If you’ve been missing a good old-fashioned British mystery with a generous dose of charm and chaos, The Thursday Murder Club might just be your next Netflix obsession.
Based on Richard Osman’s wildly successful novel, this new Thursday Murder Club Netflix series gives “cosy crime” a shiny streaming-era glow complete with a star-studded cast and enough tea, wit and twists to keep you smiling through every scene. The thrilling limited series starts off inside Coopers Chase, a luxurious retirement community that looks like it was designed by someone who couldn’t decide between Downton Abbey and a golf resort. This beautiful haven that was meant to be very peaceful ended up being the main site for a deliciously catastrophic series of events.
Four residents: Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron, form the so-called “Thursday Murder Club,” meeting each week to dig into old unsolved crimes. When a local developer ends up dead, their amateur sleuthing suddenly turns very real.
A Star-Studded Cast That Shines in Every Scene
It’s almost not surprising how good the series is because The Thursday Murder Club Netflix cast is pure gold. Helen Mirren leads the pack as Elizabeth, a retired MI6 agent whose sharpness could cut glass. Pierce Brosnan brings swagger and just the right amount of roguish charm as Ron, while Ben Kingsley’s intense Ibrahim and Celia Imrie’s endlessly cheerful Joyce round out the dream team. It’s like watching a group of senior-citizen Avengers, each with their own peculiar superpower, from observation to intuition to pure stubbornness.
Director Chris Columbus (yes, Home Alone and Harry Potter Chris Columbus) clearly understands the assignment. He somehow managed to keep things light without ever forgetting that heartwarming humor is the real hook of the story.
Perfectly Paced and Comfortably British
Each of the Thursday Murder Club Netflix episodes is beautifully paced, without feeling too rushed or dragged out. In fact, Watch the full series and you could almost forget it’s not just a two-hour Benoit Blanc-style mystery. There’s something oddly satisfying about watching retirees outsmart both the cops and the criminals with nothing but brainpower and biscuits. The writing never feels forced. Instead, it is sharp, funny, and surprisingly touching.
What’s especially nice is how the show doesn’t lean on cheap sentimentality. Yes, there are moments that tug at your heart (especially around Elizabeth’s husband, played by Jonathan Pryce, who’s dealing with dementia), but the tone always bounces back to optimism. It’s less about dying and more about living and finding purpose no matter your age.
Visually, the series has that polished British look with rolling lawns, soft lighting, cozy interiors and enough tweed to outfit half of Sussex. The setting feels so familiar you might start craving shortbread and afternoon tea halfway through an episode. It is clear Netflix wanted to capture the comfort factor of classic British TV while giving it a global binge-worthy appeal.
Charm Overshadows the Mystery (and That’s Okay)
Now, if there’s one tiny flaw, it’s that the mystery sometimes takes a back seat to the charm. The whodunnit aspect isn’t as nail-biting as a Knives Out (another Knives Out mention, I know. It’s a great movie franchise. Sue me.) or Broadchurch, but honestly, that’s not what this show is trying to be.
It’s less about shock and more about the slow satisfaction of putting the puzzle pieces together while enjoying the ride. Think of it as Midsomer Murders meets The Golden Girls, and you’re pretty close.
The Thursday Murder Club Netflix review consensus so far seems to agree that the show is a comforting, well-acted slice of crime comedy that’s perfect for Sunday afternoons or late-night cozy binges. The chemistry between the leads is so natural that even when the plot veers into slightly silly territory, you don’t really mind. You’re just happy to be hanging out with these characters again.
Ultimately, The Thursday Murder Club works because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It lets its heroes be both brilliant and vulnerable, funny and flawed. Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Celia Imrie and Ben Kingsley make growing older look like an adventure rather than a limitation. So, if you’re scrolling through Netflix this weekend and looking for something that’s equal parts clever, heartwarming, and comfortingly British, give this one a go. You might not solve a murder yourself, but you’ll definitely fall for this delightful gang of detectives.
January 20th, 2023 saw the release of the first season of the Nigerian crime TV series Shanty Town. The Netflix show was created by Xavier Ighorodje and Chichi Nworah, directed by Dimeji Ajibola, and produced by Ini Edo and Chichi Nworah. With six episodes, the first season featured several Nollywood stars, including Chidi Mokeme, Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Ini Edo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Nancy Isime, and Sola Sobowale.
The show was greeted with applause and social media fad mostly by people who were impressed with its free display of nudity (yeah, obviously, these individuals subscribed for Netflix, but I termed the nudity “free” because they most likely didn’t pay the subscription fee with the specific nude scenes in mind). Also, regular Nollywood movie lovers were over-excited to see the latest Nollywood show on Netflix (as of then). However, when I sat down to watch the series with an objective mind, I realized there was nothing really spectacular about it. In fact, it was relatively poor. I’ll extensively cite my reasons in the next section.
5 Reasons Shanty Town Is Not as Good as You Think
Here are some shortcomings in the first season of Shanty Town:
1. Shallow Plot
Shanty Town’s core story tries to portray a thrilling and eye-catching connection between the local crime in a slum and the criminal activities of its elite sponsors. The plot heavily depends on violence and features several criminal elements, such as illegal prostitution, drug trafficking, the use of hard drugs, homicides, trafficking of human parts, corrupt politicians, and so on. Naturally, you’d expect a show with these footing and themes to have a rich plot. Still, that’s not the case with Shanty Town. The plot is relatively basic and the show relies more on its visual presentation of violence, crime, and nudity/eroticism.
