TV Review: Black Lightning Series 1 Episode 1 "The Resurrection" - Series Premiere [Emz]

So this is the latest TV show to come from the DC TV universe, following after Arrow, The Flash, Legends Of Tomorrow and Supergirl.

The show is currently airing on The CW in america and unlike the other DC shows which air on Sky One in the UK, it is currently airing weekly on Netflix.

The first episode was released on the 23rd January on Nexflix.

The show stars Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce/ Black Lighting, China Anne McClain as Jennifer Pierce, Nafessa Williams as Anissa Pierce, Christine Adams as Lynn Stewart, Marvin "Krondon" Jones III as Tobias Whale, Damon Gupton as Billy Henderson and James Remar as Peter Gambi.

Here is the Synopsis

A former superhero with the power to control and harness lightning, Jefferson Pierce, otherwise known as Black Lightning, unrolls the secrets of his past to protect his city and his family.

Review:

So there are a couple of familiar faces in this show. Cress Williams has previously starred in Hart Of Dixie, China Anne McClain has starred in ANT Farm on Disney Channel and most recently portrayed Uma in Disney's Descendants 2. Finally I recognized the actress who plays Jefferson's ex-wife Lynn Stewart, She is portrayed by Christine Adams, I remember her from an episode of Doctor Who in 2005 called The Long Game, her characters name was Cathica.

Anyway, I have currently watched 3 out of 4 episodes that have been released on Netflix ( I will watch the latest one tonight.)

So I find the themes of this show interesting, Gang Violence, Racism, drugs and alcohol to name but a few. 

Racism is shown when Jefferson gets pulled over by Police and is handcuffed before he is identified as not being the culprit behind a robbery. Drugs and Alcohol are shown when Jefferson's youngest daughter Jennifer, goes to a club and uses drugs and drinks alcohol, Gang Violence is shown when Jefferson's daughters are kidnapped by a member of the 100 gang and are to be used as prostitutes.

So When the show first airs we are treated to flashbacks of Jefferson as Black Lightning almost dying after trying to kill Tobias Whale and he tell Lynn (his then wife) that he is going to give it all up. (Jefferson has the ability to harness and control lightning). So when we return to present day, he hasn't masqueraded as Black Lightning in quite some time. In his retirement he has become the Principal of Garfield High School.

Jefferson bring Black Lightning out of retirement to save his daughters lives, his tailor, Peter Gambi is behind the Black Lightning outfit and has given him an upgrade.

Following Jefferson reusing his powers to save his daughters, we are treated to a clip of Anissa having a panic attack and breaking the bathroom sink, this could be a sign of things to come as in the comics both Jefferson's daughters are superhero's also.

I will be posting about the following episodes soon.

Till then

Emz x

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DVD Review: Wonder Woman [Emz]

I recently purchased this DVD a couple of weeks ago. I really enjoyed this film when I sawe it at the Cinema and couldn't wait to see it again.

The film stars Chris Pine and Gal Gadot.

Here is the synopsis of the film:

Before she was Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, Diana meets an American pilot (Chris Pine) who tells her about the massive conflict that's raging in the outside world. Convinced that she can stop the threat, Diana leaves her home for the first time. Fighting alongside men in a war to end all wars, she finally discovers her full powers and true destiny.

Review:

This film was brilliant. I enjoyed the way Gal Gadot portrayed Diana (Wonder Woman) as a member of the amazons at the beginning, being naive to the world outside. The way she didn't understand the way people lived and dressed, her mind was only focused on one thing.

Of course when Chirs Pines character of Steve, an american Pilot comes crashing through the barrier between the amazons home and the outside world everything changes.

Diana's character seems to grow throughout the film, becoming aware of things around her but still set on one important mission.

Of course not everything goes to plan and just as she thinks she has succeeded in her mission, she suddenly realizes that her mission hasn't been completed and the battle is just about to begin.

