reviews
From Hilltop to the bottom of Glenn: Negan comes to The Walking Dead TV show
Just when you thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse for Glenn Rhee (who was last seen at the bottom of a pile of a thousand hungry walkers), the Casting Department has to take their own shot at him!
Just when you thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse for Glenn Rhee (who was last seen at the bottom of a pile of a thousand hungry walkers), the Casting Department has to take their own shot at him! Please be advised that, whereas that bit about Glenn being in trouble above has already aired, the rest of this article will be a mix of spoilers and certain speculation. If you’re happier not knowing, click away now.
Now, let us start by admitting that the show and the comic series are different things, with different events and, in some cases, entirely different characters. Therefore, let us keep in mind that the things that happen in one are no guarantee towards the other. But good god damn, this specific situation looks bad.
Here’s where we stand right now, so as to explain what the frack I’m talking about: Glenn appeared to die a few episodes ago, trapped beneath the aforementioned mob of undead, after Nicholas shot himself in the head and knocked both of them off the dumpster they were trying to stand on. Things looked bad, with Glenn grimacing as intestines were pulled loose from just off camera, but that COULD have been Nicholas the Zombies were feasting on, who COULD have landed atop Glenn, allowing Glenn to squirm free and under the dumpster to avoid the horde. Think of it this way: while he was on top of the dumpster, if he killed walkers, the ones behind them would only use them as steps to get up on top, whereas from under the dumpster a few kills will easily block up the holes so the others can’t get in and would eventually move on. Not fun, but then, if you were expecting “fun” you came to the wrong series (here I lie: but the fun of The Walking Dead is IN the grim scenarios the cast get into, and how they do (or don’t) get out of them). Could Glenn still be alive? Yes. And recently some photos from the filming of the show have surfaced that lend strong support to that theory. So, let’s assume for the moment that Glenn lives.
See him? Right there! Living, like some live liver througher of things!
Those pictures ALSO show a character from the comics, Paul “Jesus” Monroe, who is the leader of the yet-to-be-introduced Hilltop survivor group. The Hilltops are generally nice people (there’s a reason their leader is nicknamed Jesus, and it isn’t just his hair and beard), so possibly THEY will be the ones to rescue Glenn from his predicament. That would nicely provide both an explanation for his survival AND a way for the Hilltop group to get in good with Rick’s Alexandria group, which they will need to do quickly so they can ask for help. Given the casting announced this week, they are going to NEED that help, rather badly. In the comics, the Hilltops are effectively under thrall of a group called The Saviors, whose saintly sounding named belies their methods. To several enclaves of survivors, the Saviors offer protection from the walkers (in the form of a large force of armed fighters capable of dispatching herds easily), in exchange for basically whatever the Saviors want in terms of supplies.
Now, this is the sort of threat Rick and company have faced down several times before on the show and wouldn’t be half as scary as it is but for that darn casting department. It was announced this past week that the leader of The Saviors, a psychopath called Negan, was to be played by actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan. If you aren’t immediately familiar with the name, well, let me check your geek card. Morgan is most recognizable to geeks as either John Winchester (father of Sam and Dean Winchester) on Supernatural, or Edward Blake, AKA the Comedian, in Watchmen. Or both, as both roles are pretty iconically badass, and at least a LITTLE questionable in the sanity department. Heck, as the Comedian, Jeffrey Dean Morgan shot Kennedy (not to mention a Vietnamese woman pregnant with his baby)! The man plays crazy almost as well as he plays intimidating, and that is both good news and bad news for fans of The Walking Dead. Negan, in the comics, is a dangerous man. One prone to both sudden bursts of murderous violence and unexpected surges of depth and humanity (and very nearly warmth). He leans more towards being a psychopath than a sociopath, because he DOES occasionally display genuine emotion, chief among them disgust at the idea of rape, which is strictly forbidden in his group (though before he is declared a feminist icon, please know that he DOES have a harem comprised mostly of the former wives/girlfriends of his men. Hard to make that jive with disliking rape, as you’d have to assume at least some were at LEAST coerced with threats of violence to their prior beaus, but I assume he walks a thin moral line somewhere in there that only he can see). He is also more controlled and calculating than the Governor was and, like that older villain, has a signature act of violence for which he is particularly remembered. In the comics, in issue 100, he viciously murders Glenn with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire.
I presume Mick Foley was unavailable for filming.