The chief antagonist of the first season, Chief DaCosta Fernández (Richard Mofe-Damijo), is depicted as a very powerful and aristocratic criminal who intends to occupy the political seat of the Governor of Lagos. This theme of big-time criminals showing interest in politics is quite common in crime shows, just like Russell “Stringer” Bell in The Wire and James “Ghost” St. Patrick in Power. However, the show doesn’t tell us much about Chief Fernández’s rise on the crime ladder and enough of his backstory. Personally, I’d have loved to know why a Nigerian from the Western Part of the country (Yorubaland) would bear both a Portuguese (or Brazilian) first name and last name.
Similarly, the kingpin of Shanty Town (the crime slum), Aboderin “Scar” (Chidi Mokeme), had no proper backstory. The show didn’t give the viewers a chance to know him deeply. We knew almost nothing about how the prostitutes came to Shanty Town, except for Shalewa (Nancy Isime), who her father brought to the Shanty Town. Still, we don’t know much about the transaction or the incident that led to it. What about the show’s portrayal of drug trafficking? Apart from the drug production and packaging scene in the first episode, we weren’t given much to talk over on the drug trade. How did they distribute the illegal substance to other parts of Lagos? Who were their connections and channels? How did they manage to pull off such a major crime?
2. Generally Poor Acting
Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sola Sobowale, and Chidi Mokeme (from left to right)
Although the first season of Shanty Town featured many prominent movie stars, the general acting in the show left a lot to be desired. This brings the proficiency of the show’s director into question. Most of the actors in the series couldn’t excellently portray the emotional aspect of their characters, properly illustrate the stories of their characters to the viewers, and take their characters off the shores of television. Not even RMD, Ini Edo, Nancy Isime, and Sola Sobowale could nail their roles. I wouldn’t want to go into detail about Shafy Bello’s nerve-racking acting. What childish badassery was that? (shakes my head).
On the contrary, Chidi Mokeme deserves credit for trying his best to sync with his character (even though I could argue that he could’ve done more). I was also awed by the fact that he spoke three different languages (Nigerian Pidgin English, Igbo, and Yoruba) fluently in the show. Nse Ikpe-Etim wasn’t bad either, but her performance wasn’t the best.
3. Inem’s Perplexing Role in the Story
Ini Edo as Inem/Amanda
Inem/Amanda (Ini Edo) was undoubtedly the most confusing character in Shanty Town. I mean, what exactly was her story? Was she an undercover police officer or an ex-convicted drug peddler and prostitute? For how long has she been an undercover police officer? Was she ever a criminal, if not, why would she fit too perfectly into the Shanty Town criminal establishment? What is the revenge-for-her-sister saga all about? Why does she seem to hold so much power in the police force and prostitution ring? These are questions with either unclear or flawed answers. At one point or the other in the show, the viewers must have gotten lost trying to figure out who she really was or is. This proves that the Inem/Amanda character and story were poorly written.
4. The Governor’s Presence in Crime Scenes
Shafy Bello as Dame Dabota
Why would the sitting Governor of Lagos State, Dame Dabota (Shafy Bello), directly meet with the kingpin of a crime slum? Didn’t she have people that could help her do her dirty jobs and criminal dealings? That’s not even the worst part. The same Governor was present at a kidnap and multiple homicides spot and was seen leaving the crime scene by police officers. Yet, the cops let her leave without batting an eyelid or thinking something was wrong like it was normal for a sitting Governor to be in such a place.
5. Redundant and Out-of-Place Action Scenes
Scar and a goon
It seems the director forgot that Shanty Town was a crime series and not an action movie in the last episode of the show’s first season. That would explain the unnecessary and prolonged action scenes in that particular episode, which were reminiscent of Den of Thieves, Commando 2: The Black Money Trail, and some Jackie Chan classics at the same time (of course, not in the quality, but in the idea). Regardless of the efforts, the action scenes were out-of-place. Furthermore, what in the name of motion pictures was the director thinking when he made Chief Fernández magically block (or catch) a bullet and redirect it to the shooter with his hand? That’s incredible in a bad way.
Bottom Line
Note that I’m not using this medium to condemn the show or the efforts of the crew and cast. However, I chose to point out the drawbacks of the first season, hoping similar mistakes won’t be made in the subsequent seasons (if any).
Just a week after hitting the popular movie streaming platform, Netflix, on November 23, 2022, the Wednesday Addams movie had broken the streaming service’s record with viewers grossing billions. This feat is achieved thanks to the creativity of Charles Addams and the superb acting prowess of Jenna Ortega, who perfectly depicts the main character, Wednesday. From her gothic wardrobe to her deadpan humor, Wednesday has become a cult favorite among fans of the Addams family franchise. This article will look closely at the character and her development. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just knowing Wednesday, I hope you’ll enjoy this deep look at the Addams family dark darling. Let’s get started!
The Origin of Wednesday Addams. Wednesday Addams is a fictional character conceived by cartoonist Charles Addams for his cartoon series, The Addams Family, published in the New Yorker in 1938. The characters went without names and fixed personalities during this debut until it was adapted into TV in 1964. Wednesday was likely named after a nursery rhyme with the line: “Wednesday child is full of woes.” The series featured a macabre family, which includes Gomez as the father, a mother named Morticia, and their children, Pulsgey and Wednesday, among others.
