First Look at Sam Heughan as Jaime Fraser in ‘Outlander’

Originally published on The Flickcast.  30 October 2013.

Attention fans of Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling book series! Here’s your first look at actor Sam Heughan playing the charming Scottish warrior Jaime Fraser in Starz’s adaptation of popular novels.

For those of you not versed in the Outlander series, Jaime woos the married Claire Randell (Caitriona Balfe), who has suddenly jumped back in time to 1743. She is originally from 1943 where she’s  a combat nurse.

Starz’s Outlander is an adaptation of Gabaldon’s best-selling book series of the same name (the first book is re-titled as Cross Stitch in the UK). Equal parts romance, historical, and fantasy, the series began with Outlander in 1991 and  continues with Written in My Own Heart’s Blood

The the first of Outlander‘s 16 episodes will air starting in 2014.

J.J. Abrams Unveils His Newest Project: A Book Entitled “S”

Originally published on PopWrapped.  30 October 2013.

J.J. Abrams is riding the geek wave to success. Not only is he the director of Star Trek and the creator ofLost, but he is helming arguably the most highly anticipated movie of 2014, Star Wars: Episode VII.

So when J.J. Abrams releases details on a new project, we expect it to be something in the geek/fantasy/adventure TV or feature film vein. But as it turns out S is a book. A literal hardback novel.

Back in August, a mysterious trailer was posted teasing project “S” and everyone (myself included) assumed it had something to do with one of the director/creator’s well-known projects. Now we’ve learned that S is a collaborative novel, written by Doug Dorst and conceived by Abrams.

The plot centers on two college students who are searching for answers about (fictional) author V.M. Straka. Using Straka’s book, Ship of Theseus, as a means of corresponding with one another, the two amateur detectives write notes, leave postcards and maps, and more about their quest within the book.

A novel certainly doesn’t seem like Abrams’ realm of expertise so I wonder, did steering the Enterprise and the Millennium Falcon push him over the edge? Not at all, he says. “‘S.’ was born out of an idea of a love story and the notion of celebrating the book as an object,” Abrams said in the New York Times. “In a digital age, it’s a distinctly analog object. It felt romantic to me.”

Described as looking and feeling like a literary artifact, according to the LA Times, S contains the described copy of Ship of Theseus. The worn novel has all of the attributes of an old library book and we, as the reader, follow along with that story as well as students, Eric and Jen’s, investigation into Straka. 

In short, S is a book that contains a book that is used as both the mode of storytelling for the reader (us) and the characters (Eric and Jen). Think Inception mixed with The Lake House and just a dash of The English Patient. See the book trailer here.

S was released on Tuesday, October 29, and is available to purchase through all major retailers.

TV RECAP: ‘Once Upon a Time’ – Ep. 305: ‘Good Form’

Originally published on The Flickcast.  28 October 2013.

So Oncers it’s time for our weekly journey in Neverland. But this time we get a little spice in our bland Once soup with the story of Killain Jones, a good sailor gone pirate. Just like everyone, his heart was broken with grief and guilt so he went to the Dark (and roguishly handsome) Side. But a certain Savior might be melting his cold, buccaneer heart after all, as evidence by that hot and way over publicized kiss. Oh also, Henry is still with the Lost Boys and Neal is, well…

Neal is in an even worse state than when we ended last week. He gets chucked into a wooden cage by the Lost Boys and is promptly forgotten for the rest of the episode.

Back in Camp Pan, a boy literally pokes Henry with a stick to make him fight back with a conveniently available wooden sword. Pan steps in to prompt Henry to believe he’s holding a real sword and TA-DA! It works! Then Henry gets carried away and cuts the Lost Boy’s cheek but don’t worry. The best thing about being a Lost Boy is you never have to apologize.

As Henry enjoys applause for his use of violence, his family is still in Neal’s cave looking for the key to his secret star map. Emma sees that Neal stopped counting his days on the island not because he left but because he lost hope. Even Hook gravelly-voiced reassurances don’t quell her concerns for Henry. She says it’s time they “take a page from Pan and start being clever.” Why wasn’t this Plan A?

