Archer is nearly back! To celebrate, FX announced the show’s return with an absolutely incredible shot-for-shot remake of the opening to the Tom Selleck classic Magnum P.I., right down to the theme tune and the, err.. facial hair.

Turns out, in classic Sterling Archer style, this is just the vivid imagination of the Agency-formerly-known-as-ISIS’ top agent, using toys to explain his adventure to the team. But still, it’s a pretty damn incredible homage, and reminds us how much we’ve missed Archer’s zany antics. If you’re an international reader and want in on the fun, you can check it out below.

Archer returns for a new season of shenanigans March 31st on FX.

And quick cuts designed to hide much of this disaster from the audience. Also Alan Rickman’s voice, which actually might work as a weapon.

This 30-second trailer is just incomprehensible. It’s got a soundtrack that I’m pretty sure came from a film about industrial life in the 30s, a semi-steampunk aesthetic best imbued by Sacha Baron Cohen (of course he looks ridiculous), and a miserably kinetic pace that does neither action nor humor any good. I feel like I just experienced a sleep-deprived person’s caffeine crash. You know, where everything seems like a good idea when it’s spit out at a million miles a minute while simultaneously slipping into semi-unconsciousness every few seconds?

I cannot believe this is going to be Alan Rickman’s last film.

Contact the author at katharine@io9.com.

A great love story can totally grab your heartstrings. But you know what is guaranteed to make you start sobbing like a drunken longshoreman? Friendship. Science fiction and fantasy are full of platonic relationships that punch you in the gut. So in no particular order, here are the 17 friendships most guaranteed to make you cry.

Note: A couple of these are sort of ambiguously romantic, like there are hints of romance, but people still seem to consider them friendships, for the most part.

1. Frodo and Samwise (Lord of the Rings)

These are sort of the most obvious choices. Samwise is the most steadfast and loyal friend a Hobbit could ever hope to have, and the ending of Return of the King will pretty much bring tears to the eyes of anybody who hasn’t had their tearducts surgically removed. Seriously.

2. Willow and Xander (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

There was a painful crush at one point, and this friendship went through some serious ups and downs. But the moment at the end of season six when Xander basically saves the world through his platonic love for Willow is... there just aren’t any words. Other than “breaky crayon Willow.”

3. Elliott and E.T. (E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial)

E.T. is almost the best “boy and his dog” story ever (where the “dog” is an alien with telepathic, telekinetic and healing powers.) And the movie’s final half hour is just crammed with moments that will make almost anyone weep giant tears, because the bond between these two has become so intense and beautiful over the course of the movie.

4. Wall-E and Eve (Wall-E)

Here’s one of the relationships that could be a friendship, or a love story. Depends on just exactly how you view relationships between robots. But I kind of think of them as having an intense bond that defies our human categories of relatedness. And as much as other Pixar movies have made us cry (see below), this one just turned the waterworks all the way on. These robots mean everything to each other.

5. Hogarth and the Iron Giant (The Iron Giant)

The relationship between a boy and a giant robot has never been more intense and moving than in this book by Ted Hughes and the movie adaptation by director Brad Bird. Like a lot of the other stories here, the proximate cause of the tears is an amazing act of self-sacrifice. But the underlying cause is the bond between these two.

6. Kirk and Spock (Star Trek)

The impulsive, sometimes overly dramatic captain of the Enterprise, and his logical, analytical second in command... they start out at loggerheads, with Spock insisting that Kirk must kill his best friend Gary Mitchell. But then they have each other’s backs so many times, and they share so many adventures. It’s not just Spock’s fate in Wrath of Khan that brings the tears, but everything Kirk goes through in The Search for Spock to get him back.

7. John Connor and the Terminator (Terminator 2)

Speaking of “boy and his dog” stories... the second Terminator film is kind of amazing in how it makes the killer robot from the first movie not just understandable but lovable. We literally get inside the Terminator’s head, and he gets to grow and change while being John Connor’s surrogate dad. Until he knows why John cries.

8. Shaun and Ed (Shaun of the Dead)

This movie is hilarious, but it also has a really sweet friendship at its center. And the ending, in which not even a really horrible outcome can stop these two being friends, is the most “sorry-something-in-my-eye” moment ever.

9. Harry Potter and Sirius Black (Harry Potter)

Harry Potter’s godfather goes through tremendous hardships and miseries for Harry, even getting locked up in Azkaban and accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Sirius Black finally even gives his life for Harry, after first showing him the kind of family loyalty he never got to experience from his own parents.

10. The Doctor and Donna (Doctor Who)

The only one of the Doctor’s 21st century companions who never even has any hint of romance with the Time Lord, Donna is the best mate that an ageless alien time traveler could ever want. And then... tragedy strikes and the floodgates of tears open. Also, the Doctor’s friendship with Donna’s grandfather Wilf is one for the ages. The Doctor-Wilf scenes pretty much save David Tennant’s swansong.

11. Kenzi and Bo (Lost Girl)

When Kenzi turns out to be Bo’s “heart,” it makes all the sense in the world. Kenzi is the human who’s always there for the non-aligned succubus in this Canadian TV show. And there are a few moments when Kenzi tears our heart out, including her final departure.

12. Bing Bong and Joy (Inside Out)

We mentioned there would be more Pixar on this list, right? Bing Bong and Joy bond over their shared love of Riley, the girl whose head they live inside. But while Joy is an integral part of Riley’s personality—at least, unless things go terribly, tragically wrong—Bing Bong is just Riley’s old imaginary friend. Which makes what happens between them even more remarkable, and terribly sad.

13. Marty and Doc (Back to the Future)

Doc inadvertently helps Marty to improve his own life tremendously, thanks to his time machine. And in return, Marty saves Doc from certain death not once, but twice. Marty’s frantic concern for Doc’s continued breathing is one of the emotional anchors of this trilogy, and it absolutely gets you where it counts.

14. Batman and Alfred (Batman)

They can kill off Robin a hundred times. They can even send Ace the Bathound to the pet cemetery. But whenever Batman’s butler and best friend Alfred is in danger, or decides he can no longer stay with the Caped Crusader, it’s automatically super sad. A teary Alfred finally leaving Master Bruce was one of the things that saved The Dark Knight Rises from just being a silly mess.

15. Xena and Gabrielle (Xena Warrior Princess)

These two sworn companions stuck together through death (a few times), trials and endless discovery. And along the way, they made us bawl our eyes out on so many occasions.

16. Rocket and Groot (Guardians of the Galaxy)

We couldn’t leave these two out—the uplifted raccoon and his living plant friend are two of the greatest movie characters in the past decade, thanks in part to Bill Mantlo’s beautiful writing in creating Rocket. And their bond is one of the main sources of feels in this movie, especially when Groot makes a potentially career-ending decision at the end.

17. Root and Shaw (Person of Interest)

Here’s another pairing that could, just possibly, turn into romance—we’ll see when the show returns for its fifth (and hopefully not final) season. Root and Shaw are both psychos who needed to learn to value human life, and when they first met, Root tortured Shaw. But they’ve developed a beautiful bond, until Root was willing to risk the fate of the Machine—and the world—for Shaw. All the feels.

What did we leave out?

Thanks to Germain and Cheryl for the input. I also drew a bit on these old articles.

Charlie Jane Anders is the author of All The Birds in the Sky, a novel that features a super intense relationship that is mostly a friendship. Here’s what people have been saying about it. Follow her on Twitter, and email her.

http://www.amazon.com/All-Birds-Char...

We tried NASA’s brand new 360 degree Mars panoramic viewer for your phone, and we think it’s about as good a Mars view as you’re going to get right now, lacking a spaceship. Test it out for yourself below.

NASA’s new tool for your phone lets you see on screen—whether above you, below you, or all around you to the sides—what you would be seeing if you really were seated up on the red planet, taking it all in.

Of course, you’re still staring at your phone screen, and swiveling it around by hand, and you’re stuck in a fixed point. You can’t walk up a hill, for instance, and see what’s on the other side, so the experience—while very cool—is certainly not seamless.

But NASA told Gizmodo that they’re in the middle of working on something much more elaborate: A complete virtual reality Mars simulator, which they’ll be releasing to the public this summer.

We’ll be waiting.

