Season 2 Episode 1 of VIKINGS Recap: Ragnar Comes Out on Top, Family Dynamics Change, and Side Chicks Stay Winning

 Vikings and Valkyries!  S.2 of Vikings is finally here! The History Channel original series is back and it is getting hella messy! There is going to be drama off and on the battlefield and I am so here for it, Lord have mercy.....

For those who haven't watched S.1 yet, I highly suggest you start now so you can catch up (we won't judge you....too much)

So on the season premiere, Rollo is salty that his brother Ragnar has become the Tony Stark of Vikings while he has made camp in his brother's shadow. Rollo is so bitter that he decides that it is time to break away and tag team with Jarl Borg to take down King Horik, Ragnar, and his army.

Season 2 starts with the opposing forces of Jarl Borg and King Horik (but really Team Rollo and Team Ragnar) facing off in a remote, deserted area.  As the battle begins, blood starts flying and men are falling out left and right. However, all we really care about is Rollo beating the life out of our dear Floki. The previews made it look like Floki was going out in the first episode, so praise be to Thor's golden locks that he was spared (House of Cards has made my heart black and cynical when it comes to character deaths...)

After all that talk about taking Ragnar down, Rollo realizes that he could never truly turn against his flesh and blood and surrenders.

Gifs from vikingsgif.tumblr.com

The Horik and Jorg start haggling over small portions of land and Ragnar is not having it. Ragnar asks why they are bartering over land when there are new worlds to discover.  He becomes a Viking peacemaker and the two men agree to put their differences aside (for now) and go raid in the West together. Which means Rollo is pretty much screwed since his allegiance to Jorg is now out the window...

The drama continues back at the Lothbrok household as a suspicious Lagertha asks about Ragnar's side chick, Aslaug. For forgetful minds, Aslaug is the woman that Ragnar fooled around with while he was away traveling with his son, Bjorn.

Bjorn, who was side eyeing the hell out of his daddy during the entire trip, spilled the beans to his mama and things went OFF. Plates were flying, weaves were pulled, and things got ugly between Lagertha and Ragnar.

Ragnar swears up, down, all around to Lagertha that it was a one time thing, it meant nothing, and it would never happen again. Uh huh, that’s what they all say Rag, but okay….

Back to Rollo, who has just given up all kinds of hope, faces execution for betraying his people. But at the last minute Rollo‘s life is spared by the Viking Gods, who apparently have a sick sense of humor and probably want to see shit go down just like the rest of us....

Viking God: Okay, so we're all in agreement? Rollo out?

Viking Gods: Aye!

Loki: Eh...

Viking God: *Sigh* What?

Loki: I mean, we COULD kill him....or we could keep him alive and watch him struggle to regain the trust of his brother and people, for our own amusement.....

Viking God:.......yeah, let's do that....

Viking Gods: Aye! Aye!

Rollo gets a visit from Siggy, who seems to see some inkling of potential in the poor sap, and tells him  to snap out of his funk, stay in the town, and redeem himself. Seriously, where would these men be without the women on this show? For a group Vikings, a lot of them lack any sense of logic...

Ragnar says his last goodbye to Gyda, his deceased daughter from S.1, and everything is sad and the feels become real. In their world where sons are so highly revered, it was nice to see a father show that kind of emotion towards his daughter.

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And then Viking shit hit the Viking fan….

Uh Oh.

As you can expect Lagertha is royally pissed that her husband got another woman pregnant. Ragnar explains to her that he had no idea that she was pregnant and he didn’t know that she was going to come. Yeah, you should’ve thought of that before you whipped out your Viking sword to boink princesses in the woods. 

So Aslaug rolls in with her entourage of shield maidens and servants and you immediately know that she thinks she's the baddest bitch in the land. She has famous parents, money, nice clothes, and status. She's a Viking jack pot. Which puts Lagertha in an awkward position, because she does not have that kind of social standing that can help Ragnar.

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And to further prove that side chicks stay winning, Ragnar does Lagertha dirty by putting his soon to be baby mama at the head of the dinner table!

How Lagertha didn’t go Real Housewives of New Jersey and flip the table on all of them is beyond me.

And when you think it couldn't get any more awkward, Ragnar puts the final nail in the coffin by suggesting to Lagertha that they invite Aslaug into their marriage (because apparently people are doing that these days….)

