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Kelly Clarkson’s Reason For Moving Her Kids & Talk Show To NYC – Hollywood Life

Kelly Clarkson54th Annual ACM Awards, Arrivals, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, USA - 07 Apr 2019 — Image Credit: Tony DiMaio/MEGA

Kelly Clarkson poses for a photo before the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 57 football game, in Phoenix
Super Bowl Honors Football, Phoenix, United States - 09 Feb 2023 — Image Credit: Tony DiMaio/MEGA

Kelly Clarkson is ready for a fresh new start. The talk show maven and hitmaker, 41, revealed in a new interview why she’s heading to New York City with her kids and her eponymous show. “I love this question because I haven’t actually been able to talk about this a lot,” she told Nancy O’Dell during a Thursday, May 25 appearance on TalkShopLive. “I was like, ‘You guys’…and it was through tears, cause I have built such an amazing group of people.

“Obviously, we’ve been very successful, and I love everybody I work with, and we have such great relationships,” she continued. “So I talked to them because I was like, ‘Guys I need you to know what’s happening. It’s either I’m not going to be able to continue with the show, or I got to go East Coast.’”

Kelly went on to explain that her extended family is back East — a fact that became even more painfully apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic years. “Covid pointed out being isolated and so far from your family is not good for anyone,” she said. “And my family is East Coast — they’re North Carolina-based. So it was one of those things where I just had to — also there was a lot of personal things going on, too.”

Those “personal” things likely include her 2020 split from ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, with whom she shares two young children, River and Remington. The divorce wasn’t finalized until March of 2022, when the American Idol alum was ordered to pay her ex $45,600 per month in child support, and a whopping $115,000 per month in spousal support, per TMZ.

But there’s also the matter of being accused of a toxic work environment on the set of The Kelly Clarkson show — something she has called “untrue.” “I’m getting too old to work in an environment that isn’t healthy and fun,” she said during the interview. “I had to do that for years in meetings and working with really incredibly mean people sometimes, so I just didn’t want to do that anymore. I’m focused wholly on the talk show for a minute, but I also am working on things in the background.”

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May 27, 2023

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View gallery Image Credit: Tony DiMaio/MEGA Kelly Clarkson is

Tech

Why Did HBO Max Become Max? Behind the Streamer’s Relaunch Strategy

This week, HBO Max faded to black — and was reborn as Max. But many people are still wondering: Why did Warner Bros. Discovery decide to change the name?

HBO, after all, remains a solid-gold brand representing premium-quality original TV shows, going back decades, from “The Sopranos” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” to “Game of Thrones” and “Succession.” Meanwhile, Max, as observers have pointed out, is a pretty generic name from a branding standpoint. (Note that the Twitter handle @Max belongs to Instacart co-founder Max Mullen, while on Instagram it’s held by hockey star Max Domi, a forward for the Dallas Stars.)

Here are the two basic reasons Warner Bros. Discovery chose to excise HBO from the HBO Max with the relaunch:

To signal a broader programming mix: HBO Max was positioned as the successor to HBO, but from the beginning included more than just what was on HBO proper. With Max, WBD has stuffed in a slew of nonfiction programming from the legacy Discovery Communications side of the house — Max features 35,000-plus hours of content, more than doubling the lineup over HBO Max. The company’s goal is to let “every member of the household… see whatever they want at any given time,” CEO David Zaslav said in announcing the new name last month. In a much-discussed slide from WBD’s Q2 2022 earnings report (see below), when it first announced the plan to merge HBO Max and Discovery+, the company said HBO Max had a “male skew” with a focus on scripted, while Discovery+ had a “female skew” with unscripted content. Anyway, the thinking was that the new Max name was needed to reflect that it’s a place where you can watch not only, say, “Euphoria” and “Barry” but also stuff like “90 Day Fiancé,” Jonathan and Drew Scott’s “Property Brothers” and Shark Week episodes. And while HBO is no longer in the name of the service, it retains a prominent position on Max, including having its own spot on the top of the home screen alongside “series,” “movies” and “new & notable” categories.
To make the flagship streamer look more “family friendly”: Warner Bros. Discovery executives ultimately felt that the HBO name was somehow restricting HBO Max’s uptake among households with children. “We all love HBO, and it’s a brand that has been built over five decades” to stand for “edgy, groundbreaking entertainment for adults,” WBD head of streaming JB Perrette said at the Max launch event in April. “But it’s not exactly where parents would most eagerly drop off their kids… Not surprisingly, the [kids’ content] category has not met his true potential on HBO Max.” The new Max includes a placeholder kids’ profile (which by default allows access only to content with PG and TV-PG ratings or lower) on the start screen for all new subscribers.

All the same, senior execs “heavily debated” the name change, Perrette revealed. They did “look fairly briefly at various alternatives that could include Warner or include WB or could include the [HBO] brand,” he told reporters last month. “And we just felt like, that was sort of not necessary. We had Max, which was short, tight. Says something universal. Yes, the risk was ultimately that it’s sort of maybe less ownable because it’s a common word. But the flip side is that also made it very approachable and very easy. And when frankly, we found ourselves talking about the service, the shorthand was always ‘Max.’ We never said even ‘HBO’; we would just say, ‘It’s on Max.’”

Max launched in the U.S. on Tuesday, May 23, with what appeared to be only minor technical issues, aside from many users (depending on device platform) needing to manually download and log in to the new Max app. Warner Bros. Discovery also quickly announced it would reversed the move — made in the middle of the ongoing WGA’s writers strike — to lump together writers and directors in film listings on the new service.

Of course, how effective the transformation of HBO Max into Max will be in realizing WBD’s goals of attracting and retaining a broader base of subscribers remains to be seen.

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May 27, 2023

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This week, HBO Max faded to black

Video

Twitter Owner Elon Musk Gets Owned by Twitter Over False Claim About DeSantis

Elon Musk might own Twitter, but on Friday he got owned by Twitter after a false claim he made about Ron DeSantis got slapped with a community note explaining just how wrong he was. Whoops.

Early Friday, CBS reported that in the 24 hours after the absolute fiasco that was the launch of his presidential campaign on Twitter’s audio-only platform Spaces, DeSantis raised approximately $8.2 million. Hours later, Musk quote-tweeted that and spun the fundraising haul as evidence that actually, the debacle was a roaring success.

“Lot of noise about @RonDeSantis announcing & discussing his Presidential bid on this platform. But you what isn’t noise? Setting an all-time record for fundraising! Worth considering for announcements in general,” Musk asserted with the certainty of someone who paid $44 billion for Twitter.

Twitter’s response: Nice try. “Governor Ron DeSantis did not set all-time record for fundraising. President Donald Trump raised $24.8 million in the hours following the official launch of his campaign for re-election in 2020,” read a Community Note attached to Musk’s tweet. Ouch.

To be honest, yes, we do find this helpful.

For those in need of a refresher, on Wednesday DeSantis launched his presidential campaign, for some reason, on Twitter Spaces. But when people tuned in to hear him in a conversation with Musk, moderated by David Sacks, a Musk investor and DeSantis donor, what they heard instead was an excruciating 20 minutes of technical glitches and operational incompetence. The feed cut out repeatedly, and when audio did work, it revealed the three men seemed to not really understand how it worked.

