I AM HYPE - My Most Anticipated Content Of 2019

It’s all content bayybeeee. These days it’s incredibly hard to keep up with the deluge of content that bombards our senses. Between Netflix, gigantic tentpole movies, HBO series, video games, and more - it is an exciting time to be a fan of storytelling. So considering the fact that I live off hype - here’s a breakdown of what content I’m hyped for in 2019 in no particular order or genre.

1. Game Of Thrones Final Season (April) - Let’s stop playing games, this is fuckin it. Thrones is the life force of all the content. All of the memes, all of the theories,  all of the direwolf badassery, and all of the moments where the show bleeds into real life have all lead to this. I’m less concerned about who will sit on the Iron Throne (the show has never really been about that btw) and if the showdown between Jon Snow (the greatest “hero” character ever btw) and the Night King will be as an epic as it was teased. CANNOT WAIT for this.

2. Ad-Astra (May) - This is the most artsy fartsy movie on my list but don’t let that turn you off because this movie is pure HYPE. The follow up to the film LOST CITY OF Z (which is an all time exploration of faith, obsession, and the desire to explore) - AD ASTRA is director James Gray’s space epic. All of the great directors (Kubrick, Nolan, Spielberg, Bay) make a space movie and this one is no exemption. Oh - you wanted to know about the plot, well here you go: Brad Pitt travels across the universe to find/reconcile with his father who may pose a threat to humanity or hold the key to its survival. The father is played by Tommy Lee Jones. Cannot wait.

3. The OA Season 2 (TBD) - Forget about Stranger Things Season 3 or whatever 80’s nostalgia they’re cooking up over there, the real rocket Netflix series is THE OA! No other show explores more interesting themes (life, death, purpose, faith) through a fascinating puzzle box of a story. I cannot wait!

4. Six Underground (New Michael Bay movie) (December) - Michael Bae, Ryan Reynolds, and the writers from Deadpool have been given 200 million dollars from Netflix to make a balls to wall insane action movie. Bad Boys II is one of the best movies ever and my expectations of us getting pure Bay insanity of the dankest kind could never have been higher. The plot? Who cares as long as the action is clean and the camera is spinning - let’s get it.

5. The Last Of Us II (TBD) - If Red Dead Redemption 2, Spider-Man, and God Of War pushed the concept of games as art/blockbuster entertainment far in 2019 - expect this game about a teenage girl/badass living in a brutal post apocalyptic world to take bring the video game art form to unprecedented levels.

6. Avengers: Endgame (April)  - Life is about the little things and in the case of the Avengers: Endgame here’s a couple of them. Captain America getting his original shield back. Cap & Tony reconiles. Hulk’s rematch with Thanos. And lastly the fact that after all the misdirection from the directors in Infinity War - no one has any idea how this is all going to go down except for the fact that Spiderman is going to survive.

7. Star Wars Episode 9 (December) - The Last Jedi was a visually stunning and though expanding epic and I’m firmly in the camp of people who “get it” and that the message of the force being for everyone (not just Skywalkers) is beautiful, that being said I’m here for the action and the lightsaber battles in these “new” movies have been kickass. I’m hyped mostly for the epic final battle and have fingers crossed that it can top the epic throne room battle from The Last Jedi.

8. Lovecraft Country (TBD)  - This a new series from Jordan Peele and JJ Abrams about a family in the Jim Crow south who encounters magic and evil. It’s hard to describe but with Peele involved I’m very excited for this kind of genre storytelling.

9.  Hobbs & Shaw (July 26th) - Has anyone else’s life been empty this year without a Fast & Furious movie? Glad I’m not the only one! While this one doesn’t technically feature the full family it does build on the epic prison breakout and airplane sequences from F8TE Of The Furious. My two biggest questions are if they’re going to use this story to resurrect Han and if this will set up what we all want - FAST 10 in space.