Like any self-respecting woman, Lagertha  decides to divorce Ragnar and leave. He is so wrapped up in his own feelings and desires, he doesn't realize how much he has hurt Lagertha. Sidebar: Did you know that Viking divorces are super easy? Like you can pack up your stuff and go? No divorce lawyers, no splitting up property! How nice and simple is that?

Poor Bjorn had to make the difficult decision of choosing to stay with his dad and becoming a Viking rockstar or go away with his mother. When Ragnar discovers that his family is falling apart, he chases after Lagertha, begging her not to leave.

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At the last minute, Bjorn decides to go with his mother, leaving his father alone with Aslaug and the baby.

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And just like that the family dynamics have shifted. Out goes the last remaining evidence of Ragnar's old life and in comes a new wife and child. 

So now, I'm going to assume that they are going to time jump a few years ahead, to keep the story moving and really start developing Rganar's story. We'll see what happens tonight!

All Vikings gifs are from vikingsgif.tumblr.com  <-------

The 'Cripple' Arrives to Broadway: Voucher for Daniel Radcliffe's 'The Cripple of Inishmaan' *Contest*

Everyone listen up. Are you sitting down? Cool.

Daniel Radcliffe is coming back to Broadway! 

Yes! The Harry Potter star will be making his 3^rd appearance on the Broadway stage  (first 2 being Equus and How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying) in Martin McDonagh's dark, dramedy THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN.

Set on the remote island of Inishmaan off the west coast of Ireland, word arrives that a Hollywood film is being made on the neighboring island of Inishmore. The one person who wants to be in the film more than anybody is young Cripple Billy (Radcliffe), if only to break away from the bitter tedium of his daily life. McDonagh’s comic masterpiece examines an ordinary coming-of-age in extraordinary circumstances and confirms his position as one of the most original Irish voices to emerge in the second half of the twentieth century.

I was fortunate enough to see this show last year in London and I can say that Daniel Radcliffe is brilliant. Watching him even inspired this piece I wrote HERE

Contest Ended

TICKETS 

Tickets are currently available on Telecharge.com: 

https://www.telecharge.com/Broadway/The-Cripple-of-Inishmaan/ 

THEATRE 

The Cort Theatre 138 West 48th Street (btwn 6th & 7th Aves) 

New York, NY 10036 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE 

Previews begin Saturday, April 12. Opening Night is Sunday, April 20. 

Tuesdays: 7pm 

Wednesdays: 2pm and 8pm 

Thursdays: 7pm 

Fridays: 8pm 

Saturdays: 2pm & 8pm Sundays: 3pm 

ONLINE & SOCIAL NETWORKS 

Website: www.TheCrippleofInishmaan.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/InishmaanBway 

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/InishmaanBway 

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/InishmaanBway

Film Lincoln Center Free Talks: An Evening w/ Matthew McConaughey

Tonight I had the privilege of attending one of Film Society Lincoln Center’s series of interviews called Free Talks. Since these tickets are free, I couldn’t pass up the chance of seeing the actor who is really having a great year right now. If you had told me 9 years ago that I would, willingly, wait 2 hours to hear Matthew McConaughey talk about one of his films, I would’ve thought you were mentally insane and would suggest you go seek professional treatment immediately. 9 years ago McConaughey was a joke, producing mostly subpar to awful films. Nothing that showcased his range as an actor outside the romantic comedy genre, but definitely his perky and tight pectorals and abs. And, to me at least, it was like he was content being the go-to romantic male lead and had no interest in growing.

Then in 2011 McConaughey's career took a hit of Espresso and he kicked off the beginning of his career resurrection with the Lincoln Lawyer and the film that really changed how I saw him, Killer Joe. Have you seen Killer Joe? McConaughey is scary as a all get out. Killer Joe is so good that it’s ridiculous. McConaughey slays the role, and it bewilders me that he didn’t get a nominated for such a performance. Then came Magic Mike which had a lot of people thinking he would get a Supporting Actor nod (which I thought was a long shot, but I do agree he was pretty great as Dallas. Check out my review of the film HERE)

With the obvious career boost after several duds, it’s not hard to understand why I wanted to hear him talk about his role in the Dallas Buyer’s Club.

Physically McConaughey is very handsome. He’s no longer the young stud from Dazed and Confused, but he has aged nicely. He was looking like the true thespian with a well tailored, gray, three piece suit, a long, black pea coat, and a gray scarf which I desperately wanted to rock myself.