Musk blamed the problems on the size of the audience — about 650,000 listeners, apparently, approximately 26% of the 2.5 million people who tuned in the same day to a PlayStation online event that had video and sound. Eventually, they canceled that particular Twitter Spaces event and launched a new one, which worked, though far fewer people tuned in.

The New York Times later said the whole thing was a demonstration of the issues Twitter has been plagued with since Musk became owner last year.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher Urges Members to Authorize Strike: ‘Acting Careers Are at Stake’

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May 27, 2023

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Elon Musk might own Twitter, but on

Entertaintment

John Stamos Embraced His Inner Disney After A Dinner Meeting With Ryan Gosling – Deadline

John Stamos was a big Disney fan. But he felt there was something wrong with that – until he met Ryan Gosling at a dinner party.

Stamos talked about the moment on Keke Palmer’s Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast. The host is herself a big Disney fan, so she felt his vibe.

The actor confessed that his Disney doubts stemmed from career concerns.

“Who’s going to take me seriously with the Mickey Mouse stuff? I’ve got to distance myself from it.”

Enter Ryan Gosling. When they met at a group dinner, Gosling immediately brought up their mutual passion.

“He was like, ‘Oh, you’re a Disney fan, right?’” Stamos remembered. “I say, yeah. He goes, ‘I’m obsessed. I’m a Disney adult, I go there by myself and I wear headphones. I go on rides. I have a mixtape.’”

A light went on for Stamos.

“I go, ‘Yeah, me too. I’m a Disney guy too,’” he said. “So that kind of turned the corner for me.”

Palmer recalled how Disney reminds her of good memories from her childhood.

Stamos agreed, and said going through the gates at Disneyland is like “the great escape.”

“I had a nice, happy childhood, and I’m sure you did too, so I wasn’t running away from anything,” he added. “But I think it really defined who I am as an artist, as a human, I think, because it was just so full of love and optimism, happiness. You go through the turnstile, and I think that’s what Mr. Disney wanted you to feel, but everything else just goes away.”

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May 27, 2023

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John Stamos was a big Disney

Movies

Shahid Kapoor Recalls What Dad Pankaj Kapur Said About His Cute Image In Films

Shahid Kapoor will next be seen in Bloody Daddy. (Credits : Instagram)

Shahid Kapoor, who made his debut with Ishq Vishq in 2003, recently completed 20 years in Indian cinema.

It has been 20 years since Shahid Kapoor entered the film industry with Ishq Vishq in 2003. In the pursuit of excellence, Shahid Kapoor has shed his boy-next-door image and is delving into uncharted territories to explore his potential. Collaborating with renowned filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar for his upcoming project, Bloody Daddy, Shahid is set to redefine his on-screen persona once again. The film, produced by Jio Cinema, promises to showcase Shahid Kapoor’s exceptional acting prowess in a role that will undoubtedly leave audiences spellbound.

With each project, Shahid Kapoor continues to challenge himself, opting for unconventional narratives and characters that push him beyond his comfort zone. Highlighting the same, Shahid Kapoor during a conversation with Pinkvilla shared the best advice on acting he received from his father, the veteran actor-director Pankaj Kapur. Recalling his dad’s insightful words, Shahid Kapoor described how Pankaj Kapur had instilled in him the belief that his true potential as an actor would eventually unleash the star within.

“You know, my father said: ‘You are now doing these ‘hero’ roles with beautiful heroines, you are cute and charming – like the boy-next-door. And it is bringing you popularity. But, there is an actor inside you. And when you give a good performance or even a good scene someday, you will feel like the lion who tasted blood for the first time. After that, you won’t be satisfied with anything lesser,’” Shahid Kapoor said.

Further, the actor expressed his perspective on stardom and the path that has led him to where he stands today in his career. He emphasised that while external popularity and admiration from others may be gratifying, true fulfilment comes from internal happiness, growth, and evolution as an artist. For Shahid Kapoor, the journey of creatively engaging, constantly growing, and improving is the essence of becoming a true professional and eventually leaving a legendary mark.

He further revealed why he now picks great characters, impactful movies, and memorable scenes to perform. “That is the more enriching, more long-lasting, and more respectable journey. And that is just what I always choose. I will always chase great characters, great movies, great scenes, great moments that touched me, and visuals that I can’t forget 20 years later because they were just so brilliant regardless of where the technology is,” he said adding that is what true cinema means for him.

Shahid Kapoor and his father Pankaj Kapur, both have had the opportunity to share the screen in a few notable films. The two appeared in films like Mausam and Shaandaar. Meanwhile, Shahid was last seen with Raashii Khanna in Farzi, a project created by Raj and DK.

Chirag Sehgal

Chirag Sehgal, Sub Editor at News18, covers Bollywood, television and K-pop group BTS. Apart from digging deep into the world of television and Bollyw…Read More

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May 26, 2023

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Shahid Kapoor will next be seen in

WGA Rallies With L.A. Unions: ‘It’s Going to Be a Hot Labor Summer’

Los Angeles unions rallied on Friday evening in a show of support for the Writers Guild of America, which has been on strike for the last four weeks.

The unions — representing hotel workers, teachers and state employees — shared the stage across from Crypto.com Arena in downtown L.A. with representatives from the Hollywood guilds.

“It’s going to be a hot labor summer,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, executive director of SAG-AFTRA. “Your fight is our fight. Our fight is your fight. We are all in this together.”

SAG-AFTRA has called a strike authorization vote as it looks to gain leverage for its negotiations, which begin on June 7. The SAG-AFTRA contract expires on June 30.

Many actors and performers have also joined the writers in a show of support on the picket lines.

Meredith Stiehm, the president of WGA West, said the solidarity has “really buoyed us.”

“It could be a long summer,” she said in an interview. “People’s morale has been great. They’ve been out there and making it fun and funny and having good spirits about it. But it’s pretty serious business.”

The WGA strike began on May 2, a day after talks collapsed with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The AMPTP is currently negotiating with the Directors Guild of America, which was not represented on stage at the rally.

Stiehm said there is no telling how long the strike could last.

“We’ll wait for the AMPTP to come talk to us,” she said. “We’re open every day. We’re available if the AMPTP wants to talk again. In the meantime, we’re striking. We’re demonstrating.”

Linsday Dougherty, the secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 399, was also on hand. Dougherty has become a star of the strike for her blunt rhetorical style. Addressing the crowd, she referred to the AMPTP as “the evil empire.”

“When we fight together, we win together,” she said. “For all the bad employers out there… If you want to fuck around, you’re gonna find out.”

Liz Shuler, the national president of the AFL-CIO, was also on stage, along with Yvonne Wheeler, the president of the L.A. County Federation of Labor, and Rusty Hicks, the chair of the California Democratic Party.

After the rally, the group of hundreds of union members marched a block up Figueroa Street.

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May 26, 2023

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Los Angeles unions rallied on Friday evening

MCU

Ant-Man 3’s Disney+ Viewership Ranking Revealed Following Streaming Debut

New data was recently revealed that showed just how successful Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania was in its first weekend streaming on Disney+.