Wednesday was known for her gothic appearance, deadpan sense of humor, and love for everything spooky. Wednesday first appeared as a child in the 1938 comics series, and as the series progressed, she grew up to become a curious and intelligent child with a love for macabre and dark humor.
The Development Of Wednesday’s Character And Personality
With the progression of Wednesday’s movie, the main character, Wednesday, was developed further. She was initially portrayed as a baby, then a child, and as the series went on, she grew up to become a teenager and a young adult. However, Wednesday’s personality remains consistent throughout the series; a girl with a love for macabre, dark humor, and intelligence.
Wednesday’s love for the macabre is evident in her love for things such as death, skulls, and other spooky things, which is reflected throughout the series. This love for the macabre is also reflected in her fashion sense, often shown wearing a black dress and pigtails, which has become the character’s signature.
Wednesday’s dark humor is also a prominent characteristic portrayed throughout the series. Her deadpan humor and sarcasm are defining features of her personality. She is often shown making dry and offbeat comments about the weird situations in which the Addams family finds themselves.
In addition to these key characteristics, Wednesday is also shown to be a curious and intelligent child who is always eager to learn and explore new things. She is fiercely independent and stands on what she believes, giving her off as a feminist icon.
Wednesday’s role in the Addams Family series
Wednesday plays a primary role in the Addams Family series, which includes comics, television shows, and movies. In the 1960s television series, Wednesday is portrayed as a young girl and is played by actress Lisa Loring. The series focused on the daily lives of the Addams family and their several misadventures. In this series, Wednesday is a curious and intelligent child and the savior of her family; she is the one that always comes up with plans to save her family from tricky situations.
Christina Ricci was the one who played Wednesday in the 1990s feature films, and here, she is portrayed as a teenager. The movie focuses on her coming-of-age and struggles to find her place in the world. In the 2014 Wednesday web series, which aired on YouTube, Melissa Hunter played Wednesday. This Wednesday is struggling with adulting and navigating life independently after leaving home. As usual, she maintains her dark and macabre personality. However, the series was flagged down by the Tee & Charles Addams Foundation, the copyright owners of the Addam Family movies, for copyright violation. This move resulted in the series being pulled down by YouTube but reinstated in 2016.
In 2019, Wednesday was incorporated as an anime video, and actress Chloe Grace Moretz acted as the character’s voice-over. This movie centers around the eccentric and macabre Addams family, who are adjusting to a new home in a suburban neighborhood.
In the Netflix Wednesday, Wednesday was played by Jenna Ortega. She is a 16-year-old girl enrolled in a private school for monstrous outcasts, Nevermore Academy, due to being expelled from her former school after a mischievous act. Wednesday’s cold and dry personality makes it hard for her to make friends with her schoolmates and puts her at loggerheads with the school’s principal, Larissa Weems. Additionally, Wednesday is passionate about detective work and writing novels, particularly gothic mysteries. She wanted to publish some of her works, but they weren’t accepted as they were seen as far too shocking and macabre to publish.
Wednesday’s influence on fashion and culture
Either knowingly or unknowingly, Wednesday has significantly contributed to the goth culture. Her iconic style, which includes a long black dress, a white collar, and braided pigtails, has been replicated by many goth fashion enthusiasts. Additionally, her dark and macabre sense of humor has contributed to the growth of the goth culture.
Also, Lady Gaga’s song Bloody Mary benefits from the release of Wednesday. Over a decade after its release, it makes a debut on the latest Billboard Hot 100, reaching No 68. Following the release of Wednesday, the song became viral on Tiktok thanks to Wednesday’s dance to Goo Goo Muck in the video and the fans’ recreation of it with Bloody Mary as a substitute. Among the recreators are celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Marina Diamandis, Amelia Dimoldenberg, and even Lady Gaga herself.
The original music, played in the dance series Goo Goo Muck sung by the Cramps in 1981, also witnessed a surge in popularity. According to Billboard, the on-demand song streams from the United States increased from 2,500 to 134,000. Same with Spotify streaming, it increased by 9,500 percent since the song’s release.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, The Addams Family’s Wednesday Addams has become an iconic character in pop culture, known for her dark and spooky interest. Despite her seemingly unsettling nature, Wednesday represents the importance of individuality and embracing one’s true self. Her unique and complicated character continues to captivate the audience, making her a true darling of the Addams family.
Rian Johnson attained great success in his 2019 movie Knives Out, both in critical acclaim and at the box office. Consequently, he decided to extend the Knives Out franchise by releasing its sequel, Glass Onion, in 2022. Like its predecessor, Glass Onion featured several popular faces in its ensemble cast.
The cast of Glass Onion included Daniel Craig, reprising his role as Detective Benoit Blanc, Janelle Monáe, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hann, Madelyn Cline, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, and Ethan Hawke. Naturally, you’ll expect phenomenal acting in the movie given the big names. Unfortunately, some of these actors failed to hit the nail on the head while playing their roles. Read on as we point out these movie stars in the next section.
5 Actors That Were Under Par in Glass Onion
Daniel Craig and Janelle Monáe were the best actors in Glass Onion without a doubt. Similarly, Edward Norton delivered a satisfactory performance. Ethan Hawke didn’t have enough screen time to do anything spectacular, so you can’t really blame him. Still, the other actors in the movie didn’t leave off a stellar performance.
