Ronald.phillips

Natalie Portman broke into the movie business at the tender young age of 12. She made her feature film debut in 1994 as the child protégée of the titular hitman in "Léon: The Professional," and followed that up in 1995 with a role in Michael Mann's "Heat," where she played the troubled stepdaughter of Al Pacino's character. A few years later, Portman gained more visibility as Queen Padmé Amidala in "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace," which kicked off a trilogy that would appeal to the fans' inner children and introduce the word "youngling" into the geek lexicon. It kept her employed, but it made it difficult for her to find work in the immediate aftermath.

Winning an Oscar for Best Actress for "Black Swan" in 2011 helped turned things around for Portman's career, but she's still willing to play in the tentpole sandbox, as evidenced by her return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in "Thor: Love and Thunder." Packing on muscle to play the powered-up Mighty Thor version of her character, Jane Foster, had Portman harkening back to her time as a child actor, as the internet reaction to her jacked physique gave her a new appreciation for what it's like to be big and tall. She told Variety:

"To have this reaction and be seen as big, you realize, 'Oh, this must be so different, to walk through the world like this.' When you're small — and also, I think, because I started as a kid — a lot of times I feel young or little or, like, a pat-on-the-head kind of person. And I present myself that way, too, because of that."

'Taika Imagined This Change In Jane ...'

It's not uncommon for movies to make actors look taller than they really are. Just ask Tom Cruise, whose "Top Gun" costar, Kelly McGillis, had to remove her heels and slump sometimes so she wasn't towering over him. Natalie Portman is 5-foot-3 and if you didn't notice it, she's standing a little taller in "Thor: Love and Thunder." The actress explained to Deadline that her director and costar, Taika Waititi, wanted Jane Foster's Mighty Thor alter ego to be closer in height to Chris Hemsworth's Thor:

"Taika imagined this change in Jane and it was a really great proposition that he had to join his wild ride. It was amazing to get to be challenged with that because I don't think there's many people who would cast a 5-foot-3 woman as a 6-foot character, so it was great to be able to get to imagine how someone who's that big walks through the world, certainly not the same as me, always looking up at people, who always feels like a kid in every situation."

Like the "The Phantom Menace," with its Muppet Baby Anakin Skywalker, or even the recent Disney+ series "Obi-Wan Kenobi," with its Muppet Baby Princess Leia, "Love and Thunder" goes all-in on the space younglings. The kids, including the son of Idris Elba's deceased Asgardian gatekeeper, Heimdall, get kidnapped by Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), leaving Thor and the Mighty Thor to embark on a rescue mission. For Portman, at least, it's one that saw her getting in touch with her memories as a child actor and as a person short of stature — but not talent.

Next up for Portman is the Apple TV+ series "Lady in the Lake." "Thor: Love and Thunder" is in theaters now.

Read this next: 14 Sequels That Truly Didn't Need To Happen

The post Childhood Acting Left Its Mark On How Natalie Portman Makes Movies appeared first on /Film.

[link] [59 comments]

Intel's Core i9-13900K 5.5 GHz Raptor Lake Desktop CPU has been benchmarked within Geekbench 5 and obliterates the Core i9-12900K & Ryzen 9 5950X.

Intel Core i9-13900K 5.5 GHz Raptor Lake CPU Up To 48% Faster Than Ryzen 9 5950X In Multi-Threading, 7% Faster Than Core i9-12900K In Single-Core Tests

The Intel Core i9-13900K CPU is still an early sample that features 24 cores and 32 threads in an 8 P-Core and 16 E-Core configuration. From previous rumors, we can expect as much as 68 MB of the total 'Game' cache on this chip. The sample tested here has a base clock of 3.0 GHz & a boost clock of up to 5.5 GHz. It was mentioned that ES3 samples would reach up to 5.5 GHz while the final CPU samples will hit speeds of up to 5.8 GHz (single-core). The Geekbench data log shows that the chip was actually running at single-core speeds of up to 5.7 GHz as seen below:

The CPU was tested on the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme motherboard with 32 GB of DDR5-6400 memory. This is a really fast configuration of DRAM that's been used in the tests and Raptor Lake is officially going to support native speeds of up to DDR5-5600.

In terms of performance, the Intel Core i9-13900K Raptor Lake CPU sample scored 2133 points in single-core and 23,701 points in multi-threaded tests. For comparison, in the same benchmark, the Intel Core i9-12900K (Alder Lake) scores 1987 single-core and 17272 points in multi-core while the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X scores 1686 points in single and 16,508 points in multi-core tests.

This means that the new flagship is up to 48% faster than the Ryzen 9 5950X and 37% faster than the Core i9-12900K in multi-threaded tests which is a huge leap. The addition of 8 extra E-cores are definitely helping the chip surpass the performance of its predecessor by a big margin. Coming to the single-core performance, since Raptor Cove and Gracemont cores aren't a big architectural lift, most of the performance improvement comes from clock speeds in single-threaded tasks. The i9-13900K still maintains a decent 7% gain over the 12900K and a 27% gain over the 5950X in single-threaded tasks.

Once again, these aren't the final clock speeds so the final performance is expected to be even higher than this leak. At 5.8 GHz, we can expect a single-core improvement of 10% and a multi-core improvement of 40% over the Core i9-12900K. That should also mean a 50% multi-threaded CPU performance increase over the 5950X. AMD on the other hand has said that Zen 4 increases multi-threaded performance by 35% over Zen 3 so it will be an interesting battle for sure.

Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake-S & 13th Gen Raptor Lake-S Desktop CPU Comparison (Preliminary):

CPU Name	P-Core Count	E-Core Count	Total Core / Thread	P-Core Base / Boost (Max)	P-Core Boost (All-Core)	E-Core Base / Boost	E-Core Boost (All-Core)	Cache	TDP	MSRP
Intel Core i9-13900K	8	16	24 / 32	TBA / TBA?	TBA	TBA	TBA	68 MB	125W (PL1) 228W (PL2)	TBA
Intel Core i9-12900K	8	8	16 / 24	3.2 / 5.2 GHz	4.9 GHz (All Core)	2.4 / 3.9 GHz	3.7 GHz (All Core)	30 MB	125W (PL1) 241W (PL2)	$599 US
Intel Core i7-13700K	8	8	16 / 24	TBA / TBA?	TBA	TBA	TBA	54 MB	125W (PL1) 228W (PL2)	TBA
Intel Core i7-12700K	8	4	12 / 20	3.6 / 5.0 GHz	4.7 GHz (All Core)	2.7 / 3.8 GHz	3.6 GHz (All Core)	25 MB	125W (PL1) 190W (PL2)	$419 US
Intel Core i5-13600K	6	8	14 / 20	TBA / TBA?	TBA	TBA	TBA	44 MB	125W (PL1) 228W (PL2)	TBA
Intel Core i5-12600K	6	4	10 / 16	3.7 / 4.9 GHz	4.5 GHz (All Core)	2.8 / 3.6 GHz	3.4 GHz (All Core)	20 MB	125W (PL1) 150W (PL2)	$299 US

The Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake Desktop CPUs including the flagship Core i9-13900K is expected to launch in October on the Z790 platform. The CPUs will be going up against AMD's Ryzen 7000 CPU lineup which also launches in Fall 2022.

The post Intel Core i9-13900K 5.5 GHz Raptor Lake CPU Benchmarked, Crushes The Ryzen 9 5950X & Core i9-12900K In Single & Multi-Threaded Tests by Hassan Mujtaba appeared first on Wccftech.

IMDB Rating: 5.8/10
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Size: 1.65 GB
Runtime: 1hr 38 min

A model named Barbara Hallen has disappeared and her father gets private detective Sam Morgan to go to Paris to find his daughter. Barbara's trail leads Morgan to a plastic surgery clinic owned by Dr. Flamand. Morgan's investigation reveals the horrifying secret behind the Doctor's miracle cures which is blood and organs taken from kidnapped young women. As Morgan's investigation closes witnesses are eliminated one by one, each in a more horrible way.

In this video, a man helpfully explains that you should wash your ass. He even makes several key recommendations which will ensure your ass is thoroughly clean, lest anyone come "into close proximity with your ass."

This should just be played on loop on giant screens at train stations, political rallies, fighting game tournaments, etc., — Read the rest

A faster workout recovery is a good indicator of overall fitness level and is essential for improving performance, whether it’s lifting more, running faster, or building endurance. And for years, the advice has been to recover from a high-intensity workout by holding your hands above your heads. You maybe had a…

Read more...

It’s a terrible feeling trying to flip a steak, chicken breast, or piece of fish on your grill, only to find it fused the the grates, and I don’t like feeling bad. But stickage isn’t inevitable. You can save those delicious browned bits from this horrible fate, you just have to lube up correctly.

Read more...

It seems that the Apple Watch is next up for the Pro treatment -- with a very "Pro" price tag.

Adding salt to meals at the table is linked to an earlier death, according to a study of 500,000 middle-aged Britons. From a report: Researchers found that always adding salt to food knocks more than two years off life expectancy for men and one-and-a-half years for women. This does not include seasoning during the cooking process. The study did not definitively rule out other factors, such as salt consumption being a proxy for a generally less healthy lifestyle, but the team behind the work said the evidence was compelling enough that people should consider avoiding seasoning their meals. "To my knowledge, our study is the first to assess the relation between adding salt to foods and premature death," said Prof Lu Qi of Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, who led the work. "Even a modest reduction in sodium intake, by adding less or no salt to food at the table, is likely to result in substantial health benefits, especially when it is achieved in the general population." The findings were based on research involving more than 500,000 participants in the UK Biobank study, who were followed for an average of nine years. When joining the study between 2006 and 2010, they were asked, via a touchscreen questionnaire, whether they added salt to their foods and how often they did so.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

How many IoT devices are used at your company? If yours is like most organizations, there are probably printers, scanners, and fax machines scattered around the office. Perhaps smart TVs are mounted at reception or in the break room to guide visitors and keep employees up-to-date on company events and news. Or maybe highly connected conference systems bring teams together to collaborate. For some organizations, IoT also includes operational technology (OT) devices used in industrial systems and critical infrastructure. You and your employees probably view these devices as tools to help operate more efficiently. Unfortunately, so do cybercriminals.

