By Christopher Gates on May 29, 2018 11:36 pm
The Sith that wouldn't quit.
Darth Maul only has three lines in all of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. He appears on screen for a mere six minutes. He doesn't do much more than ambush the Jedi in the desert, duel with them in the Theed Royal Palace, and die. That's it. Heck, even Boba Fett got his own animated cameo and a hard-to-get action figure to build the mystique before he was sacrificed to the sarlacc. And yet, with his distinctive facial tattoos and signature double-bladed lightsaber, Darth Maul was simply too cool--and too popular--to get rid of so easily, and die-hard Star Wars fans know that Maul's story didn't begin or end on Naboo in 1999. These days, Maul is much more than the Emperor's former right-hand man. He's a major Star Wars villain in his own right. Here's how he got that way. Be warned, though--spoilers for various Star Wars spin-offs, including a few recent ones, follow.
1. Darth Maul's fall from grace
Just in case you need a refresher: Darth Maul is Darth Sidious's apprentice in The Phantom Menace. You know the quiet fellow, a member of the horned Zabrak race, who fights against Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi in one of the series' all-time best lightsaber duels? Yeah, that guy. Unfortunately, in Episode I, Darth Maul doesn't last long. He manages to kill Qui-Gon, but before the movie ends Obi-Wan slices him in half, and the last time that we see Maul on the big screen he's careening down a reactor shaft in two separate pieces. By all indications, he looked dead, but we'd soon learn, that wasn't exactly the case.
2. A not-so-happy childhood
In order to fully understand Maul's story, you need to know how it began. Before Darth Maul served Sidious, he lived on the planet Dathomir, where he was raised by his mother, a powerful Force user named Talzin. While Talzin was originally slated to be Sidious's apprentice, the future Emperor reneged on the deal when he saw Maul's potential. Talzin never forgave him. Sidious kidnapped Maul and began to train him, while Talzin became Mother of the Nightsisters, an order of Force-wielding witches (and a big part of The Clone Wars animated series) and had two more sons, Feral and Savage Opress.
3. From Sith lord to junk lord
If Anakin Skywalker can survive a fall into molten lava, a minor injury like getting cut in half shouldn't be a problem for a Sith like Maul. It wasn't. The compendium Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know tells us that, as he fell, Maul used the Force to grab onto an air shaft, made his way to a dumpster, and ended up on a trash planet called Lotho Minor. He lived there for ten years, scuttling around on mechanical spider legs and preying on the local citizenry.
4. Mommy makes it all better
As the Clone Wars raged on, Savage Opress went looking for his brother. In the Clone Wars episode "Brothers," Savage finds him. By the time that Savage shows up, however, Maul is half-crazed and doesn't know his own name (Obi-Wan's, of course, he remembers just fine). Opress takes Maul back to Dathomir, and in the episode "Revenge," Mother Talzin restores Maul's mind, gives him some new robot legs, and sends him out to find Obi-Wan and exact his revenge.
5. The (other) revenge of the Sith
After naming Savage his apprentice, Maul embarks on an interstellar road trip, causing mayhem around the galaxy in an attempt to get Obi-Wan's attention. Along the way, Maul also puts together a small army of pirates, creating his own cartel. By the time that the Clone Wars episode "Revival" ends, however, things aren't looking quite so rosy for the Zabrak siblings: During a fight against Obi-Wan, Savage loses his arm and Maul loses a leg, their pirate allies betray them (because, duh, they're pirates), and both brothers end up stranded on an escape pod with dangerously little oxygen.
6. Some unexpected allies
In the Clone Wars episode "Eminence," help arrives in the form of some disgraced Mandalorians (i.e. the people who made Boba Fett's cool-looking armor) who call themselves the Death Watch. After the Death Watch heals him and his brother, Maul offers to help the Mandalorians retake their home planet. If common enemies like Obi-Wan, Count Dooku, and Darth Sidious die along the way? All the better.
7. A criminal enterprise, take two
Conquering a planet requires more than just a couple Mandalorians, however. Maul needs an army. Thankfully, he knows just where to find one. Using his natural charm and a wee bit of violence, Maul combines the Black Sun, Pyke, and Hutt cartels into a single syndicate and calls it the Shadow Collective. After liberating Mandalore, Maul says, he'll lord over a new criminal empire with help from both his gangsters and his Death Watch allies.
8. How to conquer a planet, the Darth Maul way
In "Shades of Reason," Maul and his army of thugs attack Mandalore, undermining the current ruler's authority. It works, and soon the Death Watch leader Pre Vizsla rules the planet. That's when things get messy. Vizsla betrays Maul and sends him to prison, but Maul escapes and kills Vizsla with the Darksaber, an energy blade that traditionally belongs to the Death Watch's head honcho. Maul claims the Darksaber for his own and installs a puppet government on Mandalore, establishing a home base that the Shadow Collective can use as it grows and conquers.
9. Maul finally gets Obi-Wan's attention--and someone else's
Obi-Wan Kenobi heads to Mandalore to save the planet's rightful ruler (and his would-be girlfriend), Duchess Satine Kryze, in "Lawless." As far as rescue missions go, it's a bust. Maul makes Obi-Wan watch as he uses the Darksaber to kill Satine, then sentences the Jedi to life in prison. Rogue members of the Death Watch help Obi-Wan escape, however, while Maul's continued reign of terror ends up attracting the attention of his old master, Darth Sidious. The Darth travels to Mandalore and murders Savage Opress but doesn't kill Maul; as Sidious explains, he has other plans for his former apprentice.
10. Maul vs. Dooku, round one
The Clone Wars didn't get a chance to finish its Maul arc, so the show's producers decided to fill in the blanks with a comic book series. In Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir, Darth Sidious reveals that he plans to use Maul to lure Mother Talzin out of the shadows, while Sidious' new apprentice, Count Dooku, wants to take over the Shadow Collective. Over the course of the miniseries, Maul escapes captivity and defeats Dooku, but before Maul can convince the count to abandon Sidious and join him, the Republic attacks. Dooku and Maul team up to beat their common foe, but must flee after they're outmatched by a Jedi strike team.
11. The end of the Shadow Collective
In Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir #4, Maul takes Dooku to Dathomir to meet Talzin, just like Darth Sidious planned. As Separatist forces bombard the Nightsisters' homeworld, Maul faces off against Sidious. It doesn't end well. During the conflict, Mother Talzin dies and the Shadow Collective suffers heavy losses. Unwilling to make more sacrifices to support Maul's personal vendettas, the heads of the galaxy's crime families terminate their alliance. With the Shadow Collective in shambles and Dathomir in the hands of the Separatists, Maul retreats to Mandalore.