Listening to Matthew talk is like sitting on a front porch with a good buddy on a hot summer day, as you sip Peach ice tea, while rocking in a rocking chair. He just oozes that southern charisma that makes him so likable (and as a girl who was raised by two southern parents, I know a real southern gentleman when I see one. McConaughey is the real deal, y'all.) Whenever he was telling a story, whether it was funny or serious, he would always lean into the audience, like he was letting us in on a secret. However, I could tell that behind that charm was a man who really had something to prove. When he was talking about his acting and the process he goes through when approaching a character, I was kind of gobsmacked. Not that I thought he was just winging it his entire career, but I didn’t expect so much thoughtfulness and depth from him.

I couldn’t get my question answered, but don’t worry True Detective fans. Matthew has the entire series on screeners and he’s watching each episode, each week like the rest of us. He even admitted he doesn't know what's going to happen!

I can’t say seeing him tonight changed my opinion on who I think should win Best Actor (I’m still Team DiCaprio/Ejiofor), but I wouldn’t be the least bit disappointed if Matthew swooped in and snatched it. I guess you could say I'm in the McCounghey camp now. Pass the marshmallows and the chocolate!

Things Just Got A Bit More 'Realistic' - 'The Realistic Jonses' Passes Giveaway

Broadway is getting hit with a lot of star power in a few months. The cast of The Realistic Jonses is coming and the cast is is top notch! The show will star Toni Collette, Michael C. Hall, Tracy Letts, and Marisa Tomei. The summary of the show is followed:

In The Realistic Joneses, we meet Bob (Letts) and Jennifer (Collette) and their new neighbors, John (Hall) and Pony (Tomei), two suburban couples who have even more in common than their identical homes and their shared last names. As their relationships begin to irrevocably intertwine, the Joneses must decide between their idyllic fantasies and their imperfect realities.

I'm sure I don't have to tell you that this show will be the talk of the town. And we are going to hook you up! Throughout the month of Febuary we will be holding a contest for a pair passes to attend the Wednesday, March 12th dress rehearsal ( a cool "industry insider" event). You will be seeing the show before the general public!



Contest Ended 

If you have any questions, comment at the bottom! Good luck!

THEATRE
Lyceum Theatre
149 West 45th Street
(Between Broadway and 6th Avenue)
New York, NY 10036

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Monday & Tuesday @ 8pm, Wednesday @ 2pm & 8pm, Thursday & Friday @ 8pm, Saturday @ 2pm & 8pm
Beginning April 7:
Tuesday @ 7:30pm, Wednesday @ 2pm & 7:30pm, Thursday @ 7:30pm, Friday @ 8pm, Saturday @ 2pm & 8pm,
Sunday @ 3pm

ONLINE & SOCIAL NETWORKS
Website: www.TheRealisticJoneses.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RealisticBway
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/RealisticBway
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/RealisticBway

NYFF 13'- Only Lovers Left Alive: "That certainly was visual"

Out of all the films at NYFF this year, I was determined to see Only Lovers Left Alive. I love Tilda Swinton and I have grown to like Tom Hiddleston. And they were in a vampire movie that didn’t involve teenage angst and glitter? No brainer! I couldn’t make the press screening for this, but did manage to grab a ticket to one of the showings later on that week.

This film isn’t long, but it may feel like it is based on long scenes of instrumental swells and dialogue.  I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, just be prepared to check your watch on occasion. Granted, this may be, because I was running on 5 hours of sleep and just walked out of seeing HER.

However, Only Lovers Left Alive was not what I expected. The humor surprised me greatly and drew me in off the bat. Playing the antithesis of each other, Adam (Hiddleston) is a somber,  rock musician, who is growing tired of the world around him. The word “emo” is so played out, but in this case it describes Adam to a “T.”  Then there is Eve (Swinton) all in white, who still sees the beauty in life and tries to draw Adam from his hole of depression.

There is no real plot to the movie. There are several conflicts that arise, but overall it’s sort of a slice of life piece. You follow these cool, sexy vampire couple around Detroit as they try to deal with the constantly changing world. It’s a very beautiful looking film as well. It captures that Dracula Gothicism while incorporating some elements of rock n'roll. Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton have a very nice chemistry.  There is a sweetness between them that is so intriguing, and you get the sense that that the actors themselves are quite fond of each other. This film will probably have a mixed response, but if you’re a fan of old  gothic vampire tales then this will wet your appetite. 

