“Stranger Things 4” Turned Upside Down Part 1

So here is my review of Chapters 1-7 of “Stranger Things 4” which just dropped a little over a week ago on Netlfix. Hence, this is only part one because the remaining two chapters will drop on July 1. Be warned. This review contains SPOILERS from the Upside Down. Vecna Beckons!!!

Eddie Munson of the Hellfire Club

A while back I wrote some predictions about the first two chapters of “Stranger Things 4” found here. It’s time to see if I was on the money or not. In that article I shared that the Hellfire Club could refer to villains in the X-Men Comic Book since our gang continues to reference themselves as these mutants ever since season one. I was dead wrong. Turns out the Hellfire Club refers to a D&D club in Hawkins High that Mike and company are a part of. let me get this out of the way…that Hellfire Club shirt is sick. I WANT ONE!!!

Back on point, I also said that the chapter entitled, “Vecna’s Curse” had something to do with the great evil lich deity of D&D known as Vecna, and that he would be the big baddie for season four. I was un-dead right about this one. Vecna is the villain as named by Dustin in chapter two. He is the susptected general of the Mind Flayer. 50% is a good batting average in this case. Yay for me.

Mike and Jane

With my previous review out of the way, I can now focus on the overarching theme of season four: El/Jane’s past and present. That alone smells a lot like those X-Men comic books from days of yore. Jane is not having a great time in Leonora Hills, California. In fact, she is experiencing the same (and maybe worse) bullying treatment that Mike, and his friends had back in Hawkins. And now that she is powerless, she really is caught in a bind on how to defend herself. This bullying story arc experienced by El is a tip of the hat to Stephen King’s “Carrie”. Just like in “Carrie”, a high school girl is bullied. Later, Carrie unlocks her psychic powers and goes all Dark Phoenix on everyone. Psychic powers sound familiar? They should since that’s Eleven in a nutshell. Though she didn’t unlock her psychic powers due to bullying, she is in the process of unlocking them by the end of chapter seven.

Vecna

“Carrie” is not the only horror movie referenced in “Stranger Things 4”. An even bigger reference comes in the villainous Vecna who kills his teenage victims through their dreams. This of course has a similar trope to Freddy Kruger the Nightmare villain from “A Nightmare on Elm Street” movie franchise. Furthermore, in the tradition of casting 1980s movie icons, “Stranger Things 4” cast Robert Englund as Victor Creel, the imprisoned killer of his family. Victor is locked in an asylum for the criminally insane for his family’s murder. Later we find out that Victor is as much a victim, and is not the real killer of his family.

Joyce and Murray in Russia

Aside from Eleven’s overarching story, we also have Joyce, and Murray on a side quest to rescue Harper from captivity in Russia. If you recall at the end of season three, Hopper is alive, and we get to see how he survived along with how he is coping with imprisonment in Soviet Russia. This is an important story arc since Hopper, and company discover that there is a Demogorgon in Russia. Where did this come from? Does that mean that there is an opening to the Upside Down in Russia? This actually might help Joyce, and Murray in their rescue mission. Last we see them, they are still in prison albeit with an escaped Hopper, but no way to get back home. Perhaps the way home is through this gateway to the Upside Down possibly in Russia? We’ll see.

Dustin and the Sinclair Siblings

Another interesting story element in “Stranger Things 4” is the problem with Nancy. When Nancy, and the older kids enter the Upside Down, she discovers that her home in the Upside Down is trapped in the past. Particularly, her home is trapped in 1983—all the way back to season one when these weird events in Hawkins happens. What does this all mean? Here’s what I think. What if this isn’t the real Nancy anymore? What if this is a doppelganger of Nancy, and the original is already dead? This would make a lot of sense for: 1. She was the only one targetted by Vecna to stay in the Upside Down with everyone else escaping; and 2. A doppelganger is also one of those known monsters from D&D. Maybe this Doppelganger lost its memory, and believes she is the real Nancy? That would really add to the horror element that is a major focus of “Stranger Things 4”.

Steve, Robin, Max, and Dustin in the Video Shop

What else do I expect from the last two episodes of “Stranger Things 4”? Well, there’s that epic showdown between Eleven and One who turns out to be the monster Vecna transformed by the Upside Down. It’s not a question of IF El will get her powers, but WHEN. And since chapter nine is clocked at two hours, and thirty minutes, it would be a waste for that NOT to happen.

