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Young Sheldon Theory: Brenda Seduces George To Get Revenge Against Mary

5 years ago

Brenda Sparks (Melissa Peterman) may be intentionally seducing George (Lance Barber) to seek revenge against Mary (Zoe Perry) in Young Sheldon. Ever since the CBS comedy floated the idea of the Cooper patriarch potentially starting an affair with his newly single neighbor, fans have been wondering if this effectively sets up Sheldon's cheating story in The Big Bang Theory. Admittedly, it's far too early to confirm since it's supposedly a few more years before this heartbreaking incident happens. Nevertheless, Young Sheldon seems to be setting up George's affair so that the shift from a loving father to a cheating husband doesn't feel unbelievably abrupt.

CBS has dropped clues here and there about the future collapse of George and Mary's marriage, but it wasn't until the Young Sheldon season 4 finale that it straightforwardly addressed the looming tragedy. The episode titled "The Wild and Woolly World of Nonlinear Dynamics" started off with Missy (Raegan Revord) dealing with boy troubles, but, by the end of the outing, the issue became so much larger than that. The commotion at home led to her dad confessing for the first time that he is miserable and deeply unhappy. Not wanting to make things worse, the Young Sheldon season 4 finale ended with George abruptly leaving home and going to a pub where he coincidentally met Brenda. They decided to hang out, heavily implying that this could be the start of a potential affair.


CBS has already released a few teasers in light of Young Sheldon season 5's nearing release. Several of those official sneak peeks support the notion that George begins an extramarital relationship. What's interesting, however, is that Brenda seems to be the one initiating contact, which is odd, considering that Mary has been nothing but supportive to her ever since her own marriage broke down. It's possible that this could be the very reason why: she's intentionally pursuing George to hurt the Cooper matriarch.

Brenda and Mary have had a contentious relationship in Young Sheldon. They have clashed about a lot of things; Brenda didn't particularly like Mary's self-righteousness, and she felt as if her neighbor was too judgmental of her and everyone else in general. To be fair, Mary could really be overbearing (something that was more amplified in her appearances on The Big Bang Theory). Brenda may feel inadequate or even resentful compared to her, especially given Sheldon's academic achievements in relation to Billy's (Wyatt McClure). After a while, however, the pair seemingly bonded over their shared issues, specifically with regard to their kids and their futures. The hostility has largely resolved, and Mary even stepped up to be a source of strength for Brenda when her husband left. Still, it's likely the original issues Brenda had with Mary are still simmering under the surface.

While Mary and Brenda are fundamentally different, their relationships with their respective husbands are similar. Both tend to yell at and nag their spouses; George and Herschel Sparks (Billy Gardell) realized this, so they developed an unlikely friendship. Granted that it wasn't fully explored in Young Sheldon, it's clear that the show wanted to draw a parallel between the men. Moving forward, however, the sitcom won't be able to properly revisit this burgeoning relationship. As revealed in season 4, Herschel left Brenda after going through some marital problems. It's unclear what specifically caused the separation, but the breakup doesn't seem mutual, with Brenda still reeling from the loss. Meanwhile, the Coopers remain together. Granted that they go through their own difficulties, but neither one of them has given up on their marriage — at least thus far. Despite Mary's ways, George continues to be a devoted husband to her and a good father to his kids.

Given the state of her marriage compared to her neighbor's, it's not outside the realm of possibility that Brenda has developed some kind of resentment towards Mary. As a proud woman, she doesn't want pity — especially when it's from Mary who could be annoyingly sanctimonious. Initially, no one knew about Herschel moving out, but Brenda eventually told Mary after the Cooper matriarch checked on her neighbor when she heard about Billy struggling at school. Young Sheldon didn't show how their subsequent conversation went down, but Mary seemed really concerned about Brenda — so much so that she even arranged a girls' night out with her and Meemaw (Annie Potts) afterward.

While Brenda seems appreciative of Mary's efforts, it's still possible that she is ticked off by the fact that at the end of the day, the Cooper matriarch is a reminder of what she has lost. Not only that, but Brenda may feel jealous of Mary's marriage. While she understands that Mary has nothing but good intentions, spending time together can be secretly harrowing for Brenda. And since she's too prideful to admit this to Mary, she has been going along with it, causing her to grow bitter.


There are many ways to mess with Mary. For starters, Brenda can target her insecurities on being excluded and start getting more one-on-one time with Pastor Jeff (Matt Hobby). This is sure to drive Mary Cooper insane as she was filled with jealousy when she found out that the pair went on a walk without inviting her back in Young Sheldon season 4. If Pastor Jeff isn't a viable option, perhaps Brenda can target Meemaw instead. She and Mary's mother seem to have a lot of similarities, and after spending some time together during their girls' night out, it won't be that awkward to hang out again. That being said, arguably the most effective way to bring down Mary is to destroy her marriage — something the season 4 finale set up.

Knowing full well that the Cooper matriarch is too uptight to do something foolish that will result in her separation from her husband, Brenda can go after George instead. As seen in the Young Sheldon season 5 trailers, she is very forthcoming in luring George into making the catastrophic mistake of cheating on his wife. If she successfully splits up Mary and George, Brenda can then find solace in the idea that she's not the only one who has a broken family. It could also be an ego boost to know that a committed family man like George would be willing to have an affair with her.

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RHOP: All the Gossip From The Reasonably Shady Party

5 years ago

Robyn Dixon and Gizelle Bryant from The Real Housewives of Potomac hosted a Reasonably Shady party in honor of their new podcast, and it's time to talk about the gossip that made the rounds at that event. The green-eye bandits have been best friends since the beginning of RHOP. However, the bash marked the beginning of a whole new adventure for the entrepreneurs.

Before the event, Gizelle and Robyn had some differences of opinion. Gizelle planned to have the event outside of her home due to the construction and said she wouldn't let certain individuals inside. Gizelle decided that Dr. Wendy Osefo and Karen Huger wouldn't be allowed to use the bathroom. Robyn wasn't prepared to cosign this. Karen and Gizelle's age-old feud cast a pall over the afternoon, as did Gizelle's tension with Wendy. Gizelle decided to bring up the infidelity gossip surrounding Wendy's husband Eddie Osefo on the season's first girls' trip. Wendy said none of the rumors are true. In turn, Wendy threw shade at Gizelle's recent split with her ex-husband.


When the party started, paddles were handed out, with "reasonable" and "shady" on each side. Then, Gizelle and Robyn asked questions, which the RHOP labeled reasonable or shady with their paddles. Before they could get too far, Karen pulled Mia Thornton aside. Mia questioned Candiace Dillard Bassett's mom about whether Candiace's husband Chris Bassett was paid as her manager. During the game, Gizelle took issue with Wendy for telling Candiace about Mia's comments. Candiace appreciated Wendy's honesty and confronted Mia, asking, "why is it appropriate to ask my mom a question like that? At a day that's supposed to be joyful and positive?" When Mia labeled her music video low budget, Candiace struck a low blow by labeling Mia’s mother low budget as well. After that, RHOP's Candiace held her tongue, showing her skills in terms of avoiding further drama.

The group also debated whether Karen's honest drunk calls were reasonable or shady. What they could agree on was that they were entertaining. Gizelle then asked if it was reasonable or shady to question Wendy's changes in appearance amid the cheating rumors surrounding Eddie. Wendy answered, "I mean, it would only be reasonable if the same blog that reported that didn't report that you had an STD," referring to Gizelle. Robyn then got extremely heated with Wendy, saying no one could get through to her. Wendy made the final point that if any of them were genuinely concerned, the RHOP could have called her directly.

Ultimately, as per Bravo's The Daily Dish, "the jury is still out" on whether the party "was at all reasonable, but it was definitely shady." What is certain is that Gizelle and Robyn have concocted a podcast formula that is sure to sell. When it comes to the green-eyed bandits' feud with Wendy and Candiace's tension with Mia, fans will have to see how the rest of The Real Housewives of Potomac season unfolds.

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Batwoman Season 3 Episode 2 Synopsis Confirms Killer Croc Appearance

5 years ago

A new synopsis for Batwoman's upcoming episode confirms Killer Croc's appearance in season 3. The series created by Caroline Dries for The CW began airing in 2019 as a part of the network's Arrowverse franchise. Initially, the show focused on the adventures of Ruby Rose's Kate Kane, as she becomes Gotham City's new vigilante following the disappearance of her billionaire-philanthropist cousin Bruce Wayne. But Rose quit Batwoman after season 1, forcing the show to find a new heroine for season 2 onwards. God Friended Me's Javicia Leslie was subsequently introduced as Ryan Wilder, a street-level hero and ex-convict who takes up Kate's Batwoman mantle.

