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The Fall of the House of Usher: Quoth the Raven

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9 months ago

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Spoiler ravens incoming! 

Created by a pair of ruthless twin siblings long ago, the current Usher pharmaceutical empire begins crumbling into dust as patriarch Roderick’s adult children begin dying off. 

Oh this is a gorgeous one y’all, full of mood and tension and supernatural horror to knock your socks off, sure, but also sporting incredible performances from every single cast member. So let’s dive (off a high-rise balcony) into this! 

In the beginning, young Roderick Usher (Zach Gilford) and his twin sister Madeline (Willa Fitzgerald) came from nothing. Their religious fanatic of a mother Eliza (Annabeth Gish) worked as a secretary and occasional mattress-toy for their father William Longfellow (Robert Longstreet), the former CEO of the Fortunato pharmaceutical company. Which is all a glorious irony, because when mother gets sickly, she adamantly refuses to see a doctor due to her religious beliefs, and the children are left to fend for themselves when their father callously denies both them, and their mother, acknowledgement of any kind. And paid a heavy price for it too, when an enraged spirit rose from her grave to exact her righteous vengeance. 

Here in the present, old and haggard Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood), Fortunato pharmaceutical emperor, opioid king, is haunted by his past mistakes, but also by the specters of his dead adult children. Diagnosed with a heroic list of physical (and let’s face it, mental) ailments, Roderick decides to invite his old nemesis Auguste Dupin (Carl Lumbly) to a secret location, for a full confession of all his crimes, against the world and the courts and even Auggie himself, but most especially against his own family. 

Every single one of Roderick’s children comes with a name from an Edgar Allen Poe story and a whole laundry list of odd issues and secrets. Frederick Usher (Henry Thomas), the eldest and heir to the Fortunato empire, has trust issues with his wife Morella (Cystal Balint), and apparently the only actual grandchild thus far, Lenore (Kyliegh Curran). Far as I can tell, Frederick doesn’t actually do anything, other than regurgitate Roderick’s business policies and family fixer-attorney Arthur Pym’s (Mark Hamill) warnings about close-mouthedness as far as the public, media, and especially the law goes. Lenore is of course absolutely beloved by her grandfather, while her mother Morella seems to have past issues with another of Roderick’s kids, Prospero, or Perry (Sauriyan Sapkota) as he prefers to be called. 

Frederick’s eldest legitimate daughter, named Tamerlane (really? Wow) but of course she’s called Tammy (Samantha Sloyan) by most, has aspirations of being a different kind of family entrepreneur with her husband Bill Wilson (Matt Biedel) and his fitness influencer lifestyle. Tammy puts a lot of pressure on herself, has frankly utterly ridiculous demands her husband has to follow, and a very unusual way of using call girls to have a … one-some? practically every night. No kink-shaming here of course, but even I raised an eyebrow at Tammy’s nightly adventures and lack of actual sleep. 

Camille L’Espanaye is one of Roderick’s several illegitimate children, sharp-tongued and savvy is she, as the head of public relations for Fortunato. Her hair an iconic silvery-white, likely a nod to the older L’Espanaye women of the Poe story, she stalks the scandals, social media, the backgrounds and vices of all the Ushers, and is utterly ruthless in using everything in her power to spin doctor every last Usher disaster as quickly as possible. The on-going trial with older Auggie barely registers in Camille’s arrogant countenance, as she works those sharp-as-steel wits in overtime to address the sudden domino deaths of her siblings. Camille’s casual mistreatment of her two aides Toby and Tina as little more than walking, not talking, sexual stress relievers, it’s apparently literally in their employment contracts and multiple NDAs, is just as horrific as the misdeeds as the other Ushers, and her death comeuppance has a delicious irony to it in this regard. 

Victorine LaFourcade (T’Nia Miller) is the eldest of Roderick’s illegitimate children, tall and black and statuesque, a genius heart surgeon on whom Roderick places a ton of expectations and pride. Her partner Dr. Alessandra “Ali” Ruiz (Paola Nunez) is a partner in every sense of the word, both at work and at home, and while Ali has great faith in her gorgeous genius of a partner, she is also leery of using untried Fortunato products in their heart and pace-maker research. The grotesque labs full of monkey test animals and outright lies from an increasingly paranoid and pressured Victorine bring to mind the disaster that led to 28 Days Later, another master horrorpiece. 