The fact that the story is set during World War 1 makes the tale more interesting, looking back into the past and the way this story works around alongside the war and doesn't overlook it completely. 

We realize that the Diana that we meet in Batman V Superman as been around quite some time and has become accustomed to how people live.

I enjoyed this film immensely and feel that a female hero (origins story) is what is currently lacking in Marvel until 2019 (Captain Marvel) and that DC has pulled this film off very well.

There is supposed to be a sequel being released in 2019, where this film will fall in Diana's timeline i'm not sure but it will be interesting to see.

I look forward to seeing Justice League from the 17th November.

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: The Flash Season 3 Episode 7 "Killer Frost" [Emz]

Now this episode was definitely the start of an interesting character arc. The episodes from the beginning of this season have been leading up to this and we had glimpses of this happening from previous seasons  when we met their Earth-2 counterpart.

I am of course talking about Caitlin Snow becoming Killer Frost. 

Here is the Synopsis:

Caitlin's inner Killer Frost is unleashed after she uses her powers to save Barry; on a rampage, Killer Frost goes looking for Dr. Alchemy, kidnaps Julian and battles both The Flash and Vibe; Joe and H.R. have an honest discussion.

Review:

Blimey this episode really kicked this season up a notch. Last episode we had the revealing of the main villain Savitar and we saw Wally become encased in a cocoon.

So how does Caitlin become killer Frost you ask? Well we see Savitar kidnap Barry (The Flash) and seemingly teleport him all over the city, once they arrive at a nearby destination Iris asks Caitlin to help stop Savitar from killing Barry by using her powers, (she informed the team about them last episode) Caitlin was unsure but she helped him anyway.

This is what caused her to lose control over her powers. she manipulates Joe in to thinking that Wally was awake so she could gather information on Doctor Alchemy, what for we don't know in the beginning. 

She abducts Julian to help her search for Doctor Alchemy and she inadvertently reveals that she wants to get rid of her powers. Of course she learns from a follower that Alchemy would not get rid of her powers and that Savitar would have plans for her.

After a battle with Cisco and The Flash, Caitlin is eventually captured. During this time we see Joe and H.R. break open the Cocoon that Wally is in and he hasn't yet completely bonded with his powers. Barry tries to convince Caitlin to help them by giving her the freedom she wants, but only if she kills him. Unable to do this Caitlin rejoins the team and creates a serum which will help Wally stabilize his powers.

Following this Julian blackmails Barry to quit his job else he will tell the Police about Caitlin.

This definitely was quite an episode, there was so much going on but it all interlinked at some point or another. 

I really enjoyed Danielle Panabaker's portrayal of Killer Frost/ Caitlin Snow and look forward to what's to come.

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: The Flash Season 3 Episode 5 " Monster" [Emz]

Now this episode is again a little different. The hint of the difference is in the title.

So "Monster" originally aired on the 1st November 2016 on The CW.

Here is the synopsis:

Caitlin visits her mother to help her understand her growing meta-human powers; Barry tries to convince Julian to let him help investigate a new meta-human that is attacking Central City.

Review:

So it seems a monster is terrorising Central City. Barry and the team are having trouble with it. The other problems that they are facing are Barry being shown up  to his boss by Julian as he is late a number of times and disappears alot. 

The team are also having issues with H.R. Wells as he hasn't really done much since he arrived. 

Caitlin has taken time off and went to meet with her mother to see if she can help her with her Ice powers, they go through a number of tests until her mothers colleague doesn't want to let her go.

In the end Barry seems to make some leeway with Julian after they work out that the Monster is a Hologram and is being programmed by a young boy.

The team also realise that H.R. isn't a scientist at all.

I enjoyed the way this episode went but flt sorry for Barry and Caitlin, but laughed alot at H.R and the way he kept repeating everything Cisco and Barry said.

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Review: The Flash Season 3 Episode 4 "The New Rogues" [Emz]

Now episode 4 "The New Rogues". It was originally released on the 15th October 2016. This is an interesting one. We begin with a flashback from three years before. We also have a guest appearance from Leonard Snart aka Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller), who is currently, as far as Barry knows with the Legends.