Here are five actors who were anything but impressive in Glass Onion from those who could’ve done a bit more to the least remarkable:
5. Leslie Odom Jr.
Leslie Odom Jr. as Lionel Toussaint
Leslie Odom Jr. played the character Lionel Toussaint, the head scientist in Miles Bron’s company. The actor first gained major recognition in 2015 when he won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the musical Hamilton. Although Lionel initially opposed Miles’s idea to launch Klear, he couldn’t do much about it because he was subordinate to Miles.
Throughout the movie, Leslie struggled to portray Lionel and sync with the character. However, his efforts didn’t click and he failed to steer his acting well beyond the seas of mediocrity. One notable under-par scene of Leslie was when he fell clumsily after dragging a blanket with Helen Bland (Janelle Monáe). I mean, what was that, bro?
4. Madelyn Cline
Madelyn Cline as Whiskey
After her casting in the Netflix TV show Outer Banks, Madelyn Cline was given the role of Whiskey in Glass Onion. Whiskey was the drop-dead gorgeous girlfriend and Twitch channel assistant of Duke Cody (Dave Bautista). The character was meant to be jovial, seductive, attractive, and easy-going, which Madelyn didn’t have many problems with. Besides charming Miles Bron (Edward Norton) with her wiles in a bid to gain favor from him and being a partner to Duke, there wasn’t anything much to expect from Whiskey. Any beautiful actress could’ve played the role effortlessly.
Despite her character’s simplicity, Madelyn had a few chances to make her character more sophisticated, like when Whiskey had a dialogue with Helen Bland. Still, she failed to make good use of the golden opportunity.
3. Kathryn Hahn
Kathryn Hahn as Claire Debella
Kathryn Hahn portrayed Claire Debella, the sitting Governor of Connecticut, currently running for the US Senate. Kathryn earned popularity after appearing as a supporting actress in various comedy movies, including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Step Brothers. Yet, she couldn’t do justice to her role in Glass Onion.
Claire was supposed to be an aristocratic character since she was a US Governor. However, Kathryn played the role with no atom of grace, making Claire look less noble. Even though the character was loyal to Miles, she’d have shown signs of elitism at least, but she didn’t. Kathryn’s performance was also short of quality and charisma. She’d have probably done better if she was given the role of Peg, Birdie’s not-so-sophisticated assistant.
2. Dave Bautista
Dave Bautista as Duke Cody
Dave Bautista is one name that needs no introduction in the entertainment industry. The retired professional wrestler has enjoyed success in various blockbuster movies, including Avengers: End Game, Avengers: Infinity War, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Dune. His roles in these movies and many others involved action scenes, which suit his abilities. Regardless, he was given a more dramatic role in Glass Onion, a role that actually required pure acting. And guess what? He fell on his face.
Bautista portrayed Duke Cody, a macho men’s rights activist (on Twitch and YouTube) and video game streamer, who’s Miles’s friend and subordinate. The movie star was too stiff in his performance and seemed to take a leaf from his acting in his action movie roles, but without the intense action, of course. Besides failing to appear natural, he couldn’t make the viewers take his character seriously. Playing an anaphylaxis-fueled death scene was also a tough row to hoe for him.
1. Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson as Birdie Jay
Arguably, Kate Hudson was the least outstanding actor in Glass Onion. The Golden Globe Award-winning actress previously starred in Almost Famous (the movie that earned her the award), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Mother’s Day. Still, she may have just inked her name on the nomination for a Golden Raspberry Award with her role as Birdie Jay in Glass Onion. Birdie Jay embodies a high-spirited supermodel turned fashion designer and one of Miles’s “weird” friends involved in the use of child labor.
Kate Hudson’s performance in Glass Onion was nothing to write home about. Almost everything she did seemed to be off– her acting was mediocre at best, her comical scenes appeared forced, her dialogues didn’t quite flow naturally, the scenes where her character was serious and those where she was playful were both flawed, and she made Birdie Jay look ridiculous. Instead of characterizing Birdie as intriguingly as possible, she slaughtered the character’s energy and visual appeal. An actress of her quality could’ve done much better.
Conclusion
Glass Onion had the potential to be an excellent film. However, the relatively poor acting was one major factor that pushed it off the course of its predecessor, Knives Out. No doubt that the above-mentioned actors would’ve made the movie meet critical expectations if they had executed their roles perfectly.
“So, Season 1 of Netflix’s Wednesday Series was like solving a Rubik’s Cube with one hand tied behind our backs. We finally got all the colors to match, but now we’re left with a whole new set of mysteries.
Are we going to find out who has been watching Wednesday? Who will take over as Nevermore High’s new principal? Will Bianca’s mom’s cult finally be exposed? And the real question on everyone’s mind: will we see Tyler in the new season. Oh yeah I forgot. How ’bout Xavier and his weird dreams of the Hyde. Is there any meaning to it? Well they haven’t shown us any links so we can pretty much expect that. Right?
Headlined by the incredibly popular Scream and X star; Jenna Ortega as the one and only Wednesday Addams, this show was a coming-of-age, supernatural, comedy, horror masterpiece.
With a cast that included heavy hitters like Gwendoline Christie, (yeah, GOT fans are pretty familiar with her), Christina Ricci (who’s already played Wednesday in the past), Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Percy Hynes White, Emma Myers, and more, it was like a horror lover’s dream come true.