12. Mandalore lost
Maul remains ruler of Mandalore until the very last day of the Clone Wars, when he's beaten by Anakin Skywalker's former apprentice, Ahsoka Tano. In the novel Ahsoka, the fan-favorite character reflects on the battle: during the siege of Mandalore, the Republic forces have Maul dead-to-rights, but Ahsoka must decide between rescuing her friend, the clone trooper Rex, and finishing Darth Maul off for good. She chooses Rex, and in the confusion, Maul escapes. Warning: If you want to avoid Solo: A Star Wars Story spoilers, skip the next slide!
13. Third time's the charm?
The loss of Mandalore and the rise of the Empire doesn't end Maul's unlawful ambitions. While most of the story has yet to be told, by the time that Solo happens (around ten years before Episode IV: A New Hope), Maul is running his third criminal enterprise, the mysterious Crimson Dawn. Using his previous experience as head of the Shadow Collective, Maul runs Crimson Dawn from his hideout on Dathomir, while the gangster Dryden Vos serves as the syndicate's public face.
14. You know what they say about "all good things…"
We don't know how Maul's time with Crimson Dawn comes to a close, but we know that it does eventually. In Star Wars Rebels' second season, the Ghost's crew finds Maul on Malachor, where he's searching for an ancient Sith superweapon. In season 3, Maul uses Rebels' Jedi-in-training Ezra Bridger to track Obi-Wan Kenobi to Tatooine. There, Maul confronts Kenobi one final time, giving Obi-Wan the chance to finish the job that he started 30 years earlier. He takes it, and Maul's story comes to an end.
By Kevin Wong on May 29, 2018 11:00 pm
The 1990s were a period of change for WWE; it included the fall of the Golden Age, the rise and fall of the New Generation Era, and the rise of the Attitude Era. In the space of a decade, WWE drew both its biggest and its lowest television ratings. For ten years, WWE went through several rosters worth of talent in search of the next big star. And though the company eventually hit paydirt with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, it wasn't for lack of trying, as this gallery attests. Here are 7 WWE wrestlers from the '90s who never made it big. They may have had a respectable career before or after their tenures "up north." But they never received their proper due in professional wrestling's biggest promotion. If you liked this gallery, check out our gallery of Wrestlers From The '00s Who Never Made It Big and our true/false analysis of WWE Urban Legends. And be sure to visit Gamespot Universe in the coming weeks. We will have full coverage of WWE's Money in the Bank PPV on June 17.
Hakushi
In today's WWE, Hakushi would have been a top midcarder. The White Angel possessed hard-hitting moves, a high flying style, and a serene countenance, which juxtaposed him with every loudmouth on the roster. Hakushi also decorated his body with rows of "tattoos" running up and down his face, chest, and body. It was eye-popping, and it must have taken eons to apply backstage. Hakushi debuted as a heel, and during his one major feud--against Bret Hart--he accused the Hitman of making racist remarks about the Japanese. When he turned babyface shortly afterward, WWE didn't know how to utilize Hakushi's quiet menace, so they paired him with Barry Horowitz as a comedic duo. After being "branded" by Bradshaw, Hakushi "quit" WWE out of shame. He didn't win a single WWE title during his run, though he would subsequently have a long career in various Japanese promotions.
Adam Bomb
Adam Bomb was a nuclear meltdown survivor from 3-Mile Island. He was a 6'9", 300 pounder who could hustle. He was a believable asskicker with great fundamentals; what he lacked in artistry he made up for with intensity. He also had a memorable entrance; the lights went out, and a green, mushroom-shaped cloud would explode over the ring. For years, he bounced around the midcard; he was popular with fans, even though he never won a WWE title. But then, according to Adam Bomb, he was lied to by Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco, who told him that he would get a run with the Intercontinental Championship after King of the Ring (1995). When the opportunity never materialized, he headed for WCW.
Waylon Mercy
This character was subversive and ahead of its time. Ring veteran Dan Spivey played Waylon Mercy, a genteel, polite man who liked to shake his opponent's hand before the match. When the bell rang, however, Mercy became an unhinged, bug-eyed psychopath, who cinched in life-threatening sleeper holds for way too long. Spivey loosely based the Mercy character on Max Cady, the deadly villain from Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear. Unfortunately, Spivey was at the end of a long career. He only wrestled in WWE for several months before he was forced to retire due to injuries. Bonus trivia: Spivey inspired Bray Wyatt to create his backwoods cult character. If you compare Mercy and Wyatt's promos side-by-side, the similarities become even more obvious.
Duke Droese
This is an example of how gimmicks can go horribly wrong. Duke Droese was a big man with great tools, a showy finisher (tilt-a-whirl power slam), and a ton of charisma. The only problem was his gimmick; he was a garbage man who entered the ring to the sounds of a truck's warning signals. He never held a WWE title, but Droese made the most out of his lower card spot. He was a mainstay on WWE Superstars, where he got a consistent, positive response from WWE audiences. He even had a catchphrase; he hollered, "Time to take out the trash" right before delivering his finisher, which he dubbed the Trash Compactor. His most significant moment was actually a loss, he put over Triple H at In Your House 6 (1996) before leaving WWE that same year--the result of mounting physical injuries.
Tatanka
Tatanka was a natural babyface. He was a "proud Native American" (for real; he was a member of the Lumbee tribe) and he remained undefeated for close to two years. He sold a ton of merchandise; kids bought those foam tomahawks by the boatload. But that entire time, Tatanka never won a WWE title. It's been rumored that he was supposed to win the Intercontinental Championship from Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania, but Tatanka won by countout, which meant that the title didn't change hands. Tatanka would later turn heel and join the Million Dollar Corporation, which prevented him from doing his war dance, his air chop, and all the other signature moves that fans loved. He left WWE in 1996, and unlike many of his contemporaries, he declined an offer to join WCW, citing family issues.
Lex Luger
Prior to his stint in WWE, Luger was a decorated multi-time champion in WCW. He debuted in WWE in 1993 as the Narcissist, who posed in front of a full-length mirror before taking on his opponents. But he soon transitioned into being an All-American good guy, complete with red, white, and blue gear. The way Luger was booked and featured, most onlookers assumed he was WWE's new main eventer. Fans considered it a foregone conclusion that he would defeat Yokozuna at SummerSlam (1993) to win the WWE title. And although Luger did beat Yokozuna at the big event, it was by countout, so the title never switched hands. The "win" killed Luger's momentum. He later tagged with the British Bulldog as The Allied Powers, and though he was a fan favorite, his world title contention days were behind him. Luger returned to WCW in 1995. For the two years he spent "up north," he never won a single WWE title.
