What Is Secrets of the Bees ?

Secrets of the Bees is a two-episode nature documentary series where National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory explores the extraordinary lives of bees, which are among the planet’s most important animals. Over three years, special cameras opened a rare window into a single hive, revealing its hidden world. With more than 20,000 bee species pollinating one-third of the world’s food, this series uncovers their astonishing architecture and intelligence, unlocking their secrets.

“For its fifth anniversary, ‘Secrets of’ turns its lens to one of Earth’s smallest yet most vital heroes: bees,” says executive producer James Cameron. “Far more than pollinators, bees are socially complex, fast-thinking individuals and the most important insects on our planet. Their impact on the natural world and humanity is immeasurable, and we’re only just beginning to see how extraordinary they truly are.”

Secrets of the Bees is produced by Silverback Films for National Geographic. Emmy Award-winners James Cameron and Maria Wilhelm for Lightstorm Earth are executive producers. For Silverback Films, Alastair Fothergill and Huw Cordey serve as series producers, and Nadége Laici serves as producer and director. Pam Caragol is executive producer for National Geographic.

Let’s take a look at the two episodes:

The Hive

Bertie Gregory reveals the hidden world of bees and the extraordinary secrets behind their success. From the broomstick bee’s ingenious architecture to the meat-eating bee of the Amazon rainforest, their remarkable talents are uncovered alongside new insights into bee intelligence. Through the life of one honeybee, follow her bustling hive as her sisters race to survive the winter.

The Pollinators

Gregory returns to the honeybee sisterhood as they race to rebuild before winter. Across the planet, other bees face challenges of their own, from Dawson’s bees battling for mates to honeybees facing the global spread of varroa mites. With Explorer Dr. Sammy Ramsey, Bertie explores the mounting pressures on bees and the bold solutions to secure their future.

Interview with Producer James Cameron and Dr. Samuel Ramsey

I had the opportunity to speak with both James Cameron and Dr. Samuel Ramsey as part of a virtual roundtable. I asked them what do they want viewers to take away from the series. Ramsey responded:

“I want people to take away from this series that bees are working really hard in the background doing things that keep our entire ecosystem healthy.  They don’t get enough attention. Uh, they certainly don’t get protected nearly enough. Oftentimes when we say ‘Save the bees,’ we mean ‘Save the bee.’ We’re thinking about the one bee species that we keep inside of a box because that’s the one that’s the most precious to us and it’s the one that we know the best. But they are the canary in the coalmine for the other 20,000 species of bees out there that we don’t have as close a connection with, and we’ve been able to show in this documentary some of their secret lives that they’re living, um, underground and inside of tubes and- and kinds of ways that they’re interacting with the world. And if we weren’t able to show that to people, it would be easier for them to discount that those things are important. But now that we’re able to put that front and center in front of people’s eyes, we want them to take away from that that these organisms are important, that they’re incredible, and we want them to expand that phrase of ‘Save the bee’ back to ‘Save the bees’ to keep the rest of them safe and healthy and happy.”

James Cameron explained how they were able to get some of the up-close scenes with the bees. “Our camera team is very experienced with macro photography and have been doing it for decades. And the camera technology itself wasn’t really the leap forward. It was really, how do we configure the hive environment around, and, you know, various other environments like tunnels and things that were done with the solo bees. But how do we get it- how do we get into their world? So, you know, I’m not an expert in animal- animal photography, um, where you’re- you’re creating an environment that, you know, the- we- we’ve got the best people in the world to do that. But it’s about not interfering with their behavior, making it seem natural for them but still getting the camera in- in a manner that’s reasonably predictable, that the bee will- or the- the animal will do that behavior right in front of the lens. When you have a little, little tiny area of photography, you have a very, very shallow depth of field, uh, and this is always the- the problem with macro photography. So it’s really about the human in the loop experience team, uh, these days, less than, you know, breakthroughs in the optics per se.”

Cameron also shared what he learned while making this series. “There’s so much that I didn’t know about a bee society and, you know, learning about bee culture as well, meaning that which is passed on in direct communication between individual bees. We think, uh, I certainly was of the belief that, you know, bees were basically little Roombas that were hard- hardwired with relatively basic programming, but it turns out that while they have that as we all do that they’re also capable of learning and they’re able to learn specific tasks and have things demonstrated for them which they can then replicate. And we call that culture, right? So that’s an amazing thing, to think of bee culture. That’s just one example. I mean, there are certainly many examples that I’ve learned as a result of being, you know, a producer on the series, and that’s what attracts me to doing these Secrets of shows for National Geographic is that I always learn something. I mean, they pay me, but frankly, I’d pay them.  

Why You Should See Secrets of the Bees

Prior to the interview, I had the opportunity to screen both episodes of the series. I will admit, that when I want to watch something, nature documentaries are not my first choice. However, over the years as I have covered many different series produced by National Geographic, I am always glad I watched them because I was not only entertained, but also learned things I never knew. Secrets of the Bees was of interest to me as soon as I heard about it. I have always been fascinated with bees. When one of our friends was laid off from his job as he was approaching retirement, he decided to go into bee keeping. One spring and summer, we had the opportunity to host a couple of his bee hives and I enjoyed putting on all the protective clothing and help him open the hives and inspect the honeycombs. In addition, living in Northern California, I know that the bees are so important to the state’s agriculture–especially for pollinating the many almond orchards. 

Though I had some knowledge of bees before viewing the series, I learned so much by the time I got to the final credits. In one of the episodes, you can see Asian murder hornets attack a bee hive as they kill the adult bees and chew their way into the hive to get to the larvae. The bees response and defense is impressive and Dr. Ramsey shared that while filming this, scientists discovered how the bees problem solve and work together to protect their hive. Another scene I enjoyed was how bees in a lab were tested and revealed higher level processing that we do not normally associate with lower forms of life. 

As with most National Geographic productions, the cinematography is exceptional as they take viewers down to the level of the bees so that you feel like you are sitting right in the hive with them. The narration is written so that it tells a story and not just explains what is happening which makes the show more engaging to viewers. Secrets of the Bees also shares an important message on how vital bees of all kinds are to the survival of humans and other life because of their important role as pollinators. Some wild bees are endangered and about 1 in 4 native bees are at risk. As a high school science teacher, I look forward to sharing this series with my students and beginning a conversation with them about these fascinating creatures. In the couple of weeks since I viewed this series, I have begun to notice the native bees in my yard and community and observing their behavior. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy viewing Secrets of the Bees, but I have also taken away an appreciation and understanding that expands how I view my world. Whether you are a fan of nature series or not, I highly recommend viewing Secrets of the Bees. Whether it helps you understand bees and reduces your fear of being stung or makes you rethink the types of plants you place in your yard, garden, or even window sill, this is a series that will educate, entertain, and make you think. 

Be sure to watch Secrets of the Bees when it premieres Tuesday, March 31 at 8/7c on National Geographic and begins streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Here is a trailer for the series.

What Is Ghost Elephants?

In the mist-covered highlands of Angola, deep within its forests, a mystery endures: the elusive ghost elephants of Lisima, the potential living descendants of the largest land mammal ever recorded. Steve Boyes, conservation biologist and leader of the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, is determined to prove their existence. In order to find these elusive elephants, Boyes and fellow National Geographic Explorer Kerllen Costa have teamed up with three KhoiSan master trackers: Xui, Xui Dawid, and Kobus. Refugees from a war-torn past who have faced considerable marginalization in southern Africa, the trackers return to their ancestral lands to succeed where advanced technology could not. Directed, narrated and written by legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog, Ghost Elephants is a lyrical tale of survival, reconnection and the enduring power of ancient knowledge in the face of modern loss.

Herzog stated: “After meeting Steve Boyes, an unexpected project that felt like the hunt for Moby Dick, the White Whale, came at me with great urgency. Like many of my films, this is an exploration of dreams, of imagination — weighed against reality. The film took me to what the local tribesmen call the ‘Land at the End of the Earth.'” 

Ghost Elephants was written, directed and narrated by Werner Herzog and produced by Werner Herzog and Ariel Leon Isacovitch, G.S.C. Ghost Elephants

Why You Should See Ghost Elephants

Ghost Elephants begins in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History to see a display of the largest known elephant. From there we follow Steve Boyes to the Angolan Highlands which are the source of some of Africa’s greatest rivers. Before the search begins for the elephants, Boyes and his team spend time with the bushmen who will be their trackers as well as their families as we learn about the San culture of the people in northern Namibia. As the team continues north into Angola, they meet with more people who share their cultures. Once they get on the trail of some of these  elephants, they find evidence of how large they might be. To learn how their expedition ends, you will have to watch the film for yourself. 

I have really enjoyed the many films and series that have been produced over the years by National Geographic and Ghost Elephants is no exception. While the show is focused on elephants, viewers learn so much more about the natural and cultural geography of this part of the African continent. The cinematography is incredible as it showcases the beauty of this part of the world. I really like the narration by Herzog. His slow, measured voice with a German accent is easy to follow and lends an air of authority to his words. Above all, I was impressed how the production tells a story of people, animals, and nature. I found Ghost Elephants both entertaining as well as educational and highly recommend viewing it. There are some scenes of game hunting that might be disturbing to children as well as some adults so viewer discretion is advised. 

Ghost Elephants opened in select North American theaters on February 27, 2026. Be sure to watch Ghost Elephants when it premieres March 7 at 9/8c on National Geographic and begins streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Here is a trailer for the series.

What Is Pole to Pole with Will Smith?

Pole to Pole with Will Smith is docuseries hat follows Will across all seven continents, taking him from the icefields of Antarctica to the jungles of the Amazon, the mountains of the Himalayas, the deserts of Africa, the islands of the Pacific and the icebergs of the Arctic.

Inspired by his late mentor to explore life’s big questions, Will throws himself into incredible challenges for 100 days: skiing to the South Pole, catching a giant anaconda, milking a venomous tarantula, climbing mountains, and diving under the ice of the North Pole. He will venture from pole to pole in the company of scientists, explorers and local experts.

Told with a cinematic scale, access, and authenticity only National Geographic can deliver, this once-in-a-lifetime adventure blends cutting-edge science, environmental storytelling, and bold exploration. Guided by experts, scientists and explorers, Will helps make world-first scientific discoveries and forges profound human connections — from the Amazon’s Waorani community to the Kalahari’s San people, whose knowledge and resilience offer powerful lessons about our future on the planet. Pole to Pole with Will Smith  is an epic global undertaking defined by endurance, wonder and hope.

“This journey was unlike anything I’ve ever done — at times I feared I might not make it home! It’s an exploration not just of the planet’s edges, but of some of the most extraordinary people living there,” said Smith. “From the coldest ice to the deepest jungles, the beauty of our world inspired my every step with awe and hope.”

“With Pole to Pole with Will Smith , we’re inviting audiences to see our planet through Will’s eyes — with all the wonder, humor, and humanity he brings to every experience,” said Tom McDonald, EVP, Content, National Geographic. “It’s a thrilling adventure that embodies what National Geographic does best: combining jaw-dropping cinematography, powerful storytelling and a deeper understanding of how our world works – and why it matters.”

The series consists of 7 episodes, the first two of which premiere January 13 at 9/8c on National Geographic and begins streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. the remaining five episodes premiere the following three weeks. Pole to Pole with Will Smith is produced by Westbrook Studios, Nutopia, and Protozoa for National Geographic. Will Smith is host and executive producer. For Westbrook, Terence Carter and Miguel Melendez are executive producers. For Nutopia, Jane Root and Peter Lovering are executive producers, and Tom Williams is co-executive producer. For Protozoa, Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel are executive producers. For National Geographic, Sean D. Johnson and Bengt Anderson are executive producers, and Tom McDonald is executive vice president of Content. Following One Strange Rock and Welcome to Earth, Pole to Pole with Will Smith is Will’s third project with National Geographic. Let’s take a look at each episode:

‘The South Pole‘

Will heads to the South Pole, where temperatures can drop below minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit. He skis and treks across giant icefields, and, faced with a giant cliff of ice in bone-chilling winds, struggles to climb to the top. Only with the support of one of the world’s best polar athletes, Richard Parks, does he succeed. In one of the planet’s most isolated research stations, scientists take ice cores deep under the surface and make incredible sacrifices to pursue their research.

‘The Amazon: Deadly Creatures‘

Will, a man scared of spiders his entire life, ventures deep into the Ecuadorian Amazon on an expedition in search of deadly creatures. Joined by professor Bryan Fry and local mountaineer Carla Perez, they abseil 200 feet into a cave network known as the “womb of the Earth,” where they discover a giant tarantula. Using cutting-edge techniques, they extract its venom, which could hold the key to saving millions of lives.