Here is the Synopsis:

Mirror Master joins his old partner, Top, and looks to even the score with Snart; Jesse joins the chase, but her decision to defy one of Barry's orders results in terrible consequences.

Review:

I enjoyed this episode. It was a little bit different. Instead of this pair getting powers from Doctor Alchemy as they are calling him, this couple - Sam Scudder and Rosalind Dillon (aka Mirror Man and Top)

They are old "cohorts" of Leonard Snart aka Captain Cold. So they appear t have received their powers at the same time as Barry, when the particle accelerator exploded. Fast forward to present day in this episode and Rosalind is in Jail and we discover that Sam has been trapped in a mirror for 3 years.

Elsewhere, with Earth 2's Harry Wells preparing to go home along with Jesse, he helps the team search for another Harry Wells from another of the multiverses.

We also see Caitlin ice powers take hold, when Barry gets trapped in a Mirror when fighting against Sam and Jesse is unable to help as whilst battling Rosalind she is affected by Vertigo. SO, after Harry and Cisco's attempt to free Barry doesn't work, she freezes the mirror and he manages to escape.

It was also interesting to see a relationship between Jesse and Wally. Plus finally we meet anther Harry Wells, who calls himself H.R.

I each episode gets more interesting and I look forward to the next one.

Till then

Emz x

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TV Review: The Flash Season 3 Episode 2 "Paradox" [Emz]

So I just watched the second episode of Season 3. This one is called "Paradox." 

This episode originally aired on the 11th October 2016 on The CW.

Here is the synopsis:

Barry realizes the effects from Flashpoint are much greater than he thought. Meanwhile, Barry meets new co-worker Julian Albert and is surprised by Julian's immediate disdain for Barry.

Review:

Now this episode showed more of the outcome of the aftermath of Barry creating Flashpoint and then trying to reverse it.

Iris and her father don't talk, Cisco has lost his brother, Diggle (Arrow) has a son and not a daughter and Barry has a new work colleague in Julian Albert (Tom Felton.)

It was interesting to see Barry try t act like everything was normal but then he realised he couldn't keep it a secret any longer after The Rival reappears in this timeline. 

He plans to go back and change the timeline again but is stopped by another Flash, Jay Garrick. Now if my memory serves my right, Jay Garrick has appeared in The Flash season 2 wen Zoom was moonlighting as The Flash in an alternate Universe. In this episode however he has been keeping an eye on Barry and learning what he had done previously and that he was Barry's father's doppelganger (and also the actor played The Flash years ago in the 1990's TV series.)

Once he realises he can't change the past, he comes clean wth the team. Which has mixed opinions to begin with but they all decide to just get on with their lives and not know their lives in Flashpoint.

We also first hear about Doctor Alchemy and discover that Caitlin has freezing powers.

So that was a cliffhanger with Caitlin. I will review the next episode as soon as I can.

Till then 

Emz x

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TV Review: The Flash Season 3 Episode 1 "Flashpoint" [Emz]

So here we are with another TV series!

I have watched Season 1 and 2 of The Flash but it is easier to start with Season 3.

This episode first aired on the 11th October 2016 on The CW.

Here is the synopsis:

Barry is living his dream life – his parents are alive, he's asked Iris West on a date and he can finally be a normal guy as Central City has another speedster, Kid Flash, running around saving the city. When Barry starts forgetting parts of his old life, the Reverse-Flash taunts his nemesis and tells him that there will be serious repercussions for Barry and the ones he loves if he continues to live in this alternate universe. In addition to losing his memories, his powers will also start to fade. When disaster strikes, Barry must decide if he wants to continue to live in this world as Barry Allen or return to his universe as The Flash.