Batwoman devoted much of season 2 establishing Ryan as the new superheroine, along with resolving the conundrum of what happened to Kate. The season ended with some thrilling revelations and cliffhangers, with Ryan finding out that her biological mother was still alive and Batman's villain trophies floating down a river. Those events will factor into the upcoming season 3, leading to the arrival of some notable allies and adversaries from the Batman comics' lore. Actress Bridget Regan has been confirmed to appear as the plant-manipulating villain Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy, while Gotham's Victoria Cartagena is expected to show as Renee Montoya. Riverdale's Robin Givens and David Makes Man's Nick Creegan are playing Jada and Marquis Jet, respectively, who are presumably Ryan's mother and brother.

Related: Why Poison Ivy Is In Batwoman Season 3

Now, according to the synopsis listed on IMDb, the DC antagonist Killer Croc will make an appearance in season 3 episode 2, titled "Loose Teeth" and scheduled to air on Wednesday, October 20. Per the description, the show will introduce a "new incarnation" of the character, who will add to Ryan's woes with a murderous rampage in Gotham City. Directed by Jeff Hunt and written by Chad Fiveash and James Stoteraux, "Loose Teeth" will also feature the debut of Givens' Jada, and explore the new, complicated dynamic between Luke (Camrus Johnson) and Mary (Nicole Kang). Take a look at the synopsis below:

"When a new incarnation of Gotham's swamp slumming Killer Croc surfaces and starts racking up a body count, the inaugural team-up of Batwoman (Javicia Leslie) and Alice (Rachel Skarsten) is put to the test. But Alice isn't the only unwanted intrusion into Ryan's life when Jada Jet (Robin Givens) shows up at Wayne Enterprises, insisting on meeting the company's new CEO. Luke (Camrus Johnson) and Mary's (Nicole Kang) relationship is strained under the weight of a secret Luke is keeping, while Sophie (Meagan Tandy) finds herself becoming part of Ryan's inner circle."

Created by Gerry Conway with illustrations from Don Newton and Gene Colan, Waylon Jones/Killer Croc is a key foe from Batman's rogues gallery. The character made his first full appearance in 1983's Detective Comics #524, which revealed his backstory as a sideshow wrestler who is transformed irreversibly into a crocodile-like monster by a rare genetic condition. Killer Croc made his live-action debut with David Ayer's 2016 movie Suicide Squad, where he was portrayed by actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. Season 1 episode 6 confirmed the character was part of the Batwoman universe, and while season 3's official trailer teased audiences with a brief look at him, the actor playing him in the show is not yet confirmed.

Clearly, Batwoman season 3 is keeping Ryan busy. There are plenty of enemies to deal with, and on top of that, the vigilante also has to confront some personal traumas. As of now, it's unclear if Killer Croc will appear in a single episode, or be given a story arc that spans the entire season. But, regardless of the degree to which Batwoman incorporates the supervillain, fans are sure to be entertained by his inclusion.

Next: The Arrowverse Already Set Up A Flash & Batwoman Red Death Crossover

Source: IMDb



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Here's What We Know About The Facebook Outage | Screen Rant

5 years ago

Facebook is continuing to have one of its longest outages in recent history, remaining offline worldwide for hours. The source of the problem is still being determined, though some clues have come to light recently. Being among the largest social media networks, the effect is being felt by millions.

With nearly 3 billion active Facebook users, the social network is larger than many countries and connects people and businesses all across the globe. Any outage has an impact on personal communication as well as business activity, with many small businesses relying on Facebook to grow their brand image and generate sales.


The somewhat mysterious trouble is affecting every Facebook service, including Facebook Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, and even Oculus, all of which are owned by Facebook. The most recent information to come to light is that there appears to be missing DNS records, confirmed by Brian Krebs, an expert on computer security, via a tweet. DNS stands for domain name servers, which is a distributed lookup service that connects the more readable name 'Facebook.com' to the actual internet address which has a numeric form. If the DNS records for Facebook's websites are removed or damaged, the domain name won't be converted into the form that is needed for access. Which is the situation that is occurring now. Facebook hasn't revealed much information beyond acknowledging the outage via a tweet.

DNS record changes can take as long as 48 hours to correct, however, Facebook might be able to speed that up by changing the time to live (TTL) setting. This is a delay that allows records that don't change frequently to be cached, easing the burden on computer systems. Facebook, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp would be unlikely to make DNS changes frequently, so these might have been set to a long period of time.

Unfortunately, changing TTL to minutes doesn't necessarily correct the issue that rapidly since it doesn't reach out to all of the name servers. Rather, the name server computers crawl through the internet at their own pace, and 24 to 48 hours might be unavoidable. Facebook and its various other services might begin to come online in some areas sooner than others as the update propagates worldwide.

What caused this issue and whether the domain name trouble is solely responsible for the downtime is unknown. Twitter and several mobile carriers experienced trouble today as well. That might be related to an unexpected surge of activity after Facebook and the rest went offline, burdening those other communication systems. For now, it's a wait-and-see situation. Facebook and its other services might come back online in hours or perhaps days.


Source: Facebook




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Top Gun 2: Why Tom Cruise Wasn't Allowed To Fly An F-18 Fighter Jet

5 years ago

Throughout Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise's character Pete "Maverick" Mitchell pilots multiple aircraft, but the US Navy forbade the actor from piloting the F-18 Super Hornet. Set for release, after several bumps in its schedule, on May 27, 2022, Joseph Kosinski's sequel to the original 1986 hit movie Top Gun promises unmatched and unforgettable aerial combat scenes. The movie has also prioritized practical effects over CGI, adding authenticity to the action. While Cruise is renowned for performing his own stunts for many of his movies, some of the tricks proposed for Top Gun: Maverick were a little too ambitious, even by Cruise's standards.

In an interview with Empire, Tom Cruise said he told Top Gun: Maverick producer Jerry Bruckheimer that he agreed to return as Maverick with one stipulation: "I said to Jerry [Bruckheimer], ‘I’ll do it if…’ meaning, I’m not going to do the CGI stuff.” In other words, Cruise signed on for the project only with Bruckheimer's agreement that the film's effects not be reliant on hokey-looking CGI. Cruise was so ambitious, in fact, that he had initially hoped to fly a real Boeing F-18 fighter jet. A certified pilot, Cruise is well-accustomed to high-octane aviation stunts. Many Cruise fans will already be aware that many of the more impressive helicopter stunts in 2018's Mission: Impossible - Fallout were performed by Cruise. However, Bruckheimer maintains that the US Navy ultimately denied Cruise's requests to fly the Super Hornet, which boasts a price tag in excess of $70 million.

The F-18 jet does feature in Top Gun: Maverick, but those scenes were all completed with assistance from Navy pilots. According to producer Bruckheimer, Cruise does fly a P-51 propeller-driven fighter plane, as well as some helicopters. With the assistance of skilled editing, the action sequences should remain convincing to even the most well-trained eye. There's no confirmation yet about why the US Navy might have denied Cruise's aspirations to pilot a Super Hornet – but the most logical reason would be insurance concerns, which is always enough of a consideration to prevent actors from doing their own stunts.

The cost of the plane also figures into this – the cost of a real F-18 Super Hornet would make up roughly half of Top Gun: Maverick's $152 million budget. That would be likely to create logistical nightmares for the insurance of the film. That's not even to mention insuring Cruise himself, who, though already a certified pilot, has little experience with this kind of supersonic military aircraft. Insurance woes aside, should an inexperienced pilot such as Cruise lose control of a high-speed aircraft, it could also mean peril for civilians and/or military personnel on the ground.

Fans will have to wait until spring of 2022 to see Cruise return to the danger zone as Maverick. Judging from interviews and trailers, it appears as though Bruckheimer and Cruise are sincere in their claims that Top Gun: Maverick emphasizes practical effects over CGI. Both the actor and the producer seem committed to creating the most immersive experience possible. Perhaps fans can agree that this movie holds plenty of thrill potential, regardless of whether or not its actors are actually piloting multimillion-dollar fighter jets.

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Facebook Instagram And Whatsapp Hit by Global Outage

5 years ago


Social media platforms Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp were down for thousands of users on Monday, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.com.

Users also reported issues with Facebook’s online messaging service Messenger.

Downdetector tracks outages by collating status reports from a series of sources, including user-submitted errors on its platform.

As per downdetector, Facebook was the most affected platform followed by Instagram and WhatsApp.


We’re aware that some people are having trouble accessing our apps and products. We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible, and we apologize for any inconvenience.

— Facebook (@Facebook) October 4, 2021


Downdetector showed that WhatsApp outage was reported at 8:23pm (Pakistan Standard Time) and it shot up to 1,082 complaints by 8:38pm.

User reports indicate Whatsapp is having problems since 11:45 AM EDT. https://t.co/cvGsWTfsWq RT if you're also having problems #Whatsappdown

— Downdetector (@downdetector) October 4, 2021

Meanwhile, the social-media giant’s instant messaging platform WhatsApp was also down for over 35,000 users, while Messenger was down for nearly 9,800 users.

According to Downdetector, the Instagram outage was reported first at 7:59 pm, while Facebook went down almost around the same time.