Having seen Hook putting the moves on Emma with his sensitive side, Charming goes into protective dad mode and tells the scallywag to lay off. Emma will never like him because he’s a pirate.

Whoa, hold there Charming. Just-a-pirate Hook used to be a leftenant in the British navy who didn’t tolerate bad form on his ship. Rather, his Captain/brother’s ship. They and the crew are heading out under secret orders, a “mission of [their] dreams” that will bring glory to the Jones family.

Once Upon A Time In Wonderland Says “Forget Me Not” In This Week’s Episode

Originally published on PopWrapped.  25 October 2013.

Oh Wonders, we’re back again for another jaunt through Wonderland or in the case of this episode, Underland. Alice remains steadfast in her search for Cyrus just as Will remains the most entertaining part of this show. The writers apparently predicted this because tonight’s episode is all about our beloved Knave. We get some juicy info on his thieving past and the Anastasia who broke his heart (Spoilers: It’s not Disney’s Anastasia). We also get a well-publicized cameo from Once’s blonde Robin Hood.

This episode is a fun one especially since it focuses so much on Will and so little on Alice. Also, Jafar doesn’t look quite so ridiculous (although next week’s previews show an unfortunate change in hair style). So, let’s jump in to Once Upon a Time in Wonderland’s “Forget Me Not.”

“A few years ago,” as the title reads, a horse drawn carriage stops to help some screaming men in the roadway. A man is down with a broken leg and as they tend to him, someone else silently drops from the sky and snags the carriage’s loot. Later Robin Hood congratulates his Merry Men on a fine ruse and they welcome the man who snagged to the loot as their newest member: Will Scarlet aka The Knave of Hearts.

In present day Wonderland, Will thinks it’s safer for he and Alice to split up but she thinks they should stay together. Turns out she’s right because he has the idea to seek out the Forget-me-knot. This magical item when held over any area will show what last happened there. It would show them who dug up Cyrus’ bottle and give them something to do considering right now they’re just wandering around.

In Cyrus’ Cave of Woes, Jafar and the Red Queen are having a feast while the genie looks on. Jafar taunts him with Alice’s paper crane and utters the words Wonderland has been dancing around for two weeks now:  “Magic always comes with a price.” Tonight’s price will be forcing Alice to make her first wish.

Will and Alice arrive at the Caterpillars abode. He’s the one with the Forget-me-knot and a bounty on Will’s head. No biggie, the Knave assures Alice. This Underland is his world. Everything will be fine! Yeah. The pair have been in this Underland for barely a minute when they’re held at sword and dagger point. But the Caterpillar, not fancying his Knave skewered, bids them approach his smoking couch.

They try to work out a deal with Mr. Caterpillar, who slimily suggests Alice as the form of Will’s payment toward his debt. Anyone else having Jabba the Hutt with Han and Leia thoughts here? Anyway, Alice uses her smarts to deduce that the Caterpillar doesn’t have the Knot but he does know where it is: with the Grendel. The new deal is they retrieve the knot, bring it and Will’s debt is paid. Bonus for the Caterpillar is if Will tries to keep the magical item, his head gets to become the newest pretty decoration on the Caterpillar’s desk. Win-win-win.

BBC America Releases Three New Stills From An Adventure In Space And Time

Originally published on PopWrapped.  23 October 2013.

If you thought River Song was the biggest tease in all of space and time, think again. As we get closer to the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special, BBC America continues to work Whovians into an excited frenzy with snippets of information on their favorite Time Lord. The latest take are these three new pictures from the Doctor Who biopic, An Adventure in Space and Time.

Written by Doctor Who and Sherlock co-writer, Mark Gatiss, the drama reveals the origins of the longest running sci-fi series in history. See above in full make-up and costume, David Bradley, best known fromGame of Thrones and Harry Potter, portrays the First Doctor, William Hartnell.