Doink The Clown (Matt Borne)
Most casual WWE fans know about the "good guy" version of Doink the Clown. For the majority of his existence, the Doink character has been a silly diversion--a good-natured entertainer who, along with partner-in-crime Dink, played good-natured pranks on his opponents. That's not the Doink we're talking about. The original Doink was portrayed by wrestler Matt Borne, who played the character as an evil, angry clown. His entrance music was filled with creepy, off-kilter laughter. Borne's Doink was more Joker than Bozo; the WWE cameramen always panned to the little kids in the audience, who were invariably terrified. Evil Doink didn't last very long. WWE turned Doink face after less than a year, and shortly afterward, the company fired Matt Borne for drug abuse. Ray Apollo then took over the role, and Doink became the kid-friendly mischief-maker he's now known as. Multiple people have portrayed Doink over the decades, but never with the sinister undertones that Borne brought to the role.
By Array on May 29, 2018 10:38 pm
We're now nearly halfway through 2018, and the year has already seen some great TV shows, including Westworld, Altered Carbon, The End of the F***ing World, Black Lightning, Everything Sucks, and the return of Jessica Jones. But there's loads more to come. While fans will have to wait until 2019 before we get more Stranger Things and Game of Thrones, there are still a ton of small screen goodies worth getting excited about. There's the return of some of 2017's best shows (Mindhunter, Ozark, Black Mirror), more offerings from Marvel and DC, some lavish reworkings of classic sci-fi and horror properties, and a handful of intriguing new titles. So here's the biggest TV shows to watch over the rest of the year...
Cloak and Dagger
Freeform, June 7 On the fact of it, the upcoming Marvel show Cloak and Dagger seems similar to Hulu's own Marvel series Runaways--runaway teens coming to terms with their emerging superpowers. But Cloak and Dagger, based on the popular '80s comic book, should make for a more darker and emotional ride. Aubrey Joseph and Olivia Holt play two kids who are living on the streets of New York, using their control over darkness and light to fight a drug epidemic sweeping the city.
Glow Season 2
Netflix, June 19 The comedy drama centered around an '80s all-female wrestling cable show was one of Netflix's most acclaimed new series last year, and it's back for a second season in June. Like Season 1, Glow will consist of ten 30-minutes episodes. All the main cast return, including Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Sydelle Noel, Kate Nash, and Britney Young, with comedian Marc Maron playing their grumpy manager Sam. The first teaser was a glorious '80s music video pastiche, and it sets the tone for what should be another wildly entertaining season.
Marvel's Luke Cage/Daredevil
Netflix, June 22 (Luke Cage) Iron Fist and The Defenders may have cracked the impeccable partnership Netflix cemented with Marvel but that doesn't mean all hope is lost with the comic book giant's street level heroes. While Frank Castle came in to disrupt Marvel's small screen universe, it's clear that Daredevil and Luke Cage still have more work to do.
Preacher season 3
AMC, June 24 This adaptation of Garth Ennis's cult comic book has proved something of a mixed bag over the past two season; as Gamespot's reviewer Michael Rougeau said back in September, the show is "flashes of brilliance dragged down by hours of plodding distraction." But it's proved popular enough for AMC to greenlight a third season, and when Preacher is good, it's very good indeed. This season will see the show's trio of misfits--preacher-turned-criminal Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), outlaw Tulpi (Ruth Negga), and vampire Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun)--on the trail of God, who has gone missing from heaven. Their quest leads Jesse back to the a place he has spent his whole life avoiding: the Louisiana Plantation where he was raised.
Heathers
Paramount, July 25 Heathers is the classic 1989 high school satire; it established Winona Ryder and Christian Slater as two of the biggest young stars of that era, and they went on to influence many high school movies in the following years. Three decades later, there's a TV adaptation of the '89 film on the way, in which "good girl" Veronica Sawyer attempts to navigate school life and deal with a vicious group of girls, all named Heather. The show features 10 hour-long episodes, and the cast includes Shannen Doherty, who played the lead Heather in the original movie.
Castle Rock
Hulu, July 25 The Stephen King renaissance has shown no sign of slowing down and with Castle Rock, Hulu's aiming to bring the author's story universe to the small-screen. The program's cast features names like Sissy Spacek, Bill Skarsgard, and Melanie Lynskey. But what makes Castle Rock so special is the connected nature of the anthology series itself. Fans should expect to see familiar stories, characters, and themes that originated in the author's previous works. There may be a decent wait before Pennywise the Dancing Clown returns to the big-screen, but that's okay. We're about to head back into Shawshank Prison, and that's pretty dang cool.
Sharp Objects
June, HBO The HBO drama is inspired by Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name. The series stars Amy Adams as a journalist who heads home after a stint in a psychiatric facility, only to find herself investigating the murder of two girls. If you take the tone and subject matter of Flynn's previous work (Gone Girl) and add Jean-Marc Vallee's (Big Little Lies) directorial skills into the mix, it's easy to see Sharp Objects' edgy allure.
Jack Ryan
Amazon, August 31 Tom Clancy's CIA analyst Jack Ryan has been portrayed by almost as many actors as James Bond, in a much shorter space of time; John Krasinski will be the fifth star to play the character since 1990. According to director Daniel Sackheim, this new 10-part TV adaptation of Clancy's best-selling spy novels will take Harrison Ford's more down-to-earth interpretation as the basis for the character, rather than the more heroic version played by Ben Affleck and Chris Pine. And of course, Krasinski is now the director and star of one of the year's biggest movies--A Quiet Place--ensuring that Jack Ryan will get plenty of attention when it premieres in August.
Doctor Who Season 11
BBC, October It's always exciting when a new actor takes on the role as the iconic Timelord, but the debut of the thirteenth doctor this October is a really big deal. Jodie Whittaker replaces Peter Capaldi and is the first woman to play the Doctor. Whittaker had a brief appearance at the end of the recent Christmas Special, but fans will have to wait until October to see how her portrayal differs from previous incarnations. There's a new showrunner too, as Broadchurch's Chris Chibnall succeeds Steven Moffat. Finally, the Doctor's assistant is to be played by comedian Bradley Walsh.
The Walking Dead Season 9
AMC, Fall While much has been written about The Walking Dead's falling ratings, it remains a hugely popular show, so don't expect it to go anywhere any time soon. The zombie drama returns later this year for its ninth season under new showrunner Angela Kang. Her predecessor Scott Gimple remains involved as AMC's chief content officer, and last month, he told Variety that Season 9 would see the show "evolve in a huge way." Could this mean the two-year time jump that occurred at the same point in the comic books? We'll find out in the fall.
Nightflyers
Syfy Long before he created the world of Game of Thrones, author George RR Martin wrote the short novel Nightflyers, a sci-fi horror story about a group of scientists who embark on a mission into deepest space to make contact with alien life. The story was adapted into a movie in 1987 and has now been turned into a new TV show by SyFy. This is one of the network's biggest productions to date, and the first trailer suggests that it will be as much a horror story as a space adventure. Boardwalk Empire's Gretchen Mol stars.