The latest MCU threequel hit Disney+ on May 17 after a lengthy run in theaters. The film, which debuted on the big screen on February 17, had the longest time gap between its theatrical release date and its streaming date of any MCU flick.

When Quantumania first came out, it was met with fairly harsh criticism from both fans and critics alike. However, now that it is on the Disney+ streaming service, fans will be able to see how it truly compares to other projects.

Ant-Man 3 Tops Streaming Charts

Marvel

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is at the top of the latest streaming charts following its Disney+ debut on May 17.

Whip Media’s streaming report, which was shared via The Wrap, stated that Quantumania was the most-viewed film on any streaming service during the weekend of Friday, May 19 through Sunday, May 21.

The Whip Media report uses the TV Time app to rank every single movie on any streaming service based on how many views it received in the United States.

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania ranked number one on the most-viewed list not just for Disney+ films, but for every streamer’s movies, beating out titles such as the Paramount+ fantasy film, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, as well as Jennifer Lopez’ Netflix film titled The Mother.

Here is the full list of the top 10 most-streamed films between May 19-21:

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (Disney+)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Paramount+)
The Mother (Netflix)
Air (Prime Video)
White Men Can’t Jump (Hulu)
A Man Called Otto (Netflix)
Scream VI (Paramount+)
Ghosted (Apple TV+)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney+)
Missing (Netflix)

The streaming report also revealed that the May 19-21 weekend was the most successful weekend that Disney+ had in months, which ultimately helps the Disney brand, especially since it was announced that the platform recently lost 4 million subscribers.

The past weekend was the first time that House of Mouse’s streaming service topped the viewership charts since Black Panther: Wakanda Forever debuted on the platform on February 1.

However, Wakanda Forever has consistently held a spot in the top 10 films since it was put on the platform.

It is important to note, though, that other Disney+ films outside of the MCU saw some success in the rankings in recent weeks.

For example, Peter Pan & Wendy debuted in the number two most-viewed spot on the list when it was released straight to the streaming platform.

As far as other streaming services go, Paramount+ was able to boast successful numbers on the May 19-21 weekend. It had two films crack the top 10 list with one of its films (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) even landing in the number two spot.

Dungeons & Dragons seeing so much streaming success is a good sign for the studio due to the film only accruing $205 million at the global box office during its theatrical run.

If it continues to perform well, it will likely give Paramount’s live-action Dungeons & Dragons series a bit of a momentum boost.

Jennifer Lopez’ The Mother was atop the chart for the previous weekend, followed by Ben Affleck’s Air at number two.

Both films did take a bit of a hit due to the streaming debuts of Ant-Man 3 and Dungeons & Dragons, but are still in the third and fourth places, respectively.

Hulu’s remake of the 1992 cult classic White Men Can’t Jump which stars Jack Harlow and Sinqua Walls wasn’t received that well by neither critics nor fans, but it was still able to crack the top 10 most-streamed list of the weekend.

However, seeing as how it is not living up to the original film, it will likely not be able to maintain its spot on the mountain for long.

Marvel Still Reigns Supreme

Even though Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania wasn’t the biggest hit with a lot of fans, Marvel Studios still has the firepower to be one of the most popular entertainment giants in the world with any given release.

Now that streaming is such a big deal and most films are available to watch on a streaming service in less than three months after their theatrical debuts, a lot of casual moviegoers wait to see a new release in their own homes.

Going to the theater is quite expensive for a great number of people, especially considering that most MCU movies are likely watched by an entire family.

That coupled with the fact that Quantumania received mostly mediocre or negative reviews only reinforces the theory that unless a family prioritizes the MCU, they likely wanted to wait until it hit Disney+ to give it a shot.

One aspect of the streaming list that is extremely impressive is how long Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has managed to stay in the top 10.

That film hit Disney+ all the way back in early February and fans are still watching it so much that it is beating out hundreds of other movies on all different platforms.

Overall, Marvel Studios and Disney have to be impressed by Wakanda Forever‘s performance, and both companies also have the right to be a bit proud that Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has the demand it currently does among fans.

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is available to stream on Disney+.

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May 26, 2023

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DCU

Nightwing & Batman: One Bad Day Lead DC’s Eisner Awards Nominations

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The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, also known as the Eisner Awards, are considered the most prestigious comic book awards of them all, and are referred to by many as the comic industry’s equivalent of the Academy Awards. So it’s a big deal when a book or series nabs a nomination, and this year, DC managed to pick up several.

Just like last year, Nightwing is once again among the top nominations this year for DC Comics. Alongside Nightwing are books like Batman: One Bad Day, The Human Target, and The Nice House On The Lake.

Voting will take place through June 9th. All industry professionals and those who have voted in previous years are automatically eligible to vote this year, but anyone who would like can register to vote by filling out this form by June 2nd. The winners will be announced July 21st at the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con.

You can check out the full list of Eisner Award nominees below!

Best Short Story

“The Beekeeper’s Due,” by Jimmy Stamp and Débora Santos, in Scott Snyder Presents: Tales from the Cloakroom (Cloakroom Comics)

**“Finding Batman” by Kevin Conroy and J. Bone in DC Pride 2022 (DC)**

“Good Morning,” by Christopher Cantwell and Alex Lins, in Moon Knight: Black, White & Blood #4 (Marvel)

“Silent All These Years,” by Margaret Atwood and David Mack, in Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes (Z2)

“You Get It,” by Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto, in Amazing Fantasy #1000 (Marvel)

Best Single Issue/One-Shot

Batman: One Bad Day: The Riddler, by Tom King and Mitch Gerads (DC)

Mary Jane & Black Cat Beyond, by Jed Mackay and C. F. Villa (Marvel)

Moon Knight: Black, White, and Blood #3, edited by Tom Brevoort (Marvel)

Star Trek #400, edited by Heather Antos (IDW)

A Vicious Circle Book 1, by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo (BOOM! Studios)

Best Continuing Series

Daredevil, by Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checchetto and Rafael de Latorre (Marvel)

The Department of Truth, by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds (Image)

Killadelphia, by Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander (Image)

The Nice House on the Lake, by James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez Bueno (DC)

Nightwing, by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo (DC)

She-Hulk, by Rainbow Rowell, Rogê Antônio, Luca Maresca, and Takeshi Miyazawa (Marvel)

Best Limited Series

Animal Castle, by Xavier Dorison and Felix Delep (Ablaze)

Batman: One Bad Day, edited by Dave Wielgosz and Jessica Berbey (DC)

The Human Target, by Tom King and Greg Smallwood (DC)

Miracleman by Gaiman & Buckingham: The Silver Age, by Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham (Marvel)

Superman: Space Age, by Mark Russell, Michael Allred, and Laura Allred (DC)

Best New Series

The Atonement Bell, by Jim Ousley and Tyler B. Ruff (Red 5)

Love Everlasting, by Tom King and Elsa Charretier (Image)

Public Domain, by Chip Zdarsky (Image)

Star Trek, by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Ramon Rosanas (IDW)

Traveling to Mars, by Mark Russell and Roberto Meli (Ablaze)

Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 8)