User reports indicate Instagram is having problems since 11:45 AM EDT. https://t.co/lXKoHvktSg RT if you're also having problems #Instagramdown

— Downdetector (@downdetector) October 4, 2021


WhatsApp in a statement announced that they are working to restore the service.

“We’re working to get things back to normal and will send an update here as soon as possible,” the Facebook-owned messaging platform wrote in a tweet.

We’re aware that some people are experiencing issues with WhatsApp at the moment. We’re working to get things back to normal and will send an update here as soon as possible.

Thanks for your patience!

— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) October 4, 2021

Facebook has experienced similar widespread outages with its suite of apps this year in March and July.


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The Office: 9 Deleted Scenes That Should Have Made The Final Cut

5 years ago

Thanks to different streaming networks, The Office has a new wave of popularity. Although the show was on for nine seasons (2005-2013), fans always want more Michael Scott, Jim Halpert, and Dwight Schrute at Dunder Mifflin. Those behind the series have since released deleted scenes, cold opens that didn't make the cut, and storylines that were ignored. And YouTube has a plethora of them available for fans.

RELATED: 5 Of The Best (And Worst) Cold Opens In The Office

While The Office created the perfect sitcom, there were some deleted scenes that fans wished they saw. Whether they were simply hilarious or they added more depth to a particular scene, there are more than a handful of scenes that deserved a place in the aired episodes.

9 Andy Bernard's Letter For His "Cousin," Michelle Obama (Season 9, Episode 3)

In season 9's "Andy's Ancestry," Nellie pulled a prank on Andy by telling him that she did some research on his family tree and that he was a distant cousin of former First Lady, Michelle Obama. Andy was incredibly proud of this fact and boasted it around the office, even though everyone knew Michelle Obama being a member of Andy's family didn't make sense.

In the deleted scene, there was a moment where Andy read a letter he wrote for Michelle to the camera. In the letter, he introduced himself as her family member and that he ran a successful paper company. He later told her that he would love to get together — but not on "October 20th," as he had other commitments... This moment is so typical Andy and deserved to be in the series because it proved Andy really believed Nellie's lie.

8 A Proper Bob Vance Introduction (Season 2, Episode 10)

In "Christmas Party," Phyllis introduced her new boyfriend, Bob Vance, to her co-workers. He introduced himself as "Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration," proving that he worked in the Scranton Business Park. Phyllis would later go on to marry Bob, but it would have been fun to know more about their private lives.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why Fans Love (& Can't Stand) Phyllis From The Office, According to Reddit

In a deleted scene, Phyllis had a talking head where she told the cameras that she was bringing a date to the party — Bob Vance. The two met at work and formed a relationship. With an endearing smile that fans loved, Phyllis whispered to the cameras that Bob was her boyfriend. Seeing this side of Phyllis's relationship would have been memorable for viewers.

7 Michael's Sage Sales Advice While Training Dwight (Season 2, Episode 14)

In "The Carpet," Michael was disturbed to find some kind of excrement on the floor of his office. The scent was off-putting and made everyone sick. The office had it professionally cleaned while they tried to find out what it was, but this only made it worse. Because of this, Michael had to work in the sales department for the day.

In the deleted scene, Dwight was on a call but when he realized it wasn't going anywhere, he told the potential client that he would call him in a month. Michel hated Dwight's quirky response and demanded he made another sales call that involved jokes. According to Michael, he had to tell a joke in order to land the sale. Dwight's joke, however, offended the client and Michael had to take over. Hilariously, it was Michael who trained Dwight in sales in the first place, so Dwight's failure was also Michael's.

6 A Very Cold Meeting Between Pam & Roy's Parents At His Wedding (Season 9, Episode 2)

One of the most badass things Pam has done in the series was when she attended her ex-fiancé's wedding. Pam and Jim had been married for a couple of years by season 9 and were in a good place to attend Roy's wedding after they were given the invite.

RELATED: 9 Times Pam Was The Biggest Badass At Dunder Mifflin

Roy's success made things a little tense for Pam, and it only got worse when Pam ran into Roy's parents in a deleted scene. They raved about their son and how much they loved their new daughter-in-law. "Laura is really easy to get along with, and she's loyal," Roy's mom told Pam with a condescending smile. The moment was awkward and told so much about Pam's history with Roy's family that it should have been included in the final cut.

5 Florida Stanely Knows How To Have A Good Time (Season 8, Episode 15)

Stanley has some funny quotes in The Office and is a totally underrated character. Fans saw his truest self when a group of workers from Scranton was transferred to Florida for a few weeks to launch a new product on behalf of Sabre. While in Florida, Stanley let loose.

Now known as "Florida Stanely," he showed Jim how to vacation in Florida while also showing up for work. In a deleted scene, Stanley showed Jim a "magic trick" when he poured a mini bottle of rum into Jim's soda can, only to fill the empty shot bottle back up with iced tea. The iced tea and rum were the same color and the glass appeared full again. According to Stanley, now that the mini bottle appeared full again, he put it back at the minibar so he couldn't be charged for it. Fans wanted more Florida Stanley, which is why this scene should have stayed in.

4 Dwight Attempted CPR On Pam At The Dundies (Season 2, Episode 1)

In The Office's first Dundies, Pam drank too much in fear of the potential Dundie she was bound to win and fell off a barstool after laughing too hard. Jim was there to help her and all was well. But in the deleted scene, Pam fell on the floor and Dwight ran over to assist her. For whatever reason, Dwight ripped off his shirt and tried to give her CPR. Pam was too giggly to care, but Jim helped Pam off the ground and escorted her away from Dwight as he was yelled at by the manager for being shirtless.

The night was a big one for fans, as it was one of the first times Pam and Jim kissed. This scene would have been a fun addition to the episode.

3 Andy Asked Oscar To Fire His Maid In Spanish (A Deleted Cold Open)

Andy was a great guy that had a bad streak in season 9. His character changed a lot over the years; he became less of the adorable Andy and more of the rude, aloof Andy.

In one deleted scene, Andy asked Oscar into his office and asked if he could be the translator between him and his maid. Oscar reluctantly agreed and the two laughed about her kids and had a sweet conversation, but when Oscar asked Andy what he wanted him to say to her, Andy asked Oscar to fire her! Furious, Oscar denied the task but he eventually gave in and did it. The entire scene was total Office cringe humor — perfect for the rest of the episode had it been chosen.

2 Pam Found Out About Cathy & Jim's Hotel Room Hangout (Season 8, Episode 16)

Fans were screaming at their TVs when Cathy flirted with Jim during their time in Florida for a business trip. With Pam being at home, fans didn't want Jim to mess his relationship. In the episode, Pam never found out that Cathy spent the majority of the night showering and lying in Jim's hotel room, but a deleted scene proved a different story.

In the scene, Pam and Darryl called Jim's hotel room from Scranton. But instead of Jim, it was Cathy who picked up the phone. Pam's heart dropped in her chest as she spoke to Jim afterward. But she soon realized that Cathy had a crush on Jim and refused to leave his room. This scene would have made all the difference in the actual episode.

1 Dwight's Prank Gone Wrong (Season 8, Episode 10)

In "Christmas Wishes," viewers watched the office throw a Christmas party. One deleted scene found Dwight trying to prank Jim by placing a bucket full of random liquids on top of the door and waited until Jim walked through the door for the bucket to fall on his head. While Dwight told the cameras his plan, an unsuspecting Cathy walked in and the bucket fell on her head. Dwight was hilariously annoyed that his prank was ruined and was mad at Cathy for spoiling the fun. Considering fans found Cathy to be an annoying character, this moment should have been kept in.

NEXT: The Most Annoying Office Characters, Ranked



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90 Day Fiance: Tania Confirms Breakup & Hints At The Single Life Season 2

5 years ago

Speculation that 90 Day Fiancé couple Tania Maduro and Syngin Colchester are broken up has been confirmed by Tania in her latest Instagram post. For weeks, Syngin was rumored to have a new girlfriend and was reportedly filming the spin-off 90 Day: The Single Life, though both he and Tania had been cryptic in response to questions about their relationship status. Now, fans have a definitive answer following Tania recently revealing the truth about their marriage.

Fans have had their doubts about the couple since the start of their journey when South African Syngin moved to Connecticut to be with his fiancé Tania. There were many obstacles on Tania and Syngin’s journey to the altar, including Tania stating that her “soul mate” was her ex-boyfriend, not Syngin. Alas, they ultimately tied the knot at the end of 90 Day Fiancé season 7. The couple’s relationship has become increasingly rocky since then. Most recently, Syngin hinted at a breakup with Tania on social media by appearing in photos and videos with another woman.


Earlier on Sunday, Tania teased “more news coming today.” Though some fans thought the 90 Day Fiancé stars’ breakup rumor was mostly false, Tania has confirmed their split on Instagram. “Some rumors are true,” she said. “#SingleLife New Season was announced and yes I am single, [Syngin] is single - we're all single!! Now don't go all at once to his DMs ladies or he'll never be able to sort them all out.” Tania also mentioned that she'd be launching a page on Unfiltrd, which is Stephanie Matto’s NSFW-content subscription platform, in just a few weeks.