‘The Amazon: Dark Waters‘

Will, Bryan and Carla join local Waorani elder Penti Baihua in the Amazon, in search of the world’s biggest snake: the giant green anaconda. They carefully remove just one scale from the 17-foot snake’s skin. Will’s fear turns into relief, then joy. The single scale can reveal the health of the entire ecosystem — crucial for the future of both wildlife and the Waorani.

‘The Himalayas‘

Will travels to the kingdom of Bhutan on a deeply intimate journey in search of the secret to happiness. Guided by happiness expert professor Dacher Keltner and local writer Tshering Denkar, Will treks to one of the highest and happiest villages in the Himalayas, at 13,000-foot altitude. While there, he confronts some of the most challenging moments of his extraordinary life and career.

‘The Pacific Islands‘

Joined by linguist Dr. Mary Walworth and local marine ecologist John Aini, Will travels to the South Pacific on an expedition to a remote island threatened by rising seas. What begins as an exploration into an incredible marine paradise transforms into a truly revelatory journey for Will about his own history as they record a lost language spoken by only five people. 

‘The Kalahari Desert‘

Will travels deep into the Kalahari Desert to meet the San people, one of the oldest hunter-gatherer groups on Earth. To discover the secret to their enduring success, he must join them on a hunt in one of the most inhospitable places on the planet. Led by local San bushman guide Kane Motswana, it’s not long before he realizes he’s entirely unsuited to this adventure.

‘The North Pole‘

The final leg of Will’s 100-day adventure is his most dangerous mission yet: an expedition to dive under the ice at the North Pole to help polar ecologist Allison Fong capture world-first scientific samples. But when a snowstorm and mechanical failure put the mission in crisis, Will learns what it takes to be a hero in real life.

Why You Should See Pole to Pole with Will Smith

I have enjoyed watching Will Smith over the decades as he has evolved from the Fresh Prince to a great actor. Therefore, I was excited to watch this series as soon as I learned about it. The first episode which is about the South Pole actually begins at the North Pole, so viewers get a preview of where the series will eventually end up. The series pushes Smith to his physical limits at times. I really like how it covers both the wildlife of these seven areas as well as the people who live there. It provides a great balance of the topics often covered by National Geographic. As with all of the productions done by National Geographic, the cinematography is incredible. 

The seven episodes of the series are released two per week beginning on January 13 and then every following Tuesday with the last one airing on February 3rd. Therefore, if you want to binge all of the episodes, then you will need to wait until Wednesday, February 4th when they will all be available for streaming. I really found this series both entertaining as well as educational and recommend watching it to learn more about the world in which we live. 

Be sure to watch Pole to Pole with Will Smith when the first episode premieres January 13 at 9/8c on National Geographic and begins streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Here is a trailer for the series.

Chris Hemsworth, the famous actor who has played many different roles, including Thor the God of Thunder in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has been involved in a number of different series and specials produced by National Geographic. In each of these, Chris has been pushing himself to his limits or surfing with sharks. However, now Chris reveals a more personal and emotional side of himself as he returns in  National Geographic’s Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip To Remember.

What Is Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip To Remember?

Today, more than 57 million people worldwide are living with dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease the most common cause. And every year, there are a staggering 10 million new cases of dementia worldwide, which begs the question: What can we do to help those affected by it? This question is what motivated Chris Hemsworth to return with his most personal mission yet: Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip To Remember . Moving beyond his own health as featured in the Limitless series, in this deeply emotional special, Chris embarks on an intimate motorcycle journey across Australia with his father, Craig, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, to rekindle memories and strengthen their bond, exploring the effective science of connection, community and nostalgia — crucial but often overlooked tools in protecting brain health.

In this touching and uplifting journey, inspired by Craig’s recent diagnosis, Chris and his father set out on their motorcycles on a “road trip back in time,” visiting people and places from their shared past, from suburban Melbourne to the wild expanses of Australia’s Northern Territories, to explore the profound science of social connection. Through the stunning, vast landscapes of Australia, Chris and Craig’s journey becomes a funny and moving exploration of a father and son’s bond, proving that love, community and shared experience can be potent medicine.

Their adventure, some of which Chris films himself, is guided by Dr. Suraj Samtani, a dementia specialist and clinical psychologist at the University of New South Wales Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, who worked with producers in collaboration with the Hemsworth family over the course of a year.

Dr. Samtani’s research, along with a recent global study of over 40,000 people across 14 countries, found that those who maintained regular social interactions cut their risk of developing dementia in half, with evidence showing that strong social connections can even slow cognitive decline after diagnosis. This critical finding provides the scientific foundation for the trip’s key beats, including the following:

• Reminiscence Therapy: revisiting past experiences by talking to someone about them, using objects from the past (like photos or home videos), or visiting places from the past is a great way to boost cognition.
• Social Connection: regular interactions, like talking with a friend or having a confidante, are shown to reduce the risk of early mortality.
• Social Bridging: participating in wider community activities, like volunteering or group walks, is linked to slower rates of cognitive decline.

“My Dad and I had always spoken about taking a trip back to the Northern Territory, where our family had lived years ago, but we had never been able to set aside the time to actually do it,” said Chris Hemsworth. “More recently the idea of taking that road trip reemerged with more pressing importance. The result was a more profound, more moving, and more surprising journey than I ever anticipated.”

The one-hour documentary, from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky’s Protozoa, Jane Root’s Nutopia, and Chris Hemsworth and Ben Grayson’s Wild State, premieres November 23 at 9/8c on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

NatGeo.com has also recently published an article on the research behind the show titled “The disturbing connection between loneliness and dementia”. It can be found here. 

Why You Should See Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip To Remember

I have enjoyed the work of Chris Hemsworth both on the big screen as well as on television including the two seasons of Limitless and his National Geographic special, Shark Beach, all of which are currently streaming on Disney+. Over the past few years, National Geographic has been creating some incredible shows and series for Disney+ and Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip To Remember is another great example. Unlike most documentary series where the viewer is just watching and learning interesting facts, this show really engages the viewers’ emotions as it explores the trials faced by many families who have a family member with some type of dementia. Our family and some of our friends have experienced the challenges of dementia including Alzheimer’s so this production had a personal interest to me. I am fascinated by the new research presented in this show as we learn more about how the brain works. I highly recommend Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip To Remember even if you usually don’t watch National Geographic shows. 

Be sure to watch Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip To Remember when it premieres on Nat Geo TV on Sunday November 23 at 9/8c and begins streaming on Disney+ on Hulu the following day. Here is a trailer for the show.

When one considers famous women from the ancient world, Cleopatra often tops the list. Yet despite her well known name, most of what we know about the Egyptian queen are buried in legend and stories written by the people who led to her downfall. In fact, only seven known images of her exist because the Romans who defeated her tried to erase all images of her. In addition to the many mysteries surrounding the Queen of the Nile, one secret still has yet to be solved: where is Cleopatra buried. This puzzle  will attempt to be answered in National Geographic’s new Cleopatra’s Final Secret.

What Is Cleopatra’s Final Secret?

Cleopatra’s Final Secret is a documentary that follows National Geographic explorer and archeologist Kathleen Martinez as she excavates in Egypt. Using her experience as a criminal attorney in the Dominican Republic, Martinez looks for clues as to where Cleopatra’s tomb might lie. If the Romans had captured her, they would have taken her back to Rome as with other defeated leaders. However, since there is no record of this, Martinez believes Cleopatra took her own life an arranged for her body to be hidden in a secret tomb where the Romans would never find her. After researching and exploring for about 20 years, Martinez has identified what she believes is a temple that might have been dedicated to Isis, the Egyptian god who was most identified with Cleopatra.

While excavating, her team discovered a tunnel that led to the ocean and a submerged site miles offshore in the Mediterranean. She has enlisted Titanic discoverer Bob Ballard, the Egyptian Navy, and a team of archaeologists and divers to help her explore this mysterious location. Their discovery of a port possibly destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami in 365 AD could provide more clues to the lost tomb. National Geographic has posted an article about this discovery at their website. 

Cleopatra’s Final Secret premieres Sept. 25 at 10/9c on National Geographic and begins streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. 

Why You Should See Cleopatra’s Final Secret

National Geographic has produced many great series that focus on ancient history as they have looked for lost cities and studied civilizations that have disappeared over millennia. I have enjoyed watching many of them and have even had opportunities to interview National Geographic explorers. Therefore, when I heard about Cleopatra’s Final Secret, I was excited to view it. I was not disappointed. I had not heard of Kathleen Martinez before this show. However, her interest in archeology and especially Cleopatra led to her set aside her law practice and travel to Egypt to find clues pointing her towards Cleopatra’s final resting place. Using skills developed in criminal justice, she was able to deduce that a temple in ruins that did not appear on many ancient and more modern maps may have been a main temple of Isis and a place where Cleopatra may have had her body taken.

Cleopatra’s Final Secret keeps viewers engaged as she follows clues from exploring a main temple of Isis in the southern part of the Egyptian empire and using that to identify a northern main temple to the goddess at the ruins of Taposiris Magna. Even when the trail disappears into the ocean, Martinez brings in an expert on finding things underwater and makes an incredible discovery. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this show and highly recommend it, especially if you have even a faint interest in ancient history. 

Be sure to watch Cleopatra’s Final Secret when it premieres Sept. 25 at 10/9c on National Geographic and begins streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Here is a trailer for the series.

What Is Top Guns: The Next Generation?

Top Guns: The Next Generation is a documentary series that follows a class of Navy and Marine Corps student pilots as they enter the final and most unforgiving phase of elite strike fighter training. It’s six months of high-stakes aerial training, brutal physical demands, and emotional reckoning—where only the top performers earn the chance to fly the most coveted aircrafts.  The series goes beyond the cockpit, following ambitious young Navy and Marine students both in the air and off-base, capturing candid moments with family and friends and revealing the personal stakes, sacrifices and motivations that brought them here. Filmed with unprecedented access, it immerses audiences in a world of intense pressure and soaring expectations, where dreams of earning wings of gold collide with the harsh reality of the grueling training. From bombing drills to close-range dogfights and nail-biting carrier approaches, each episode captures the intense demands of a program that challenges their abilities, endurance and resolve at every turn.

While the emotional stakes fuel the story, it’s in the skies where the drama hits full throttle. Outfitted with in-cockpit cameras, the series delivers a breathtaking front-row experience to capture moments of precision, panic and hard-fought triumph as they happen. Filmed by some of the creative talent behind the blockbuster film Top Gun: Maverick, the aerial sequences are cinematic and pulse-pounding, pushing the limits of what these student aviators—and their aircraft—can do.

The series consists of 6 episodes, the first of which premieres Sept. 16 at 9/8c on National Geographic and begins streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Top Guns: The Next Generation is produced by Rex, a Zinc Media Group Label, for National Geographic. For Rex, the executive producer is Tanya Shaw, the series director is Lana Salah, and the showrunners are Karen Edwards and Chris Parkin. For National Geographic, the executive producer is Simon Raikes, Bengt Anderson is senior vice president of Unscripted Content, and Tom McDonald is the executive vice president of Global Factual and Unscripted Content. Let’s take a look at each episode:

‘Strike’

One student’s dreams of becoming a fighter pilot are put in jeopardy as the class starts advanced phase training with a set of breathtaking bombing tests. Diving at speeds they’ve never faced before, students struggle with the dynamic moves and start to make high-risk mistakes. Instructors deliver tough assessments in the debriefs to keep the students safe.

‘Catching the Wire’

Landing on an aircraft carrier demands precision flying and is a skill vital for all U.S. Navy fighter pilots. As the students tackle the longest and most technical section of the Advanced Phase, they know it’s a test they must pass to keep their dreams alive. The pressure mounts on some struggling students, and the commanding officer issues a timely warning to one. 

‘Attack Attack’

As the students reach the midpoint of their training, they start the iconic dogfighting phase. Against them are seasoned instructors with hundreds of hours of real-world experience. To pass, they must outmaneuver the enemy to take a “kill shot.” One student has the added pressure of flying with his Top Gun-trained commodore, while another struggles to control his aggressive instincts.

‘Fight’s On’

As they enter the second and most challenging phase of dog fighting, everything is on the line for our students. Defensive dogfighting involves dynamic maneuvers to evade battle-hardened instructors. The physical strain proves too much for one student, while another has a crisis of confidence when past failures come back to haunt him. 

‘Head-to-Head’

The students face their final test in an iconic head-to-head dogfight against an instructor. To pass, they must bring all the skills they’ve learned during their Advanced Phase training. With graduation just days away, students start to worry about their final grades and whether they will get the posting they—and in many cases, their families—want.

‘Last Chance’

It’s graduation week. For the remaining students, it means they have one last chance to prove they deserve their prestigious fighter pilot wings. Standing in their way is a tense head-to-head dogfight against an instructor. Past failures come back to haunt one student, and another’s whole fighter pilot future comes down to a single flight with their commanding officer.