So, whether you’re a fan of Charles Addams’ original comics, or just looking for a good old fashioned spooky time, Wednesday is the show for you. Just don’t blame us when you can’t stop humming the theme song at 3am.”
So what are we expecting from season 2 of Netflix’s Wednesday? Well, although the mystery of the monster hunt on Wednesday has been resolved, the top detective at Nevermore Academy is still facing challenges.
The season finale leaves viewers with a cliffhanger, revealing that Wednesday is being stalked by an unknown third party. While the show’s creator may have intended this as a way to build suspense, some fans have speculated about the identity of the stalker.
Based on the clues provided, it seems likely that the stalker is someone associated with the academy, either another student or a teacher. However, it is certain that the stalker is not one of the main antagonists from season one.
It is expected that the second season will focus on uncovering the whereabouts of these characters and potentially bringing an end to the ongoing conflict between the “normies” and “outcasts” at the academy. Overall, the season 2 of Nevermore Academy is going to be more thrilling, exciting and most importantly a mystery to solve for the top detective Wednesday.
Who will replace the current Nevermore Academy principal? Who knows? Weems could be back and likely healthy. However, I’m going to bet on Morticia Addams (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Can you imagine her in a stern black suit, scowling at the students as they walk by? Or maybe it’ll be a normie, someone who wants to continue Weems’s quest for unity between Nevermore and Jericho. But let’s be real, that sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry. Well, can’t say past that.
Will We See more of Tyler And The Others?
Let’s not forget about Tyler. That last scene with him turning into a Hyde had me on the edge of my seat. I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen the last of him. And while he might not be the main villain of Season 2, he could definitely play an important role in answering some of the show’s unanswered questions. Like who is the stalker? And what’s Wednesday’s deal? Tyler could be the key to unlocking all of these mysteries.
But hey, that’s just my theory. Only time will tell who will be the new principal and what role Tyler will play. All we know is that Nevermore Academy is going to be one wild ride in season 2.
Bianca’s got a lot of baggage, and I’m not just talking about the designer luggage she packed when she fled from her family. She’s got some demons to confront, like her family and her past identity as Brandy Jane Barclay. Will her tempestuous relationship with her mother come to a head in Season 2? Will Gideon, Gabrielle, and Morning Song be the next season’s villains? (Gabrielle is her mom while Gideon is Gabrielle’s partner who she since married. Or Bianca’s stepfather).
The drama that surrounds her life is like a never-ending saga, it’s like a telenovela, a reality show and a soap opera all rolled into one. Only the future knows what secrets she’ll uncover and what obstacles she’ll face.
And let’s not forget about Xavier, the boy who seems to have it all: the looks, the brains and the mysterious powers. He was wrongfully accused, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about him. Like why was he having those intense visions of the monster? And what’s the deal with those detailed drawings? Will we learn more about his powers in Season 2? And what about his famous seer father? Maybe he’ll be introduced next season and offer some insight into Xavier’s abilities.
Don’t forget about Xavier’s love life. While some fans are shipping Wednesday with Enid, others are rooting for Xavier. Maybe in Season 2 we’ll see Xavier trying to win Wednesday over by teaching her how to use emojis considering he got her a phone. ( It would be a nightmare for Wednesday). Or maybe he will start writing love letters in blood to win her over.
Nevermore Academy is a magical wonderland just waiting to be explored, and we’re hoping that Season 2 will take us on a deeper dive into the inner workings of this mysterious school. Imagine wandering through grand gothic buildings that would make even Hogwarts jealous, and taking classes in fencing and herbology, but also delving into drama, literature, and even P.E.
And let’s not forget about Wednesday’s aspirations to become a published writer, despite the rejection from those narrow-minded editors. I want to see more of the magic that Nevermore has to offer and the enchanted education opportunities it provides.
What We Want
But it’s not just about the setting, we want to see more of the characters and their captivating storylines. With such a massive following, it’s no surprise that Nevermore Academy was the second most pre-release followed Netflix original series on the platform, behind only The Witcher and debuted at number one in over 83 countries.
But let’s not forget, a good twist is always exciting, so who knows what surprises the show has in store for us. And speaking of surprises, I’d love to see Thing’s body. What about you? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
The Witcher is a fantasy drama television series running on Netflix. The show, which premiered in 2019, is based on the eponymous book by the Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. Just like the book, it focuses on the activities of Geralt of Rivia, a magically enhanced monster slayer, and Ciri, the princess of Cintra, in a fictional landmass known as The Continent. The TV series stars Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, and Anya Chalotra as its main roles.
In December 2021, the second season of the show was released. This season was filled with intense events and an eye-opener into the immense power some characters in the show possess.
Accordingly, in this composition, we’d be reviewing the most powerful characters in the Netflix series, The Witcher. Take note that this list only comprises characters with physical embodiments, as potent spirits like Voleth Meir will be deliberately left out. Also, note that this piece is entirely sourced from the Netflix series and no reference or spoilers from the book will be shared here.
5 Characters That Hold the Most Power in The Witcher TV Series
In a continent where magic is real, and humans, mages, elves, witchers, monsters, mutants, spirits, and dwarves coexist, it is certain for beings with massive strength to prevail. Regarding this truth, we’d be presenting the most powerful characters indicated by the first and second seasons of The Witcher series.