Is it possible that The Walking Dead is about to pull a double twist? Are they planning, in the final episodes of this season, to rescue Glenn from his apparent demise, just to then kill him in the finale (the confirmed first appearance of Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan)? Well, the options are four. Either, yes, that’s exactly what is coming (remember you were warned about potential spoilers), no, because Glenn really is already dead (unlikely due to the photos from the set that show Glenn Rick and Jesus together), no, because they are saving Negan beating Glenn to death for next season (which would be a bit anti-climactic and the show has been much better at maintaining tension and peaking it at the right moments than that theory would suggest) or, no, because the writers are planning to go a different direction than the comics (as they did when they spared Judith Grimes from her gruesome comic fate, or the vastly different (and more awesome) path Carol has followed). Important to note: three of those four options are fatal to Glenn. And considering how coyly the producers and writers have been playing Glenn’s current predicament, the idea that they seem to kill him, save him, set up a threat likely to kill him as soon as he returns, and then DON’T do so would not only be a triple twist, it would begin to stretch the credibility of a show that brags that none of its characters are truly safe.
One last bit of kindling to throw on what may be Glenn’s funeral pyre: last episode revealed that Maggie is pregnant. That ALSO was a reveal that the comics made shortly before Glenn’s death, so, as Emperor Palpatine might say: “all is proceeding as I have forseen”. The end result is that, as ever, things are uncertain about the safety and future of characters on The Walking Dead (no surprise there), but things look particularly stark for Glenn (or Stark for Glenn, if you consider the idea of a final episode death due to head trauma to be likely). How will this end? There’s no way to be sure, but you don’t cast Jeffrey Dean Morgan in a role like Negan’s because you intend to UNDERPLAY his malevolence and crazy. Morgan is very nearly too good NOT to be used to be as bad as his comic counterpart, and that means that, even if heads DON’T roll in the season finale, they still may squish.
AuKing Mini Projector Key Details
The Auking is a 1080p Mini Projector with built-in speakers that is compatible with Smartphones and laptops.* (Notice the asterisk) The ports are HDMI, USB, VGA, AV, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It’s $99.99, but you can usually catch it on sale for cheaper.
This projector is pretty popular online. There are tons of glowing reviews for it on Amazon, but I’m assuming if you’re reading this, you care about what I think. And what I think is that this projector is kinda bad.
Also, keep in mind I believe that this projector is being sold on amazon with different branding and shells, but essentially, they’re all the same projector.
These are just some I’ve found.
ALVAR 8000 Lumens Mini Portable Projector
TMY Projector 7500
Projector with WiFi, 2022 Upgrade 8500L
Mini Projector, Aokang 7500 Lumens HD Portable Projector
These all pretty much the same projector with different housing and branding
It is most certainly not for everyone, and it’s not for everyone who loves projectors. The projector has some issues with only a few positives.
Android smartphones are compatible, but only certain Androids, which they don’t tell you before purchasing.
List of Phones compatible with the projector
I’m guessing it’s “compatible” with all iPhones, but oddly enough, they don’t mention it. But I think it’s a safe bet to say that it is. Because saying the Aukling is compatible with smart devices and mac books is technically true, and it’s somewhat misleading.
It has no built-in features to make it compatible with other devices, just an HDMI input. This, combined with poor image and audio quality, means you’d be better off saving your money and buying something a little more expensive.
AuKing Mini Projector Full Break Down
The Auking has an HDMI port, which means it’s compatible with any device that can output through HDMI. But unfortunately, it doesn’t have any ports or software that would intrinsically allow smartphones to project video.
To get your iPhone or Android phone to connect to the projector, you have to do it through HDMI. So, you’ll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter for android and Mac Book or a lightning port to HDMI if you’re using an iPhone. The instructions also recommend a wireless dongle so you can connect your laptop or smart device via BlueTooth (more on that later)
Now here’s the thing, the projector only comes with a regular HDMI cord, so you would have to buy the other cords separately. They don’t mention that before you buy it, so it feels very misleading. Regarding the wireless adapter they recommend, you must connect to it via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, most streaming services have copyright features that won’t allow you to stream content via BlueTooth.
You could connect a chrome cast, Apple TV, or a Roku and mirror or cast your phone to that, but if you don’t have those devices on hand, you’re out of luck.
This means the easiest way to use this device would be with your windows laptop unless you have one of the cords they recommend.
But how does it perform once you get it set up and running? It’s ok.
