Latest news with #Andor
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Outlander: Blood Of My Blood' Is An Entertaining Prequel With One Big Problem
Outlander: Blood Of My Blood Credit: Starz I tend to view prequels with a healthy dose of skepticism. Every once in a blue moon, one comes along and not only justifies its existence, but blows my mind in the process. Most of the time, prequels are little better than fan-fiction. Better Call Saul somehow managed to be every bit as dramatic and compelling as its parent show, Breaking Bad. The series maintained suspense by introducing a handful of really compelling new characters whose fates remained a mystery. Just as importantly, the show's writers resisted the temptation to make it little more than a vehicle for Breaking Bad callbacks. Better Call Saul brought back characters from Breaking Bad judiciously and with purpose. Jimmy and Mike, in particular, were given a great deal more depth than they ever had in the original series. Another great example of a prequel done right is Andor, Tony Gilroy's exceptional companion series to Rogue One which was itself a prequel to A New Hope. Star Wars has lots of prequels and prequels of prequels. It's less known for profound character studies and brilliant explorations of revolution and political upheaval, but Andor managed to do all that and more in its 24-episode run. Of course, we knew the fate of Cassian Andor, and the Empire and the Rebellion, but the show helped fill in so many gaps, while giving us a darker (and better written) portrayal of a galaxy far, far away, that it quickly became my favorite piece of Star Wars media since the original trilogy. But Better Call Saul and Andor are diamonds in the rough. Far too often, prequels are little more than another way to squeeze more content out of an IP. A prequel faces many hurdles. It's rarely as good as the original but always compared to the original. A prequel often gives us too much information, like explaining how the Force works in Star Wars. It rarely stands on its own two feet as a story, with many of its best gags or moments inextricably tied to work that came before. Unlike a sequel, a prequel isn't tasked with ending a story, but rather with making up some new story altogether which can somehow lead to the one we've already been told. This can make many prequels seem hamfisted or unsurprising. Which brings me to Outlander: Blood Of My Blood. Outlander: Blood Of My Blood Credit: Starz I Wanna Go Back, When You Were Mine Spoilers follow. The new series takes place some years before the events of Outlander, though given that these are stories about time-travelling 'before' and 'after' are rather hazy prepositions. We are introduced to Jamie Fraser's parents, Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy) and Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater) before they become his parents. We are also introduced to Claire Beauchamp's parents, Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine) and Julia Moriston (Hermione Corfield), though in the timeline of the prequel their daughter has already been born (though we get to see how they meet during WW1 briefly before the main story kicks off). The casting is quite superb. It's so uncannily good that it throws me off at times. Hermione Corfield's Julia looks and sounds and acts so much like Claire (Caitriona Balfe) at times that they could have just as easily cast her to play a younger Claire rather than her mother. It's quite extraordinary. I'm less thrilled by how similar their personalities are. Mothers and daughters are often quite different people, but with Claire and Julia, the apple didn't fall far from the proverbial tree. Claire and Julia Credit: Starz I rolled my eyes a few times at how Strong and Independent Julia happens to be, a generation ahead of Claire, who was already quite uniquely strong-willed and opinionated for her time (and took those views back with zeal to the 17th century where they were even more foreign). To have her mother not only look but act and think almost exactly the same is peculiar. Sure, kids learn from their parents and often hold similar views, but just as often they fight to distinguish themselves from their parents or even rebel against them, even if only intellectually or politically. A more conservative, traditional Julia would have helped make her more distinct and feel less like a clone of Claire. It doesn't help that Jamie's mother, Ellen, is also fiercely independent and progressive for her time. The daughter of a Scottish laird, she was promised by her father that she would never have to marry. And so the two main female protagonists each possess strikingly similar personalities, very out of place for their respective times, that also happen to mirror Claire's personality from the