tells her of the seduction of Mina’s fiancée on the eve of the wedding, which lead to catastrophe, and eventually Mina’s death. Seward notes that Vanessa blames herself for this. Vanessa agrees that she does, indirectly. Seward asks her “What, directly then?” Vanessa grows extremely uncomfortable about being recorded, but Seward refuses to turn it off, and invites Vanessa to tell her story. Vanessa leans forward, and tells her that if Seward credits her story, if she believes it, she will never sleep quietly again, and asks Seward if she can believe. Seward nods, and says “Tell me”. Vanessa begins her story.

In a tea room across from Bedlam, Henry Jekyll and Victor Frankenstein are having breakfast. Here we learn that Dr. Jekyll is waiting for his father to die. He plans to use the money, estate and title to set himself up in Harley Street, in a proper lab. Jekyll is bitter about the prejudice against his ethnicity, half Indian and half white. He hates his father for leaving his Mother to die alone in India. She was tainted by taking up with his white father; untouchable, as her family had rejected her. She died of leprosy, and he notes the poetry in that. Truly untouchable. He regards his father as not being a duality of person, but as being wholly evil. This leads him to a discussion of his work in duality of person. Everyone is light and dark, angel and devil, and it is the pull between the two which energizes life. He urges Victor to eat, get his strength back, and tells him that he will help Victor with his drug addiction along the way. Victor inquires about the tour of Henry’s lab, and is told that the lab is over there. In Bedlam. As the two travel through Bedlam to Henry’s lab, we see that the inmates are kept in the vilest of conditions. Henry’s duty is to keep these people, especially the most violent, sedated and calm while they wait for the Crown to dispose of them. His lab is subterranean, near where the worst of the worst are kept. The lab is windowless, neatly organized and spacious, with a modified barber chair in the middle of the floor. The chair allows Henry to see into his subjects’ eyes, which are the mirrors of the soul. Victor is mildly upset at the thought of having to bring Lily to this awful place. He needs to know if it will bring Lily back to him. Henry assures him that it will undoubtedly make her more calm, will possibly tame the beast within her, but is not certain that they can make her love Victor again. Victor asks for a demonstration.

Back in Sewards’ office, Vanessa has tearfully finished unburdening her soul. Her story has shaken Dr. Seward up, as she finds a cigarette and lights it, noting that it is a filthy habit and that she is trying to quit. Vanessa’s appointment has taken longer than expected; Renfield knocks to let the Dr. know that her next appointment has been waiting. Seward tells Vanessa to go do something that makes her happy, and tell her about it at her next appointment. As the door closes behind Vanessa, Dr. Seward allows herself to be visibly shocked. On the street, Vanessa decides where she will go to do her homework, and the boy familiar (Sebastian Croft) follows.

In the middle of the ocean, Sir Malcolm has cabled Vanessa to let her know where he is going. He and Kaetenay discuss hunting. Kaetenay notes that hunting a man is no great thing. They are creatures of habit and will go where their needs lead, “to eat, to sleep, to fuck”. Sir Malcolm wants to know about Mr. Chandler, or Talbot as Kaetenay knows him. Kaetenay tells him that Ethan’s appetites lead elsewhere. Sir Malcolm asks “where”, Kaetenay answers “night”. Sir Malcolm asks if all of Kaetenays’ people speak so enigmatically. Kaetenay answers ‘Yes”, and goes on to tell Sir Malcolm of the story of Ethan and himself. He met Ethan when Ethan came to him with the blood of Kaetenays’ people on his face. Ethan begged him to take his scalp and wear it on his belt. But Kaetenay hated Ethan so much for what he had done that he refused because it was far crueller to keep Ethan alive. He asks Sir Malcolm if he has ever experienced that hate. Sir Malcolm, thinking of Vanessa, says that he has. But that the hate eventually turned into something else, something just as powerful. Kaetenay asks “love?”, Sir Malcolm answers “of a kind”; Kaetenay asks “like a daughter?”, Sir Malcolm answers “of a kind”. It seems Kaetenay is not the only enigmatic one! He realizes that Sir Malcolm understands, and goes about smoking a pipe of ritual herbs that will allow him entry to Ethan’s dreams.

