CAPTAIN MARVEL - Movie Review

MIKE'S MOVIE REVIEW:  CAPTAIN MARVEL


It's not often I get to do movie reviews (and since I've had this blog, I haven't done one), but I thought that since the majority of my blog concerns comics---that includes the current slate of CW shows outside of Black Lighting, as well as discussing comics in some form, I thought I'd also do my best to review the new batch of comics movies due out this 2019 calendar year...and no better place to start than Marvel's first female hero entry:  Captain Marvel

First of all....I got the feels instantly when the Marvel Studios logo was shown, as we got several shots of the late Stan Lee in his various cameos from the 10 years plus of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  And the simple "Thank you, Stan" before the movie got underway hit right home with me,  It's still hard to believe he's gone.

This movie kicks off in 1995 on the Kree homeworld of Hala, where we meet our heroine (Brie Larson), going by the name of "Vers", having a nightmare with an older woman in it.  She pays a visit to her mentor, Yon-Rogg (Jude Law), letting him know she can't sleep, and keeps seeing the same woman in her nightmares.  He trains her, and tells her that she must control her emotions.  She then sees the Supreme Intelligence - the ruler of the Kree - who appears to her as this woman.  The Supreme Intelligence tells her to keep herself in control, an tells her to be ready for the next mission against the Skrulls---their hated enemies who are shapeshifters and want to destroy them.

We see that Vers is sarcastic, strong willed, easily loses her temper, and rambunctious.  Something that doesn't sit well with the other members of her team, but Yon-Rogg sticks up for her.  They're on a mission to rescue a Kree intelligence agent working behind enemy lines with the Skrulls.  The mission goes bad, and Vers is captured by Talos (Ben Mendelshon) - the Skrull leader - and subjected to their memory probe.  It is through this probe that they are looking for a lightspeed generator that was developed by a  Dr. Lawson, and it is located on Earth.  Vers manages to fight free, and escape with a podship, which tears apart upon attack, and Vers crash lands into a Blockbuster Video store in Los Angeles.  She ends up attracting the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), and Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg).  Their investigation is interrupted when the Skrulls arrive, attacking Vers, and trying to recapture her.  One of the Skrulls disguises himself as Coulson, which Fury has to battle as he's giving chase to Vers, who is chasing another Skrull.  Once she grapples with the Skrull, she manages to recover a crystal that has her extracted memories on it.  The Skrull gets away.

Using is security clearance, Fury, on orders from Director Keller (who is really Talos), to work with Vers to find out what her mission is, head to Project Pegasus, to find out more information on the work of Dr, Lawson.  Searching through the files, they not only discover the Lightspeed Engine Lawson was working on was destroyed, but that she died six years ago in a crash.  Vers finds out that she was also there six years ago, as Dr. Lawson was the woman in her nightmares.  It turns out, she was a USAF pilot, along with a woman named Maria Rambeau, a fellow pilot, who were working on the project with her.  Fury and Vers, having been tailed by S.H.I.E.L.D. and Keller after Fury contacted them, avoid capture, as they are on orders from Keller to capture them AND the plans.  Coulson catches up to them, but they escape by aircraft - a Quadjet - with a cat named "Goose", and make their way to Louisiana to find Maria Rambeau and get more answers.

Vers and Fury make it to Louisiana, and find Maria Rambeau, and discover she was an Air Force pilot named Carol Danvers.  As Carol and Fury are getting more info about her past, as well as Dr. Lawson's project, Talos arrives with his crew.  It turns out, however, that Talos and his group are refugees from their own homeworld that was taken over by the Kree, and that Lawson was a Kree agent working with them.  They need the Lightspeed Generator to find another home.  It turns out, he's got the recording of the black box that was recovered from the wreckage of the crash that happened six years ago when Lawson died.  It turns out, Carol was the pilot.  It forces Carol to remember the entire crash.  She remembers that Lawson told her that she was trying to stop the war between the Kree and Skrulls, and that Carol needed to destroy the engine before anyone got their hands on it.  Yon-Rogg ends up killing Lawson - whom we find out is a Kree named Mar-Vell - and threatens to kill Carol, but Carol destroys the engine's core, and in the process of the explosion, absorbs the engine core's energy.  Carol survives the blast, but loses her memories, and is thus taken by Yon-Rogg to Hala.

Armed with the information at hand, Talos says there's a lab in Earth orbit that's cloaked from everyone, and with modifications to the Quadjet, Carol, Maria, Fury, Talos, and Goose in tow, head to the lab where they find the Tesseract---the source of the engine's energy.  Once there, they grab the Tesseract, which is eaten by Goose...who turns out to be an alien called a Flerkin, who has a pocket dimension inside of her. Carol wants Fury and Maria to head back to Earth with the Skrull refugees, including Talos' family, with the Tesseract, to keep it out of Kree hands. However, the Starforce group Carol used to be a part of (Korath, At-Lass, Bron-Char, and  Minn-Erva) - led by Yon-Rogg - are captured, and Carol is rendered powerless.  She is then subjected to torture at by the Supreme Intelligence, while Yon-Rogg has called upon Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), to destroy the Earth in order to find the energy source.  Carol then manages to overcome the inhibitor that's been on her neck that allowed the Supreme Intelligence to control her powers, her fears and gain full control of her abilities, and battles out of the Supreme Intelligence's hold, and the final battle breaks out.  Fury, Talos, and Maria fight to get back to the Quadjet, and make it off the lab, with Minn-Erva in tow, as Carol battles Yon-Rogg and the other Starforce members.  She manages to defeat them, but Yon-Rogg as escaped and given pursuit of Maria, Fury, and Talos.  

Back on Earth, Maria uses her piloting skills to outmaneuver and destroy Minerva, but takes damage at the hands of Yon-Rogg, who is looking to take them down and get the Tesseract. As they celebrate, Goose scratches Fury's eye. Carol gives chase, and hits Yon-Rogg's ship with a concussion blast.  He goes crashing into the ground and he prepares to do battle with Carol, who merely blasts him into the mountainside.  She then sees missles coming down, having been fired by Ronan and his fleet, as they had arrived from jumpspace to attack.  She uses her full powers to destroy the onslaught, and some of Ronan's fighters before threatening Ronan himself, who beats a hasty retreat - but promises to be back for Carol.  Carol flies back to Earth, and puts Yon-Rogg in the ship, telling him to inform the Supreme Intelligence that she is going to stop their little war.  She sets the ship's coordinates for Hala, and sends Yon-Rogg on his way.