While IoT devices can easily outnumber managed endpoints like laptops and mobile phones, they often lack the same safeguards that would ensure their security. To bad actors, these unmanaged devices can be used as a point of entry, for lateral movement, or evasion. The chart below showcases a typical attack lifecycle involving two IoT devices, where one is used as a point of entry, and another one for lateral movement. Too often, the use of such tactics leads to the exfiltration of sensitive information.

Introducing protection for Enterprise IoT devices in Microsoft Defender for IoT

At the 2021 Microsoft Ignite, we announced the preview of enterprise IoT security capabilities in Microsoft Defender for IoT. With these new capabilities, Defender for IoT adds agentless monitoring to secure enterprise IoT devices connected to IT networks, like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), printers, and smart TVs. A dedicated integration with Microsoft 365 Defender allows Defender for Endpoint customers to extend their extended detection and response (XDR) coverage to include IoT devices. Today, we’re excited to announce the general availability of these capabilities in Defender for IoT.

With this new addition, Defender for IoT now delivers comprehensive security for all endpoint types, applications, identities, and operating systems. The new capabilities allow organizations to get the visibility and insights they need to address complex multi-stage attacks that specifically take advantage of IoT and OT devices to achieve their goals. Customers will now be able to get the same types of vulnerability management, threat detection, response, and other capabilities for enterprise IoT devices that were previously only available for managed endpoints and OT devices.

Further, to make Enterprise IoT security accessible to more customers, we are introducing a dedicated native integration for Microsoft 365 Defender customers. The new integration helps customers to discover and secure IoT devices within Microsoft 365 Defender environments in minutes.

Identifying unmanaged devices

You can’t secure a device if you don’t know it exists. Taking a thorough inventory of all IoT devices can be expensive, challenging, and time-consuming. Employees may connect IoT devices to the network without first notifying IT or operations.

By using the existing Microsoft Defender for Endpoint clients, which are often deployed pervasively across an organization’s infrastructure, we can provide immediate device discovery with no additional deployment or configuration required. For the most complete view of your IoT and OT devices, and specifically for network segments where Defender for Endpoint sensors are not present, Defender for IoT includes a deployable network sensor that can be used to collect all of the network data it needs for discovery, behavioral analytics, and machine learning.

Understanding device vulnerabilities

Knowing all the devices present in your network is a critical step to securing your IoT—but it’s only the first step. To understand the potential risk that those devices pose to your network and organization, you need to be able to stay on top of insecure configurations and vulnerabilities that may be present within your inventory of devices.

These types of devices are often unpatched, misconfigured, and unmonitored, which makes them an immediate target for an attacker. Defender for IoT assesses all your enterprise IoT devices, offering recommendations in the Microsoft 365 console as part of the ongoing investigation flow for network-based alerts. 

New IoT devices are being introduced into an environment all the time. Because of that, the identification and risk assessment processes run continuously within Defender for IoT to ensure maximum visibility and posture at all times.

Securing IoT devices against threats

Threat detection remains one of the most difficult tasks in the IoT domain. Defender for IoT customers benefit from the machine learning and threat intelligence obtained from trillions of signals collected daily across the global Microsoft ecosystem (like email, endpoints, cloud, Microsoft Azure Active Directory, and Microsoft 365), augmented by IoT- and OT-specific intelligence. By applying machine learning and threat intelligence, we help our customers to reduce the alert signal to noise ratio by providing them with prioritized incidents that render end-to-end attacks in complete context rather than giving them an endless list of uncorrelated alerts.

Just recently, this approach enabled Defender for IoT to rank number one in threat visibility coverage in the MITRE ATT&CK for ICS evaluation, successfully detecting malicious activity for 100 percent of major attack steps and 96 percent of all adversary sub-steps, with fewest missed detections of any other vendor.

Defender for IoT: Complete coverage across all IoT/OT

It is certain that the demand for digital transformation and pressure to remain competitive will continue incentivizing organizations to embrace more IoT technologies, whether they are smart TVs in offices or industrial controllers in plants. Chief Information Security Officers will soon be responsible for an attack surface area that is many times larger than their managed device footprint. With the latest release in Defender for IoT, we’re extending coverage to enterprise IoT devices to help customers remain secure across the entire spectrum of their IoT technologies. What’s more, for the first time we’re enabling our Defender for Endpoint customers to gain visibility into their IoT devices within minutes and without buying or deploying any additional technologies or products.

Microsoft Defender for IoT remains a major component of the broader Microsoft SIEM and XDR solutions. Through native integration with Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Sentinel, we can provide customers with the automation and visualization tools they need to address attacks crossing IT and OT network boundaries. These integrations also empower analysts to perform incident response holistically rather than as separate disconnected attacks that require extensive manual investigations to bring together. With these efficiency gains, organizations can stop attacks and bring their environments back to a pre-breach state far more quickly.

We’re excited to reach this major milestone on our journey to securing customers in IoT and OT and invite you to explore how Defender for IoT can help your organization.

To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us at @MSFTSecurity for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.

The post Introducing security for unmanaged devices in the Enterprise network with Microsoft Defender for IoT appeared first on Microsoft Security Blog.

Warning: This article contains major plot spoilers for "Thor: Love and Thunder."

Taika Waititi's "Thor: Love and Thunder" has the honor of bringing Jason Aaron's beloved Mighty Thor into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Waititi pulls some story beats and characters from Aaron's decade-long run, which shapes Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) into the Goddess of Thunder, a Valkyrie, and then into a unique mixture of both, the latest Thor film doesn't wholly embrace its source material. Jane Foster is never telepathically summoned to the moon by Mjolnir. Thor hasn't lost his god status. Earth doesn't have a Frost Giant invasion, and most importantly, Jane's All-Weapon never once graces the screen — a moment that surely would have upped the film's already hilarious depiction of jealous weaponry. 

Co-writers Waititi and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson didn't need to recreate an existing comic. That would be boring. However, they dial up the comedy so loud that they miss out on repurposing the thoughtful conversations that Aaron's work is known for (and that Waititi excels at in films like "Hunt for the Wilderpeople"), which could have made "Thor: Love and Thunder" have more heart. "Thor: Love and Thunder" jumpstarts into zany territory that is befitting of the arrogant, dramatic, and colorful cosmos of the gods. However, its breakneck pace, back-to-back battles, and electric visual gags, while delightful, sacrifice character development. 

Still, "Thor: Love and Thunder" flaunts some impressive moments that'll make viewers wonder what else wound up on Marvel Studios' cutting room floor.

Best: King Valkyrie's Old Spice Commercial In New Asgard

One thing Taika Waititi can do better than any other filmmaker is composing a tight montage that simultaneously catches audiences up on a character's past and present while also delivering comedic digs you never saw coming. Case in point: Valkyrie's Old Spice commercial. 

Zoom in on Tessa Thompson's King Valkyrie, outfitted in a divine black suit and surrounded by press. In a voice-over, Korg (Taika Waititi) recounts King Valkyrie's time spent rebuilding New Asgard. As King Valkyrie poses for the camera, we learn that she's turned their fledging kingdom into a tourist destination by participating in commercials for things like deodorant. I did not know how much I needed this scene to exist. From King Valkyrie's thriving and suggestive smile to the joys of the film cheekily shrugging away gender conventions, the bit soars.

Days before "Thor: Love and Thunder" was released in theaters, Luke Hemsworth reprised his role as "actor Thor" from "Thor: Ragnarok" to star in an Old Spice ad, too. It's a sly bit of marketing that foreshadows the gloriousness of Thompson's scene. One can only hope King Valkyrie's version hits the internet soon and breaks it as only an Asgardian can.

Worst: Valkyrie Is Benched During Final Gorr Showdown

As a huge fan of Marvel Comics' "The Mighty Valkyries," I went into "Thor: Love and Thunder" psyched to see Valkyrie and Mighty Thor fight side-by-side for hours. True, they do team up to avenge New Asgard and save the kingdom's children from Gorr (Christian Bale) — but not for long. 

In the comics, Rūna, a character inspired by Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie, is Jane's partner, as they're the only two remaining Valkyries in the cosmos. While the Mighty Thor might wield Mjolnir, she's still new to the trickiness of superpowers and combat strategy. Rūna guides her through this journey as Jane helps the millennia-old Asgardian learn to trust others again.

When "Thor: Love and Thunder" benched Valkyrie from the showdown against Gorr, I wanted to riot. Not only did the story keep Jane and Valkyrie's friendship at surface level, but it also robbed the warrior goddess of the chance to defend her kingdom. The only forgiving aspect of this plotline is how lackadaisically cool Valkyrie is about it. She casually suggests that she might have lost a kidney in their last face-off with Gorr — with a shrug that makes you wonder how many other organs the badass Asgardian has left on the battlefield.

Best: Matt Damon Returns As Loki

Let's face it. The pandemic has turned most of our brains to mush. Despite Matt Damon confirming in July 2021 that he would reprise his role as actor Loki in "Thor: Love and Thunder," I and the entire movie theater I was in (apparently) forgot all about that. When Damon shook his flowing locks on stage, the room gasped. Watching Damon delve into the role of a self-serious Asgardian theatrical star is such a tease, as you always wished he got one or two more silly lines that poke some lighthearted fun at the MCU. Damon has a knack for comic timing, especially in oddball comedies. Watching him play up a haughty stage actor trope made me nostalgic for his "Dogma" days with Kevin Smith.