NYFF13'- HER Review: "I've never loved anyone the way I loved you"

When I first read the plot for Spike Jonze’s HER I was immediately turned off. I have always been a fan of Jonze and his originality has a filmmaker. But come on, how can you make a story about a guy falling in love with his computer interesting and not creepy or pathetic?

HER is the story of a lonely guy named Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), who is assigned a home operating system called OS1. The OS1, voiced by Scarltett Johansson, is named Samantha, and she and Theodore begins this world wind, unconventional, romantic relationship. When I walked into the press screening today, I had no idea that I would love this movie as much as I did. The film even received bug reactions from the usually reserved press, which I found very telling. There is one scene in particular involving phone sex and a cat, which will be embedded in my mind for a long time (trust me, it's hilarious.) Besides, the comedy, the film is also undeniably sweet and sentimental. Like you're floating on a cloud for a good portion of the film (maybe it's the coffeehouse soundtrack that puts me in a calming mood, I'm not sure.) You just become very invested in Samantha and Theodore's relationship, and you do (despite the peculiarity) want them to together.

The real stand outs are the leads Phoenix and Johansson, who create this romantic world for themselves despite their strange situation. You completely forget that Samantha is a computer and you start to believe that she is this real living breathing person. I don’t know the rules for award season, but don’t be shocked if people start pitching  a nomination for Scarlett. It really is extraordinary work on her part.

And Phoenix is just a chameleon, I swear. Seeing Joaquin in HER and then seeing him right after for the press Q &A was like day and night.  Phoenix was acting a tiny erratic and looked like he still needed a few hours of sleep. He gave a few awkward answers which amused me greatly (some were not that amused I learned later.) 

One thing I loved was the color palette for the film. I didn’t know how to describe it, until Jonze said the color scheme was inspired by Jamba Juice. Perfect description.  The film is a peach Jamba Juice smoothie. Sweet, refreshing, and inspired. This is what I want when I ask for new material form Hollywood. Original content like this, that leaves me pleasantly surprised. I know some people may find this a little too weird for their liking, but I feel that HER will win a lot of people over and may go all the way to the Oscars next year.

NYFF13'- 12 Years a Slave Review: "I don't want to survive. I want to live"

Writing a review for this film is going to be extremely difficult for me. Not because of the subject matter, but because putting into words how incredible this movie was, will be damn near impossible. I have been a fan of Steve McQueen for a very long time. Hunger gave me chills and Shame emotionally drained me. A McQueen film always resonates with me no matter how I feel about the movie as a whole. When I heard he was going to tackle the memoirs of  Solomon Northrope the first thing I thought was “Oh, this is going to get real.” As I’ve said in the past, Steve McQueen doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable  topics. In person he is very frank and no nonsense.  Instead of tiptoeing around a subject he tackles it head on and gives you are unfiltered look into some of life’s most horrific aspects.

12 years a Slave follows the story of Solomon Northup, a free black man, who is abducted and enslaved for 12 years. Solomon is determined to survive despite impossible odds and dreams of one day reunite with his family in New York.

  This movie hit it out of the park when it comes to ensemble casting. There is not one weak link in the film at all. Everyone plays their part and it adds to the already heart wrenching story. Chiwetel Ejiofor will be nominated. I’m saying it right now. The Academy has ignored some great performances, but they can’t ignore this one. There is a scene where Solomon just stares at the camera and it’s one of the most heartbreaking moments in the film. Ejiofor lays everything on the table and showcases a performance range, which will blow you away.

  Ejiofor has been in the game for awhile (mostly known in Britain) and I am so happy that this film will give him the recognition he rightfully deserves.  And you can't write a review on this film without mentioning Michael Fassbender, an actor who came in, guns blazing, last year with McQueen's Shame. After last year's disappointing snub from the Acadmey, Fassbender comes again with another amazing perforamance as the slave owner Edwin Epps whose cruelty and ruthlessness knows no bounds. Another performance, this year that the Acadmey can't afford to ignore. I can say with all the confidence I can muster, that Fassbender will be nominated for this role, no question.

 Another person who I feel is going to knock the award season on its ass is Lupita N’yongo. Do not sleep on her people, this woman is going to be the one to watch for. Her performance as Patsy is the best of the film hands down. Patsy’s tragic story  is displayed through the incredible performance of N’yongo.  Just pure, unfiltered excellence through and through.

I could go on and on about each actor and actress, and how wonderful they were, but I’m just going to urge you to see it for yourselves. 12 Years a Slave is not for the faint of heart, but it is an important film and one that should be discussed right afterwards.