Syngin and Tania played coy with their relationship status for weeks, so this is the first definitive answer they’ve given to fans’ questions regarding their marriage. The tone of Tania’s post is surprisingly lighthearted for someone whose relationship just ended, but the 90 Day Fiancé star has always been anything but conventional. Both Tania and Syngin seem to be on good terms, and Tania’s hinting of The Single Life season 2 indicates she and/or Syngin will be part of that cast.

Though the 90 Day Fiancé couple’s marriage is over, Tania and Syngin are in good spirits and seem eager to move on with their lives. Now, the couple is poised to join castmate Stephanie Matto on The Single Life season 2, so both of them have a plan when it comes to finding a new direction in life. The couple hasn’t revealed if there was anything in particular that precipitated the breakup, but it could be as simple as the two of them drifting apart.


Source: Tania Maduro/Instagram

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Original God of War Was Almost a First-Person Game

5 years ago

In a video centered around the gaming-related inspirations behind the original God of War (2005), creator David Jaffe noted the title was almost a first-person experience. God of War's Kratos slashed his way onto PlayStation platforms in the PS2 era, introducing players to an anti-hero with a haunted past and an equally harrowing future.

Though the violence and sex-focused mini-games garnered much of the public attention, God of War's fast-paced hack-and-slash gameplay took the industry by storm in its own right. The action title bore similarities to Capcom's Devil May Cry (2001), sure, but brought a wholly unique flair to the action-adventure formula, one that many a GoW clone would copy in the proceeding years. Interestingly, had God of War creator David Jaffe stayed true to his initial vision for the project, the franchise's success may have taken a different turn entirely.


On his YouTube channel, David Jaffe (via MP1st) uploaded a video highlighting the games that influenced the creation of God of War's 2005 release. Jaffe stated that God of War's locked-on third-person camera came courtesy of inspiration from Ico and Devil May Cry. "However... for about three months, I was seriously considering going first-person and the game I was looking at was a Dreamcast game... Maken X," he said. Despite Maken X's myriad shortcomings, the developer said it counted among the "few games where I saw melee combat done well in a first-person perspective."

It would've been a cool way to differentiate God of War from other action titles at the time, yet Jaffe didn't think first-person lent itself well to the "kind of emotion and combat and character building that I was hoping to do." In hindsight, he doubts the idea would've lasted long enough to pitch to Lead Programmer Tim Moss. A DICE conference in Las Vegas where Ico and Devil May Cry were shown sparked Jaffe's and Moss' desire to focus on a locked third-person camera for God of War.

Evidently, Jaffe's change of heart about the camera angle worked in God of War's favor. Following the brand's advent in 2005, Sony's Santa Monica group helmed multiple sequels; meanwhile, Kratos also left his mark with a couple of handheld excursions on PSP.

God of War: Ascension launch in 2013 on PS3, leaving much to be desired in terms of a classic GoW experience. But instead of retreading old ground, the IP returned in 2018 with a brand-new setting, mature Kratos, and a different approach to gameplay. Another new outing, God of War: Ragnarök, should hit PS4 and PS5 sometime in 2022.


The original God of War is available to play in the remastered God of War Collection on PS3.

Source: David Jaffe/YouTube via MP1st




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9 Strangest Horror Movie Plot Twists That Made No Sense

5 years ago

Content Warning: The following article contains discussions of suicide.

Horror movies are known for throwing curveballs at the audience. This can be something like an unexpected ending or a killer whose motivations were not what they seemed.


Sometimes, the curveball isn't fully logical. There could be a plot twist revealing a villain that was obvious to everyone but the movie's cast of characters — or a strain in credibility that's just too much for the attentive viewer to buy. Either way, some plot twists are more realistic than others. However, just because a twist strains credibility doesn't mean it's bad.

9 Alternate Personalities – Identity (2003)

Identity was an early-aughts slasher with a unique twist, albeit one that derails everything the audience had seen before. The narrative primarily follows a group of unique characters trapped at a hotel on a rainy night. People are killed, others are blamed, and there's only one man responsible.

The twist is that this one man is serial killer Malcolm Rivers, and the hotel is within his mind. All of the characters the audience just grew to know are imagined by one man without much of a fleshed-out personality. A twist shouldn't negate the importance of the characters the audience has gotten to know. Regardless, Identity is still a fun murder-mystery movie.

8 Topsy Kretts – The Number 23 (2007)

The Number 23 starred Jim Carrey in a dramatic role as Walter Sparrow. Sparrow is a man who grows obsessed with the number 23 after reading a book sharing the film's title.

The author of the book is named Topsy Kretts (top secrets), who is actually Walter Sparrow. His choosing that pseudonym both strains credibility and is a tell. Furthermore, Sparrow's obsession with the number 23 is because his father scribbled it in a notepad before taking his own life. The twists in The Number 23 are somehow simultaneously predictable and too outlandish to be believable.

7 Human Puppet – Dead Silence (2007)

Dead Silence was an early, trademark-filled James Wan movie that didn't hit it big with either fans or audiences. It follows Jamie Ashen, a young widower out to solve the mystery of his wife's death. He returns to their hometown and learns the legend of slain ventriloquist Mary Shaw.


The twist in Dead Silence is multi-layered. Jamie's father has several scenes throughout the film and never quite looks alive. The end of the film reveals that he isn't; he's a puppet. His wife, Ella, is actually inhabited by the evil Mary Shaw. "Ella" has been mimicking the voice of Jamie's father and guiding his movements via a massive wound on his back. The ending strains credibility because Jamie would have noticed that something was seriously wrong with his father from the first moment.

6 Jamie Lloyd Is A Killer Now – Halloween 4 (1988)

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers follows Jamie Lloyd, the daughter of Laurie Strode (who is now deceased). When Michael returns to wreak more havoc, Jamie must survive with the help of her adoptive family.

Jamie holding the bloody pair of scissors comes out of nowhere and blunts the impact of an otherwise solid Halloween sequel. The audience is expected to believe that Michael Myers' soul has taken over his niece and made her kill a relative. The ending is more reminiscent of the original film's beginning than it is a logical conclusion to a narrative. It's also never established that Michael's spirit can be transferred, so the ending doesn't even make sense within the franchise's rules.

5 Esther's Identity – Orphan (2009)

The plot of Orphan focuses on a grieving couple who adopt a girl named Esther. Soon, the Colemans notice strange behavior from Esther that escalates in severity.

Like the rest of the film, the twist of Orphan is successful, but it doesn't fully make sense. Esther is actually a 33-year-old woman named Leena Klammer. Klammer was diagnosed with hypopituitarism when she was young. Her growth has been stunted and she has retained the appearance of a nine-year-old. Hypopituitarism does stunt growth and Isabelle Fuhrman is terrific as Esther, but she does not look like a grown woman with a pituitary gland disorder.

4 Mrs. Voorhees – Friday The 13th (1980)

Sean S. Cunningham's original Friday the 13th (1980) follows several teens as they arrive to re-open Camp Crystal Lake. Throughout the evening, they're stalked by a mysterious killer one by one.


Friday the 13th is an overall efficient film, but Mrs. Voorhees being the killer is a non-twist positioned as a twist. The character isn't established in any way until her introduction in the third act. Her motivation for vengeance is sound and there's something effective about her relative anonymity. Even still, a character (or her son) has to be at least mentioned prior to the reveal for a twist to be a twist.

3 Brahms Isn't A Doll – The Boy (2016)

The Boy follows Greta (Lauren Cohan), a woman hired to serve as a nanny. However, she's meant to supervise creepy horror movie doll Brahms, which she is told is alive.

The film takes the usual steps and gets progressively creepier. First, Greta is disbelieving of the doll's sentience. Then, she starts to take it seriously. Finally, the twist: Brahms isn't a boy who passed away 20 years ago and now inhabits a doll — he's a man who has been living in the walls. There are many times throughout the movie where this would have been obvious to Greta. Furthermore, not all of the adult Brahms' movements track logically. Greta will leave a room momentarily and then return to see the doll Brahms in a different position. Throughout the movie, there's no way adult Brahms could repeatedly enter and exit the home's walls with ease and no detection.

2 It's All A Lie – The Village (2004)

M. Night Shyamalan's The Village takes place in a secluded, Amish-like community surrounded by ominous woods. The residents of the village are told that in these woods is a group of vicious monsters.

The twist of The Village is that the community's elders have fabricated every aspect of the residents' realities; the monsters are really just people in costumes. The elders aren't afraid of anything in the woods but rather what's beyond it. They're not in the 19th-century; they're in the present day. It is stated that the property is a wildlife preserve, so it's logical that they were left alone. It's also revealed that the government was given a pay-off to make it a no-fly zone. But it's hard to believe that there's never been an off-course plane flying over since the late 1970s.