At the end, we see Carol modify Fury's pager with an upgrade, giving it the ability to signal her, should there be an emergency.  She decides she's going to help the Skrulls find a new home away from Kree interference, but promises to be back.  She takes off into jumpspace with the Skrulls.  Later, we see Fury working on a report, his eye with a metal patch over it---apparently that's how Fury lost his eye.  Coulson comes in to show him new eyes, and asks if they think there's more out there, as Fury says that whatever is out there, they need more heroes like Carol Danvers to protect the Earth while she's gone.  So, their next project is something Fury is working on - when he sees a picture of Carol on the ladder of her plane, her nickname "Avenger" on it---gives Fury the idea for the name of what became known as The Avengers Initiative.  

In the mid-credits scene, we see Fury's pager still paging with Carol's symbol on it, then it dies out.  The Avengers that are left:  Banner, Black Widow, War Machine, and Cap all are wondering who it is that Fury was trying to page.  Black Widow says to try again to Bruce, and don't give up until they find out who's on the other end of that page.  Just as she turns around, there's Carol, asking where Fury is at.

At the end credits scene, we see Fury's desk, where Goose gets on top of it, and spits out the Tesseract.  Now we know how S.H.I.E.L.D. got ahold of it.


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I gotta tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie.  I loved the telling of Carol's story, and how she went through all the trauma of being told she wasn't good enough, she's too emotional, has a bad attitude, shouldn't be doing certain things.  All these barriers placed upon her, which never allowed her to fulfill her potential.  But as we see the story progress, we see that her stubborness and strong will never allowed her to quit.  It was her HUMAN element that allowed her to supplant her Kree indoctrination, and unleash her full power.  You wanted to root for her the whole way, and you were in awe at the things she could do.  But you also were happy when she managed to reconnect with her past---especially her friend Maria and Maria's daughter Monica.  They are the only real family Carol has left.  I also enjoyed her and Fury's relationship grow as the movie went on.  I was bummed we didn't get more Coulson, but also, I look at it to where it was just the right amount as well.  Coulson was still green at the time, and hadn't worked his way up the ladder yet.  

The Kree were shown to be the true villains of the story, though it's something of a deviation from the comics, as the Skrulls are USUALLY the bad guys.  The Kree/Skrull War was played out epically in comics, and with the infiltration of the Skrulls into Earth later on, it's a weird twist for ME, anyway, to see the Skrulls in a positive light.  But then again...I never totally found the Kree---outside of Mar-Vell, to be anything but vicious bastards themselves.  The Supreme Intelligence isn't some great, wonderful being...he controls a society with  mind control and inhibitors.  The Starforce his shocktroopers, and then there's Ronan himself, whom we KNOW is out for his own ill-gotten gains.  The change of Mar-Vell from a man to a woman for the movie was different as well.  But I did enjoy Annette Bening's portrayal.  She had a great mentor role for Carol, as well as a friendship.  So, I had no problems with the gender change.  

At first, when I saw the movies stills, I can't say I was overly impressed with the look of the Skrulls, but they grew on me more before I saw the movie.  And I have NO DOUBT we will be seeing MORE of them in the MCU before it's all said and done.

Loved Maria Rambeau and Monica in this story as well...being Carol's link to Earth, and her true self.  Monica is foreshadowing as well---having grown up to be the next Captain Marvel in the comics (at least in the 80's), but renamed Photon later on.  Look forward to an appearance by HER either in Avengers or in the sequel to Captain Marvel.  

Had to laugh that---out of ALL the things that we thought of as to HOW Fury lost his eye---the Flerkin scratched it to the point he lost it.  It's comical---but also kind of pathetically sad as well.  Showed that, at the time, Fury wasn't quite as badass as he is now.

The setting made me feel like I was 20-21 again.  I loved the 1990's soundtrack (although I KNOW that some of you - my buddy included - were a little nitpicky about certain songs that made it onto the soundtrack of the movie.  And you DO have a valid point---certain artists would NOT have been remembered by Carol at the time of their appearance, because she was off world at the time between 1989 and 1995, and those songs, while already on the radio for US...were NOT for HER.  Plus, Hole's "Celebrity Skin" was released in 1998...which is 3 years AFTER the movie takes place).  So I got all the nostalgia feels that came along with it.  That included the flannel shirt and Nine Inch Nails shirt, which were still pretty prevalent at the time in 1995.  

I thought the special effects were well done, and dug seeing Carol's powers manifest.  She truly looked bad ass, and has been established as the most powerful superhero in the Marvel Universe.  And for those people bitching about the whole "feminist" angle at work here...get over it.  As a man, I felt no intimidation or any negative aspect of the sort with this movie.  I got the same reaction here that I did when I saw Wonder Woman two years ago---a superhero who kicks ass and gets the job done---it just HAPPENS to be a woman.

Again...the Stan Lee feels.  One of Stan's final MCU appearances, and of all the things he's playing - himself.  The fact that he was reading the Mallrats script was absolutely hilarious.  FINALLY...after 10 years, Kevin Smith makes it into a Marvel movie...in his own, weird cameo.  It got the loudest chuckle in the theater from my buddy.  

Overall, I dug the movie, I loved the story it told, as I've ALWAYS been a big Carol Danvers fan, and look forward to seeing her tackle Thanos in Avengers: Endgame.  Brie Larson really brought that role to life, and gave her just the right amount of sass, confidence, and heroism.  She is exactly how I have read Carol Danvers all these years, so she hit the mark beautifully.  I high recommend it.  And if you're following the MCU...it's a necessity.

What did YOU think?  Give me YOUR take on it.  Maybe you saw something I missed.  Either way, subscribe, comment, and pass the good word around.

Next movie review:  Shazam!