Review:

So at the end of Season 2, Barry loses his father and also defeats Zoom. He goes back in time and stops his mother from being killed. He ends up trying to help stop anther speedster (The Rival) and trying to meet people that he knew in his previous timeline.

In the process he starts to lose his memories so he enlists the Reverse Flash to help put the timeline back to the way it was before. He is informed after he is put back to the point where he left that things will be different.

The first sign that we see of this is Iris and her father are not talking to each other.

I enjoyed this episode, but still not sure if the whole Flashpoint storyline was worth it as it caused so many changes to the characters family and friendships.

Thats all for now.

Till next time

Emz x

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DVD Reviews: Supergirl Season 2 Premiere " The Adventures Of Supergirl" [Emz]

SO I bought this on DVD last weekend and am slowly making my way through the season.

I thought I would start by reviewing the first episode of season 2. 

The first episode is called " The Adventures of Supergirl" and in this episode we meet Superman properly for the first time.

Here is the premise:

Supergirl and Clark team up to stop a new threat emerging in National City; Alex feels left out while Kara's family stays in town; a pod comes crashing down to earth.

So we have a few new faces this season. Including a new character, Lena Luthor she is portrayed by Katie McGrath best known for playing Morgana is the BBC series Merlin.

Review:

I enjoyed this episode. It showed the growth in Kara's character since we first met her at the beginning of Season 1. She is no longer an assistant and has now decided to be a reporter. She is still fighting Aliens and criminals as Supergirl, but is always facing new challenges. 

I also really liked the inclusion on Superman in this series, it was great to see how the writers got to bounce the characters off each other. I look forward to the rest of the season.

I probably won't post about every episode of this season but I may post another later on.

Till then

Emz x

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DVD Reviews - Supergirl Season 1 [Emz]

So I have had this series for a little while now and I really enjoyed the first season. I have recently bought and started watching Season 2.

So if anyone has seen Smallville then this is a different Supergirl to that show.

Here is the Introduction to each episode of the first season:

"When I was a child, my planet Krypton was dying. I was sent to Earth to protect my cousin. But my pod got knocked off course and by the time I got here, my cousin had already grown up and become... Superman. And so I hid my powers until recently when an accident forced me to reveal myself to the world. To most people, I'm an assistant at CatCo Worldwide Media. But in secret, I work with my adoptive sister for the D.E.O. to protect my city from alien life and anyone else that means to cause it harm. I am Supergirl."

Review:

So for this first season the show aired on CBS in America so it wasn't originally part of the Arrowverse, so it is set in other universe... kind of.... anyway.

I like the speed that season one runs at. the first episode slowly introduces her at Supergirl but we grow to know her as Kara also. I like that we also learn as she learns, the path she is going down isn't an easy one and she ends up finding new challenges along the way.

We also meet other members of her Krypton family and learn why they are so different from each other.

I loved this series. I enjoyed seeing Melissa Beniost in something else following Glee and it was an interesting crossover when Grant Gustin (also previously from Glee) pooped up in an episode as The Flash.

Thats it for now. I will review season 2 once I have finished the DVD.

Till next time

Emz x

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DVD Reviews: DC's Invasion! [Emz]

I bought this on Saturday. i was surprised to see this as a stand alone DVD when you can also watch each episode on the correct DVD's separate. But it makes sense.

So this the first cross over to feature Supergirl after the series moved from CBS to The CW in America (The Flash previously popped up in Supergirl Season 1)

So this TV event (thats what they are calling it) is a cross-over on 3 episodes featuring the following shows in the following seasons:  Arrow (season 4) , The Flash (season 3), Legends Of Tomorrow (Season 2) and Supergirl (Season 2).