Next we get a great look at the original Doctor Who set. Bradley is shown with Jemma Powell and Jaime Glover who portray the first companions to the Doctor. Powell plays Jacqueline Hill (companion Barbara Knight) and Glover plays William Russell (companion Ian Chesterson).

Lastly, we get a fascinating picture of the Doctor and his granddaughter, Susan cowering before a Dalek. Playing the First Doctor’s beloved granddaughter, Susan, is Claudia Grant.

Set to show in November as part of the pre-50th Anniversary line up, An Adventure in Space and Time will also be included on the Day of the Doctor blu-ray and DVD.

Meet The Girl In The Flower Dress On This Weeks Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Originally published on PopWrapped.  23 October 2013.

Greetings agents! Are you ready to check in with our favorite smorgasbord S.H.I.E.L.D. team and have your burning questions answered? Is Skye any less annoying? Did May finally cave and punch someone on her team? Can FitzSimmons get any more nerdy cute? Let’s find out!

A man performs street magic for a crowd in Hong Kong. They’re underwhelmed until he throws in some hands free pyrotechnics. When a woman in a flower dress approaches him afterward, asking for more, he creates fire in his palm. She’s in awe.

The woman, known as Raina, and Chan the magician go back to his place to talk about his hot body, er, fire powers. He’s a fan of the greats, like Houdini, but he discovered, “There’s no real magic there; just tricks.” He again demonstrates his power and tells Raina it just started happening a few years ago.  “You have a gift,” she whispers reverently.

She thinks he’s been chosen for something special and repeatedly tells him he has a gift. He agrees, so when she asks him to close his eyes, he does. Only instead of getting lucky, Chan gets nabbed by some guys in HAZMAT suits.

On board the Magic S.H.I.E.L.D. Bus, Skye and Ward play Battleship, supposedly to help the S.O. evaluate Skye’s thought processes. Ward is complimenting Skye for being a quick study at everything and she is astounded to hear the compliment. But she’s more delighted to be beating him at Battleship. Off a ways, Coulson and May also quietly compliment Skye. Boy I hope their trust in the newest team member isn’t called into question later this episode.

The two agents also discuss Coulson’s sleeping habits, or lack thereof. She offers to “lay out the mats” and “go a few rounds with him.” It sounds saucy but she means combat training (I’m mostly sure). They’re interrupted by an alert telling them Chan has been taken. A Hong Kong agent named Kwan fills them in and says they were hacked again…by Rising Tide. All eyes train on Skye. Huh, that was quick.

TV RECAP: ‘Once Upon a Time’ – Ep. 304: ‘Nasty Habits’

Originally published on The Flickcast.  22 October 2013.

Oh Oncers, we’re back again for some Neverland adventures and general stupidity by all adults present.

We start with the recently captured Bae being led through the forest by Felix. “You were a Lost Boy,” Felix says. Bae isn’t interested in reminiscing so Felix continues. “You may have grown up Baelfire but it appears you have grown up stupid.” Seriously, right? Bae proves us all wrong (for once) by slipping out of his hand ties and knocking out Felix.

Flashback to Papa Dark One and baby Bae who is definitely looking like teenage Bae. Daddy gives his son a nice little knife but Bae doesn’t want anything that his dad took from someone else as payment. He wants to leave their little house and play with some friends. Rumple counters that he could build them a castle but Bae doesn’t want that either. At a loss, Rumple says he’s just concerned that his enemies will hurt Bae if the boy leaves.

“I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you,” he says. Go a little crazy and use your magic to weave an elaborate plan to get him back probably.

In Neverland Rumple paints his face as Belle appears to him again. She quips that he always liked a mask. He tells her that he needs the mask to make himself the monster necessary to save Henry. When she reminds him that Henry will be his undoing, Rumple says he has nothing to live for anyway. “What about me?” she and all the Rumbellers reply. “You’re not real, just a vision.” Hmmm, fair point but still. Rumple accepts that when he and his True Love parted in Storybrooke it was forever and even if he came back she’d eventually leave him. Because she knows the real him, the ugly, monster him. So he has to redeem himself by sacrificing himself to save Henry.