Additionally, there might be a possible break-up in the horizon between El, and Mike. Then there is the possible break-up of Nancy, and Jonathan. All signs are there, and we’ll see if this actually happens. But, where there are breakups, there are also get-togethers. There are indicators that Max, and Lucas will get back together. Both were no longer a couple at the beginning of “Stranger Things 4”. Another possibility is Steve, and Nancy getting back together with the backlash of Nancy’s break-up with Jonathan. We’ll have to wait for July 1 to see if any of these specualtions come to fruition.

Max, and Lucas

On a more personal note, of all the seasons of Stranger Things this is the season that hits close to home. Unlike these kids, I was exposed to D&D in high school. I enjoyed it with my friends. I enjoyed comic books with my friends. I loved everything geeky about me with my friends. Like these characters, I was the target of being mocked, and bullied because of this. I could empathize with the anger, and frustration that El was feeling. I could empathize with how Mike, and company were treated back in Hawkins. Eddie Munson said it best: “Forced Conforming”. Children can be cruel, and teens more so. Who would have thought that decades down the line what once was maligned is now celebrated? Shout out to all those naysayers, and non-believers out there. “Stranger Things 4” is for ALL OF YOU with an Eddie Munson double middle finger.

Stranger Things 4 Poster

As a season, this latest installment of “Stranger Things” takes me back to season one which is to my mind the best season so far. Though, season four is looking like it will at the very least equal, if not surpass the storytelling drama of season one. That’s just how great this new season is to me. “Stranger Things 4” is now streaming on Netflix.

Cobra Kai Season 4 is the Best Season Yet

Season one of ‘Cobra Kai‘ will be remembered as an excellent return to the ‘Karate Kid’ franchise. Season two might have the greatest cliffhanger. Season three expanded on the story, and provided what’s yet to come. Add those together, and you have all the elements of Cobra Kai’s season four which is in my opinion the best season yet.

Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do in Training

Going back in, you have to remember that this is a ‘Cobra Kai’ series, not a ‘Karate Kid’ series. That in itself should temper your expectations about where the story is headed. When you put in that mindset, you will not be surprised with the storytelling direction this series goes towards. That is not to say that the plot is predictable. On the contrary, the focus on ‘Cobra Kai’ allows this series to have a life of its own taking elements of the past, and carrying them over into the future.

TheReturn of Terry Silver

Indeed, one of the many strengths of ‘Cobra Kai’ is that it doesn’t fall into the trap of rebooting an already existing franchise. This has been the fault of many creators who wish to use nostalgia as a selling point to fairly recent series, and even movies. ‘Cobra Kai’ does none of that, and instead draws in seasoned fans together with newer ones which allows the series to spread wide its Eagle Fang wings. This reminds me of another Netlfix series that follows an almost similar formula. In any case, season four has shown that there is still more story to tell without spreading the plot thin.

Johhny Lawrence and Miguel in a Light Moment

One of the many strengths that ‘Cobra Kai’ provides at its onset was the focus on generational relationships between characters, starting with that off with Johnny Lawrence and Miguel Diaz. From there, the series has expanded to many inter-generataional relationships that highlight a reverence for the past without limiting the future. This rich mix of the compromised present between generations goes to the root of what the series offers: a balance of both cultures for a much better direction.

Sensei Kreese

‘Cobra Kai’ has also provided a rich bevy of antagonists both old, and new that keeps the tension going from episode to episode. Though, season foun underpins a another important story element of ‘Cobra Kai’. The enemy is not one person or group of individuals. The real enemy is the ideals that ‘Cobra Kai’ set from its inception. Something that even sensei Kreese is beginning to realize. As such, ‘Cobra Kai’ will never end until these ideals of ‘no mercy’, and ‘strike first’ are burried in the foundation from which it was found.

Robby Keene and Tory Nichols

This leads to another dilemma that season four answers. Are all the teachings of ‘Cobra Kai’ truly evil? From the story set so far, the answer is a resounding ‘NO!’. Even from the most evil of origins, there is still some good that can be taken from it. However, the series moves to destroy these bad apples, and their tree while keeping the good ones to create something newer and far better. This evolution of beliefs will be the lynchpin that will hopefully unite Miyagi-Do, and Eagle Fang. The latter takes some of its templates from ‘Cobra Kai’, but without the destructive mindset.