10. Godzilla: King of The Monsters (MAY) - Let’s be honest, the 2014 Godzilla was better than anyone thought it would be. It had decent characters, an interesting ground level POV of monster action, and some epic visuals. I’ll forgive the ultra annoying Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven from Stranger Things) doing her “brain hurts” acting style because the monsters throwing down in this thing demand to be seen on the big screen!

Game Of Thrones Recap - Season 7 Finale - The Dragon & The Wolf

Direwolf Badassery - None. This tally will be replaced with Dragon Badassery for the final season.

Hardhome Pt 2 Or Nah - Hell yeah, that White Walker Dragon wall destruction was face melting.

Bronn points out that pretty much “it’s all cocks in the end,” and this is a pretty good metaphor for all the female nudity and awesome violence in the previous seasons of the show. In fact, this season was very light on the sex and nudity and I think the whole show was better for it.

Another episode that opens up with a long walk, good conversations, and some strong reunions and I’m ok with it.

The Hound dropped an epic line, which honestly could be one of the best of the series with this line: “you know who’s coming for you, you’ve always known.” Shit!

I wonder if the delay for this season was to get all those actors in one place for the dragon pit scene!

Jon Snow’s speech about why he’s honorable is not only the very fabric of what will make him an amazing King, but was also a very cutting commentary about the very nature of politics not just on Thrones but in the world. Benioff and Weiss have done a great job this season of keeping the show political in a fantasy world and I applaud them for it.

In between all the swooning, forgone glances, and epic boat sex on this episode - it must be said than Lena Headey was doing astounding work as Cersei in this episode. She’s easily the best actress on the show.

RIP Littlefinger a character who wasn’t as adept at the game as he thought, but I guess once Bran shows up, aka the three eyed snitch arrived, he had to know his time was running out.

I’m onboard the ship called Theon Vengeance 2019. He’s got no balls or dick so that makes him unstoppable. Wait is Theon part of the Unsullied? Metaphorically?

Totally insane to see the wall come down but all I really NEED to know is if Tormund and Ser Beric made it out alive, well mainly Tormund.

Finally, Jon Snow is easily the best character on this show and pretty much on any TV show on the air or ever. Jon Snow 4 Prez. The heir to the Throne.

Game Of Thrones Recap - Season 7 - Episode 6 - Beyond The Wall

This episode was titled Beyond The Wall and boy does that have many meanings. First is that obviously a whole bunch of shit pops off up north beyond the wall. Second, with the Jon Snow Daenerys romance in full effect - it’s safe to say Jon’s heart is wayyy beyond the wall. Finally, there’s the wall of family that exists to protect us from outsiders and Arya is way beyond that too. Now let's talk about wight zombie bears.

Direwolf Badassery - None but I think wight polar bears gotta count for something here.

Hardhome Pt 2 or Nah - Obviously this episode was amazing and totally thrilling. I got all the white walker chaos I wanted (even though only one white walker actually dies) but thing was because of the preview last week I know this shit was coming. Living up to the hype it did, but sometimes I like when stuff just comes out of left field, you know like a polar bear zombie.

1. So now that there is an ice dragon in place my first question is whether it will breathe ice, fire, or snow? In some ways breathing fire would be the worst outcome right?

2. When that dragon went down my wife was losing it. When Tormund looked like he was going down I was legit crying and ready to smash my TV. Love that guy.

3. Very interesting dynamic they set up with the wights dying when their master dies. Kind of feels like the writer’s plotting their end-game as this mechanic didn’t really matter in Hardhome. Jesus, I’m like a hardhome worshipper huh?

4. Arya has gotten pretty annoying ever since she’s been back at Winterfell - she was cooler when she was killing people like a machine, now she has to scheme and Maise Williams either is getting bad material or can’t really hit the right acting beats. It is taking me out of the story.