In this MCU film, actor Loki reenacts Odin's death in "Thor: Ragnarok," but the best part comes later. Following Gorr's attack on New Asgard and kidnapping all of the kingdom's children, Damon approaches King Valkyrie. He asks if now is the right time to create a play based on the film's current events. While we don't see it play out in this MCU film, if the past two Thor films are any evidence, I'm willing to bet Damon's Asgardian actor will return, bringing dramaturgical flair to Gorr's attack on New Asgard. Plus, his character exits with a perfectly delivered quip: "Well, I didn't hear a no..."

Worst: Guardians Of The Galaxy's Exit

When "Thor: Love and Thunder" begins, the Asgardian warrior god (Chris Hemsworth) lives aboard the Benatar, traveling from quadrant to quadrant to fight for justice alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy. Of course, Taika Waititi's incarnation of Thor is more concerned with the rock n' roll theatrics of dramatically saving the day (that includes doing a split between two warring spaceships) than necessarily fighting for a specific cause. 

Early on, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) calls out the God of Thunder for seeming lost. In Thor's defense, the past 28 Marvel Cinematic Universe films have taken a lot from him: his father, mother, sister, Mjolnir (technically, smashed to bits), and his home planet died, not to mention seeing his brother Loki die multiple times after they repaired their bond. Yikes! 

When the Guardians of the Galaxy learn of Gorr's attacks throughout the cosmos, they tell Thor that New Asgard is in trouble. The group then parts ways with Thor. While it makes narrative sense that they'd trust Thor to save New Asgard, this choice rings hollow emotionally. The Guardians quickly abandon Thor (and his space-goats) instead of offering help. The group could have given Thor something — resources, intel, or a fancy Rocket Raccoon-made weapon — to give purpose to their appearance. The script could have doubled down on Quill's frustration with Thor's selfishness, dosing him with a much-needed reality check. Instead, their presence and exit seem like an extended (and underutilized) cameo solely meant for laughs.

Best: Jane's Unique Way Of Wielding Mjolnir

Unlike her comics counterpart, Natalie Portman's Jane Foster wastes no time wondering when to reveal her identity to her ex-boyfriend in "Thor: Love and Thunder." Taika Waititi and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson's script embraces a streamlined story, foregoing intrigue to instead focus on how Thor reacts to Jane's heroic transformation while battling cancer. Unfortunately, unmasking and confessing her terminal diagnosis so quickly to Thor undercuts the emotional weight of both. After all, the two haven't spoken in eight years, so it's questionable that Dr. Jane Foster would trust the God of Thunder again so easily and without conflict, especially after revealing that Thor's on-call Avenger duties interfered with their relationship.

However, the co-writers admirably find an inventive way to bring the Mighty Thor's powers to life on-screen. In the panels of "The Mighty Thor" comics, Thor speaks about how Jane wielded his hammer in a way he never could. On-screen, the Mighty Thor has the unique ability to break Mjolnir apart, sending shards out into nearby enemies like magic arrows that then boomerang back together to reform the mythic hammer. Even in Thor's hands, he's unable to accomplish the same feat. I loved this choice as it not only nods to Jane's quick mastery of the Asgardian weapon but gives her a memorable and visually unique fighting style.

Worst: Sif Does Nothing But Lose An Arm

In May 2022, Marvel Studios confirmed Jaimie Alexander's return as Sif in "Thor: Love and Thunder" when her name appeared on the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie's official poster. After not appearing in the MCU films since "Thor: The Dark World," likely due to scheduling conflicts from Alexander's commitment to NBC's "Blindspot" for five seasons, fans were excited to see what cosmic adventures awaited the Goddess of War and Dueling. Sadly, Lady Sif doesn't see much time on the battlefield in "Thor: Love and Thunder."

Lady Sif's role in the fourth "Thor" film amounts to little more than a plot device. Sif sends an alert to the Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor, informing them that Gorr is heading to destroy New Asgard. When Thor finds her, she's nearly dead, missing an arm, and defeated. Another warrior could have been in her place and the story wouldn't have changed. Thor then sends her to New Asgard, where she and Valkyrie team up to train their kingdom's next generation of Asgardian warriors, but even that role is suggested rather than shown. 

Sif was created by the legendary Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, so it's a huge disappointment that one of Asgard's greatest warriors never fights besides (or even talks to) Dr. Jane Foster or has a bonding moment with Valkyrie as New Asgard's battle coach.

Best: Russell Crowe's Pitch-Perfect Zeus

There's so much to love about how Taika Waititi and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson wrote Zeus. Despite some Marvel fans crying out that Russell Crowe's depiction's depiction of the mythic god in "Thor: Love and Thunder" is insulting, it's worth looking at it through a social class lens. As in Greek mythology, Zeus is the god of all gods. Due to his unchallenged rank, he has slid into hedonism. Of course, this version of a god is shown overindulging in sex and food and doesn't match a stereotypical image of a "fit" superhero. This Zeus is not too far off from the Zeus found in Greek myths whose tendencies to indulge come before attending to godly matters. If you don't believe me, ask his wife, Hera, who once fought her unfaithful husband for having an affair with a cow.

"Thor: Love and Thunder" hysterically leans into Zeus' unwavering belief in himself while highlighting how those in power are afraid to take risks that might cost them their throne. While it might not seem like it on the surface, there's a lot of weight placed on that scene between Thor and Zeus. Crowe balances Zeus' cockiness and celestial privilege with just the right amount of insecurity needed to sell the audience on Gorr being a threat to the gods.

Worst: Valkyrie Never Finds Her Queen

There are huge (and important) distinctions between suggesting a character is queer, coding a character as queer, and marketing a character as queer to up ticket sales from queer audiences but failing to deliver authentic queer representation (aka queerbaiting). Tragically, "Thor: Love and Thunder" falls into the last and most manipulative camp of the three homophobic options.

In 2019, Tessa Thompson promised that Valkyrie finds her queen in "Thor: Love and Thunder." In 2022, Natalie Portman called the film "so gay." Following the film's release, Taika Waititi told Out magazine, "We're all queer," and expressed his joy at pushing for LGBTQ representation on screen. But unlike Waititi's work in "Our Flag Means Death" and "What We Do in the Shadows," "Thor: Love and Thunder" never delivers Valkyrie's gay love story or dares to depict her sexuality.

Despite bringing Lady Sif back, whose actor previously said she'd love to be Valkyrie's queen, "Thor: Love and Thunder" never begins that romance for Valkyrie. Korg remarks that Valkyrie has "countless dalliances," but we don't get a montage of sexual partners leaving the King's chamber (as we did with Star-Lord in "Guardians of the Galaxy"). Instead, we get a PG-rated hand-kiss from Valkyrie to Zeus' maiden, a sanitized expression that is not representative of the joyful queerdom that Marvel Studios could have embraced under Waititi's direction.

Best: Hercules Will Be... Roy Kent?!?

Imagining a crossover between "Ted Lasso" and the next Thor film is my new favorite hobby.

Of course, this was brought on by the mid-credits scene of "Thor: Love and Thunder." The ending footage shows a dejected Zeus beckoning to his son Hercules. He asks the god to fight Thor to bring honor back to the pantheon. The camera then pans to Brett Goldstein, known to "Ted Lasso" fans as Roy Kent, dressed as Hercules. He agrees to avenge his dear old dad. I never expected to hear a Roy Kent chant in my movie house, but I guess the star truly is here, there, and everywhere. So far, director Taika Waititi has remained coy about what (if any) plans await this character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Goldstein is known for his delightfully deadpan humor, on set and off. The star recently reacted to a fan theory that Roy Kent is a CGI character by seriously addressing the claim on Instagram while wearing an emoji face filter. The comedy-focused "Guardians of the Galaxy" and its sequel brought $1 billion globally for Marvel Studios. After that success, it seems likely that Marvel Studios recruited Goldstein to expand its future comedic roster.

Worst: Valkyries Don't Get To Be Valkyries

When Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie debuted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it made sense why her character abandoned her celestial duties as a warrior goddess. She chose to give up that calling, as she was still grieving the death of her teammates and girlfriend. By the end of "Thor: Ragnarok," Valkyrie decides to fight for Asgard. However, the story never veers back to what became of her afterlife duties. Sadly, neither does "Thor: Love and Thunder," even though it could have created a beautiful scene for Jane and Valkyrie.

In Marvel's comics, Valkyries not only protect the gods — often from each other — but they are also ferrymen for the dead, bringing whoever they deem worthy to the gates of Valhalla. The MCU films often make note of Valhalla, and even show it in "Thor: Love and Thunder," but don't address why the last-living Valkyrie isn't also helping the deceased. This film, like others, handwave that away by having gods disperse into magical gold flakes that find their way to Valhalla.

There's not much screen-time between Jane and Valkyrie in "Thor: Love and Thunder." The two fight alongside each other briefly and exchange jokes. "Thor: Love and Thunder" never gives Valkyrie the chance to say goodbye to Jane and ferrying her to Valhalla would have been an easy fix. Valkyrie could find closure, and the scene could have foreshadowed Jane's future fate as a Valkyrie.

Best: Thor Lends His Powers To New Asgardian Children And Their Stuffed Animals

During the showdown with Gorr, Thor lends his God of Thunder powers "for a limited time only" to New Asgardian children to fight alongside him. The move feels akin to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Season 7 when Buffy, rightfully tired of fighting battles alone, recruited a generation of young slayers to join her. However, this film's take is a lot more lighthearted. Stuffed animals gain laser vision. A child in a ballet tutu delightfully spins around a shadow monster before slicing it in half with golden thunder power. Hands down, it's the most charming moment in "Thor: Love and Thunder."