Image for Cobra Kai Season 4

If you haven’t watched ‘Cobra Kai’ yet, now’s the time to start binge-watching. As a series, season four set the bar even higher, and this is well within the limits of ‘Cobra Kai’. This series shows the way on how to take a nostalgic franchise into the present audience in karate style. ‘Cobra Kai’ is now streaming on Netflix.

Masters of the Universe Revelation Part Two: The Return of Magic

Ask long-time fans of this property, and you will find a great number of them were shocked with some being incensed with the revelations shown in part one of this animated series. Many thought it would be a retelling. Others thought it would be nostalgically more of the same. Few expected (or even wanted) a continuation of the story of Eternia that would focus on Teela and the death of He-Man. With part two of ‘Masters of the Universe Revelation’ we get to see why the series headed in that direction as it sets up a bigger universe for future stories.

Storytelling-wise, who would be stupid enough to resurrect Adam to later on kill him again? Not Kevin Smith. That would be bad storytelling basics. In fact, when I saw the possibility of Adam’s death at the end of part one, I was more intrigued than disappointed. Albeit, the intrigue was tempered with caution, and I was willing to see where this all led. With the now completed story of ‘Masters of the Universe Revelation’, we can see how the magic was returned in grandiose fashion.

One aspect of the part one that was found lacking was the absence of Skeletor as voiced by Mark Hamill. Skeletor’s screen time in part two was much welcomed in sight and sound. Mark Hamill truly portrays Skeletor as the funny maniacal villain he has always been. With Skeletor’s return we also have He-Man/Adam. The constant bickering between these two rivals reminded me partly of what made this series so great in the past. These two characters have experienced their own transformations in this series that expanded on their character growth. However as already proven, ‘Masters of the Universe Revelation’ doesn’t rest on its laurels. It takes this story of good vs. evil to newer and greater heights.

The decission to focus on Teela for magic’s return to Eternia is now revealed in part two’s story arc. Heir apparent to the secrets of Grayskull, she now is called upon to wear some heavy shoes (wings?). Though as is the case for ‘Masters of the Universe Revelations’, Teela finds a different way of practicing her stewardship of magic. There is a metatext in this decision that rings true for this series: why restrict when we can expand? As such, Teela grows into her birthright with the same role, but with a more expanded reach.

Aside from character development, one of part two’s strengths lies in the nature of power. Pure power can be terrifiying. It destroys anything in its path with no rhyme nor reason. However, the magic of Grayskull isn’t just about power. It’s power tempered by wisdom. Without wisdom, power only seeks to destroy and rule. With wisdom, the weilder of power is guided to better decisions, AND the willingness to share this power with others. More so, true power lies in a person willing to relinquish it with the wisdom that it will return when needed. This is shown with much detail in ‘Masters of the Universe Revelation’.

With magic returned to Eternia, the series ends with a not-so subtle cliffhanger of what to expect next. Skeletor remains the great evil of Eternia, but he is not the only one in the universe. Expect future installments of ‘Masters of the Universe Revelation’ to continue on expanding the reach of its magic beyond Eternia for the honor of Grayskull (wink). ‘Masters of the Universe Revelations’ is streaming on Netflix.

Arcane on Netflix : A Legendary League of Its Own

To start, I do not play League of Legends. I have little background on the game other than it is one of the best MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) games around. I was drawn to this series because of the animation, and it intrigued me. So, I jumped in with the knowledge that I have. That turned out to be an excellent choice.

Based on the game created by Riot Games, the story of ‘Arcane’ begins with sisters Violet and Powder. Both are part of a rag-tag group of youngsters on an unsanctioned heist in the city of Piltover. This singular action leads to a chain of events that serve as the backdop of the story of some of the well-known, and used, champions found on League of Legends. From there, the lore and world-building expands that even viewers with a cursory knowledge of the property (like myself) can dive into this epic story, and not feel left out.

In fact, one of the major strengths of ‘Arcane’ is its ability to draw the audience in, and immerse them in the world without any need of looking outside the material you have before you. Granted, having a background on the League of Legends will help you enjoy this series. However, knowledge of the game, or lack thereof, will not diminish an appreciation of this beautiful animated series.