Also looking to save Henry and taking a different, less successful route is Emma and Co. They’re getting ready to depart based on Tinker Bell’s info on Pan. Tink says they still have to deal with the Lost Boys. “I think we can handle a few children with pointy sticks,” says Regina. Heh.

Au contraire, Tink says. The Lost Boys did quite a number on Tamara and Owen. Which brings her to her next question. What is the exit strategy? Oh that’s easy enough: they don’t have one. Charming remembers that Hook got off the island before but the pirate confesses it was by making a deal with Pan. Only Neal has made it off the island on his own.

Rumple takes care of a couple of Lost Boys with a burst of magic. He picks up one of the poisoned spears and aims it at the intruder running toward him from the forest but stops short. It’s Bae.

Gaga Hits Back At Her Critics In A Series Of Tweets

Originally published on PopWrapped.  21 October 2013.
As is becoming the popular method nowadays, Lady Gaga took to Twitter to vent her feelings about her critics. The pop star reacted to both the comparisons between her and Madonna as well as her single “Applause” coming in under Katy Perry’s “Roar” on the charts.

“I write for the music not the charts,” Gaga tweeted to her over 40 millions followers in response her to “chart feud” with Perry. The two singers had taken to Twitter in August to quell feud rumors and tell everyone that they like and respect each other.

APPLAUSE didn't DEBUT AT #1! KATY IS BETTER THAN HER! #UWontUseMyMind I write for the music not the charts pic.twitter.com/KjOpFURWwl

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) October 20, 2013

About her comparison to Madonna, Gaga posted, “#WriteWhatUWant #SayWhatUWantBoutMe #ImNotSorry.” The picture with that tweet showed the “Like a Virgin” and “Born This Way” singers with similarly styled ponytails. No, really, that’s the basis for the comparison.

LADY GAGA IS A REDUCTIVE MADONNA COPY! SHE'S OVER NOW! #WriteWhatUWant #SayWhatUWantBoutMe #ImNotSorry pic.twitter.com/vuSRxwrpXS
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) October 20, 2013

Gaga also tweeted a clip of an interview where Madonna says she doesn’t feel like the pop singer is a rip-off. “She’s she and I’m me.”

MADONNA HATES GAGA SHES OVER http://t.co/zrxU9k3Ho2 i dont need anybodys permission to be remembered. I will be. Whether they like it or not
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) October 20, 2013

These were just a couple of the slew of posts Gaga sent out including ones that fought back against accusations that she is a hermaphrodite, using drugs or has gained a lot of weight. With each accusing photo, Gaga hashtagged #‪DoWhatUWantWithMyBody. Choosing to address these rumors now may simply be to create buzz around Gaga’s recently released Do What You Want single, but they are interestingly odd all the same.

LADY GAGA IS A HERMAPHRODITE! LOOK AT THIS PIC OF HER D*CK #DoWhatUWantWithMyBody pic.twitter.com/nOCYrRtJSb
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) October 20, 2013

LADY GAGA IS ON DRUGS! HER CAREER IS OVER! (been an addict for 10years) #WriteWhatUWant My recovery is a daily battle pic.twitter.com/EXHxuDcT1b
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) October 20, 2013

LADY GAGA IS FAT NOW! #DoWhatUWantWithMyBody pic.twitter.com/ty43LrM8kz
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) October 20, 2013

Twitter #Music App Likely To Disappear Due To Poor Download Numbers

Originally published on PopWrapped.  20 October 2013.

If like me, you had completely forgotten Twitter’s #Music even existed, it will be no surprise to learn that the service may soon be closing. A report from AllThingsD says the mobile app is on the outs because of “abysmal” download numbers.

Launched only six months ago, Twitter #Music helps users discover new music based on the artists they follow, Twitter trends, and network activity. Poor integration is being partially blamed for the app’s failure to retain users’ interest. Also likely to blame are the multitude of other music apps at everyone’s fingertips, such as Spotify, iTunes Radio, Rdio and Pandora, to name a few.

As for those low download numbers, the app has been declining ever since its release in April. Peaking at number six back then, its popularity has plummeted to well out of the top 100 in its category.