ARROW - Season 7.15

ARROW – SEASON 7, EP. 15:  “Training Day”

Team Arrow has a lot of adjusting to do, as they attempt to work with the Star City Police Department, only to find out that it’s going to be A LOT harder than what they expected.  Meanwhile, Dinah gets some life-changing news.

We open tonight’s episode, with Team Arrow is going through “basic training” for the Star City Police Department, as the Saregeant goes through the orientation.  Dinah gives them the run through, and is happy they get to work together again.  Rene asks if that means Black Canary is back, and Dinah says she got a clean bill of health, but they can make the adjustments.  The Mayor comes in just to remind that they work for the SCPD now, and they have to follow the letter of the law, and this agreement is only on  a provisional basis.  Back at the Queen household, Felicity and Ollie discuss having to toe the line about their job, but Ollie feels it’s best for their children and the city.  Felicity reluctantly agrees.

We skip ahead to the future, where William and Mia are on the hunt for a mini cassette player where they can listen to Felicity’s message.  They’re at some underground “shopping mart” looking for it.  The people there look at Mia and William differently, and Mia says it’s because he reeks of money, and she’s undefeated.  This is a criminal lair, and they’re a lot like her---so she says not to do anything and stay put, while she asks around.  William then looks around and finds what they’re looking for, and he ends up haggling with the guy.

Back in the present, we see three men standing with three guys on their knees.  One gets shot, and the main guy hits a clock.  The guy ends up dying with this yellow liquid dripping out.  They decide to try another victim.

At the SCPD, the team gets wind of what happened at the warehouse the night before.  They find out that it’s the Black Op Gang, and they’re experimenting with a new bullet.  Dinah tells them that they have to play it by the book.

Jumping ahead in time, we see Mia come back, and scold her brother for wandering off.  William says he found the cassette player, and goes to reach for it, but doesn’t have it.  Mia tells him he got played by the guy he bought it off of.  Mia confronts the guy, but he threatens her with the SCPD should she make a move.

Laurel is headed to her office when she gets a call about Diaz.  She heads to Slabside where she’s meeting with Bronze Tiger, who informs her that Diaz is dead, and he knows how it happened, considering the prison is trying to cover it up.  She wants to know, but the problem is, he wants her to live up to Ollie’s deal.  She says she’s got a lot of red tape she has to haggle through.  He says that if she brings his son to see him, he’ll talk.

The team eventually finds out where the Black Op Gang is having their next shipment meet, and they end up having to play by the book for this operation.  None of their weapons, none of their suits.  So, they head out to try and stop the shipment, but things go awry, and a gunfight breaks out.  Dinah tries to stop the suppliers, but she finds out she can’t use her Canary powers.  One of the gang tosses a grenade to grant their escape, and the operation falls apart, the bad guys get away.

Things go south at the precinct, as the Sarge and Ollie argue about how the operation went down, and he blames Ollie and his rogue ways, but Ollie tells him that the way they do things is wrong.  The Sarge feels they botched the operation. They find out that the Midas Corporation that was behind the making of the bullets.  Ollie and Felicity decide to pay James Midas a visit…THEIR way.  Meanwhile, Rene and Dinah talk while searching through the files on Midas…but it’s slow going.  Rene feels that they could’ve already gotten this guy, but the problem is, they can’t operate that way.  Dinah reminds him of that, and reminds him that she put her neck on the line for THEM…and it’s HER job if it gets screwed up.

Ollie and Felicity pay a visit to Midas, and he fesses up to what he did.  However, he’s released because the confession doesn’t stick.  The Mayor than chastises them, and then dresses down Dinah.  She makes Dinah decide whether or not she’s the Canary or the Captain.  She says the Captain.  Later on, Rene talks to Dinah, and he finds out that she can’t use her Canary Cry anymore, so she can’t be the Black Canary again.  Rene tells her that Zoey wears her Canary pin every day, because she’s an inspiration to her, and Dinah will do what it takes to get justice.  Dinah is reminded by Rene that the Black Canary is more than just her powers.

Ollie and Felicity are back at the Lair, getting ready to go back into business their way when Diggle shows up.  Diggle says that they need to give this arrangement a chance, and not give up on it quite so quickly, otherwise, it’s the same situation over and over.  Ollie and Felicity tell Diggle that Felicity is pregnant.  Diggle again reminds them that there has to be a better way. 

Laurel shows up at the prison with Tiger’s son, Connor (HINT, HINT!!).  He then lets Laurel know that the night Diaz died, that the new Green Arrow was there…she killed him.

We flash forward where William and Mia talk about how to get the cassette, and that she should’ve been able to lay the vendor out.  William says that while the cops are in there, they can’t do it.  But he then gets an idea.  She gets him a piece of tech where he taps it into his phone, and uses it to lure the police away from the market, chasing the Canary.  They then meet up with the vendor again, and Mia punches him, while William grabs the cassette player.

Rene and Dinah show up, and Dinah apologizes for being hard on them.  They then figure out---through legal channels, that Midas is at his warehouse, looking to dump the chemicals before the cops can nail him.  The team suits up and stops the chemicals from being dumped.  A fight ensues, but they end up taking the bad guys down, and Dinah herself, takes down Midas.  The cops show up along with Ollie to put him under arrest.

Back at the lair, the team celebrates the win, and Dinah confesses that she no longer has her Cry.  But Ollie and them reassure her that she is still the Canary no matter what.  She also says she forced the Mayor’s hand, and that she’s creating a vigilante task force.  The team can operate their own way, while still being able to work within the confines of the law.  Ollie, Dinah, and Rene go off for a drink, and Diggle gives Felicity something for the baby.  He also says that the tech she’s creating is something special.  It gives Felicity much to ponder, since he said ARGUS and everyone else wouldn’t mind having it.

Emiko pays Laurel a visit, and Laurel lets her know that she’s aware that she killed Diaz, and that Ollie isn’t going to be thrilled about it when they find out.  Emiko says who are they more likely to believe---her, or Black Siren…which causes Laurel to pause.

Ollie and Felicity have a private moment, and they talk about baby names.  Felicity says if it’s a boy, she wants his name to be Lucas.  But Ollie says if it’s girl…he wants Mia.  Felicity says it’s short for Moira, which is nice. 