For me, there are table top roleplaying game elements that I can draw upon to relate to ‘Arcane’. The mention of Shimmer and Hextech reminds me of Juicer technology and Techno-magic in one of my favorite games, Rifts. Both Shimmer and Hextech serve as important plot elements in the story that drive these characters onwards to an as of yet undefined end. The uncetaintly is not a negative element of ‘Arcane’. It allows for future installments of the series to sprout out, and, after the success of this first set of nine episodes, I would expect more seasons to follow.

As for the animation, it is cutting edge, and definitely draws new viewers to the property into its world. The designs give an apt cyberpunk feel to the story, and adds to a charm unique to ‘Arcane’. In effect, the visuals properly complement the story that unfolds before your eyes as we delve into the lives of Violet/Vi, Powder/Jinx, and all the other League of Legends champions that appear in ‘Arcane’. Though it does not stop at the origins of each character. It continues the story beyond that, and provides viewers with more story plots to come as current ones expand while some end.

Season one of ‘Arcane’ ends in the same way it began…in explosive fashion. Though the relationship of Vi and Jinx serve as the driving force of the story, other characters such as Jayce and Caitlyn provide their own motivations to keep the story going. If the tension between characters was not enough, the building tension between Piltover and Zaun just adds more intrigue to an already eventful series. The conflict is reminiscent of H. G. Wells classic ‘Time Machine’ between the Morlocks and Eloi.

Overall, ‘Arcane’ came a bit of a surprise to me because I enjoyed it in spite of my lack of knowledge with League of Legends. This is an excellent animated series on Netflix so if you are into a great cyberpunk story with outstanding visual storytelling, you should give this series a try. ‘Arcane’ is now streaming on Netflix.

Stranger Things 4: The Hellfire Club and Vecna’s Curse

November 6 marks the anniversary of the abduction of Will Byers in Stranger Things canon, and it was celebrated with the release of two new teasers. One is the Teaser Trailer for the fourth season which you can find here:

And, the other is a Title Tease video which you can view here:

The title tease trailer also confirms the release date of Stranger Things 4: Summer 2022.

I know this is enough to keep us hyped for next year. However, I’d like to focus on two episode titles found in the Title Tease video: The Hellfire Club, and Vecna’s Curse. Of the titles given for episodes, these go to the very reason why I loved this Netflix series to begin with: comic books and Dungeons & Dragons. So, what could these titles possibly mean? Read on.

Let’s start with ‘The Hellfire Club’. In Marvel comic book canon, The Hellfire Club refers to a group of super villains who go up against the X-men. If you recall in season one, there is a reference to X-Men #134 which is the first appearance of Dark Phoenix and the beginning of the seminal storyline Dark Phoenix Saga by Claremont and Byrne. Now Stranger Things has been pretty good at foreshadowing its events, with the Dark Phoenix Saga referencing the coming of Eleven, and her eventual ‘death’ at the end of season one. In fact, The Hellfire Club appeared in that very same comic book, and that reference is just too uncanny (sorry) to not be significant.

So what could this mean for this episode actually? Well, for one this could refer to a group of individuals who would like to take advantage of poor Eleven/Jane. We’ve already seen that happen before, so what else could this add to the the story? This could mean a ‘super villain’ group to match the X-men that is our group of geeks. This group might appear to have Eleven’s best interest at heart, but gets unmasked when Eleven’s powers resurface, and our group from Hawkins find her. So are we looking at a bunch of new friends from Eleven’s new school in California as shown in the teaser trailer? Hmm…

The second title is Vecna’s Curse. Now this title is closer to my heart. I’ve been a longttime D&D player and dungeon master. Knowing Vecna is almost second nature to me, and most anyone who has played D&D in the Flaeness or any other campaign world that this Lich-god has surfaced. Vecna is a former wizard turned lich turned greater deity. He is also known for his two powerful artifacts: The Eye and Hand of Vecna. Needless to say, this character in D&D lore is not only a powerful adversary, he is also one of the most dangerous antagonists in Dungeons and Dragons canon. Just like comic books, D&D is embedded into the soul of what makes Stranger Things so great, and I’m not surprised they used Vecna as reference with our already iconic use of Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer.