As a Mashable article pointed out, it is worth noting that Twitter #Music hasn’t received an iOS 7 update yet. This is odd for several reasons, including that iOS 7’s iTunes Radio has Twitter #Music stations. Perhaps this is just another sign that the social networking company is not yet ready to tackle the task of a music app.

Laura Fraser Signs On To ABC’s The Black Box

Originally published on PopWrapped.  20 October 2013.

ABC’s The Black Box is racking up quite a cast list. The newest member is Breaking Bad’s Laura Fraser, who will play Regan Black on the limited run series.

With only 13-episodes total, the 2014 drama centers on renowned neuroscientist Elizabeth Black. She may be the best in her field but Dr. Black is haunted by her own mental illness and a whole closet full of secrets that only her psychiatrist, Dr. Hartramph (Vanessa Redgrave), knows.

Fraser’s character is married to Elizabeth’s brother Josh (David Chisum).

Best known for playing the malicious and cunning Lydia Rodarte-Quayle in season 5 of Breaking Bad, Fraser is well known among British TV fans for playing Henriette in Casanova and Rita Morris in Single Father. Both roles were opposite David Tennant.

Apple Refutes Claims They Can Read Your iMessages

Originally published on PopWrapped.  20 October 2013.



Worried that someone is reading your iPhone texts? You may be right, depending on whom you ask. Apple for one, is denying claims that it can read users’ iMessages. The statement comes after a study by QuarkLabs that concluded the technology giant could read the messages if chose or were required by a government order to do so.

“iMessage is not architected to allow Apple to read messages,” Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman, said to AllThingsD.

Muller went on to say that the QuarkLabs study “discussed theoretical vulnerabilities that would require Apple to re-engineer the iMessage system to exploit it, and Apple has no plans or intentions to do so.”

The research that brought about this question of privacy stated that the way iMessage is constructed gives Apple the option of access. “As Apple claims, there is end-to-end encryption,” QuarkLabs states. “The weakness is in the key infrastructure as it is controlled by Apple: they can change a key anytime they want, thus read the content of our iMessages.”

Put simply, each user has a unique key that unlocks his or her iMessages. Apple is saying that they do not have all of the keys to unlock each user’s messages. However, NBC postulates that if they needed or chose to, Apple could probably “make” a key to get into a user’s messages.

“So when Apple says it can’t read your messages, it’s like saying it doesn’t have a key to your front door — but it does happen to run the locksmith. If they wanted to — or more likely, were compelled to by a government order — they could cut a key that would work just fine,” an NBC report says.

TV RECAP: ‘Once Upon a Time’ – Ep. 303: ‘Quite an Uncommon Fairy’

Originally published on The Flickcast.  14 October 2013.

A big new character debuts tonight but will she be the cute, charming Tinker Bell that lights up the Disney castle or the snotty one who nearly got Wendy and Peter killed? Let’s find out Oncers…

Our company once again traipses through the woods. Charming is struggling to keep up and Snow teases him, “David Nolan let himself go?” Just as they’re getting close to the camp, as indicated by the map, it moves. As the bickering about what to do next starts up, Hook helpfully suggests they seek out a fairy he knew in Neverland. She might be able to help them find Henry/take care of Pan.

The leader of the Lost Boys is currently waking up Henry with the offering of an apple. Henry refuses the treat. “It’s a family thing,” he says. But Pan only wants him to use it for target practice. Henry is egged on to shoot a poisoned arrow at an apple on Felix’s head. He wisely tries to shoot Pan instead, who deftly catches the arrow and looks rather pleased with Henry’s decision.

Cut to the Dark Castle where Neal is frantically looking for something to use to make a portal to Neverland. He deduces that Henry must be the boy Pan was looking for all that time ago. The loud rummaging has summoned Robin Hood’s men, including Little John. He shows up with Robin’s son in tow and Neal suddenly has an idea.

