Author Archives: Charissa Jelliff

About Charissa Jelliff

Charissa Jelliff is a self-proclaimed "fangirl" who loves nothing more than discussing her favorite books, movies and TV shows with fellow fans. She's currently finishing up a Master's in literature and dreams of becoming a writer some day.

NaNoWriMo pushes writers to write novel in one month

Behind every television show, movie, or book I enjoy and then obsess over each week in this space, you will find an intense creative process, embarked on by a writer with a vision and a pen (or a typewriter or a MacBook). As someone with academic degrees in writing and a love for fiction, I’ve always fantasized about creating my very own novel. I have made a few feeble attempts in the past, littered with false starts, discarded drafts, and even one manuscript that made it all the way to chapter 3 before the flash drive was misplaced, likely never to be seen again.

But this month, I’ve had a good excuse to throw myself wholeheartedly into a brand new attempt at achieving my dream.

Writing a 50,000-word novel in a month is a daunting task, yet that is precisely what you commit to when you sign up for National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo is a non-profit organization that, according to its mission statement, “organizes events where children and adults find the inspiration, encouragement, and structure they need to achieve their creative potential. Our programs are web-enabled challenges with vibrant real-world components, designed to foster self-expression while building community on local and global levels.”

Of the many programs NaNoWriMo offers, one of the most popular takes place every November, when writers the world over sign up with the goal of drafting a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 p.m. on November 30. I had never participated in NaNoWriMo, though I know several people who have done it multiple times. About two hours before the calendar turned over to November this year, I decided on impulse to make the plunge. I had no outline, no concept — I didn’t even know who my characters would be — but I decided to give it a shot. If I were ever going to write a novel, I might as well start now.

I spent a large portion of Day 1 cleaning my room and organizing my computer, making sure I had a comfortable place to work. By the time I finally sat down to write, I still wasn’t sure what I would be writing about, but I thought I knew who I would be writing about. There’s a character that had been floating around in my head for a couple years. I didn’t know her story yet, but I knew she wanted it told. By the end of that day I had written over 1,200 words. Not bad considering I hadn’t had a clue what I was going to write about when the day began.

The NaNoWriMo goal is to write at least 1,667 words per day in order to reach 50,000 by the end of the month. I set my goal at trying to reach at least 2,000 per day, knowing that most novels tend to average much more than 50,000 words (especially if you happen to have the middle initials R.R.).

Throughout the first week, I was pretty successful at attaining my goal word count. By the end of Day 7, I had over 14,000. It was rather exhilarating for me to look at that word count and know that I had created all that. My master’s thesis had been over 27,000 words, but a large percentage of that was research-based, not entirely creative writing. So 14,000 words on a creative writing project was a big deal for me, and that was just the beginning.

I’m usually the type of person who likes to have a plan for everything and, in the past, that was my approach to creative writing as well. I would formulate an outline in my head of what I wanted the story to look like — sometimes more detailed than others — and then attempt to write to the outline. As you can tell from my earlier confession of never finishing anything I’ve started, I wasn’t ever very successful that way.

Since I had signed up for NaNoWriMo without any planning, I decided my entire novel would be written that way. I’ve rarely sketched out what I’m going to write more than a day ahead — and, most of the time, I don’t know where it’s going when I sit down. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve discovered that outlining may not be all it’s cracked up to be. I’m more than halfway toward the 50,000-word goal and I still don’t know from day to day what twists and turns it’s going to take. Writing this novel has been like an archaeological expedition — I don’t know where the story is going, or how it’s going to end.

I have always had this lingering doubt in the back of my mind that I would never actually be able to write an entire novel because, while I might come up with good broad strokes for a novel, I wouldn’t be any good writing the smaller details and the less action-oriented scenes. I’ve never thought I would be very good at coming up with pages of dialogue or crafting realistic conversations between characters, but I’m doing it. EachÂ day I sit at my computer with no idea what’s going to happen next, and I slowly uncover my characters’ next moves. Sure, it’s just a rough draft, and I guarantee it’s not National Book Award material, but I’m having fun discovering my characters and proving to myself that I can do this.

Some days I can average 1,000 words per hour and other days I stare at my computer screen for what seems like hours and only get 600 words written. It hasn’t always been easy, and there are some days when I just can’t figure out what my characters are going to do next. But I keep persevering because this goal is one worth achieving.

As of this writing, my novel is at just over 33,000 words, I just started chapter 14. This is officially the most I’ve ever written on one project, and while I’ve slowed down a little, I am not even close to giving up, which is the biggest accomplishment I’ve made so far. While I’m a little behind in my goal, I’m still within sight of finishing the 50,000 words by November 30, and that will be a huge accomplishment.