Director Taika Waititi spoke to Marvel about how this sweet finale came about, sharing, "We want these kids to be in peril, and Thor has to save the kids. I think it felt like just a classic '80s movie." He wanted to steer away from "blow up the universe" stakes and move the film into something the audience could connect with more. To do this, Waititi recruited the cast and crew's children. Additionally, the children helped design each of the film's shadow monsters. "I was like, 'Get your kids to draw some monsters,'" Waititi said. "Then we just had a collection of monsters. So all of those monsters that Gorr summons, the reason they look so crazy is that they're all designed by children."

Worst: Why Mjolnir Calls Out To Jane

I was wary about how "Thor: Love and Thunder" would grant Dr. Jane Foster her powers as Mighty Thor. Ultimately, I'm not a fan of how the script handled her transformation. Despite its seemingly romantic setup, it's problematic how this transfer of power happens.

At first, I was charmed by the Thor and Jane rom-com montage that the film sneaks in to catch audiences up on what they were like as a couple and why they broke up. In this section of "Thor: Love and Thunder," Thor drunkenly asks Mjolnir to always look out for Jane. The hammer magically lights up as Korg, in voiceover, reveals that this action would have unintended consequences. Those are, of course, that when Jane's cancer advances to stage four, Mjolnir will call out to her. Unfortunately, this takes some of the story's empowering potential away. Even on the verge of death, Jane spent tireless days in her lab to advance modern medicine and physics. She doesn't need to have her boyfriend enchant Mjolnir to make her "worthy." She is worthy enough. If Captain America doesn't need a magic spell to pick up the hammer, neither does she.

Best: Dr. Jane Foster Arrives At Valhalla

As soon as "Thor: Love and Thunder" fans left the theater, they started theorizing about what the post-credits scene means for Jane Foster's future. The movie ends with a scene of Jane greeted by Heimdall (Idris Elba) at the gates of Valhalla. The Asgardian thanks her for saving his son and tells her that she can come into the heavens. Although Jane smiles, we don't see her step forward. This might seem like a small detail, but it's an essential one.

In the comics, Jane technically dies but is resurrected by Thor and Odin. When she returns to life, her All-Weapon hears how sorrowful she is that all the Valkyries died (during Marvel's "War of the Realms" event). The All-Weapon (yes, it truly can think for itself, similar to how Taika Waititi depicted spitefully playful and willful Asgardian weapons) then decides to harness the power of all prior Valkyries and transform Jane into one.

As the MCU currently stands, this plotline wouldn't work. Odin is dead, and Thor doesn't show interest in reviving Jane. He's committed to being a dad to Love (India Rose Hemsworth) now. Jane's hesitance to enter Valhalla teases the possibility that her life as a Valkyrie might become part of the MCU should Natalie Portman decide to continue her character's story.

Read this next: 11 Marvel Comics Villains We Really Want To See In The MCU

The post The Best and Worst Moments in Thor: Love and Thunder appeared first on /Film.

[link] [166 comments]

The third season of a television show is often when things start to drag, if they're going to drag at all. When I think of legacy third seasons that were tough to pull through, I think of some of my favorite shows, "Lost" and "Breaking Bad," where I had to really kick myself into high gear and power through to the other side, where I knew things would pick back up. Season 3 of "Solar Opposites" thankfully has the complete opposite effect; The new season of the Hulu comedy is bright, bold, and, frankly, bananas in the best way. It follows in its own exciting footsteps and compounds on the tactics that made it great in the first place, which is something every good show should do — and at no point does it crawl, even in its most deliberately slow moments. The series continues to be a powerful voice in animated adult comedy pushing through the saturated streaming landscape to showcase bigger and better with each season. It's heartfelt, genuine, genuinely funny, and totally raucous whenever it feels the need to be. What more could you ask for from your animated streaming comedy?

Picking up where we left off from season 2, the wall (yes, the one a bunch of humans who were shrunk down live inside) is as dangerous as ever in the Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan comedy, but the Opposites may finally get to leave that behind by getting their spaceship back into orbit for the first time. But as the shenanigans on this series usually go, it's gonna be more complicated than that.

From there, the season diverts again, as it has for each prior season — which, let's be real, is a major part of the show's appeal. The adjacent wall plot this season is as compelling as ever, mixing in action, adventure, a bit of tension and romance, and tons of twists and turns. There is a lot of meaningful progression for the walk folks, to the point where their society faces major upheaval. It's a great juxtaposition to what's happening in the show's other main timeline. On the Opposites' side, the focus throughout the season is more on the family unit and what that can mean for four aliens who have no foundational sense of what family truly means. The five extraterrestrials — Terry, Korvo, "daughter" Jesse, "son" Yumyulack, and, of course, the little pupa — spend 11 episodes adapting to and embracing how to be human in all of its complexities. They're slowing down, by their standards, while the wall folks are speeding up.

Solar Opposites Is Back And As Good As Ever

This third season, where the show is reinforcing its identity and capability as a comedy, smartly and succinctly tackles so many important concepts. The list is long: existentialism, bravery, difficult choices, jealousy, modern consumerism and online culture, redemption, liberation, and post-traumatic stress. Similar to its older brother "Rick and Morty," the series shines a light on the difficult ideas via pop culture, an always-palatable way to streamline the path to audience catharsis. Reusing the "Princess Bride" storytelling concept framing device, quote-unquote "ripping off Thanos," namedropping Green Lantern, bringing Malcolm Gladwell in as a guest star, even the ever-pervasive stereotype that Taco Bell makes you crap your pants all night. All of these set pieces are used in service of a greater concept, a bigger-picture idea that the show is forcing you to confront, even if it's just your agreement that Taco Bell can be rough on the tummy. No matter how silly the joke, this show continues to be good at proving that it can use topical moments to cement its emotional motive into the viewer's mind. No surprises there, since the show comes from some of the brains on "Rick and Morty," which also does a great job performing the same type of emotional legwork.

By the end of the season, the family has truly become a human unit, ditching all their sci-fi ways out of necessity — and, actually, out of love (you'll see why when you give it a watch). It's a fun way to leave these characters after eleven episodes of hijinks, or really, three full seasons of hijinks. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it certainly will hook fans for the next season. But speaking of love, that is perhaps the overarching concept that the season is anchored on, one that it explores the best and most fully. The fivesome has to build true familial love and bond with one another over the course of the season, and the slow burn there is really rewarding. But the show is finally leaning into Korvo and Terry's romantic relationship, and that is even more satisfying. "Solar Opposites" was big on lightly hinting and alluding to a gay relationship between the two patriarchal aliens, but wasn't too keen on confirming any speculation with canonical evidence of the pairing throughout the first two seasons. This season, however, is a bit of a gay bonanza, with many direct references to Kerry/Torvo (pick your poison, I like Torvo) and generally wild gay set pieces scattered throughout. Aside from being ridiculously fulfilling after a bunch of are-they-aren't-they, it also adds to the human element of this season. Not only are these characters coming into the less exciting parts of humanity, but they're also finally opening to experiencing one of the best things being human has to offer.

"Solar Opposites" has established itself as a spicy animated situational comedy that pulls from the best parts of its predecessor, "Rick and Morty," yet doesn't get stuck looking for its place outside of the Adult Swim hit's shadow. The show is self-assured with a unique vibe and tone all its own, and that continues to shine in the third season. By leaning into the more human elements of what the series has to offer — both the base exploration of those concepts with the aliens and the desperate attempt at a reclamation from the wall people — season 3 of "Solar Opposites" reminds us that clever structure can give way to everything else you love about a story: clever writing, brash jokes, and pure cathartic connective tissue.

"Solar Opposites" season 3 hits Hulu on July 13, 2022.

Read this next: The 15 Best Rick And Morty Villains Ranked

The post Solar Opposites Season 3 Review: This Animated Comedy Continues To Succeed By Doubling Down On Compelling B-Plot And Gay Leads appeared first on /Film.

Microsoft is still planning to block Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macros by default in Office apps. From a report: The software giant rolled back planned changes last week, surprising IT admins who had been preparing for Microsoft to prevent Office users from easily enabling macros in Office files downloaded from the internet. The change, designed to improve security in Office, was supposed to go live in June before Microsoft suddenly reverted the block on June 30th. "Following user feedback, we have rolled back this change temporarily while we make some additional changes to enhance usability," explains Kellie Eickmeyer, principal product manager at Microsoft, in a blog post update. "This is a temporary change, and we are fully committed to making the default change for all users."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

GitHub Actions and Azure virtual machines (VMs) are being leveraged for cloud-based cryptocurrency mining, indicating sustained attempts on the part of malicious actors to target cloud resources for illicit purposes. "Attackers can abuse the runners or servers provided by GitHub to run an organization's pipelines and automation by maliciously downloading and installing their own cryptocurrency

Requiescat in pace

[Update: "We don't take the decision to retire services for older Ubisoft games lightly," says Ubisoft in a statement to multiple news outlets. "Our teams are currently assessing all available options for players who will be impacted when these games' online services are decommissioned on September 1st, 2022."]

Ubisoft has quietly removed 2014 release Assassin's Creed Liberation HD from the Steam platform, rendering the title inaccessible for purchase. Furthermore, the Steam page is also apparently suggesting that, as of September 1, players who have previously purchased the spin-off title will no longer be able to play it.

Assassin's Creed Liberation HD is a remastered edition of the 2012 release Assassin's Creed Liberation, which is itself a spin-off of Assassin's Creed III. Set against the backdrop of Louisana in the 18th century, the title is particularly noteworthy for being the only game in the series to feature a Black woman protagonist — Aveline de Grandpré — who battles against American slavers as well as the series' primary antagonist, the Templar Knights.

Ubisoft is yet to offer an explanation for the title's removal, though it is speculated by fans that it may be for technical reasons. Ubisoft games are also noted for their strong DRM and connectivity licenses, given life through services such as the publisher's Uplay service. While Assassin's Creed Liberation HD is hardly at the top of the majority of players' "must-own" lists in 2022, fans are obviously concerned that its removal could set a precedent for more titles to be pulled from accounts in the future — citing last week's news that Sony would be removing paid movie content from certain PlayStation accounts.