Flashing ahead to the future, William and Mia finally play the tape, and Felicity tells them that they’re glad they found each other, and that she’s sorry that they kept them apart for so long, but they felt it was best to protect them.  She then gives them some coordinates, inform the team, and tells them to get out of Star City, and do NOT come looking for her.  Of course, they agree NOT to listen to their mother, and off they go.  They arrive at The Glades, which is walled up, and Mia says they’re going over the wall.

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This was a VERY good episode---and gave us A LOT more clarity on certain things going on on Oliver Queen's world.  

First of all...the team is finding it hard to adapt to toeing the line of the law, when they're used to administering justice, and taking down the bad guys on their terms.  To have to follow police procedure and the letter of the law is not real suited for them, and it forced them to be creative this episode, which, much to the delight of us fans, they managed to do.  Plus...hell...too see Dinah back in her Black Canary garb---Canary Cry or not---the woman can still kick some serious ass.  She was one of the big focal points of this episode.  Her having to be the face of two worlds---to walk that fine line between cop and vigilante.  To know her Canary Cry no longer works (thanks to Stanley), is heartbreaking, and thinking that defined her as a superhero.  Props to Rene for helping to pick her back up and dust her off.  Tonight's work by Team Arrow also went a long way to show the Mayor that if you use the talents of these people, you'll get the results.

Felicity's talk with Diggle was interesting...and HUGE foreshadowing.  Commenting on her company's work with Curtis as far as their technology goes, saying that ARGUS or ANYONE would love to have it---PLUS having her update the SCPD's system---is serious groundwork being laid for what's to become of Felicity later on, as we have gotten the spectrum of it in the future thanks to the team with William and Mia.

Speaking of William and Mia...it's nice to see the siblings work together to find their mother.  He's the brains, she's the braun...and they have a nice chemistry together.  Good siblings are like that.  Getting the coordinates to The Glades, and informing the team...still not sure totally of Felicity's endgame, but if it's what we've been told earlier...the destruction of Star City isn't far behind.

Had a so-so bad guy of the week...James Midas.  A corrupt and criminal businessman looking to profit off the bodies of the citizens of Star City.  It served as a good storyline to help Team Arrow find a way to defeat him by abiding by the letter of the law.  A smug businessman who got his comeuppance...not exactly thrillling by action standards, but it didn't have to be.  

The real interesting side story was Laurel finding out who killed Diaz (yes, it's confirmed---the man is a crispy critter), and what do you know...it's Emiko.  Apparently, at the behest of Dante, and him needing to tie up a loose end.  Of course, Laurel calls Emiko out on the carpet for flambaying the man, and says that won't sit well with Ollie.  But, gotta hand it to Emiko---throwing equal shade at Laurel for being Black Siren, and seeing WHO would be believed moreso---her or Emiko.  Laurel WOULD have a tough time trying to convince Team Arrow that Emiko killed Diaz (though I feel Felicity would believe her...just won't lose sleep over it), considering her checkered past with the team.  But she HAS made strides as of late, and deserves the benefit of the doubt.  But Emiko IS Ollie's sister...and I'm sure she'd bet on the "blood is thicker than water" theory.  

Show of hands, kids---who here knew that Connor Hawke was Bronze Tiger's son?

Well, that's it for this week.  Drop a comment, subscribe, and pay it forward!  

Until next week...keep your sights on the bullseye.

SUPERGIRL - Season 4.14

SUPERGIRL – SEASON 4, EP. 14:  “Stand and Deliver”

The Girl of Steel and Dreamer patrol on high tonight, as they try to ensure the protest between Lockwood’s Sons of Liberty and the Alien Community goes peacefully, while Brainy and J’Onn join in the festivities.  Meanwhile, Alex must go against her beliefs to fulfill a mission given to her by Col. Haley.

We open up our week’s edition of the show with the Elite coming down the street with song “Stuck In the Middle” playing.  They’re plotting their next plan to disrupt things.  They go their separate ways to set things up.  Menagerie goes off to grab “a bite” before following up her end of the plan.  However, the woman she follows leads her right to Dreamer and Supergirl, who disarm her quickly.  They try to extract info about the rest of the Elite out of her, but she won’t relent.  However, J’Onn isn’t so nice.

Lockwood is at a press conference, accepting his position has Head of Alien Affairs, and Manchester Black and his cronies begin to attack the Lockwood.  Supergirl and J’Onn arrive before things escalate, but the Elite escape.

At CatCo, Miss Tessmacher arrives to see James, and he inquires about the “Black Finanaces” of L-Corp, and Tessmacher tells him that it’s used to show business partners, and for their Science Division.  She tells him that while he and Lena are in a bad spot, things will change.  She says anything else he needs to know, she’ll have to ask Lena.

J’Onn and Kara chat about what to do with Menagerie, and figuring out how to stop the Elite before they strike again.  She says she should’ve handled it sooner, but she didn’t.  J’Onn tells her not to blame herself.

At the DEO, Miss Tessmacher tries to talk to Lena, but Lena isn’t having it right now..especially since she just had a showdown with Col. Haley about rushing her experiments into production for her soldiers.  Lena told her she needed more time, and Haley isn’t really going to be lenient.

Haley tells Alex she’s on a security detail….Ben Lockwood.  She isn’t pleased about it, but she has to do her job.  Lockwood and her have a chat, and he feels that history will prove him right.  At his press conference, he plans on repealing the Alien Immigration Act.  Watching this on TV is Kara, Nia, and J’Onn.  They have to find the Elite before they strike at the rally at the Alien Immigration Building that Lockwood has set up.  At the DEO, Haley asks Brainy to track down the Elite and anyone that might be radicals on the alien side, otherwise, there will be a powderkeg, and things will get worse.  Dreamer says that they have to head to the balcony, and find one of the Morai’s claws, and hope to be able to track the Elite with it.

Manchester Black and his buddy have arrived at the North Pole, and have discovered the Fortress of Solitude.  They also find the key, and manage to lift it up to gain entry into it. 