We have to set our expectations for this price range. The project shows saturated color palettes well but struggles with darker colors.
Darker scenes come out looking grainy and blurry.
While brighter colors look ok.
But all things considered, the video quality will be worse than whatever you have connected to the HDMI. To its credit, however, the projector is bright enough to watch it outside with minimal light pollution.
The audio can be pretty loud, but loud doesn’t necessarily mean good. It does sound like it comes from out of a tin can, but it’s clear enough to hear what’s going on in a movie, so you don’t have to only rely on headphones.
Despite its small size, the Auking’s fans can be pretty loud when it’s on. (Imagine starting up your first-gen PS4 and trying to play Cyberpunk).
This projector isn’t for everyone. I wouldn’t recommend it to most people. However, if you’re a person who wants a bigger screen, you can buy a cheap 22′ monitor and connect you your phone or laptop to it, and the image quality would be better.
Verdict
In most cases, I suggest you save money and get something more expensive, like the ANKER Nebula capsule.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need a projector immediately, this will be ok. For instance, a backyard BBQ where it’s more about the people you’re around than what you’re watching or a party where you want to keep the kids distracted while the adults use the TV (shame on you).
Other than that, it’s worth saving your money.
FAQ
How do I connect my phone to my mini AuKing projector?
Through USB-C to HDMI cord or lighting to HDMI cord
Does AuKing projector support Bluetooth?
Rest in peace, watermelon.
The latest episodes in ‘Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid’ were very interesting to watch.
One was definitely a fanservice episode, and heck, even the producers know that! Episode 7’s title contains the phrase ‘The Fanservice Episode, Obviously’, so that cracked me up.
Episode 7 focuses on the elements of anime that will appeal to any nerd out there. By that, of course I mean bathing suits and comic conventions! Cue the beach episode!
Tohru and company decide to go swimming for the day. Kanna’s adorable as always, while Lucoa doesn’t realize just how sexual she is toward a small boy.
Like, really? You think wearing a very sexy swimsuit in front of a lot of kids on a beach is okay? And why do you insist on torturing Shouta with your breasts? It’s obvious that he’s tempted, but stop trying to seduce small children.
Of course, they’re dragons, so hilarious antics ensue. Tohru and Kanna get carried away in a swimming race, making water splash up everywhere. Also, a crab and watermelon are murdered. RIP.
However, one aspect that I thought was a nice touch was the backstory we got for Tohru. It wasn’t much, but Tohru and Kobayashi have a deep and meaningful conversation about their family’s lives, as well as how humans and dragons are different from one another. Fanservice episodes usually focus on that alone, but fortunately that’s not the case here.
The second half of Episode 7 focuses on Comiket. Tohru and Kobayashi help Takiya run a booth, and we learn that Fafnir is also participating by attempting to sell powerful curses. Wow, didn’t see thaaaaat coming at all.
Tohru notices otherworldly creatures in their true forms at Comiket, as they reveal that this is a great way to show their true forms. With Kobayashi’s permission, Tohru exposes her wings and tail, appearing to others as if she’s cosplaying as, well, a dragon maid.
Episode 7 was very nice because there were many heartfelt and adorable moments.
Meanwhile, Episode 8 FINALLY introduced the dragon that I keep on mentioning in my reviews. Her name’s Elma, a dragon who is a rival of Tohru’s. Elma accuses Tohru of disrupting the human’s ways and tries to force her to return to the dragon world. This doesn’t succeed, however, as Tohru sends her to an open field and leaves her there.
Unable to get back home, Elma stays in the human world and begins working at Kobayashi’s company. Kobayashi teaches Elma how to use computers and technology so that she can keep her job. Of course, this prompts Tohru to become jealous, smelling the scent of another dragon off Kobayashi like a dog does with a human. I won’t reveal how the episode ends, but it ends in a positive manner for Tohru.
Overall, I really loved these two episodes because they made me feel warm and fuzzy. They appealed to the emotional senses through a heartfelt conversation between Kobayashi and Tohru. Elma is also an innocent sweetheart who only wants to bring harmony to the human and dragon worlds. And I can’t wait to see more of her in the upcoming episodes.
I feel like in these two episodes alone, we learned so much about Tohru and her feelings for Kobayashi. She really wants to understand the human world and will do anything to stay with Kobayashi.
I’ll up my rating to a 4.7. These episodes were both fun, and we finally got the new dragon! Bless.
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