original show. Brian and Jamie Fraser Credit: Starz The fathers, meanwhile, are both handsome, progressive, noble and brave. Again, the casting is exceptional. Jamie Roy looks a lot like a young, dark-haired Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). His voice sounds like Heughan's as well. And he is every bit the gentleman, chivalrous and kind and self-sacrificing. He's the one man, it turns out, that might tempt Ellen away from her commitment to spinsterdom. But her family loathes the Frasers and the Frasers loath the MacKenzies, so we have two star-crossed lovers. It's Macbeth meets Romeo and Juliet. In some ways, the fact that Jamie and Claire's parents are all so fierce and good and independent and stubborn makes sense. They passed these qualities down to their children. In other ways, it strikes me that this makes Claire and Jamie much less unique. This is all made much, much worse by the fact that Claire's parents end up time-travelling . . . directly into the same time and place as Jamie's parents during the early days of their forbidden courtship. If you told this story chronologically rather than having this be a prequel, it would seem very strange. You'd have these two couples meet thanks to pretty random time-traveling, and then (I assume, I haven't watched the whole season) fall in love and make some babies, and then somehow they separate and then . . . miraculously . . . their babies, born in different centuries, end up falling in love a generation later. MORE FOR YOU Now, Claire is hardly special at all. Her parents always wanted to visit Scotland and go there on honeymoon there, so her trip there with Frank was just a weird repeat of theirs. Only now, she didn't go to Scotland because of all the wonderful stories they told her but because Frank was researching his genealogy. Recall Claire of the first season. She really knows very little about Scotland. Frank is always teaching her things. Isn't that a little odd given her parents' story? They even went through the same exact stones that Claire travels back through! Meanwhile, we are given a long parade of characters from the main show, only in younger actor's bodies. Murtagh is a dashing young man played by Rory Alexander. Colum MacKenzie is played by young Seamus McLean Ross, who reminds me of a young (and Scottish) Joaquin Phoenix; Sam Retford plays his brother Dougal, with a full head of hair and a full belly of fire. There are even young versions of Ned, Angus and Rupert. The characters face some of the same problems I noticed in Dexter: Original Sin. That was an enjoyable prequel, but the younger versions all started to have the 'high school play' effect. It's not that any of the casting is off. I'm pleased with all the actors. But it's just a lot of 'Oh look, that's young Angus! Oh look, that's young Colum! Oh look . . . ' and so on and so forth. The first two episodes of Blood Of My Blood still get a lot right. I enjoyed the setup, introducing us first to Jamie's parents and secretly to Claire's parents (as a maid in the Fraser household and the bladier of House Grant) before revealing their story in the second episode. You meet both Julia and Henry as characters in the past before realizing later that they came from the 20th century. That's clever, and would have been even better if we were given more time to make this connection on our own, with perhaps a midseason reveal that they came from the future. The costumes and music and cinematography are all great and lovingly crafted, though at times a shot here or there looked weirdly fake. We're not quite at Outlander levels of detail and production value here, but it's close enough for cannonballs. I also love that the show takes place in Scotland rather than the New World. I've had a harder time staying invested in Outlander's main story ever since it left Scotland for the high seas and the Americas. As much as I might gripe that we're treading old ground or hewing a little too close to the characters in the original show, it's still good to be back. I'm not sure what to think of Blood Of My Blood just yet. I remain optimistic despite my worries. I'm not sure this is a prequel that will justify its existence beyond throwing fans a fun new story. Who knows, maybe that'll be enough.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Harrowing' Netflix thriller leaves fans rolling their eyes despite Oscar worthy performance