Beneath The Trees: A Fine Summer, by Dav (Magnetic Press)

Fox + Chick: Up and Down: and Other Stories, by Sergio Ruzzier (Chronicle Books)

Grumpy Monkey Who Threw That? by Suzanne Lang and Max Lang (Random House Studio)

Hey, Bruce!: An Interactive Book, by Ryan Higgins (Disney/Hyperion)

The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! by Mo Willems (Union Square Kids)

Best Publication for Kids (ages 9-12)

Adventuregame Comics: Leviathan, by Jason Shiga (Amulet/Abrams)

Frizzy, by Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra (First Second/Macmillan)

Isla To Island, by Alexis Castellanos (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)

Little Monarchs, by Jonathan Case (Margaret Ferguson Books/Holiday House)

Swim Team, by Johnnie Christmas (HarperAlley)

Best Publication for Teens (ages 13-17)

Chef’s Kiss, by Jarrett Melendez and Danica Brine (Oni)

Clementine Book One, by Tillie Walden (Image Skybound)

Do A Powerbomb! by Daniel Warren Johnson (Image)

Heartstopper Volume 4, by Alice Oseman (Scholastic Graphix)

Wash Day Diaries, by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith (Chronicle Books)

Best Humor Publication

Cryptid Club, by Sarah Andersen (Andrews McMeel)

I Hate This Place, by Kyle Starks and Artyom Topilin (Image Skybound)

Killer Queens, by David Booher and Claudia Balboni (Dark Horse)

Mr. Lovenstein Presents: Failure, by J. L. Westover (Image Skybound)

Revenge of the Librarians, by Tom Gauld (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Anthology

Creepshow, edited by Alex Antone and Jon Moisan (Image Skybound)

The Illustrated Al: The Songs of “Weird Al” Yankovic, edited by Josh Bernstein (Z2)

The Nib Magazine, edited by Matt Bors (Nib)

Sensory: Life on the Spectrum, edited by Bex Ollerton (Andrews McMeel)

Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes, The Graphic Album, edited by Rantz Hoseley (Z2)

Best Reality-Based Work

Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense, by Noël Simsolo and Dominique Hé, translation by Montana Kane (NBM)

Alice Guy: First Lady of Film, by José-Louis Bocquet and Catel Muller, translation by Edward Gauvin (SelfMadeHero)

But I Live: Three Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust, edited by Charlotte Schallié (University of Toronto Press)

Flung Out of Space, by Grace Ellis and Hannah Templer (Abrams ComicArts)

Invisible Wounds: Graphic Journalism, by Jess Ruliffson (Fantagraphics)

Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Ball, by Jon Chad (First Second/Macmillan)

Best Graphic Memoir

Down to the Bone: A Leukemia Story, by Catherine Pioli, translated by J. T. Mahany (Graphic Mundi/Penn State University Press)

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands, by Kate Beaton (Drawn & Quarterly)

It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth: An Auto-Bio-Graphic-Novel, by Zoe Thorogood (Image)

So Much for Love: How I Survived a Toxic Relationship, by Sophie Lambda, translation by Montana Kane (First Second/Macmillan)

Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure, by Lewis Hancox (Scholastic Graphix)

Best Graphic Album—New

The Book of Niall, by Barry Jones (Ellie & Beatty)

Crushing, by Sophie Burrows (Algonquin Young Readers)

Francis Rothbart! The Tale of a Fastidious Feral, by Thomas Woodruff (Fantagraphics)

The Night Eaters, Book 1: She Eats the Night, by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (Abrams ComicArts)

Ultrasound, by Conor Stechschulte (Fantagraphics)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint

Days of Sand, by Aimée de Jongh, translation by Christopher Bradley (SelfMadeHero)

Geneviève Castrée: Complete Works, by Geneviève Castrée, translation by Phil Elverum and Aleshia Jensen (Drawn & Quarterly)

Mazebook Dark Horse Direct Edition, by Jeff Lemire (Dark Horse)

One Beautiful Spring Day, by Jim Woodring (Fantagraphics)

Parker: The Martini Edition—Last Call, by Richard Stark, Darwyn Cooke, Ed Brubaker, and Sean Phillips (IDW)

Super Spy Deluxe Edition, by Matt Kindt (Dark Horse)

Best Adaptation from Another Medium

Chivalry by Neil Gaiman, adapted by Colleen Doran (Dark Horse)

Rain by Joe Hill, adapted by David M. Booher and Zoe Thorogood (Syzygy/Image)

Ten Days in a Madhouse, by Nellie Bly, adapted by Brad Ricca and Courtney Sieh (Gallery 13/Simon $ Schuster)

Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes, The Graphic Album, edited by Rantz Hoseley (Z2)

A Visit to Moscow by Rabbi Rafael Grossman, adapted by Anna Olswanger and Yevgenia Nayberg (Turner)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material

Always Never, by Jordi Lafebre, translation by Montana Kane (Dark Horse)

Blacksad: They All Fall Down Part 1, by Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido, translation by Diana Schutz and Brandon Kander (Dark Horse)

Down to the Bone: A Leukemia Story, by Catherine Pioli, translation by J. T. Mahany (Graphic Mundi/Penn State University Press)

The Pass, by Espé, translation by J.T. Mahany (Graphic Mundi/Penn State University Press)

Tiki: A Very Ruff Year, by David Azencot and Fred Leclerc, translation by Nanette McGuinness (Life Drawn/Humanoids)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia

Black Paradox, by Junji Ito, translation by Jocelyne Allen (VIZ Media)

The Hellbound vols. 1-2, by Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok, translation by Danny Lim (Dark Horse)

Look Back, by Tatsuki Fujimoto, translation by Amanda Haley (VIZ Media)

PTSD Radio vol. 1, by Masaaki Nakayama, translation by Adam Hirsch (Kodansha)

Shuna’s Journey, by Hayao Miyazaki; translation by Alex Dudok de Wit (First Second/Macmillan)

Talk to My Back, by Yamada Murasaki, translation by Ryan Holmberg (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips (at least 20 years old)

Bungleton Green and the Mystic Commandos, by Jay Jackson (New York Review Comics)

Come Over Come Over, It’s So Magic, and My Perfect Life, by Lynda Barry, edited by Peggy Burns (Drawn & Quarterly)

The George Herriman Library: Krazy & Ignatz 1922-1924, by George Herriman, edited by J. Michael Catron (Fantagraphics)

Macanudo: Welcome to Elsewhere, by Liniers, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)

Pogo The Complete Syndicated Comic Strips: Volume 8: Hijinks from the Horn of Plenty, by Walt Kelly, edited by Mark Evanier and Eric Reynolds (Fantagraphics)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books (at least 20 Years Old)

The Deluxe Gimenez: The Fourth Power & The Starr Conspiracy, by Juan Gimenez, edited by Alex Donoghue and Bruno Lecigne (Humanoids)

The Fantastic Worlds of Frank Frazetta, edited by Dian Hansen (TASCHEN)

Home to Stay! The Complete Ray Bradbury EC Stories, by Ray Bradbury and various; edited by J. Michael Catron (Fantagraphics)

