The Witcher S03 Act II, Secret Invasion and the MCU decline, the Gunn-Safran DC revolution
Henry Cavill pushes his physical and emotional limits in the Continent, the MCU has yet another quite forgettable series out in full (despite the great cast) and Blue Beetle is the new DC beginning.
Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), Cirilla ( Freya Allan) and Yennefer of Vergenberg ( Anya Chalotra). Credits: Susie Allnutt.
We go back to the Continent, while Henry Cavill showcases his best feats, emotionally and physically on his way out. Freya Allan also pulls herself to the limits, as we are left fully with the agony, pain, and doubts of Cirilla in the seventh episode, that precede a burning disposition. An omen of things to come?
Anya Chalotra also rises to the challenge, as the old order is in ruins and the magical world of the North puts its faith in her. Geralt meets his match and is humbled, but then he stands up again, helped by the loyal, kind, and lovable Jaskier, the friend that we can all dream of, played by Joey Batey, and a potential new friend and ally, the Elf Milva who seems to enjoy a healthy rivalry with the grumpy Witcher, who embraces his more compassionate father side, like a Pedro Pascal in a fantasy world.
While he embraces his compassionate side, Cavill’s Geralt also proves that, just like Pascal’s Din Djarin or Joel, he is not the kind of father that you want to mess with, as he declares open war to Ciri’s biological father, the White Flame, with a legion of butchered Nilfgaardian soldiers to prove his point.
The White Flame proves to be as cunning and manipulative as ever, while Vilgerfortz reveals his true colours, getting the second spot in Geralt’s kill list. Philippa and Francesca alliances may shift, the political balance in the North may change, but the passage of the sword is complete, Liam Hemsworth will continue the search for Ciri on the way to the inevitable clash with Emhyr, and the Wild Hunt.
Cavill is not the only one in the show with a superhero connection, as his mantle will pass now to David Coreswent ( The Politician, Hollywood) for the upcoming Superman: Legacy (will discuss this shortly), and the MCU veteran here is Milva’s actress, Meng’er Zhang, seen as Xu’ Xialing, Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi’s sister in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (we will also talk about the MCU).
The Witcher Season 3 Act 2, the swansong for Henry Cavill to this fantasy world is available now.
Secret Invasion and the MCU decline
The secret invasion is over, and the Skrulls have not taken over Earth; unfortunately, this season did not really conquer the MCU fans. The cast is brilliant: Samuel L. Jackson, Olivia Colman, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Don Cheadle, and Emilia Clarke do not disappoint, but…
Some ideas work better on paper, literally. The series Secret Invasion was published in 2008, written by Brian Michael Bendis, with the pencils of Lenil Francis Yu. Today and in live-action, at a time when rhetoric against migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers is vile all over the Global North, and Prime Ministers like Giorgia Meloni openly embrace the Great Replacement Theory, a series on a race of shapeshifters hiding among us and ready to exterminate those who are unknowingly hosting them, is highly problematic, to say the least.
This point was raised by Francesca Guidi in her article for the Italian website N3rdcore. In general, this last series seems to follow the tone of the disappointing second half of Phase 4 of the MCU. With the exceptions of the nostalgic No Way Home and the majestic Black Panther: Wakanda Forever this part and the beginning of Phase 5 has been quite disappointing.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol III has been another stellar exception in Phase 5, so we will have to wait for other shows and The Marvels, where Jackson’s Fury will be back to evaluate more. Even if I am a Marvel fan at heart, though, I have to say that I feel very inspired by James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC cinematic path.
DC Gods and Monsters
The Flash may have not received the love that it deserved, but personally, I have a great appreciation for Andy Muschietti’s work, and most importantly the movie brought Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck for the last ride back, and George Clooney back for some deserved super-heroic redemption. The jump in time also, just like Flashpoint in the DC comics, that then launched the New 52, allowed a full reboot of the DC cinematic universe, which will lead us to Blue Beetle and the exciting new phase of Gods and Monsters.
Xolo Maridueña will soon say goodbye to the Valley karate fights alongside the brilliant rest of the Cobra Kai cast, but before that, he will bring to the screen Jaime Reyes, Blue Beetle, the first DC Latino superhero on screen; a big test ahead for the new DC course. Blue Beetle will be released worldwide on August 18.
Is the bad luck of DC movies finally on its way out? The superhero fatigue is out there, and personally, even as a big superhero fan, I do not feel immune to that. In any case, Superman: Legacy is something that we can only look forward to.
A brilliant cast, including The Marvelous Ms.Maisel Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane with James Gunn directing and the introduction to a larger universe (Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Rex Mason as Metamorpho, Edi Gathegi as Mr.Terrific and Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl) and the astonishing source material of All-Star Superman , by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. What’s not to like? Not to mention Batman the Brave and Bold will bring a new Caped Crusader on the screen, and the first live-action of Damian Wayne, alongside the Batfamily at large, with Muschietti behind the camera.
It’s a wrap for now, the next edition of the newsletter will be out soon before an August break, and here there are some reading and listening tips to close this geeky edition.
Good for your eyes, good for your ears….some tips from me
How Ukraine’s national dish became a symbol of Russian invasion, by Anya Von Brezmen, The Guardian Long Read, The Audio Long Read version here: https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2023/jul/17/how-ukraines-national-dish-became-a-symbol-of-putins-invasion-podcast
What’s happening in Italy It’s Scary, and it is spreading, by David Broder, New York Times Opinion
“This is a fight that has to happen”: Rob Delaney on Hollywood strikes and solidarity, an interview with Rob Delaney by Taj Ali, Tribune
Downstream: Going Undercover with Extremists with Julia Ebner, an interview with Julia Ebner by Aaron Bastani, Novara Media
Enough with “police statements”. Show us the Footage by Nels Abbey, The Lead
Gary Younge’s alternative guide to racism by Gary Younge, Double Down News