DCEU Blog - Constantine Sequel A Go, Joker Sequel Adds To Cast And Black Adam Is Imminent

Well, it's been another fun, messy and chaotic time to be a DC fan. Here's a rundown of what's gone down over the last month.

In news that absolutely no one saw coming, Keanu Reeves will reprise his role in a yet to be dated sequel to the 2005 movie Constantine movie with Akiva Goldsmith penning the script, Francis Lawrence directing and JJ Abrams producing with Bad Robot.

As for the HBO Max series, both that and Madame Xanadu are being shopped around. I wouldn't hold your breath on either of them getting picked up tbh.

Blue Beetle has apparently had it's first test screening, though no major spoilers have leaked aside from a rumoured runtime of two hours and forty five minutes, though I imagine that will be shortened.

In news that also won't shock anyone but there's no DCFanDome this year though we might get some DC related content at next month's NYCC.

Henry Cavill is yet again getting heavily rumoured to be appearing in both Black Adam and The Flash. Take it with a serious grain of salt.

Leslie Grace has leaked a few clips of filming for Batgirl on her social media accounts. Unfortunately the film will not get a release due to the tax write off.

James Gunn has recently confirmed the second season of Peacemaker will start filming in the next few months.

Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener and Jacob Lofland have all signed on in undisclosed roles for Joker: Folie A Deux.

Shazam! Fury Of The Gods will feature director David F. Sandberg's wife Lotta Losten as a new character given that her previous one died in the first movie.

Jason Momoa has hinted at more than one version of Batman for Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom. Both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck did film scenes for the movie.

Michael Bishop will replace Jordan Elsass as Jonathan Kent in the third season of Superman And Lois, which has begun filming. Chad L. Coleman has been cast as Bruno Mannheim.

Pennyworth: The Origins Of Batman's Butler premieres on HBO Max from October 6th. The fourth seasons of Titans and Doom Patrol will premiere in November and December respectively. Exact dates to be confirmed.

Brec Bassinger will appear as Stargirl in a crossover with Titans while Titus Welliver has been cast as Lex Luthor for the series.

Richard Harmon has been cast as the Owen Mercer version of Captain Boomerang for the upcoming ninth season of The Flash.

Well, this ends another month of DC content. Let's see what next month brings. 

My Review of House Of The Dragon's 1x06: "The Princess And The Queen"

Written by Sara Hess

Directed by Miguel Sapochnik

Alicent (to Larys): "In all of King's Landing, is there no one to take my side?"

The Green Queen laments about sides. Last episode talked about the colour green being a call to war for the Hightower House. Green is also the colour of envy and Alicent's envy towards Rhaenyra has gotten progressively worse as we tale a big time jump in this episode.

We're in the second half of the season now and after a fabulous job from both Milly Alcock and Emily Carey, it's now time to see what both Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke can bring to the roles of Rhaenyra and Alicent. Going by this episode alone, not only are the characters in excellent hands yet again but shit has gone down in a massive way.

Alicent went from wanting to retain her friendship with Rhaenyra (something the latter reminded her of her during a council meeting) to actively trying to snatch away Rhaenyra's inheritance so that her eldest boy, Aegon (Ty Tennant) can have it instead. Except he hadn't quite gotten to the part of hating his oldest sister and nephews but by this episode's end, Alicent had dropped the same toxicity into him that Otto had done to her all those years ago.

I see a lot of people blinded by their like for Alicent as a character trying to downplay her actions against Rhaenyra but the reality is that Alicent is no longer a pawn in her father's machinations. She hasn't been for over a decade. Everything Alicent did in this episode was of her own doing. She knew exactly what she was saying during her conversations with Larys who has become as much an enabler to her as Qyburn was to Cersei.

Alicent maliciously started the episode with summoning both Rhaenyra and Laenor (John Macmillan) following their birth of their third son, Joffrey just so she could make a point to Viserys about the sons not being Laenor's in order to discredit Rhaenyra. Viserys made it clear he was aware of his grandchildren's true parentage but seemingly did not care. Of course that only made Alicent even more determined to be a royal bitch this week with Criston coming in second place.