We flashback to the Enchanted Forest from long ago where Rumple interrupts Regina’s lunch. She missed her lesson today and is thinking of giving up on them altogether. A future like Rumple’s doesn’t appeal to her and she’s already most of the way there. She’s unhappy with her marriage and everything else in her life. He insists she keep up with her learning dark magic before vanishing. In a fit of frustration, Regina she bangs on the balcony railing, which gives way. She plummets towards the ground but a cloud of magical dust catches her. She’s just been saved by Tinker Bell.

Steven Moffat Casts Doubt On Peter Capaldi Being The 12th Doctor With Regeneration Comments

Originally published on PopWrapped.  13 October 2013.

Peter Capaldi might not be the 12th Doctor after all. Whovians have been issued a challenge byshowrunner Steven Moffat who is claiming we have all miscounted the Doctor’s regenerations.

“I think you should go back to your DVDs and count correctly this time,” Moffat said. “There’s something you’ve all missed.”

But in typical Moffat fashion he was mum on any details. It sounds like he’s referring to one of two things: either the Doctor has used more regenerations than we all thought or the Time Lord was granted a new regeneration cycle similar to the Master (read about that here). Either would be important news because Moffat also confirmed that the Doctor “can only regenerate 12 times.”

Really the problem comes with defining the process of “regeneration.” Usually this means the Doctor changes his whole being and we get a new actor stepping into the TARDIS. But if we defined the term more technically, perhaps David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor used up a regeneration in The Stolen Earth/Journey’s End after being shot by a Dalek. That again, would make Capaldi coming in as the Thirteenth Doctor.

This all gets very complicated when we throw in John Hurt’s dark Doctor. Could he be counted as a regeneration? If so, that would make Peter Capaldi’s upcoming Doctor the last at number 13 instead of number 12. Or if John Hurt does indeed fall between the Eighth Doctor and the Ninth Doctor, maybe this was when a new regeneration cycle was granted somehow.

Whatever the case, Fifth Doctor Peter Davidson stated earlier this month that he believes Moffat has a plan in place to avoid the 12-regeneration limit.

“I know people are worried about it, but I think there will be a way around that rule,” Davison said. “I know that Steven has put in the groundwork already in an episode so that there can be more.”

This really results in more questions than answers but it does give us Whovians hope that our favorite mad man in a box will be sticking around for many regenerations to come.

Peter Capaldi Is Searching For His Doctor Look According To Steve Moffat

Originally published on PopWrapped.  13 October 2013.

We have had the bow tie and fez. We have had the Converse and pinstripe suit and before that, the leather jacket. To say the Doctor’s clothes are important is an understatement; they’re iconic. So what will Peter Capaldi’s 12th Doctor wardrobe look like?

Showrunner Steven Moffat doesn’t know but he trusts the Scottish actor to decide for himself. “He was texting me ‘I’m out with [the wardrobe stylist] at the moment, it’s going quite well’ and some descriptions of clothes I did not understand,” Moffat said. “I’ll just let them get on with it and it’ll be ‘yes’ or ‘no’ at the end.”

Back in August Moffat spoke more about the Doctor’s wardrobe, saying again that he thinks it’s important for the actor to ultimately choose. “We’ve discussed costume in the lightest terms, but with Matt Smith I discovered myself to be inept at costume discussions, so I tend to step away from that. I think it’s really important that the actor chooses what makes him feel like the Doctor, which is what Matt did in the end.”

He’s referring here to Smith deciding on the Doctor’s bow tie, an accessory Moffat had initially nixed.

As the oldest actor to take on the Time Lord role since the series rebooted in 2005, Capaldi may have a few additional clothing options available to him. What Culture put together a list of 10 suggested styles, including a knitted sweater and scarf, a simple suit or period costume. I love them all.

Whatever Capaldi chooses, it will set him apart from his predecessors and give Whovian cosplayers one more option.

Take A Trip “Down The Rabbit Hole” With Once Upon A Time In Wonderland

Originally published on PopWrapped.  10 October 2013.