In the meantime, check this out, but switch over to your phone first—that’s the only way it’s viewable. Or you can click over directly to Curiosity’s facebook page and watch from there:

Video: NASA/ JPL Top image: From a desktop panorama view via NASA

It wiped out all three of the original X-Men films. Guess we know how Fox is going to reboot X-Men.

This was probably inevitable, since the X-Men prequels were lurching closer and closer to when the 2000 movie took place. After the 80s-based Apocalypse they either had the choice to ditch the “one movie per decade” formula they’d set up and do a bunch of movies set in the 90s or reboot. Just saying we’re in an alternate universe now also avoids the many messy continuity problems all the X-Men films were creating.

On a set visit, writer-producer Simon Kinberg told Digital Spy:

Everything is an alternate timeline at this point, but the one thing we have established is the end of Days of Future Past, where Wolverine wakes up in the future mansion - that is the destination of this new timeline. So ultimately they are going to become who you see at the end of that movie.

This does give the films both a lot more freedom but also means that certain characters have to survive. We see Professor X, Jean Grey, Scott Summers, Hank McCoy, Rogue, Iceman, Kitty Pryde, Wolverine—so a lot of characters are pretty safe. Assuming we don’t get another alternate universe. But it also means that everyone new has uncertain futures.

People destined to be around forever are Bryan Singer, who says in the same article that he’s “directing these movies til he’s dead,” and possibly Hugh Jackman, of whom Kinberg also says, “either we would try to entice Hugh to come back and eat more chicken and work out for a few months, or we would have to figure out a creative way to move forward. Honestly, I can’t imagine anybody else playing the part.”

All of which adds up to Jackman’s Wolverine being the only thing to survive all these movies intact. Of course.

Contact the author at katharine@io9.com.

With good news, comes the bad, John Carpenter fans. The acclaimed genre director and composer will be releasing Lost Themes II on April 15, a follow-up to last year’s soundtrack-esque Lost Themes. And he’ll be touring—but to Spain, Iceland, and England only.

http://io9.gizmodo.com/watch-the-prem...

According to Sacred Bones Records, the new album will be even more “fluid and thematic” than the first; it will also feature the talents of John’s son, Cody Carpenter, and his godson, Daniel Davies.

Unlike their first album, when they often worked over the internet exchanging themes over the course of several years, this time all three brought in sketches and worked together in the same city, a luxury they weren’t afforded on the first Lost Themes. The result was a more focused effort, one that was completed on a compressed schedule — not unlike Carpenter’s classic, notoriously low-budget early films.

... The musical world of Lost Themes II is also a wider one than that of its predecessor; more electric and acoustic guitar help flesh out the songs, still driven by Carpenter’s trademark minimal synth. This manifests itself brilliantly in songs like the lead single “Distant Dream,” which hitches a familiar Carpenterian beat to an expressive drum performance and rides it to a thrilling conclusion. The eerie “Angel’s Asylum” lets an ethereal synth line command the first three-quarters of the song, before turning over the melody to an acoustic guitar, and “Virtual Survivor” delivers a blast of the sci-fi menace that characterized his great scores for films like Assault on Precinct 13 and They Live. Lost Themes II delivers eleven compelling new tracks with which fans can continue to score the movies in their minds.

Carpenter and company will hit the road this summer and fall, but don’t get too excited, especially if you live in the United States. If you do, please feel free to join me in reading these tour dates and gnashing your teeth:

Jun 2 - Barcelona ES, Primavera Sound

Jul 1-3 - Ásbrú IS, ATP Iceland

Oct 28 - Manchester UK, Albert Hall *2nd show added!*

Oct 29 - Manchester UK, Albert Hall

Oct 31 - London UK, Troxy

Carpenter is no doubt quite busy with his day job these days. But fingers crossed he adds a few more shows before the year is over!

Top image: Director John Carpenter stands with a poster of his latest movie “Escape From L.A.” on Friday, August 9, 1996 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Great job, internet. Remember all that shit-talking you did about almonds sucking up too much of California’s drought-plagued water? Now the price of almonds is way down, and people just aren’t grabbing America’s nuts like they used to, causing serious damage to the industry.

It wasn’t only a bad reputation that hurt almonds. Farmers got whipped into a planting frenzy that ended up flooding the market with too many nuts. Now, the price per nut has plummeted, causing the state to lose about $1.8 billion. Farmers admit they’re probably to blame, according to a report that aired on NPR:

“We probably pushed the price up too high,” says Darren Rigg. He handles over 50 million pounds of nuts with Meridian Growers in Tulare, Calif.

“It killed off demand, and people at a certain point, they just don’t buy,” Rigg says. “We’re probably coming back into an equilibrium point, but we possibly have overcorrected as well.”

Why was the United States growing so many almonds in the first place? We have to go back to the counterintuitive reason for why almonds thrived in an age of water scarcity: Because of the drought, almonds were so financially lucrative that it made sense for farmers to plant more of them, even with the extra water factored in. As Valley Public Radio reports, farmers have been tearing out other crops to make way for almond trees, which resulted in the glut of nuts. This started happening long before the drought, by the way, so some of these almond trees have yet to mature—so even more almonds are on the way.

The other big problem is that the almond industry is built on a precarious economic premise. It banks on the fact that people in other countries like China and India will pay top dollar for America’s nuts. That turned out to be not as true in 2015 as it was in 2014, and the market flooded, resulting in a plunging price per pound.

As Gizmodo’s Esther Inglis-Arkell, pointed out to me, this is also the same kind of thing that happened when the price of wheat skyrocketed nealry a century ago. The price of wheat went up, so farmers planted more wheat to make big bucks. That sent prices way down, which meant farmers had to produce even more wheat to make money, which pushed the price down even more. Of course, farmers ended up abandoning their crops, and that’s how we ended up with the Dust Bowl. Let’s hope the Great Almond Crash doesn’t have the same effect.

On the other hand, some forward-looking farmers have already given up on almonds entirely and are planting solar panels instead.

[Valley Public Radio via NPR]

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

This week, Lost Girl, Sleepy Hollow and The Muppets all return! Mulder & Scully track a man-lizard. Plus Tar Pit, the Calculator and Bizarro terrorize the DC Comics heroes! All this, plus iZombie and bioluminescent fish, on This Week’s TV!

Tonight

The X-Files (8PM, FOX)

“When a dead body is found in the woods, Mulder and Scully are called in to investigate whether it was an animal attack, a serial killer or just maybe a strange creature as described by eyewitnesses. Meanwhile, Mulder is able to confront some of his own demons about feeling disillusioned with his life’s work in the all-new “Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-monster.”

Mulder and Scully encounter some sort of horned lizard man in an episode written and directed by Darin Morgan! And someone else is running around dressed like Carl “The Night Stalker” Kolchak… This is by far the best episode of the new X-Files revival to date.

Supergirl (8PM, CBS)

“Bizarro” - Kara faces off against her mirror image when Bizarro (Hope Lauren), a twisted version of Supergirl, sets out to destroy her.

Whoa! Hope Lauren looks exactly like Melissa Benoist!

Lucifer (9PM, FOX)

“When a movie star’s son is killed after being chased by the paparazzi, Chloe takes a deep look into the case with a little help from Lucifer. Meanwhile, Maze and Amenadiel continue to encourage Lucifer to go back to hell.”

Paparazzi…demons…

“Mi sto chiedendo chi siano i veri cannibali?”

The Magicians (9PM, SYFY)

Get ready to meet a Niffin! (a malicious spirit of pure magic, natch)

Lost Girl (10PM, SYFY)

“Bo wakes up in Kansas. Or, if not Kansas, a black and white world wherein she is the only (gorgeous gingham clad) lady who has any color at all. What the…”

Lost Girl returns! Is the episode only a superficial homage the Wizard of Oz? Or is it closer to the Twilight Zone pilot, “Where Is Everybody?”

No matter what, it’s certain to be better than that awful Felicity episode.

Even without Kenzi.

Tuesday

The Flash (8PM, CW)

“Barry teams up with Wells to figure out a way to close the breaches, but they are distracted by a meta-human nicknamed Tar Pit (guest star Marco Grazzini) who can transform into liquid asphalt. Iris is concerned for Wally’s safety after she finds out about his drag racing hobby. When he refuses to stop she makes a bold move that puts her in danger.”