The Assassin's Creed community has taken to the Steam forums and Reddit to voice their concerns to the company, although it has also been discovered that Liberation can be launched from within Assassin's Creed III proper. So this could potentially be a case of the spin-off title being removed as a singular entity from the Steam store, that will continue to live on as in-game DLC for the main release.

We will be sure to update this article if any further clarity is offered by Ubisoft or Steam.

The post Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD to become ‘inaccessible’ to all Steam purchasers (Update) appeared first on Destructoid.

What does a 15-year monster-killing road trip have in common with a satirical superhero show? Besides the grit, grime, and dark sense of humor — Eric Kripke. Before adapting Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's "The Boys" for Prime Video, Kripke explored his dark side through folklore and mythology by creating the CW classic, "Supernatural." The drama followed two brothers roaming the country to save those in danger from the horrors of various supernatural beings. While it ended up running for a whopping 15 years, Kripke stepped aside with the conclusion of its fifth season, passing the torch to a new team of showrunners. But just because he moved on, doesn't mean that "Supernatural" is entirely in the rearview.

Since the very beginning, Kripke has been weaving little touches of the beloved series into his latest endeavor: if you look closely, you'll spot "Supernatural" Easter eggs dating back to the very first season of "The Boys." But it doesn't stop there — Kripke recently brought "Supernatural" to "The Boys" in a big way by calling in a Winchester. Jensen Ackles (aka Dean Winchester) has joined the superhero ranks as the Hero of All Heroes, Soldier Boy. And once Ackles was in front of the camera, the hunt for Easter eggs intensified. Below is your guide to every time "The Boys" references or calls back to "Supernatural."

Vote Bobby Singer

In the season 1 finale of "The Boys," Vought got busy making plans with the US government, which meant setting a meeting with the Secretary of Defense, Robert Singer (Jim Beaver). For folks who have never seen an episode of "Supernatural," this was just another new character intro, with some ominous implications for the future of Supes in the military. But for die-hard fans of the monster-hunting saga, they probably noticed something very interesting about the Secretary of Defense: he shares a name and face with Bobby Singer, the Winchesters' lovably gruff surrogate father.

Jim Beaver is the Easter egg that just keeps giving. During his CW tenure, his name was already a gag: Bobby was named after 'Supernatural" writer, director, and producer Robert Singer. Now the joke lives on with a completely different show. When Jensen Ackles joined the cast in season 3, it seemed inevitable that the two would cross paths and sure enough, Kripke made sure to plant a moment where Soldier Boy is walking through the streets of New York and spots a poster for Singer's campaign.

The season 3 finale then takes the joke even further, by mentioning that Robert Singer's hometown is Sioux Falls — which, in "Supernatural," is home to Bobby Singer. At this point, Kripke is just fanning the conspiracy theory flames: could it be that "The Boys" is just a parallel universe where Bobby ends up a politician instead of a hunter?

The Impala Strikes Again

Along with more Bobby Singer, season 2 of "The Boys" brought back another beloved "Supernatural" character: Dean's car! The Impala, affectionately known as Baby, is Dean's signature black 67' Chevrolet Impala. It's revealed to have a deep history with the Winchester family and spans the seasons as the site of many brotherly confessions and fond memories. Speaking of fond memories, "The Boys" creates a new one — after Stormfront (Aya Cash) is revealed to be a white supremacist and the internet turns against her, someone makes a hilarious animation of her being murdered by an Impala. I know she's already (allegedly) dead, but wouldn't it be great if Stormfront was murdered by a speeding Dean Winchester? It would be another great story for him to tell, whenever he gets tired of bragging about the time he killed Hitler.

Soldier Boy's Grand Entrance

Then along comes season 3, with the biggest Easter egg of them all: Jensen Ackles. Shedding his Dean Winchester skin, Ackles is taking a ride on the dark side as the vintage superhero that Hughie (Jack Quaid), Butcher (Karl Urban), and the rest of The Boys accidentally bust out of Russian imprisonment. When brainstorming Ackles' big entrance into the show, Kripke looked no further than one of the biggest, most memorable entrances in "Supernatural" history. He told TVLine,

"I still think probably the best entrance I've ever done is Misha Collins' entrance [as Castiel]. That's an entrance! That is how you f–king walk into a show! And so we thought a lot about we need something really grand [and] big, and this idea of like this massive thing, door, that opens, and he emerges through the steam, and he has this huge blast."

Instead of busting open a barn door and shattering lightbulbs, Soldier Boy gets a big moment of his own: after an epic fight that involved a barrage of gunfire, The Boys realize that the famed Supe isn't really dead when he emerges naked from a steamy cryogenic chamber, shoots a giant blast of light from his chest and stumbles away.

It's one hell of an entrance — so powerful that it broke the internet. Since then, Ackles has been stealing the show as an incredible new addition to the cast. The same was true of Misha Collins following his big "Supernatural" entrance, with Castiel evolving from a side character to a crucial part of the show's next 10 years. Maybe the fact that Kripke pulled from his epic entrance is our hint that Soldier Boy is here to stay.

Happy Birthday, Dean Winchester!

In the wake of their explosive Soldier Boy encounter, the Boys plan their next moves and MM (Laz Alonso) sets his sights on hunting down the Supe to get justice for his family. The first step? Research! While he's watching an old lab recording of the Russian experimenting on Soldier Boy, a scientist is heard saying, "Please note that due to the procedure dated January 24, the subject still registers high radiation levels." Soldier Boy's procedure happens to fall on a very significant date in the "Supernatural" world: it's the birthday shared by Dean Winchester and Sam's girlfriend, Jessica Moore. But perhaps most importantly, it's also the birthday of Eric Kripke's wife!

Oh Look, It's The Anti-Christ

Before Soldier Boy busts out of the Russian facility, we meet him via flashbacks. This is how we learn that Vought's first hero had a sidekick:  Gunpowder, a teenage firearms enthusiast. Gunpowder ends up being much more important in the present-day' when he tangles with Butcher, but we briefly see a younger version of him helping Soldier Boy on the Barbary Coast. Since he wasn't around as long, this actor might be a little harder to recognize than Jim Beaver, but indeed, another "Supernatural" alum has entered the fray: Gattlin Griffith.

Way, way back in the first decade of the "Supernatural" run, when Kripke was still at the helm, the Winchesters were caught in the middle of a war between heaven and hell that put them face to face with the anti-christ, aka, a ten-year-old boy named Jesse Turner (Griffith). Castiel introduces Jesse as a half-human, half-demon child with essentially unlimited powers and concludes that he has to be killed before he gets any stronger. But being absolute softies, the Winchesters refused — instead, they told Jesse the truth and offered to protect him. In the end, Jesse ran away — hiding from demons, angels, and Winchesters alike.

This ended up becoming one of the infamous loose ends that "Supernatural" never got around to tying up. It always seemed like the whole anti-christ thing might return to bite them in the ass — but he never did. Perhaps after Kripke's departure, in the shuffle of finding a new showrunner and direction for the story, Jesse was forgotten. Kripke remembered and even kept Gattlin Griffith's number because he called him up just in time to reunite with Jensen Ackles. Griffith marked the occasion by sharing an Instagram post, tagging Ackles to say: "long time, no see."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GATTLIN TADD GRIFFITH (@gattlingriffith)

I Can't Fight This Feeling

There's nothing quite like REO Speedwagon to get the romantic juices flowing. "Supernatural" was very well known for its classic rock DNA. Dean Winchester was a big fan of old-time rock n' roll, so he took special care to crank up AC/DC, STYX, Def Leppard, and more from the front seat of his Impala, while insisting that no one else could control his personal soundtrack ("Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole"). But every now and again, someone else would step in with some irresistible tunes.

In season 2, Jo gets REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" playing on the Roadhouse jukebox, and even though he initially criticizes her song choice, it ends up stuck in Dean's head (a hint to his deeper feelings for her). He even sings along in the Impala! Apparently, Soldier Boy shares his taste in music because in episode 7 of "The Boys" season 3, he blasts the same song from a speaker. Except, instead of Dean's wholesome, falling-for-a-girl moment, Soldier Boy plays the song for a very different reason. When Hughie and Butcher follow the music, they find him warming up for a threesome with two elderly maids.

There's A Winchester In That Trunk

In the land of "The Boys," Kripke is joined by former "Supernatural" director Phil Sgriccia and between the two of them, they can't help but visually callback to their old show with the infamous Trunk Shot. While driving around and saving the world, the Winchesters liked to stay ready with their own portable arsenal. In the trunk of their Chevy Impala, they always kept a stockpile of weapons for fending off different supernatural creatures — everything from knives and guns to holy water and the occasional grenade launcher. While they would prepare their gear, the camera would pan upwards from inside the trunk. Then they'd slam it shut with their signature statement: "We got work to do."

Since "The Boys" has its fair share of road tripping, the trunk shot has returned more than once. But it's extra special in season 3 because Hughie and Butcher are joined by Soldier Boy. The show called this parallel out on social media, with the great Instagram caption: "There's a Winchester in that trunk but it ain't the kind you're [thinking]." Ackles cheekily commented, "I see what you did there ... and I like it."

Eric Kripke Vs Nuns

Holy water, prayers, priests, and nuns were aplenty in "Supernatural," especially when it came to dealing with a war between heaven and hell. Although the evil in "The Boys" involves superheroes more than spirits, that doesn't mean nuns can't make an occasional appearance — though it's probably in their best interest to stay far away. "The Boys" is not a safe space for nuns with Eric Kripke on the loose. Apparently, it's been a longtime dream of his to have a nun murdered onscreen, ever since he was asked to pull back on the nun violence in season 4 of "Supernatural." But worry not — because dreams really do come true. Kripke had this exchange during an interview with Looper:

Eric, I wanted to congratulate you for brutally murdering a nun onscreen, because I know that's been on your bucket list since the "Lucifer Rising" episode [of "Supernatural"].