Alex shows up at Kara’s apartment, looking to her for advice about Lockwood.  She can’t stand him, and not sure what to do.  Kara tells her that she is a hero, and she will make the tough call, even though it won’t be popular.  Alex wants her to stay, but Kara says she’s got a deadline.  But decides to hang out with her sister anyway. 

At the Fortress, Black and Hat are looking for Menagerie, and break her out.  Black wants to take down Supergirl and Lockwood, but Hat has other ideas.  Looks like the seeds of separation are set, because Black isn’t deviating from his plan, and Hat won’t budge.  Black is off to find Menagerie, as Hat leaves.  Meanwhile, Dreamer and J’Onn use the claw and her astral projection powers to find out where they were at.  Dreamer urges J’Onn to get Supergirl quickly, and they’re off to the Fortress of Solitude.  There, they face off against the Elite, but mange to put the Morai down.  Black looks to escape J’Onn, but ends up escaping through a door, but swallowed up by tentacles.

Back at CatCo, James talks to one of the reporters who is covering the rally.  He let’s them know that what they do is important, and reporting the truth, and ALL sides, is important.  Then, he asks if he needs a reporter.

Back at J’Onn’s office, Kara tells him that the creature was a Sun Eater, and it’s very dangerous.  Brainy shows up, and apologizes for the loss of Manchester Black.  J’Onn can’t sense him anymore, but feels some sense of relief.  Brainy comes back to ask about the Legion ring, but they didn’t get it back.  Brainy then explains that he’s supposed to be at the rally, and that HE is the web blogger that Haley wanted him to find.  He tells Kara that when he had the ring, it gave him strength.  But then he met Kara, and she has been his source of strength.  He asks if they’ll go with him to the rally, since he’s there to keep the peace.  Kara says her and Nia can’t…they need to patrol in case there is trouble.  J’Onn agrees to go.

At the rally, Lockwood is spilling his rhetoric about the abolision of the Alien Immigration Act.  As the alien protesters arrive on the rally, J’Onn and Brainy are in solidarity, while Supergirl looks overhead.  She spots one of the people shouting at the protesters, and schools the man on why they’re peacefully protesting, and saying that she is no different than them…and walks with the protesters.  They arrive at the rally, and Lockwood insights the crowd.  Supergirl tells them to stand their ground, and do NOT engage.  Eventually, as things start to get escalate, Alex kills the rally by getting Lockwood off stage.

Meanwhile, it turns out Hat and Manchester are very much alive, and with the Kryptonian crystal, they feel their plan worked that Supergirl and J’Onn had thought he died.  They put their plan into action, and Black comes out as multiple figures, telling the aliens to take control and fight back.  Hat starts handing out weapons, as everything breaks into chaos.  J’Onn goes after Black, as Brainy takes on Hat, and Supergirl and Dreamer are on crowd control, trying to get everyone to safety.  Brainy manages to take down Hat, and he’s cuffed.  Meanwhile, J’Onn chases down Black and they fight.  But, it turns out that Black disguised one of the Children of Liberty as himself.  Black takes off, and J’Onn is upset that he’s escaped yet again.

We see a montage of humans helping out aliens amidst all the chaos.  Supergirl rescues a little girl, and is reunited with her mother.  James, all the while, are taking pictures.  The man that Supergirl confronted before, had finally seen the light, and thanked her for showing him differently.

We are back at CatCo, where, thanks to James’ pictures, Lockwood has to now back off, and go through a committee in regards to the Registration Act.  Kara, Nia, and James feel there’s a huge victory to be had there, as it gets Lockwood to cool his jets.  James says the power of the people can work wonders, and would also like to thank Supergirl for her efforts, as well as her new sidekick, Dreamer.  James would like a story on her.  Nia says she’ll get right on it.

We cut to J’Onn…with Blacks brass knuckles, trying to get a bead on him.  He’s reminded of what Black said about changing him.  J’Onn won’t let him do it, but reverts to his Martian form, and goes off to search for him.

We then cut Alex talking to Haley, and Haley commends her on the job she did today.  Haley then goes to see Lena, and tells her that thanks to James, she’s got time to concoct her serum.  After Haley leaves, Miss Tessmacher tells her that she should take advantage of the rest, but Lena says there may not be time before something else happens.

Alex and Kara then talk about how Alex handled the situation, and Kara was happy for her.  Alex says that while she and Supergirl haven’t gotten along lately, she’s starting to come around.  She admires her. 

James is leaving his office for the night, and has he’s walking out, the phone rings.  He stops to turn around, pondering to answer it, when there’s a gunshot---James is hit.  We end the episode with him lying in his office bleeding.

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This was a good episode, and sets up some interesting plotlines going forward.  

It was interesting that ONE man who thought less of the aliens actually separated Supergirl from them because she was a superhero...but seeing, at the end of the episode, that it didn't matter WHO was in danger, she was the hero nonetheless....but still and alien.  It was interesting how that dynamic for some of the citizens are.  Supergirl IS an alien, but to many, she gets special dispensation because she's an established superhero.  

We see Dreamer is still learning on the job, and, well, at times came off a little intense.  But for all her inexperience, her enthusiam is there.  She is a nice fit into Team Supergirl, and will be an asset down the road.  

We saw some growth from Brainy today, as we see the more "human" side of him.  He is acclimating to Earth well, and he's also the lighthearted one of the team.  Today, though, finding out he was "American Alien"...a poster on a website, espousing pro-alien sentiment, shows us that he is doing his part to show that not all aliens are bad.  

J'Onn has become obsessed with Manchester Black.  For all the teachings of his father, J'Onn cannot escape is destiny as a superhero.  It's just who he is.  And as much as he proclaims that he's not let Manchester get to him...he clearly has.  Now that he's going full on Manhunter, it will be interesting to see if he can hold his temper back.  Of ANYONE in this season...it is J'Onn that is going through some serious changes.

Alex was good at holding her own this episode, having to do her job while fighting against her very fiber and wanting to pop Lockwood right in the kisser.  Plus, her relationship with Supergirl is improving, which is good for Kara, seeing as it's an aspect of her relationship that she misses dearly.