So what could Vecna’s Curse actually mean? Three things come to my mind. One is that we already know from the end of season three that there is a ‘Demogorgon’ in Russia. The other is the return of the Mind Flayer because of the Russians as well. Finally, we could see the return of Dr. Martin Brenner in some form.

I’ll start with the last. It has been hinted on that Dr. Brenner is not actually dead in the series. Whether this is true or not, the reference to Vecna could be about his return to life (like a lich) or the legacy of his experiments (like the Eye and Hand of Vecna). It might even be a combination of both. Demogorgon and the mind flayer are easier pitches, since we have already seen the Russians with their own ‘Demogorgon’ which could mean they have access to the Upside Down somehow. Thus we have Vecna’s Curse.

In any case, Vecna’s Curse would refer to the return of an old threat. And, I can’t think of any other old threat to come out than the three I had already mentioned.

Am I right? Am I wrong? I’ll be waiting patiently the next few months to find out myself. Till then, we can all binge watch the three seasons of Stranger Things on Netflix.

Locke and Key Season Two: Closes Doors Unlocks New Ones

It didn’t take Netflix long to come up with a second season, and it didn’t disappoint. I must say that the season one cliffhanger was really a stinger, and the series writers really know how to keep you hanging. Dodge/Lucas is a great villain to hate, and that is more so highlighted in season two.

We ended season one with the revelation that Gabe was Dodge this entire time, and has some dastardly plans not just for the keys but for fearless Kinsey Locke. It’s a twisted Romeo and Juliet story with a demon masquerading as a prince. And, Kinsey doesn’t appreaciate it when she finds out which leads her to doubt her abilities. Also, Eden goes into full demon mode, and provides Gabe with the ally that he needs. Or does she? It’s a very shaky alliance that they have which adds an additional layer to the story. Sometimes I really get irritated that the Locke children are slow on the uptake for taking their time in figuring these two demons out. On the ohter hand, I am reminded that they ARE CHILDREN so having difficulty handling conniving demons is quite understandable. Though, It doesn’t lessen my frustration as the Locke siblings get manipulated back-and-forth by these two. Ir just makes the series that much more entertaining.

Another part of season two that I like is the introduction of new keys. In fact, the beginning of each episode identifies which key is the focus of the story with an animated key intro that basically tells you what the key does. I’ll admit though that my favorite key is the Head Key, and to my mind (see what I did there?) it is the most powerful key in the series. This too is highlighted in this season, and the Head Key is shown to have many uses. The geek in me would just LOVE to have that key to dump in several books of knowledge or other possible sources of them (including making new keys. hihi) to come up with whatever I wish. I’m not sure the Locke siblings know just how powerful that key actually is, but they use it to some advantage in season two.

We also find out in better detail how and when adults start forgetting the magic of the key which explains why poor Nina Locke is oblivious to all that is happening in Keyhouse, and why Duncan can’t remember anything from his past about the keys. However, this loss of memory with Duncan is temporary as there is (TADA) a Memory Key that allows people to remember the magic of the keys even as people grow to adulthood. Related to this, we also find out that only the Lockes have the capacity to make these keys, and requires what is called whispering iron to make. This leads to all sorts of chaos because Gabe wants to make his own key, and finds out this important bit of information.

This new key that Gabe desires, the Demon Key, becomes the center of all the problems in season two. Though it also leads indirectly to the source of Gabe’s eventual destruction. It’s sad to see a great villain go, but he does go out with a bang. In Gabe/Dodge’s defeat we see Kinsey take up the reigns of leadership as she literally soars through the sky. The victory is won at a cost however since there is no curing victims of the Demon Key, and people die left and right in a glorious climactic battle. The end result is Dodge finally slain (or is s/he?) at the hands of Tyler’s Alpha Key. With this, everything returns back to normal in Matheson, Massachusetts. Right?