One of television’s best, Rachel Talalay, directs this week’s episode of The Flash! And it introduces the man who accidentally transferred his consciousness into a vat of molten tar, and got it stuck there— Tar Pit!

No word on if he’ll crash a Keystone Combines game.

The Muppets (8:30PM, ABC)

After some modest retooling, The Muppets is back!

iZombie (9PM, CW)

“Things become interesting for Liv when she and Clive investigate the murder of a young librarian, who was also secretly an erotic fiction writer. Meanwhile, things heat up between Blaine and someone quite unexpected. Lastly, Major is hit with an unforeseen snag in his plan.”

iZombie returns with some incredible fanservice!

Not only is iZombie one of the best shows going right now, it consistently offers the finest motives behind its murders of the week. Weird crime aficionados take notice!

Agent Carter (ABC, 9PM)

“Agent Carter and the SSR learn there’s more than just a pretty face behind Hollywood star Whitney Frost, Peggy’s most dangerous foe yet.”

Shadowhunters (9PM, FREEFORM)

“After getting a clue about who may have wiped Clary’s memories, the crew hunts down the High Warlock of Brooklyn, Magnus Bane. With all of the warlocks in hiding from Valentine, the team must lure Magnus out with something he can’t refuse - a killer party and something very valuable. But with emotions running high, more may come out of their meeting with Magnus than just the retrieval of Clary’s memories. Meanwhile, Simon doesn’t seem to be himself after his recent Downworlder encounter.”

See the difference a set of well-placed eyes can liven up your standard, gaseous memory demon?

Teen Wolf (9PM, MTV)

The Expanse (10PM, SYFY)

Two-hour season finale! Whatever happened to Julie Mao?

Killing Fields (10PM, DISCOVERY)

“After receiving a tip, Aubrey sits down with a convicted felon. Rodie tries to rekindle his relationship with his son as the team continues their efforts to speak with Eugenie’s ex-husband.”

The Shannara Chronicles (10PM, MTV)

“Ah, good…you’re awake!”

That’s one of those necessary villain/hostage exchanges we should all do our part to subvert in the future.

Wednesday

Arrow (8PM, CW)

It’s Arrow vs The Calcuator!

(Detective Comics #466)

This nefarious numbers genius was created by the strange pairing of Bob Rozakis and Mike Grell!

Oh, and Roy comes back, too…

Face Off (9PM, SYFY)

Inspired by the upcoming series, Hunters, the artists must create the perfect human disguise.

Nova (9PM, PBS)

A whole hour of bioluminescent sea creatures!

Star Wars Rebels (9PM, DISNEY XD)

Zeb…a Captain?!

Supernatural (9PM, CW)

“Sam and Dean drop in on Jody Mills (guest star Kim Rhodes), Claire (guest star Kathryn Newton) and Alex (guest star Katherine Ramdine) after receiving a panicked phone call from Claire. She believes the recent murders in town are supernatural and wants the boys’ help. However, Sheriff Mills tells Sam and Dean that Claire has been getting into trouble lately as she’s been attacking normal people and accusing them of being monsters.”

Sounds like Supernatural may be homaging Gary Sherman’s excellent Dead & Buried!

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (10PM, FXX)

At this point in the culture, the suburbs are fully expected to be lascivious nightmare palaces in opposition to their friendly exteriors, certainly?

Thursday

Clarence (5PM, CARTOON)

“When Clarence is convinced he has the power to manipulate time he vows to only use his “abilities” for good. However, a day at school puts his morals to the test when he’s given the ultimate choice - to help his friends or pause time in the name of fun.”

Legends of Tomorrow (8PM, CW)

“Rip (Arthur Darvill) decides to weaken Vandal Savage (Casper Crump) by going after his financial assets. Rip and Sara (Caity Lotz) infiltrate Savage’s bank, but are discovered by his men. Meanwhile, Snart (Wentworth Miller) and Rory (Dominic Purcell) talk Jax (Franz Drameh) into taking the jump ship back to Central City so they can steal a valuable emerald. Professor Stein (Victor Garber) guides Ray (Brandon Routh) on a dangerous mission.”

You, Me, and the Apocalypse (8PM, NBC)

The 100 (9PM, CW)

“Clarke (Eliza Taylor) wrestles with a decision. Bellamy (Bob Morley) learns that something isn’t what it seems. Meanwhile, Murphy (Richard Harmon) plots to betray his former Chancellor (Isaiah Washington).”

Angel from Hell (9:30PM, CBS)

Colony (10PM, USA)

Elementary (10PM, CBS)

“Holmes and Watson must search for a killer without any physical evidence to aid them after a bomb is detonated in the New York City morgue. Also, Watson is suspicious when an NYPD detective she’s in a grudge match with asks her to consult on a case.”

Friday

Turbo Fast (3:01AM, NETFLIX)

The third season of the Netflix animated series based on the Dreamworks film, Turbo. All episodes appear mysteriously at 3:01AM, when the nocturnal snail would most likely be watching.

Sleepy Hollow (8PM, FOX)

Returns from hiatus!

The Vampire Diaries (8PM, CW)

“With the traumatic effects of the Phoenix stone taking a toll on his brother, Stefan (Paul Wesley) attempts to help Damon (Ian Somerhalder) regain his grip on reality, while secretly struggling with his own experience in the stone. Elsewhere, Matt (Zach Roerig) and Bonnie (Kat Graham) deal with the fallout after Julian (guest star Todd Lasance) and his men take over Mystic Falls, leading Matt to spiral out of control and into trouble with an officer named Penny (guest star Ana Nogueira). Meanwhile, Tyler (guest star Michael Trevino) returns to town for Alaric’s (Matt Davis) baby shower and Caroline (Candice King) makes an upsetting discovery involving Alaric and his future plan for the babies.”

The Originals (9PM, CW)

“While Klaus (Joseph Morgan) finds himself dealing with pressing matters at home, Elijah (Daniel Gillies) reluctantly aligns with Aya (guest star Tracy Ifeachor) after learning that she may have knowledge of an elusive weapon that could kill an Original vampire for good. Meanwhile, alone and shunned by her coven of witches, a desperate Davina (Danielle Campbell) is left conflicted after she is approached with an enticing offer that could bring her one step closer to reuniting with Kol.”

Grimm (9PM, NBC)

This sea monster episode is called, “A Reptile Dysfunction”. I’m into it.

Two Evil Eyes (10PM, EL REY)

An Edgar Allan Poe anthology directed by Dario Argento and George Romero!

Animals (11:30PM, HBO)

“An uninitiated rat gets mating tips from his friend at a subterranean party. A pair of police horses complains about an old acquaintance who’s made it big. A bedbug has a midlife crisis.”

Series premiere. Another crudely animated cartoon series from the network that costs $50 a month!

Saturday

Manson’s Lost Girls (8PM, LIFETIME)

Some inspired casting here: George Spahn is played by John. F. Goff!

Black Sails (9PM, STARZ)

Beowulf (10PM, ESQUIRE)

Svengoolie Presents Murders in the Rue Morgue (10PM, MeTV)

The finest in orangutan horror.

Sunday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (11AM, NICK)

“The Turtles journey through an ocean-like area of space.”

Kitten Bowl III (12PM, HALLMARK)

Well this seems petty: The Hallmark Network, preferring kittens to puppies, has offered an alternative to the annual Puppy Bowl— and it’s a gobsmacking three hours long!

Puppy Bowl XII (3PM, ANIMAL)

The Puppy Bowl runs a comparatively modest two hours. Puppies need sleep!

Mercy Street (10PM, PBS)

“The Green girls plot to help Tom escape. Dr. Foster guides Samuel through a delicate operation.”

The Venture Bros. (12AM, CARTOON)

“White and Billy grapple with their archenemy in their old neighborhood; Doc realizes he cannot face his responsibilities alone.”

Contact the author at fisharebeautiful@gmail.com.

Kotaku Pewdiepie Claps Back At People Who Leave Him Rude YouTube Comments | Adequate Man I’m Not Broke Anymore, And I’m Terrified | Jezebel Ain’t Nothing But Ladies on the Cover of Vanity Fair’s Annual Hollywood Issue | Gizmodo Way to Go Everyone, We Ruined Almonds |

Here’s the first trailer for Pandemic, a movie in which Kiera from Continuum goes into a plague zone in Los Angeles to find survivors. And she fights, basically, zombies. The whole thing is shot in a “first-person shooter” style, so it’s sort of an attempt to duplicate the feeling of a video game. Because that worked so well for Doom.

But maybe this is a logical extension of the “found footage” ethos. When Content Media acquired this film from director John Suits and producer Gabriel Cowan, Content Film President Jamie Carmichael said:

Pandemic is a potential game changer. The FPS component immerses the viewer right into heart the film—in a hybrid gamer style. We’re incredibly impressed with John and Gabriel’s inventive work.

So I guess it’s a game changer... because it looks like a game? Okay then. Also in Pandemic: Mekhi Phifer from Torchwood, and Alfie Allen from Game of Thrones.

Edited to remove the comment about watching someone else play a game because, yes, duh, that is actually a popular thing.

Contact the author at charliejane.anders@gizmodo.com and follow her on Twitter @CharlieJane

The ultra-popular Mohu Leaf HDTV antenna, network upgrades, and an Xbox One controller for your PC lead off the week of deals. Bookmark Kinja Deals and follow us on Twitter to never miss a deal. Commerce Content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, and if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here to learn more.

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The Super Bowl is less than a week away, and if you don’t currently have any means of watching it at home, this extremely popular HDTV antenna could do the trick.

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The Mohu Leaf 30 should be perfect if you live fairly close to your local transmitters, and its design is about as subtle as unobtrusive as it gets. Hell, even if you already have cable, the crystal clear, uncompressed pictures you get from OTA TV might make this worth picking up anyway. [Mohu Leaf 30, $24]

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Whether you want to upgrade your PC with an SSD, finally buy a NAS to store your files, or just eliminate some dead zones in your wireless network, today’s Amazon Gold Box has you covered.

Inside, you’ll find routers, hard drives, ethernet switches, and a lot more, all deeply discounted off their usual prices. Like all Gold Box deals though, these prices are only available today, and the best stuff might sell out early. [Amazon]

Your favorite mobile devices are worthy of a throne, and you won’t find a better one than Twelve South’s HiRise Deluxe.

Unlike many docks with built-in (and breakable) connectors, this incorporates either an included Lightning or MicroUSB cable, meaning you can swap them out as necessary. And despite its minimalist aesthetic, it’s strong enough to support even the largest tablets. Hell, one of the promo photos shows it holding an Apple Magic Keyboard. [Twelve South HiRise Deluxe Dock for iPhone/iPad/Other Mobile Devices, $46]

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If you haven’t heard of Bondic Liquid Plastic Welder before, you’ll be sold after you watch that video. Liquified plastic comes out of one end of the applicator, and hardens in seconds once it’s exposed to the UV light on the other end. Judging by its solid review average on Amazon, it really does seem to work as advertised. If you want to try it yourself, Rakuten has the pro starter kit for $20, one of the best prices we’ve seen. [Bondic Liquid Plastic Welder, $20]

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/277918464...

Far Cry Primal comes out later this month, but if you missed out on the previous entry in the series, Far Cry 4's complete edition is marked down to just $30 today on PS4 and Xbox One. [Far Cry 4 Complete Edition, $30]

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We’ve waxed poetic about the Motorola SB6141 modem countless times in the past, but today, its little brother is getting a deal. The SB6121 has a slower maximum download speed than the 6141 (172 mbps vs. 343), so you could say it’s less future-proof, but it shouldn’t be a bottleneck for most cable ISPs for the next few years. In the meantime, it’ll have paid for itself many times over by eliminating the modem rental fee from your monthly bill. [ARRIS / Motorola SurfBoard SB6121 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem, $45]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1917868150...

http://lifehacker.com/5957578/the-mo...

It’s no secret that you guys love Dyson vacuums, and you can upgrade to a brand new DC39 for just $230 today, courtesy of Dyson’s eBay storefront. That’s about $100-$150 less than you’ll find it elsewhere, and right in line with what we’d expect refurbs to sell for. [Dyson DC39, $230]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1217239104...

http://co-op.kinja.com/five-best-vacu...

If you still haven’t gotten yourself a Chromecast (or six), Best Buy is giving out $10 gift cards with your purchase today. Plus, Google will throw in 90 days of unlimited music, two months of CBS All Access, and a month of Sling TV for free. [Chromecast/Chromecast Audio, $35 + $10 Best Buy Gift Card]

http://gizmodo.com/chromecast-201...

http://reviews.gizmodo.com/chromecast-aud...

Today only, Amazon has not one, but two Gold Box deals on Bluetooth headphones.

Reviewers note that JayBird’s Freedom earbuds seem to be completely impervious to sweat, and while we often see cheaper Bluetooth earbuds, this is a great deal if you’d prefer to buy from a “brand name.” [JayBird Freedom Bluetooth Earbuds, $30]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005B28DOM/...

If you prefer on-ears, the highly-rated 66 Audio BTS+ headphones boast 20+ hours of battery life, which is basically unheard of. [66 Audio BTS+ Bluetooth Sports Headphone, $37]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E0GRRR4/...

We see deals on car-starting battery packs just about every day, but even by our standards, $35 is a really fantastic price. Just note that this model is only 300A, so if your car’s engine is 3L or larger, keep reading for a more powerful alternative. [Bestek 300A Car Jump Starter, $35 with code 5VXFE6I6. Use code D5DZPWUZ for the red model]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

For larger trucks and SUVs, you’ll want to shell out an extra $20 for this 600A alternative from the same manufacturer. [BESTEK 600A Peak Current Portable Car Jump Starter and Power Bank, $55 with code R7CCIONH]

http://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Current...

We’re less than two weeks from Valentine’s Day, and if you haven’t bought any cheesy heart-shaped boxes of chocolate yet, Amazon will send you one for 15% off.

A few of these are actually multipacks, which could be...problematic, but there are several individual boxes on sale as well. Just note that you won’t see the 15% discount until checkout. [15% off Valentine’s Day Lindt Chocolate]

Sonos speakers only get a handful of modest discounts every year, so if you have one on your shopping list, you won’t want to miss this opportunity. [Sonos Play:1 All-In-One Wireless Music System, $170]

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/q/loc/101...

Weighing less than a pound and with folded dimensions smaller than some laptops, this tiny stool is perfect for camping, picnics, and kids’ soccer games. [OUTAD Folding Camping Stool with Backrest, $13 with code NHHOUW22]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...

You don’t need to get your eyes checked, this really is 11,200mAh of extra battery for $8, plus a surprisingly bright flashlight. This Kmashi pack doesn’t have the build quality of our favorites from Anker, but it might be the best pure value we’ve ever seen. [Kmashi 11200mAh Portable External Battery Pack, $8 with code FVSA9NY2]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

The Xbox 360 gamepad has been the controller of choice for most PC gamers for about a decade now, but if you prefer the Xbox One gamepad, the wireless PC model is down to $65 today, the lowest price Amazon’s ever listed. [Microsoft Xbox One Controller + Wireless Adapter for Windows 10, $65]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015IX3X3E/...

The tiny-but-powerful Olympus OM-D E-M10 Micro 4/3 camera just got a Mark II sequel, and that means you can get a great price on the original, if you don’t necessarily care about slightly improved OIS and a marginally sharper viewfinder. [Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 14-42mm 2RK lens, $499]

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Mirror...

http://reframe.gizmodo.com/olympus-om-d-e...

If you don’t need the kit lens, you can save an extra $50 as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-E-M10-...

And if only the best will do, the robust, utilitarian, wonderful Olympus OM-D E-M1 is on sale as well. [OM-D E-M1 Body, $999]

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Mirror...

http://gizmodo.com/olympus-om-d-e...

Here are some great stainless steel bar accessories, for all your boozing needs.

Ohuhu Luxury Corkscrew and Wine Stopper Set ($7) | Amazon | Use code NHLRY2SD

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PAJL59G

X-Chef Stainless Steel 3-Piece Martini Bar Kit, Classic and Elegant ($14) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014F9OKTI

If you aren’t familiar, ExOfficio’s Give-N-Go boxer briefs were a finalist in our recent best men’s underwear Co-Op, and $10 is by far the best price we’ve ever seen on them. Women can also get a pair of Give-N-Go panties for $8. That’s still pricey for a single pair of underwear, but reviewers say it’s worth it.

http://co-op.kinja.com/four-best-mens...

ExOfficio Men’s Give-N-Go Boxer Brief ($10) | Sierra Trading Post

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/exofficio-boxe...

ExOfficio Women’s Give-N-Go Panties ($8) | Sierra Trading Post

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/exofficio-give...

Note: You will have to pay a variable shipping charge, but you can cut it in half by signing up for Sierra Trading Post’s email newsletter.

Two of Telltale’s newest story-driven games are on sale today on multiple platforms. Personally, I loved Game of Thrones, and Kotaku says that Minecraft: Story Mode works surprisingly well.

http://kotaku.com/minecraft-stor...

Minecraft: Story Mode [Multiple Platforms] ($20) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014XCWYOK/...

Game of Thrones - A Telltale Games Series [PS4] ($15) | Amazon | Same price on Xbox One from Best Buy

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0140Z6SY2/...

You can get cheap Lightning and MicroUSB cables just about anywhere, but if only the best will do, you should give Anker’s PowerLine models a look.

These cables are built with kevlar fiber and feature reinforced stress points, which means they can last 5-10x longer than typical cables. I own a couple of these, and while I can’t yet speak to how long long they actually last, I can say that they just feel nice. Weighty, solid, premium.

These were on sale briefly last week for the same prices, but if you missed out, here’s another chance.

Anker [3-Pack] PowerLine MicroUSB Kevlar-Wrapped Cables ($7) | Amazon | Promo code D6SWG2EN

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015MJLEUS

Anker PowerLine 6ft Apple MFi Certified Lightning to USB Cable (White/Space Grey Only) ($10) | Amazon | Promo code Y4QNX8RS

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013JNAUMW

If you still own any TVs without access to smart apps, you can save $5 on Amazon’s excellent Fire TV Stick, or $10 on a bundle that includes a voice search remote today.

Amazon Fire TV Stick ($35) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GDQ0RMG/...

Amazon Fire TV Stick with Voice Remote ($40) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZVJAF9G/...

http://gizmodo.com/amazon-fire-tv...

Home theater PCs are great, but nobody wants to keep a mouse and keyboard on their coffee table. Luckily, this $16 wireless remote includes a keyboard and a trackpad in one tiny package. I wouldn’t want to write a novel with it, but it’s perfect for finding a new video to watch. [Seneo 2.4Ghz Mini Touchpad Keyboard with USB Interface Adapter, $16 with code 9XRAO52J]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0191MBSYE

$20 water-resistant Bluetooth speakers are nothing new, but this model from Mpow cleverly includes a suction cup so you can stick it to your shower wall. It’s like one of those old FM shower radios, except you can use it to listen to Spotify and Serial. [Mpow Buckler Water-Resistant Suction Cup Bluetooth Speaker, $20 with code 9ZTOG87S]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014QVKEF4

If you place a heavy emphasis on sound quality, the equally water resistant UE Roll is also down to $70 right now, an all-time low. [UE Roll Bluetooth Speaker, $70]

http://gizmodo.com/this-waterproo...

Victorinox’s Fibrox 8” chef’s knife is one of your favorite chef’s knives period, and by far the best value in the industry. It’s also the knife I’ve used almost every day for over three years. Amazon has it for $28 right now, which is an absolute steal for the quality you’re getting. [Victorinox Fibrox 8” Chef’s Knife, $28]

http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fib...

http://gizmodo.com/five-best-chef...

Tech

Storage

• QNAP TAS-168 1-Bay Personal Cloud NAS with DLNA, Mobile Apps and Android Display ($159) | Amazon
• QNAP TAS-268 2-Bay Personal Cloud NAS with DLNA, Mobile Apps and Android Display ($199) | Amazon
• WD 8TB My Cloud EX2 Network Attached Storage - NAS ($363) | Amazon
• WD 12TB My Cloud Mirror Personal Network Attached Storage - NAS ($439) | Amazon
• SEAGATE NAS HDD 6TB SATA 6Gb/s NCQ 128 MB Cache Bare Drive ($215) | Amazon

Power

• Kmashi 11200mAh Portable External Battery Pack ($8) | Amazon | Promo code FVSA9NY2
• Imarku Ultra Slim 20000mah External Power Bank ($20) | Amazon | Use code YDZ4BWR8
• AmazonBasics AA Performance Alkaline Batteries (48-Pack) ($12) | Amazon
• Tronsmart 6 Pack 20AWG Micro USB Charge Cable ($8) | Amazon | Use code 6USBCORD
• Tronsmart Quick Charge 2.0 Turbo Wall Charger ($6) | Amazon | Use code HOMECHAR
• Arteck Lightning to USB Cable ($6) | Amazon | Promo code IBMVSSYZ
• Anker 15W Dual-Port Solar Charger ($40) | Amazon
• Anker PowerDrive 2 Lite Dual Port Car Charger ($6) | Amazon | Promo code PUPJ936N
• Anker 40W 5-Port USB Car Charger ($20) | Amazon | Promo code CK9O76VR
• Anker [3-Pack] PowerLine MicroUSB Kevlar-Wrapped Cables ($7) | Amazon | Promo code D6SWG2EN
• Anker PowerLine 6ft Apple MFi Certified Lightning to USB Cable (White/Space Grey Only) ($10) | Amazon | Promo code Y4QNX8RS

Audio

• Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B SVIS Noise-Cancelling Headphones ($101) | Amazon
• JayBird Freedom Bluetooth Earbuds ($30) | Amazon
• 66 Audio BTS+ Bluetooth Sports Headphone ($37) | Amazon
• EC Technology 5W Enhanced Bass Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker ($19) | Amazon | Use code 7LKE22DQ
• Etekcity RoverBeats T3 Ultra Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker ($20) | Amazon
• Ion Audio Vinyl Motion Portable Suitcase Turntable ($43) | meh
• Mpow Wired Earphone with Remote and Mic Volume Control ($8) | Amazon | Use code GP7U4339

Home Theater

• LG Electronics 50-Inch 1080p Smart LED TV (2015 Model) ($470) | Amazon
• Fire TV Stick ($35) | Amazon
• Fire TV Stick with Voice Remote ($40) | Amazon
• Mohu MH-110598 Leaf Paper-Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna, 30 Mile ($24) | Amazon
• ViewTV Flat HD Digital Indoor TV Antenna, 30 Mile ($10) | eBay
• Denon Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer DHTS514 ($400) | Best Buy

Computers & Accessories

• Lenovo Yoga 12 Ultrabook w/ Core i3, 4GB, 500GB, Win10 ($470) | eBay
• LG 25-Inch IPS 2 x HDMI FHD ULTRAWIDE LED Monitor ($160) | Newegg
• Linksys WRT1900ACS Dual-Band Smart Wi-Fi Gigabit Router ($180) | Amazon
• TP-LINK AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender ($80) | Amazon
• TP-LINK AC750 Dual Band Wi-Fi Range Extender ($33) | Amazon
• D-Link Powerline AV2 2000 Adapter Gigabit Extender Starter Kit ($60) | Amazon
• D-Link 24-Port Gigabit Switch ($65) | Amazon

PC Parts

• Transcend 128GB MLC SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5" SSD ($40) | Amazon
• PNY CS2211 240 GB 2.5" SATA III Internal SSD ($65) | Amazon
• PNY CS2211 480 GB 2.5" SATA III Internal SSD ($125) | Amazon

Mobile Devices

• Twelve South HiRise Deluxe Dock for iPhone/iPad/Other Mobile Devices ($46) | Amazon
• Pebble Smartwatch ($70) | Amazon Prime
• Motorola Moto X (2nd Generation) 4G LTE Cell Phone (Verizon) ($200) | Best Buy
• Motorola Moto X (2nd Generation) 4G LTE Cell Phone (ATT) ($200) | Best Buy
• AT&T GoPhone Microsoft Lumia 640 ($30) | Best Buy
• Belkin Kitchen Cabinet Tablet Mount ($20) | Amazon
• StarTech.com 5in Micro USB to USB OTG Host Adapter ($4) | Amazon

Photography

• Olympus OM-D E-M10 16 MP Mirrorless Digital Camera with 14-42mm 2RK lens ($499) | Amazon
• Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16MP and 3-Inch LCD (Body Only) ($999) | Amazon
• Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G7HK DSLM Mirrorless 4K Camera, 14-140 mm Lens Kit ($898) | Amazon
• Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G7KS DSLM Mirrorless 4K Camera, 14-42 mm Lens Kit ($598) | Amazon
• ASX Actionpro x WiFi Sports Camera Bundle ($66) | eBay
• GoPro HERO ($119) | Amazon
• Sumsonic COCA+ Mini Wi-Fi Lifestyle Action Camera HD 1080p Digital Video Camcorder with Smart Remot Magnetic/Sticky Mounting (Black) ($70) | amazon | Use code HGLBPJZ3

Home

• Honeywell Touch Screen Programmable Thermostat with Built-In Wi-Fi ($120) | Staples
• Wi-Fi Video Doorbell ($105) | Woot
• 1byone Weatherproof Solar Powered Outdoor LED Light 3 Different Modes with Security Motion Sensor ($14) | Amazon | Use code 4CR7EWQI
• Copper Wire Light (9.8Ft 30 LEDs, Warm White)-2 Sets ($8) | Amazon | Use code D8II85GL
• Seneo Wireless Security Video Baby Monitor ($85) | Amazon | Use code R2PGUB2I
• Set of 6 Flameless LED Color Changing Votive Candles with Remote and Timer, Multiple Colors ($13) | Amazon | Use code XDJ4YZ76
• Amcrest HDSeries 720P WiFi Wireless IP Security Surveillance Camera System ($70) | Amazon
• Instapark LCL Series Battery-powered Flameless LED Tealight Candles (4-Dozen) ($20) | Amazon | Use code RV72BS64
• First Alert SA320CN Dual Sensor Battery-Powered Smoke and Fire Alarm ($14) | Amazon
• Holmes Ceramic Tower with Eco-Smart and LCD Control ($30) | eBay
• Staples Osgood Bonded Leather High-Back Manager’s Chair ($99) | Staples
• 13-Gallon Touch-Free Sensor Automatic Stainless-Steel Trash Can ($35) | eBay
• American Tourister Wheeled Mobile Office ($38) | Samsonite | Use code CLEAR30
• Rubbermaid Configurations Custom Closet Deluxe Kit ($86) | Amazon
• Select Dimmer Switches are On Sale at Home Depot
• Magicfly Magic Gel Pens - 72 Gel Pen Set with Case ($20) | Amazon | Use code 5YS9IG5O

Beauty & Grooming

• Target February Beauty Box ($35 Value) ($7) | Target
• $50 Sephora Gift Card ($42) | Staples
• Conair Sonic Facial Brush ($37) | Best Buy
• Philips Bikini Trimmer with Shaving Head and Comb ($13) | Amazon

Kitchen

• Cuisinart 12-Piece Cookware Set ($165) | Woot
• Wilton 2109-0309 Ultimate Professional Cake Decorating Set ($94) | Amazon
• Ohuhu Luxury Corkscrew and Wine Stopper Set ($7) | Amazon | Use code NHLRY2SD
• X-Chef Stainless Steel 3-Piece Martini Bar Kit, Classic and Elegant ($14) | Amazon
• 16-inch Grill Brush ($4) | Amazon
• Imprint CumulusPRO Professional Standing Desk Anti-Fatigue Mat 20 in. x 30 in. x 3/4 in ($37) | Amazon
• Ozera Ice Popsicle Molds, Set of 6 ($7) | Amazon

Fitness

• Bladez Stratum Cycle ($250) | Sears
• Etekcity Digital Body Weight Bathroom Scale, 400lb/180kg, Circle Design ($18) | Amazon | Use code Y5V9OZZD

Apparel

• $50 GAP Brands Gift Card ($40) | Staples
• Icebreaker Anatomica Crew Underwear Top - Men’s ($32) | REI
• Take $18 Off $108 at UNIQLO with Code LUCKY18
• Final Clearance Sale - Up to 70% Off | ASOS
• Saks.com Up to 75% Off Sale
• Moda Operandi is Having a Final Clearance Sale
• Up to 60% Off PUMA Shoes at 6pm.com

Camping & Outdoors

• Mega Deals Event at REI Outlet
• Dpower Ultralight Foldable Camping Stove ($9) | Amazon | Use code 562QXHK5
• OUTAD Folding Camping Stool with Backrest ($13) | Amazon | Use code NHHOUW22

Tools & Auto

• 18.0 Volt Cordless Drill Driver ($25) | Sears
• Craftsman 6-inch Bench Grinder With Lamp ($50) | Sears
• [2 in 1: Backup Camera Plus Radar] Esky 170 Degree Viewing Angle HD Waterproof Car Rear View Backup Camera with Shockproof & Anti-freeze Radar Parking Sensor ($20) | Amazon | Use code 8VWDOMW8

Media

Movies & TV

• My Neighbor Totoro ($16) | Best Buy
• Ponyo ($16) | Best Buy
• Last, The: Naruto the Movie (BD) ($15) | Amazon
• Cowboy Bebop: The Movie ($7) | Amazon
• The World’s End ($6) | Amazon
• This Is 40 ($5) | Amazon
• National Lampoon’s Vacation: 30th Anniversary ($8) | Amazon
• Arrow: Season 1 ($15) | Amazon
• Arrow: Season 2 ($15) | Amazon
• The 100: Season 1 ($12) | Amazon

Books & Magazines

• The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance [KIndle] ($2) | Amazon
• The Souls of Black Folk Audiobook ($3) | Audible

Gaming

Peripherals

• Microsoft Xbox One Controller + Wireless Adapter for Windows 10 ($65) | Amazon

PC

• Fairy Fencer F ($9) | Steam
• LUFTRAUSERS ($1) | Humblebundle
• Tomb Raider ($6) | Humblebundle
• XCOM Enemy Unknown: The Complete Edition ($10) | Amazon
• Bioshock ($4) | Steam
• Bioshock 2 ($4) | Steam

PlayStation 4

• Minecraft: Story Mode ($20) | Amazon
• Game of Thrones - A Telltale Games Series ($15) | Amazon
• UNCHARTED: The Nathan Drake Collection ($29) | Amazon
• Until Dawn ($30) | Amazon
• Far Cry 4 Complete Edition ($30) | Amazon

Xbox One

• Minecraft: Story Mode ($20) | Amazon
• Game of Thrones - A Telltale Games Series ($15) | Best Buy
• Sunset Overdrive ($17) | Amazon
• Far Cry 4 Complete Edition ($30) | Amazon

PlayStation 3

• Minecraft: Story Mode ($20) | Amazon

Xbox 360

• Minecraft: Story Mode ($20) | Amazon

Toys

• LEGO Minecraft 21122 the Nether Fortress Building Kit ($65) | Amazon

Commerce Content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, and if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here to learn more. We want your feedback.

Send deal submissions to Deals@Gawker and all other inquiries to Shane@Gawker

Even with a mere two episodes aired, Legends of Tomorrow hasn’t exactly been shy about bringing heroes and villains from the DC universe to TV, and there are many more on the way. We’ve just learned of four more heroes who will make their live-action debut on the show, and one of them is completely ridiculous.

Four teases were revealed on DC’s Instagram account. They were each seemingly photos of singular items, although a bit of tinkering with image filters revealed the comic characters hiding in the background.

The first Golden Age hero seemingly set to encounter the Legends, if not join them in their battle to save the future, is Hourman. That’s all well and good, especially since Hourman was relegated to appearing in a Justice Society team picture in Smallville.

Then there’s Sandman, another Golden Age hero who bears no resemblance to Dream, star of Neil Gaiman’s much-beloved Sandman comic from the ’90s. This Sandman has a gun that shoots a gas that puts people to sleep and is not the immortal personification of dreams. But before you go thinking the Legends are just heading to the 1930s for a visit...

World War II hero Sgt. Rock (who was actually created in the Silver Age of comics) will also be appearing on the show. Now I suspect that the Legends will not be making separate trips to both the ’30s and the ’40s (although it’s certainly not impossible). I’m guessing all these heroes join together during WWII to fight Vandal Savage, since the show has already posited he was a high Nazi mucketedly-muck.

Or this is what I would have thought, had the last hero reveal not turned everything insane. Behold:

This is Ma Hunkle, who was the first Red Tornado in the ’30s. The second Red Tornado is the much better known version, having spent the last 48 years as a heroic cyborg; Ma Hunkel is not a cyborg, does not have superpowers, and isn’t even that red. She does, however, wear a pot on her head when she goes to fight crime.

The first Red Tornado was actually one of the first parody superheroes, and I can’t even imagine how Legends of Tomorrow will work her in. Is she working with Hourman and Sandman? Are they all in a special military unit led by Sgt. Rock? Is she actually going to help take on Vandal Savage? Does this mean that Legends of Tomorrow might be the TV series to finally bring the terrifying supervillain/racist caricature Egg Fu to live-action??

Perchance to dream, my friends.

[Comic Book Resources]

Contact the author at rob@io9.com.

Okay so the innate handsomeness of being Oscar Isaac isn’t included, but just as Poe’s jacket suited Finn, we’re sure anyone wearing this would get a Dameron seal of “Damn, looking good” approval. It’s that nice a jacket.

The not-officially licensed replica comes to us from the aptly named Film Jackets. It is available in distressed and normal versions, is made of real leather, and described as screen accurate, presumably through designers lovingly gazing at oodles of press pictures of Poe and Finn, or watching The Force Awakens again and again while working on it. Not a bad design process at all, that!

Looking to finish off a piece of timely Star Wars cosplay? Just want a neat jacket? You can order the jacket that launched a thousand internet ships now, for $180.

[Fashionably Geek]

Toyland: We love toys. Join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace turns 20 today, and I’m still confused by it all these years later. I’ve seldom been more engrossed in a novel, and more willing to put in the time of obsessively studying footnotes. But what the heck happens in the end?

http://www.amazon.com/Infinite-Jest-...

One of the ways that Infinite Jest grabs you is that it starts in the future, and then jumps back in time a year or so. So you already know what’s going to happen to Hal Incandenza, the novel’s main character. And then you get thrust into a complicated world of lethally addictive videotapes, tennis lessons, terrorists, drugs, and superspies. With lots and lots of footnotes. And—spoiler alert—the book never quite catches up to its opening chapter, so you don’t actually get to find out what happens in the end.

I’ve seldom been more caught up in a book while I was reading it, and more bedeviled after I was finished reading it.

The Internet is full of charts and complicated schemas to explain the whole sweep of Infinite Jest, but I just came across this explanation of the book’s ending by the late hacktivist Aaron Swartz, which actually makes a good deal of sense. In particular, he’s pulled together some stuff about Hal’s progression throughout the book, and the nature of Hal’s condition. And just why Hal’s father created that horrendously addictive videotape in the first place. It’s at least worth checking out—seems plausible to me.

Charlie Jane Anders is the author of All The Birds in the Sky, which is available now wherever books can be found. Here’s what people have been saying about it. Follow her on Twitter, and email her.

Now that almost everyone on the planet has seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it’s officially time for BB-8 to finally take the merchandising torch from R2-D2. We’ll definitely miss Artoo, but how could we ever say no to products like this life-size BB-8 floor lamp?

An original ThinkGeek creation, the lamp stands 26-inches tall and is made from formed aluminum so it’s something your grandkids’ grandkids will be able to pass on down the family line.

A set of LEDs underneath BB-8's head cast a soft glow onto the droid’s body where it’s then bounced into a room. And for those who foolishly complain about LED lighting looking too cold, the lamp actually has three different color temperature settings—cold white, amber, and warm white—that can be cycled by simply tapping BB-8 on the head.

At $350 the lamp is definitely one of the pricier The Force Awakens collectibles, but if you bothered to read the fine print on the back of your movie ticket, you’ll realize that you’re pretty much required to buy this stuff once you’ve seen the film.

[ThinkGeek]

Toyland: We love toys. Join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Last week the world mourned for the 1986 explosion of the Challenger space shuttle that claimed seven lives. Today, we mark the 13th anniversary of Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia’s breakup upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.

The Columbia disaster was a very bad day for America’s space program. Yet one of STS-107's crew sent an email message shortly before meeting their demise that profoundly puts everything into perspective.

Mission Specialist David “Doc” Brown was a ridiculously accomplished naval aviator who also became a flight surgeon and eventually an astronaut. The letter below was sent by Doc not long before Columbia began her doomed reentry flight profile.

For someone who had no idea that this message would be their last, it served as a reminder of the quality of the people we send into space:

From: MS1 [mailto:ms1@ems.jsc.nasa.gov]

Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 12:39 PM

Subject: Flight Day 16

Friends,

It’s hard to believe but I’m coming up on 16 days in space and we land tomorrow.

I can tell you a few things:

Floating is great – at two weeks it really started to become natural. I move much more slowly as there really isn’t a hurry. If you go to fast then stopping can be quite awkward. At first, we were still handing each other things, but now we pass them with just a little push.

We lose stuff all the time. I’m kind of prone to this on Earth, but it’s much worse here as I can now put things on the walls and ceiling too. It’s hard to remember that you have to look everywhere when you lose something, not just down.

The views of the Earth are really beautiful. If you’ve ever seen a space IMAX movie that’s really what it looks like. What really amazes me is to see large geographic features with my own eyes. Today, I saw all of Northern Libya, the Sinai Peninsula, the whole country of Israel, and then the Red Sea. I wish I’d had more time just to sit and look out the window with a map but our science program kept us very busy in the lab most of the time. The science has been great and we’ve accomplished a lot. I could write more but about it but that would take hours.

My crewmates are like my family – it will be hard to leave them after being so close for 2 1/2 years. My most moving moment was reading a letter Ilan brought from a Holocaust survivor talking about his seven-year old daughter who did not survive. I was stunned such a beautiful planet could harbor such bad things. It makes me want to enjoy every bit of the Earth for how great it really is.

I will make one more observation – if I’d been born in space I know I would desire to visit the beautiful Earth more than I’ve ever yearned to visit to space. It is a wonderful planet.

Dave

Astronauts are consistently among the finest humans on our planet—that’s why they are allowed to leave it from time to time. Columbia’s crew included Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, Commander Rick Husband, Mission Specialists Laurel Clark and David Brown, Pilot Willie McCool, Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon and Payload Commander Michael Anderson.

With all the bad news out there that highlights the worst examples of humanity, once in a while it is nice to celebrate and remember those who exemplified the best of us.

Contact the author at Tyler@jalopnik.com.

A version of this story appeared at Aviationintel.com

Before Mulholland Dr., Naomi Watts was a Hollywood unknown. Today, she’s a multiple Oscar nominee, one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, etc.—basically living the life her David Lynch character Betty aspired to have. So it’s especially cool to hear she’s signed on to Showtime’s Twin Peaks revival.

Deadline broke the news, with some more TP tidbits, too:

I have learned that Naomi Watts is the latest big name to join David Lynch’s upcoming new installment of his groundbreaking 1990 supernatural mystery series Twin Peaks. No one is commenting but I’ve learned that also joining the follow-up series for Showtime is Tom Sizemore. Additionally, Lynch, who is directing the new Twin Peaks installment from a script he co-wrote with fellow Twin Peaks co-creator Mark Frost, is rumored to be reprising his recurring role from the original series as FBI Regional Bureau Chief Gordon Cole.

Technically that should be spelled GORDON COLE, though, right? Twin Peaks returns to the airwaves in 2017.

Top image: Naomi Watts arrives at the 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Spider-Woman is in the middle of a very fun, unconventional storyline right now, which centers on the pregnancy of its lead character. And the series’ charms are greatly increased by the excellent art on its pages.

Spoilers follow.

The art team on Spider-Woman consists of penciller Javier Rodriguez, inker Alvaro Lopez, color artist Rachelle Rosenberg and letterer Travis Lanham. Together, they skillfully hit the challenging mixture of tonalities that writer Dennis Hopeless is offering on the book. There’s creepy alien weirdness...

eye-catching action...

and sharp interpersonal tension.

As seen in Spider-Woman #3, the inventive layouts, fantastic shading and colorwork and intense camera angles make everything sing in this series. Very fine sequential storytelling happening here.

Contact the author at evan@kotaku.com.

Catherynne M. Valente’s fantasy novel The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making broke the internet and then became a publishing sensation. Now the sixth and final Fairyland book is coming out, The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home. And here’s an exclusive excerpt! This section is one of the “interludes” between the chapters in the book.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Girl-Raced...

Interlude: Sisters Oughtn’t Keep Secrets

In Which Certain Ladies Make Their Own Way

Let us leave September to sleep for a little while. She has earned it—it’s ever so tiring to be suddenly in charge of a story when you have become quite accustomed to the story happening to you, rather than you happening to it. And besides, Kings and Queens are the most trying of people. There are far too many of them about for anyone’s comfort and peace of mind. Why, we have hardly gotten to catch our breath! Let us sit down together for a moment, and I shall pour you a glass of whatever you like best. You may hold my hand if you wish, I don’t mind. I shouldn’t want you to feel alone.

Now that we have made ourselves quite comfortable, I must tell you—we have forgotten about something important. I’m sure you did not mean to, and I certainly did not. It is only that so many exciting things have happened that we did not notice. Let us peer beneath the sofa cushions and beneath the bed for it. Let us jostle the curtains and lift up the tablecloth. We shall get ourselves into trouble if we do not find it. For this tale began in Nebraska, and we have not so much as glanced Omaha-way in ever so long. It is hard to remember to go knocking at a farmhouse door when so many palace doors await—but a door is a door, and a door is always an adventure.

In this particular farmhouse, which I expect you know nearly as well as I do by now, two women were standing in the kitchen. They looked terribly alike, as they always had, even as children. The same dark hair and dark eyes and fierce set of their jaws, just the same as September’s eyes and hair and jaw. Their names were Susan Jane and Margaret. They were sisters. And one of them had just said something very odd indeed. Margaret touched her sister’s cheek gently. She smiled, a smile that startled and teased and danced.

“Listen to me, Susie,” Aunt Margaret whispered, so that only they two could hear. “I know where September is.”

“How could you? Why wouldn’t you tell me at once?” said Susan Jane.

“Listen to me very carefully. Whatever I say, you must believe me, even if it sounds like the most ridiculous thing a person has said in the whole history of the world. Do you promise?”

“Yes,” said September’s mother.

Margaret found herself suddenly very afraid. There were words she had never said aloud to her sister before, or even to anyone in the state of Nebraska or the country of America. Words she knew weren’t safe to say, words more powerful than thunder. Aunt Margaret had led a life filled with secrets, and that is a very hard habit to break, even if you badly want to break it. So for a good while she said nothing, because she could not make herself say the thing she had kept hidden at the bottom of her heart for so long. Finally, she let a long breath out through her nose and wrestled her secret out into the little midnight kitchen.

“September is in a place called Fairyland. It’s very far away, farther away than any place you can think of, and then farther away still. It’s a storybook place. A place that’s met magic and shaken its hand. Now, I know this because . . . because I’ve been to Fairyland, too. All those times I said I was going to Paris or Turkey or Morocco or Mongolia? I’ve been lying up, down, and all around, Susie. Where would a woman like me get the money to visit Paris? No. I’ve never been to France. Never been to much of anywhere. Except this place. And I think you remember. I think you remember when I was little and I would run off into the woods and you couldn’t find me all day and into the night, even though you knew I’d run into the woods and the woods weren’t all that terribly big to begin with. I think you remember green shadows under the kitchen window, and the sound of a cat far bigger than ours purring at the door.”

“Fairyland. A real place called Fairyland.” And it seemed to Susan Jane that she did remember, a little. She did remember her sister whispering in the dark, chasing butterflies that weren’t butterflies at all, the shape of a man at the window in green jodhpurs and green snowshoes . . .

“Very, very real. The realest. The first time I went I was nine years old. A man all in green flew up to the second-story window in our old house on a flying leopard and said: You seem like a mad and mischievous enough child, how would you like to come away with me on the Leopard of Little Breezes and be delivered to the Tattersall Tundra that lies near the pole of Fairyland? And once he said it, I did feel mad and mischievous, and I did want to see what a Tattersall Tundra was, and I jumped out of that window as fast as you can say your own name.”

“Weren’t you afraid of a strange man at the window?”

“Well, I reasoned later that anyone who can win the love of a flying leopard has to be mostly all right. And he was. I rode on the back of a great arctic fox and wore trousers and fell in with the Tobogganeers, a band of snowy Stregas who keep their freezers stocked with magic. I learned to change myself into a polar bear and a manticore and a snow-scarab. And that was only the first time. I know it sounds mad but you promised to believe me. Time’s got its hat on funny over there, so I could play in Fairyland for months and still come home for dinner with new ribbons in my hair. Only it wasn’t play, exactly. I have another name when I’m there. I have a little house in the mountains. I’ve . . . done terrible things and I’ve done things so grand I wish I could throw a parade down Farnam Street in my own honor.”

“Has September done terrible things?”

“Oh, I’d imagine she has. And wonderful things. Fairyland has a weakness for the dramatic. I don’t know exactly; we’ve never been there at the same time. But I’ve heard her name whispered and hollered. I suspect she’s been there a few times by now. I know the look in her eye. It’s the look in my eye.”

“And is that why? Is that why September’s gone to this Fairyland, because you went? Did you take her there?”

“Oh no, Susie. That’s not how it works. Fairyland comes to you. I didn’t have a thing to do with it. It just happened that way. There’s . . . there’s a weak place in the world, I think. Near here. More people go through than you think. I used to always worry you’d stumble in somehow and I’d have to share. Oh, that’s terrible of me, I know, but all little girls are terrible, sometimes. Anyway, I always came back. September’s always come back, too, because you have to come back. Humans don’t much get to stay. They don’t even get to say when they come and go. Except me.”

Susan Jane looked at her sister as though she had never met the woman before. “Why you?”

Margaret smiled softly. A smile full of pride that didn’t want to seem proud. “I did Fairyland a favor once. I was rewarded.”

Aunt Margaret touched the ring on her right hand. It was an interlocking silver puzzle ring she’d brought back from Turkey when September was only little. It had four rings with ridges and engravings and patterns on them. If you turned and twisted them just right, they snapped together to become one single, complete ring.

“I promised I would believe you. I promised I would believe you.” Susan Jane said it a few more times, so that it would become true.

“Do you want to go to Fairyland, Susie? I should have asked you before, I know. Sisters oughtn’t keep secrets. Only it was such a good secret.”

“Oh yes,” breathed September’s mother.

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That amazing shot-for-shot remake of the opening to Magnum P.I. released yesterday wasn’t just a classic bit of Archer parody; it was a promise of everything to come in the show’s seventh season. Like seemingly every other genre show lately, team Archer is headed to Los Angeles, and they’re starting a detective agency.

http://io9.gizmodo.com/archer-returns...

In an extensive interview with Uproxx, Executive Producer Matt Thompson revealed that in order to make ends meet, the former Agents of ISIS (and the CIA, now that they’re blacklisted) will form a detective agency created by Cyril, finally putting his law degree to good use. Naturally, this means Season 7 will get ridiculously overt in its Magnum homages, as Cyril and Sterling clash over their newfound role reversals in the group, while the team is working together more than they ever have before. It was a natural turn for the show after the second season’s excellent Magnum P.I. parody in “Placebo Effect,” according to Thompson:

He may not talk about it as much as Burt Reynolds or others, but Archer always had a love of all things Magnum. “We were talking about how we wanted to introduce that fact. We’ve got a big change ahead of us, so the easiest way to do that, or the one that made the most sense to us, was to show Archer farting around, being Magnum P.I., and we just had a lot of fun with it.

If this means we’re getting an extended version of that trailer for a whole season, I can’t wait.

But there’s even more good news in the interview, as Thompson revealed some of the guest stars coming to the show: J.K. Simmons and Keegan Michael Key will star as recurring rival investigators seen at the fringe of many of Archer’s cases, Patton Oswalt will appear in multiple episodes as a dirty lawyer, and both Jon Daly and Jon Glaser will have roles.

It’s been so long since Archer graced our screens, but all this news just has me itching for it to be back right now. Archer returns to FX on March 31st.