Lena is relentless in her serum to fulfill Col. Haley's request, and feels that after this rally and protest gone bad, she needs to kick it into high gear.

James...hooo boy!  Who the hell shot him?!!  This is like the "Who Shot JR?" deal from Dallas....but it's not a season ender, and won't hold people for a whole summer.  But still...who could be out to get James?  Most likely a Child of Liberty...but there could be someone else.  Maybe someone from the Elite?  Manchester Black?  Hopefully we'll get an answer next week.

Lockwood took it on the chin tonight...as Haley said, he's a bureaucrat who has no idea what power he wields,  He wanted to stir up the pot, and get a riot going, hoping to take out the protesters, but it turned out, unfortunately for HIM, that he now has to work through official channels to get what he wants---which means his issue will be tied up in political red tape for the forseeable future.  It was his humbling first experience on a political scale, but be sure to see him find a way to grease some wheels on the political ladder to get what he wants.  

That wraps it up for this week.  Please please subscribe and pass the good word around.  Don't be afraid to comment as well.  I look forward to hearing from you.  

Anyway, until next week...Up, Up, and Away!

IMPACT! WRESTLING - March 8, 2019

IMPACT! WRESTLING – March 8, 2019:  The Dark War arrives, we check on the status of World Champion Johnny Impact, Ethan Page looks to Rich Swann and his X-Division Title, and the Lucha Bros do battle with The Rascalz.  PLUS – The Smokeshow herself appears, and info on AGAINST ALL ODDS as well as Glenn Gilbertti’s adventures on still trying to find his role with IMPACT Wrestling.

Ethan Page and Rich Swann kick off this week’s set of matches, as Page is looking to make his mark in the X-Division by taking down the reigning champion.  Page came out to battle as he takes the fight to Swann.  Rich tries to get some offense in, but Page has control of the match at this juncture, working Swann’s back with a slam, and several forearms on Swann’s back.  Problem with All Ego in this match is that he’s too busy interacting with the fans instead of keeping his focus on Swann.  Swann finally gets the upper hand, and works Page down, gets to the top rope, and lands a splash, but Page kicks out at 2.  Swann goes high again, but Page hits into the ref, distract Swann, and then get to Swann, and toss him off the top rope with an arm pull.  Page goes for a pin, but Swann kicks out.  Page and Swann fight back, and Swann lights Page up with a superkick, then lands the Phoenix Splash for the pin and the win.  But Swann doesn’t get time to celebrate as Sami Callahan and OVE come out, and Sami says tonight is the night that he joins OVE.  He’s got an OVE shirt ready to go.  Sami tells Rich that family is everything, and join OVE.  Rich hugs Sami Callahan, and OVE is happy.  Rich puts on the shirt, and OVE is stoked.  But out of nowhere, Swann superkicks Callahan in the back of the head, delivers a double cutter to the Crist brothers, and rolls out of the ring, tearing the OVE shirt off…they’ll be no “coming home” for Swann this time.

We’re backstage with LAX.  Konnan is telling Santana and Ortiz to let him do his job and talk to the Lucha Bros about a rematch for the belts.  Josh and Matt then go over what happened with Johnny last week, as well as Brian Cage.  Mr. “Ace” Reporter Miles Hernandez back there intervenes while the medical staff is checking Brian over, and he gets in Cage’s grill about not getting the job done.  Just then, the doctor and a ref come and usher the guy away, while Brian continues to get checked out.

Ace Austin is up next, making his IMPACT debut with Jake Atlas. Austin is on top of the match early with Atlas, as they trade moves back and forth.  Austin then gets the advantage in the match and works Austin over with some chops in the corner.  Austin then kicks Atlas away from the corner, and springboards into another kick to gain the edge.  But Jake Atlas once again regains control.  He gets a pin attempt, but Austin kicks out.  Both men putting on a good show.  Austin once again gets the edge, and comes out of the corner with a big running blockbuster, and gains the pin.  Great debut for Ace Austin tonight.  Jake Atlas also had a great performance. 

Hernandez…Mr. “Ace” Reporter here, talking to Taya and Johnny about Johnny’s injury.  He’s goading Johnny about his injury and letting Cage down.  Taya stands by her man, and says that they’re talking about a neck fusion for him.  Johnny says that no matter what…he owes Cage a title shot, and he’ll get it.

We get a Reno Scum promo where they accept KM & Fallah Bahh’s challenge for a rematch, saying that their win last week was a fluke.

Alisha Edwards comes out with an important announcement.  She says her contract with IMPACT is up, and as fun as she has had entertaining everyone, she feels it might be time to start a family.  Just then the Desi Hit Squad hit the ring, and begin to berate her, and tell her that she has no business being in the ring, and that she belongs in the home providing for her man.  As Gama begins to tell her off, she slaps him.  The Hit Squad then corner her and look like they’ll attack her, when Eddie Edwards comes to the ring with Kenny, and nails the Hit Squad.  He then gets Singh in the corner, and is about to smack him with Kenny, but the Hit Squad attack him and get him down.  And when they’re about to put the finishing touches on Eddie, when Eli Drake shows up.  And He says he’s been waiting for a long time to do this, and when the Hit Squad thinks he’ll drill Eddie, he attacks them instead, and they end up clearing the ring.

We get Hernandez again outside the IMPACT offices, and Brian Cage comes out, and Hernandez is quickly in his face about the title match, and plays him a recording, and Cage calls him a troll, and tells him to beat it.

Backstage after the altercation, Alisha tries to convince Eddie to team up with Eli, since he’s the only one willing to.  Eddie says thank you to Eli for the save, but still feels him and Kenny are okay.  Eli says he’s not looking to be a hero, but feels they have something where they can chase tag team gold.  He goes on to say that he can make a match with the Desi Hit Squad next week.  Alisha convinces Eddie to tag with Eli, and Eddie agrees.  Eli says if it doesn’t work out, they part, but if it does…see where it goes.

Melissa is backstage with Moose & Kross and they talk about what happened last week with Johnny’s injury and busting Cage open.  They mock the duo they put down last week, and Moose calls the champ “Johnny Neckbrace”, and Kross reminds them that if THEY are not getting title shots…NO ONE is.  Moose then tries to hit on Melissa…but she flat turns him down.