5. Fringilla Vigo
Fringilla
Fringilla is a mage who was assigned to the Nilfgaardian Empire. The character was excellently portrayed on screen by Mimi Ndiweni. Previously, she was one of the initiates taken in by the sorceress Tissaia and taught how to control chaos to perform magic at Aretuza.
During the flower and rock lesson by Tissaia, she was the first student to succeed in lifting a rock without touching it. However, her hands soon began to instantly age and shrivel up as a consequence of the “give and take” principle of magic. She was also able to trap lightning in a bottle during another lesson. Subsequently, Fringilla was among the mages inducted into the Brotherhood.
After the conquest of Cintra by Nilfgaard, she was successful in determining that the missing Princess Cirilla was in Brokilon Forest. Fringilla was again spectacular at the battle of Sodden, as the principal mage assisting Nilfgaard against the Brotherhood. When she realized they were losing the war, she opened a portal through which the Nilfgaardian soldiers shot arrows, annihilating Vanielle, one of the Brotherhood mages, and several others. She was able to break down the frontline of her opponents and take down most of the Northern mages, including Tissaia.
Furthermore, Fringilla was skilled enough to intercept Yennefer’s telepathic message and capture her to be offered as a tribute to the White Flame.
Another extraordinary feat performed by Fringilla was the dramatic paralysis of the White Flame’s generals, who were plotting against her at the dining room, with botany and possibly magic, and consequently executing them. She’s surely a formidable character as Cahir would agree.
4. Tissaia de Vries
Tissaia
Tissaia is an experienced mage who serves as the rectoress of the Aretuzan mages. She is also a member of the Chapter of the Gift and the Art, a higher chamber of the Brotherhood usually reserved for 5 talented individuals. In the Netflix TV series, she is played by the Swedish actress MyAnna Buring.
Tissaia was in charge of training the initiated mages of Aretuza, including Yennefer, Fringilla, Triss, and Sabrina, proving she was adept at practicing magic. Similarly, she helped mold Yennefer into the fine mage she eventually became, teaching her how to control chaos and her emotions. At one point, Yennefer directed lightning at her due to anger and frustration, but she rechanneled the lightning into the sky.
She also led the Brotherhood to defend the Northern Kingdoms against the Nilfgaardian forces at the battle of Sodden. Tissaia also mentally tortured a captive Cahir in an attempt to find out Yennefer’s whereabouts and fate, after the battle. Additionally, she rescued Yennefer when she was being tortured by the Redanian intelligence officer Dijkstra.
3. Geralt of Rivia
The White Wolf
Geralt is the protagonist of the show, and the series is named after his profession. This character, who was masterfully portrayed by Henry Cavill, is agreeably one of the strongest characters in the show. Additionally, he’s also known as the White Wolf and Butcher of Blaviken.
Geralt is a magically enhanced monster-killer, known as a witcher, and an incredibly skilled one. He exhibits superhuman abilities, exceptional swordsmanship, and alchemy skills. Throughout the series, the Butcher of Blaviken has slain various monstrous creatures, including the kikimora, selkiemore, bruxa, and leshy. He also defeated Princess Renfri and her soldiers, and helped cure the Striga.
His destiny is bound to Princess Cirilla of Cintra who he earned through the Law of Surprise after defending her father Duny from the opposition of Queen Calanthe. Geralt has also shown his capability by protecting Ciri from several adversaries. Notably, he fought and killed otherworldly monsters, got rid of the Michelet brothers, and defended Ciri against Voleth Meir, the deathless mother. His ability to stand his ground against a Voleth Meir-possessed Ciri speaks highly of his power.
We couldn’t possibly finish this writing if we were to mention all the amazing deeds of the great White Wolf of Rivia.
2. Yennefer of Vengerberg
Yennefer performing fire magic
Yennefer, Yenna, Yen, and Piglet seem to be too many names for one character. Still, you’ll realize that Yennefer, played by Anya Chalotra, is more than one character if you properly watch the series. She is a quarter-elf from the town of Vengerberg, initially having the appearance of a hunchback, who was sold by her father to Tissaia for less than the price of a pig. Tissaia took her to Aretuza as an initiate to be taught how to tap into chaos to execute magic.
Though she wasn’t a quick learner at the Aretuza school of mages, like Fringilla, she later transforms and grows up to become one of the greatest and most reputable mages in the show. Geralt of Rivia even called her the “most powerful mage” he ever knew. Yennefer and Geralt, who had their moment of romance, once fought side-by-side to protect an old dragon and his child. He had also previously persuaded her to help cure Jaskier, his bard, from the effects of a djinn.
Yennefer was also terrific when she defended Queen Kalis of Aedirn and her baby against an assassin and a koshchey, opening portals upon portals, until she ultimately killed the koshchey.
Undoubtedly, Yennefer’s biggest moments in the show was when she performed fire magic, one of the most immense types of magic, at the battle of Sodden. This heroic act made her already losing side win the war against the Nilfgaardian Empire, thanks to her stamina. Although she subsequently lost her magical abilities, she was also impressive in helping to contain Voleth Meir, seizing her magic back in the process. Which better mage could Geralt have entrusted to nurture Ciri?
1. Princess Cirilla of Cintra
Child of the Elder Blood
Commonly referred to as Ciri, Princess Cirilla is the Child of Ithlline’s prophecy, Child of the Elder Blood, granddaughter of Queen Calanthe, Lion Cub of Cintra, daughter of Emhyr the White Flame, Geralt’s Child Surprise, and heir to the Cintran throne. How could this highly special child, portrayed by Freya Allan, not be the most powerful character in the show?