Greetings my fellows Wonders! (Or whatever Once Upon a Time in Wonderland fans are calling themselves. OUAT fans are Oncers so just a suggestion.) Now that the spinoff has finally premiered it’s time to see if it lived up the hype. Let’s take a trip to Wonderland…

We open on an abandoned tea party. A hole suddenly bursts from the ground and a little girl in blue and white dress climbs out of it. She looks around happily and with a sigh of delight says, “Home.”

She tears off running over the hills and through the woods before arriving at a manor home yelling for her father. He opens the door, looking stunned to say the least. See Alice was gone a very long time and her dear Papa thought she was dead. While she’s more interested in telling him all about where she’s been and what’s she done, he’s more concerned that little Alice has gone to the crazy place. In fact, he starts having a talk with a doctor about her mental health, but Alice, who overhears, is determined to prove she’s not a liar.

Flash forward to present day (ish). We pan in to a familiar clock tower. Hello Storybrooke. A young man (Michael Socha) strides through town and is nearly run over by a Yellow Volkswagen Bug. Then he bumps into Grumpy and Ella who are leaving Granny’s Diner. The man pickpockets the door keys and lets himself in to have a cup of coffee while he waits. The diner vibrates and a hole explodes in the floor (this seems to be a theme on this show). The White Rabbit (voiced by John Lithgow) pops out and helpfully identifies the man as The Knave of Hearts. The Knave isn’t sure what to make of the Rabbit’s appearance or his insistence that  “We’re not late for something. We’re late for someone.” That being Alice, of course. The Knave puts on his unconvinced face for the first, but certainly not last time in this episode.

We jump to a gritty asylum where grown up Alice (Sophie Lowe) is being interrogated by a panel of doctors including the one from when she was a young girl. He’s summarizing Alice’s “miraculous, strange and terrifying adventures” in Wonderland: food and drink that changes your height, smoking caterpillars, talking rabbits and such. Turns out little Alice made multiple journeys to Wonderland, each one making her father more and more concerned. He finally broke down and asked Bald Doctor for help.

First Look: Funnyman Chris O’Dowd Makes His Moves On Natalie Portman In Thor: The Dark World

Originally published on PopWrapped.  9 October 2013.

Every day we get one step closer to seeing Thor: The Dark World on the big screen and every day we seem to learn something new about Marvel’s upcoming film. Case in point: pictures of the IT Crowd’s Chris O’Dowd in his cameo scene.

The British funnyman, who is also known for his work on Girls and in This is 40, plays Richard inThor 2, a man out on a date with Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster in the scenes pictured.

They are apparently interrupted or at least joined by Darcy (Kat Dennings), which is probably a bit awkward. Even more uncomfortable? Based on what I’ve seen in the trailer it looks like this may be about the time that a certain gorgeous demi-god reappears on Earth. Guess we’ll have to wait until November 8^th (or October 30^th if you’re in the UK) to find out.

O’Dowd, who is primarily known for his turns in more comedic films and TV, said back in March to IndieWire that he was not interested in doing action movies because he doesn’t think he can keep a straight face. Marvel is definitely an exception to that as he revealed in that same interview.

“Actually, you know what I’ve done, just for fun because I didn’t think there was any way that I could be in a superhero movie, so I’ve done a scene in the new Thor movie, just for that,” O’Dowd said at the time. “I just do like one scene, which was quite fun.”

Check out a few more pictures below:

Photo courtesy of Marvel via Digital Spy

Photo courtesy of Marvel via Digital Spy

TV RECAP: ‘Once Upon a Time’ – Ep. 302: ‘Lost Girl’

Originally published on The Flickcast.  8 October 2013.

Well Oncers, this was an episode with a lot of things I cannot stand (Snow and Charming’s gushy optimism) but also some things that I absolutely adore (Rumbelle and Hook’s everything). Read on and let me know what you thought.

We start with Rumple building himself a cozy campfire using his magic. Then he makes quick work of hacking off his shadow using his Dark One dagger. Once his shadow is loose, he gives it his dagger to hide from everyone including himself but mostly Pan.