Not content with murdering Laenor's former lover and getting away with it, Criston also took it upon himself to talk poorly of Rhaenyra and even tried to humiliate her older sons, Jacaerys (Leo Hart) and Lucerys (Harvey Sadler) before Ser Harwin gave Criston a much deserved beating. Unfortunately thanks to Larys being a right creep for Alicent, both Harwin and Lyonel didn't make it out of the episode alive. Damn you, Alicent.

As for Rhaenyra and Laenor, they knew their family was being compromised thanks to Alicent's relentless scheming and took themselves back to Dragonstone. Considering that Rhaenyra's plan to marry Jace off to Alicent's only daughter, Helaena (Evie Allen) backfired, both her and Laenor didn't have much choice but to leave the Red Keep. Sadly for them, Alicent will stop at nothing to get Aegon on the Iron Throne.

Taking this out of King's Landing and also with history repeating itself, Daemon found himself both married and a widower again. Yup, poor Laena (Nanna Blondell). Her time with Daemon resulted in getting Vhagar, having two daughters, Baela (Shani Smethurst) and Rhaena (Eva Ossei-Gerning) but like Aemma back in the opening episode, Laena was unable to give birth to her next child. However unlike Aemma, Laena at least got to decide her fate, something which even Daemon showed some admiration for.

- Both Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke's names are now in the opening credits of the show. 

- Aside from Vhagar, we also met/heard of Sunfyre (Aegon's), Dreamfyre (Helaena's) and Vermax (Jacaerys's) while Aemond (Leo Ashton) had no dragons and was a the victim of a prank called The Pink Dread. Helaena also had an impressive bug collection.

- While Rhaenyra was getting pregnant by Ser Harwin, Laenor also found his own lover with Ser Qarl (Arty Froushan) while craving to do battle in the Stepstones again.

- Daemon and his family had ended up in Pentos for their part of the episode with Laena desperately wanting to go back to Driftmark.

- The war between the Blackwood and the Brackens were mentioned again as was House Tully too. 

- Chronology: It's been ten years since the events of the previous episode. 

The Princess And The Queen kicked off an interesting shift in dynamics as lines have definitely been drawn between Rhaenyra and Alicent. Both Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke have gotten off to an excellent start with these older versions of the characters and it looks like things will only get worse between the pair as the rest of the season will unfold.

Rating: 8 out of 10

My Review of House Of The Dragon's 1x05: "We Light The Way"

Written by Charmaine DeGrate

Directed by Clare Kilner

Viserys (re Rhaenyra/Laenor): "I hope to herald in a second age of Dragons."

What is with wedding, eh? Well, usually people tend to die in them as we saw with both the Red and Purple weddings in Game Of Thrones and that tradition was maintained here with the second wedding in the series but only the first we've seen so far. I still can't believe this show skipped showing us seeing Viserys and Alicent wed but they didn't make the same mistake here.

The nice thing about Rhaenyra and Laenor's union was the fact that both of them knew exactly what they were doing. Theirs was a political marriage, a bid to unify both Houses Targaryen and Velaryon and strengthen their numbers against any potential future threat. On top of that, the bride and groom had an understanding about their real desires and how to accomplish them while also performing their expected duties as newlyweds.

In essence, everything should've gone without a hitch but you had both Daemon and Alicent making sure their arrivals at the feast made a statement. Except it wasn't them who scuppered the royal feast but more two jealous lovers instead. If only Ser Joffrey had kept his mouth and if only Ser Criston didn't go so spectacularly batshit crazy and murdered him in front of everyone before contemplating suicide himself. That was until Alicent stepped in at the last minute to stop him.

Speaking of Alicent, I talked about her making a statement this episode and she did by wearing a green dress to the wedding feast. That in itself would seem rather innocent but she was making a point to both Viserys and Rhaenyra. Thanks to a bit of shit stirring from Otto (knew he wouldn't be so easy to get rid) as well as both Larys also doing his own stirring and Criston confessing to bedding Rhaenyra, Alicent had enough of both her husband and former friend/stepdaughter. Looks like Rhaenyra can add a few more enemies to her list following the events of this episode.

As for Criston, he foolishly believed that Rhaenyra would renounce her inheritance and take off with him for parts unknown? Surely, he couldn't have been that naive but seemingly he was. However while it looks like he's well and truly burnt his bridges with Rhaenyra and her in turn might have a new protector with Ser Harwin, it also seems like for now, Criston has Alicent in his corner.