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Ominous Omnibus 1 (Abrams ComicArts)

Walt Disney’s Uncle Scrooge: The Diamond Jubilee Collection, by Carl Barks; edited by David Gerstein (Fantagraphics)

Best Writer

Grace Ellis, Flung Out of Space (Abrams ComicArts)

**Tom King, Batman: Killing Time, Batman: One Bad Day, Gotham City: Year One, The Human Target, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (DC)**; Love Everlasting (Image)

**Mark Russell, Traveling to Mars (Ablaze), One-Star Squadron, Superman: Space Age (DC); The Incal: Psychoverse (Humanoids)**

James Tynion IV, House of Slaughter, Something Is Killing the Children, Wynd (BOOM! Studios); The Nice House on the Lake, The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country (DC), The Closet, The Department of Truth (Image)

Chip Zdarsky, Stillwater (Image Skybound); Daredevil (Marvel)

Best Writer/Artist

Sarah Andersen, Cryptid Club (Andrews McMeel)

Kate Beaton, Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands (Drawn & Quarterly)

Espé, The Pass (Graphic Mundi/Penn State University)

Junji Ito, Black Paradox, The Liminal Zone (VIZ Media)

Zoe Thorogood, It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth (Image)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

Jason Shawn Alexander, Killadelphia, Nita Hawes’ Nightmare Blog (Image)

**Alvaro Martínez Bueno, The Nice House on the Lake (DC)**

Sean Phillips, Follow Me Down, The Ghost in You (Image)

**Bruno Redondo, Nightwing (DC)**

**Greg Smallwood, The Human Target (DC)**

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

Lee Bermejo, A Vicious Circle (BOOM! Studios)

Felix Delep, Animal Castle (Ablaze)

Daria Schmitt, The Monstrous Dreams of Mr. Providence (Europe Comics)

Sana Takeda, The Night Eaters: She Eats the Night (Abrams ComicArts); Monstress (Image)

Zoe Thorogood, Rain (Syzygy/Image)

Thomas Woodruff, Francis Rothbart! The Tale of a Fastidious Feral (Fantagraphics)

Best Cover Artist (for multiple covers)

Jen Bartel, She-Hulk (Marvel)

**Bruno Redondo, Nightwing (DC)**

Alex Ross, Astro City: That Was Then . . . (Image); Fantastic Four, Black Panther (Marvel)

Sana Takeda, Monstress (Image)

Zoe Thorogood, Joe Hill’s Rain (Syzygy/Image)

Best Coloring

**Jordie Bellaire, The Nice House on the Lake, Suicide Squad: Blaze (DC); Antman, Miracleman by Gaiman & Buckingham: The Silver Age (Marvel)**

Jean-Francois Beaulieu, I Hate Fairyland 2022, Twig (Image)

Dave McCaig, The Incal: Psychoverse (Humanoids)

Jacob Phillips, Follow Me Down, The Ghost in You, That Texas Blood (Image)

Alex Ross and Josh Johnson, The Fantastic Four: Full Circle (Abrams ComicArts)

Diana Sousa, Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins; The Mighty Nein Origins: Yasha Nydoorin; The Mighty Nein Origins: Fjord Stone; The Mighty Nein Origins: Caleb Widogast (Dark Horse)

Best Lettering

**Pat Brosseau, Batman: The Knight, Wonder Woman: The Villainy of Our Fears (DC): Creepshow, Dark Ride, I Hate This Place, Skybound Presents: Afterschool (Image Skybound)**

Chris Dickey, The Night Eaters: She Eats the Night (Abrams ComicArts)

**Todd Klein, Chivalry (Dark Horse); Fables (DC); Miracleman by Gaiman & Buckingham: The Silver Age (Marvel)**

Nate Piekos, Black Hammer Reborn, Minor Threats, Shaolin Cowboy, Stranger Things: Kamchatka (Dark Horse), I Hate Fairyland, Twig (Image)

Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo (IDW)

Thomas Woodruff, Francis Rothbart! The Tale of a Fastidious Feral (Fantagraphics)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism

Alter Ego, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows)

Comic Book Creator, edited by Jon B. Cooke (TwoMorrows)

The Comics Journal #308, edited by Gary Groth, Kristy Valenti, and Rachel Miller (Fantagraphics)

PanelXPanel magazine, edited by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou and Tiffany Babb (panelxpanel.com)

Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, ICv2, Publishers Weekly

Best Comics-Related Book

The Art of the News: Comics Journalism, edited by Katherine Kelp-Stebbins and Ben Saunders (Oregon State University Press)

Charles M. Schulz: The Art and Life of the Peanuts Creator in 100 Objects, by Benjamin L. Clark and Nat Gertler (Schulz Museum)

The Charlton Companion, by Jon B. Cooke (TwoMorrows)

Gladys Parker: A Life in Comics, A Passion for Fashion, by Trina Robbins (Hermes Press)

Resurrection: Comics in Post-Soviet Russia, by José Alaniz (Ohio State University Press)

Best Academic/Scholarly Work

Bandits, Misfits, and Superheroes: Whiteness and Its Borderlands in American Comics and Graphic Novels, by Josef Benson and Doug Singsen (University Press of Mississippi)

Graphic Medicine, edited by Erin La Cour and Anna Poletti (University of Hawai’i’ Press)

How Comics Travel: Publication, Translation, Radical Literacies, by Katherine Kelp-Stebbins (Ohio State University Press)

The LGBTQ+ Comics Studies Reader: Critical Openings, Future Directions, edited by Alison Halsall and Jonathan Warren (University Press of Mississippi)

Teaching with Comics and Graphic Novels. By Tim Smyth (Routledge)

Best Publication Design

Francis Rothbart! The Tale of a Fastidious Feral, designed by Thomas Woodruff, Jacob Covey, and Ryan Dinnick (Fantagraphics)

A Frog in the Fall (and later on), designed by Linnea Sterte, Olle Forsslöf, and Patrick Crotty (PEOW)

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 40X40: Bad Reputation/I Love Rock-n-Roll, designed by Josh Bernstein and Jason Ullmeyer (Z2)

Mazebook Dark Horse Direct Edition, designed by Tom Muller (Dark Horse)

Parker: The Martini Edition—Last Call, designed by Sean Phillips (IDW)

Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes, The Graphic Album, designed by Lauryn Ipsum (Z2)

Best Webcomic

Deeply Dave, by Grover, http://www.deeplydave.com/

Delilah Dirk: Practical Defence Against Piracy, by Tony Cliff, https://www.delilahdirk.com/dd4/dd4-p46.html

Lore Olympus, by Rachel Smythe (WEBTOON), https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/lore-olympus/list?title_no=1320&page=5

The Mannamong, by Michael Adam Lengyel, https://mannamong.com/episode-1/

Spores, by Joshua Barkman, https://falseknees.com/22ink1.html

Best Digital Comic

All Princesses Die Before Dawn, by Quentin Zuttion, translation by M. B. Valente (Europe Comics)

Barnstormers, by Scott Snyder and Tula Lotay (Comixology Originals)

Behind the Curtain, by Sara del Giudice, translation by M. B. Valente (Europe Comics)

Ripple Effects, by Jordan Hart, Bruno Chiroleu, Justin Harder, and Shane Kadlecik (Fanbase Press)

Sixty Years in Winter, by Ingrid Chabbert and Aimée de Jongh, translation by Matt Madden (Europe Comics)

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May 26, 2023

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245 The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, also

Comics

Honkai: Star Rail – Where To Find All Trailblazer Eidolons

Honkai: Star Rail‘s Trailblazer isn’t just a throwaway character. Like the Traveler in Genshin Impact, the Trailblazer can counter multiple weaknesses because of their ability to control more than one element. Each element also empowers them to play completely different roles depending on the team. Unfortunately, the Trailblazer also has a unique way of unlocking Eidolons compared to other characters.