Not quite. For one, Tyler decides that he doesn’t want to remember the magic of the keys anymore and goes on a road trip with Uncle Dunc’s newly restored GTO. Of course his girlfriend Jackie’s possession and death has something to do with it so it’s normal for him to want to forget everything. That’s one less protector of the keys for now. Secondly, Nina Locke appears to have been propositioned by Bode to remember EVERYTHING about the keys. That can of worms will open a lot of new story threads for season three. Also, fans might mourn the death of Erin Voss, but Ellie is back (YEY!), and Lucas’s echoe is free of Dodge’s influence. I’m not sure how that works, but Ellie and Lucas’s dynamic will be something to watch out for in future stories. Finally, Dodge might be gone, but we have a new villain. From Eden’s expression, this new demonic player might even be more dangerous than Dodge. I’m not sure if he’s more cunning though. We’ll have to wait and see.

All in all, Locke and Key season two has finished some story threads, and ends on a satisfying note. It does provide some new story hooks that will keep me waiting with eager anticipation for the next season. Catch up if you haven’t. Locke and Key is one of the best shows around. Watch it on Netflix.

The Sandman and Cowboy Bebop at TUDUM Netflix Global Event

I was able to attend the recent TUDUM Netflix Global Fan Event, and as much as I’d like to talk about some of my favorite running shows on the online platform that showed updates in the event ( Stranger Things and Cobra Kai come to mind), I’d rather focus on two upcoming shows that had me watching this event in the first place: The Sandman and Cowboy Bebop. Both Cowboy Beebop and The Sandman will be coming out with live-action series Cowboy Bebop is slated coming this November, while The Sandman has an as of yet unanounced release date. Lucky for me I was able to get a couple of screenshot images of both shows at the global event. So, let’s get the ball rolling, and onto what I picked up from the event.

For months back until today, we’ve had only interviews and a few set images on The Sandman. With TUDUM Netflix, a short video clip was shown of the series. In it we get to see Tom Sturridge as Dream…and it was a visual feast.

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As you can see, there are quite a few bits of information coming from the images. One, you get to see Tom in AND out of costume as Dream trapped in a summoning circle. Two, Sandman’s pouch of dust is also shown in the second image. Third, we can see the Corinthian in the subs narrating the events of Dream’s confinement. Fourth, and most importantly to me, it was very striking how the video clip as highlighted in these images bears an uncanny resemblance to the pages of The Sandman: Master of Dreams, the very first issue of the seminal series. If these images from the TUDUM Netflix Global event are any indication, we are in for a series that literally takes its pages from the comic book itself. I myself am giddy with anticipation, and excitement.

Check out the entire video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBXqrBl6pEo

As for Cowboy Bebop, there were a few images released for the series, and even confirmation for the soundtrack in the past. But, a big concern from a lot of fans was the exclusion of Ed from the series. Ed is the young computer hacker who became an essential part of the Beebop crew. Well, we have an update of the character’s status. It’s best that Ein shows you with the image below.

From Ein’s bowl, we can see that Ed HAS BEEN CAST, and we’ll just have to wait for the reveal of who plays Ed’s character when the show releases on November 16. However, this reveal wasn’t the only news we got from Netflix. We also got shown the opening credits to Cowboy Bebop. No words can describe how ecstatic I was to see it. Here are a few screenshots below.

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What do you notice from the images? That’s right, this is an anime-acurate depiction of the original Sunrise opening in the 90s. I was givng this video a slow clap when it was done. Any concerns of the series being true to the source were dispelled with this opening.

You can see the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq2N-9EmedA

Needless to say, I was brought to near tears when I saw both videos of The Sandman, and Cowboy Bebop. The geek in me jumped for joy and my heart skipped several beats.

What do you think of the news on The Sandman and Cowboy Beebop? Let me know in the comments below.

‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’ Continues the story of Eternia

One of the most anticipated animated series of the year, ‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’ with showrunner Kevin Smith brings us back to a world of magic to once again enchant its viewers with the power of Grayskull. Or does it? A lot has been rumored, and said about this latest take on He-Man and Eternia before this series even came out. Expectations are high, and the fandom, both new and seasoned, are caught in the hype. So, let me get this out of the way. This is NOT a reboot. The story doesn’t begin from the origins of He-Man and continues on familiar paths of nostalgia. ‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’ is a sequel of events from the 1980s series. This Netflix show takes the story of Eternia and magic forward into uncharted territory. In effect, the story adds to the mythos of a much beloved series.