Kaetenay appears in Ethan’s dream of overlooking a vast desert and badlands. Ethan attacks him, holds a knife to his throat and demands that Kaetenay look into his eyes. He asks Kaetenay if “they” looked into his eyes as he killed them. Kaetenay says yes. Ethan warns him that if he comes near him in life, he will take his hair and wear it on his belt. Kaetenay tells him this is a cheap Comanche trick, useful only for scaring white people, but not worthy of an Apache. Ethan protests that he is not an Apache. Kaetenay switches to the Apache tongue, and tells him that he is either an Apache or he is nothing. Ethan lets Kaetenay go. Kaetenay asks him where he is, and Ethan tells him that he is outside of Cascabel, a town on the way to the Talbot Range, where his father waits for him. Kaetenay wants to know what happens when he is brought home, and Ethan tells him that he will end it with his father, just as someday he will end it with Kaetenay. He warns Kaetenay to keep an ocean between them; but Kaetenay only says “I will see you presently, my son.” Ethan warns him that he is changed, that there is blood on his teeth and in his soul. Kaetenay tells him that then he is the Apache Kaetenay needs. Ethan wakes, and Kaetenay tells Sir Malcolm that he knows they are coming.

In the Museum of Natural History, Vanessa attends a lecture that Dr. Sweet is giving on predators. There is some flirting between the two. After the lecture, Dr. Sweet tells her that it is a tiresome part of his job, but necessary to fund the Museum’s acquisitions, and the expeditions. He does not go on these expeditions, as he claims to be not made of the same stuff as his childhood hero, Captain Nemo. She tells him that her childhood hero was Joan of Arc. Dr. Sweet goes back to work, saying good day, but not remembering her name. Vanessa reminds him. When she returns home, she looks at a newspaper and sees something that makes her smile.

At Dorian’s house, the rescued Justine wakes in a richly appointed bedroom. She hears music, and follows it to find Dorian and Lily dancing in the ballroom. Lily welcomes her home, if she is so inclined. Justine states that they killed them all, and Dorian assures her that they would have killed more. Lily adds that they will. The girl wonders why, so Lily tells her that she is dazzled by the opulence of the room, much as she herself was the first time she stood there. A feral animal, raised on the streets and forced to her knees as a girl, to service any man with “2 bob and a hard back to his hand”. She notes that there she would have stayed and died, were it not for a strange working of fate that allowed her a new life. Dorian asks Justine if she will do the same. She agrees. Dorian asks her “no matter the cost?” and she answers fiercely “BUGGER the cost!”. Lily wants to know if she will forgive the men from her past, so the girl asks her if Lily would have her do that. Lily replies “No, no! We shall have, my dear, a monumental revenge.”, and kisses Justine on the mouth.

At the Bedlam lab, the guards have brought a screaming, thrashing, animalistic man to Dr. Jekyll, and have strapped him into the chair and gagged him. Henry asks Victor for his medical opinion on the state of the man and tells him that he is a potential regicide and Jacobite. He advises Victor to never piss off a Monarch. Henry gives the man a shot that he has prepared, upon which the man has a seizure and goes limp. Henry ungags the man and asks him to greet their guest. He lifts his head, having undergone an amazing transformation both medically and mentally, and politely, lucidly and in a civilized fashion asks for a glass of water. Victor is suitably impressed.

At his office in the Museum, Dr. Sweet receives an invitation to meet Vanessa at a certain address at a certain time that evening. The address is a theatre where a projection of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is being presented with the use of new (to the times) technology.

In Dr. Sewards office, Renfield listens to Vanessa’s recordings. At a general store/saloon in Cascabel, the leader of Ethan’s captors is ordering supplies. Ethan is sitting handcuffed at a table looking out the window at the moon which is hiding behind a cloud. A Native American woman who is cleaning tables, asks Ethan what he did to be so sad and handcuffed. Ethan tells her that he killed a Senators’ son. She switches to the Apache tongue, telling him that she knows him. She is of Kaetenay’s people. Ethan, also speaking in the Apache tongue, wants to know where the old demon is. She does not know, but says that “most of the others” are on a reservation in Oklahoma Territory. She goes on to lament that the “others are cold and frozen, dead and dying, all gone”. Ethan is saddened by this news. She tells him that she would help him if she could, so he asks her to help by leaving the room right now. She pats his shoulder and says “Bless you, Son”. He responds “Thank you, Mother”. She leaves the room as Ethan’s transformation begins. He breaks free, and lays about himself killing all present. Hecate, in her witch form, detaches from the wall to help him. Hecate tells Ethan she has missed him.

After their evening at the theatre, Vanessa invites Dr. Sweet for coffee, but he declines. He thanks her for the evening, kisses her hand and vows never to forget her name again. As Vanessa turns to go home, she gets the feeling that she is being watched, but shrugs it off. However, she is being watched, by the lead familiar (Jack Greenless).