As for the Velaryons themselves, Corlys still has his issues with Rhaenys never getting to be queen and seemed determined that his grandchildren would maintain the family name, to which Viserys mostly agreed to. Then there was the revealing conversation that both Corlys and Rhaenys had in regards to Laenor's sexuality. Something tells me that Corlys won't be too upset with Joffrey being out of the equation.

As for Daemon, he opened the episode with taking his first wife Lady Rhea Royce (Rachel Redford) out of the equation while also incurring the wrath of her cousin. Also between some flirting with Rhaenyra during her own wedding feast, he found the time to charm Laena (Savannah Steyn) and she was definitely charmed by Daemon. Looks like there's going to be another Targaryen/Velaryon wedding on the horizon. Yeah, the episode ended with Rhaenyra and Laenor tying the knot and Viserys falling to the ground.

- I should've mentioned it last week but Alicent also had her daughter, Helaena, which means there are two more babies on the horizon for her.

- Otto really drove home the fact that Viserys days are numbered and the latter does continue to get worse with each passing episode.

- Lyonel became Viserys's hand while Daemon looks set to inherit Runestone in spite of murdering his wife and not having any children with her. Their marriage was unconsumated.

- We met Rhaenys's dragon Meleys this week and saw Seasmoke again.

- This episode marked the final appearances of both Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra and Alicent. The actors playing Laenor and Laeana will also be recast for the second half of the season.

- Chronology: Very little time has passed since the events of the previous episode but we're in for a major time jump next week.

We Light The Way in some regards could've felt like a season finale given that we're about to enter a time jump and get four prominent roles recast. Both Milly Alcock and Emily Carey have done a fantastic job in the first half of the season and it's going to be interesting to see how Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke expand on the roles as things between Rhaenyra and Alicent are about to heat up big time.

Rating: 8 out of 10

My Review of Harley Quinn's 3x10: "The Horse And The Sparrow"

 

Written by Sarah Nevada Smith

Directed by Joonki Park

Harley (to Ivy): "Let's kill the Joker? I love that for us."

There have been plenty of times in the last eighty years in which various characters have had the perfect motives and opportunities to kill the Joker. On this show, it's for when he actually does something good that nearly ended up a dead man. Until he wasn't.

This show has probably done something more original with the character in years compared to everything and making him the Mayor has been a good twist. Ivy upon accepting an offer to run the Legion of Doom had the perfect chance to kill the Joker. Harley was even willing to go through with it. Except she wasn't and both Joker and Ivy knew it.

There was something refreshing with the Joker and Ivy actually having a conversation about Harley and the differences and similarities with her. In the end, Ivy realised that Harley had evolved into someone that wanted to help people and she supported. Harley also vowed to support Ivy's own Legion goals and Joker lived another day and got Bruce Wayne arrested for tax evasion. 

With Bruce Wayne heading to prison, the Batfamily were down a member. That left a spot available for Harley to temporarily assume while Batgirl lead the group. This will definitely make for a fun dynamic next season.

Elsewhere the premiere of A Hard Wayne's Gonna Fall wasn't just triggering for Bruce but Clayface himself had a hard time with everyone not knowing his hard work. When he tried to out himself as Billy Bob Thornton, no one listened to him and both King Shark and Frank's advice was largely ignored. Still that storyline has been resolved.

- Selina stole a pair of pearls, only to later give them back to Bruce after he was arrested.

- I caught that reference to a certain CGI mustache. Now I wonder what that could be about.

- Some guest appearances from Clock King, Bane, Swamp Thing and Nora Fries during the screening of the movie. Rita Farr played Martha Wayne. 

- Chronology: From where the last episode left off.

The Horse And The Sparrow wrapped up this season on a strong note. While this season hasn't been as strong as the first two, watching Harley and Ivy's evolution as a couple has been joy and I expect next season to likely be the last, I can't wait to see what will happen next.

Rating: 8 out of 10

My Review of House Of The Dragon's 1x04: "King Of The Narrow Sea"

 

Written by Ira Parker

Directed by Clare Kilner

Daemon (to Viserys): "I want Rhaenyra, I'll take her as she is. Give me Rhaenyra to take to wife and we will return the House of the Dragon to it's proper glory."