The Rascalz are back, and it’s another stoner segment…something about a bear and being super heroes. Dez comes up with a couple of masks, and the boys then joke about Moose’s outfit.  I am still searching for a point to these segments…they’re not funny.

It’s time for the Dark War, as Su Yung, Dark Allie, James Mitchell, and an Undead Bride make their way to the ring.  Kiera, Jordynne, and Rosemary all make their way to the ring separately.  Rosemary waves a collar and leash in front of Allie…letting her know her fate should they gain victory in the match.  The match begins with all six ladies going at it in the ring.  Kiera goes to work on Su Yung early, and then Allie tags in.  Kiera then tags in Rosemary, and the two face off, but not long enough, as Allie quickly tags back in Su Yung.  Then her and Rosemary go at it.  The Demon Assassin’s team is showing great teamwork, as they get the edge on Su. 

Back from the break, and Su Yung and Allie have taken control of the match and are working Kiera Hogan over.  Allie is now in the ring kicking Kiera when she tags in Su.  Su gets Kiera in a cross faced backbreaker maneuver.  Su then hangs Kiera on her back, stretching out the pain on Kiera more, when she tags in Allie.  Allie continues to punish Kiera.  Kiera fights back and gets Allie down, but is far from her corner.  But she tags Rosemary.  Rosemary and Allie face off, but Su tries to interfere, and Rosemary knocks her down.  She then gets after Allie, but Allie manages to escape.  Su gets Rosemary in a sidewalk slam.  Su gets Rosemary in a Panic Switch, but can’t get the pin.  Things get crazy as all ladies enter the ring.  Jordan lands her slam.  The Undead Maid of Honor then tries to hold Rosemary, so that Su can spray her mist into her eyes, but she misses, and hits the Maid.  Rosemary than lands a spear to the Maid of Honor, and scores the pin!  The Dark War is over, and Allie now belongs to The Demon Assassin.  Jordynne and Kiera hold onto Allie, as Rosemary puts on the leash.  She then leads Allie to the back, claiming her prize in the war.  Allie still feels the connection to Su, but is dragged away by Rosemary. 

Backstage, and Disco Gilbertti is still trying to find and talk to the IMPACT management, not happy with being the clown of the company and Konnan tells him the office is down the hall, go and cut a promo on Don Callis’ ass. He enters, calling Callis a bald bitch, but it’s Killer Kross who gets up, none too pleased.  Gilbertti tries to apologize, but to no avail…Kross kicks him in the head for his troubles.

We’re back with Gilbertti’s adventures backstage, trying to find IMPACT management.  He talks to various people about where Callis is.  He sees three guys who he thinks are Cody & The Young Bucks, and asks if there’s any openings in AEW, but they’re just backstage crew workers. He says he wants to do commentary to one of the producers, and they say no, but he heads out to Josh and Don anyway, pleading his case.  Josh then hops into the ring, and introduces The Smokeshow, and Scarlett Bordeaux struts to the ring, looking as fabulous as can be.  Josh talks to her about her contest, and what ultimately led to her choosing herself, and wanting to compete in IMPACT.  She also makes fun of Disco, and he’s heard enough as he gets in the ring and begins to tell her that she’s done nothing for the last 6 months.  He begins to tell her that women’s wrestling sucks, and that since there’s no bra and panties matches, she has no business in the ring.  She then slaps him silly, and asks him if he thinks he’s better than her, and he goes the misogynistic route, and says that the Desi Hit Squad was right, and that she should go home and do all the stereotypical “women” things.  She says she can kick his ass, and he says he doubts it, but if she wants to try him on, he isn’t hard to find.  Scarlett flat out challenges him to a match, and says when they meet in the ring, she’s going to kick his ass. 

We see Rosemary dragging Allie with her, with Jordynne and Kiera in tow.  Rosemary tells them their part in the war is over, but Kiera said she was going to stay until the end.  Rosemary warns her again to go away and let HER deal with Allie.  She got her Bunny back, she will handle it.

Melissa is back with Tessa Blanchard, who is still not happy.  She gets to face Jordynne Grace for a chance to be the #1 contender for Taya’s Knockouts title.  She’s upset, still blaming Gail Kim and IMPACT management, saying their protecting Gail, but she says she’ll do what it takes, no matter what.  She says she ALWAYS gets what she wants.

Josh and Don go over the UNITED WE STAND show coming up, with the matches signed.  Then the Rascalz come out as it’s Main Event time.  They get a great opportunity to shine against the Tag Team Champions, the Lucha Bros.  The Champs arrive, and it’s time to get it on!  As with every match with the Champs, it moves quick as Fenix and Dez lock up and go toe to toe with an exchange of moves early on.  Dez tries to throw Fenix out of the ring, and walks away, but Fenix blocks it, turns it around, throwing Dez into the ropes, who flips a couple of times, and we’re back at square one.  Eventually the champs get control, and Fenix gets Wentz off the apron, and the champs go to work.  They land their splash, but only manage a two count, as Wentz makes the save.  He gets tossed from the ring, and the champs continue the double team on Dez.  Wentz recovers and gets the edge on Fenix, and gets a couple of high impact moves on him.  He gets Fenix into a pin attempt, but only scores a two count, before Fenix kicks out.  Fenix makes the tag to Pentagon, who gets Dez off the apron, and goes to work on Wentz.  The action spills out of the ring, and Dez runs to Wentz, who flips him OVER the ringpost and onto the champions.  The Rascalz get Pentagon in the ring, and just as they’re about to score a major pin, Fenix recovers enough to land a splash on the top rope to break up the fall.  All men are down, as the action has increased in the match.  Fenix and Dez go back and forth, but Fenix gets the edge, delivers a kick to Dez, and Pentagon lands the Death Valley Driver as Fenix launches out of the ring onto Wentz.  Pentagon scores the pinfall, as the champs get the win.  Great match to send the show off the air.  Both teams deserve props for an exciting main event.  The Luchas establish their dominance, but the Rascalz deserve some love for their performance too.  The Luchas meet up with Konnan backstage, and ask him for something.  They want respect from LAX for taking the masks…they violated the Lucha code, but Konnan points out the hand gestures.  Konnan demands a rematch with the Lucchas, as the show goes off the air.