Poor Napoleon, or Leo (Rahul Kohli) as he rightfully prefers to be called, tatted up and drugged out of his mind more often than not, can’t even rightly claim being a video game designer, as he tries to. No, Leo is a video game publisher and is adrift on the Usher money and lifestyle, both pulling away and edging back to the family that finds him a few shades disappointing. His boyfriend Julius (Daniel Jun) tries so very hard to be just chill about Leo’s increasing paranoia, depression, and hey, feud with that damnable black cat. 

The youngest of the illegitimate Usher children, Prospero known as Perry seems determined to live the life of a young bacchanal, full of drugs and sex with multiple partners, an exclusive VIP party that seemingly never ends, and Perry would be the gatekeeper, the overlord of the orgy. His eager ideas for a very posh orgy-porgy amongst the bright young things of the city, with him emperor Dionysus above all, while cute, lacks anything resembling common sense. Indeed, Perry thinks the best place to have his pop-up party of the century is a disused private lab testing site for Fortunato pharma and was meant to have been torn down long ago, but since the Usher family owns these sites (allegedly) he can go ahead and use them worry-free, right? Gives a whole new terrifying spin to, “Make it rain!” 

The whole thing with the trial and an elderly but still spry Auguste, and how it directly relates back to that time in the ‘80’s when a much younger Auggie (Malcolm Goodwin) and younger Mads (Willa Fitzgerald) and younger Roderick (Zach Gilford) all wanted to take on current Fortunato head Rufus Griswold (Michael Trucco) and the absolute ass of a jester he’s acting like, is the kind of full-circle irony that a tidy universe loves to show us. Indeed, it’s way back here on a fateful night where, after a beleaguered Roderick has betrayed pretty much everyone but his twin sister, because Mads always has a plan for long-term revenge, that they meet a very strange bartender, who offers them both the deal of several lifetimes. 

The woman, or rather the entity that we come to associate as the specter of Death, is never actually given a name. The show BTS information calls her Verna (Carla Gugino), a rearrangement of raven, arguably Poe’s most well-known poem and known in many cultures as the bringer of death, if not Death itself. As the Usher children begin dying, Verna pops up and either guides them through it, or in a rather Final Destination fashion, outright causes their deaths to happen. Verna made a rather monstrous offer of a deal to the Usher twins long ago, they both had to take her up on it, which begins the domino effect that leads all the way to the real fall of the House of Usher, and its lasting legacy on the entire Usher bloodline. Verna encourages the Usher empire founders to think of themselves like that, referring to Mads as Cleopatra and nudging Roderick with his obsession of suicide by khopesh, or the legendary sapphire eyes of Egyptian Queen Twosret, none of which helps the mindset of the Usher family. 

The Poe references splashed throughout, the use of light and shadow as each Usher character declines into madness (or dives), absolutely stellar performances from a powerhouse cast, all make for a ride through the haunted legacy of the House of Usher worth repeated viewings! Be there for the collapse of an empire in The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix now!

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Apple TV+ announces season two for delightful kids and family series “Camp Snoopy

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1 day ago

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July 25, 2024

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Today, Apple TV+ announced a season two for acclaimed kids and family series “Camp Snoopy,” based on the classic Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz and directed by Rob Boutilier (“The Snoopy Show,” “Snoopy in Space”). The complete  first season of “Camp Snoopy” is now streaming globally on Apple TV+.

After discovering their troop is in danger of disbanding, Snoopy and the Beagle Scouts set off to immerse themselves in nature and the Great Outdoors, with the Beagle Scout Manual as their guide. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown and friends enjoy their summer at Camp Spring Lake, crossing paths with Snoopy as they experience hiking, swimming, sitting around campfires and everything summer camp and the outdoors have to offer. 

Produced for Apple TV+ by Peanuts and WildBrain, “Camp Snoopy” is based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz and is directed by Rob Boutilier (“The Snoopy Show,” “Snoopy in Space”). Executive producers are Craig Schulz, Paige Braddock, Boutilier, Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts and Logan McPherson.