Why You Should See Top Guns: The Next Generation

I saw Top Gun in a theater on opening night and loved it. That movie was a fictional account of naval aviators learning advanced combat tactics at the Navy’s premiere school for dogfighting. Top Guns: The Next Generation looks at real navy pilots as they go through the rigorous process of learning and qualifying to become fighter pilots. As one would expect of a National Geographic production, the cinematography is incredible–especially for the flight scenes. However, I really enjoyed the story as well as the visuals. The series starts of with the students learning the dangerous maneuvers required to drop a bomb on a ground target. It continues following the class of students as they progress to dogfighting and other combat tactics. Over the course of the six episodes, viewers get to know these pilots and empathize with what they are going through. While I love the flight scenes, I also found myself enjoying the conversations between the pilots and their reflections they shared with the cameras. 

The six episodes of the series are released one per week beginning on September 16 and then every following Tuesday with the last one airing on October 21. Therefore, if you want to binge all of the episodes, then you will need to wait until Wednesday, October 22nd when they will all be available for streaming. I really found this series both entertaining as well as educational. I did not realize what pilots had to do to become qualified to fly fighter jets. While I have always had respect for those who serve and defend our country, I more greatly appreciate the sacrifices they endure just to get into the cockpits of a fighter jet. I highly recommend this series and encourage everyone to watch it whether they are fans of aviation or not. The aircraft are just the icing on the cake while the human stories are the substance that holds the series together. 

Be sure to watch Top Guns: The Next Generation when the first episode premieres Sept. 16 at 9/8c on National Geographic and begins streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Here is a trailer for the series.

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed several references and allusions to the same quote: “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”

The quote is from 1984 by George Orwell, and even if you’ve never read the book you’re probably already aware of some of the themes. It’s where we get the term “Big Brother” because of the surveillance state in the book, and it’s also a fictionalized account of a totalitarian government that a lot of folks have found reflections of in our own government. This year is the 75th anniversary of its publication, and I think that has brought it into the spotlight even more. (To be sure, I think parallels between 1984 and our government have been made long before now, but it does seem like they may be piling up at an increasing rate these days. I’ll leave that as an exercise to the reader.)

At any rate, I’ve always been interested in this sort of coincidence, the “something’s in the water” situations where a particular idea feels like it’s on a lot of people’s minds. Of course, some of that is due to that frequency illusion, like where you see a whole lot of Honda Civics because you noticed one and then start to see them everywhere. That can happen with specific words, too—but it’s less often that I come across an entire quote multiple times in different contexts, so I wanted to explore that a little.

The first was just a straightforward reference to Orwell himself. Asha Dornfest (one of the original contributors at GeekDad!) has an email newsletter called “Parent of Adults,” talking about the experience of still being a parent to people who are now technically adults but are still your children. One of her latest newsletters mentioned a book, Orwell’s Roses by Rebecca Solnit, which is about a rose garden that Orwell planted at his home, but also about “the nature of language, beauty, power, propaganda, injustice, and joy.” It sounds like a fascinating book and I’ve added it to my list, but the quote in question came up in reference to Trump’s executive order about the Smithsonian.

That leads me to the next reference, which was directly related: Meghna Chakrabarti, host of the On Point radio show, interviewed David Blight, Sterling Professor of History and Black Studies at Yale University. Trump’s executive order from March 27 this year, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” is about giving the White House the ability to vet anything that the Smithsonian wants to display and will withhold funding for anything they deem inappropriate. While they didn’t state the exact quote, Blight and Chakrabarti referenced 1984 and talked about the idea that this executive order is trying to exert control over history, “that the only truth available in that society [in 1984]… is the truth created by power.”

This battle over history and how it is presented or taught isn’t new. For instance, the controversy over statues of Confederates (as well as the flag itself) is often framed by some as “preserving history,” that statues should be kept not because they honor the Confederacy but simply because they are part of the historical record. But now the parts of American history that aren’t so perfect—anything that suggests that our nation has had any blemishes at all—are considered something to be erased in one of the most significant history museums in the nation.

As George Santayana famously wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Who does it benefit when we erase records of the past?

In Dissolution by Nicholas Binge, memory plays a key part of the plot. Robin Books wrote a more in-depth review of it back in March, but I finally got around to reading it just in time to add another instance of the “controlling the past” reference. Maggie has been recruited by a mysterious man Hassan to dig through the memories of her husband Stanley, who suffers from dementia. Using a strange tool called the memory spade, she is able to jump into Stanley’s past, watching as he and his boarding school professor develop techniques to extend their memories in the hopes of attaining “perfect memory” … but then everything falls apart. Hassan is convinced that Stanley’s memories still hold the key to unlocking perfect memory, but that there are people working against him who have erased his mind. Who benefits when Stanley’s memories are gone?

There are parts of the book that reminded me of the film Inception, because the whole book is Maggie narrating a memory of diving into Stanley’s memories. It can get difficult keeping track of which timeline you’re in, but that feels intentional. As things unfold and we gradually piece together the relationships between Maggie and Stanley and Hassan, we start to see that this really is about controlling the past in order to control the future, and Maggie needs to figure out who she trusts with the answers she has uncovered.

Lately I’ve been playing Relic Hunters Legend, a videogame released last month on PC and Xbox. It’s a little shooter-RPG game, where you play as various cartoony characters fighting the evil Ducan empire (who are apparently a bunch of cloned ducks). The game allows for online cooperative play, though I’ve just been playing it solo, and despite the fact that it’s mostly a run-around-and-shoot-things game, I was pleasantly surprised to find a decent storyline with some depth.

One of the central figures is Seven, the white-haired figure seen in the image above, who wakes up in the desert with no memory and is quickly recruited by the Relic Hunter team. As you play through the various missions, you learn more about each of the characters and their relationships with each other, and you get tantalizing hints about Seven’s past—sometimes literally, because certain things trigger a trip into the past. It’s also a good excuse to give us backstories about some of the villains of the story, too—we see how some of the characters became who they are, and some of them even get a chance at redemption. There’s another faction that comes into play later on called the Timekeepers, and they have the ability to jump around in time—but their agenda is unclear.

One of the things that struck me about the game was the way that there is some uncertainty about the ongoing conflict between the Relic Hunters and the Ducans—on the one hand, the Ducans are pretty terrible, attacking villages and stealing relics (for a purpose that is revealed later). On the other, the Relic Hunters aren’t universally welcomed as heroes even when they show up to fight the Ducans or try to recover relics for the villagers. There’s a lot of collateral damage. The Relic Hunters have things they have to unlearn and relearn as they interact with these other communities.

And, yes, the “control the past” quote shows up here, too, in a videogame. Granted, it is taken a bit more literally here, as there is actual time travel involved and the relics are a key part of that. Controlling the past, here, isn’t just about what information is shared or allowed, but also about physically obtaining the relics themselves. But it definitely felt like it was also a metaphor, that the videogame’s story was also alluding to some of our real-world struggles.

As far as the actual gameplay goes, there’s a big map with lots of different locations to explore and types of missions—scavenge and look for treasure chests and elements, escort a payload while waves of enemies try to attack, control king-of-the-hill style points, and so on. There’s an overwhelming number of items to collect and you can outfit your characters, choosing accessories and shields and weapons, upgrading them and modifying them to suit your play style and each character’s special abilities. I have finished the main storyline but there’s still a lot of things that can be unlocked.

Here’s a TV show that, although I haven’t heard them use Orwell’s quote explicitly, definitely leans heavily on the theme of controlling the past—in this case, tightly restricting information about the past. Silo is an Apple TV+ show based on the book series by Hugh Howey (starting with Wool). Wool was originally published back in 2011 and I’d heard a lot about it but just never got around to reading it; the TV series began in 2023, with two seasons currently available. I’ve just finished the first season and have watched the beginning of the second.

The show takes place in an underground silo, some unspecified time in the future. There was presumably some sort of apocalyptic event that informed the creation of the silo, which houses 10,000 people, but there are also references to “The Rebellion” that took place within the Silo a long time ago. Artifacts that predate the rebellion are illegal, and any that are discovered are carefully tracked by Judicial, the governmental department. Even discussing or asking questions about life before the Rebellion is likely to get you in trouble.

There are lots of hints of 1984 in Silo: some of the more paranoid residents whisper about being watched, about the way that they are being controlled. Giant screens purport to show the wastelands outside, and being sent outside is basically a death sentence—nobody lasts more than a few minutes before collapsing. But there are people asking questions and digging for answers, and many of them start turning up dead. What is the purpose of the silo? What is actually outside? Why are these artifacts from the past so closely guarded? Again: who benefits when the past is erased? As the first season progressed, we started to get some more explicit answers, though there are still plenty of mysteries to unravel, and the first season ended on a huge cliffhanger that raised even more questions.

Even while I was thinking about those references to the George Orwell quote, I started another book in which similar themes cropped up: The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso. The story starts in Nuremberg, 1938, during the beginning of Kristallnacht. A Jewish watchmaker, who has long entertained his young daughter with stories about a magical pocketwatch that “let him talk to Time itself,” reveals to her that all his stories were true. As his shop comes under attack, he opens a magical door and sends Lisavet through, telling her to stay put until he’s able to go out and fetch her brother.

But he never returns, and Lisavet finds herself in a mysterious space: dark, full of towering shelves filled with books, and apparently populated by ghosts, though most of the time they leave her alone. She is finally told by one ghost that she is in the “time space,” a place that is apparently outside of time; the books are the memories of people who have died, and her father was a timekeeper, one of a number of people who were able to step into this time space using specially made watches. Since Lisavet doesn’t have the watch, she is unable to leave the space and return to the normal world, but she encounters other timekeepers from various countries, and soon learns that they are engaged in a type of warfare that involves tracking down specific memory books and burning them, erasing all knowledge of them from history. It’s another very literal method of controlling the past, and Lisavet starts to work against them to rescue the books.

Jumping ahead to 1965, we meet Amelia—her uncle Ernest has just passed away recently, and she soon learns that he wasn’t just an employee from the State Department, but was in fact a timekeeper working for the CIA, and the watch that she inherited from him gives her the ability to enter the time space as well. The story goes back and forth between Ernest’s early days as a timekeeper and the “present” day, where Amelia contends with a CIA handler Moira Donnelly who insists that Amelia track down her uncle’s lost book, somewhere in the time space. We eventually piece together the connections between Lisavet and Ernest, Amelia and Moira. The CIA has a specific agenda it is pursuing, but there is some sort of rebellion occurring among the timekeepers from various nations, and Amelia is caught in the middle. It’s a really fascinating book and I enjoyed it, and it raised some really interesting questions about memory and the past, and the characters are forced to make some very tough choices along the way.

The last book on the list is a bit sillier and lighter, though I think it still fits the theme. It’s actually an interactive graphic novel: Star Trek: Lower Decks—Warp Your Own Way, written by Ryan North and illustrated by Chris Fenoglio. Based on the animated TV show, the book is a choose-your-own-path story featuring Lieutenant Mariner, who is awakened against her will hours before her shift. After choosing whether she should have some coffee or Klingon raktajino, she sets off to bug some of the other crew of the Cerritos … and then inevitably disaster strikes. Lieutenant Boimler has an infestation of tribbles; the Borg have taken over the ship; even Khan makes an appearance. Mariner ends up dead over and over again—sometimes the entire ship explodes.

Unlike most choose-a-path stories, though, this one isn’t just a random romp through different choices. Although Mariner is only experiencing one storyline at a time, you have memories of all the timelines she’s encountered, and your knowledge of the branching timelines actually becomes part of the story itself. It’s a pretty brilliant use of the genre, and gives a different feel to the usual “search for the good ending” that happens in many of these books. You don’t have to be very familiar with Star Trek: Lower Decks to enjoy the book, either—I’ve only watched the first episode of the show myself—but it does help to have at least some passing knowledge of Star Trek even if it’s just some of the tropes.

Today’s column, as you can tell, is a little bit different from the usual. I’d been drafting this even before the events of last week, which really brought a lot of my thoughts about controlling the past and controlling the narrative to the forefront. I don’t want to delve too deeply into it here, but I quickly saw very different narratives being presented about who somebody is, who’s an enemy, what somebody said or did. There’s a significance to what news was focused on and what was left out. The story of Nepal’s government being overthrown, of the first election of a prime minister via Discord poll, seems hugely significant, but was completely overshadowed. (Of particular relevance was the fact that Nepal’s government also tried to control the narrative by shutting down social media that was being used to highlight corruption and inequality.)

As I said before, these themes are nothing new. They were around even before Orwell penned 1984 seventy-five years ago, and I imagine a century from now there will still be struggles over how history is taught and what stories are told. I think it’s important to dig for what’s true, and not just for what makes us look good. The lesson I see over and over again in these stories is that past is worth remembering, even if parts of it are painful or ugly.