Kripke: Right?! When I was a young child growing up, I thought, "If only I could make it to Hollywood and murder some nuns." And they tell you dreams don't come true. They tell you this isn't the magic factory, but it really is.

In "Here Comes A Candle To Light You To Bed," Ackles' Soldier Boy terrifies Hughie by murdering a nun ("what's black and white and red all over?"). Something about watching Dean Winchester attack a nun feels so very wrong ... and also, oddly familiar. Being possessed by a mind-controlling Supe is a little different than taking on the black eyes of a demon, but clearly, the endgame is the same: a Winchester gets involved and stops evil in its tracks.

Read this next: The 14 Best Sci-Fi Shows On Amazon Prime

The post All The Supernatural Easter Eggs in The Boys appeared first on /Film.

Microsoft describes "thriving" at work as being "energized and empowered to do meaningful work." So Microsoft's "people analytics" chief and its "culture measurements" director teamed up for a report in Harvard Business Review exploring "as we enter the hybrid work era... how thriving can be unlocked across different work locations, professions, and ways of working." ZDNet columnist Chris Matyszczyk took special note of the researchers' observation that "Employees who weren't thriving talked about experiencing siloes, bureaucracy, and a lack of collaboration," asking playfully, "Does that sound like Microsoft to you?" Klinghoffer and McCune were undeterred in their search for the secret of happiness. They examined those who spoke most positively about thriving at work and work-life balance. They reached a startling picture of a happy Microsoft employee. They said: "By combining sentiment data with de-identified calendar and email metadata, we found that those with the best of both worlds had five fewer hours in their workweek span, five fewer collaboration hours, three more focus hours, and 17 fewer employees in their internal network size." Five fewer collaboration hours? 17 fewer employees in their internal network? Does this suggest that the teamwork mantra isn't working so well? Does it, in fact, intimate that collaboration may have become a buzzword for a collective that is more a bureaucracy than a truly productive organism? Klinghoffer and McCune say collaboration isn't bad in itself. However, they say: "It is important to be mindful of how intense collaboration can impact work-life balance, and leaders and employees alike should guard against that intensity becoming 24/7." If you're a leader, you have a way to stop it. If you're an employee, not so much. The Microsoft researchers' conclusion? "Thriving takes a village" (highlighting the importance of managers), and that "the most common thread among those who were not thriving was a feeling of exclusion — from a lack of collaboration to feeling left out of decisions to struggling with politics and bureaucracy." Matyszczyk's conclusion? "It's heartening to learn, though, that perhaps the most important element to making an employee happy at work is giving them time to, well, actually work."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Dutch had it right when he told the Predator, "You're one ugly motherf*****." Even if you haven't seen any of "The Predator" films, you probably know what the extraterrestrial hunter looks like. The alien's anatomy is designed to be distinctive, frightening, and memorable even to the most casual of sci-fi/horror audiences. So much so that, aside from some minor detail changes here and there, the design has stood the test of time.

The Predator species, or the Yautja if you want to get fancy, are the living embodiment of their hunter status. You won't catch them knitting by a fire or living a life of leisure. No, these guys are only invested in the thrill of the chase and -- inevitably -- the kill. Given how hunting would have impacted the development of the species as a whole, especially a species that seeks out the finest hunters each planet has to offer, one question pops up almost instantly: How does the hunt influence the Predator's physiology?

Let's Get Physical

Let's break down the body structure of the Predator. These creatures generally possess a height that could crush the hopes and dreams of a person with a deeply rooted Napoleon complex. Seriously, shorties, you do not want to attempt to tackle this thing. They are bipedal (aka they walk on two legs), which enables them to chase, hide, and maneuver in the same way that us humans would generally do if hunting for prey in the wild. Bipedal also means they are easier to trip, so that's something to keep in mind for anyone who needs to survive against this thing!

Framing the Yautja's "delicate" faces are what we'd refer to as dreadlocks. While they can be fun to look at, their hair also adds more height to their already gigantic physique. Are you intimidated yet? If for some godforsaken reason you aren't, don't worry: The infamous mandibles that hang off the lower portion of their face will make you cower in fear. From a general observation, these mandibles are the best way for The Predator to convey emotion and to bite things. Once they open those things up, though, all bets are off. Just run.

The Predator's mandibles weren't originally a part of this lovely creature's design. We have a famous director to blame for why the creature has those special little chompers. 

James Cameron's Contribution

Yes, director James Cameron gets the credit for those frightening mandibles. Special effects make-up artist Stan Winston was tapped to do the make-up effects for "The Predator," -- and, as luck would have it, both Winston and Cameron, who had a working relationship from their time on Cameron's "Aliens," ended up on a flight together. As Winston shared with Total Film, this coincidence would end up influencing the design for decades to come:

"I was sketching concepts for the Predator. And Jim Cameron looked over to me and said, 'You know, I always wanted to see something with mandibles.'" 

When James Cameron suggests something, it's hard not to immediately jump on that suggestion train -- and boy Winston did jump. He added those mandibles into the design and, as many viewers have seen, the mandibles became one of the ways in which the Predator not only communicates, but also intimidates. You come across that thing in the wild and you see those things flare out at you, you are likely to want to drop in a ball and instantly get into the fetal position. Thanks to that one plane ride, film history was made. 

What's Next In Prey?

Now that we have a whole new installment to "The Predator" franchise coming out, it'll be interesting to see how much the creature's appearance will change. In the upcoming "Prey," viewers will be taken back roughly 300 or so years back in time in Earth's history. From an evolutionary standpoint, especially when it comes to the Yautja, there's some wiggle room for the special effects and costumes team to play around. Indeed, director Dan Trachtenberg told Time Out that he used the time setting as an opportunity to change up the Predator's look:

"I wanted [the Predator] to be scarier than we've seen it before. It's intelligent and it has advanced technology, and that makes it even more difficult to take on. But because the movie is set 300 years in the past, those things need to feel a little bit older than we've seen before."

One thing that isn't likely to change too much, though, is their general physiology. The height, the mandibles, the hair appendages; those distinctive physical traits being removed in any fashion might cause riots from fans. While the Predator was mostly cloaking in the last "Prey" trailer, there was a brief moment where we got to see its physical form. The familiar dreadlocks are back, though in a sleeker fashion this go-round. As Trachtenberg explained, "I wanted to make sure the head was more proportional to the body ... This Predator is much slimmer and less armored than it's ever been."

While not shown, one thing is for certain: Those species-defining mandibles will be back to terrify us once again. And, as we now know, it's all thanks to James Cameron, the man who continuously finds his way -- accidentally or otherwise -- towards all things alien in Hollywood. 

Read this next: The 16 Best '80s Action Movies Ranked

The post The Predator's Most Famous Feature Came From The Mind Of James Cameron appeared first on /Film.

There are so many things to consider when buying a new car—especially at a time when gas prices are high and inflation has made everything else more expensive, too. And while you’re picturing yourself driving around town in your new vehicle, taking it in for service is probably not part of the fantasy. After all, it’s…

Read more...

Researchers from two Germany universities 'have demonstrated quantum entanglement of two atoms separated by 33 km (20.5 miles) of fiber optics," reports New Atlas. Besides being a new distance record, "The team says this is an important step on the way to realizing a practical quantum internet." In their experiments, the team entangled two rubidium atoms kept in optical traps in two different buildings on the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich campus. They were separated by 700 m (2,297 ft) of fiber optics, which was extended out to 33 km with extra spools of cable. Each atom was excited with a laser pulse, which causes it to emit a photon that's quantum entangled with the atom. The photons are then sent down the fiber optic cables to meet at a receiving station in the middle. There, the photons undergo a joint measurement, which entangles them — and because they're each already entangled with their own atom, the two atoms become entangled with each other as well. While photons have been entangled over great distances before, this study marks a new distance record for entangling two atoms, which could function as "quantum memory" nodes, over fiber optics.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

This week we somehow manage to go pretty long as we chat Thor: Love and Thunder (without spoilers!), Stranger Things season 4 (without spoilers), Noita, Cuphead, Halo Infinite, your emails, and a lot more! This week's music:  Metallica - Master of Puppets

The Anime Trending platform has just revealed its big winners from the Spring 2022 slate, including Spy x Family, Kaguya-sama and Ao Ashi.

As we move into the 2022 Summer broadcasting slate, many fans are still digesting what was a fantastic Spring of anime content.

Whilst we will all have our own personal list of the best shows from the last slate, many fans were busy sharing their week-by-week opinions through Anime Trending.

Now, the platform has finally shared its final list – so which were the big Anime Trending winners from the 2022 Spring anime slate?

• SONGS: The Seven best anime opening theme songs from Summer 2022 ranked

Here are your TOP 10 ANIME for the LAST WEEK ADVANTAGE (Week#11) of the Spring 2022 Anime Season!

Spring 2022 Anime Awards this July 10. pic.twitter.com/dFMToJUHxl

— Anime Trending (@AniTrendz) July 4, 2022

Anime of the Season – Kaguya-sama: Love is War

The Anime of the Season award went to the third season of Kaguya-sama: Love is War, titled “Ultra Romantic” which aired its 13-episode broadcast from April 9^th – June 25^th domestically in Japan.

As noted by Anime Trending on Twitter, the series is now the first show to win the coveted Anime of the Season award three times in the platform’s history.

Best New Anime of the season – Spy x Family

Unsurprisingly, the best new anime series of the 2022 Spring broadcasting slate went to Spy x Family. The series from CloverWorks and Wit Studios was extremely competitive with Kaguya-sama across its 12-episode broadcast but was ultimately pipped at the post by the rom-com series.

Other winners from the Anime Trending 2022 Spring slate included:

Favourite Male Character – Yuuchi Katagiri (Tomodachi Game)

Favourite Ship Couple – Izumi and Shikimori (Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie)

Favourite Female Character – Shikimori (Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie)

Favourite Supporting Male Character – Kabe Taijin (Ya Boy Kongming!)

Favourite Supporting Female Character – Kurumi Tokisaki (Date A Live)

Favourite Opening Theme Song – Chiki Chiki Bam Bam by Queendom (Ya Boy Kongming!)

Favourite Ending Theme Song – Comedy by Gen Hoshino (Spy x Family)

Favourite Action or Adventure Anime – Ao Ashi

Favourite Comedy Anime – Spy x Family

Favourite Drama Anime – Dance Dance Danseur

Favourite Fantasy Anime – The Rising of the Shield Hero

Favourite Music Anime – Ya Boy Kongming!

Favourite Mystery or Psychological Anime – Summer Time Rendering

Favourite Romance Anime – Kaguya-sama: Love is War

Favourite Slice of Life Anime – Spy x Family

Favourite Sports Anime – Ao Ashi

Favourite Supernatural Anime – Summer Time Rendering

• RIP: Fans pay tribute to Yu-Gi-Oh author Kazuki Takahashi following tragic passing

Here are your FINAL TOP 10 ANIME of the Spring 2022 Anime Season!

Voting Period: April 10 – July 4, 2022 pic.twitter.com/kzCJGbFIe3

— Anime Trending (@AniTrendz) July 10, 2022

MyAnimeList rankings show a similar pattern

Arguably the biggest and most popular user-based anime feedback website remains MyAnimeList and the following series featured as the highest-rated shows from the 2022 Spring slate.

1. Kaguya-sama: Love is War – Ultra Romantic – 9.15/10
2. Spy x Family – 8.86/10
3. Kingdom season 4 – 8.81/10
4. Summer Time Rendering – 8.41/10
5. Ya Boy Kongming – 8.3/10
6. Komi Can’t Communicate – 8.18/10
7. Ascendence of a Bookworm season 3 – 8.1/10
8. Ao Ashi – 8.01/10
9. Dance Dance Danseur – 7.94/10
10. The Demon Girl Next Door season 2 – 7.9/10

By Tom Llewellyn – tom.llewellyn@grv.media

The post Anime Trending reveals the best anime from the Spring 2022 slate appeared first on ForeverGeek.

My 6 Most Anticipated Fantasia Titles

-------------------------------------

And yes I literally had to forcefully stop myself with many a violent self-inflicted slap about my face and neck to listing just six titles, as there are about two dozen more I want to watch -- there's the new film by Mickey Reese and the new movie by Neil Labute and the new movie by Quentin Dupieux and there is one starring Rahul Kohli and I could just keep going. Fantasia is, as always, stacked, and I only hope I can see as many of these as I can stuff down my maw over its three-weeks. Y'all try to too, or at least come back and listen to me yammer about them. I promise to yammer but good!

Microsoft has "delayed enforcement" of what could be a controversial policy change, according to the Software Freedom Conservancy: A few weeks ago, Microsoft quietly updated its Microsoft [app] Store Policies, adding new policies (which go into effect next week), that include this text: all pricing ... must ... [n]ot attempt to profit from open-source or other software that is otherwise generally available for free [meaning, in price, not freedom]. Wednesday, a number of Microsoft Store users discovered this and started asking questions. Quickly, those of us (including our own organization) that provide Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) via the Microsoft Store started asking our own questions too.... Since all (legitimate) FOSS is already available (at least in source code form) somewhere "for free" (as in "free beer"), this term (when enacted) will apply to all FOSS... Sadly, these days, companies like Microsoft have set up these app stores as gatekeepers of the software industry. The primary way that commercial software distributors reach their customers (or non-profit software distributors reach their donors) is via app stores. Microsoft has closed its iron grasp on the distribution chain of software (again) — to squeeze FOSS from the marketplace. If successful, even app store users will come to believe that the only legitimate FOSS is non-commercial FOSS. This is first and foremost an affront to all efforts to make a living writing open source software. This is not a merely hypothetical consideration. Already many developers support their FOSS development (legitimately so, at least under the FOSS licenses themselves) through app store deployments that Microsoft recently forbid in their Store.... Microsoft counter-argues that this is about curating content for customers and/or limiting FOSS selling to the (mythical) "One True Developer". But, even a redrafted policy (that Giorgio Sardo [General Manager of Apps at Microsoft] hinted at publicly early Thursday) will mandate only toxic business models for FOSS (such as demo-ware, less-featureful versions available as FOSS, while the full-featured proprietary version is available for a charge). The Conservancy argues that FOSS "was designed specifically to allow both the original developers and downstream redistributors to profit fairly from the act of convenient redistribution (such as on app stores)." But it also speculates about the sincerity of Microsoft's intentions. "We're cognizant that Microsoft probably planned all this, anyway — including the community outrage followed by their usual political theater of feigned magnanimity." The Conservancy's post Thursday received an update Friday about Microsoft's coming policy update: After we and others pointed out this problem, a Microsoft employee claimed via Twitter that they would "delay enforcement" of their new anti-FOSS regulation [giving as their reason that "it could be perceived differently than intended."] We do hope Microsoft will ultimately rectify the matter, and look forward to the change they intend to enact later. Twitter is a reasonable place to promote such a change once it's made, but an indication of non-enforcement by one executive on their personal account is a suboptimal approach. This is a precarious situation for FOSS projects who currently raise funds on the Microsoft Store; they deserve a definitive answer. Given the tight timetable (just five days!) until the problematic policy actually does go into effect, we call on Microsoft to officially publish a corrected policy now that addresses this point and move the roll-out date at least two months into the future. (We suggest September 16, 2022.) This will allow FOSS projects to digest the new policy with a reasonable amount of time, and give Microsoft time to receive feedback from the impacted projects and FOSS experts.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

This post contains spoilers for "The Boys" season 3, as well as "The Boys" comic series.

Another season of "The Boys" has come and gone on Prime Video, and that is a bloody shame. There was a lot to love about the season, as well as a lot to speculate about regarding where else the show could go from here. Besides, they've already conquered "Herogasm" — what's next?

Well, based on the season three finale and the loose chronology of the series in relation to its comic source material, "Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men" could be poised as the central focus of the show's fourth season. While a second season episode already shares the title of the arc, it doesn't come close to the brutality the storyline inflicts in the comics. This Supe insurrection plot is a game-changer for the entire comic series, and we've gotten our first overt hints that it will be adapted for the show.

At the end of the recent episode, Homelander (Antony Starr) attends a patriotic and all-too-familiar-looking rally. As it continues, he introduces his son Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) to the enthusiastic crowd, but it takes a turn when a counterprotester shows up and throws a bottle at the young boy. In retaliation, he kills the man by slicing his head off. Both Homelander and Ryan smile as the crowd goes wild in support.

So, how exactly does this tease a massive Supe uprising? Let's break it down.

Tomorrow, The Sun Rises On A Different World

To understand just how critical the storyline would be for the rest of the show, let's recap the events as they happen in the original comic arc. Tired of his image being ruined and wanting to reestablish himself as a force to be reckoned with, Homelander devises a plan to stage an insurrection supposedly enforced by Vought. However, this isn't the case, as demonstrated by the bloody confrontations between Vought officials and the Boys upon hearing Homelander's version of events.

When both sides figure out the truth, it already looks to be too late. Supes have already attacked the Pentagon and have been guarding the area around the White House from the military. Any Supe that had even entertained not being involved in the insurrection has already been slaughtered. Despite this, Butcher decides to walk into the White House all by himself, crowbar in hand and ready to kill Homelander once and for all. However, that might not be as easy or cathartic as it may seem.

What An Adaptation Would Mean For The Show

So what happens next if the show moves in this direction? The insurrection would mark a point of no return in the television series, and perhaps even be the storyline that ultimately ends the show. While "Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men" is not the final storyline of the comics, it is the most pivotal, as it takes the Supes to even more intense levels of cruelty and mania, resulting in their collapse in the process. "The Bloody Doors Off" has its important moments, but overall it can easily be integrated into this storyline like others have been on the show.

It is also pivotal due to the deaths of a handful of the most prominent Supes of the series. A-Train, Queen Maeve, Black Noir, and even Homelander meet their ends during the storyline in an appropriately gruesome fashion. Victor Neuman also dies shortly after assuming the presidency from Robert Schaefer, who was mauled to death by a wolverine. While the show has never been comic-consistent with character deaths, this would mean that a large chunk of the cast would have to leave the show, including one of its central stars. A-Train (Jessie T. Usher) might be on Homelander's good side at the expense of his brother's trust, and Maeve (Dominique McElligott) might have narrowly escaped death, but adapting the insurrection storyline might make them the next significant deaths in the series. The same goes for Homelander, who we previously speculated could be on his way out.

Don't Expect A Straight Adaptation

Now, let's address the superpowered elephant in the room. The differences between "The Boys" comic series and "The Boys" television series are stark, with the latter not exactly following the source material to a T. In fact, there's a lot of support for the argument that the show is better than the comics because of how far it strays from them. However, that's another article for another time.

What is important, though, is that the changes will affect how a potential adaptation of "Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men" will be made. It's not yet clear whether the ticket of Robert Singer (Jim Beaver) and Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) will eventually win, meaning Singer getting mauled by a wolverine and Neuman getting decapitated is also undetermined. Furthermore, teams such as Paralactic and Team Titanic, who played roles in Homelander's insurrection, have not been introduced or even alluded to in the series. Then again, Payback wasn't acknowledged much before the third season, so perhaps they can find their way through.