The Purge
Syfy The Purge is one of the most successful horror franchises of recent years--the three movies to date have made more than $319 million worldwide on modest budgets, and the fourth movie is set to hit theatres in July. But if that weren't enough, there's also a 10-episode TV show on the way. It's being produced for Syfy and will be overseen by franchise creator James DeMonaco, who also wrote and directed the first three films. It's set once more in a dystopian future where the annual Purge allows citizens to get all their violent, criminal impulses out, and according to early reports, will focus on a Marine who returns home to protect his sister on Purge Night. There's no premiere date yet, but it was recently announced The People v. O. J. Simpson director Anthony Hemingway will helm the first episode, so there's a good chance we might see it before the year is out.
Maniac
Netflix Maniac will probably be one of the weirder series of the year. Given the names attached, though, the show comes with huge buzz. Cary Fukunaga helms the dark comedy, which stars Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, and Justin Theroux. The story centers on a patient living in a psychiatric hospital who escapes reality by living his life inside a fantasy world maintained solely inside his own mind. It sounds bonkers, but if Fukunaga brings the same sensibilities he brought to True Detective, the network may have a winner on its hands.
Titans
DC Universe While the quality of DC's movie output has been variable (to say the least), its roster of TV shows remains remarkably consistent. Titans is the latest addition. A live-action version of the Teen Titans, it's been in development since 2014, but shifting channels and cancelled pilots has meant very slow progress to the screen. But it is finally set to premiere in 2018, on DC's new digital service. Australian actor Brenton Thwaites (Gods of Egypt, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) plays Dick Grayson/Robin, leading a team of young superheroes that includes Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Netflix The Coen Brothers are coming to TV. That sentence alone should get people excited. The duo--who brought classics like Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and No Country for Old Men to the big screen--will both write and direct a new western anthology series for Netflix. The six episode program will star Tim Blake Nelson, with each episode following a different character and story. Not much else has been announced regarding the series, but that's fine. The Coen Brothers are coming to TV and that's pretty awesome.
The Umbrella Academy
Netflix A comic book property outside of Marvel's purview is on its way to Netflix. The Umbrella Academy comes from the mind of My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way. The series tells the story of some not-pregnant women who suddenly give birth to a bunch of superpowered babies. Taking place in an alternate timeline--one where JFK is still very much alive--the story follows seven kids as they undergo training to save the world. Ellen Page has been tapped to star in the program, and Way will serve as producer.
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Amazon The classic 1975 movie Picnic at Hanging Rock is one of the most distinctive movies of that decade; it's a haunting, dreamlike drama about the mysterious disappearance of a group of Australian schoolgirls while on a trip to the Outback in 1900. Amazon is bringing a new version to the small screen later this year, and the first trailer suggests it will expand on the story of the original while keeping its super-creepy vibe. It stars Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell from Game of Thrones) as the school's headmistress, and the cast also features Orange is the New Black's Yael Stone and Samara Weaving, who starred in last year's Netflix horror comedy The Babysitter.
The Twilight Zone
CBS: All Access Since anthology TV shows are all the rage now, it seems only right that the granddaddy that started it all come out of retirement. Jordan Peele (Get Out, Key and Peele) and Simon Kinberg (Deadpool, Logan) have teamed up to bring a new Twilight Zone to the masses. Sure, multiple versions of The Twilight Zone have graced the big and small screen over the past 60 years--some better than others--but now seems like the perfect time for the series to return.
Ozark, Season 2
Netflix When Ozark premiered last year, many compared it to Breaking Bad, both in terms of its plot (an ordinary family man who chooses a life of crime) and its mix of violent thrills and dark humor. But the show quickly grew into its own thing and emerged as one of 2017's most enjoyable original series. Season 2 already has a teaser and has been shooting since last fall, so there's a good chance of it arriving in 2018. Jason Bateman returns as money-laundering dad Marty Byrde, with Laura Linney as his estranged but equally duplicitous wife Wendy. As Bateman says: "It's a good escalation of everything as far: danger, the business challenges, and--domestically--our relationship."
Better Call Saul, Season 4
AMC Better Call Saul began life as a spin-off prequel of Breaking Bad but has become a great show in its own right. The series is slowly heading to the point at which we first meet Jimmy McGill in Breaking Bad--he's now using the name Saul Goodman, and an increasing number of characters from the original show have made appearance over the past two seasons. But ultimately, Better Call Saul is about the bitter rivalry between two brothers, namely Jimmy, played by Bob Odenkirk, and Michael McKeen's Chuck. There's no premiere date yet, but production started in January, so expect it before the end of the year.
The Haunting of Hill House
Netflix Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Gerald's Game) is one of the best horror directors working today, and 2018 will see him turn his talents to TV. Produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin TV, this is an adaptation of Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel, which was also turned into the classic 1963 movie The Haunting (the less said about the 1999 remake the better). Annabeth Gish (Sons of Anarchy, The West Wing) stars as Mrs. Dudley, the caretaker of a haunted estate, with roles for Timothy Hutton (All the Money in the World) and Gerald's Game's Carla Gugino. Flanagan has written and directed the whole 10-part series, and this could be one of the year's great horror shows.
Luther, Series 5
BBC Fans of Luther were both excited and dismayed when the series returned for a two-episode fourth season in 2015. With a busy actor like Idris Elba playing the title role, sometimes schedules can be tight. That said, it looks like Elba has donned his signature tweed coat for another go-round as brilliant detective John Luther. We don't know what sort of gruesome crimes he will be investigating, but one thing is for certain: Idris Elba is at his best when the world is at its worst. Right now, John Luther is the hero we need and deserve.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Netflix Channeling the success of Riverdale, another Archie Comics story was in the works at The CW. But due to their concern of having too many witch shows--the network's Charmed reboot is still on the horizon--the untitled Sabrina the Teenage Witch series was handed over to Netflix. The series will explore the origins of the half-witch, half-mortal as she battles the evil forces that threaten her friends and family. Tonally, Deadline describes the series as being "in the vein of Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist."
Mindhunter Season 2
Netflix This is another Netflix show without a confirmed release date, but star Jonathan Groff has said that the second season of the period crime thriller is to start shooting early this year, so a late 2018 premiere is possible. The first season of Mindhunter showed that producer David Fincher was just at home with small-screen serial killer thrills as he is in movies such as Zodiac and Seven. The balance between a seriously dark crime procedural and a beautifully performed, character-driven drama was exceptional, so hopes are extremely high for Season 2.