Eidolons are copies of characters that unlock additional abilities for each one you get. You get Eidolons for most Star Rail characters from pulling on banners. For example, if you already have Dan Heng but happen to pull him again from a banner, then that copy will give you an item that unlocks his first Eidolon (E1). You can unlock up to six Eidolons per character before Star Rail converts the additional characters into other currency to spend in its in-game shop.

The Trailblazer is different. You can’t pull the Trailblazer from banners, so their Eidolons come from various sources like stores. It’s even more complicated because the Trailblazer has more than one Path (the game’s equivalent of combat roles). The Trailblazer has twelve Eidolons right now (six for each available Path), but that number will grow in the coming updates.

That being said, it’s more difficult to find these Eidolons that pulling on a banner. Here’s where to find all of the Trailblazer’s current Eidolons.

Shadows of Destruction

Shadows of Destruction unlock Eidolons for the Physical Trailblazer, a Destruction character that wields the Physical element. This is the first version of the Trailblazer that you encounter in the game’s prologue. Destruction characters are known for all-rounder abilities that range from self-healing to flexibility between single and multi-target attacks.

You can preview Trailblaze Level rewards from the Parlor Car in the Astral Express.

Here’s where to find all of the Shadows of Destruction:

Herta Space Station Prologue
Jarilo VI – Main Story Reward
Trailblaze Level 19 Reward
Trailblaze Level 30 Reward
Internal Purchase Officer on Space Station
Underground Shop on Jarilo VI

You get most of the Shadows of Destruction from completing the story and raising your Trailblaze Level. The first two on this list come from completing two story quests. Another two come from reaching a certain Trailblaze Level, which you need to do anyway to move on in the story. Lastly, the final two come from two shops marked on the first two “planets” in Honkai: Star Rail.

You can read Eidolon abilities for any character under the Relics section in their profile.

These are all the Physical Trailblazer Eidolon abilities:

E1: A Falling Star – When enemies are defeated due to the Trailblazer’s Ultimate, the Trailblazer regenerates 10 extra Energy. This effect can only be triggered once per attack.
E2: An Unwilling Host – Attacking enemies with Physical Weakness restores the Trailblazer’s HP equal to 5 percent of the Trailblazer’s ATK.
E3: A Leading Whisper – Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15 and Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.
E4: A Destructing Glance -When attacking an enemy with Weakness Break, CRIT Rate is increased by 25 percent.
E5: A Surviving Hope – Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15 and basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.
E6: A Trailblazing Will – The Trailblazer’s Talent is also triggered when they defeat an enemy.

Shadows of Preservation

Shadows of Preservation are for the Fire Trailblazer, another version of the protagonist that you get after reaching a certain point in the Honkai: Star Rail story. This Trailblazer plays more of a defensive role than their Physical counterpart. Their abilities include reducing damage, shielding allies, and taunting enemies.

Here’s where to find all of the Shadows of Preservation:

Xianzhou Luofu – Main Story Reward
4x Jeweler’s Pagoda on Xianzhou Luofu

At this time of writing, only five out of six Shadows of Preservation are available right now. One is reward for completing the Xianzhou Luofu story arc up to the “Humming Antlers, Entwined Horns” Mission. You can buy the rest from the Jeweler’s Pagoda, a shop located in the Central Starskiff Haven of the Luofu.

Strales, the currency onboard the Xianzhou Luofu, come from exploring the planet-like ship and completing missions in the region. You need at least 1000 Strales to get all four Eidolons from the Jeweler’s Pagoda.

These are all the Fire Trailblazer Eidolon abilities:

E1: Earth-Shaking Resonance – When the Trailblazer uses their Basic ATK, deal additional Fire DMG equal to 25 percent of the Trailblazer’s DEF. When the Trailblazer uses their enhanced Basic ATK, they deal additional Fire DMG equal to 50 percent of the Trailblazer’s DEF.
E2: Time-Defying Tenacity – The Shield applied to all allies from the Trailblazer’s Talent will block additional DMG equal to 2 percent of the Trailblazer’s DEF plus 27.
E3: Trail-Blazing Blueprint – Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15 and Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.
E4: Nation-Building Oath – Immediately gains 4 stack(s) of Magma Will at the beginning of the battle.
E5: Spirit-Warming Flame – Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15 and basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.
E6: City-Forging Bulwarks – After using an enhanced Basic ATK or Ultimate, the Trailblazer’s DEF increases by 10 percent. Stacks up to 3 times.

The Xianzhou Luofu story arc hasn’t finished yet, so the last Shadow of Preservation could be a reward for completing quests related to it in future updates.

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors.
GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

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May 26, 2023

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Festivals

How To Have Sex wins top Un Certain Regard Prize – Deadline

UK director Molly Manning Walker’s first film How To Have Sex won the top prize in Cannes Un Certain Regard on Friday evening.

The tale of a group of teenagers on a rite of passage clubbing holiday was described by Deadline reviewer Damon Wise as “a visceral and sensory experience” and an “exceptional debut”. Read the review here and a Deadline interview with the director here.

The Jury Prize went to Moroccan filmmaker Kamal Lazraq’s Hounds about a father and son who find themselves caught up in a kidnapping plot that goes wrong.

Best Director went to Moroccan director Asmae El Moudir’s documentary The Mother Of All Lies about the bread riots that shook a working-class Casablanca neighborhood in 1981.

She follows in the footsteps of Alain Guiraudie, Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Sergei Loznitsa who also won the prize early in their careers.

In other awards, the Ensemble Prize went to the cast of Brazilian rainforest drama The Buriti Flower by Joao Salaviza and Renée Nader Messoera; the New Voice Award was clinched by Belgian rapper and MC Baloji for Omen.

The Freedom Prize went to Sudanese drama Goodbye Julia! by Mohamed Kordofani. Read Deadline’s interview with the director here.

Launched in 1978 by former Cannes delegate general Gilles Jacob, Un Certain Regard showcases 20 films by emerging filmmakers as well as more established directors pushing cinematic and geographical boundaries.

Eight of this year’s entries are first-time films making them also eligible for the Caméra d’Or for best debut feature, which will be announced tomorrow alongside the prizes for the main Competition including the Palme d’Or.

John C. Reilly presided over this year’s Un Certain Regard jury, joined by French director and screenwriter Alice Winocour, German actress Paula Beer, French-Cambodian director and producer Davy Chou and Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne.

The ceremony took an unexpected turn after Walker turned up late and Reilly decided to serenade the audience while they waited for her arrival. Walker sprinted into the hall a few minutes later.