1 Will Benson Is Ben's Son – I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)

A year after the events of the original, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer again follows Julie James, this time in the Bahamas.

This sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer features two killers, neither of whom make sense. The first revealed killer is Will Benson, who is the son of the Fisherman. Benson ("Ben's son") acts a little off throughout the movie. His reveal should have been as obvious to the characters as it is to the audience. The second killer is the Fisherman himself, Ben Willis, who apparently survived his fatal injuries in the original.

 

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8 Bradley Cooper Produced Movies, Ranked According To IMDB

5 years ago

Many actors have taken up producing at one point or another, whether it's their own passion project or something they've simply invested money in. More often than not, actors then get a taste for it, producing more and more. Such is seemingly the case with Bradley Cooper.


The actor had not one but two production companies in the past. The first was 22nd And Indiana Pictures, and the second is Joint Effort, which he owns with director Todd Phillips. Between some passion projects and the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, Cooper has had as much success producing as he has in acting.

8 The Words (2012) - 7.0

The Words was the first of Bradley Cooper's movies as a producer and, as to be expected, it wasn't the most successful. The movie is a complex mystery romance, and it follows a struggling writer who finds a manuscript and decides to pass it off as his own.

Though The Words had a low budget, the movie only made $16 million worldwide. That was largely due to how it was overwhelmingly negatively received by critics, as it holds a rotten score of just 22 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it's a movie where critics and audiences disagree, as general audiences were more won over by the ensemble cast. And though the movie isn't as clever as it thinks it is, it's still an entertaining mystery.

7 War Dogs (2016) - 7.1

Led by Jonah Hill and Miles Teller, War Dogs is one of only two films Cooper has produced that he doesn't star in. Directed by Cooper's producing partner, Todd Phillips, it does what all Phillips' movies do best, which is straddling the line between being a satire and glamorizing bad behavior.

War Dogs is the only true story that the filmmaker has directed, as it's about two arms dealers who fall backward into a billion-dollar job, and it ended up being one of Todd Phillips' best movies. And though he doesn't star in the movie, it does feature a hilarious cameo from Cooper, as he plays the Swiss arms dealer, Henry Girard.

6 American Hustle (2013) - 7.2

Bradley Cooper doesn't only have a great actor-director partnership with Todd Phillips. He also has a great relationship with David O'Russell, who directed the actor in Joy and Silver Linings Playbook. But their most entertaining collaboration is American Hustle, a thrilling crime caper inspired by Martin Scorsese movies, and it sees Cooper's character with a perm.


Cooper executive produced the movie, which doesn't mean much more other than that he invested money into it and that he gets a percentage of the box office gross. And given how the movie made over $250 million, it was no doubt a decent payday for the actor.

5 American Sniper (2014) - 7.3

American Sniper is one of the most harrowing war movies of recent years. Between Clint Eastwood's intimate directing technique and Cooper's powerful acting, it made for a fascinating character study. The movie perfectly captures the exhausting impact that being on the front lines has on even the most accomplished military marksmen.

The war movie was the last film that Cooper's company 22nd & Indiana Pictures produced before he joined forces with Todd Phillips. And it was a high note to end on, as American Sniper was a massive box office hit, making almost $550 million worldwide. It proves that Cooper is not just a bankable star, but an expert producer too.

4 Limitless (2011) - 7.4

Everyone knows that humans only use 10 percent of their brains, but Limitless asks the age-old question of "what if people used 100 percent?" Like The Words, Limitless follows a struggling author, but the movie approaches the concept in an entirely different way.

It's a movie that's visually stunning in a Christopher Nolan kind of way that will have audiences asking how the effects were pulled off. But it's also an exciting popcorn flick full of high-octane action. The movie was another massive moneymaker for Cooper, and in more ways than one. Not only was it a box office success, but it got a TV show spin-off too, which Cooper also produced.

3 A Star Is Born (2018) - 7.6

A Star Is Born was a huge artistic statement for Bradley Cooper, as not only did he produce and star in the movie, but he also wrote and directed it too. The 2018 movie is about the relationship between an alcoholic singer/songwriter and his protege, and though it's a remake, it was a brand new and refreshing take on the story.


The actor directed a sensory delight, as it's full of amazing and new music, the cinematography is spectacular, and it takes an emotional toll on the audience too. Even established directors would have struggled to pull off a movie like this, never mind a first-time director like Cooper.

2 Silver Linings Playbook (2012) - 7.7

Of all the movies that Cooper and David O'Russell worked on together, Silver Linings Playbook is the crown jewel, but it's also thanks to an ensemble cast including Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro. The movie tackles some tough subject matter, as it follows a former teacher who returns from a psychiatric facility to live with his parents.

But it erupts into absolute joyful bliss, as the teacher finds contentment in practicing dance routines. It's one of  Bradley Cooper's best movies according to Metacritic, and again another big moneymaker for him, as it earned $236 million at the worldwide box office.

1 Joker (2019) - 8.4

When it comes to producing movies, Cooper's batting average is much better than most, even better than some who have been in the industry for decades. But the biggest movie to his name so far is Joker, and it's not even close.

Both critically and commercially, the movie was a huge success, and for an unsettling psychological drama, its one billion dollar box office gross is unprecedented. Joker is the second of two movies produced by but not starring Cooper, and if he was in the movie, it would have been very different. It's hard to imagine anyone but Joaquin Phoenix in the role of Arthur Fleck, and he's largely to thank for its success.

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Best Anime Anthologies To Watch | ScreenRant

5 years ago

With the release of Star Wars: Visions, an interest in anime anthologies is bound to be generated. The scope is very wide when it comes to anime anthology films and series as they incorporate themes from sci-fi, horror, and local Japanese folklore. Barring a few American productions like Love, Death, & Robots, most of these anime anthologies are the result of Japanese animation but they are regarded as cult classics all over the globe.


The fluid actions and rich environments behind such anthologies make for a perfect binge session. The short duration of the episodes and film segments make the viewing experience more user-friendly.

10 Star Wars: Visions (2021) - Available On Disney+

From samurai-style lightsaber duels to musical performances for Jabba the Hutt, Star Wars: Visions has a lot of new experiences to offer to dedicated fans of the franchise. The animation varies from realistic to cartoonish but the Japanese roots of anime remain intact.

Back when George Lucas was directing the first Star Wars film, BBC reports he was inspired by Akira Kurosawa's landmark samurai films like Hidden Fortress. And now, this Lucasfilm production seems like the perfect tribute to Japanese culture and anime.

9 Flavors Of Youth (2018) - Available On Netflix

Flavors Of Youth is a set of three stories set in China, using food as a metaphor. Each character reminiscences about a certain youthful memory as the film celebrates beauty in the everyday monotony of life.

If viewers wish to unwind and watch an aesthetically pleasing anime anthology, Flavors Of Youth would be a perfect pick. Its segments can even be compared to an emotional Studio Ghibli film experience barring the fact that the narrative is devoid of fantasy elements. Instead, it brings out humor and romance within mundane experiences of love, friendship, and family.

8 Love, Death, & Robots (2019-) - Available On Netflix

The short segments in the two seasons of Love, Death & Robots serve as bizarre and surreal tributes to the sci-fi genre as a whole. Even though the Netflix original sci-fi show also makes use of other animation formats like cel-shaded and CGI, a few major episodes are heavily influenced by the cyberpunk anime aesthetic.

"Good Hunting" is a great example as it incorporates the steampunk genre to tell the story of a young inventor's friendship with a fox spirit. "The Witness" is another episode that plays out like a new-age 3D anime, filled with chaotic energy and adrenaline-heavy chase sequences.

7 Memories (1995) - Available On Peacock

Three sci-fi stories make up this cult classic of an anthology film. Each of the films is directly inspired by executive producer Katsuhiro Otomo's manga short stories. The themes that Memories cover include artificial intelligence and the downside of nuclear weapons. If one chapter is about a simulated world built out of a woman's memories, the other is about a town that fires cannons every day at an unknown enemy.


The animation and overall philosophy of Memories have aged well. When it comes to anthology cinema, Memories can be watched as a companion film with other Otamo compilations like Neo Tokyo and Robot Carnival.

6 Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai (2013) - Available On Crunchyroll

Yamishibai is a horror anthology TV show that includes extremely short and twisted tales of the supernatural. As each story lasts for a little over 3 to 5 minutes, it is easy to binge at once. But despite the short length of each episode, the third act in each does leave an impact on the viewer.

For non-Japanese viewers, it is also a portal to the country's local culture as most of the stories are derived from Japanese folklore and urban myths. With 91 episodes, Yamishibai is the perfect portal to animated Japanese horror.

5 Genius Party (2019) - Available On Kanopy

Like Star Wars: Visions and Love, Death, and Robots, each chapter of Genius Party follows a distinctive form of animation. Apart from the usual themes, a few memorable short films also explore the different dimensions of childhood.