Black Mirror, Season 5
Netflix Netflix has confirmed that Charlie Brooker's hugely acclaimed sci-fi anthology series will return for a fifth season. While the streaming giant is yet to announce a release date, the previous two seasons arrived a year apart, so there's good chance we might see Black Mirror Season 5 before the end of the year. Season 4 was the strongest season to date, so expect the next one to deliver more disturbing but darkly funny predictions about the way technology continues to shape our lives. Can't wait.
By Christopher Gates on May 29, 2018 10:13 pm
Buckle up.
Han Solo's nothing without his ride. Oh, sure, Han's happy to take all the credit, but it's the Millennium Falcon that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs, not its owner. When Luke and Obi-Wan stumbled into the Mos Eisley cantina, they were looking for a ship, not a pilot. When the Falcon laid waste to the second Death Star, Han wasn't even on board. He was busy tangling with Ewoks and Stormtroopers while his ship saved the galaxy. In fact, by the time Han took control of the Star Wars universe's most famous YT-1300 light freighter, the Falcon was already half a century old, and had survived more adventures than Han could imagine. As far as we can tell, here's the definitive list of everyone who's sat in the Falcon's pilot's seat--for now, anyway. If history is any indication, the ship will change owners many more times before it's done.
1. Corell Industries Limited
60 years before The Millennium Falcon saved the galaxy (the first time), it was just a regular commercial freighter. According to James Luceno's novel, the aptly named Millennium Falcon, the cargo hauler began as just one piece of Corell Industries Limited's sprawling 8,000 ship fleet, and quickly gained a reputation for being both incredibly fast and frustratingly finicky. Different pilots gave it different names based on how much they appreciated it -- or how much they didn't. For example, the fella who named the ship Corell's Pride must've liked it. The ones who called it the Fickle Flyer or Meetyl's Misery? Eh, not so much. Image: The Essential Guide to Warfare, reference book from Del Rey, 2012
2. Kal and Dova Brigger
After the unscrupulous Trade Federation drove Corell Industries out of business, siblings Kal and Dova Brigger picked up the YT-1300, renamed it Hardwired, and used it to take over Corell Industries' shipping routes. As Luceno's tale goes on, Brigger's business quickly took a turn towards the dark side, however, and they'd ran afoul of smugglers. Dova was captured and executed, while Kal fled. Kal renamed the ship the Wayward Son and tried to go straight, but he just couldn't stay out of trouble. Before long, Kal found himself working with the Stark Commercial Combine, a loose confederation of pirates, bounty hunters, and other ne'er-do-wells. He didn't last. During one mission, the Galactic Republic unleashed hoard of carnivorous insects on the planet where Kal was hiding. The poor man was eaten alive, leaving the Wayward Son adrift and ownerless. Image: Fly Casual, RPG sourcebook from Fantasy Flight Games
3. Plo Koon
15 years later, the YT-1300 made its way into the hands of a shipping company called the Republic Group that was actually a front for a group of politicians who opposed Chancellor Palpatine's increasingly authoritarian regime. Under the Republic Group's stewardship, the ship was rechristened the Stellar Envoy, flew many clandestine missions to help restore the crumbling Republic, and had a handful of different pilots. In Millennium Falcon, a long lost photograph indicates that no less than Jedi Master Plo Koon himself once sat behind the Envoy's pilot seat.
4. Tobb Jadak
Former swoop racer Tobb Jadak never officially owned the Envoy, but he might as well have. For about a decade, the Republic Group paid Jadak and his best friend, Reeze Duurmun, to take care of The Stellar Envoy, maintaining the freighter and flying it on missions as necessary. After 10 years of service, Jadak and Duurmann hoped to purchase the Envoy for themselves, but they weren't so lucky. While embarking on a top-secret delivery run at the very, very end of the Clone Wars, the Envoy crashed into a ship above the so-called "smuggler's moon," Nar Shaddaa. Duurmun lost his life, Jadak fell into a coma, and the Envoy was abandoned in space (Jadak woke up sixty years later, and went on to serve as Millennium Falcon's co-lead). Image: Promo art for Suns of Fortune, RPG sourcebook from Fantasy Flight Games
5. Rej Taunt
The Stellar Envoy wasn't floating around Nar Shaddaa for long. As Luceno tells the story, Rej Taunt, an up-and-coming crime lord stationed on Nar Shaddaa, hired a mechanic to salvage the vessel and fix it up. Unfortunately, for Taunt, the newly rechristened Second Chance didn't last for more than a single mission. A combination of illegal buzz droids, a surprise Imperial patrol, and a deal gone horribly bad landed Taunt in prison, while the Second Chance was relocated to an Imperial shipyard. Image: Star Wars #10, Marvel Comics, 2015
6. Zenn Bien
Years later, a Rebel operative named Quip Fargil hired a Sullstan smuggler named Zenn Bien to help with an important mission: With aid from an Imperial turncoat, Bien helped Fargil steal the impounded YT-1300 cruiser. According to Millennium Falcon, Bien and Fargil were going to dismantle the ship and sell it for parts, but after Bien liberated the freighter, Fargil revealed that he had other goals in mind. After renaming the ship Gone to Pieces, Fargil used the YT-1300 as bait, launching a mission to steal a hyperdrive from an Imperial cruiser. Bien went along reluctantly, and the heist was successful. Bien received a tidy sum for her efforts, while Fargil took the Gone to Pieces to the Rebels. Image: The New Essential Guide to Alien Species, reference book from Del Rey, 2006
7. Quip Fargil
A full decade before Han joined the Rebel Alliance, his ship was already there. It was Quip Fargil who named the freighter the Millennium Falcon, and he spent 10 months using the modified YT-1300 to give the Empire a bad time. When Rebel command sent Fargil on a suicide mission, however, the pilot couldn't bring himself to follow through. Sacrificing his own life wasn't a problem, of course, but Quip loved the Falcon too much to destroy it. Despite the high stakes, Fargil bailed at the last minute, and spent the rest of his days plagued by guilt. To help ease his conscience, Fargil donated the Falcon to a doctor named Parlay Thorp and retired. By the time that Han Solo tracks him down in Millennium Falcon's second half, Quip has settled down under an assumed name, although he's never forgotten the ship that ended his Rebel career. Image: Stay on Target, RPG sourcebook from Fantasy Flight Games
8. Parlay Thorp
Under Dr. Parlay Thorp's ownership, the Falcon went from a warship to a medical vessel. While the doctor toured the galaxy helping those in need, Thorp discovered that she suffered from a fatal medical condition that was only kept at bay by the planet Hijadoan's mysterious life-preserving qualities. Thorp decided to stay on Hijadoan until she could discover a cure, and with her options limited, sold the Falcon to a traveling circus. Image: Star Wars Insider #83
9. Vistal Purn