It's weird. I think audiences when watching Game Of Thrones were horrified by the idea of Jaime and Cersei yet found themselves rooting for Daenerys and Jon and now the same has happened with Rhaenyra and Daemon. Although we absolutely shouldn't, but in fact we want those two to get together and yes, going by the book, it will happen eventually.

This episode however really did lay the ground work for their future union in style. Things opened with Rhaenyra at Storm's End, bored out of her mind and rejecting every suitor without so much as giving any of them a chance to argue why they'd make for a great future husband. This was also to the frustration of Viserys and even Alicent to a certain extent as Rhaenyra cut her tour short by two months and headed home, just in time for Daemon's return.

Rhaenyra could barely contain her happiness at seeing Daemon again and he in turn tried to offer her another perspective of having a political marriage. Then the episode went down the Aladdin route and both Daemon and Rhaenyra slipped into the poorer side of King's Landing where venturing into a local brothel became something of an eye opener for the latter.

There's a section in the Fire And Ice where Daemon taught Rhaenyra how to seduce a man and this episode clearly adapted that idea with the two of them being in a very compromised position. Rhaenyra and Daemon are clearly attracted to one another, almost had sex, only for Daemon to stop it and Rhaenyra to later have sex with Ser Criston, whom she's also been very attracted to and has insanely good chemistry with.

Of course, Otto being the scheming shit heel he's been all season so far had Rhaenyra followed and couldn't wait to tell Viserys about his daughter's trysts. Points for Viserys for openly calling Otto on his ambitious scheming and even more points for Rhaenyra into getting Viserys to do what we've all wanted done to Otto since the first episode and have the latter removed as Hand. 

Sadly though, I don't think Otto will go away quietly and will find other ways to be a thorn in Rhaenyra's side.  Not to mention Viserys clearly didn't believe Rhaenyra either, considering he had his maester bring her some moon tea to end the episode. That's something Rhaenyra might need in the future when she does marry Ser Laenor, which isn't a prospect that she's especially keen on.

As for Alicent, this episode saw some interesting facets to her. She seemed keen to reconnect with Rhaenyra then confronted her stepdaughter/former best friend about those rumours of Daemon. She also went from helping Viserys in his bath to being completely miserable when having sex with him. Not to mention she seemed to struggle with her own babies this week. Out of all the characters, Alicent definitely had the worst time of it this week.

- Rhaenyra was with Ser Criston and Lord Boremund Baratheon (Julian Lewis Jones) at Storm's End. We also got to see Samwell Blackwood cut down a Bracken to size. 

- Daemon named himself the King of the Narrow Sea but offered his crown to Viserys as a gesture of good will. Caraxes was the only dragon to appear in this episode. Daemon alluded to his wife being unable to have children. 

- Ser Harwin Strong, another one of Rhaenyra's admirers was amused by her masquerading as a boy in King's Landing. 

- For book fans, this episode gave a not remotely subtle hint about the nature of Rhaenyra's eventual fate. 

- Corlys planned to wed Laena to a rival from Braavos while Mysaria has moved up in the world since her last encounter with Daemon.

- Chronology: It's been a year since the previous one. Rhaenyra and Daemon haven't seen each other in four years.

King Of The Narrow Sea easily turned out to be the best episode of the season and while I shouldn't root for Rhaenyra and Daemon, it's kind of hard not to, isn't it? It's so easy to see why these two are drawn to one another when they're so similar and it was fantastic to see Otto get a temporary comeuppance even if I'm convinced he'll still be around to annoy.

Rating: 9 out of 10

My Review of Harley Quinn's 3x09: "Climax At Jazzapajizza"

 

Written by Tom Hyndman

Directed by Juan Meza-Leon

Poison Ivy: "Gotham City is going green."

Is it me or did it seem like the event that should've been the finale came an episode early? Ivy's whole mission this season has been to turn Gotham into her own Eden. She was successful but then her love for Harley somewhat derailed her life's goal and in spite of saving the woman she loves, Ivy wasn't happy with losing her paradise either. 

Thanks to Bruce using Frank to revive his parents and predictably getting it wrong, Ivy saw an opportunity to use the billionaire's botched idea for her own gain. Of course that involved puking plant zombies terraforming Gotham all during the middle of a jazz festival hosted by the Joker. Yes, the Joker along with the mayor of Gotham now goats jazz festivals.