Here are the descriptions for each The Flash where the crossover begins:

When aliens called the Dominators attack Central City, Barry (Grant Gustin) speeds over to Star City to ask the Green Arrow (guest star Stephen Amell) for help in stopping them. Realizing the battle against the Dominators is bigger than they thought, they track down the Legends of Tomorrow, and Barry and Cisco (Carlos Valdes) create a breach to bring back a secret weapon – Supergirl (guest star Melissa Benoist). Once all of the super friends are assembled, they come up with a plan to attack but a shocking secret related to Flashpoint is revealed and suddenly no one is sure who they can trust. Meanwhile, Wally (Keiynan Lonsdale) wants to join the battle against the aliens but Iris (Candice Patton) tells him he’s not ready.

Review:

I really enjoyed this TV event, one of my favourite characters in this crossover was Diggle, everything that was unfolding was completely and utterly as far away from normal as you can get and just to quote him "You know why I've never done drugs? It's 'cause I was always afraid I'd see weird stuff." That really made me laugh.  Also Felictiy and Cisco reactions to being on the Waverider Timeship (Legends Of Tomorrow) was very funny is also as they were asking all sorts of question that the team were unable to answer. 

I can't wait to see what future crossovers bring.

That's all for now

Till next time

Emz x

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TV Shows I'm Looking Forward To 2017-2018 #1 [Emz]

As I've posted a few reviews lately and I will have at least two more after Saturday, I thought I'd post about what shows i'm looking forward to seeing that are coming during the 2017-2018 Season. So that is from September 2017 to August 2018

So we shall begin from 2017 then go into early 2018 for this first post. I will post again a bit later with the second half. 

Fuller House - Season 3

Now there is no synopsis for this season but it will be split into 2 parts. I never watched Full House as  kid but I watched a lot of it once it was on Netflix.

I have really enjoyed both seasons so far, it is really funny!

The Third Series begins on the 22nd September 2017 on Netflix

Victoria - Series 2

So this is a series I have been enjoying. It is obviously about Queen Victoria. The first series saw her ascension to the throne and the troubles she faced, it also followed her marriage to Prince Albert.

The second series will see her become a mother and also continue her role as Queen.

I think Jenna Coleman does a brilliant job portraying Queen Victoria.

The premise is as follows:

The first series depicts the first few years of the reign of Queen Victoria, played by Jenna Coleman, from her accession to the throne at the age of eighteen, to her intense friendship and infatuation with Lord Melbourne, to her courtship and early marriage to Prince Albert (played by Tom Hughes) and finally to the birth of their first child, Victoria.
The second series will follow Victoria's struggles on managing her role as Queen with that of her duties to her husband and children.

The second series begins on the 27th August 2017 for 8 episodes followed by a Christmas Special on ITV in the UK

The Crown - Series 2

So The Crown is another Series I have been enjoying. I watched the first series when it aired on Netflix last year. It is the earlier life of Queen Elizabeth II. It starts with her marriage to Prince Philip and continues through the first so many years of her life after that and then on to her becoming Queen after the death of her father King George VI.

Here is the Premise: 

The Crown traces the life of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding in 1947 to the present day. The first season depicts events up to 1955, with Claire Foy portraying the Queen in the early part of her reign. The second season is intended to cover from the Suez Crisis in 1956 through the retirement of the Queen's third Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, in 1963 following the Profumo affair political scandal. A third season will include Princess Margaret's five-year affair with baronet and gardening expert Roddy Llewellyn.

I really enjoyed the first series as it shows that it wasn't as easy as it may have seen for our Queen ascent to the Throne and beyond.

I feel that the cast for the show are brilliant. I knew of Claire Foy and Matt smith and quite a few others but I haddn't heard of Vanessa Kirkby but she plays the role of Princess Margret very Convincingly.

Series 2 airs on the 8th December 2017 on Netflix.

The Gifted

So this series seems interesting, Until today I didn't know an awful lot about this series but this is the Premise:

Two ordinary parents take their family on the run from the government when they discover that their children have mutant abilities, and join an underground community of mutants who have to fight to survive.

So the series stars stars Stephen Moyer, Best known for his role in True Blood, he has been cast as Reed Struker, one of the Parents.

It also stars Amy Acker and Jamie Chung.