If there was one aspect of ‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’ that jumps out to you full force, it is the animation. The treatment is beautiful, and nostalgic of the way the 1980s series looked like with an updated, but similar feel. The animation delivers a style that will draw long-time fans in while encouraging newer viewers to follow. To accompany the visual spectacle, the musical score matches the feel of the series. The music is all new, but still captures the regal nature of the animation, and compliments it with much gusto. Among the voice actors, the voices of Sarah Michelle Gellar(Teela), Lena Heady(Evil-Lyn), and Mark Hamill (Skeletor) stand out to genuinely capture the feel of the original series that add to the nostalgia. The end result is that we have a new series that pays proper homage to the original series both visually, and audibly.

That being said, the story advances the He-Man mythos in a manner that was heart-wrenching. Long-time fans might call foul with the way the narrative changes from the get-go, though the treatment of the events furthers the story ‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’ wishes to tell. The shock factor is real, and by the end of episode one some viewers might find themselves in denial of what actually happened. However, new elements added to the legend of Eternia fully explains the direction of this added narrative.

In ‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’ new alliances are formed while old ones are broken. This creates an interesting dynamic among the characters who further the story forward. The existence of magic lies at the heart of the plot of this animated series, and it is placed opposite technology as essential elements for the existence of Eternia. Nevertheless, the series focuses on the importance of magic not just to Eternia, but the continued survival of the universe. It is in this manner that we find our newly-alligned characters setting aside their differences in order to reclaim magic as the foundation of Eternia.

‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’ highlights the character development of different characters from this animated franchise. There is a reason why ‘He-Man’ does not form part of the title for this series. You will still see He-Man and Skeletor throughout these five episodes, but other characters in the series take center-stage when the two traditional rivals,He-Man and Skeletor, take a back seat for other characters to shine.

‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’ leaves us with an interesting cliffhanger that shows the reigns of magical power in Eternia shift for the worse. This cliffhanger fuels the flames of uncertainty for this sereis. Granted, there is an expectation that magic will be restored to its proper place in the universe. However, it is the manner by which magic will be restored that will determine the ultimate fate and success of this continuing franchise.

As it stands, ‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’ leaves us with more questions than answers. Hopefully, we get to see magic restored to the true Masters of the Universe.

‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’ is now streaming on Netflix.

‘Rurouni Kenshin: The Final’: The Curtain Call to One of the Best Live Action Anime Adaptations

Seven Years. Seven grueling years. That’s how long it took for ‘Rurouni Kenshin: The Final’ to come out. I have to give it to the creators of the live-action franchise. They focused on stories that highlight what Kenshin’s life is all about. The latest film in the Samurai X franchise highlights that as well. This movie series is one of the best anime adaptations to come out, and it really shows.

The story begins after the events of ‘Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends’. With Shishio gone, what’s life like in Japan? As soon as you thought that Kenshin and Kaoru will have a peaceful life, an element from Kenshin’s past shows up which explains why Kenshin is so daft in expressing his feelings towards Kaoru. Behind that smile, Kenshin has always been a tragic hero,and this further highlighted in ‘Rurouni Kenshin: The Final’. There’s never a dull moment for the former Battosai, and his former life as a killer haunts him in this movie.

Aside from Kenshin and Kaoru, we have a lot of returning characters but not all of them get to see the end of the film. As this is further down the line in Japanese history, there are a lot more technological improvements particularly in the existence of firearms which are now more prevalent. In spite of this, we get to see just how legendary Kenshin’s skills are even though he continues to use his reverse-blade sword. Reformed from Kenshin’s life as Battosai, he continues to honor his promise to not kill people even though this code is really put to the test amidst the deadly past that haunts him. Truly, his entire moral code is tested in the film as he continously comes to blows not just with his adversaries, but also with mistakes made in his past life as Battosai.

Kenshin not only wrestles with his moral code, but he also grapples with his feelings towards Kaoru. His desensitized feelings towards Kaoru are further explained if not justified by his previous romantic relationship. Kenshin struggles to come to grips with his past failure, and this curtails his decision-making on what he needs to do. Thankfully, he is able to resolve this inner conflict in time to the benefit of his friends, and the current Japanese status quo he swore to protect. This leads to an action-packed conclusion that puts into display why this Rurouni Kenshin franchise is one of the best anime adaptations ever created.