Technically, while the Falcon was under the purview of Molpol's Traveling Circus, it was controlled by Molpol's owner, Dax Doogan. For all intents and purposes, Vistal Purn was its real master. According to Luceno, Purn handled all of the ship's repairs (including installing its first dejarik, or holo-chess, table) and served as its pilot, helping shuttle Doogan and various supplies between the circus's gigs. When the circus was attacked by Black Sun pirates, Purn used the Falcon to save the bulk of Molpol's menagerie, winning the heart of the circus's star performer, Sari Danzer, in the process. Purn ended up living in married bliss, but Molpol's Traveling Circus wasn't so lucky. The pirate attack decimated the circus' resources, and Doogan was forced to sell off all of its assets, including the Falcon. Image: The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide, reference book from Chronicle Books, 2001
10. Cix Trouvee
Cix Trouvee was an ace gambler but he wasn't much of a mechanic. After buying the Millennium Falcon from Doogan, Trouvee quickly learned that maintaining the 50-year-old ship, which was largely cobbled together from aftermarket parts, cost more than Trouvee could afford. In desperate need of funds to keep the ship running, Trouvee bet everything he had on a Rebel vs. Empire skirmish above the planet Yag'Dhul. In Millennium Falcon, Han and Leia discover that Trouvee didn't just lose the wager. He almost lost his life. As his creditors grew impatient, Trouvee made one last-ditch effort to raise some cash by entering the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament. There, Trouvee lost both his remaining credits and his ship to one Mr. Lando Calrissian. Image: Suns of Fortune, RPG sourcebook from Fantasy Flight Games
11. Lando Calrissian
Lando Calrissian was a gambler, a smuggler, and a con man, but he's probably best remembered these days for his impeccable sense of style. No wonder he wanted a ship to match. After winning the Falcon from Trouvee, Lando immediately gave it a much needed makeover, making it fit for a scoundrel of his stature. Sadly, the era of the meticulously maintained Falcon was short-lived. During Solo, Lando loses the ship to a fellow smuggler, the unabashed slob Han Solo, in another high-stakes sabacc game. According to the novel Last Shot, Han quickly went out of his way to ensure that the Falcon looks as shabby as possible.
12. Han Solo
It was Han Solo who transformed The Millennium Falcon from a mere ship into a galactic legend. With Han at the helm and Chewbacca in the co-pilot's seat, the Falcon became one of the most notorious smuggling vessels in the galaxy, helped destroy not one but two Death Stars, and played a pivotal role in the Rebel Alliance's triumph over the Galactic Empire. As shown in Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Incredible Cross-Sections, Solo added a kitchen to the ship after the end of the Galactic Civil War, making it a traveling home for himself, his wife Leia Organa, and their son Ben.
13. Gannis Ducain
Even Han couldn't hold on to the Falcon forever. Some time after the Empire's collapse, a gunrunner named Gannis Ducain stole the Falcon from the Solo family and immediately started outfitting the ship with new and more deadly weapons. Ducain's modifications would remain part of the ship until after Han Solo's death: while Rey trained with Luke Skywalker on Ahch-To, the Last Jedi novelization keeps Chewbacca busy undoing all of Ducain's messy and deadly work. Image: Edge of the Empire Beginner Game, RPG sourcebook from Fantasy Flight Games
14. The Irving Boys
We don't know much about Toursant and Vanver Irving, including how they wrested control of the Millennium Falcon from Ducain, but however they managed to do it, it probably wasn't pretty. In the short story collection Tales from a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Aliens, one man who owed Irvings money, Rikard Lovas, was so scared of the criminals that he faked a ship heist instead of paying them. The scheme didn't work and Lovas was arrested, although the Irving Boys still wound up empty-handed. After all, it's hard to get your money back when your mark is broke and in prison. Image: Fly Casual, RPG sourcebook from Fantasy Flight Games
15. Unkar Plutt
Eventually, Jakku's junk king Unkar Plutt stole the Falcon from the Irving Boys. He never realized what a prize he had. Under Plutt's ownership, the infamous freighter sat in a scrapyard for years and didn't take to the skies until the First Order attacked Niima Outpost during The Force Awakens. As the First Order pelted Niima with laser blasts, a young scavenger, a former stormtrooper, and a plucky droid snuck aboard the Millennium Falcon and used the aging freighter to escape. According to The Force Awakens' novelization, Plutt managed to track the thieves to Maz Kanata's castle on Takodana, but by the time that he caught up with the Falcon, it was back in Han Solo's charge. Instead of giving the ship back, Han had Chewbacca tear off one of Plutt's arms and sent him home empty-handed.
16. Rey
Following Han Solo's death at the hands of his son, Kylo Ren, Rey became the Millennium Falcon's owner and primary pilot. In The Last Jedi, Rey took the ship to Ahch-To, where she found Han's brother-in-law Luke Skywalker living in solitude, and later flew the Millennium Falcon to Crait, where she helped the last few members of the Resistance escape the First Order's vengeance.
By Chris E. Hayner on May 29, 2018 09:58 pm
When it comes to Westworld, there are a number of things that can hook you in. Whether it's the theories about what is actually going on, the technological advances that don't seem so crazy in the modern day, or the idea of the kind of escape the titular park could offer were it not for that whole robot apocalypse thing, there's plenty to be intrigued by. Beneath it all, though, Westworld is a patchwork of familiarity meant to draw viewers into an unrealistic world and never let them go. By mixing sci-fi ideas with western tropes, the HBO series weaves a story that can be incredibly engaging. A big piece of that puzzle, however, is the music bringing Westworld to life. From the very beginning, this series has made ample use of well-known songs, rearranged to be period appropriate to whatever was happening on the show. This has led to a player piano recreating a number of renowned songs, both classic and modern, creating a creepy and all too memorable feel for the series. While cowboys fight each other in the streets and drink each other under the table at the saloon, it's not uncommon to hear a Radiohead tune or rearrangement of the Rolling Stones in the background. We went back through all of Westworld's cover songs so far and ranked them, from worst to best. Fair warning, though, they're all pretty great in their own way.
19. "Habanera" from the Carmen Suite No. 2 opera
Season 1, Episode 4 This is the song that plays when Hector and his gang rob the saloon in this episode. While this operatic musical number sets the scene well, it's not the first time audiences witness this moment. When the robbery occurs in the pilot, which we'll discuss later, it's set to an even better cover.
18. "The Man I Love" by George Gershwin and Leon Fleisher
Season 2, Episode 2 Dolores plays this song on the piano at the retirement party for James Delos, but it makes one other appearance in the episode, as well. During Logan Delos' private host demonstration, Clementine plays it.