Victor is sitting outside Dorian and Lily’s house, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lily. Creeper!! She sees him, and tells him that he cannot be there, there is nothing for him there. Victor declares that where she is, he belongs, so Lily tells him to take his romance, his memories and go. Victor wants to save her from all this, one way or another, as he created, and is responsible for, her. She says that she needs no man to save her, and muses that she more created him than he did her. She tells him that he will recover from this first love, and requests that he not come back. He will not like what she is becoming.

Vanessa writes to Sir Malcolm. In her letter, she wonders if Sir Malcolm will cross paths with their lost friend, Ethan. She assures him that all is well with her, and tells him she misses him.

At the end of the episode, we find Renfield at Draculas’ lair. He tells the voice that Vanessa has told Seward her story, but doesn’t think Seward believes her. He begs for blood. Who knew that vamp blood would be every bit as addictive as modern day once-and-you’re-screwed drugs? Dracula appears, slashes his wrist, and offers it to Renfield, telling him that he will be flesh of his flesh, blood of his blood. Renfield hungrily drinks, as our viewpoint pulls back to reveal that Dracula is none other than Dr. Sweet!

Fade To Black.

Here’s a trailer for the next Penny Dreadful, airing on Sunday May 15, 2016. Enjoy! And don’t forget to follow the Skatronixxx team at Skatronixxx.com for all your pop culture needs!

Supernatural SN11 EP 21 – ‘All In The Family’

SN11 EP21:  All In The Family

Written By:  Brad Buckner & Eugenie Ross-Leming

Directed By:  Thomas J. Wright

I’ve done a little reading on social media, and I’m fully aware that there are some fans that didn’t like this episode.  Now, I can’t help but wonder what in the hell is wrong with all of you?  I mean, I understand that it’s impossible to please all the people all the time… but if anyone or thing could, it would’ve been this episode.

It had it all…. even a guest appearance by fan favorite Osric Chau (aka the Advanced Placement Prophet Kevin) and the (sort of) Redemption of Metatron.  Seriously, I would’ve never thought that I would like him (he DID kill Dean at the end of SN9).  Several of my fellow fan friends, Lucy and I have called him Metadouche since his stunning betrayal (the murder of Dean) and attempt at God -dom.  Now?  Well, he did come through for the good guys this time…and I won’t give you the details and ruin it for you.  If you’re not up to this episode yet in your watching, just know that he eventually becomes a (sort of) decent .. uh… what was he exactly at the end? …. let’s just say soul.  He was a decent soul, even if he did murder Dean… and he DID… murder Dean that is.

The moments in the first half of the episode where Chuck is trying to convince The Boys that he is, in fact, God is classic stuff.  Sam is “fanboying” and Dean is skeptical.  Sam babbling and Dean’s Single Man Tear (which actually turned out to be two tears this time… I mean, I didn’t think Jensen was capable of two tears at once).  There were moments where I said “ouch” because Chuck is good with the zingers…. “Don’t confuse me with your father” and “I never lost faith in you, even if you didn’t return the favor”… those are some hard core zingers right there.  But, I’m going to be completely honest here, Readers.  I’m a Christian, and The Boys were asking the same sort of questions that I would want to be asking God… when I meet him.

I have to admit a moment of “What the Hell?” when Dean went to meet Amara in the woods (which looked a lot like Purgatory bt-dubbs, but in color) and then we saw Sam and the Posse in Baby going on the rescue mission to beat all rescue missions.  I was lost for a second, wondering why Dean hadn’t driven Baby to the meeting.  But, then I realized… if you’re going to go all Mission Impossible then you need the best vehicle for the job.  And no doubt, Baby is the best vehicle for ANY job.

The best line of the whole thing was hard to choose.  It was a total toss up between the whole “most porn I’ve ever seen in one sitting” convo between Chuck and Dean (talking about Dean’s computer) and the first meeting between The Boys and the new prophet, Donatello.  He says his name and says “I’m named after him.”  And, of course Dean said “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?”…. that was funny even though I saw it coming.

This is one of those episodes that had so much happening that I just know it’s gonna take watching it at least half a dozen times to catch it all.  You know what I mean, right?  Because, Jensen is so very great with the facial expressions that you can read every single one of Dean’s emotions if you watch close enough.  Sometimes, there’s even … let’s call them ‘tells’ … that will hit ya hard in the feels, ya know, if you aren’t distracted by a big rescue plan.

I have to go now… I need to watch it a few more times.  Just to make sure I caught everything.  Ya know, for science and all.