If I’ve learned anything this month, it’s that I can surprise myself with how much of a Big Thing I can do if I set my mind to it and really commit. I’m so glad I took the leap and signed up for this. While I haven’t done much other than work, sleep, and write this month, at least by the end of it, I’ll have succeeded in my goal of writing a novel, and that means a lot this girl who has dreamed of being a writer her entire life.

Maybe this novel — or a subsequent one, when I’ve honed my skills a bit — will inspire another fangirl like me.

Meeting Constantine through Hellblazer comics, NBC series

I’ve been reading a lot of comics lately. When I got home from New York Comic Con, I was in the mood to do more comic reading, so I signed up for Marvel Unlimited to read through much of their back catalog. I’m in the middle of Civil War and plan to tackle the “Infinity” story lines next. My plan is to work my way through the stories Marvel is planning on adapting to film first, then go back to as many other titles as I can.

I also took advantage of a sale DC Comics was recently having on their John Constantine titles and bought several collections of the early Hellblazer comics that established the Constantine character. Prior to watching the pilot of NBC’s Constantine, my knowledge of the character was limited to his appearances in Neil Gaiman‘s Sandman comics and the movie starring Keanu Reeves, which I’m sure many true Constantine fans would rather forget.

While I had never read any of the Hellblazer comics, I’ve always been intrigued by the character — especially once I started hearing about the new series. Before the Constantine screening at NYCC, one of the emcees asked the audience what they liked about Constantine. The girl who answered the question described him as being a “selfish coward,” which intrigued me even more, as that wasn’t an image I had associated with him up to this point. Clearly, there was a lot about Constantine I did not know.

When I found out about the DC sale on the comics, I couldn’t resist buying some to get an idea of what Constantine is really like. I was also curious to see how the show would compare to the comics — though I wouldn’t be nearly as critical as any of the fans who have been reading the comics for years. I have recently finished reading the first collection of Hellblazer, which includes Hellblazer #1-9 and Swamp Thing #76-77. So, here are some thoughts on Constantine and the Hellblazer comics coming from a first-time reader.

By the time the Hellblazer comics debuted in 1988, Constantine was already an established character, having made several appearances in the Swamp Thing, beginning with Swamp Thing #37 in 1983. I know even less about Swamp Thing than I do Constantine, so the overall arc of those two issues and how they fit in with Constantine’s arc at that point was a little lost on me — I didn’t put all the pieces together until I started the second volume of Constantine comics — but I learned a lot about Constantine just within the first issues of his series.

What I learned in reading the first nine issues of Hellblazer was that the girl at NYCC was right on target with her description of Constantine. He is a selfish coward — and a few other things I won’t put into print. Yet, oddly, I can’t help but like him. He has a certain “irresistible charm,” as Constantine himself puts it.

The first few issues of Hellblazer appear to be standalone stories. It isn’t until about halfway through the collection that the reader starts to notice the pattern and the thread that ties them all together. The last few issues are one continuous story, as Constantine tries to outmaneuver forces of heaven and hell in order to maintain balance on earth.

The nature of Constantine’s character becomes fairly apparent right from the first issue, as he willingly sacrifices the life of a man who has been his friend since childhood in order to stop a demon. It’s clear Constantine feels guilt over his choice, but he doesn’t hesitate in making the difficult decision. Constantine lives in a world where he is forced to frequently make choices between what’s best for one versus what’s good for everyone. This can make him seem callous and cold, but these are decisions that must be made, and he shows he is capable of making them.

However, not all Constantine’s decisions are for the good of the many. Constantine’s cowardice is more apparent in the fifth issue, “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” which adds a supernatural twist to post-traumatic stress. Constantine hides and watches as a man caught up in a war flashback rapes and murders his own wife. Instead of stepping in to save the woman, Constantine maintains his cover.

“No way I can go charging into their movie,” Constantine said. “It’s too bloody dangerous.”

Later, he acknowledges his own weakness, as he watches the woman’s attempt to defend herself.

“I should help her do the bastard, but I still can’t move — at least that’s what I tell myself.”

These very different aspects to his personality help to make Constantine a fascinating character. I can’t wait to learn more as I continue through the comics.

The Hellblazer comics are pretty dark — lots of demonic activity and mutilation, murder, and more. According to series star Matt Ryan at NYCC, the series has not been cleansed for television — this is the Constantine fans have been reading about. It will be interesting to see how closely the show follows the comics, and what NBC will let them get away with. I’m even more excited about the show now that I’ve been reading the comics.