The Un Certain Regard closes with the world premiere of Alex Lutz’s Strangers By Night, which screens Out of Competition after the UCR awards ceremony.

The Closing Ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 27, at 8:30 pm CET and will be followed by Peter Sohn’s Elemental as the official “last screening” of the festival.

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May 26, 2023

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UK director Molly Manning Walker’s first film

Film

Films of Bert I. Gordon – Necromancy (1972)

Necromancy
Release date: September 22, 1972

Cast:
Orson Welles as Mr. Cato
Pamela Franklin as Lori Brandon
Lee Purcell as Priscilla
Michael Ontkean as Frank Brandon
Harvey Jason as Dr. Jay

Written by Gail March & Bert I. Gordon
Directed by Bert I. Gordon

Life to the dead and death to the living.

Plot:
Mr. Cato is the head of a witches coven seeking the power of necromancy to bring his son back from the dead.

Richard’s Thoughts:
I had never heard of this one before doing some research on Mr. B.I.G. and Orson Welles in a lead role immediately stirred my interests. Unfortunately, his role is far too small as he is one of the more interesting elements of the story. The story tends to meander around without any solid direction and Lori’s character tends to be a little annoying at times. There are elements of a good story, if not unoriginal (Rosemary’s Baby anyone?), but the end result is simply confusing at times with lots of plot holes that are never really addressed. I might watch this again but I’m not expecting it to make any more sense with repeated viewings.

Trivia:
Released in the early 80s as a soft-core film under the title of The Witching with additional nudity and a different ending.

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May 26, 2023

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NecromancyRelease date: September 22, 1972Cast:Orson Welles as

‘This Is Us’ Reunion Brings Together Mandy Moore, Chrissy Metz, Susan Kelechi Watson – Deadline

On the one-year anniversary of the “This Is Us” finale on NBC, some key cast members have reunited to remember the magic.

Mandy Moore, who played Rebecca Pearson on the show, shared an Instagram photo of the joyous reunification moment with Chrissy Metz and Susan Kelechi Watson.

“Reunited with my Pearson ladies and all is right in the world,” Moore said in the caption, adding, “#thisisstillus“

Metz, who played Kate Pearson, and Watson, who was Beth Pearson, also shared their excitement in the post’s comment section .

“It had been too long! So so so happy to see you Ladies! ❤️” Metz wrote. Watson added, “We won lunch for sure! My stomach and my heart are full ❤️‍?”

This Is Us costar Sterling K. Brown also chimed in, providing a string of emojis: “?❤️❤️❤️”

“This Is Us” wrapped on May 24, 2022, after six seasons.

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May 26, 2023

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On the one-year anniversary of the “This

Tariq & Brayden Meet Up - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10

What to Watch

Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10 Review: Divided We Stand

All I need in this life of sin…is me and MY BRAYDEN!

I imagine this is the new soundtrack of Tariq’s life because he OWES Brayden.

Rarely have we seen Tariq in such peril, where he was literally back against the open air but with no way out. But then again, Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10 was no ordinary finale.

Just when you thought things would go his way, the rug got swept out from under him, and the war was on.

Think about where we started with Power Book II: Ghost Season 1 to where we are now.

Tariq Comes Prepared - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10

Many of us weren’t even sure what to make of a series driven by Tariq, who’d spent season after season on the original Power delving further and further into villainy.

Why would we want to watch a series about Tariq? He’s just the WORST.

Well, that was incredibly poor thinking on our part because if we learned anything from Power, it’s that these writers and this universe can make anything compelling if you give them the time and space to work their magic.

And over the first three seasons, they’ve crafted a beautiful tale of a young man, failed by those who should have been protecting him, navigating the adult world with little support, a constant target on his back, and a brilliant mind to guide the way.

This finale was a stellar feat from beginning to end, as Tariq became a true lone wolf, and he was probably closer than ever to joining Ghost in that graveyard like so many people have suggested he would.

Tommy Wants Revenge - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 9

While the ending will surely be what sticks out the most, a lot led up to that meeting in the warehouse.

For starters, Tariq was on the hunt for Tasha after she went missing, and Tommy came back to clear the air with Tariq during a scene that felt very much like vintage Power.

It was nice for the series to show us the aftermath of Tasha knocking Tariq out, and while the Tommy and Tasha reconciliation felt a little rushed, it also felt true to their relationship and their history.

Tommy came all that way to kill Tasha, but no part of me thinks he wasn’t debating whether he could go through with it.

At one point in time, all Tommy had were the St. Patrick’s. They were his whole life and the family he had always wished for. Tasha betrayed him on a very personal level, and that pain was definitely driving alongside him in the Mustang.

Covering His Tracks - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 9

But what was killing Tasha going to do for him? It wasn’t going to bring LaKeisha back. It wasn’t going to help his life in Chicago. All it would do was hurt other people and create more enemies for himself.

Tommy and Tasha were always close, and that’s also why Tommy felt so hurt by Tasha. But their truce felt like the right thing for both of them.

Tasha didn’t want Tommy dead. That’s why she saved him. And while I don’t think we’ll ever see those two riding around the city, smoking blunts, and cracking jokes, they should be able to rest easier knowing they don’t have to look over their shoulder for the other anymore.

Tariq, always the Mama’s boy, was, of course, ready to do whatever he had to do to find Tommy, including a middle-of-the-day face-off in the streets, but Tommy used his time with Tariq to try to impart some wisdom as only Tommy Egan could.

Tommy has lived and breathed this life for as long as he can remember. And he’s survived by knowing how and when to make the right moves.

Tariq Outside - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 7

Tariq had no business going after Monet alone because it would only invite more problems.

Tommy knows better than anyone what it’s like to be a loner, but when he’s making a big move, even he knows that he’ll need backup because he can’t do everything alone.

Tariq had good reason to want to go after Monet, but it wasn’t the right time.

The most pressing issue for him was getting rid of those RICO charges, and he was tasked with getting it done because the two people capable of causing the most damage were his ex-girlfriends.

Like most men in the Power universe, Tariq has been incredibly unlucky in love.

Effie Gets A Visitor - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10

Effie broke his heart, and Lauren broke his spirit.

Tariq really let his walls down with Effie, and he even started talking about the future in a way that made him sound a lot like his father when he was in his Angela Valdes lovesick era. He saw something special in her and within their connection, but the second he felt betrayed by her, it was a wrap.

And with Lauren, he could never be his true self with her. She saw what he wanted her to see, and it’s why she’s been so conflicted with how to deal with everything because a pretty big part of her still wanted to believe the guy she fell for wasn’t the nightmare so many made him out to be.

But the truth about Tariq has always been a mixture of facts and perception.

Tariq is a murderer. Tariq is a drug dealer. Tariq has done terrible, unforgivable things. I also don’t believe that Tariq would ever hurt Lauren, and how he felt for her was real.

Incoming Message - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10

Getting Lauren to recant meant threatening something important to her, but Tariq should have known the minute he brought Cane into things that it wouldn’t go exactly how he planned.

Because Cane thrives on chaos and only follows his own agenda.