A case in point is Happy Machine that describes the naivety of childhood while Deathic 4 interprets darker truths from a child's perspective. Visually spectacular and thematically profound, Genius Party has plenty of thrills to offer.

4 Short Peace (2013) - Available On HiDive

Worlds collide with four short stories set in different time periods of Japan. In Short Peace, a polar bear defends a royal feudal family while soldiers battle a robot in a futuristic dystopia. Such premises make it a perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy.

Short Peace is quite a unique entry on this list as it not only includes four anime short films but also a video game. Anime fans might also check it out for the fact that it was produced by Sunrise, the legendary anime studio that was behind Cowboy Bebop and Gundam.

3 Modest Heroes (2018) - Available On Netflix

Modest Heroes shifts between fantasy and real-life with three binge-worthy stories. The first one deals with crab siblings who are forced to live on their own while the second film is centered upon a boy allergic to eggs. In the final segment, an introvert starts losing his identity and even his physical body.


In all three cases, a common element is solitude. Even though the characters live in bustling environments, they all share a sense of loneliness and yearn to find solace in their own ways. All in all, it is a family-friendly anthology with optimistic messages.

2 Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) - Available On HBO Max

There have been a lot of animated Batman films but Gotham Knight was the first attempt in adapting the caped crusader for the anime format. Interestingly, the film isn't even set in the continuity of the DC Animated Universe but serves as a middle chapter between Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

Each of the six adventures incorporates a dark and mature approach that suits the Batman mythos while legendary voice actor Kevin Conroy reprises his role as the titular hero. Anime studios like Madhouse and Production I.G. handled the sleek and detailed animation of the anthology.

1 Robot Carnival (1987) - Available On Peacock

Horror Romance. Sci-fi. Coming-of-age. Such genres are explored in vastly different storylines in the 1987 classic Robot Carnival. As the title suggests, each of these arcs is united by a common theme of robots. An android can be good, evil, or even both, depending upon each case.

Given that several directors were involved in the segments, it is fascinating to see their '80s-era viewpoint on robotics. While it has its philosophical moments, the robot-centric stories also have a lot of heart, unlike their emotionless subjects.

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Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Venom Fight Receives Clever Twist Idea From Fan

5 years ago

With Venom confirmed to appear in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, one fan is sharing their own ideas for how the inevitable boss battle with him could play out. The longtime foe of Peter Parker and his heroic alter-ego wowed viewers when he emerged from the shadows during the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 trailer at last month’s PlayStation Showcase livestream, menacing Peter and Miles Morales after they had finished taking down their latest batch of criminals in an impressive display of the PS5’s graphical capabilities.

Whether it’s the traditional Eddie Brock or Peter’s best friend-turned-tragic enemy Harry Osborn (as the end credits scenes from Insomniac’s previous two Spider-Man titles seem to indicate) within the monstrous black Symbiote that grants Venom his power, the popular villain has always been one of Spider-Man's most dangerous foes - thanks in no small part to the fact that the Symbiote was previously bonded to Peter before being rejected by the hero. This past relationship gave the Symbiote all of Peter's memories, making it all too easy for Venom to torment the web-slinger by targeting his friends and loved ones. Even worse, it rendered the Symbiote completely immune to Spidey’s trademark, danger-detecting Spider-Sense, allowing Venom to ambush Peter at any time and making his attacks difficult for the hero to predict and defend himself against. The character is set to be just as intimidating in the new game, especially because the legendary Tony Todd is set to voice Venom.


According to Game Rant, Reddit user PineappleTargaryen recently pointed out that Spider-Man’s inability to detect Venom with his Spider-Sense could make for an interesting and challenging encounter if and when players have to battle the Symbiote-infected villain during Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. In a post on r/SpidermanPS4, PineappleTargaryen suggests that during the boss fight against Venom, Spidey’s Spider-Sense ability simply shouldn’t go off at all, requiring Peter (and by extension, the player) to pay extra close attention to Venom’s attacks if he wishes to survive.

However, there’s one potential story obstacle to Insomniac implementing this in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: unlike in the mainstream Marvel continuity, Insomniac’s version of the Symbiote doesn’t appear to be an alien but rather a scientific creation of Norman Osborn and Dr. Curtis Connors - not unlike how it was portrayed in the Ultimate Spider-Man comics. Furthermore, the post-credits scenes for Marvel’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales seem to depict the Symbiote bonding to Harry right away, without spending time as Peter’s famous Black Suit beforehand.

Of course, Insomniac could come up with some sort of alternative story-based reason why Peter can't detect Venom with his Spider-Sense: perhaps the Symbiote was somehow created with Spider-Man’s blood/DNA, or the creature temporarily leaves Harry to infest Peter at some point during Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. In any case, having Spidey unable to sense Venom's moves as he does with virtually all of his other enemies would make for a challenging boss battle when Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 swings onto the PlayStation 5 in 2023.


Source: Game Rant, PineappleTargaryen/Reddit




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Only Goku and Vegeta's Fusion Can Surpass Dragon Ball's God of Destruction

5 years ago

In Dragon Ball Super, Goku and Vegeta are still working to master their respective god-like powers, from Goku’s Ultra Instinct to Vegeta’s power of destruction. Even before the Saiyans knew such power was even attainable, they still tangled with beings wielding power beyond their understanding, including the God of Destruction himself, Lord Beerus. At the beginning of Dragon Ball Super, both Goku and Vegeta fought Beerus in an attempt to save their world. While the outcome of their experience with Beerus made both Saiyans reach new levels of power, most notably Goku who was the first to break through the barrier of Super Saiyan God, they were no match for Beerus. Since their first encounter, however, their power levels have grown exponentially, and if they were to fuse together, they could conceivably defeat the God of Destruction. 

After meeting Lord Beerus as the God of Destruction threatened to destroy the Earth in Dragon Ball Super: God of Destruction Beerus Saga by Akira Toriyama, Goku and Vegeta begin training with the being that is responsible for training Beerus himself, the angel Whis. Initially, Goku and Vegeta train with Whis together, both working towards achieving the angel’s greatest move, Autonomous Ultra Instinct. After their powers are put to the ultimate test while battling some of the most powerful fighters in the multiverse, it becomes clear that Goku and Vegeta should focus more on their respective strengths rather than work to achieve the same goal. 

Related: Goku and Vegeta Can't Beat Dragon Ball's Most Powerful Being, Zeno

To that end, Goku achieves the coveted Ultra Instinct while fighting Jiren in the Tournament of Power and ends up being the very thing that weakens Jiren enough for Universe Seven to claim victory. After the tournament, Vegeta doesn’t go back to training with Whis but calls Beerus his new master as the god teaches the Saiyan the techniques of destruction. Goku studies with Whis to learn the powers of the angels while Vegeta trains with Beerus to learn those of Gods of Destruction, and eventually, their training pays off. Goku is able to use Ultra Instinct more sustainably while Vegeta unlocks the power of destruction. 

When Lord Beerus fought Goku right after Goku unlocked the power of Super Saiyan God, Whis revealed afterward that Beerus was using seventy percent of his power, something he hadn’t had to do in some time. Back then, Goku couldn’t even reach Super Saiyan Blue and was just beginning to learn Super Saiyan God, and Vegeta was nowhere close to either form. Now, Goku and Vegeta have reached power levels of the Gods of Destructions and of the Angels respectively, so if Beerus had to use seventy percent of his power to fight the weakest version of Super Saiyan God Goku, then it is possible that the combination of Ultra Instinct Goku and God of Destruction Vegeta could defeat Lord Beerus. 

While Beerus has never fought the fusion of Goku and Vegeta known as Vegito in his strongest form, the Dragon Ball Super manga confirmed that the previously stated theory is more than plausible. At one point in the series, Vegito’s power level does surpass that of Lord Beerus, though unfortunately just because the power of a Saiyan can surpass another’s doesn’t mean they can beat them in a fight. Saiyans’ incredibly high power levels can drain their energy as fast as it gives them the required strength to defeat their foes. While Vegito may have surpassed Beerus at one point, fans have still never seen the god’s full power against the stamina of Vegito. Only Goku and Vegeta’s fusion can surpass Dragon Ball’s God of Destruction, but whether or not they could actually defeat him has yet to be seen.

Next: Dragon Ball And The MCU Share A Similar Time Travel Problem



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Every Meditation Spot in Kena: Bridge of Spirits | Tech Crunch

5 years ago

Along with finding collectibles, there are other reasons to explore in Kena: Bridge of Spirits, including to find and make use of Meditation Spots to raise Kena's maximum HP. There are various quests to complete throughout Kena: Bridge of Spirits, and at least 16 challenging bosses to fight.

The game has 12 Meditation Spots scattered across various areas. Some of them can be difficult to locate, but finding all of them is worthwhile. At each spot, Kena will stop to meditate which permanently increases her health. With bosses like the Corrupt Rot God to fight later in the game, increasing Kena's health is can have a significant effect on how challenging each boss is. Players can track down the Meditation Spots in seven different areas of the game.