While Rumple continues on his own, the Storybrooke 5 are tromping through the brush. Regina again establishes her place as the most objective and snarkiest of the lot. “You know, I could’ve just poofed us up here in an instant.” So true Evil Queen, but Hook insists it is safer to travel on foot. Safe from the poisoned thorns that Charming really wants to cut through? Guess they can just take the long way ‘round.

Emma and Snow have an awkward talk about the fact that Emma still calls her mom “Mary Margaret.” Snow suggests “Mom,” Once audiences suggest “Snow,” but Emma thinks the former should be saved for life or death situations and the former for never. So Mary Margaret it is then?

We again hear about Peter Pan’s wickedness from Hook, who says he’s the most treacherous villain. The company comes to a cliff (maybe the same one as Henry from last episode) and stare at the Dark Forest below. Time to make camp and head for the forest tomorrow.

Now we get our first Fairytale flashback in season three. Charming has just kissed Snow awake from her poisoned slumber and the Queen is peeved. Snow tries to drum up an army among villagers with little success, especially after Regina comes along to threaten everyone. She also offers a deal: Snow gives up the throne and the land and she can go with Charming (and the Dwarves) back to the faux prince’s farm. “You may have been a princess but you will never be a Queen,” Regina says.

Future’s Honestly Teaming Up With Miley Cyrus And Nicki Minaj

Originally published on PopWrapped.  6 October 2013.

There is no escaping Miley Cyrus. On top of her performances at the VMA’s and on Saturday Night Live, she is now teaming with rapper Future for his upcoming album, Honest.

Future and Cyrus joined together with Mr. Hudson for the track “Real and True.” Cyrus and Hudson sing to each other on the hook before Future closes with some harmonizing. Future and the female pop star also teamed up for the song “My Darlin’” on Cyrus’ Bangerz album. Both “Real and True” and “We Can’t Stop” from Bangerz are produced by Mike WiLL Made It.

“I worked with Miley Cyrus when we were working on her project, for her album,” Future said. “I was doing some records in Vegas and Mr. Hudson sent a hook back he did on a Mike WiLL track. He played it for Miley and she wanted to be a part of it, so I’m putting the record on my album also.”

The rapper also pairs with Nicki Minaj, this time for “Rock Star Life.” This is the latest in a string of collaborations between the two. Speaking about the Young Money rapper, Future said simply, “Nicki Minaj is dope.”

Honest, which was scheduled for release on November 26th, has been delayed until December.

Accio Clothes! Daniel Radcliffe Talks About His Numerous Nudes Scenes

Originally published on PopWrapped.  5 October 2013.

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is all grown up and he has the R-rated scenes to prove it. Audiences have gotten to see a bit more of Radcliffe both on stage and in his latest three films than anyone would have anticipated from the former headliner of a children’s film series.

In a recent appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show, Ellen teased Radcliffe, “You do take your clothes off a lot. In a lot of things.”

The 24-year-old actor clarified that he strips down for his roles, not just randomly in public. However Ellen is right. Appearing next in Kill Your Darlings as poet Allen Ginsberg, Radcliffe has yet another nude scene. He is also sans clothes in the upcoming Horns and The F Word. Back in 2008, while he was still filming in the Potter series, he had caused quite a stir when he took the lead role in the stage production Equus, which included full frontal nudity.

Radcliffe did jokingly express concern that people will start thinking he’s an exhibitionist but also is grateful for the quality of the projects he has gotten to work on. “People have given me the opportunity to work on really interesting things and get better. Getting to work on this material was hugely freeing,” he said in The Independent last month.

Moving forward though it sounds like it might be Accio Clothes! for Radcliffe. He talked about his nude scenes when discussing another film, A Young Doctor’s Notebook (which premiered on Sky Atlantic in the UK earlier this year), saying, “I think there was a discussion about possible nudity for one scene and I think my comment was, ‘I got naked in three films last year, please can I not?’”

He does however share a bathtub with Jon Hamm in the movie but said, “We don’t (get naked) in this series, much to everyone’s disappointment.”

Watch Ellen teasing Daniel on his Katy Perry crush below: