The Monday Edition - Feb 10, 2020
Fresh from your pals at themarysue.com
TV, Henry Cavill, Netflix, the witcher

Even a Sword Historian Agrees That Henry Cavill Looks Good Wielding a Sword

Calanthe and Geralt in The Witcher
“It’s believable that he’s a fighter,” says Gregory Mele, the founder of Chicago’s only full-time European martial arts school, about our new fantasy boyfriend Geralt of Rivia, as played by Henry Cavill.
Big on the Internet, Parasite, subtitles

Subtitles Are Great—and Not Just for Foreign Films

Song Kang-ho in Parasite
Subtitles are great even in domestic films and TV, and normalizing them opens you up to great foreign cinema!
Movies, Joker, Parasite

Nothing Funnier Than Thinking Joker’s Social Commentary Should Have Given It the Edge Over Parasite

Edit TagsReport This Woo-sik Choi and So-dam Park in Gisaengchung (2019)
Maybe watch Parasite before you make a fool of yourself.
Movies, academy awards, Hildur Guðnadóttir

There Was a Historic Moment for Women at the Oscars Thanks to … Joker?

THE OSCARS¨ - The 92nd Oscars¨ broadcasts live on Sunday, Feb. 9,2020 at the Dolby Theatre¨ at Hollywood & Highland Center¨ in Hollywood and will be televised live on The ABC Television Network at 8:00 p.m. EST/5:00 p.m. PST. (ABC/ARTURO HOLMES) HILDUR GUONADOTTIR
Hildur Guðnadóttir's win for Best Original Score was a landmark for women in the difficult world of classical music.
TV, Game of Thrones, Jon Snow, Twitter

This Viral Tweet About Game of Thrones Captures a Whole Mood About the Show’s Conclusion

Jon Snow on Game of Thrones
Sometimes your brain just flashes back to the end of Game of Thrones, and pipes up: really? Really?
Big on the Internet, Classic Stage Company, Dracula

Why Yes You Can Stage a Feminist Dracula Production in 2020

DRACULA -- Episode 1-- Pictured: Katie McGrath as Lucy Westenra -- (Photo by: Jonathon Hession/NBC)
More often than not, we're focused on Dracula himself, and while this production does give us the hot Dracula vibes we're always aiming for, it is definitely more focused on the women of Dracula and how they're taking a stand against his toxic masculinity. It does also basically say "f**k fragile masculinity," and that's the kind of energy I need for 2020.
TV, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Netflix

When Is Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Going to Learn How to Handle Its Black Characters Properly?

Jaz Sinclair as Ros in Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Between the Pagans, Roz, and the sidelining of multiple characters of color, Sabrina keeps fumbling when race comes into play.
Movies, Little Women, The Academy Awards

The Academy Gave Little Women Only Best Costume Design Because Women Love Dresses, Right?

Little Women
Little Women was nominated in six categories at the Oscars and won ... Best Costume Design. Honestly, women like clothing, right?
News, Alexander Vindman, donald trump, impeachment, Mitt Romney

Trump & His Toadies Continue Their Post-Impeachment Retribution Spree

Donald Trump holds a copy of The Washington Post as he speaks in the East Room of the White House one day after the U.S. Senate acquitted on two articles of impeachment
The retaliation against Mitt Romney and impeachment witnesses continues.
Movies, #OscarsSoMale, 2020 Oscars, Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman Needs to Do More Than Talk About Female Directors; She Needs to Work With Them

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Natalie Portman attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
It's great that Natalie Portman cares so much about promoting the work of women ... but it would be even better if she would actually work with them.
Movies, Taika Waititi

Taika Waititi’s Well-Deserved Jojo Rabbit Oscar Win Was Sorely Needed

Taika Waititi and his Oscar
When Jojo Rabbit won for Best Adapted Screenplay, I found myself cheering and overcome with excitement.
Movies, Birds of Prey (film), Cathy Yan, Margot Robbie

Let’s Unpack the Narratives Around Birds of Prey’s Box Office Stumble

Harley Quinn sits on a yellow sofa with a hyena in the Birds of Prey poster.
While myself and many other are hoping good word of mouth will help bring people into the theaters, we should still ask, "Why hasn’t Birds of Prey done as well as expected?"
AMP Featured, TV, contributors, the witcher

Make Jaskier Bisexual, You Cowards

Joey Batey as Jaskier the Bard in The Witcher
Though it’s hardly been out only a little over a month, Netflix’s The Witcher has already inundated the online community with instantly-memorable moments ranging from catchy tunes to sexy, smoldering brutes in baths. The show has become a runaway success and also sparked many a conversation about its approach to casting and representation in fantasy.
Big on the Internet, Independent Spirit Awards, Laura Dern, things we saw today

Things We Saw Today: Let’s All Sing the Praises of Laura Dern

laura dern as renata klein
Great, now we have "Laura Dern ordering a kale salad" stuck in our heads.
Comics, Archie, Archie Comics, Riverdale

Archie Comics Editor in Chief Victor Gorelick Has Passed Away at 78

the riverdale gang
For countless readers, their love of comics began at the supermarket checkout line, begging their parents for a copy of Archie or Betty & Veronica.
Movies, Lulu Wang, The Farewell, women directors

Lulu Wang Urges Industry to Hire Female Directors During Her Acceptance Speech at the Independent Spirit Awards

lulu wang wins at the independent spirit awards
Lulu Wang ended her speech by thanking her Nai Nai, who inspired the film.
Big on the Internet, alopecia, Ayanna Pressley, Internet Trolls

Rep. Ayanna Pressley Claps Back at Trolls Making Fun of Her Alopecia

ayanna pressley reveals alopecia
And let's be real: she looks damn good doing it.
Big on the Internet, calendars, The Good Place, things we saw today

Things We Saw Today: The Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift for The Good Place Fan in Your Life

The Good Place - Season 3 jeremy bearemy
Ever since The Good Place ended its four season run with a truly perfect series finale, we've been mourning the loss of the delightfully silly and soulful series.
Big on the Internet, Brit Marling, Strong Female Protagonist, The OA

Brit Marling Rejects the ‘Strong Female Lead’ in a Bold New Essay

In charting her journey from Goldman Sachs analyst to struggling actress to self-made indie darling, Marling delves into the lack of nuanced roles for women in Hollywood.
Movies, Birds of Prey (film), DC Entertainment, Margot Robbie

Birds of Prey Producer Responds to Trolls Criticizing the Film’s Sex Appeal

margot robbie as harley quinn in birds of prey teaser.
It's a truth universally acknowledged that any nerd property that dares to empower women will be met with the vitriol of a thousand online trolls.
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