17. "Motion Picture Soundtrack" by Radiohead
Season 1, Episode 6 The first of several Radiohead songs used on Westworld, "Motion Picture Soundtrack" guides Maeve as she explored the Delos laboratories, learning exactly what hosts are and how they're created.
16. "Sonata No. 2" by Frédéric Chopin
Season 2, Episode 2 This cover comes from Dolores herself, in the real world--probably--as she plays piano at a party celebrating the retirement of James Delos. It's then that William sees her outside of Westworld.
15. "Claire de Lune" by Claude Debussy
Season 1, Episode 5 One of the show's more interesting musical moments, "Claire de Lune" is played by none other than Ford himself in a saloon Teddy and the Man in Black are in. This comes after it can be heard as Dolores and William are walking through Pariah earlier in the timeline--tying the two moments together.
14. "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals
Season 1, Episode 8 Back in the saloon, the piano plays "House of the Rising Sun" while the newly-enhanced Maeve interacts with Clementine, realizing that this version of the host she knows so well is different.
13. "Exit Music (For a Film)" by Radiohead
Season 1, Episode 10 Another well-done Radiohead moment. A cover of "Exit Music" plays as Ford gives his speech in the Season 1 finale. It then transitions into Claude Debussy's "Rêverie," which we'll talk about shortly.
12. "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin
Season 2, Episode 1 An interesting choice for Westworld, for sure. As the beginning of Season 2 played out, showing the death and destruction left in the wake of Season 2, "The Entertainer" played.
11. "A Forest" by The Cure
Season 1, Episode 4 "A Forest" was utilized during the first scenes of this episode, as Clementine malfunctioned in the saloon. Though, like the rest of the covers, this is an instrumental, the lyrics of the original tune somewhat mirror Maeve's point of view as she watches this woman she's close to fall apart.
10. "Back to Black" by Amy Whitehouse
Season 1, Episode 8 This song played in the background as Maeve first exercised her new power over other hosts after being enhanced by the Westworld engineers. She was able to control the actions of both the saloon's bartender, as well as Clementine.
9. "No Surprises" by Radiohead
Season 1, Episode 2 This is Westworld's earliest use of Radiohead, and it's done really well. As Maeve attempts to seduce park visitors, the song plays while she begins to malfunction.
8. "Paint it Black" by The Rolling Stones
Season 1, Episode 1 This cover introduced viewers to Hector and his team of misfits as they made their presence known in Sweetwater, bringing a layer of darkness wherever they go.
7. "Something I Can Never Have" by Nine Inch Nails
Season 1, Episode 5 If you're going to score a wild west robot orgy, why not do it with a Nine Inch Nails cover? This string arrangement brings a creepy vibe to the scene, which matches the tone of Westworld.
6. "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes
Season 2, Episode 3 During the audience's introduction to The Raj--the theme park based on colonial India--a sitar-heavy cover of this White Stripes song can be heard, establishing yet another new locale for the series to visit.
5. "Rêverie" by Claude Debussy
Multiple Season 1 episodes This is the song heard most often throughout the first season. This particular piece of music was heard four times in the show's first 10 episodes, as hosts slowly became self-aware. It has yet to appear in Season 2, though.
4. "Runaway" by Kanye West
Season 2, Episode 2 While "Runaway" is originally driven by the piano, the complicated arrangement heard while Logan Delos was being pitched the idea of Westworld during a Season 2 flashback was truly beautiful and unique.
3. "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead
Season 1, Episode 6 A piano instrumental of this well-known radio tune greeted Maeve as she awoke back in Westworld, realizing her life and surroundings were entirely fake--how fitting.
2. "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden
Season 1, Episode 1 This was Westworld's first use of a popular song cover and is still one of the show's most striking. The use of "Black Hole Sun" went a long way of connecting the real world with the virtual theme park in the pilot and started a trend on the series that keeps fans waiting for whatever music Westworld will feature next.
1. "C.R.E.A.M." by Wu-Tang Clan
Season 2, Episode 5 Westworld's absolute best use of music is also one of the most recent. During Maeve's visit to Shogun World, an instrumental of Wu-Tang Clan's "C.R.E.A.M." (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) can be heard while she dances over the dead body of Sakura.
By Mat Elfring on May 29, 2018 07:49 pm
Since A New Hope's debut in '77, Star Wars has taken the world by storm and been a box office juggernaut. With Solo: A Star Wars Story, the second spin-off in the franchise's history, releasing soon, we thought it would be a good idea to see just how well these movies have done in the theaters. Spoiler alert: Almost all of them did exceptionally well. Using data from Box Office Mojo, we've ranked every Star Wars movie that had a theatrical release by its box office. In addition, movies older than 10 years had their numbers adjusted for inflation accordingly. Without that adjustment, it won't reflect how impactful these movies were for their time, especially A New Hope. If you want some more Star Wars goodness, there's a live-action Star Wars series coming as well as a whole new trilogy from Rian Johnson. We got so excited that we came up with a few solo films we'd like to see. Solo is in theaters now. The movie stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, Emilia Clarke as Qi'Ra, and Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca. Recently, Glover gave a tour of the Millenium Falcon, which looks clean as a whistle, compared to the times we've see it in other Star Wars films.
11. The Clones Wars (2008)
The animated feature served as a lead-in to the animated series of the same name: The Clone Wars. While it had a large theatrical release, it didn't make a lot of money. This is probably because this movie is nothing more than a pilot for an excellent TV series, but not a great stand-alone entity. Domestic: $35,161,554 Foreign: $33,121,290 Total: $68,282,844
10. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Solo had one of the worst opening weekends for any Star Wars movie, taking in $168 million globally. Interestingly enough, it opened on Memorial Day weekend, which--in the past--was a great weekend for movie openings. Domestic: $103,000,000 Foreign: $65,000,000 Total: $168,000,000
9. Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Say what you want about the prequels--more bad than good obviously--but even the movie that made the lowest amount in the theaters, still came pretty close to the $1 billion mark. People went in droves to the theater to see Anakin Skywalker sulk. Domestic: $310,676,740 [Adjusted For Inflation: $426,241,924] Foreign: $338,721,588 [Adjusted For Inflation:$464,718,863] Total: $649,398,328 [Adjusted For Inflation: $890,960,788]
8. Rogue One: A Story Wars Story (2016)
You know you have a successful franchise when your film has all-new characters and a brand-new story, and it still breaks $1 billion, even though it's one of the darkest Star Wars films to date. Domestic: $532,177,324 Foreign: $523,879,949 Total: $1,056,057,273
7. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
The final act in the prequel trilogy gave us the birth of Darth Vader, which is probably the reason it did a bit better than Episode II. Domestic: $380,270,577 [Adjusted For Inflation: $480,583,735] Foreign: $468,484,191 [Adjusted For Inflation:$592,067,585] Total: $848,754,768 [Adjusted For Inflation: $1,072,651,321]
6. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
The final act in the original Star Wars trilogy brought in the least amount of money out of that lot, even though it had three separate theatrical releases. Domestic: $309,306,177 [Adjusted For Inflation: $721,663,860] Foreign: $165,800,000 [Adjusted For Inflation:$410,869,379] Total: $475,106,177 [Adjusted For Inflation: $1,132,533,239] Note: Return of the Jedi got three theatrical releases: 1983, 1985, and 1997.
5. Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
The Last Jedi had the second largest opening of all time, bringing in $220 million domestically. Look for these numbers to explode in the upcoming weeks because of the holidays and the fact the film opens in China on January 5. Domestic: $620,181,382 Foreign: $712,235,332 Total: $1,332,416,714
4. Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
In 1999, people were hungry for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, and because of this, it brought in $1.5 billion at the box office. And during this time, people everywhere loathed the antics of Jar Jar Binks. Domestic: $474,544,677 [Adjusted For Inflation: $682,116,537] Foreign: $552,500,000 [Adjusted For Inflation:$818,532,397] Total: $1,027,044,677 [Adjusted For Inflation: $1,500,648,934] Note: The Phantom Menace had two theatrical releases: 1999 and 2012.
3. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Arguably one of--if not the--best movies in the franchise is Empire Strikes Back, and while it didn't pull in the same numbers as A New Hope, it did exceptionally well. Domestic: $290,475,067 [Adjusted For Inflation: $765,135,253] Foreign: $247,900,000 [Adjusted For Inflation:$742,553,763] Total: $538,375,067 [Adjusted For Inflation: $1,507,689,016] Note: Empire Strikes Back got three theatrical releases: 1980, 1982, and 1997.
2. Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
People were pretty excited to have a new film in the Star Wars franchise--one that wasn't telling the origins of characters we already know and love. Because of this, The Force Awakens pulled in an incredible $2 billion during its theatrical run. Domestic: $936,662,225 Foreign: $1,131,561,399 Total: $2,068,223,624
1. Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
The original Star Wars took the world by storm. In 1977, people were lining up around the block to see it, and when adjusted for inflation, it pulled in $2.7 billion. It's doubtful another film will take the top spot. Domestic: $460,998,007 [Adjusted For Inflation: $1,503,659,950] Foreign: $314,400,000 [Adjusted For Inflation:$1,280,526,297] Total: $775,398,007 [Adjusted For Inflation: $2,784,186,247] Note: A New Hope got three theatrical releases: 1977, 1982, and 1997.
By Kevin Wong on May 29, 2018 03:20 am
After one of the strongest episodes in the series' history, Westworld goes back to its old tricks for "Phase Space," the sixth episode of Season 2. We're back to fractured timelines--there's another one added to the pile this week--and more speculation about who's a host and who's not. It may be that Westworld is better binged than watched on a weekly basis; the dense narrative places strict demands upon a viewer's recall and long-term memory. The weekly format allows Westworld's online theorists to suss out every mystery before it's intended to be revealed. But for these fans, the pleasure comes not from the surprise of being fooled, but from solving these puzzles before the characters do. Here are 5 new Westworld fan theories, based upon the first six episodes of Season 2.
Ford is Music Theory: Confirmed!
In keeping with many fans' speculations, Ford is alive. But he wasn't hiding in the body of a single host, nor was he hiding off the grid in some uncharted location. Instead, Ford's consciousness was hiding in The Cradle--the nickname for Westworld's data center. After Bernard is plugged into the Cradle by Elsie. the audience sees Ford in the saloon, sitting by and playing the piano. This underlines his final words at the gala about 'becoming music' in death. No doubt, we will learn more details about Ford's survival in future episodes. But for now, it's nice to have Sir Anthony Hopkins back.
The Bathtub Theory
During one of William's flashbacks earlier this year, we see his memories of a lifeless arm dangling out of an overflowing bathtub. Most fans have speculated that the arm belongs to his deceased wife, who killed herself before any of the current events took place. But perhaps, this assumption is confirmation bias; because the show told us that William's wife killed herself, fans are making a narrative leap to connect this bathtub body to her. We never actually see the face of the bathtub body, thus it could be anyone. What if it's William himself, and the current William is actually a host on a loop? What if it's his daughter Emily, and the current Emily is actually a host on a loop? That brings us to our next theory...
The Man In Black "Elephants" Theory
Following the hypothesis that William is a host and not a human, some Westworld fans believe they've found some hard evidence to support that in the latest episode. During an awkward father/daughter family reunion, Emily and William reminisce about when Emily was a child. William recalls that Emily was afraid of the elephants in The Raj, and Emily corrects him, saying it was her mother who was afraid of the elephants, not her. William gets a strained, confused look on his face. There are different interpretations of this exchange. Some fans believe that William is a host and that he failed an impromptu test given by Emily to prove that he was real. William's pained expression is similar to the one that Abernathy made in Season 1 when he malfunctioned, and similar to the one DeVos made when he malfunctioned earlier in Season 2. Other fans speculate that Emily is the host, and William is the one giving the "test." She fails, and that's why he abandons her in the morning. And lastly, many fans think this is all overanalysis. They believe the simplest interpretation--that William was a bad father who doesn't remember his daughter's interests--is the most likely one.
The Aspect Ratio Theory
The shifting timelines and locations are the main source of confusion amongst Westworld fans. But in Episode 6, the showrunners gave fans a little clarity. The clue is in how director Tarik Saleh frames his shots. When Bernard is plugged into the Cradle at the end of Episode 6, the aspect ratio shifts from a full screen to a widescreen perspective. Thus, widescreen shots are events that happen within the alternate dimension of the Cradle, and fullscreen shots are events which occur in the "real" world? If true, that means the opening scene with Bernard and Dolores also takes place within The Cradle. It begs multiple questions: how far does the Cradle representation of Westworld go? Does it also include all the underground facilities? What are the implications of a host occupying and using that space? And speaking of Bernard...
The Arnold Fidelity Theory
Dolores is performing a fidelity test on Bernard in the episode's opening scene. It is similar to William and Jim Delos' fidelity test earlier this season. Because Bernard was designed as an exact physical replica of Westworld co-founder Arnold, fans believe that Dolores is attempting to implant Arnold's consciousness into Bernard's body. If she succeeded, that means the Bernard we see later in the timeline--the one who washed up on shore and appears completely disoriented--may actually be Arnold Where has Arnold's consciousness been this entire time? Was it already inside Bernard? Was it inside one of those little red balls in Delos' labs? And is Arnold an unwitting participant in Ford's grand storyline, or is he another puppet master in waiting, who will be pulling strings in episodes to come?
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