I’ve just started reading Annalee Newitz’s Stories are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind. It is about the way that we are manipulated through stories and media, and explores how propaganda and misinformation are used—and, importantly, how to protect ourselves from this manipulation. I haven’t gotten to that part yet, but it feels like a timely study.

Take care of each other this week. Hug your kids.

Disclosure: I received review copies of Dissolution, The Book of Lost Hours, and Warp Your Own Way, as well as a Steam review code for Relic Hunters. Affiliate links to Bookshop.org help support my writing and independent bookstores.

What Is Limitless: Live Better Now?

Limitless:Live Better Now is the second season of a documentary series that follows Chris Hemsworth has he puts his body through the paces to take it further than he thought possible.  This time, Chris returns with a bold new mission: discovering how we can all live better—starting today. Filmed across six countries over two years, Chris draws from cutting-edge science and the wisdom of elders to push himself further than ever—both physically and mentally—as he confronts some of life’s most universal challenges: pain, fear and cognitive decline. With no prior experience, he learns to play the drums for a live performance with GRAMMY Award-winner Ed Sheeran. Then, he scales a dizzying 600 foot climbing wall in the Swiss Alps to embrace risk. Finally, he joins the South Korean Special Forces, enduring electrocution and pepper spray, to confront his long struggle with chronic pain and reconfigure his response to it. In each episode, what Chris discovers can help us all change our lives.

The season consists of 3 unique episodes, all of which premiere on Disney+ starting Friday, August 15th. Limitless:Live Better Now  is produced by Nutopia and Protozoa for National Geographic. Executive producers are Darren Aronofsky (Protozoa), Jane Root (Nutopia), Ari Handel (Protozoa), Arif Nurmohamed (Nutopia), Chris Hemsworth (Wild State), and Benjamin Grayson (Wild State). Let’s take a look at each episode:

‘Brain Power’

Inspired by the benefits of learning a new skill, which aids memory and cognitive function, Chris Hemsworth takes up drumming. When he is invited to join Ed Sheeran onstage at a stadium concert, Chris has just months to master the instrument and conquer his nerves to perform in front of 70,000 fans. It’s a challenge that pushes him beyond his limits.

‘Pain’

Chris Hemsworth sets out to confront his chronic pain in a bold, immersive journey through South Korea. Guided by pain expert Dr. BJ Miller, he explores ancient healing traditions and cutting-edge science. Chris faces “pain valley” in the final test, a brutal gauntlet of Special Forces trials that will push him to his limits.

‘Risk’

Chris Hemsworth pushes his limits by attempting to climb a 600-foot Alpine dam in the Swiss Alps. Inspired by his children’s carefree risk-taking, Chris learns from experts how exposure therapy and Flow — a state of hyperfocus — can improve mental and physical health, showing how taking risks as adults can lead to a happier, healthier life.

Why You Should See Limitless: Live Better Now

Not only have I enjoyed the work of Chris Hemsworth both on the big screen as well as on television as well as the first season of Limitless,  I enjoyed his National Geographic special, Shark Beach which also is currently streaming on Disney+. Over the past few years, National Geographic has been creating some incredible shows and series for Disney+ and Limitless: Live Better Now is another great example. Unlike most documentary series where the viewer is just watching and learning interesting facts, this show pulls the viewer in since the episodes focus on topics that apply to everyone. Previously I have shown portions of the first season to my high school Life Science class and look forward to using the second season in class as we learn about the human body. I highly recommend Limitless: Live Better Now even if you usually don’t watch National Geographic shows with its combination of entertainment and education. 

Be sure to watch Limitless: Live Better Now when it begins streaming on Disney+ on Friday August 15th. Here is a trailer for the series.

I’ve been ranking and rating things for years. A few years back, when I painstakingly ranked every TV show I’ve ever loved, the number two show on my list was Nickelodeon’s animated Avatar: The Last Airbender. To this day, when I want to reference a show that has characters with well-written multi-season arcs, this is the show. It’s no wonder that this nearly 20-year-old cartoon maintains such a devoted fan base. Last year, Netflix’s long-awaited live action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender came out, and my family devoured it. While I’ll agree that no remake will ever stand up to the greatness of the animated original, the live action Avatar: The Last Airbender was pure fan service in the best way possible. I’ve recently learned that the show has been renewed for seasons two and three, and that the second season has already wrapped filming. I immediately went back and re-watched the available season, cementing my views on a number of things about the show, not least the casting. 

Casting

Hands-down my favorite character in the live action adaptation is Ian Ousley’s Sokka. He replicates the animated Sokka’s cartoonish vibe wonderfully. Of course, Sokka was also my favorite character in the animated series. Full disclosure: my cat is named Sokka.

Gordon Cormier was also excellent as the live action Aang. His voice and his facial expressions do a better job than I’d thought possible of bringing the title character to life. Both Aang’s childish playfulness and his precocious solemnity come through in Cormier’s acting. 

Nobody else will ever be a replacement for the great Mako, who voiced Iroh in the original series. But Paul Sun-Hyung Lee does as good a job as is possible. 

I was lukewarm on the portrayals of Katara and Bumi, and both Azula and Gran Gran just did not work at all for me. But Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai works in a way I’d not have expected. Lastly, they cast Matthew Yang King as the voices of Appa and Momo, which excited me, as I was a big fan of his on the GeeksOn podcast twenty years ago.

Effects

The most important effects work in the show was always going to be the bending. And in that, the show has succeeded. The water whips, flame sprays, and stone walls all look excellent and realistic. Even Aang’s gliding and spiral levitation look good.

Likewise the show’s creatures such as Koh the Face Stealer and June’s shirshu Nyla look great. 

The only complaint I can muster about the special effects is that occasionally when the kids jump high into the air, flipping and whirling, it looks wildly unrealistic. 

Fan Service 

Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender are wildly devoted and can be somewhat fanatical about adherence to canon. That’s why I was so pleased to see characters like Koh the Face Stealer, The Mechanist and his paralyzed son, June the bounty Hunter and her shirshu mount, and Jet the straw-chewing freedom fighter make an appearance.

The Blue Spirit plot, although truncated and slightly altered, was adapted beautifully from the original. And when Azula eventually pulled out the lightning in a somewhat spectacular display, I no longer cared that the actress didn’t look or sound like her animated counterpart.

The song Leaves From The Vine, along with Mako’s rendition and voice acting of Iroh, has brought many an Avatar fan to tears. Its subtle incorporation into a few select scenes of this adaptation likely went completely unnoticed by many viewers, but those of us who know Lu Ten’s story caught the reference.

And although it was altered, even the name Bonzu Pippinpaddleopsicopolis the Third showed up. That one got a huge cheer in my house. But not as large a cheer as when the cabbage merchant showed up in Omashu. Even before he said the words, my family was screaming “My cabbages!”

But easily my favorite bit of fan service came in episode 4 during the Cave of Two Lovers interlude when the minstrels made an appearance, looking exactly the way they had in the cartoon. It’s probably my favorite episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and those actors absolutely nailed the role, from the floppy dancing to the stoner vibe of the singer. I only wish he’d had more hilariously idiotic one-liners to drive Sokka crazy.

All I can say at this point is that if Melon Lord doesn’t make an appearance in upcoming seasons, I might lose my mind.

What Is Underdogs?

Underdogs is a five-part television series that showcases a different aspect of the underdogs’ bizarre mating strategies, surprising superpowers, deception, dubious parenting skills and gross-out behaviors. It features a range of never-before-filmed scenes, including the first time a film crew has ever entered a special cave in New Zealand—a huge cavern that glows brighter than a bachelor pad under a black light thanks to the glowing butts of millions of mucus-coated grubs. All over the world, overlooked superstars like this are out there 24/7, giving it maximum effort and keeping the natural world in working order for all those showboating polar bears, sharks and gorillas.

From Reynolds’ Emmy Award-winning Maximum Effort and Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning Wildstar Films (a Fremantle company), National Geographic’s Underdogs premieres with the first two episodes on June 15 and will be simulcast on the ABC network. Underdogs will also be available to stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. The remaining episodes are broadcast the following two Sundays. Let’s take a look at the each of the five episodes.

‘Superzeroes’

Ryan Reynolds assembles a team of “Superzeroes,” apparently pathetic animals with unexpectedly awesome superpowers. Forget about the cheetah’s speed, the eagle’s eyesight or the elephant’s brute strength, and say hello to the invisible glass frog, the indestructible honey badger and the pistol shrimp who can fire bubbles that are as hot as the surface of the sun.

‘Terrible Parents’

Reynolds reveals some highly questionable parenting strategies from the animal kingdom’s worst parents, the underdogs. From a goose who lays their eggs on the top of a cliff to a koala that feeds its baby poop, it’s uncertain if they are bad parents or just misunderstood. But no matter how bad you think you may be at parenting, you can’t be as bad as these guys.

‘Sexy Beasts’

Forget the birds and the bees, Ryan reveals the steps to finding “the one,” underdog-style. From the “first attraction” in giant-nosed proboscis monkeys to the importance of wingmen in turkey courtship to foreplay in flying foxes, these guys have re-written the rule book on messy and complicated relationships.

‘The Unusual Suspects’

Ryan Reynolds puts the spotlight on the underdogs who get ahead by sneaky tactics. From the master-of-disguise frogfish to a butt-biting jackal and a multi-headed caterpillar playing the decoy, these are the masters of deception and deceit. And bringing all these hustlers together is the greatest con artist of them all—a cunning macaque who feeds on the spoils from unsuspecting tourists.

‘Total Grossout’

Ryan gives his unique take on the animals who use gross-out tactics to achieve their goals, from defending their home to finding a mate and wining at the game of life. His cast includes manatees that use flatulence to control their buoyancy and cave-dwelling fungus gnats that create beautiful, illuminated fly traps from the mucus lit by their bioluminescent butts.

Why You Should See Underdogs

I used to think nature documentaries were boring. However, over the past several years, National Geographic has created some wonderful series that are not only informational and educational, but also very entertaining. When I learned that a new series narrated by Ryan Reynolds was coming out, I wanted to check it out. Just as Reynolds puts his own brand of humor in the many different things he does, he is now part of a nature show along those same lines. As a result, this is a nature documentary series unlike any other you may have seen in the past. Expect to see some disgusting things that animals do in real life and to be shocked at some of their behaviors. After reviewing these episodes, I  recommend Underdogs. The series is rated TV14 and may not be appropriate for some children since it covers some more mature topics and contains some scenes of violence in nature as well as images that are just gross. In my opinion, I would recommend for high school age children and older. 

Be sure to watch Underdogs when it premieres Sunday June 15th on NatGeo TV as well as ABC and begins streaming the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.

Here is a trailer for the series.

Although I’ve never read many comics outside of a few Spider-man issues back in the 1980s, The Marvel Cinematic Universe has turned me into a huge Marvel nerd. With The Thunderbolts* having made it to theaters this month, Marvel has closed out Phase 5 of their films, and only one of the eight Phase 5 Disney Plus shows remains: Ironheart premieres on June 24th. With Phase 5 now wrapping up, it seems an opportune time to review and rank the six films and seven available television shows in The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 5.

Please note that this article will contain spoilers for Thunderbolts*, Captain America: Brave New World, and Daredevil: Born Again.

Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 5 Movies

6 – Captain America: Brave New World

So much went wrong with this film that might have gone right. It could have followed in the impressive footsteps of Captain America and The Winter Soldier, being a well-made espionage thriller. Instead, the film was haunted by COVID delays and other behind-the-scenes that can’t have helped its production. William Hurt, who would have been the film’s star alongside Anthony Mackie, passed away in March of 2022 and deprived us of the General Ross that we’ve loved to hate since Edward Norton’s The Incredible Hulk. That 2008 film also gave us Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns, AKA Mister Blue.

Tim Blake Nelson is an incredible actor, and one of the best things about Captain America: Brave New World. But his character’s abilities and the overall story around his plot were either poorly thought-out or just poorly explained to the audience. In the end, I found the film’s plot to be as confusing as the politics in the Star Wars prequels. Maybe I just need to watch the film again.

The great Giancarlo Esposito is a welcome addition to nearly anything. But his role in Captain America: Brave New World felt like a last-minute rewrite, and his scenes felt like something out of a different movie. I again attribute this to COVID delays and behind-the scenes troubles. Oh well, they can’t all be great.

5 – Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was largely collateral damage of Marvel’s false start into Phase 5 that ended with Jonathan Majors’s criminal assault charges. Kang may have been a great big bad – Majors was a great Kang, and an even better Victor Timely in the second season of Loki, but I can now only pine for what might have been a great villain.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania had a lot of CG. It felt like Tron levels of CG. And while characters like Broccoli Guy and Veb (voiced by the great David Dastmalchian) were fun, I felt at times like I was watching an animated film. Along the same lines, while it seems fun to bring an absolutely insane character like M.O.D.O.K. to a live action film, his presence may have pushed the film’s silly levels above acceptable tolerances.