This one in particular went through a name rebranding, hence the episode title. It served as the perfect platform for Ivy to address Gotham about her goal, only for Harley to try and talk her out of it and ended up nearly getting turned into a plant herself before Ivy reversed everything for Harley. Of course this will inevitably put a strain on their relationship.

Speaking of strains, Bruce really did have to do some growing up in this episode too. He was in denial about the state of his parents resurrection and it took a talking with Kong Shark to set him right. King Shark has been pretty underused this season but this was a great way to get the character to help with the main plotline.

As for Frank, Ivy's reversal of everything basically gave a reset while Nightwing and Batgirl did make a good team with Harley. I've actually liked the developing friendship with Harley and Batgirl this season and this episode saw them working well together. Nightwing could do with being a little less rigid though.

- Was it me or did that jazz guy looked a lot like Prince? Ivy was determined that he didn't get turned into a plant.

- Doctor Psycho made a point to tell Nightwing that he wasn't a part of Harley's gang anymore. Clayface assumed his portrayal of Thomas Wayne sent Bruce over the edge.

- Harley sacrificing herself for Bane also bought his grievance over the pasta maker to a conclusion. Oh and we briefly saw Swamp Thing here.

- Chronology: From where the previous episode left off.

Climax At Jazzapajizza definitely had a finale feel to it but there's still one more episode to go. Can Ivy get over not achieving her dreams of Eden or will it just drive her and Harley apart? I wouldn't rule out the latter scenario just yet.

Rating: 7 out of 10

My Review of American Horror Stories: "Lake"

 

Written by Manny Coto

Directed by Tessa Blake

Erin (to Jeffrey): "We keep trying to tell you. This is real."

Last season had a very simple trajectory with the opening two parter and finale all being tied into Murder House. This season started with a Coven link (a very well handled one), so it's surprising that this fine didn't either have a link to that or another season of the main show. In fact, it's amazing one episode alone even linked to the main show.

The episode opened with brother and sister duo, Jake (Bobby Hogan) and Finn (Olivia Rouyre) relaxing at Lake Prescott with their respective crushes before the two of them went for a swim. The swim then took a turn when Jake ended up drowning and Finn was unable to save him. This was even before the opening credits of the episode.

Months later, and we cut to Finn coming out of therapy and going home to her parents, Erin (Alicia Silverstone) and Jeffrey (Teddy Sears), neither of whom have handled Jake's particularly well and have drifted apart. While Jeffrey seems to move past his son's death, both Erin and Finn are haunted by and in Erin's case, that turned out to be more on the literal side of things.

After seeing Jake while awake, both Erin and Finn went back to the lake to retrieve his body and while they were successful in doing that, Erin also managed to uncover the bodies of three other men who chained to their death by a certain Reid Prescott. 

When the rather Mrs Boone started giving both Erin and Finn the info sump on the lake/dam's history, I knew thee was going to wind up being a connection to Jeffrey and this episode definitely didn't do anything shocking in that regard. If anything, it would've been more shocking if there hasn't been a connection at all.

Jeffrey being a Prescott and Jake's death being a long game for those vengeful spirits to lure him back to the lake and get revenge. Yup, totally telegraphed. I mean it's not a bad resolution to the episode but it was easy to guess how the whole thing was gonna play out and it really didn't that Jeffrey was written as a pretty one dimensional and unsympathetic character either. A bug bear with this season has been it's poor depiction of male characters and it's something the show needs to work on should it get a third season.

- This is the first time we've had Teddy Sears in the franchise in over a decade. He had a recurring role in Murder House. 

- The title sequence did a great job with the watery theme of this episode.

- Standout music: Doja Cat and Sza's Kiss Me More at the start of the episode.

- Chronology: A four month time jump took place after the opening credits.

Lake marked a decent but not spectacular ending for a season that while has improved a bit on it's first could definitely do better if it gets another season. Good performances from the main cast but a bit too predictable for it's own good.

Rating: 6 out of 10

My Review of House Of The Dragon's 1x03: "Second Of His Name"

 

Written by Gabe Fonseca And Ryan Condal

Directed by Greg Yaitanes

Rhaenyra: "I do not wish to get married."

Viserys: "Even I do not exist above tradition and duty, Rhaenyra."