Ciri inherited the elder blood from her mother, Princess Pavetta, who didn’t live long enough to fully depict what it feels like to have elder blood running in your veins. She was already pledged to Geralt of Rivia before her birth and has been the interest of many beings, including elves, kings, men, mages, monsters, and demons.
Her first major feat was collapsing a monolith and causing an earthquake, with a scream, when Cahir and the Nilfgaardian soldiers attempted to abduct her after conquering Cintra. After being claimed by Geralt, she went on to learn some basic fighting skills at Kaer Morhen, indicating her resilience. It was later discovered that the monolith she fell brought otherworldly monsters into The Continent.
Princess Cirilla’s massive strength was also displayed when Voleth Meir, the highly powerful deathless mother, used her as a vessel of chaos. She shattered more monoliths with her screams, manufactured deadly weapons, summoned various monsters from other spheres, and killed several witchers. Indeed, Ciri is a great force to be reckoned with.
Given that she’s young currently, she’s likely to exhibit more powerful stunts as the series progresses.
Bottom Line
Apart from these characters, other powerful figures worth mentioning include the Nilfgaardian commander Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach, the old witcher Vesemir, and the mage Triss Merigold.
If you don’t agree with this list, feel free to drop your opinions in the comment section below.
November 5, 2021 saw the release of the Action-comedy movie Red Notice. The movie, which was distributed by Netflix, starred Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot in its main roles. Although all three actors have once played roles in the Fast and Furious franchise, this was the first time their (all three) characters had an interactive screen time.
The plot follows the actions of two competing thieves (Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot) and an FBI agent suspected of theft (Dwayne Johnson) and their goals of stealing the three bejeweled “Cleopatra’s eggs” for unique reasons.
This Rawson Marshall Thurber’s movie is something I’d say was not too good and not so bad. Red Notice is a slightly above average movie. Still, there were some really thrilling moments in the 118-minutes film that are worth appreciating.
Most Epic Scenes in the Movie
(SPOILER ALERT)
In no particular order, the most exciting moments within the movie’s running time are:
John Hartley Reveals That the Egg in the Museum Is a Fake and Has to Chase Nolan Booth
Special Agent John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) believes that the so-called Cleopatra’s Egg in the Roman museum is a fake replica because it doesn’t reflect heat when he scans it with a thermal sensor, contrary to what would be expected from a jewel with 18 karats of gold. He finally proves that the egg has been switched for a fake by pouring a can of soda directly on the artifact which starts melting immediately to the surprise of everyone present in the room.
The scene continues with Hartley giving the art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) a hot chase. One amazing fact about the pursuit is that Ryan Reynolds’ character finds it easier to evade obstacles and pass through narrow places due to the considerable size difference between Dwayne Johnson’s character and his.
Ed Sheeran’s Scene at the Wedding of the Egyptian Billionaire’s Daughter
The multiple awards winning singer English singer Ed Sheeran had an uncredited cameo appearance in the movie. Though he had a relatively short screen time in the movie, the little scene he had was a blast.
First of all, the bride abandons the groom and diverts her attention to Ed Sheeran, her favorite singer, when he begins performing.
Again, when the wedding is stormed by agents of the Interpol, Ed Sheeran tries to fight off an Interpol agent with a guitar while declaring that he’s Ed Sheeran and he featured in HBO’s Game of Thrones.
Nolan Booth Announces That John Hartley Is an FBI Agent in the Russian Prison Dining Room
When Booth and Hartley are arrested and sent to a remote Russian prison, they’re expected to work hand-in-hand to escape the horrible situation. However, during breakfast one day, Booth begins announcing that Hartley is an FBI agent in the prison dining room. It’s more ridiculous to see Booth trying to point out the difference between an FBI agent and a cop.
The other prisoners are unsatisfied and one of them proceeds to fight with Hartley, thereby creating a turmoil in the prison. Later in the movie, it’s revealed that Booth acted this way to create a medium for him to steal a prison official’s keycard. Slick, right?
Nolan Booth and John Hartley Versus the Charging Bull
In a bid to avoid being shot by Sotte Voce, an international arms dealer who was once in possession of the second Cleopatra’s Egg, Booth and Hartley unknowingly run into an arena where an angry charging bull is present. The thrilling part of this scene is that Booth and Hartley are placed in a dilemma where they have to either risk being shot by Sotte Voce or risk being mauled by the angry bull. They chose the latter eventually.
Who You Thought Is Your Partner is actually my Partner-in-Crime
For the most part of the movie Red Notice, Booth believes that he and Hartley are partners working against a common enemy, Sarah Black (Gal Gadot) who’s believed to go by the code name “The Bishop ”. The viewers of the movie were also made to believe this story.
However, towards the end of the movie, an impressive plot twist unfolded. Here, Hartley and Sarah Black divulge to Booth and the unsuspecting viewers that they’re actually a criminal duo and simultaneously romantic partners. They also reveal the linking threads in their plans connecting them.
Final Thoughts
There are some other great scenes in Red Notice as well. Still, I think these five scenes were the most captivating and most expertly-presented of them all.