“Camp Snoopy” joined an exciting slate of new offerings for kids and families on Apple TV+ this summer featuring the second season of beloved animated series “Frog and Toad,” based on the Caldecott and Newbery Honor-winning books; animated adventure trilogy “WondLa,” based on the New York Times bestselling book series “The Search for WondLa” by Tony DiTerlizzi; highly anticipated kids and family series “Yo Gabba GabbaLand!,” inspired by the hit, Emmy Award-nominated cultural phenomenon “Yo Gabba Gabba!”; “Me,” an elevated cinematic coming-of-age story from Barry L. Levy; and, the first-ever television adaptation of the cult classic film, “Time Bandits,” starring Lisa Kudrow.

Award-winning all-age offerings now streaming globally on Apple TV+ include celebrated live action animated hybrid special, “The Velveteen Rabbit”; the Academy Award and BAFTA Award-winning animated short film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”; Oscar-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning animated film “Wolfwalkers”; the BAFTA Award and Humanitas Prize-winning “El Deafo,” BAFTA Award-winning “Lovely Little Farm,” “Duck & Goose,” “Get Rolling With Otis,” Spin Master Entertainment’s “Sago Mini Friends,” GLAAD Media Award-nominated “Pinecone & Pony,” “Frog and Toad,” The Jim Henson Company’s Emmy Award-winning “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” “Harriet the Spy” and “Slumberkins,” Sesame Workshop’s “Helpsters,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD and Bento Box Entertainment’s “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory,” Jack McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero’s Emmy Award-nominated “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show,” Peanuts and WildBrain’s Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy in Space,” “The Snoopy Show,” Scholastic’s “Eva the Owlet” and Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series “Stillwater.” Live-action offerings include Bonnie Hunt’s DGA and WGA Award-nominated “Amber Brown,” DGA Award-winning “Best Foot Forward,” “Surfside Girls,” WGA Award-winning “Life By Ella,” Sesame Workshop and Sinking Ship’s Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter,” Emmy Award and Environmental Media Association Award winning “Jane,” and Scholastic’s “Puppy Place.”

Also included are “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times bestselling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers, and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” “Snoopy Presents: Lucy’s School,” Humanitas and Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love,” “Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin,” Emmy Award-winning “Snoopy Presents: Who Are You, Charlie Brown?” and “Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne.”

Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 499 wins and 2,262 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”

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Hallmark’s “Holidazed” Brings Laughter and Love with a Fresh Holiday Twist

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2 weeks ago

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July 12, 2024

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Hallmark’s latest limited comedy TV series, “Holidazed,” promises to be the highlight of the holiday season, offering humor, heartfelt moments, and a celebration of diverse traditions. The series follows six families from different backgrounds, cultures, and generations, all living on the same cul-de-sac, as they come together to celebrate the holidays. Each family navigates their unique traditions and eccentricities, ultimately discovering a common bond: love in its many forms.

“Holidazed” features six diverse families residing in the same neighborhood. The series blends comedic and touching moments as these families embrace the joyous chaos of the holiday season, engaging in both humorous and heartfelt celebrations of their traditions. Through the festivities, they uncover the universal thread that binds them all: love.

Meet the Families

Lewin Family:

– Dennis Haysbert (“24”)

-Loretta Devine (“Grey’s Anatomy”)

– Ser’Darius Blain(“Charmed”)

Manetti-Hanahan Family:

– Virginia Madsen (“Witches of East End”)

– John C. McGinley(“Scrubs”)

Lin Family:

– Lucille Soong (“Fresh Off the Boat”)

-Osric Chau(“Supernatural”)

Woods Family:

– Rachelle Lefevre (“Under the Dome”)

-Lindy Booth(“The Librarians”)

Hill Family:

– Ian Harding(“Pretty Little Liars”)

– Erin Cahill (“Red Widow”)

Camerena Family:

– Elizabeth Goodenough

– Noemi Gonzales

“Holidazed” dives into the heart of the holiday season with themes of family, love, and unity. The show’s unique premise of six families celebrating their holiday traditions in a shared neighborhood brings a fresh twist to holiday programming. Viewers will experience laughter, tears, and everything in between as they follow these families.