Yup, time really keeps moving rather fast for this show. At the end of the previous episode, Daemon and Corlys had joined forces to take out the Crabfeeder (Daniel Scott-Smith) and Viserys royally pissed Rhaenyra by taking Alicent for his wife. Time might have passed but those two developments remain very relevant to the goings in here.

First of all, not only did Viserys get his male heir, Prince Aegon II but the boy has turned two and his name day culminated in a hunting session where many issues with his firstborn reared their ugly head as Alicent was also pregnant yet again with baby number two. If you read the book, you already know that. 

Paddy Considine has done a terrific job with Viserys so far this season and we're only three episodes in. On one hand, I genuinely believe that he loves Rhaenyra and have to praise him for not succumbing to the plethora of people telling him to make Aegon II his heir but on the other hand, he certainly has done a lot to widen the division between him and his first born.

This episode alone largely had Viserys pressuring Rhaenyra into getting married and providing him with grandchildren. His choice of suitor for Rhaenyra was the rather boorish Lord Jason Lannister (Jefferson Hall), who Rhaenyra straight up rejected. Her rejection turned out to be pretty justified considering that Jason would later put his foot in it with Viserys and the latter gave his daughter the sound advice of choosing her own suitor.

But who will that suitor be? Well, we can rule out Jason Lannister for starters. If he wasn't lowborn, then Ser Criston would be perfect for Rhaenyra. This episode alone saw the two of them connect more with each other while hunting for a White Hart. They ended up not killing the majestic creature but a warthog that attacked the pair didn't fare as lucky. The only other option of for Rhaenyra would be Corlys's son, Laenor (Theo Nate) as suggested by Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes) who would be a better hand for Viserys than Otto has been.

Speaking of which, if last episode gave a bit of focus to Laena, this episode pivoted things around Corly's son, Laenor who proved to be very handy to have in battle. Especially when he also had his own dragon, Seasmoke ready to take out most of the Crabfeeeder's men. Laenor would undoubtedly make for a good husband for Rhaenyra. Except for one thing, which will likely materialise the next time we see him on the show.

As for Daemon, he started the episode with Caraxes laying waste to some of the Triarchy's men and ended the episode with tearing the Crabfeeder (surprisingly off screen) in half. He also wasn't best pleased with Viserys's show of support but without it, he might not have had the full advantage he did during the last few minutes here. I'm a little surprised the Crabfeeder story came to an end with this episode but given the pace with this show, I shouldn't be.

- Not only is Jefferson Hall playing Lord Jason Lannister, but he's also playing the latter's twin, Ser Tyland Lannister who warned Viserys to take action over the Stepstones situation.

- Viserys has lost two of his fingers and seems to be balding. He was also rightfully disgusted with Otto's suggestion of Rhaenyra and Aegon II marrying.

- We met Otto's brother, Hobert (Steffan Rhodri), Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), Ser Vaemond Velaryon (Wil Johnson) and Ser Joffrey Lonmouth (Solly McLeod). The latter's relationship with Laenor to say the least.

- Alicent to her credit for now has tried to make amends with Rhaenyra and even disagreed with Otto's stance on getting Aegon II to replace his sister as heir. She even made the suggestion to Viserys to help out Daemon and Corlys.

- I'm curious as to why Lyonel didn't suggest his other son, Ser Harwan (Ryan Corr) for Rhaenyra. He does seem to be pushing for a Velaryon marriage these past two episodes.

- Chronology: Three years since the events of the previous episode.

Second Of His Name really did deliver with the family drama between Rhaenyra and Viserys while the battle at the Stepstones had it's own spectacle to boast. This show has quickly found it's footing in these three episodes and continues to be appointment television. 

Rating: 8 out of 10

My Review of Harley Quinn's 3x08: "Batman Begins Forever"

 

Written by Jamieson Borak

Directed by Vinton Heuck

Harley: "Holy shit, you're -"

Bruce: "I'm Batman."

Crime Alley, huh? It's been likely less than five minutes since we've had some depiction of it in something and here, we've got Harley rooting around in Bruce's memories courtesy of a returning Doctor Psycho. I mean, this is the third time Psycho has helped into someone's mind. You'd think lessons would've been learned by now but seemingly not.'