The lead performance has made the film be dubbed must watch thanks to Marvel star Netflix subscribers are split over a new 'nightmarish' thriller based on a best-selling novel. Night Always Comes, which is now available for streaming on the platform from today (August 15), is adapted from the acclaimed and award-winning author Willy Vlautin's book The Night Always Comes. The original novel was hailed as a contemporary western, crime noir tale unfolding over two days and nights. The film adaptation, also showing on the big screen in selected cinemas across the UK, is directed by Benjamin Caron, known for his work on Star Wars series Andor, The Crown and Sherlock. Vanessa Kirby, star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Mission Impossible franchise, takes the lead role as Lynette, a woman who risks it all to secure the funds needed for a house that could offer a brighter future for her family, reports the Express. Embarking on a perilous journey through a single night, Lynette is forced to face her dark past in a bid to finally break free from old habits. Kirby is joined in the cast by fellow Marvel actor Randall Park, renowned for his work in comedy series Fresh Off the Boat. There are also performances from House of Cards' Michael Kelly and celebrated filmmaker Eli Roth makes a brief cameo too. With the film only just released to the viewing public, reviews have just started to be published online. While it could change over time, it has not yet managed to achieve a rating on website Rotten Tomatoes worthy of the 'fresh' label. Netflix viewers and fans are currently divided over the film, although many concur that Kirby's performance is outstanding. One critic praised: "Vanessa Kirby commands the screen in a harrowing spiral of bad choices, delivering a performance as riveting as the story is nightmarish." Another reviewer enthused: "Night Always Comes is a gripping character-driven thriller that is also a powerful drama about how far one is willing to go for their family. Vanessa Kirby delivers a tour-de-force performance that is Oscar-worthy. It's a must-watch." However, some were less impressed by the film's plot or its ability to maintain the necessary tension for a successful thriller. One review noted: "Night Always Comes can get a little unrealistic with the peril we find her in, and sitting in that darkness for nearly two hours can get a little emotionally taxing, but even when it's too much to bear, you'll find a film that needs to be seen." Others highlighted that the film struggles to strike a balance between being an engaging crime thriller and incorporating social commentary. As one viewer put it: "Night Always Comes is almost two movies in a way, opening as a study of desperation before turning into a crime picture, and the mix of moods doesn't always work". On the other hand, a less impressed viewer wrote: "Kirby renders Lynette so fearless and compelling that you've no choice but to defy your better judgment and ride along. Just expect to be doing a lot of eye-rolling accompanied by incredulous exclamations of 'c'mon!' Yes, Kirby has game, but (director) Caron has no shame. Neither does (screenwriter) Sarah Conradt, whose adaptation of Vlautin's novel is nothing but episodic nonsense."
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Emmy Shows And Book Recommendations
Looking for reading inspo? Look no further than your favorite show! The 77th Emmy Awards are on September 14, and there are 16 shows nominated for Outstanding Drama or Outstanding Comedy! If you're into any of these shows, I bet I can find a book you'll enjoy: If you're into Rogue One. Andor is nominated for Outstanding Drama — catch it on Disney+.Rogue One is written by Alexander they vibe: Set just before Rogue One, this Star Wars novel digs into the political machinations and moral compromises of the rebellion, perfect for fans who loved Andor's grounded spy tone. If you dig The American Spy. The Diplomat is nominated for Outstanding Drama — catch it on Spy is written by Lauren they Vibe: American Spy is a smart, character-driven espionage novel about a Black female spy in the Cold War, full of political tension and personal stakes, which feels like The Diplomat's blend of politics and human drama. If you enjoy The Last of Station Eleven. The Last of Us is nominated for Outstanding Drama — catch it on HBO Eleven is written by Emily St. John they vibe: Though The Last of Us comes from a video game, we've matched it with Station Eleven, a postpandemic literary novel that captures the same mix of haunting survival, found family, and moments of beauty in ruin. If you vibe with Pines. Paradise is nominated for Outstanding Drama — catch it on is written by Blake they vibe: This one is really hard to explain without spoiler alerts on both, so you may just have to trust me that these go hand-in-hand. Think idyllic town, governmental mystery, apocalyptic themes, and twisty-turny events. If you're taken by The The Last Patient of the Night. The Pitt is nominated for Outstanding Drama — catch it on HBO Last Patient of the Night is written by Gary they vibe: Both stories feature emergency rooms and the gripping, intense stories that happen inside. While the