Ryan as Constantine was a terrific casting choice. He seems to understand the character and really embodies Constantine’s attitude well. Even the way he walked out on stage at NYCC reminded me of Constantine. The success of the series really hinges on whether fans can accept the actor as their beloved comic book character, and I think they found the right man with Ryan.

After reading the first issues of Hellblazer, I started to pick up on the elements of the comics that are making their way into the series. I was particularly amused to discover Constantine’s response to where he came from: “The sordid passions of my parents” was taken directly from the comic — though in the comic, the line belongs to Zed, one of Constantine’s associates and an occasional lover. We caught a glimpse of Zed and one of her talents at the very end of the pilot episode, then had more of an introduction last week.

Looking closely at the artwork scattered around Zed’s room, you’ll find multiple familiar images if you’re a fan of the comics. Even I was able to recognize several, and I’m only up to Hellblazer #12. But I saw the cover of Hellblazer volume 1, as well as the grotesque form of the four British Boys the demon Nergal molded together and sent after Constantine in one of the early issues. It’s these little Easter eggs and attention to detail that make the show fun to watch.

Constantine’s history with Newcastle and young Astra was a large plot point in the first episode of the series, but I’ve only just begun to learn more about what happened in Newcastle in the second volume of the comics. It appears NBC has tamed down Astra’s story a little — they seem to have left out the abuse and her involvement in creating the original demon — though more could be revealed as the series progresses.

Another great piece of casting was Jeremy Davies as Ritchie Simpson. I loved that I immediately recognized Ritchie when I was reading the comics. I couldn’t remember his name from the series (despite having watched the pilot three times), but Davies’ look was so much like Ritchie in the comics that I had no doubt this was the right character. I read all Ritchie’s lines in the comics in Davies’ voice, and really do think he was a great choice. This week we’ll see the introduction of another character from the comics; I’m looking forward to seeing what the show does with Papa Midnite.

It’s still early to say that NBC’s Constantine won’t disappoint fans — and I’m probably biased since I watched the pilot before reading the comics — but I believe the cast and creators are at least trying to create a faithful adaptation of comics, and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s coming, both on television and in the comics.

Watching Walking Dead while hating blood, guts, gore

I am not a fan of entertainment that is excessively gory, bloody, or anything along those lines. I’ve never seen any of the Saw movies, and I have absolutely no desire to watch them. I like scary movies in general, but I draw the line when people start getting hacked to pieces. I’m too squeamish for all that gore.

But I love The Walking Dead.

A couple years ago, I was watching an episode — I can’t remember which one, but it wasn’t long after they reached the prison — and my mom and my brother were just watching me watch it. I had to keep hiding my eyes and turning away from all the nasty, gory stuff. Eventually, this conversation took place:

My mom and brother, in unison: “Why do you even watch this show?”
Me: “Because it’s awesome, and I love it! I just don’t like the blood and gore.”
Mom: “But that’s all this show is about!”
Me: “No it’s not! It’s about the people and their relationships with each other and surviving!”

That’s the short answer to their question, but it touches on the heart of why this show is so good, and why it’s become so popular with such a wide audience. It isn’t a show about zombies. (In fact, if you pay attention, they never even refer to the undead as “zombies” at any time in the series.) The Walking Dead has some of the most compelling story lines and characters on television, and if it were just about the zombies, 17 million people wouldn’t have watched the fifth season premiere, where the main threat was another group of humans.

One of the taglines for The Walking Dead is, “Fight the dead, fear the living.” If you’re a fan of the series or the graphic novels it is based on, you know this statement is absolutely true. The “walkers” (as the don’t-call-them-zombies are termed) are just background for the story of the people who are surviving — or, in some unfortunate cases, aren’t. In the last couple of seasons, especially with the introduction of the Governor, we’ve really started to see just how much more dangerous other humans can be.

The walkers just want to eat you, but humans can plan and strategize and manipulate. Humans can move faster, drive vehicles (and tanks), and use weapons. They can deceive and lay traps. Compared to the human threats on this series, the walkers are easy to take care of — a headshot is all it takes.

The other day, a friend was telling me that some of her friends were getting frustrated with the show because they have deviated from the zombie part of the story. In my opinion, those viewers are missing the entire point of the series. Even in the comics, the greatest threat the survivors face is not the undead but the other human survivors. I don’t think this show would be nearly as compelling if the primary threat was always the walkers. Sure, I get worried when there’s a chance someone’s going to be killed or bitten, but it’s so much more interesting when they’re facing an enemy that can think and plan — someone who is also fighting for a cause and has more motivation to win.