The stellar cast, featuring Dennis Haysbert, Loretta Devine, Virginia Madsen, John C. McGinley, and more, delivers top-notch performances that bring the characters and their stories to life.

Join the conversation and share your excitement about “Holidazed” using these hashtags: #Holidazed2024, #HallmarkHolidays, #FamilyTraditions, #HolidayLove, #ComedySeries, #DiverseFamilies, #HallmarkComedy, #HolidaySeries.

“Holidazed” is set to be a heartwarming and entertaining addition to Hallmark’s holiday lineup. With its blend of comedy, diverse cultural celebrations, and the theme of love, this limited series is sure to become a holiday favorite. Tune in to experience the magic and joy of “Holidazed” this holiday season.

Stay connected and share your thoughts using the hashtags above, and get ready to be “Holidazed!”

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The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic: Not like that!

Published

2 weeks ago

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July 9, 2024

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The unneeded third wheel in the classic isekai trope, Ken Usato is stunned to discover that while he may not be the Hero the Kingdom of Llinger summoned, he can be heroic with his newfound ultra-rare healing magic! 

So, the classic eternal battle between the human Kingdom of whomever, against the current Demon Lord and his multitude of minions, features a whole cast of well-known characters – the King of course, his family with at least one Crown Prince/ess, his Royals and Nobles, usually a whole bunch of badass Knights, Mercenaries, Magic-users of every color of the rainbow, archers and expendable foot-soldiers and the like. What most adventuring isekai actually tries to veer away from, is the realities of the battlefield, the stench and the horror, the dead and dying everywhere, and the very real danger any good healer has to face in order to do their duty as a healer. 

And this is where Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic absolutely shines, somehow mixing the reality of the battlefield healer’s situation with the almost innocent adventurous joy of your favorite isekai. So, let’s dive headfirst into this! 

The head kids of the Student Council back on Earth, Suzune Inukami and Kazuki Ryuusen, along with the ride-hitching Ken Usato, are transported to the Kingdom of Llinger by summoning a circle, to fight the inevitable demon lord attacking the kingdom. And while the Kingdom, even willing to use forbidden magic to summon these new Heroes as they are, is thrilled at the enthusiasm of Inukami and perhaps even the reluctance of Kazuki, they are absolutely terrified at Usato’s advent of healing magic. It’s all suddenly and rather violently explained with the introduction of Rose, a healer herself, head of the Rescue Team battlefield healers, and known to be an exceptionally brutal and eccentric trainer. Much to his chagrin, Rose gleefully scoops Usato up and deposits him into the most grueling training regimen of his entire young life! 

And thus the training from hell, because that is quite possibly literally what it is, begins in earnest. Usato groans about the severe physical aspect of the training, as there is almost no magical training involved at all; he gets tossed into the Darkness of Llinger, a forest known for killing monsters and carnivorous plants, only to come out of it boasting a new blue grizzly companion; Blurin, as the large grizzly cub is named, instantly becomes a very large part of Usato’s running and training regimen. 

All of this is effectively useless without actual battlefield experience, and monsters are fleeing the forest because the demon lord and his kin are encroaching, so we the Rescue Team really have to hustle! Rose has every intention of training a “subordinate who will never die”, haunted as she is by underlings she couldn’t save in her head of the Kingdom of Llinger’s army Knight past, and she dubs Usato eventually fit for the job, informing the King of such herself.   

But what happens when the war, or at least the first major skirmish, begins in brutal violence, and the Rescue Team has no choice but to wade in? As it turns out, not only is Usato blessed with super strong healing magic and the training to now use it pretty well, he begins to use these powers in ways no one’s ever thought of before, offensively even. Imagine, using healing magic to create such things as what Usato unimaginatively names the Ultimate Healing Punch, but to save the Black Knight, an enemy combatant who Usato firmly believes is actually worth saving and converting. 

And who’s to say Usato’s wrong? Rose, despite never coming up with such a thing on her own, is nevertheless extremely proud and considers her trust and faith in Usato and his wrong ways of using healing magic completely well-placed. 

Find out what other wrong ways Usato and pals will use his healing magic, on Crunchyroll now! 

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