book turns more into a mystery than the show, both explore the ethics of medicine, the dark side of human nature, and a little bit of the humor that keeps us all going. If you mess with (the other) Severance. Severance (the show) is nominated for Outstanding Drama — catch it on Apple TV+.Severance (the book) is written by Ling they vibe: First, I must mention these are not the same story — one is not based on the other. However, the novel (which came first) is a satirical, eerie look at late-capitalism ennui, office life, and the surreal collapse of society, which could also be a description of the Adam Scott hit. If Slow Horses is your Slow Horses. Slow Horses (the show) is nominated for Outstanding Drama — catch it on Apple TV+.Slow Horses (the book) is written by Mick they vibe: These are actually the same story. The only TV show based 100% on a novel in the list, Slow Horses, is the first novel in the Slough House series, and introduces the washed-up MI5 agents at the heart of the show. If you escaped with The White The Guest List. The White Lotus is nominated for Outstanding Drama — catch it on HBO Guest List is written by Lucy they vibe: I've talked about The Guest List before, and probably will again, honestly. It's a destination wedding, with glamorous guests and deadly secrets. This modern mystery-thriller novel offers the same mix of beautiful settings and ugly human drama as Mike White's The White Lotus. If you think The Bear is a Fireproof. The Bear is nominated for Outstanding Comedy — catch it on is written by Curtis they vibe: The new hit book Fireproof is the true story memoir of a chef who rose from trauma to culinary acclaim, sharing The Bear's intensity and kitchen chaos. If you laugh at Abbott The Faculty Lounge. Abbott Elementary is nominated for Outstanding Comedy — catch it on ABC network, HBO Max, or Faculty Lounge is written by Jennifer they vibe: The heart of each of these stories is the unforgettable teachers. Both mix timely school issues with lots of laughs, while remaining focused on the fact that these teachers have names outside the school's walls, and even a little romance within them. If you appreciate Bossypants. Hacks is nominated for Outstanding Comedy — catch it on HBO is written by Tina they vibe: Hacks gives an intimate and often awkward look at the behind-the-scenes goings on in showbiz. Who knows that action better than Tina Fey? Her book Bossypants is full of quick-wit humor that will have you snickering as much as hearing Jean Smart say "Wow, it's like watching Picasso sing." If you're in love with Nobody Wants Modern Love. Nobody Wants This is nominated for Outstanding Comedy — catch it on Love is edited by Daniel Jones and written by numerous they vibe: Nobody Wants This is a quintessential love story, a semi-autobiographical "love letter" from Erin Foster and her husband. It's literally true love. As is Modern Love, an anthology of true love stories from the NYT columns. Both are playful, heartfelt, and real. If you're keen on Only Murders in the The Thursday Murder Club. Only Murders in the Building is nominated for Outstanding Comedy — catch it on Thursday Murder Club is written by Richard they vibe: Septuagenarians solving crime has become a bit of a popular theme in novels (much to my liking), but The Thursday Murder Club started that trend. Both are charming, witty murder mysteries with quirky amateur sleuths in their 70s. You'll enjoy solving the crimes with both gangs. If you're entertained by A Man Called Ove. Shrinking is nominated for Outstanding Comedy — catch it on Apple TV+.A Man Called Ove is written by Fredrik they vibe: Beyond nearly matching the poster and the book cover, these are both heartwarming, funny stories about grief, healing, and unlikely friendships. These are a sweet read and watch, a reminder to call your grandparents. If you delight in The Hello, Molly!. The Studio is nominated for Outstanding Comedy — catch it on Apple TV+.Hello, Molly! is written by Molly they vibe: Similar to the Hacks x Bossypants, both stories here will take you behind the scenes for true hilarity, but this time in the worlds of sketch comedy. Plus, Seth Rogan of The Studio and Molly Shannon of Hello, Molly! were both in the movie The Night Before, if you want to round out your list with that. If you're fond of What We Do in the Good Omens. What We Do in the Shadows is nominated for Outstanding Comedy — catch it on FX or Omens is written by Terry Pratchett and Neil they vibe: Good Omens is a supernatural comedy about eccentric immortals trying (and failing) to manage apocalyptic situations, perfectly matching the absurd humor of WWDITS. BONUS: shows based on books from other categories: Have you read or watched any of the stories written above? Agree or disagree with the pairings? Sound off in the comments!