This is what I love most about The Walking Dead: the fact that it is about the humans — the survivors. Despite my love for genre television, I wasn’t a big fan of zombies before the series began — mostly because of my issues with blood and gore — but the previews made the show look intriguing, so I thought I’d check it out. I was hooked almost immediately — despite the scene where the walkers tear into that poor horse.

The characters on The Walking Dead are probably some of the most well-written on television. Some series can go an entire run without their characters showing any evidence of change or growth. However, not one of the characters in The Walking Dead is the same person he or she was prior to the zombie apocalypse — and, more importantly, who they were when the series began. One of the best examples would be Carol. When we first met her, she was a mother married to an abusive husband, and now she’s the bad-ass who single-handedly engineered the escape from Terminus.

At New York Comic Con earlier this month, the cast was asked to talk about the journeys their characters have taken to this point. Melissa McBride, the actress who portrays Carol, teared up describing Carol’s path “because I love her so much.” Of all the characters in the series, Carol has come the farthest — and is one of the best, in my opinion.

Another one of the reasons I love The Walking Dead is because I can never predict where the story is going or what is going to happen next. I’m the kind of person who is always trying to solve the mystery first, or guess what’s going to happen next, but I just can’t do that with this series. I haven’t read all the comics — I’m slowly working my way through them — but even if I had, I still wouldn’t be able to predict everything, because the show doesn’t always follow the comics. This is one of those times when I am completely OK with that. I love that I can enjoy the comics and series separately, and one isn’t necessarily going to spoil the other.

For those who wish they would follow the comics more closely, this is your season. According to the Walking Dead panel I attended at NYCC, this season will follow the comics more closely than they have in the past.

Lastly, I love that this show is so real. I don’t mean real as in “I expect the dead to rise up any day now,” but the tone of the show and the way the characters behave and react to situations (even the “villains” of the show) are all extremely realistic. This is exactly how you would expect human beings to act when faced with a world where the living are quickly becoming outnumbered by the dead, and you have to fight to survive. People will go to any length they see necessary to survive. Some of those methods may seem horrifying to outsiders — and the audience — but to them, their actions are imperative to their own survival.

Even the horrors committed by the people in Terminus, which makes me shudder just to think about, are justified to them. These people didn’t start out that way; they were once kind and welcoming — until they were treated as prey and forced to become hunters. Every character on the show, good or evil, is a product of his or her environment. Even Rick Grimes, our good-hearted protagonist, has made questionable decisions that he felt were key to the group’s survival or to protect his family. This struggle is what makes this show so raw and so real.

I recently read an article from Entertainment Weekly that posed the question, “Are we all numb to the atrocities of The Walking Dead?” The article was referring particularly to the final moments of Sunday’s episode, which was pretty horrifying — and we’re only two episodes into the season. But it also called to mind the scene from last season, when Rick ripped out a guy’s throat — with his teeth! — after the guy and his gang of humans threatened to violate Rick’s son, Carl.

I’m not entirely sure I would even agree that Sunday’s episode was more shocking than seeing Rick tear a guy’s throat out; both scenes were stunning and horrifying, and both demonstrated how far the survivors have come from civilized society. They are horrifying because they break our expectations of how people should behave, but one isn’t necessarily worse or more shocking than the other; they simply portray different aspects of the depravity that comes with the world they are now living in.

It is true that the series does feel the need to up its game and be more shocking with each new twist. Every series has to fight inertia and tries to build on the drama, or the action, or whatever it is that people like about that series. However, I don’t feel like I’ve become numb to the horrors The Walking Dead is portraying on screen. I still flinch and close my eyes when we see a particularly disgusting walker death, just as I would have in season 1. The Well Walker would probably shock and gross me out just as much now as it did back in season 2; in fact, I was having traumatic flashbacks to that episode during the food bank scenes this past week.

If we were all truly becoming numb to the atrocities in The Walking Dead, I think the smaller, more human moments that are still prevalent within the series would have less of an effect on us. However, the reaction to the reunions at the end of the fifth season premiere proves we still feel. Sophia walking out of that barn will break my heart each time I see it, and I will always cry every time Daryl cries. As long as we’re still affected by these small human moments — and as long as they still exist within the series to remind us the survivors are still human — I don’t think we’ve become numb to anything.

At the NYCC panel, season 5 was described as “kickass” and “relentless” but also “heartbreaking” and “devastating.” The fact that this show can bring out those more tragic emotions in its fans proves they are anything but numb to what goes on in this show.