4 – The Marvels

It was panned by many critics, but I enjoyed The Marvels. Having seen the three title characters’ origin stories in Captain Marvel, WandaVision, and Ms. Marvel respectively, it was great to see the three of them come together and defeat the MCU’s flattest villain since Malekith, Kaecilius, and Ronan the Accuser.

I’ll admit that the having the crew be saved by being devoured by a litter of flerkins was flat-out stupid. And I wasn’t a huge fan of the planet on which Carol had married into royalty and had to sing everything in order to be understood. Yeah, now that I’m remembering everything, the film absolutely had some weak spots. But every damn scene with Kamala’s family was fantastic.

3 – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3

The Guardians of the Galaxy films have always been in a class of their own. Drax was for a long time my favorite MCU character, Kraglin is nearly as good, and before this series, nobody could have predicted that an animated tree and a raccoon could be characters as good as this. While the first Guardians of the Galaxy film was possibly the best of them, I was an enormous fan of the second, and I liked it even more each time I re-watched it. Its emphasis on family was well-done in a way you’d never expect from a ridiculous super-hero film.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is an emotional journey and an exploration of Racket Raccoon’s past. While The High Evolutionary isn’t Marvel’s greatest villain, he suffices. What truly makes this film outstanding is its humor, its character, and its scenes. The raid on OrgoCorp which begins with the guardians leaping from their airlock wearing Crayola-colored spacesuits, set to SpaceHog’s In The Meantime is such a visual spectacle set perfectly to a killer needle drop while Mantis tumbles clumsily through vacuum. I challenge you to watch the scene and not be impressed.

Cosmo the soviet space dog, who had a brief appearance in earlier Guardians films, becomes a full character in this film, and also my then-eleven-year-old daughter’s favorite MCU character. I was also very impressed by Will Poulter’s portrayal of born-yesterday Adam Warlock.

2 – The Thunderbolts*

At the time I’m writing this, it’s been less than a week since I’ve seen The Thunderbolts*, so it’s still relatively fresh in my mind. That said, I’m about to spoil the heck out of the movie, so if you haven’t seen it yet, please don’t read further.

I was very surprised that they killed off Taskmaster as early in the film as they did, but given how seldom any characters are given any kind of final end in a comic book movie, I think it was for the best.

I always get nervous when any character as powerful as Sentry makes an appearance – it wreaks of G’iah in Secret Invasion, which is easily the worst single property that the MCU has ever released. I’ve often wondered whether super-speed or telekinesis would be the ultimate unstoppable superpower. Well, Sentry has both and a few more to boot. His mental health struggles appear to be the only thing keeping him from Dark Phoenix territory. I can only hope that this egregious power imbalance is addressed at some point in the future.

I liked that the end boss in this film was mental health. It’s a different tack, and the movie made it work. 

Lastly, the reveal in the movie’s final minutes that the Thunderbolts team is in fact The New Avengers makes me feel a lot of different things. It’s cool in that you immediately realize that this was the film’s original title, and that it was changed in order to not spoil this end scene. It’s concerning in that this team isn’t a fraction as powerful as Iron Man, Hulk, and Thor were, and the impending threats are likely worse. And it makes you think about what might be next, as The Fantastic Four enter the picture.

1 – Deadpool and Wolverine

And now, the best film in phase five. I’ll grant you that this is just my opinion, but I loved Deadpool and Wolverine. It’s such a shame I couldn’t bring my kids. And no, they still haven’t seen it. Not even the one turning 18 this month.

The inclusion of the TVA as a way to bring together alternate universes was excellent, and I loved seeing B-15 as a significant character. However the biggest jackpot was seeing so many characters from 25 years ago back on screen. My personal favorite was Wesley Snipes as Blade, whom I’d never have expected. So many folks don’t even realize that Blade was Marvel. “Laura”, Logan’s buddy from another timeline, was also very cool. Elektra was a nice surprise, as terrible as her movie and Ben Affleck’s Daredevil movie were. The bait-and-switch of having Chris Evans as The Human Torch was also a lot of fun, but reminded me all too much of the Green Lantern joke from the previous film. And Channing Tatum as Gambit was a better character than I’d ever have expected. I also really appreciated the return of Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Pyro from the X-Men films, and the original Sabretooth from the original X-Men film in 2000.

Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 5 Television

Now we move on to the phase five television shows, airing on Disney Plus. Seven of the eight phase five shows are already out. We’re awaiting only Ironheart, which comes out on June 24th. From worst to best, this is how I see it.

7 – Secret Invasion

Secret Invasion could have been an amazing paranoid suspense thriller. Not only was it bad, it was likely the worst show that Marvel has created since the MCU’s inception. It’s sad, because the cast was excellent. Emilia Clarke is incredibly talented, and Cobie Smulders, Ben Mendelsohn, Don Cheadle, and Martin Freeman are also Marvel heavyweights. I don’t know exactly where Secret Invasion failed. But I won’t be going back to re-watch it and find out. It’s dull and it’s uninspiring. 

6 – Echo

Hawkeye is my favorite of the MCU shows, and that’s where Echo was introduced. So I was fairly excited for the show before its release. I watched it, and I was underwhelmed.

Vincent D’Onofrio will elevate pretty much anything, especially with his Kingpin portrayal. But his Kingpin in Echo wasn’t up to the snuff of his Kingpin in Daredevil: Born Again, and even that wasn’t as good as the Kingpin we got in the amazing season three of Netflix’s Daredevil season.

At this point, I can’t recall much of what the characters did in this show, outside of Echo and Kingpin trying to reconcile their relationship. 

5 – What If…? Season 3

I have a confession to make. The third season of What If…? is the only existing MCU property that I haven’t watched all the way through. I stuck it through Secret Invasion, I’ve seen all the Marvel One-Shots, and I’ve even watched Werewolf By Night and Moon Knight twice each.

It’s funny – during the first year of the Disney Plus Marvel shows, What If…? was tied for my favorite alongside WandaVision. I’m not sure what happened. It’s not as if I think the show is bad. I just don’t have interest. It’s probably for the best that season three is supposed to wrap this show up.

4 – Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was a great alternate-universe Spider-Man story. This Peter Parker has a story which parallels the canon MCU Peter Parker’s history in fascinating ways. Doctor Strange, temporal and dimensional shenanigans all play into his origin story, and interesting new characters are introduced. All in all, this was a well-told original story which touched on MCU canon enough to feel relevant while remaining its own distinct entity.

3 – Agatha All Along

Everyone loved Catherine Hahn’s Agatha Harkness in WandaVision. Even before her huge breakout with the song “Agatha All Along” (which incidentally was written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who also wrote the music for the Disney film Frozen) she killed it with her vintage nosy neighbor character Agnes.

Agatha All Along plays with many of the same tropes that kicked off WandaVision. While we don’t get entire episodes that embody a decade of sit-coms, we do get events inside the Witch’s Road that cast the show’s characters into various bygone eras, having essentially the same impact. The various escape rooms that the witches must navigate lead to a different resolution for each, and eventually to the revelation of what the Witch’s Road actually is. The flashback to Agatha Harkness’s past, and her brush with Death, make for some truly excellent television. I very much enjoyed the show, even more so upon a second viewing.

2 – Loki, Season 2

The introduction of the Time Variance Authority in the first season was huge. Loki’s post-Endgame survival and his comically narcissistic love affair with a variant of himself was brilliant. The void at the end of time and the demise of He Who Remains were key to the introduction of the eventually-aborted Kang storyline.

The second season gave us Ke Huy Quan’s Ouroboros and Jonathan Major’s Victor Timely, two amazing new characters. While the second season didn’t receive the same critical reception as the first, so many of the scenes with these characters were just so fun to watch that I know I’ll be revisiting Loki Season Two again… in the future.

1 – Daredevil: Born Again

I was a big fan of the original Daredevil on Netflix. Season one was pretty good, season two was garbage, and season three was absolutely amazing. By this point, Matt Murdock has been Peter Parker’s lawyer, been on missions with She-Hulk, and by the start of this season he’s given up his cowl. A traumatic event during the first episode triggers a season that features White Tiger, Mayor Fisk, and a lot of welcome cameos.

I’ve made it no secret that Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin is one of my favorite MCU villains, alongside Thanos and Loki. My squee when he unexpectedly showed up near the end of Hawkeye was frankly embarrassing. And it should be no surprise that his presence here is a large part of what makes this show so good. But it’s far from the only thing.

A second season of Daredevil: Born Again is slated. Perhaps it’s too much for me to ask for cameos from Spider-Man, Luke Cage, or Jennifer Walters. But I can hope.

Phase Six

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the first film in Marvel’s Phase Six, followed by Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. A Spider-Man film will be sandwiched in between these two, and rumor has it that the film will feature a more street level story.

The Disney Plus shows in phase six include the second seasons of Daredevil: Born Again and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, new animated shows The Eyes of Wakanda and Marvel Zombies, and my personal two picks: Wonder Man starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen, and VisionQuest, in which we learn what happened to the White Vision that absconded at the conclusion of WandaVision.

What Is David Blaine: Do Not Attempt?

David Blaine: Do Not Attempt is a six-part television series which follows world- renowned magician and endurance artist David Blaine exploring the world through the lens of magic. Blaine takes viewers on a fascinating cultural exchange and a jaw-dropping journey through extraordinary cultures, where he meets with performers and masters — kindred spirits who inspire and share with him exceptional skills and secrets — in Brazil, Southeast Asia, India, the Arctic Circle, South Africa and Japan. “I’m discovering incredible people with unbelievable talents, pushing the limits of what’s possible. It’s been a privilege to learn from them,” said Blaine. “As a magician, I’m in awe of their abilities because, for me, the most magical moments aren’t tricks but human potential realized.” From sword swallowing to surviving venomous creature stings, and from feats of athleticism to kissing king cobras, David Blaine: Do Not Attempt uncovers the rituals, preparation and strength that take magic beyond mere illusion.

Do Not Attempt is produced by Imagine Documentaries for National Geographic. Executive producers are Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, David Blaine, Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Christopher St. John, Matthew Akers, Erica Sashin and Toby Oppenheimer. Abigail Harper is co-executive producer. The first two episodes of the series premiere on Sunday March 23rd on NatGeo TV and begins streaming the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.  The remaining episodes are broadcast the following two Sundays. Let’s take a look at the each of the six episodes.

‘Brazil’

In Brazil, David Blaine seeks inspiration by immersing himself in his hosts’ vibrant energy, passion and spontaneity. The exceptional daredevils, artists, explorers and athletes he encounters unite to help him bring an audacious feat to life that’s lingered in his dreams for years.

‘Southeast Asia’

In Southeast Asia, David Blaine explores fascinating relationships with wildlife and how pain endurance can transform fear into magic. He meets practitioners who appear impenetrable by sharp objects and performers who can endure the stings of venomous creatures. David unpacks how people exploit fear in order to create wonder.

‘India’

Growing up, David Blaine was fascinated by images from India of extraordinary physical feats. This evolved into a life-long obsession with real acts that are so extreme they look like magic. Using secrets passed down over hundreds of years, people still perform these acts today. In India, David unearths these modern practitioners to explore how belief and performance intersect to make magic.

‘Arctic Circle’

In the stunning frozen landscape of the Arctic Circle, David Blaine explores humanity’s curiously extreme ability to endure freezing temperatures. He meets and learns from people who reach beyond their limits to transform barriers into new frontiers and embody a sense of resilience, perseverance and grit that is unique to the region.

‘South Africa’

In a nation once defined by apartheid, David embarks on an epic adventure in South Africa, uncovering the magic of its diverse cultures and wildlife that is reshaping perceptions and dismantling barriers in this dynamic country.

‘Japan’

From perfectly punctual bullet trains to meticulously assembled pieces of sushi, Japan is renowned for its craftsmanship, artistry and commitment to excellence in all endeavors. In Japan, David explores the concept of mastery by meeting with people who spend a lifetime refining a single skill.