Finding every Meditation Spot in Kena: Bridge of Spirits will take some time. They are located in the Village, Taro's Tree, Rusu Mountain, the Forgotten Forest, the Fields, the Village Heart, and the Mountain Shrine. Each area has one to three Meditation Spots for Kena to visit and utilize. The spots can be identified by the glowing blue circle found at each location.

The Village

  • Defeat the Mask Maker boss and head to the right to find the Meditation Spot at the edge of a cliff.
  • There's a Meditation Spot straight ahead after beating the Hunter boss.
  • After receiving the Village Crest relic, there will be a Meditation Spot right in front of Kena.

Taro's Tree

  • This spot will appear ahead of Kena after defeating the Corrupted Taro.

Rusu Mountain

  • Leap to the broken bridge to the right of the Rusu's Backyard warp stone. Shoot the arrow on the tree to warp over to the Meditation Spot.

The Forgotten Forest

  • Go to the Sacred Tree warp stone and follow the path until reaching a small bridge. Go left to follow the river upstream to find a blue stone across the water. Shoot it to raise two platforms, then continue to the Meditation Spot.
  • There's a Forest Tear on the path to the Lantern Cave that can be used to clear the corruption on the left. Doing so will reveal another Meditation Spot.

The Fields

  • There's a Meditation Sot overlooking the sea on the plateau of the tall tower beside some ruins.
  • Go to the Forge warp stone and into the back room. There's a spot that Kena can climb up and shimmy across to reach a ledge and jump across to the next building over. The Meditation Spot will be inside.
  • This Meditation Spot will appear in front of Kena after defeating the Corrupt Woodsmith.
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The Village Heart

  • Go into the cave near the Village Heart entrance. Head through the cave and outside to the left, then clear the corruption below. Use a bomb to bring up the platforms and get across the gap to find the Meditation Spot.

The Mountain Shrine

  • The last Meditation Spot appears after defeating the Corrupt Rot God and completing the game. Players may need to leave the area and go back to meditate if it doesn't work the first time.

Players should focus on finding Meditation Spots if they are having trouble surviving in combat. Increasing Kena's health will help with boss battles, especially later in the game. Finding all 12 spots in Kena: Bridge of Spirits will take a bit of time and exploration, but they grant a decent reward, and any completionist player will want to track them down.

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Many Saints Of Newark: Is Harold In The Sopranos? | Screen Rant

5 years ago

Warning! SPOILERS for The Many Saints Of Newark

In The Many Saints of Newark, Harold McBrayer (Leslie Odom Jr.) has a commanding presence throughout the story as Dickie Moltisanti's (Alessandro Nivaro) increasingly troublesome frenemy -- but is Harold in the original Sopranos HBO TV show? As a pivotal character in the events portrayed in The Many Saints of Newark, his future activities between the prequel movie and the hit TV show of the 2000's naturally draw intrigue, as it's made clear at the end of the film that Harold not only survives but seems to be on the rise in the world of organized crime.

During the introduction of Harold's character, it's clear that there's history between Harold and Dickie, the leading mobster protagonist of The Many Saints of Newark. Throughout the movie, especially as racial tensions reach a boiling point in '60s and '70s New Jersey, Harold goes from being one of Dickie's close associates to a rival mob boss -- one who takes out several of Dickie's fellow mobsters and henchmen while also having an affair with Dickie's Italian mistress. No doubt, the schism between Harold and Dickie is intended to represent a greater shift between white and black America following the culture-shifting Civil Rights Movements of the '60s. With the reconfiguration of polite society, regarding new attitudes towards race, also comes a reconfiguration of the criminal underworld, as manifested in Harold and Dickie's violent arch-rivalry.

Related: Why Junior Soprano Has [SPOILER] Killed

However, despite being an impactful character in The Many Saints of Newark, Harold is completely new to the franchise, having zero appearances or mentions in The Sopranos. While the Newark riots in The Many Saints of Newark's opening that serve as the tumultuous backdrop for much of the prequel film's first act were based on real-life historical events, these riots feel contemporary and reflective of today's race-related riots and protests. Certainly, the introduction of Harold to The Sopranos' mythology was intended to reflect both post-Civil Rights Newark and today's post-BLM America.

While The Many Saints of Newark directly confronts race issues in the United States, The Sopranos tackled race from an inverse angle: "deracination," or the removal from one's native environment or culture. This theme of deracination played out mostly in The Sopranos with the Italian-American mobsters' insecurities surrounding their own heritage, or Italian authenticity -- an insecurity that became perhaps most apparent in "Commendatori" (season 2, episode 4), when Tony and his henchman visit Italy, which only leaves them feeling like vulgar, culturally uprooted Americans.

Should creator and producer David Chase continue The Sopranos timeline beyond The Many Saints of Newark, namely with Harold's character, it'd be interesting to see how he connects the explicit racial tension of the prequel to the turn-of-the-millennium's conditions of deracination that seemingly preoccupied Chase during the 2000s. For now, without any mention of Harold in The Sopranos, audiences will have to rely on pure speculation for Harold's narrative trajectory following the events of The Many Saints of Newark.

Next: Many Saints Of Newark: Every Scene Christopher Narrates (& Why)



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How to Fix the Character Already on Server Error in Diablo 2: Resurrected

5 years ago

Editor’s Note: A lawsuit has been filed against Activision Blizzard by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which alleges the company has engaged in abuse, discrimination, and retaliation against its female employees. Activision Blizzard has denied the allegations. The full details of the Activision Blizzard lawsuit (content warning: rape, suicide, abuse, harassment) are being updated as new information becomes available.

Diablo 2: Resurrected has had some issues with its launch, including server and character errors preventing fans from enjoying the game. Diablo 2: Resurrected is the highly anticipated remake of the original Diablo 2, which was released in 2000. With unique characters and diverse skills, Diablo 2: Resurrected holds up even two decades later, but it is not free of technical issues.

When Diablo 2: Resurrected first launched, there were server errors that prevented players from creating characters or getting into the game. These were points of frustration for players excited to get started with the remake. Since launch, Blizzard has been working to fix server issues in Diablo 2: Resurrected, but players are still struggling to use certain characters.

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According to @BlizzardCS, the company is still trying to address this issue, but there are a few quick fixes players can try that have worked for some. There are a few options available to players who are getting the "Failed to enter game. This character is already in a game on the server. Please try again" error.

First, players should try to create a new character. Diablo 2 Resurrected has plenty of characters and classes to choose from, but players don't need to focus too much on their choice, as they won't necessarily be starting a game with this character. After the new character is made, they can return to the character selection menu and choose the character that was getting an error message, then try to create a game.

Players who are still getting the error message after this step can completely close the application and try to reload it. Diablo 2: Resurrected must be shut down completely for this method to work, so simply backing out won't be enough. Players should quit the application and reload it, then select the character getting the error message and try to create a game.

Unfortunately, if neither of these fixes works, the only other way to use that character is to play offline until the issues are fixed. It didn't take long for Blizzard to fix the server issues, and the company is already working on this problem, so players should keep checking back for updates on the issue. Diablo 2: Resurrected is a remake of a popular game with a flood of players trying to get in, so it's understandable that the server would have issues, but Blizzard is working to fix them.


Source: @BlizzardCS/Twitter

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Does No One Gets Out Alive Set Up A Sequel? (What Does Ambar Choose?)

5 years ago

Netflix's No One Gets Out Alive is an incredibly fresh and topical horror film, but what does Ambar choose at the end - and does the conclusion set up a sequel? The movie, which is based on the 2014 Adam Nevill novel of the same name, recently hit streaming. While following Ambar (Cristina Rodlo), an undocumented woman from Mexico who can't seem to catch a break, its plot features a handful of interesting threads. When her character is implied to make a final choice before the credits roll, the story's ongoing possibilities infuse the project with an extra-potent punch.

Ambar is a young woman from Mexico, who's seeking a new life in the United States -- specifically, Cleveland, OH. As if No One Gets Out Alive's main character's journey across the border as an undocumented immigrant wasn't arduous and stressful enough, her ensuing existence in a new country isn't any easier. She doesn't know anyone, aside from being generally familiar with her distant cousin and his family, she doesn't have a valid ID, and she has a harshly unforgiving boss. On top of being haunted by the loss of her mother and the illness that slowly snuffed out her life, she's literally haunted by the multi-spirit-inhabited boarding house in which she soon finds residence.

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There's a lot going on within this compact, slow-burn horror flick, and, mirroring real life, the climax doesn't leave things neat and tidy. As far as a possible sequel goes, No One Gets Out Alive's violent, scary ending doesn't directly set one up. There isn't a post-credits scene to do so either. Still, Ambar has narrowly escaped death, killed Becker (David Figlioli), turned the tables on Red via sacrificing him, and is about to go back out into the world with the former villain's malevolent powers. The movie's actual universe is still rife with possibilities. Though a follow-up doesn't seem like it'll be in the cards, and probably isn't even necessary, Ambar is definitely implied to succeed Becker in his antagonist's role as he did with his father before him.