Lauren: Jenny and Blanca were right, weren’t they? The drugs, murders. It all comes back to you.
Tariq: No, listen. It wasn’t supposed to-
Lauren: Don’t. This is the last time you lie to me.

Lauren’s decision to recant was the right one, even if it hurt her heart to realize that there was no part of Tariq she could trust or love anymore.

Jenny Sullivan got another L, but she did it to herself, honestly. Like all the failed attempts before her, she got in over her head, and her obsession with “justice” went off the rails, and she became a person who would do anything to win.

She used Lauren, just like she used Saxe, and Lauren screwed her over, and Saxe ended up dead.

Tariq & Davis Check In - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10

Getting the RICO shutdown was a win, but damn if it didn’t set the plan to bring Tariq down steadily into motion.

Who would have thought Diana, of all people, would be the one to set Tariq up?

Diana’s sole character trait at one point was having a crush on Tariq. But she’s become a fully realized character over the years, gradually becoming herself and the woman she wants to be regardless of what those around her demand her to be.

She and Monet have been constantly at odds because Diana has refused to bend to Monet’s will at every turn, and her anger over Lorenzo’s death and Monet pushing herself into another position of power over the children really set her off.

And Dru, as well.

Comforting Shoulder - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10

There’s been a clear disconnect between the Tejada siblings all season, which has only intensified since Lorenzo’s death. Cane is only ever interested in what works for Cane, so while he wasn’t happy with his mother, he also wasn’t rallying the troops against her either.

He knew there was business to tend to, which was more important than family drama.

But Dru and Diana had enough. Monet set Lorenzo up to be murdered and then jumped through hoops to get her own son to kill his boyfriend.

She did the absolute most for her own self-interests and then swooped in to become their boss.

It was too much.

Sullen Dru - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 9

Now, Diana and Dru are indeed their mother’s children, though, because they knew just what to do to set her up and get Tariq on board with the plan because the only reason Tariq was in the headspace to make a move on Monet was that he believed she made a move against him first.

Leave it to Tasha to ruin a plan, but damn it, if she wasn’t tired of Monet, just like everyone else!

Now, the goal was to get Monet killed, right? Her perfectly timed apology seemed to throw Diana off the original plan, and Diana ended up being in the car longer than she was supposed to, but if Tasha hadn’t come through, and Tariq had killed Monet, then what?

Were Dru and Diana going to still pin her death on Tariq to Cane and everyone else, like they pinned her attempted murder on him?

Tariq was way too willing to step into Diana’s plan without thinking it through, but he was also running off his own emotions and the thought that this would be murder without consequences if her children were setting it up.

Battle Lines - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10

If only Tariq had someone to talk things through with, but he had nobody when Brayden decided to quit on him.

What have we been hearing since the beginning of time regarding the “business”? And yet, you can’t ever really get out.

Ghost tried for so long to go legit, but he was constantly pulled back into the fire, continually trying to straddle the two worlds and finding it impossible to commit to either fully.

You can either be in or out, but once you’re in, it’s nearly impossible to get all the way out.

I can understand why Brayden wanted out. He killed his uncle, for goodness sake. He saw himself become everything he never wanted to be, and it basically scared him straight.

Tariq At The Warehouse - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10

That high he got from rebelling was clearly no longer enough, and even though Tariq really is his family, that wasn’t enough to get him to keep going because once you kill your flesh and blood, the sky is the limit.

And isn’t that a scary thought?

But the thing about family and those bonds created between two people who have each other backs above all else is that it’s nearly impossible to break them.

How often did we see Ghost and Tommy completely at odds but still unable to entirely rid themselves of the other?

Tariq and Brayden have always been compared to Ghost and Tommy for obvious reasons, but for all their similarities to the original duo, they have a lot of things that set them apart.

Tariq Works - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10

Brayden wasn’t born into that life. He had a family. He had money. He had the world at his disposal, and yet he chose to risk his life and get into the business when it wasn’t all something he had to do.

Tariq and Brayden met when they were still kids, but they met at a prep school. They didn’t grow up in the streets and weren’t taken under the wing of a sociopathic master villain named Kanan Stark to learn the game.

They made a lot of choices for themselves, fully aware of what they were getting into, knowing the risks, and choosing to move forward, when there was no reason for them to do so.

But since they’ve met, there’s been a level of comfort between the two that has only strengthened over time, and if Tariq didn’t know it before, he sure as hell better know now that outside of Tasha and maybe Yas, there is only one person on the planet who will never leave him behind.

Tariq: I thought you was out, man?
Brayden: Nah, I couldn’t leave you hanging like that, are you fucking kidding me? What do we do now?
Tariq: Man, I don’t know. I think we just started a fucking war, though.

Tariq was dead. He had no final play. No magical rabbit he could pull out of his behind.

Chill Tariq - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 7

Cane was going to shoot him in the head, and nobody was stopping him if not for Brayden.

The way everyone crept forward to bury Tariq was so dramatic and cheesy, but it drove home the point that Tariq, the man with all the plans, hadn’t accounted for having the roles reversed and him being the one on the outside.

Brayden saved his ass in many ways, and while he’s lucky he made it out of there alive, he’s very much aware that the war is on. And it’s just him and Brayden versus everyone.

Maybe they need to keep driving to Chicago and shack up with Tommy for a minute until they figure out just how the hell they’re going to get themselves out of this predicament.

Even with the odds steadily stacked against him, yet again, and worse than ever, Tariq still gets my money.

Heavy Phone Calls - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 4

He and Brayden may be broke and have minimal resources and zero people to help them, but their connection is stronger than anyone on the other side. They can do this.

So, are Y’ALL ready for war?

Everything Else You Need To Know

Agent Young is Angela’s nephew? Why did I know that but also never fully put it all together until I saw Paz? I was slow on the uptick with this one.

What do you think is on that flash drive Saxe left for Junior? Saxe had years and years to gather all kinds of information, and the fact he left it for Junior is VERY interesting.

Sending A Message - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10

Run, Harper! I love Tate and his smarminess as much as the next person, but he’s not husband material, and he’s certainly never going to be the man Harper wants to believe he is. She’s lucky she overheard that conversation with Davis before she walked down the aisle.

Effie and Lauren’s talk was a long time coming. And if that’s the last we see of Lauren, at least she got to tell Effie about herself before she went on her way.

Of all the people turning on Tariq, Diana was somehow the most shocking because I didn’t know she had it in her. Also, that image of Diana and Effie looking at him right before he almost got clipped will no doubt haunt his dreams.

Obi was a real one for tipping Brayden off on what would happen. He did not have to do that, but once Noma slashed up his perfect skin, he was ready to stick it to her in a different way.

Noma versus Monet in season 4. I can feel it coming.

Monet Makes A Move - Power Book II: Ghost Season 3 Episode 10

Another thrilling season down, and it went by too damn fast.

We’ve got some time until we figure out where Tariq and Brayden drove off and how they will fight back, so let’s spend it reacting to the finale and making predictions about the future!

I’ll be back for the next chapter, but in the meantime, drop me a line in the comments with all your thoughts.

And remember, you can watch Power Book II: Ghost online via TV Fanatic.