The series Premieres in America (FOX) on the 2nd October 2017. 

No UK Release date or channel has been announced yet.

Black Lightning

 So, another DC comics hero receiving their own TV show on The CW in the US. This series will sit alongside, Arrow, The Flash, Legends Of Tomorrow and Supergirl.

I think it's been mentioned that it won't cross over butt i'm sure that will change at some point.

Here is the Premise:

Jefferson Pierce, who retired from his superhero persona Black Lightning nine years ago after seeing the effects it had on his family, is forced to become a hero again when the rise of the local gang The One Hundred leads to increased crime and corruption in his community.

So i'm not familiar with any names in this series except one. China Anne Mcclain portrays one of Jefferson's daughters. China has appeared in many Disney Channel shows, including the Disney Channel Original Movie this year called Descendants 2.

Now there is not release date yet for this show, but it will air in 2018 on The CW.

I wouldn't be surprised in Sky One pick up this show in the UK, they currently air all of the others.

That is all i'm posting for now.

If you know of any upcoming shows that you are looking forward to let me know

Till next time

Emz x

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DVD Reviews: DC's Legends Of Tomorrow - Season 2 [Emz]

First of all apologies for my absence. It was my birthday on the 17th and then I went away for the weekend.

Anyway, before I left I started watching DC's Legends of Tomorrow Season 2. Now i've been waiting a along time to watch this season after finishing the last one.

In case you haven't seen it *SPOILERS!*

Here is a quick summary of the two seasons:

Time Master Rip Hunter goes rogue after Vandal Savage murders Hunter's family. Intending to stop Savage, Hunter recruits a team consisting of Ray Palmer / The Atom, Sara Lance / White Canary, Martin Stein and Jefferson "Jax" Jackson, who together become the hero Firestorm, Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl, Carter Hall / Hawkman, Leonard Snart / Captain Cold, and Mick Rory / Heat Wave. They discover that the Time Masters are backing Savage in his domination of the world in 2166 to facilitate a successful repulsion of a Thanagarian invasion. Due to Snart's sacrifice, the Time Masters are destroyed.
In season two, with the Time Masters defeated, the team are left to guard the timeline themselves, and learn to cope in Rip's absence after he disappears. However, they are continually plagued by the Legion of Doom, a time-travelling supervillain team led by Reverse Flash (Eobard Thawne), who has recruited past versions of Damien Darhk, Malcolm Merlyn, and Leonard Snart to help him find the Spear of Destiny of Biblical fame, with which they can rewrite their fates. The team is joined by new members Amaya Jiwe / Vixen, an African superhero from 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America, and Nate Heywood / Steel, a modern-day historian with the power to become solid metal.

Now i've not watched the complete season yet but I will review what I can.

Review:

Now at the end of the last series we lost Snart and said goodbye to Hawkman and Hawkgirl as they decided to stay behind where they were and not to continue travelling.

So, at the beginning of Season 2 they are already down 3 members. The first episode begins with a link up between a new character called Nate Heywood and Arrow's Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) to go hunting for the Legends as they seem to be in trouble.

Now due to Arthur Darvill filming Broadchurch, Rip Hunter is not in this series at the beginning having disappeared after kicking everyone off the ship.

This was a really strong and interesting opening to the second season, the remaining legends eventually regroup and they end up with new recruits.

Now I actually like the 2 new arrivals to the team Nate Heywood becoming Steel and Amaya, the Vixen joining the team from the 1940's

There are a few dealing with racism during this season which helps Jefferson' (Firestorm) character to grow more.  

Since we lost Snart (Captain Cold) in Season 1 it has been nice to see how Mick Rory's (Heat Wave) characters has progressed and bonded with the team, although I think he a a slight dislike for Ray.

I look forward to watch the team up with Arrow, Flash and Supergirl laster in the Season.

Following that bring on Season 3.

So far i give the Season: 8 out of 10 as I haven't watched it all yet.

Till next time

Emz

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