When Ambar's formerly mangled ankle is healed, she takes on the appearance of pulsing with evil as he did. Now that she's finally about to escape from the house, there's an eerie sense that the powers she inherits also mean she'll follow in the insidious footsteps of those who've had them in the past. She might even take things a step further after the Netflix-released horror movie's timeline, and assume Becker's place as a demon-tethered villain who preys on struggling immigrants that look for refuge in the deteriorating (and heavily symbolic) Cleveland boarding house. There's also still plenty of explaining to do about the project's demon-like creature, who makes an oddly animated grand entrance toward the film's end.

In addition, the story of Ambar and her mother's relationship seems to be more nuanced than how it appears on the surface. There's a great deal of emphasis on the woman within No One Gets Out Alive, and an illusory version of her even shows up during the climax to trick Ambar into succumbing to the story's evil. It could be interesting to probe that dynamic further. Although it doesn't seem like a sequel will come from this particular fall of 2021-released horror movie, its purposely ambiguous ending is something for fans to ponder and a creative team to continue and tweak, should they every choose that direction.

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What If...? Just Explained Why The Avengers Are The MCU’s Most Powerful Heroes

5 years ago

Marvel's latest hit show What If...? has confirmed once and for all exactly why The Avengers really are the most powerful heroes in the MCU. Ironically, this elevated status doesn't necessarily come from extraordinary abilities or physical prowess – although those, clearly, are also in ready supply. Instead, the supergroup's definitive ranking is actually down to something much more intangible that ultimately causes their opponents to underestimate them time and time again.

Throughout the MCU, Earth's mightiest heroes have developed a happy habit of overcoming overwhelming odds in almost impossible circumstances. Whether it's repelling an invading Chitauri army as a team during the events of the very first Avengers film, or acting alone during their various solo projects, the six original superheroes have, without a doubt, an impressive track record. Ultimately, as seen during the climax of the Infinity Saga, the crew is even capable of defeating an intergalactic titan capable of wiping out half of existence.

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Given the long list of enemies who have fallen foul of The Avengers, their reputation is clearly well-earned. However, for all their firepower, What If...? makes it clear that the real key to The Avengers success actually lies in their humanity. As Jeffrey Wright's omniscient Watcher explains while watching Clint Barton and Natasha Romanov search for the key to defeating Ultron, "You’re human you keep hope against the best of odds." This highlights a consistent theme running throughout the MCU – that it is the optimism, determination and refusal to be beaten that defines humanity that ultimately makes The Avengers such a dangerous prospect for Earth's would-be conquerors.

This argument is evident as far back as Phase 1 of the MCU, and is most obviously on display during the first Avengers movie. For example, Tony Stark's iconic "you can be damn sure we'll avenge it" quip to Loki is far more than a call-back to the movie's title – it also highlights his indomitable spirit, flying in the face of Loki's belief that humans are "made to be ruled". Similarly, one of the movie's most powerful moments comes when an old man stands up to Loki in the face of imminent destruction. This serves as a reminder that, even without any superpowers, humanity is capable of extraordinary bravery. It is this quality that ultimately makes The Avengers capable of their most extraordinary feats.

In many ways, the plot of What If...? episode 8 really emphasizes the point that humanity is the greatest power in the MCU. It is extremely telling that, in the aftermath of Ultron's assault, it is Barton and Romanov – on paper the team's most under-powered human characters – that are the last two left standing. It is their human spirit, shared with the likes of Stark, Steve Rogers and Bruce Banner that allows them to unlock the key to saving the universe. Although the MCU is inhabited with innumerable fantastically powered superbeings, time and time again it is those who have a close connection to humanity who emerge victorious.





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Why So Many MCU 2021 Movies & Shows Are Fixing Age of Ultron

5 years ago

The MCU has entered Phase 4 in 2021, and many of its movies and shows have spent time fixing mistakes made in Avengers: Age of Ultron. 2015’s Age of Ultron served as the partial conclusion to the MCU’s Phase 2, and though the film was a financial success, it was a somewhat polarizing installment in the Avengers franchise, with many viewers and critics feeling that its choices in characterization and story were questionable. The following films, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame had far better reception, leaving Age of Ultron the closest thing the MCU had to an audience failure and the subject of in-universe maintenance for years to come.

For a film franchise that began in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been remarkably well-received. Supervised by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, the MCU films are spiritually faithful adaptations of their Marvel comic source material and simultaneously crowd-pleasing blockbusters. 2012’s The Avengers changed the pop culture landscape almost instantly by proving the marketability and success of comic book-style shared universe crossovers. Since then, the franchise has grown in recognition and prestige, with Black Panther even winning multiple Academy Awards. The MCU has dominated pop culture for years, but not all of its installments are complete successes.


Some MCU films are considered adequate, at best, especially during Phase 1, where the franchise was trying to find its footing and experiment in making shared universe superhero films. The Incredible Hulk is considered forgettable by some, and the larger MCU has rarely referenced Incredible Hulk in canon until recently. Iron Man 2 had a similarly lukewarm reception, with many seeing its overabundance of characters and storylines as the result of focusing too much on setting up The Avengers and not focusing enough on its title character. 2011’s Thor, while a success, ended with the destruction of the Bifrost Rainbow Bridge, which audiences had little interest in exploring further, so the plotline was quickly resolved offscreen with few mentions afterward. Age of Ultron, however, had many farther-reaching missteps, which 2021’s Phase 4 has recently begun to clean up.

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Age of Ultron was not strictly a failure, and could hardly be considered the worst film in the MCU, but it was nevertheless underwhelming compared to its predecessor. In both financial success and critical reception, Age of Ultron couldn’t beat 2012’s The Avengers, and the film was plagued by behind-the-scenes conflicts between writer-director Joss Whedon and the Marvel Studios executives regarding its story decisions. Many of Whedon’s choices were criticized by viewers, ultimately resulting in Age of Ultron being one of the MCU’s weaker installments and the departure of Joss Whedon from future MCU projects.

Some of the key points of criticism among viewers were Thor’s Infinity Stone premonition scene (which many felt was out of place), Hawkeye secretly having a shoehorned in family on a Midwestern farm (a departure from the comic source material), and the romance between Black Widow and Bruce Banner (which was seen as forced by many). Moreover, Black Widow describing herself as “a monster” for her unwilling sterilization by the Red Room was understandably seen by man as a line and overall characterization that disrespected Natasha while being in poor taste. In subtle and overt ways, the MCU has gradually worked to rectify Age of Ultron’s shortcomings and controversies, especially in Phase 4.

The two Phase 4 properties that have done the most cleanup work for Age of Ultron are the Disney+ miniseries WandaVision and the feature film Black Widow. For example, Hydra, the Nazi-affiliated terrorist group from the Captain America films, was seen as lacking in menace in Age of Ultron, but WandaVision succinctly fixed this via flashbacks of Wanda Maximoff’s torturous experiences as their test subject, having her latent magical abilities awakened by exposure to the Mind Stone.


Age of Ultron also glossed over the death of Pietro Maximoff, a devastating loss for his twin sister, by hurriedly moving Wanda into her role as a new member of the Avengers. WandaVision took time to go back and highlight Wanda’s anguish over her brother’s Age of Ultron death, showing that, while she found some semblance of comfort in her Avengers teammates, she didn’t have time to properly work through her grief. Black Widow, correctly, fixes Natasha’s controversial “monster” line in regard to her unwilling hysterectomy. While Age of Ultron framed Natasha as feeling shame for her sterilization, Black Widow reframes the situation to highlight the horrors inflicted on Natasha and all of the other Red Room Widows in training. Ultimately, the only real monster was General Dreykov.

Another criticism of Age of Ultron was that its titular villain was lacking in threat level, especially when compared to other MCU villains and Ultron’s comic counterpart. Ultron was one of the greatest threats to the Avengers in the comics, and adaptations like Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes properly reflected this. The MCU’s Ultron was by no means weak, but his doomsday plot in Age of Ultron was thwarted by the Avengers within a week. Marvel’s What If…? fixes this mistake by introducing a new iteration of Ultron who successfully inhabits his vibranium Vision body, acquires the Infinity Stones, kills Thanos with ease, and threatens the entire multiverse to the shock and horror of the cosmic being known as The Watcher. What If…? creates a far more threatening version of Ultron than the second Avengers film.

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Age of Ultron is one of the rare instances of a problematic MCU film, and while future properties mitigated much of the damage it did, the fixes only affect the MCU as a franchise. Retroactive changes, while more than welcome for fixing Marvel's MCU movie mistakes, won’t change the original films themselves. Age of Ultron still failed to properly make a mainstream MCU Ultron a superlative threat, it still rushed through important characterization for Wanda, and it still mischaracterized Black Widow on multiple levels. 2021’s MCU movies and shows have been enjoyable installments that have repaired much of Avengers: Age of Ultron’s shortcomings, but they ultimately don’t make it a better movie.

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