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Read the Script to One of the Best Episodes of ‘Andor' and Experience Greatness
One of the few rare issues with Andor being as good as it is is that we're not getting more of it, in any format—but one that especially stings is that we came so close to being able to look at the scripts behind the smash-hit Star Wars series. We were on the verge of greatness, as a certain Imperial director would've put it, in 2023 when Tony Gilroy and Lucasfilm announced that season one's scripts would be published online, only for them to never arrive. Gilroy gave us an incredibly valid reason earlier this year—to avoid the scripts being fed into generative AI models—dashing our hopes that we'd ever similarly see the scripts for the then-upcoming season 2 released either. But at least on that front, there's a tiny glimmer of hope. As part of its For Your Consideration campaign effort in the upcoming TV awards season (which, of course, includes Andor and its 14 Emmy nominations), Disney's official FYC website has been updated to include a post-final production script for Andor season 2 episode 9, 'Welcome to the Rebellion', by Dan Gilroy. The episode, itself nominated in the Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series category at next month's 77th Emmys, climaxes the third act of Andor season 2, and sees Cassian assist Mon Mothma's escape from Coruscant after she delivers a damning speech in the Imperial Senate over Palpatine's role in the Ghorman Massacre. Even though we've had plenty of opportunity to watch and revisit the episode itself, reading the script offers some fascinating insight into the creative process behind Andor, and the chance to see what emotive beats and intent came from Gilroy's writing, and what flourished or was tweaked naturally through the cast's performance and interpretation of it. It's also just a remarkable reading experience too, one that captures the tension that would ultimately sizzle on screen, with a flow and pacing that, even if you're not used to reading a shooting script, glides by with a keen slickness. It's not surprising that, even among an extremely strong crop of scripts to pick from in season 2, this is the one that earned Andor the nomination. But as good as it is, it now makes Lucasfilm and Gilroy's decision to stop the release of the rest of the Andor scripts all the more heartbreaking. It would be absolutely incredible that now the show is complete to be able to either freely peruse or even buy a coffee table book collecting the 24 scripts in a single place and re-experience the journey from a perspective that we rarely get for Star Wars material. Just another thing to blame generative AI for, for now at least. You can read the full script to 'Welcome to the Rebellion' here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Andor' Emmy snubs were ‘really painful,' says creator Tony Gilroy
For fans of the Star Wars series Andor, few Emmys snubs stood out more on nominations morning than the missing nods for lead Diego Luna in the title role and season-standout Genevieve O'Reilly as Mon Mothma in the supporting race. Creator Tony Gilroy was among those sorely disappointed. More from Gold Derby 'Landman' Season 2: Everything to know about Billy Bob Thornton series as teaser trailer, return date revealed Toronto Film Festival Oct. 7 documentary 'censorship' drama, explained Despite the show's award success in its second and final second — including nominations for Best Drama Series, Writing, Directing, and Guest Actor for Forest Whitaker — the accolades failed to highlight all of the stellar work that Gilroy saw on the show. In a candid conversation with Gold Derby, Gilroy reflects on his awards history (including running the entire film circuit with Michael Clayton in 2007-08), what nominations mean to him, and whether Andor was as political as some online trolls complained. Gold Derby: You've been through the awards circuit with Season 1 and, before that, with . What are your feelings about awards in general? Tony Gilroy: I grew up watching [awards shows]. They seemed really important when I wasn't involved in the movie business. I watched a couple people early in my career who I thought were bending their careers in a really warp-y way to play to it and making non-creative decisions to chase it. So, like any rational person, I was thinking, "Judging art and competing art and subjective awards?" and all the cynical things that go with it. When we went through