Why You Should See David Blaine: Do Not Attempt

I have always enjoyed watching David Blaine’s magic and am always impressed at what he can do. Therefore, when I learned that he had an upcoming series for National Geographic, I wanted to check it out. As a result, I had the opportunity to preview all six episodes of the series and they are all fascinating as well as entertaining. Unlike many of his other performances where he is the star, in David Blaine: Do Not Attempt, Blaine lets others take the lead and demonstrate their incredible skills. I enjoyed how this master magician is learning from different people in various countries how to do their acts and how difficult it is for even David Blaine to do what they can do. I also found the focus on different cultures very interesting from Brazilian street performers to Japanese magicians in theaters. This is definitely a reflection of National Geographic’s philosophy to both entertain and educate. The series does contain some scenes that might be disturbing for some viewers such as insects and snakes as well as people using sharp objects on themselves. The episodes contain warnings to not try these things at home and that they are performed by trained professionals. As a result, viewer discretion is advised. However, viewers can skip these scenes and continue to others.  After reviewing these episodes, I  recommend David Blaine: Do Not Attempt. While it is family friendly, it may not be appropriate for some younger children, especially those who might be inspired to try these things themselves.

Be sure to watch David Blaine: Do Not Attempt when it premieres Sunday March 23rd on NatGeo TV and begins streaming the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.

Here is a trailer for the series.

What Is The Electric State?

The Electric State is a sci-fi adventure set in an alternate, retro-futuristic version of the 1990s. Millie Bobby Brown stars as Michelle, an orphaned teenager navigating life in a society where sentient robots resembling cartoons and mascots, who once served peacefully among humans, now live in exile following a failed uprising. Everything Michelle thinks she knows about the world is upended one night when she’s visited by Cosmo, a sweet, mysterious robot who appears to be controlled by Christopher — Michelle’s genius younger brother whom she thought was dead. Determined to find the beloved sibling she thought she had lost, Michelle sets out across the American southwest with Cosmo, and soon finds herself reluctantly joining forces with Keats (played by Chris Pratt), a low-rent smuggler, and his wisecracking robot sidekick, Herman (voiced by Anthony Mackie). As they venture into the Exclusion Zone, a walled-off corner in the desert where robots now exist on their own, Keats and Michelle find a strange, colorful group of new animatronic allies — and begin to learn that the forces behind Christopher’s disappearance are more sinister than they ever expected.

The Electric State is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (Avengers: Endgame) and also stars Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan, Jason Alexander, Giancarlo Esposito, Academy Award nominee Stanley Tucci, and Woody Norman. Mackie, Woody Harrelson, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, and Alan Tudyk lend their talents as the voices of the robots. The film is based on the graphic novel by Simon Stålenhag with a screenplay written by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely.

Michelle (Brown) and her robot Cosmo. Image courtesy of Netflix.

Why Should You See The Electric State?

The Electric State is an entertaining movie that can really make viewers think. The movie takes place in an alternate version of our own. Set in 1994, this society embraced robots beginning in the 1950s and over the next four decades robots became an integral part of the work force, doing those jobs humans did not want to do. However, in 1990, these robots decided they deserved their own rights and a war between humans and robots erupted. It finally ended two years later in defeat for the robots and they were forced into the Exclusion Zone, an area of 100,000 square miles in the American Southwest surrounded by a high wall which kept humans and robots separated. 

The robots in this movie are not scary like the Terminators. Instead, they are somewhat comical looking as they were created for tasks to help and entertain humans rather than fight against them. The screenwriters and directors did a great job creating many different types of robots that were designed for all types of jobs. The world created is similar to our own, but at the same time different. In order to defeat the robots, inventor Ethan Skate (played by Stanley Tucci) develops human controlled drones to not only fight against the robots, but also to take their place. People can wear devices on their head that lets their brains do two things at once: control a drone to do their work while their body sits and engages in virtual worlds of entertainment. By 1994, the entire world is connected to Skate’s technology. 

While The Electric State can be viewed for an entertaining movie, there are also several themes that can promote thinking by viewers. The idea of robots as a segment of society without rights and bound to servitude and treated like property reflects periods of history. The high walls set in the Southwest to keep robots out of the human occupied parts of the county also seems to reflect current attitudes of some people. However, I found the idea of technology allowing people to focus on entertainment while part of their brain controls a humanoid drone that does all their work and non-desired activities, even to the point of a drone taking care of a child. As a teacher, I identified a reflection to our own world in which people want to rely on technology such as AI (artificial intelligence) to do the work for them. Why learn when AI can do your homework for you so you can spend more time on social media or other technological entertainment. 

I really enjoyed watching The Electric State. I am a fan of  Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt as well as Stanley Tucci and all three provide great performances. I liked the alternate world that is similar to our own, but has gone in a different direction. Since it is set in the past a few decades, it is something fresh from the many post-apocalyptical shows and movies that are popular today.  It also has a great message. If you are looking for something unique and entertaining that will also prompt some reflection, then I high recommend The Electric State. It runs about 2 hours so you can consume it in one sitting.

The Electric State is currently streaming on Netflix. The movie is rated PG-13. 

Here is the trailer for The Electric State.

For this year’s 26th anniversary of Farscape, Shout! TV will be re-airing last year’s 25th anniversary marathon. I wrote about the marathon last March, when I also had the chance to interview series creator Rockne S. O’Bannon, and series stars Ben Browder and Gigi Edgley. What follows is my original article and interviews, updated with information for this year’s marathon.

It’s hard to believe that Farscape first premiered on March 19th, 1999 on the Sci-Fi Channel. That’s right, it’s been 26 years since this groundbreaking science fiction series made its debut with, fittingly enough, the pilot episode Premiere.

Farscape is about an astronaut, John Crichton, who is flying an experimental craft when he finds himself flung across space to an unknown part of the galaxy. He is taken in by a group of escaped prisoners of various alien races, who ultimately become his new family while trapped far away from Earth. Crichton searches for a way back home, while on the run from a military race that seeks his knowledge of wormhole technology.

While one could superficially compare the show to Lost in Space or Star Trek Voyager, the common theme of being, well, lost in space is all that ties Farscape to those other science fiction series. The Jupiter 1 in Lost in Space has the Robinson family on the ship, and there’s an entire 141-member Starfleet crew on board the USS Voyager. Those crews have each other for physical and emotional support. Conversely, John Crichton is completely on his own when he finds himself in the Uncharted Territories. He is quite literally the only human around. Despite his outward similarity to the Sebaceans, he soon discovers that they are different in both physiology and upbringing. It’s the ultimate culture shock being on the living starship Moya, in company with individuals belonging to several very different races and cultures, all very alien to his own.

The series also featured a collaboration with the Jim Henson Company, with executive producer Brian Henson introducing realistic animatronic puppets for regular characters Pilot and the deposed Hynerian emperor, Rigel. The talented Henson puppeteers created memorable characters who were both believable and truly alien.

Shout! TV Farscape 25th Anniversary Marathon Re-Airing

With Farscape‘s 26th anniversary this month, Shout! TV will be running a marathon on March 19th. The marathon will air classic and fan-favorite episodes of the series curated by series actors Ben Browder and Gigi Edgley.

Speaking of Ben and Gigi, I recently had a chance to sit down with them, as well as series creator Rockne S. O’Bannon, to discuss both the legacy and possible future of Farscape.

Me: Rockne, how did you end up teaming with Brian Henson for the show?

Rockne: We shared the same agent. And Brian had just taken over the company—Henson Company—from his father who had passed away. And so I went in and met with Brian. All the children’s shows, the Sesame Streets, were doing very well. But Brian really wanted to take a page from what his father did at times, which was to do things that were a little bit more adult and a little bit not. He wanted to show off all the aspects of what the company was capable of doing, and do something for television that wasn’t being done, and still isn’t being done, which is to use animatronic characters and puppetry.

And so I came back to him with the idea of a show about a human from Earth who accidentally finds themselves somewhere else in the galaxy and among all aliens. Where the only bad guys are aliens, but they look just like him. But everybody else is an alien of different sizes and shapes and all that sort of thing. And then we were off.

The great thing about the animatronics is that it wasn’t just humans in a suit with a human with a prosthetic on their forehead. It really was an opportunity to do alien characters of different sizes.

Me: Ben, Gigi, what was it like working on the set with puppets?

Ben: My stock answer to that is that puppets and puppeteers are better than a lot of actors. Instead of just using their face and body, they’re using someone else’s face and body and they’re communicating through their hands, and it’s just another form of magic. It’s an art. And so working with the puppets, you stand on the mark, you look the puppet in the eye and you say the words. And then if you have to, you grab it by the throat and beat it.

Gigi: So the puppeteers are fantastic. They’re some of the most creative people I’ve ever met. They’re always open to play. They’re always open for a challenge. I don’t know Rigel for being anything other than Rigel. When you look into their eyes and you’re talking to them, you see a soul in there. You know that they’re in there. They’re made so beautifully. The Hensons have done such a phenomenal job.

I went to host the Jim Henson Creature Shop Challenge and I saw Rigel’s head because he came out for a challenge. I burst into tears and Brian’s like, “Please try and act like a host.” What a beautiful combination of everything from the prosthetics and the sets and the makeup and the creatures and you’ve never seen anything like it before.

Me: Rockne, given a 25-year hindsight, are there any changes you would have liked to have made from the start of the show?

Rockne: It’s a great question. I’ve never thought of that. Because it really was one of those instances of lightning in a bottle. I mean, there’s so many things that happened just right that, yeah, I’m loathe to go back and go, well, maybe I would have tweaked this or that. I would have had the show go for another four or five seasons. But I don’t think that’s a creative decision. There were so many things that just happened just right to make the show what it is that, yeah, I can’t really think of that.

A couple of years ago, I did a comic book series. We did some new stories in comic book form. And that gave me the freedom to obviously tell tales that we couldn’t do on television, in the series, certainly back in the day. And so that was refreshing. But at the end of the day, it still just came down to the characters and the relationships and trying to keep those as fresh and unpredictable as possible.

Me: Ben, Gigi… when did you know that Farscape was something unique and special?

Ben: When I walked through the sets that were being constructed for the very first time, that’s when I knew. My sense when I walked the corridors and walked onto the command area of Moya, I went, “Oh wow, this looks like nothing I’ve seen on TV.”

And then prior to shooting, Johnny Eccleston was the puppeteer for Rigel, and he’s working through all the mechanics of Rigel. Rigel’s up here, right? And Johnny’s down below, he’s got a camera and he’s doing Rigel. I had my kids with me, and my kids were two and four, one and four, two and five, something like that. And as we walk by, Johnny goes, “Kids, what are you doing here?”

My kids didn’t see John at all. They just saw Rigel and they commenced to have a 10-minute conversation with a three-foot-tall slug while I watched. And I went, “Oh, that’s magic.” They were all in the truck having a conversation with Rigel, you know, “How was your day,” “What’s the surf like out there,” blah, blah, blah, blah. It was amazing.

You were constantly turning a corner and seeing something weird, amazing, or beautiful. And then later on the writing and the acting and the directing and you feel like, wow, what a ride. This is the E-Ticket ride.

Gigi: I mean, the second you walk onto the sets, the second you read the scripts, the second you meet the characters, you know something magical was happening. There’s no doubt there.

The first time I realized how far it had reached was when they flew us to beautiful Los Angeles and they popped us up on stage and we looked out and there were just all these people. I think thousands. I wanna see those photos of us because I’m sure we’re all like, “Huh?” We were so focused on making a beautiful show and we were so far away in Australia, and, you know, we’re busy telling the story and creating characters, and then all of a sudden we saw the impact that it had on the outer world and that was mind-blowing and very exciting.

Me: Ben, you had it easy in the makeup chair as a human character. But how was it getting into the full Scorpius makeup for the episode Die Me, Dichotomy?

Ben: It’s a long process. It’s an interesting process. After I shot for the first day, I had been watching Wayne (Pygram, who plays Scorpius) enough to match his body movements and to do his voice and his inflections and his unusual cadence. Anyway, they took the rushes after the first day of shooting, and the writing staff was saying, “Well, why is Wayne playing Crichton as Scorpius?” 

The makeup was so good that they didn’t know it was me. So they had to pull it (back), like, “Well, let’s not fully paint it, let’s make it so we can actually see Crichton in there.” That hot flesh technology, which was silicon-based, was arduous to wear, but tremendous to wear.

Me: Gigi, what was the process you went through for developing Chiana’s unique physicality and voice?

Gigi: All I knew is that she was mercurial and she was crazy and she was unkept and she was wild. And she was, was she a killer? Was she just a thief? How far does she go? Do you know? Does she know? It was just, she was completely vulnerable. And she tried to cover it up with all this gusto and all this, you know, “I’ve got this universe down,” and she didn’t, she’s just a mess.

You know, I loved creating Chiana. And I think really she found me because there’s something very whimsical with the Henson connection. And there’s something that I felt was out there in the stars that was waiting. And so when I found her in the makeup and it took, like, a good four weeks, at least through the audition processes and at least eight rounds of auditions and fittings and creature shop meetings and all that stuff as well. It’s the first time when I saw her looking back at me, I was like, “Oh.” So I just created the little movements.

But then as they wanted me more involved with the show, producers came in and they said, “Oh, can you do it like this? Can you change this?” So it really is a collaborative effort, but, obviously, she exists in here (pointing to her head) and then she gets tweaked along the way, depending on what the directors want and the producers want.