Having said that, ‘Rorouni Kenshin: The Final’ is a story about moving on from the past. Everybody deserves to be happy, and that includes our tragic hero, Kenshin Himura. This film, allows for Kenshin and the rest of the characters to move into a Japanese future of peace in the new regime. Here we see that the internal struggles are self-inflicted, and hamper one’s perception of an individual’s surroundings. As shown in the film, once these internal demons are overcome, the present and future become more of a blessing than a burden. True, there are some differences between the original anime and this film, but I see no problem with giving Kenshin the ending he deserves.

All in all, ‘Rorouni Kenshin: The Final’ does not skip a beat, and continues the tradition of providing beautiful storytelling coupled with exhilirating action scenes that its predecessors in the movie franchise provided. I’m sad to see it all end, but if this is how it ends, then it is a fitting ending to this film series.

‘Rurouni Kenshin: The Final’ is now streaming on Netflix.

A Spoilerless Review on Trese: A Very Filipino Supernatural Series

‘Trese’ is a comic book series created by Filipino writer-creator Budjette Tan and illustrator-creator Kajo Baldisimo. The story focuses on main protagonist Alexandra Trese, the Lakan of Humanity, who is tasked in maintaining the delicate balance of the supernatural and natural world. Joining her are two supernatural entities named Basilio and Crispin. Together, these three characters protect the streets of Metro Manila against the supernatural threats that lie in the shadows, hiding sometimes in plain sight among the masses of humanity. This is the first Filipino comic book adapted by Netflix much to the delight of fans who have supported this Filipino comic book from 2005 up till now.

Firstly, I have three words to get off my chest: Tang ina WOW. Those were my initial thoughts when I started viewing this series when it premiered on Netflix. Alexandra Trese projects herself as a mix of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and John Constantine rolled into one. In fact, there are elements of both characters in her own character portfolio. The series presents Filipino supernatural mythology similar to how Neil Gaiman presents them in his novel American Gods. These comparisons with character and story references should give you an idea on the treatment of ‘Trese’ as it now appears on screen. Or course, an important aspect of the story is that it takes place within the confines of Metro Manila, Philippines. ‘Trese’ shows us that there are really monsters in the dark mixed with the monsters of humanity. But, I am getting ahead of myself.

In order to properly appreciate ‘Trese’ you have to watch it using English dubs. This might sound like sacrilege to my Filipino compatriots, but, just like all series, it is best watched using the orignal language that was used for the show. In this case, English is the original language,not Filipino, and the dubbing fits better with the English dubs. Though, the English dubs do retain Filipino words and phrases particularly in spellcasting and words that do not have any direct translation in English. This in itself gives enough local feel to the series to enhance the already Filipino setting of the story.

‘Trese’ shows us the existence of monsters in its Filipino landscape, and these monsters aren’t necessarily inhuman. The human antagonists in the series are revealed to be monsters themselves, and sometimes even more monstrous than their inhuman counterparts. As such, Metro Manila is presented as a place of fear and mistrust with Alexandra, Basilio and Crispin ensuring that there is enough security to make the city at the very least liveable. Indeed, how can you rest easy knowing that there are monsters lurking in every corner, and that they are not necessarily inhuman?

Aside from showing the supernatural and superstitious believes of the Philippines, ‘Trese’ presents some real life problems faced by Philippine society. From the simple problems like train stoppages and drag racing, to bigger ones that involve poverty, police brutality and corrupt politicians. These societal issues ground the series to make it very relatable in spite of its supernatural flavor. These aspects of Philippine culture make the series very relatable particularly to Filipinos who expereince these issues on a regular basis.

Additionally, ‘Trese’ focuses on two important themes: destiny and family. With destiny, Alexandra Trese is forced to follow her destiny, but decides to create her own. ‘Trese’ also focuses on how family is more important than blood which translates to having a family that is not necessarily dependent on blood relations. Both thematic elements help create the climax that leads to season one’s conclusion. In the end, Alexandra shows us that you are allowed to map out your own destiny, and your family will always be there to guide you in your journey. These two thematic elements along with its grounded setting allows ‘Trese’ to resonate with its viewers who need not be necessarily Filipino.

All in all, ‘Trese’ is a seires that most assuredly will elevate Alexandra and the rest of her mythology into pop culture royalty in the Philippines. if we’re lucky, it might carry over to other parts of the world.

Tabi tabi po. ‘Trese’ is now streaming on Netflix.