it with Clayton, one of the really cool things about it was because we took the full ride. It was the year of the strike, and we were trying to shut down the Academy Awards that year. And we did shut down the Golden Globes. Very complicated, very heady year, and it was a great class of people to be with. I felt like when it was all over, I wasn't unhappy with what happened at all. And I felt like it gave me a really legitimate place to have an honest opinion about it for the rest of my life. For all of 's great success with this year's nomination, the show also had two of the most notable snubs, in Diego Luna and Genevieve O'Reilly. How do oversights like that feel from inside a show? It's really painful. Genevieve O'Reilly, of the 24 episodes, she must be in 20 of them. She gives a five-year performance that's complicated, nuanced, and breathtaking. It's a lifetime achievement. I'm sure when you're looking [at the nomination, you think], "When are you going to get a part like that again? When are you going to get an opportunity like that again? When are you going to ever do that kind of work again?" Especially, if you've been a working actor, but always on the margins, always down that list. And here's this incredible opportunity. And really, I would trade away a lot of other things to have her there. Diego, the same thing, but I worry less about him. It's about what [awards] can do for you and the utility of it. There are people where it will really change things for them, and they've done the best work they may ever do in their lifetime, and they're going, "Why didn't it happen?"... It really hurts, but I said it before: I do think the performances and the work that people did on the show is going to have a very long, a very long life. I don't think it has an expiration date on it that is anytime soon. A particularly toxic portion of the online discourse around Season 2 was driven by people who thought the series had politicized . What makes a piece of art political, in your eyes? I've been corralled into identifying and articulating what my political worldview might be over the past six months. And in the beginning, I was trying to evade and deflect to try to stay as anonymous as possible along the way. As it became increasingly difficult, over hundreds of conversations, I found myself bringing forward what I would identify as my own political beliefs, which — I really believe — are more moral than left and right or up and down. The things that we're dealing with in the show can be viewed in an absolutely moral sense, rather than a political one. I find that the elevation of cruelty, the diminishment of grace. Fascism and authoritarianism, as it is in the show, inevitably strips away freedom or freedom, but it also strips away decency and the qualities of humanity that I hold valuable. It's interesting. As much as everybody [in Andor] is coalescing around the rebellion and the revolution, you don't have anybody ever really articulating what their version of the post-revolutionary world should look like. There are people that disagree, but we never get into their ideologies. We're not talking about tax theory here, and I'm not talking about free market economy or supply-side. My feeling is, in the current environment, we've moved past the political into the moral. ... When you move past politics into morality, something is really epically, globally wrong. In addition to being nominated for Best Series, you also have a nod for Original Music and Lyrics alongside Nicholas Britell for "We Are the Ghor." Yes! I want this. I want this Emmy really badly. You could say that I'm smiling, but yeah, I want this one. You were a musician, right? I played music really seriously for quite a few years, but it didn't work out for me. I made a very brave career shift. When Nick and I started writing, we listened to a lot of national anthems from around the world. There's some great ones, and there's some really sh-tty ones. I think [anthem writing] is a good shingle we could open up. If people want to trade up and get a new anthem, it could be a good side hustle. Best of Gold Derby 'Australian Survivor vs. The World' premiere date and cast photos: 'King' George Mladenov, Cirie Fields, Parvati Shallow … 'Five new life forms from distant planets': Everything to know about 'Alien: Earth' as new trailer drops Everything to know about 'The Pitt' Season 2, including the departure of Tracy Ifeachor's Dr. Collins Click here to read the full article. Solve the daily Crossword