Me: What was your favorite memory of working on Farscape?

Rockne: We originally went to Australia for just a bunch of considerations. And once we were there and once we put Ben together with Claudia and Gigi and Anthony and all the Australian actors. They have different styles, but it worked, the fish out of water worked not only on screen but behind the scenes, which fueled that. And then also the Australian artisans that we got to work with. It was entirely an Australian production. And we had all those men and women who worked on all the Mad Max movies. You just have that wild Australian, “We can do anything” sensibility. And that so contributed to the show.

And then certainly when we started to produce the show, I just saw, wow, this is a show that would surprise me in terms of obviously the storytelling that we were developing with my crazy group of writers, but also just in terms of the look of the show and the feel of the show. And I really felt we had something very, very different. And what was very gratifying to me is that so many people are continuing to find the show. It’s very exciting. 

Gigi: So, to be on that set, full stop. That’s magic. That’s me growing up as a little girl obsessed with The Dark Crystal, fairies, unicorns, Labyrinth. Anything Henson touched, I was on it. So I was honored to be on, you know, one episode, let alone five and a half years. And later with the Creature Shop Challenge and everything, still to be working with such a beautiful family. I just, I’m the luckiest girl in the universe.

Ben: My favorite memory of working on Farscape? I have too many. No, there is no one. That’s like picking your favorite child. And I would hate to run through the list.

It was great. It was a great time of life. On a Friday, my kids would show up at the end of the day. And I’m thinking to myself, how lucky am I here I am in Sydney, Australia. I don’t know that it could have been better to be where I was, when I was, at that time. At the end of every season, I would just stand outside the studios for 15 minutes and be thankful for where I was. I would just stand there and look outside of the soundstage or out across the Bay, and take in that moment, and go, “This is pretty special.”

Me: Rockne, are there any ideas you wished you’d been able to explore further in Farscape?

Rockne: Yeah, there was what, at the time, was meant to be the ultimate villain, which was the Core. But we couldn’t because it’s great whenever you’ve got a villain and then you think, “Okay, nobody can be worse than that villain and bigger.” And then suddenly there’s someone over the top of them, and someone over the top of them, it’s a kind of concentric circle of evil. And  The Core were meant to be kind of the ultimate kind of villain force, actually coming from a different dimension. So the entire Uncharted Territories, enemies, friends, everyone have to pull together in order to fight this gigantic force from outside of our dimension. And yeah, we just never got to that.

So that was something I was able to do in the comic books. But yeah, I mean, that’s one of the reasons I would have loved to have had more seasons. And also just to follow the characters we had, there’s so many more stories to tell about them and their lives. 

Me: Ben, how much of the relationship between John Crichton and Aeryn Sun was the writing, and how much was your onscreen chemistry with Claudia Black?

Ben: When they were casting Aeryn, I had been cast and they actually flew me to Australia to read with some actresses. And from the moment I did the first scene with Claudia, I think that it was evident to everyone that she was the best Aeryn by far. I can’t imagine anyone else doing that role.

And Claudia and I have a great friendship and a great working relationship. So chicken or egg, it’s in the script, the idea. You know, it’s fairly apparent from the pilot script that this is gonna be a thing. Yeah. But you know, something happens between certain actors and the camera and the story and it gets real. And it’s fun to watch.

Me: Gigi and Ben, how did working on Farscape change you as an actor and a person?

Gigi: Wow, it still changes me. It changes me because every weekend in between, I’m creating productions myself and graphic novels and films and music videos. In between other bits and bobs, I jump on a plane pretty much every weekend all around the world and visit fans that are still so very, very, very much in love with Farscape. So it’s reached so many people. It’s inspired so many people.

Like just last weekend, some kids came up and I was like, “How did you see Farscape? How is that even possible?” And they said, “Oh you know our parents have the DVDs,” or, “We’ve seen it on Amazon.” I was like wow, it’s still reaching people. 

Ben: So what did five years of your life where you spent 70 hours a week in a five-day workweek teach you? It taught me that valuable things are hard. The good things are hard. They’re gonna require you to endure. It taught me a lot about filmmaking. It taught me a lot about people. Taught me a lot about all kinds of weirdness in the world.

Okay, so let’s say, I went to the end-of-season party (for) season one. And a number of people, because there were hundreds of people working on Farscape, would come up to me and say, “Hey, Ben, how you doing?” And it freaked me out because I didn’t know whether I knew this person or not. Some of them I had never met because they were working on the poster, they were working somewhere in construction. And I just thought that was the weirdest thing that I had ever encountered.

So, you know, I had this sort of preview of the world that so many people are living in on either social media or the connected world that we’re living in. Whatever it is that I did for five years of my life is completely integrated into how I think about things today. So, I look at social media and I go, “I don’t know that I would wanna invite that into my life.” It’s like Crichton said to Pilot, “It’s a weird world out there, man. You don’t know that because you’re not getting out.” And it’s just a weird world out there. What did I learn? I learned to embrace the weird, my brother.

Me: Rockne, with the 25th anniversary, have you given any thought to either a revival series or reboot of Farscape?

Rockne: You know, now it’s 25 years later and Brian Henson and I are always in conversation about what’s the best time and how to perhaps bring the series back. And what’s interesting is it being 25 years, you’d think would be potentially a hindrance or problematic. To me, it’s actually interesting. Obviously, I would love to have gotten the show, a return to the Uncharted Territories, on the air sooner, earlier, right? But 25 years is actually a really interesting span of time because so much can change and so much has, potentially for the characters and the actors themselves.

Me: Perfect age for Crichton and Aeryn’s son, right?

Rockne: You’ve been eavesdropping on our conversations! Yes, it’s perfect. It would not be a reboot. It would be a continuation of this story. I just, I can’t imagine not having these characters and in particular these actors because I mentioned a moment ago about lightning in a bottle. And that was just to get this cast. It’s one of those things where you just kind of dream of a situation wherever you have a cast that’s that good, that has that rapport. I wouldn’t want to be involved with a reboot at all. It’s the continuation. I want to know what’s going on with these characters. 

Me: Ben and Gigi, if Rockne S. O’Bannon called you today and said, “We want to do a reunion show,” would you be on board?

Ben: (almost before I can finish speaking) One hundred percent.

Gigi: I will honestly tell you that it’s something that he and Brian do talk about from time to time. We were so very close. You know, in 2019 Rock called me up and he’s like, “You’re not pregnant are you?” And I went, “Who is this?” And he goes, “It’s Rock.” I said, “No, sorry, what’s going on?” He said, “‘Cause we need you.”

I went, “No way. Oh my gosh. Are you kidding me?” So he said, “Yep, it’s happening.” I said, “If it’s happening, we’ve got to go back to the circuit.” We went to Dragon Con, we went to Wintercon, we went to San Diego Comic-Con. Crichton, Aeryn, D’argo, Grayza, Brian Henson, Rockne, Crais, we were all there, all on a panel saying it’s happening. And then the world went into shutdown mode.

So I still very much believe that it’s existing. And I say never say never. And I’ll be first on set. I’ll be outside camping out.

A big thank you to Rockne S. O’Bannon, Ben Browder, and Gigi Edgley for taking the time to speak to GeekDad. As a side note, for all of our GeekDad readers: I’m sure you’ll be happy to hear that my interviews with Ben and Gigi could have easily been just the three of us talking about gaming and geekdom, topics dear to the hearts of these actors. But we only had a very limited time for the interviews, so we rightly turned our focus to Farscape. Maybe at some point down the road, we can have a more relaxed discussion about all our geeky interests outside of the series... but you only get one 25th anniversary!

Shout! TV celebrates Farscape’s anniversary with a re-airing of the Farscape 25^th Anniversary Marathon on 3/19, and a live-watch along with Gigi Edgely on Shout! TV’s Twitch and YouTube channels 3/18. Additionally, Shout! Studios is running special discounts on Farscape: The Complete Series on Fandango At Home and Apple in celebration of the anniversary.

What Is A Real Bug’s Life Season 2?

A Real Bug’s Life is a real life documentary series taking viewers on an incredible adventure into different micro bug worlds around the globe, where the forces of nature play out on a miniature scale and where tiny creatures rely on amazing powers and extraordinary alliances to make it through each day. The series uses new developments in filming technology to show insects as they have never before been shown.  Narrated by fun and witty guide Awkwafina, this family-friendly series shows that A Real Bug’s Life can be every bit as fantastical as any animated film. A Real Bug’s Life was produced for National Geographic by Plimsol Productions with Tom Hugh-Jones, Martha Holmes, and Grant Mansfield as executive producers and Helen Williamson and Bill Markham as series producers. The series premieres on Disney+ beginning Wednesday, January 15th.  Let’s take a look at the five new episodes for season 2. 

‘Love in the Forest’

On a midsummer’s night, Tennessee’s Smoky Mountain Forest is swarming with bugs looking for love. A clumsy luna moth, a headstrong stag beetle and a fearless firefly each have just one tiny window to mate and fulfill their destiny. So how do these tiny creatures brave the darkness and find each other? The course of true love has never run smoothly.

‘Life’s a Beach’

A tropical beach may be paradise for people, but it’s one of the toughest places on Earth for bugs. A young female hermit crab is growing up fast and needs to find a bigger shell if she’s going to survive. But her search for an upgrade soon gets her in trouble, and her chances of making it to adulthood are at the mercy of the tides.

‘Once a Pond a Time’

In an English pond, a delicate young damselfly and a host of other bugs battle predators and humans to make it to the surface by summer. Even once the damselfly transforms into an adult and sets his heart on finding a mate, old foes are waiting for him. Can he overcome huge challenges, leave his past behind, and escape the pond for good?

‘Tiny Heroes Down Under’

Many think Australia’s bugs are the stuff of nightmares. But truly, they’re just trying hard to survive, and some are surprisingly cute. Meet an adorable peacock spider dancing his way to a female, a jack jumper ant battling to protect her family, and a weevil trying to stay alive in the face of a fearsome climate. Soon, a viewer will realize these bugs aren’t all villains but tiny heroes Down Under.

‘Bee-Hind the Camera’

Surviving hordes of army ants, chasing some of the fastest-running insects on Earth, crawling through muddy mangrove swamps, and climbing to the top of the rainforest canopy, this is how a team of world-renowned scientists, experts and filmmakers armed with the most innovative filming equipment capture the hidden world and untold stories of the planet’s tiniest and most underappreciated animals—bugs!

Why You Should See A Real Bug’s Life Season 2

My family and I have enjoyed watching the many nature documentaries produced by National Geographic for Disney+ and A Real Bug’s Life is no exception. The first season was great and the second season is as well. I like how each episode not only focuses on a certain type of environment, but also follows a few individual insects with a story of their life and the other animals and insects with which they interact. These stories really pull you into the show and the narration by Awkwafina further adds to the entertainment. As with many shows by National Geographic, the photography and cinematography are superb. However, instead of wide angle views of landscapes or telephoto shots of distant wildlife, the new technology used for A Real Bug’s Life provides an incredible view of tiny insects down at their level–call it a bug-‘s eye view of the world. I had the opportunity to preview all five episodes of the series and they are all entertaining as well as educational. I have shown other National Geographic documentaries to my science classes when they can enrich the curriculum and the students enjoy them. I am now planning to show some of the episodes from A Real Bug’s Life when we get to the unit on insects in a few months. After reviewing these episodes, I highly recommend A Real Bug’s Life season 2 as a great series to watch for the entire family. If you enjoyed season one, then you will also like season 2. However, if you have not yet, seen the first season, view it as well as the new season.

Be sure to watch the second season of A Real Bug’s Life when it streams on Disney+ beginning Wednesday, January 15th. 

Here is a trailer for Season Two.

Many of the movies of 2025 haven’t been particularly exciting to me. Most of them are sequels or reboots. On the other hand, when I looked into what will be available on streaming services over the next twelve months, I found that I had much more to talk about. Buckle up, friends – here are my picks for the most exciting 2025 TV shows. These being the picks of a comic nerd, you’re likely to find more superhero content, and fewer mentions of new seasons of The Bear or Handmaids Tale.

Severance, Season Two

In 2022, when Apple TV released a new show called Severance, I was immediately hooked. The premise was that office workers have a medical procedure such that while in the office, they can remember nothing of their home lives, and while at home, they can remember nothing about work. Mystery and intrigue follow. Severance’s second season is coming in just a few weeks, on January 17th.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

In this upcoming animated series on Disney Plus, we see the early days of Spider-Man’s herodom, as he learns about his powers. The twist is that unlike the MCU where Tony Stark was Peter’s mentor, in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, his mentor is Norman Osbourne. After Disney Plus’s success with X-Men ’97, I’m all in for this one. You can watch on January 29th.