________________________________________________________________________________

Alrighty!  Another show in the books, and this one had some high points....and some low ones.  

Let's address the lows:  First and foremost - The Dark War.  Don't get me wrong...I LOVED the lighting for the match (though some people complained), and it had a feel---at the beginning, anyway---of being epic.  But....it wasn't.  I was hoping for something bigger, and with Su Yung...someone OTHER than an Undead Maid of Honor as a filler partner for her and Allie.  There needed to be someone in that corner to really spruce up the drama.  Nothing against the Undead Maid...she did her job---eating the pin for the match....but just felt there could've been more drama to it.  And, now with Allie back in the hands of The Demon Assassin---what will the story be going forward?  Will Mitchell and Su plot to steal Allie back?  Will Allie either finally embrace the Shadow again, once more becoming the bright Bunny we came to love---or will that connection with Su...and the "betrayal" by Rosemary for being gone for so long twist Allie enough to where her and Rosemary must have a one-on-one match to settle it all?  And what of Kiera?  Why insist on sticking around?  I know she's Allie's friend, but she's in WAAAY over hear head.  Perhaps, if they can't get Allie back...Mitchell and Su may target Kiera next.  Either way, I was hoping for something a bit more from this match.  But hopefully, wherever the story goes, it will be better than the match we got tonight.  It wasn't horrible...but somewhat predictable.

The Rascalz segments with the fake stoner smoke and awful laugh track----ugh.  If I had a DVR...this would've been fast forward material.  These guys are WAAAAY too talented for this cheap kind of segment.

The Gilbertti segments back stage----okay, he's a clown act, we get it.  But we didn't need to have this "I need to speak to management" bit run on for two weeks.  Got to learn when NOT to drag on an idea for too long.  But okay, it got the point across...he's a goof.

Not a fan of the "Investigative Reporter" Miles Hernandez, who all he does is ask gotcha questions, and calls it "journalism".  Don treads the line enough as a cross between a face and heel announcer----do we need the dick reporter, too?  It just MAKES you want to slug him when you see him---and maybe that's the point.  I do like that Cage thinks of him as a shit-stirrer...if that's his role...he's doing a fine job of it.  I know I want to punch him!

Now for the good:

Lucha Bros and The Rascalz---PLEASE give me MORE of that!  These kids are AMAZING, and the Luchas really helped bring them along in the ring tonight.  That was a solid tag team match, and despite eating the loss, the Rascalz STILL came out the better for it, because the Luchas did an EXCEPTIONAL job of putting these boys over.  This is something the WWE should be taking notes on----THIS is how you book a tag team division!  The Luchas, LAX, Rascalz, Desi Hit Squad, Reno Scum, KM & Fallah Bahh, and if you throw in Eddie & Eli Drake....that's a solid set of teams to build with.  All of them are getting a chance to show their stuff, and we'll get to see what happens.  But tag team wrestling is alive in well, and you can find some pretty damn good solid teams in IMPACT!, and the future looks bright.

Johnny and Taya doing well to sell his injury to the fans, keeping the story with him, Kross, Moose, and Cage going.  Taya is very exceptional playing the part of the concerned wife.  Moose & Kross also showing THEIR diverse sides in regards to this feud.  Kross, as always, serious and sinister, making sure HE will wipe out ALL competition for Johnny's title.  Moose, just going with the flow.  The nice touch is him hitting on Melissa, and her showing NO interest whatsoever.  I gotta tell you...ever since Melissa Santos landed in IMPACT, she's done an awesome job.  She shows disgust when needed, a little fear if necessary, but when she interviewed Tessa Blanchard...she stood her ground when Tessa squared her up.  I loved it.  Shows she doesn't put up with ANY crap...happy with Melissa Santos.

Tessa is doing a great job still playing the bitch with a temper tantrum, feeling she's been screwed eight ways from Sunday when it comes to the Knockouts Title...and she places the blame square on Gail Kim.  I can see Gail coming out of retirement for this---if only to shut Tessa up.  I feel that's where they're going.

Not sure what's going to happen with Alisha Edwards...up until last week, she's been gone from IMPACT programming, and it's probably due to her contract issue.  Will she re-sign, or will she actually take a break?  Hard to say for sure, but she did help get Eddie and Eli on the same page.  Loved the slap in the face to Gama Singh...girl is petite, but a spitfire.  I don't know if this is a babyface turn for Eli Drake...but, no one can deny him and Eddie have great chemistry together as a tag team.  So far...liking this story.

Ace Austin made his debut tonight, and I was pleasantly surprised.  Him AND Jake Atlas put on a good match, and I'm curious to see them improve and get better.  I know Austin was the focus, but Atlas has something to offer as well.  Perhaps a tweak in character, and he's got something.  As for Austin, he's got the whole Gambit of the X-Men kind of vibe, but I like it.  Plus...kid is VERY talented.  I can see him in the X-Division mix down the road.

Speaking of the X-Division, I think ever since Matt Sydal went down with an injury, Ethan Page has stepped up his game.  He's still a goofy kind of heel, but he's also gotten better in the ring.  He had a decent match with Swann tonight, and feel he'll be in the mix to Challenge Swann down the road for the title.

Speaking of Swann---I think it's safe to say that HIS feud with OVE has reached a head---and they're setting up an X-Division Title match at REBELLION.  It's been a good blood feud, and want to see it taken to the next level.

Now...with all THAT said...let's look at the card shaping up for UNITED WE STAND...not everything is set in stone yet, but this is what we're looking at:

Now..this card is subject to change in some ways, and there might be more matches added, but you'll be able to watch it on FITE TV.  

Finally---Scarlett Bordeaux slapping Gilbertti, and challenging him to a match...I'm all for it!  Look forward to THAT in three weeks!

Okay, gang, that's enough from me this week.  Be sure to subscribe and to pass it along to everyone else.  Also...NOT afraid of your comments, either!  Let's open up a dialogue.

Until next week...