Entertainment

The fantasy series “Seven Havens” is unlike the worlds depicted in “ATLA’s” and its sequel “Legend of Korra.” As stated in the press release, this world has been ravaged by a catastrophic event. The story revolves around a young Earthbender who unexpectedly discovers she is the new Avatar, succeeding Korra. However, unlike the traditional role of an Avatar as a savior, in this perilous era, her title foretells her as humanity’s destroyer rather than its protector. On the run from both human and spirit adversaries, she and her long-lost twin must unravel their enigmatic past and save the Seven Havens before the last remaining human strongholds crumble.

She shares with the camera on The Baldwins, “I’m nurturing my children to become bilingual, as I myself was brought up that way. Currently, our immediate family resides in Spain.” She explains, “I aim to instill in my kids a sense of pride when speaking multiple languages. I believe that growing up with the ability to speak two languages is extraordinarily unique. I adore English, and I have an affinity for Spanish too. When I combine the two, it doesn’t make me inauthentic. Rather, it makes me just like many others!” This sentiment is contrasted with clips of her conversing in Spanish with her kids, who predominantly communicate with each other in English.

As a supporter, I find it reassuring that Jesteadt no longer feels isolated in the indie animation distribution game, given GKIDS’ long-standing reputation as a prestigious cartoon distributor since its co-founding by Eric Beckman and himself in 2008. Over the years, GKIDS has established a formidable theatrical and licensing empire, competing with industry giants such as DreamWorks and Disney. They’ve been instrumental in bringing masterpieces from various countries like Japan, France, Belgium, Ireland, and Spain to American audiences, earning critical acclaim for films such as “My Life As a Zucchini,” “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles,” “Wolfwalkers,” and many more.

In October 2024, Jesteadt and Beckman announced their decision to sell GKIDS to the Japanese entertainment titan, Toho (best known for Godzilla). This move signifies a new chapter in GKIDS’ dominance and has animation enthusiasts concerned that the company’s international focus might lean too heavily towards Japanese animation. However, I remain optimistic about this change, eagerly awaiting what the future holds for GKIDS and its continued contribution to the world of indie animation distribution.

As the break of day approaches on the day of Sheila’s hearing before the House Oversight Committee, George gently stirs his wife from sleep to reminisce about a past moment. They recalled their son performing skateboard stunts outside George’s office window in Albany. When their son successfully executed the trick, George intended to praise him for his persistence – but his responsibilities intervened, and he missed the opportunity. This unfulfilled moment of pride served as one of the more poignant instances of sorrow shared between George and Sheila; he urged her not to hesitate during the hearing. Indeed, she didn’t need his encouragement. Sheila effortlessly dispelled Richard Dreyer’s arrogance, dismissing it as if swatting away an annoying fly. Her masterful move, beyond flawlessly answering all of Richard’s questions without a hint of nervousness, was to highlight that every member of the House, who were in front of her, had previously voted in favor of the commission’s increased powers. Although Sheila is George’s wife, they are equally his partners in the political upheaval of the nation. She unmasked their hypocrisy – they aim to oust George so they can take his place – with a clarity that suggested an unblemished conscience.

It’s fortunate that Sheila isn’t inclined to engage with him. Over the phone, Sheila and Alex express their concerns about George’s obvious unsuitability. Despite Valerie revealing that George could be a victim of an illegal neurological weapon based on Geneva Convention violations, Sheila remains firm in her belief that he should face consequences for his actions. If George is mentally unfit, she believes he should step down; if he’s sane, she thinks he should resign due to his adoption and escalation of fascistic methods. Given the complexity of this situation, it would be wise to place Sheila in a leadership role. However, all they manage to persuade George to do is agree to some psychological assessments, which find no significant issues with him.

As the season nears its end and attendance at the nightly gatherings decreases, Sandoval – a man with scant allies, minimal victories, numerous blunders, and most recently, a Freudian slip suggesting “women are better cheaters” which led to a massive backlash from his peers – has managed to outlast almost all of his Bravo co-stars. Regardless of his intentions, the “cheaters” comment (he maintains he meant to say “Traitors”) solidified his position within the castle, on the show, and in society: Sandoval plays the role of Pagliacci, a tragic clown and enduring jester for The Traitors.

The Netflix show “Zero Day” is set in an era that didn’t occur after November 5, 2024. Given its release during a potential Democratic Party-controlled term, it seems like the co-creators Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, and Michael Schmidt intended it as a comforting gesture. However, even if the series were creatively innovative or brilliantly acted (which it’s not), the plot revolving around an aged ex-president who may be dealing with severe dementia but conceals it following a cyberattack to preserve his powerful position while defending the U.S. against various adversaries (labeled as “radical leftists,” “tech types,” and internal political enemies) is a striking example of liberal arrogance and outdated.

As we witness our elected officials dismantling the country in real-time, the propaganda presented by “Zero Day” pales in comparison. Viewing it through this lens, the series appears as an endless loop of self-congratulation, which makes it particularly ill-timed escapism.

Intense, gruesome, and highly tension-filled, “The Pitt” retains a lot of its appeal thanks to its real-time narrative format. Borrowing from the structure of shows like “24“, this 15-episode season follows the events of an entire 15-hour shift in real-time. This approach adds a heightened sense of reality to the series, which has been so convincing that it’s sparked discussions online, and even praise from voices within the medical community for its authenticity.

In the TV show, what you see as just a phone is constantly being used by Reacher for chatter. Kicking off this episode, he immediately calls Duffy upon discovering Teresa’s earring in Beck’s carriage house. Based on an almost finished meal of food he had seen Duke carry out to this building earlier and the existence of a cot with a space heater, he deduces that Teresa’s captors might have moved her no more than a few hours previously. He swiftly dampens Duffy’s relief by stating, “If Beck is in cahoots with Reacher’s old adversary Francis Xavier Quinn, they aren’t keeping her alive and well for no particular reason.

On a cool April day, my mother traveled up from sunny south Florida to Chicago, and it was up to me to choose a suitable wallpaper-TV setup for her unique preferences. My Creole mom, fiercely rooted in the South, may not represent the typical palate that critics might consider when gauging mainstream American taste, but she has always served as a reliable gauge for me, especially for those who watch movies not as cinephiles, but simply for enjoyment. I would describe her tastes as quintessential American normcore.

I deliberated over true crime and romantic dramas that might appeal to her, before considering the popular streaming series Reacher, which had just wrapped up its second season. I’d been hearing a lot of praise for the show on social media – about its entertaining fun factor and the attractiveness of the lead character.