Invincible, Season 3

Based on a popular comic of the same name, Invincible is a superhero comic which I won’t show my kids. While it’s not quite at a Game of Thrones level of sex and violence, it’s near enough at times. But the storyline is excellent, and the voice cast is expansive. Check out the third season February 6th on Amazon.

Zero Day

It’s nice to be writing about a new property rather than a new season. Netflix’s upcoming political thriller Zero Day stars Robert De Niro, and deals with the aftermath of a devastating global cyberattack. Also starring are Angela Bassett, Jesse Plemons, and Clark Gregg. Zero Day will be up for streaming on February 20th.

Daredevil: Born Again

I’ve been a vocal advocate of Netflix’s three-season run of Daredevil for years. People who disliked it generally cite the second season, which I’ll admit was awful. But few people realize that the third season was even better than season one.

The 2025 reboot, Daredevil: Born Again, on March 4th will not only include Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio, we’ll also get to see Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, and John Bernthal as Frank Castle. The whole gang is back, and now it will take place within the MCU proper.

Andor, Season 2

The various Star Wars shows on Disney Plus have been very hit or miss. But few would debate the fact that Andor was the best of them. This 2022 prequel takes place five years prior to Rogue One and A New Hope, following Cassian Andor as he goes from rebel-averse to full-on revolutionary. Pick up the story when it airs on April 22nd.

The Last of Us, Season 2

Adapting a video game into any kind of on-screen property is always fraught. Luckily, The Last of Us was an excellent adaptation. While many cite Nick Offerman’s excellent episode as the high point of the first season, I personally love Christine Hakim’s performance as the mycology professor as she slowly becomes the first person to fully realize that the world is going to end. I’m looking forward to a second season this spring.

Murderbot

Another new show which you’ve likely not heard of. Coincidentally, although I only read four or five books in 2024, one of them was All Systems Red, the first volume in The Murderbot Diaries. It was an excellent read, and the new series due out this June 4th on Apple TV is an adaptation of the books. Hearing that David Dastmalchian was set to star made it one of the shows I’m looking forward to most this year.

Ironheart

After the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, the Wakanda sequel was always going to struggle without its star. One of the bright spots was Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams, who in my eyes is more of a successor to Iron Man than Peter Parker could ever hope to be. I don’t know where the series will go with her character, but on June 24th, we’ll all find out.

Eyes of Wakanda

This animated series seems like it may be an anthology, following various missions throughout history to retrieve vibranium artifacts across the world. It will be out on August 6 on Disney Plus.

Wonder Man

For a while, I’d had Wonder Man confused with Power Man, who is also known as Luke Cage. As is obvious, I know nothing about Wonder Man, but it looks like the character will be played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who was a lead in my favorite show of all time, HBO’s Watchmen. As it’s in the MCU, it’s also going to include Ben Kingsley’s Trevor Slattery, another favorite of mine. We’ll have to wait until December to watch, but it sounds fantastic.

Alien: Earth

While Alien is nothing new, this series looks to be taking the property in a new direction. It’s a prequel to the original, and… can you guess where it’s set? Yeah. Earth. It’s difficult to see where they’ll go with this, since my own perception has always been that if even one of these things got to Earth, it’d basically end life on the planet. My guess is that the show is a disaster, but I’m hoping that I’m wrong.

Stranger Things 5

The fifth and final season of my favorite currently running show. I’m looking forward to the end of Stranger Things probably more than any other show or movie this year. While my older daughter watched season one and noped out, my 13 year old loves Stranger Things.  I’m hoping that by the time the final season is out, she’s caught up, and we can watch it together as a family.  

You, Season 5

I only became aware of the Netflix series You, starring Penn Badgley, in 2023. I binged every episode that was out there and figured it was done. So I was surprised when putting together this list to discover that a final season was planned for this year. While it’s got many similarities to the show Dexter, I’d say that You is very much its own thing. While Dexter was a vigilante serial killer, Joe is more of an obsessive stalker. But many of the same dramas and tropes apply.

I’m not even going to bury the lede, here: I spent a lot of time humming the theme from X-Men ’97 while I assembled this LEGO set!

In case you weren’t aware, Disney revived the fan-favorite 90’s X-Men: The Animated Series earlier this year with a new show that picked up right where the old one left off. That show is, of course, the critically acclaimed X-Men ’97. And fittingly enough, LEGO has produced a set that celebrates both animated series, with plenty of Minifigures, action, and Easter Eggs for fans to enjoy.

Welcome to my review of  X-Men: The X-Mansion, true believers. Hope you survive the experience.

What Is the LEGO X-Men: The X-Mansion?

The LEGO X-Men: The X-Mansion, set #76294, is a 3,093-piece set that comes with 10 Minifigures, as well as a giant Sentinel robot that you build. When completed, the set measures 11″ high x 16″ wide x 10″ deep. The set retails for $329.99, and is available at LEGO stores or online at the LEGO webstore.

The LEGO X-Men: The X-Mansion has 24 bags of bricks for the assembly, as well as some baseplates and other odds and ends. There are 3 instruction books included, as well as two sheets of stickers.

Inside of the first book is some background on both the creation of the X-Mansion set, as well as information on the X-Men themselves.

LEGO X-Men: The X-Mansion Minifigures

There are 10 Minifigures in the set, each representing a different X-Man. Charles Xavier, founder of the X-Men, comes with a buildable hoverchair from the animated series. Many of the characters come with items that show off their iconic powers.

The minifigures are spread out over the three stages of assembly.

LEGO X-Men: The X-Mansion – Assembly Book 1

The build for the X-Mansion is divided up into three parts: the middle of the building, and 2 adjoining wings. The first book details the center construction. Here’s a look at the assembly:

And here’s the completed central part of the building:

This part of the building also houses a special effect of the build. The roof has a lever you build in the back:

Here’s a look at what happens when you pull down on the lever:

The first book also includes the construction of a Sentinel, the robotic foes that are sent against the X-Men to capture and kill them. The Sentinel figure is perfectly scaled with the LEGO Minifigures.

As you can see, the first assembly is chock-full of details that will impress fans of both the X-Men animated series and comic books:

LEGO X-Men: The X-Mansion – Assembly Book 2

The second book adds more X-Men Minifigures, as well as the right wing of the mansion. 

Here’s the finished wing:

The wing easily locks into the central part of the mansion.

With this wing, you start to see some of the damage to the mansion inflicted by a battle between the invading Sentinel and the X-Men. To see that in action though, you’ll have to wait until the completion of the mansion!

The main part of the right wing of the mansion is taken up with the multi-story Danger Room, the hazardous training facility for the X-Men. As you can see, it’s filled with flamethrowers, missiles, and other deadly implements:

LEGO X-Men: The X-Mansion – Assembly Book 3

The left wing of the X-Mansion is a combination of classrooms and living quarters:

Here’s the completed left wing, joined with the other parts of the mansion:

The attention to detail continues in this third stage of assembly, showcasing some lovely details. I love the reproduction of the 1960’s X-Men #1 comic book.

One of the beds in the dormitory obviously belongs to Wolverine, so you’re able to recreate the infamous “Sad Wolverine” meme from the original X-Men: The Animated Series thanks to a LEGO reproduction of the photo of Jean Grey and Scott Summers.

The left wing also incorporates a hidden element in the base, a common theme in other LEGO sets like The Nightmare Before Christmas  or the Natural History Museum. In this case, it’s a foundation block. 

Putting It All Together

There’s actually one last bag of bits to finish decorating the mansion, and then you can add in the Minifigures and Sentinel to create an action-packed diorama:

And here’s a closer look at the action:

LEGO X-Men: The X-Mansion – Final Thoughts

LEGO has certainly put out X-Men sets before. There’s another set, the X-Men X-Jet, which is also currently available. But this is by far the largest X-Men set so far, with a plethora of details and Minifigures. Even better, it’s also compatible with the other Marvel modular building sets, such as the Avengers Tower and the Daily Bugle. Much as with the “normal” modular building sets, you can connect the Marvel modular buildings together, creating your own city block. 

As an X-Men fan, I had a blast uncovering each little detail and Easter Egg as they were revealed throughout the build. There are callbacks to several key moments in the history of the X-Men comics, which were also recreated in both X-Men: The Animated Series and its sequel, X-Men ’97. 

Seeing as you’re assembling a mansion, there is some repetition in the build as you’re creating a cohesive facade and roof. But it’s the fun interior which really mixes things up during the assembly, making it a joy to put together. This is a set where you’ll excitedly proceed from bag to bag, looking forward to each new surprise as they’re revealed. There are even additional stickers to customize the set with more battle damage, if you so desire.

If you’re a fan of the X-Men, you’re sure to enjoy the LEGO X-Men: The X-Mansion. It is sadly missing the Cerebro room, which was a preorder bonus for the set. But otherwise, you have a great selection of Minifigures and a set which not only plays well with the other Marvel modular sets, but is a great representation of the X-Men in comics, movies, and television. It’s a really enjoyable build, and a fantastic addition to the adult Marvel sets that LEGO has been releasing over the last couple of years. It’s definitely one I highly recommend.

Excelsior!

Click That Brick!

Click That Brick! is a look at LEGO building sets that appeal to the geek in all of us. I’ll be bringing you previews and reviews of various LEGO sets, such as the LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dûr. So be sure to keep your eyeballs peeled for more great LEGO content here on GeekDad.

LEGO sent this set for evaluation but had no input into the review.

The cult classic series The Whitest Kids U’ Know aired for five seasons from 2007-2011. And on December 8th, Shout! TV is airing a The Whitest Kids U’ Know Top 10 Episode Countdown with series creators Zach Cregger, Sam Brown, Timmy Williams and Darren Trumeter reuniting to dive into some fan-favorite sketches in this all-day comedy marathon.

Additionally, on December 3, fans can bring home every episode of The Whitest Kids U’ Know in a brand new 10-DVD box set from Shout! Studios. The Whitest Kids U’ Know: The Complete Series includes Seasons 4 and 5, which have never been on disc before, plus new bonus content, and includes fan-favorite sketches such as ‘Gallon of PCP’, ‘Opposite Day’, ‘Sniper Business’, ‘Hunting Accident’, and many more.

But you know what’s even better than buying the 10-DVD box set? Winning one! Shout! TV is offering two lucky winners a chance to win a bundle that includes The Whitest Kids U’ Know: The Complete Series as well as a poster. Simply fill out the form below, and you’ll be entered to win. Entries will be received until midnight on December 11th, 2024, after which two winners will be randomly drawn. Sorry, U.S. only.

This form is currently closed for submissions.

And be sure to tune into Shout! TV December 8th starting at 3 am ET / 12 am PT for The Whitest Kids U’ Know Top 10 Episode Countdown! 

Congratulations to winners Mikhail Rapaport and Daniel Morrell! Your prizes are on their way.

If there’s one thing us geeks can rely on during these turbulent times, it’s the annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 marathon. And this year, Shout! TV is pulling out all the stops.

Tune-in to the star studded Mystery Science Theater 3000 Turkey Day Potluck of the Stars Marathon, streaming all day 11/28. Hosted by Jonah Ray, special guests include David Dastmalchian, Mike Flanagan, Bryan Fuller, Mark Hamill, Matthew Lillard, Kumail Nanjiani and more.

Even better, Shout! TV is giving away a mystery box chock full of MST3K merch to one lucky GeekDad reader. All you have to do for a chance to win is fill out the form below. Entries will remain open until midnight on 12/3/2024, after which the winner will be randomly selected. Sorry, U.S. only.

This form is currently closed for submissions.

Congratulations to the winner Matt Nichols!

You can watch the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Turkey Day Potluck of the Stars Marathon on Shout! TV beginning 5am ET on Thanksgiving Day. Head on over to the MST3K Turkey Day Marathon website for the programming schedule and more deets!

It’s not easy being a professional football player. A lot is riding on the line in each game, and even more so if you’re the quarterback leading your team.

Just when the pressure is mounting for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, the PAW Patrol pups come to the rescue with a perfectly timed PupTalk. Alone in the locker room, feeling the weight of the game ahead the pups appear on Brock’s screen, howling their signature encouragement and reminding him to stay strong. With Chase’s “on the case” determination and Rubble’s “on the double” energy, Brock’s spirits soar, turning his moment of doubt into a winning mindset.

Brock Purdy isn’t the only famous person to get some “pawsitivity” from the PAW Patrol. Just last week, GRAMMY Award Winner Meghan Trainor received a heartfelt call from the pups.

But these calls aren’t just limited to celebrities. Parents can get personalized PupTalks for their preschoolers through Cameo Kids, featuring Marshall, Chase, and soon Skye. These calls can provide children a little extra encouragement and support when they need it.

The PupTalks cost $25, and are available on the Cameo Kids website.