5. So when a dragon dies everyone just stops what they’re doing mid-battle and watches in awe? Even the wights?7

6. RETURN OF THE MIND BONE - Jorah’s brief conversation with Thoros about what he was thinking when he charged into battle with his flaming sword is important. Thoros doesn’t remember the moment he’s clearly known for. This is a sneaky statement about how our legends only matter to those who hear them. Jorah may think he’s a dishonorable man cause that’s his legend - but to the people he’s served with now he’s a hero. You can’t control your legacy for better or for worse.

Game Of Thrones Recap - Season 7 - Episode 5 - Eastwatch

Now that the Tarly BBQ has opened and closed for business I think we can agree that was a pretty decent Thrones episode that served as an appetizer to the epic action on deck for next week. But there certainly was some stuff to munch on.

Direwolf Badassery - Are dragons the new direwolves? I'm thinking yes.

Hardhome Pt 2 or Nah - Next week baybeeee

1. Jamie & Bronn are in the running for the most ride or die dynamic duo on the show. Other contenders are Jon Snow and Sam, Jon Snow & Edd, Jon Snow & Tormund, Thoros & Beric and while not together anymore - Bran & Mera.

2. Tyrion is such a buzzkill these days.

3. Before he got roasted Randyll Tarly says that there are no easy choices anymore. I feel the same way when trying to pick my sides for my brisket when I’m going bananas on some Texas BBQ. It was also a great metaphor for the show.

4. Cannot believe it took me this long to realize this - THE CITADEL ARE THE THRONES VERSION OF THE ILLUMINATI - a bunch of old white dudes with mad history sitting around scheming on the fate of the world.

5. Did I miss something or did Daenerys go from not caring about the white walkers to being all in supporting this insane mission to capture a wight. Kind of a big turn. Dragon petting made her a believer?

6. To that note the plot machinations to get Arya and Littlefinger scheming on each other seemed clumsy. In some ways it will be fitting if Arya’s aggressive violence comes to an end via a scheme of tha mind. 

7. Where the hell is Euron?

8. Finally - what a posse that is rolling out to capture a wight. OH MY GAWD is that a heavy hitter SQUAD if I’ve ever seen one. If it had to pick someone in that posse going down here’s my ranking on who’s gonna bite it:

The Hound

Ser Beric (but he can be brought back)

Thoros

Jorah

Tormund

Gendry

J.Snow

Game Of Thrones Recap - Season 7 - Episode 4 - The Spoils Of War

After last week's set-up episode Game of Thrones had to bring the fire this week and got dayuuuum did it. This was a clear sequel to last year’s Battle Of The Bastards (we even got the now classic guy getting run over by a horse shot) but you know this time there were D R A G O N S straight burning shit up! Love it!

Direwolf Badassery - Holding out hope for Ghost to make his triumphant return this season.

Hardholme Part 2 Or Nah - That was about as good as a battle you could get without having white walkers.

Bronn is some ways the Slim Charles of Game Of Thrones. A killer supporting character, carries a strong personal code, and has a tendency to steal lots of scenes. If you don’t know who Slim Charles is then you need to watch The Wire which also has Littlefinger in it in a time traveling tour de force.

I used to love Joffrey for his endless swag but now I love EMO BRAN who is so damn emo it’s amazing. All he wants is to spend time ravening aka soaring the cosmos.

Thrones has mastered the beautiful shot of the lone rider on the horse and I’m into it.

Jaime Lannister dead or nah? NAH. At this stage in the game Thrones needs him as a foil to Cersei and I think he’s ultimately going to end up the hero of the realm. On a whole his character this season and other seasons has been extremely sympathetic, I mean you heard him about wanting to give the men fair warning before flogging them. He’s on a path to redemption and it’s not over yet.

Cracks me up that Daenerys is taking advice from Jon Snow. I know she’s looking for the cave treatment that Ygritte got, but Jon is not the best military mastermind.

White walkers are coming - I feel it in my bones. Nice cave paintings though. Where did the find the blue coloring?