To find Frank, entering the uncooperative Bruce's mind was the only thing to do. Of course for Harley and company, it meant reliving that scene in Crime Alley over and over again. Until Everyone else got kicked out of Bruce's head and Harley had to remain to help the troubled guy out.

I mean this was a brilliant way for not only some delightful nods to things such as Batman 66, Batman: The Animated Series as well as certain live action movies but also it was a great way for Harley to find out that Bruce and Batman are the same person while the pair of them tried to escape from Joe Chill. Of course you can never really escape the past.

Bruce's own guilt being the real chasing them was pretty obvious but effective. For all her goofing around, Harley did seem committed to helping Bruce as vest as she could and it did seem like she was getting a little through to him. As for Bruce's reasons for stealing Frank in the first place, that certainly took an interesting turn as well to boot.

Bruce thinking he can take Ivy's general plans for Frank by resurrecting his parents does feel like something Bruce would normally be against. I'm surprised even in this continuity that Alfred, Robin, Batgirl and Nightwing are going along with it and by the looks of it, it does appear that Bruce might have made a massive mistake with this plan.

- The opening credits were styled like Frasier as Doctor Psycho had become a radio therapist/podcaster. Killer Croc is a bigger hit though.

- King Shark sat out most of this episode and retreated to his kingdom while Clayface tried to get some information out of Thomas Wayne in Bruce's memories.

- Congrats to the show on scoring a fourth season. Nice to know these next two episodes won't be the last.

- Chronology: From where the previous episode left off.

Batman Begins Forever was a fun way to cover some very familiar ground and like mind trips episodes we've had in the past, this one was another massive hit. Easily the best episode we've had this season and I'm hoping the last two will deliver.

Rating: 9 out of 10

My Review of American Horror Stories: "Necro"

 

Written by Crystal Liu

Directed by Logan Kibens

Samantha: "Sometimes it's fun to go off script."

Well, this was a thing. A very twisted thing. Maybe one of the most twisted episodes in this franchise's history. Also maybe one of the strongest episodes in this spin-off's run. Horrified as I was by the concept of the episode, it was also one of the most gripping stories we've had.

Personal favourites this season of mine have included both Dollhouse and Bloody Mary but this episode will stick with me for a long while. It had all the trappings of a complete disaster area but managed to avoid all of them as well with some truly compelling central performances from two lead actors in the most fucked up love story we've had on this show.

On the outside, Samantha (Madison Iseman) seemed like a normal girl. She had a job she liked and a hunky boyfriend named Jesse (Spencer Neville) whom she intended to marry and some decent friends. So far nothing out of the ordinary there. Except for her extreme fascination with death, working as a mortician and a bloke named Charlie (Cameron Cowperthwaite). Then her world came tumbling down due to the worst kind of comprising video to stream on her wedding day that made her into a social pariah.

With an episode called Necro, there was an inevitability here. Samantha genuinely believed her new friend Charlie had died and in her madness, she had sex with his corpse. Only for Charlie not to be dead, Samantha to be horrified by her action and Charlie to out what she thought she did to him to a packed church.

Were Charlie's motives based on revenge? Apparently not. He was more interested in getting Samantha to embrace her weird self because he loved that she was similar to him. Like Charlie, the episode revealed that Samantha had her own brush with death at a young age with a parent. In the end, Charlie got what ye wanted and the ending of this episode took a hell of a turn.

Samantha shooting Charlie into a grave and then having sex with him as the two of them were about to be buried alive was the very twisted thing I mentioned earlier. What a way to end this one. Just when this franchise cannot get any stranger, they went and did this one for good measure.

- Cameron Cowperthwaite previously appeared in Cult while Spencer Neville appeared in 1984. Madison Iseman definitely deserves a role in the main series. 

- Originally this was meant to be the second episode of the season before pushed to seventh. 

- Standout music: #1 Crush by Garbage. Samantha was a fan of the group.

- Chronology: 1998 Maine for flashbacks of Samantha's childhood with the main action of the episode in 2022 California.

Necro was certainly a very twisted episode, offering a unique spin on the trope here. Fantastic perfomances from both Madison Iseman and Cameron Cowperthwaite and easily one of the strongest episodes we've had this season. Here's hoping the finale can bring this to a satisfying close.

Rating: 8 out of 10