A lot of us must have seen the recently most talked about Netflix series ‘Squid Game’. It’s taking over as one of the most streamed Netflix Original shows and rightly so. The thrill it delivers from the beginning captures its viewers and the show manages to sustain its momentum till the end and leaves us in suspense and anticipation of the subsequent season.
Those that haven’t yet seen the show should beware of the SPOILERS ahead. This article aims to see the most loved and most hated characters from the show.
Most Hated Characters
3. Han Mi-nyeo (212)
Han Mi-nyeo was an eventful character in the show. From her survival-inspired love affair with Deok-su to her tricks in the show, she sure makes an interesting character to watch.
On the negative side, Player 212 was a highly annoying, manipulative, and self-centered character as we could see from her screen time in the first season of Squid Game. She derived pleasure from being irritable to the other players and guards. Do you remember when she pointed out that Ali (199) was an illegal immigrant and suggested that the team should be restructured? The fact that she got past the tug-of-war game with the team didn’t cause her to stop being manipulative and narcissistic.
Furthermore, Han Mi-nyeo was a “pest”. She could bug other people in a bid to survive. For instance, she pestered and clung to Deok-su during the games and tried to convince other players to be her partner when she had no partner for the pebble game.
Her way of life didn’t go well for her in the end as Deok-su thought she couldn’t offer anything special. Then, her desire for him developed into hatred and eventually led her to kill herself along with him.
2. Jang Deok-su (101)
Deok-su is the main antagonist in the intoductory season of the series. He’s a character you would love to hate.
A former gangster, he had a criminal history with Sae-byeok (Player 067). It may seem like he was the one who took her in as he explained in episode one, but their relationship grew sour and Sae-byeok ran away. He was surprised to see her in the game and didn’t hesitate to beat her to express his anger. Their little brawl continues throughout the first season of the show where they try to eliminate each other.
Some reasons people dislike the character include his bullying nature, maltreatment of women, self-centeredness, and the fact that he’s a brute murderous force.
Again, Deok-su instigated most fights in the show and was a character nobody wanted to be up against. He eventually met his demise in the hands of his supposed lover, Han Mi-nyeo, in the glass bridge.
1. Cho Sang-woo (Player 218)
Sang-woo
Sang-woo is clearly the most hated character in the first season of Squid Game. Originally, he left the country for greener pastures, but it didn’t quite work out for him. The high expectations from his friends and family led him to dive into fraudulence after being plagued by his debts. He eventually joins the Squid Game to make enough money to settle his debts.
The first thing Sang-woo did that got us to frown in disgust was his failure to dissuade the protagonist Gi-hun (Player 456) from picking the umbrella shape in “The Man the Umbrella” episode (episode 2) though had known the implication of the game.
Similarly, he betrayed Ali (Player 199) by using his kindness and lack of intelligence against him. Though one might explain this act was a necessary evil, it doesn’t make us forgive Sang-woo for making Ali die in his stead.
Again, Sang-woo got to the peak of his evil deeds when he finally killed Sae-byeok (Player 67), an injured defenseless woman, who was no threat to him. Let’s face it, this action was cruel to the core. Even Hitler may have spared Sae-byeok in that situation.
The 3 Most Loved Characters
3. Ali Abdul (Player 199)
Ali
He definitely takes this spot. In the show, he was a Pakistani immigrant who came to South Korea seeking a better life. He was a factory worker whose boss withheld his pay. After leaving the game the first time, he confronted his stingy boss, which led to a struggle between both men. His boss ended up losing his fingers, while he made away with some money.
Ali was an innocent man with the heart of an angel, the strength of a bull, and the brain of a child. Thus, it wasn’t difficult for the viewers of the show to fall in love with him.
His relationship with Sang-woo grew as the show went on until the bitter part where he was tricked by Sang-woo and ultimately eliminated. Additionally, his kind gesture of trying to save Sang-woo may be considered naive in the kill-or-be-killed game, still, it remains one of the reasons he’s one of the most loved characters in the show.
2. Ji-yeong (Player 240)
Ji-yeong
To be factual, we know little of this character aside from the fact that she was once in prison for murdering her abusive father. We first took notice of her in the third game where a team of 10 was to be formed and Gi-hun’s team needed to recruit more members.
Although Sang-woo was opposed to taking in more ladies, Sae-byeok ignored him and brought Ji-yeong seeing she had no teammates.
Her relationship with Sae-byeok developed shortly in the show, with Ji-yeong promising to do anything to make sure Sae-byeok wins the money. She literally gave her life up for Sae-byeok after deliberately throwing short in the pebble game, claiming Sae-byeok had better reasons to win the money.
1. Kang Sae-byeok (Player 067)
Sae-byeok
Am I the only one who thinks Sae-byeok was unnecessarily taken out? I mean what was the point of shattering the glass after the fifth game, the Bridge game. Sae-byeok was a good and lovable character who was unjustly taken out. Most of us wanted her to win the 45.6 billion Won with Gi-hun. However, the creators of the show didn’t share a similar feeling.
Sae-byeok had an impressive character development from the quiet, ever-frowning pickpocket to a fascinating main character who had the solid goal of reuniting her family with the prize money. Again, she developed a healthy friendship with the show’s lead role, Gi-hun, which brought her to the spotlight.
She had initially defected and emigrated from the North with her brother, leaving her mother behind. However, her brother was compelled to reside in an orphanage. Although she couldn’t carry out her plans by herself, she made Gi-hun vow to reclaim her brother from the orphanage.