One Key Omission

However, perhaps the biggest change an adaptation would have to face is how it won't feature Black Noir (Nathan Mitchell). A good amount of the storyline hinges on the reveal that he is Homelander's clone, having been responsible for the assault and murder of Becca Butcher, among other heinous crimes (one of which feels ripped straight out of "Crossed"). After killing Homelander and being reduced to mere muscle and bones, Black Noir is killed by Butcher by having his brains ripped out.

However, the show makes it evident that their Black Noir couldn't be further from his original self. On the show, his clone backstory is given to both Homelander and Soldier Boy, and he is instead a man named Earving (Fritzy-Klevans Destine in unmasked flashbacks) who was fiercely loyal to Vought but dealt with racism and a horrific injury. In the season finale, he is brutally and emotionally killed by Homelander, his corpse being somewhat reminiscent of the comics with how his intestines are ripped out. 

Toeing the line between sympathetic and culpable of evil, there's no denying that this version of the character is far more complex than his predecessor. That being said, his comic reveal as the ultimate puppet master of the Seven and the Boys is genuinely shocking for first-time readers, and it's going to be hard topping that if the show moves forward with adapting this storyline.

What Could Happen, Based On What We Know

In the comic storyline, it becomes clear to both Butcher and the readers that Homelander was duped. Driven to insanity by the actions of Black Noir and the genuinely terrifying ones he made, he realized he'd strayed away from being an actual superhero. Whether his death was a sacrifice or one last selfish action isn't clear, and perhaps it's better off that way.

What is extremely clear is that Homelander will not feel that way in the show. One of the recurring events of the latest season was his belief that he was better than everyone else and should be worshipped. If anyone were going to commit an insurrection on the White House, it would be Homelander, and he certainly would do it on his own accord. Besides, look at how drunk with glee he was in that final scene after he was applauded for killing a protester.

It's obvious Homelander will likely want to claim the presidency all to himself, but will other Supes help him in the process? Outside of The Deep (Chace Crawford) and maybe A-Train, it's not entirely clear, especially since the events of Herogasm either killed a lot of Supes or stripped them of their powers. However, he certainly has the support of civilians, including one familiar-looking shaman, who would probably help him instead in their blind love.

So, Should They Bring This Storyline To The Screen?

Yes. I mean, come on, did you expect any other answer?

Understandably, the insurrection imagery could be too reminiscent of the January 6 U.S. Capitol attacks for many viewers. However, when has political imagery been off-limits for the show? Showrunner Eric Kripke recently said in an interview that his version of Homelander has always been meant to be a stand-in for former President Donald Trump, calling his season three arc "white-male victimization and unchecked ambition."

If anything, not adapting this storyline, despite the changes needed, would be a bad idea. The stage is being set for Homelander's final unhinging, for him to proclaim that he is the only person who can make America a truly great nation. Incorporating the plot of "Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men" into the fourth season is not only timely but also serves as the next logical step for Homelander's characterization and the show's plot itself. If he really was as unhinged as he is perceived to be, then why wouldn't he stage an insurrection to claim the presidency?

Read this next: The 14 Best Sci-Fi Shows On Amazon Prime

The post Will That Famous Plotline From The Boys Happen in Season 4? appeared first on /Film.

There are many great Quake mods out there but there's never really been a decent hub for the FPS game's modding community to easily get together, share mods, discuss them, and assist creators. New Quake community site Slipgate Sightseer aims to do just that.

Slipgate Sightseer - or Slipseer, to use its catchy URL name - is now officially up in beta and it's designed to be a new home for the Quake modding community. From the first page, you can easily check out new maps and mods, alongside reviews, discussions, and help for anyone trying modding for themselves.

PCGamesN got in touch with a member of the development team, Michael Markie - who is also a composer, sound designer, and level designer for 3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks. Michael describes Slipseer as a "community hub primarily for Quake singleplayer content creators and players, where creators can upload, manage, and discuss their content on a modern site."

RELATED LINKS: Best FPS games, Best old games, Best multiplayer games

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "The Boys" season 3 finale.

There are plenty of stand-out stars that have made their way onto "The Boys" throughout its three-season run. It is easy to single out actors like Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, and Antony Starr as these stand-outs, but it's also important to remember the hard work and dedication that the behind-the-scenes crew brings to the show.

Case in point? Music supervisor Yvette Metoyer, who has served as the show's music supervisor from its very first episode up to the third season's recently-released finale. She's been responsible for a lot of the wonderful needle drops throughout "The Boys," but one song featured in the finale might be the best of them all.

Elton John's discography has long been featured in movies and television shows, but one of his most iconic, 1973's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," had been featured sparingly, although whether or not it's because of royalties is unclear. That is, until now. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" helped close out the third season of "The Boys," which plays after a heartfelt conversation between the Supes formerly known as Starlight and Queen Maeve: Annie January (Erin Moriarty) and Maggie Shaw (Dominique McElligott).

'You Know You Can't Hold Me Forever, I Didn't Sign Up With You...'

Annie and Maggie have had a strange relationship over the course of the show's three seasons. The more seasoned Supe wasn't exactly the most welcoming to her new teammate back in "The Boys" season 1, telling her to ignore the abuses she's experiencing in order to appear strong. This, in turn, causes tension between them, as Annie thinks Maggie actively wants to protect the Seven -- an assumption that turns out to not be entirely accurate.

Despite this tension, the two have slowly but surely grown closer. A lot of this can be attributed to the idea that Maggie is scared of Annie turning out like her: a hardened cynic who is prevented from actually helping people at every turn. After all, they both started their superhero career with a genuine desire to help people, only to have their ambitions whiffed out due to trauma and corporate exploitation.

In a weird, roundabout way, this fear brought them closer together. While never exactly friends, the two of them learned to trust each other because of their shared trauma at the hands of other members of the Seven: Annie was sexually assaulted by The Deep (Chace Crawford), while Maggie has been heavily suggested to have been abused by Homelander (Starr), recently being threatened with the forced extraction of her eggs. Annie and Maggie's relationship ultimately evolves from wariness to alliance and eventually solidarity, even if the road to get there wasn't the smoothest.

'So Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Where The Dogs Of Society Howl...'

It's long been accepted that "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is about leaving behind conventional ideas of celebrity in order to live your true life. In a roundabout way, this is exactly what Annie and Maggie are doing in the season finale. Superheroes are celebrities in the "Boys" universe and are marketed as such, appearing in movies and at all sorts of press events. While the glitz and glam of the superhero industry might seem appealing to outsiders, the two former members of the Seven know that there is a deep-seated darkness that goes unseen.

Because of this darkness, which has become more prominent and celebrated with each episode, Annie and Maggie are doing the bravest thing they can do: leave. Their methods of leaving varied greatly, as Maggie is now presumed dead by the general public and Annie already quit the Seven in "Herogasm." However, the two of them are taking steps to separate themselves from superheroism, with the former moving to a secluded ranch with her on-and-off girlfriend Elena (Nicola Correia-Damude) and the latter officially joining the Boys.

'You Can't Plant Me In Your Penthouse, I'm Going Back To My Plough...'

While it's not something that has been given a lot of exposure on the show, Annie and Maggie seemingly had very similar upbringings. Both came from rural areas and worked relentlessly to become a member of the Seven. Annie had previously been known as a contestant at superhero pageants, while Maggie attended Goldolkin University, a Supe-only college sponsored by Vought. They weren't given everything on a silver platter; they put in the grueling work needed to achieve their dreams, even if they seemed inaccessible because of where they lived. Annie likely knew of Maggie's similar upbringing due to being a fan of Queen Maeve, thus creating that unspoken but still palpable understanding of how hard it was to accomplish what they did.

Given how "The Boys" taps into all sorts of sociopolitical commentary, it shouldn't be surprising that there have been instances where the rural backgrounds of these two have been weaponized against them. In the season 3 episode "Barbary Coast," Homelander threatens Annie to not mess with him by threatening to blow up what he calls "that little cousin-f***er hick town that Maeve's from" (as well as the White House, military buildings, and critical infrastructure). Other snide comments have been made about Annie growing up in a small town in the Midwest, particularly in threats made by Homelander threatening to send her back there.

'Maybe You'll Get A Replacement, There's Plenty Like Me To Be Found...'

It would be nice if Homelander and the Seven could crumble after Annie's departure and Maggie's supposed death. The problem, however, is that it's not that simple. If Vought is good at anything, it's making sure that any and all lineup changes to the Seven are not explained using the truth. After all, Annie was only selected to join the team because Vought claimed that Lamplighter (Shawn Ashmore) retired of his own accord instead of being forced out.

The fact of the matter is that they are disposable for Homelander and Vought, no matter their popularity or seniority. Starlight and Queen Maeve might be highlighted for just a little bit longer, but will otherwise be forgotten about and replaced by other plucky, aspiring superheroes. While it's likely that the cycle of abuse within the Seven will be repeated, there's also the sinister possibility that the new members will adopt this cycle for themselves, blindly worshipping Homelander so that they can be liked by him.

'Oh, I've Finally Decided My Future Lies Beyond The Yellow Brick Road...'

It would be ignorant to say that the peace that Annie and Maggie feel during these final moments of the finale will last forever. Almost certainly, they will get pulled into another cataclysmic situation in the upcoming fourth season that requires their abilities -- whether they still have their superpowers or not. Still, they are currently off the yellow brick road known as Vought's twisted world of superheroes ... for now.

The Elton John needle drop is wonderful not only because the song rocks, but because it perfectly encompasses the relationship between Annie and Maggie. It's so satisfying to see Maggie walk out of that apartment with a smile on her face, despite her injury and her loss of powers, knowing how much she has gone through to get to that point. In a similar vein, it's been cathartic to see Annie's development as she becomes more and more disillusioned with the idea of being a superhero, precisely because of her continued determination to do the right thing.

"The Boys" season 3 is now streaming in full on Prime Video.

Read this next: /Film's Top 10 Movies Of 2021

The post Why That Needle Drop in The Boys Season 3 Finale is Perfect appeared first on /Film.