And honestly, if we were become numb to the horrors we’re seeing in The Walking Dead, then we’re missing the lesson of the series. In the season premiere, Rick didn’t want to worry about freeing any other prisoners in Terminus, but Glenn insisted, saying, “That’s still who we are, it’s got to be.”

Despite all the horrors they’ve faced — and Glenn had just come within seconds of having his head bashed in and throat slit by the Terminus people — Glenn understands that the survivors can’t let their enemies change them. They can’t become numb. They still have to hold on to some of their morals. And if we’re becoming too numb to the atrocities on The Walking Dead, aren’t we taking Rick’s path more than Glenn’s?

The mere fact that we can have long, deep discussions about topics such as this in relation to a television series like The Walking Dead proves that there is so much more to this show than zombies, blood, and gore. And that is why I watch The Walking Dead.

French experiments in The Secret Place, but still succeeds

Entertainment-seekers on this side of the Atlantic Ocean tend to demand a standoff, a car chase, or some other dangerous and potentially violent incident to satisfy our American desire for drama. Irish and British consumers seem to have a more nuanced understanding of drama and suspense, allowing their artists to create compelling works of fiction that don’t rely on pyrotechnics and explosions to hold the readers’ attention.

Irish author Tana French consistently uses this more understated approach to great effect. In The Secret Place, the fifth installment in French’s “Dublin Murder Squad” novels, the author demonstrates her knack for creating suspense in subtle ways.

Like the rest of her novels, The Secret Place can be read as a standalone, though readers would benefit from the groundwork laid in earlier books in the series.

Read Curiata.com’s review of Broken Harbor, French’s previous entry in the series.

The primary narrator of The Secret Place is detective Stephen Moran, who was first introduced to readers in French’s third novel, Faithful Place. Other returning characters include detective Frank Mackey, who is making his third significant appearance in the series, as well as Mackey’s daughter, Holly, who debuted alongside Moran in Faithful Place.

The Secret Place begins with Holly Mackey bringing Moran, who is now working cold cases, a clue to a year-old unsolved murder that took place at Holly’s boarding school: a photograph of murder victim Chris Harper with the words “I know who killed him” taped over it. The photo was pinned to a board known as the “Secret Place,” where students at the school could anonymously confess secrets. Moran, along with the lead detective of the case, Atoinette Conway, head back to the school to follow up on the lead Holly has given them.

Unlike most of French’s lead characters, Moran doesn’t have a tortured past to draw from. Still, he is clearly a flawed character. Moran has never been able to create a close connection with a friend. He is also trying to prove himself worthy of joining the Murder Squad.

Conway also has something to prove; as the only female member of the Murder Squad, she has struggled with the fine line between proving her competence and fitting in. The boarding school murder has been her highest profile case, and it has gone unsolved for a year. The dynamic between Moran and Conway as they learn to work together creates an interesting contrast with the cliques among the girls they interact with at the boarding school.

French has a unique and often beautiful style of writing. She is able to make even the most mundane details seem fascinating and relevant. The unfolding events of the novel take place over the course of a single day, the bulk of which is spent interviewing witnesses, without much real action. Yet French is able to make every conversation compelling.

French also has a talent for description. Early in the novel, when referring to the impact a photo continues to have on Holly and her friends even after it has been deleted, French writes, “The photo isn’t gone. The faint rank smell of it is still stained onto the air. Becca breathes shallowly, through her mouth, but it greases her tongue.”

Imagery like this is what makes French such an interesting writer and her books so enjoyable to read. She draws the reader in with these vivid descriptions and makes the audience feel like part of the investigation — which also makes it really hard to put the book down.

With The Secret Place, French deviates slightly from the usual structure of her novels. Instead of a single first-person narrator throughout the entire book, The Secret Place alternates between Moran’s narration of events in the present and a third-person narration of the school year leading up to the murder under investigation. Through these flashbacks, the reader gets to know Holly and her friends and learn the story behind the murder just as Moran’s investigation uncovers the details. This technique helps to increase the tension of the novel as the reader gets closer to the truth. It also gives an interesting perspective on the investigation, giving the reader a window into all the characters and motivations involved.

Another way French deviates from her usual style — and the only flaw I can find in this novel — is in a strange suggestion of the existence of the supernatural. Her previous novels have all been strictly grounded in reality, but some of the interactions between Holly and her friends in The Secret Place hint that they have discovered telekinetic abilities. With the rest of this novel being so realistic, that one piece of fantasy seems a little jarring and out of place.

French never addresses whether these special powers are real or if the girls just have overactive imaginations; in fact, the descriptions of the supernatural are presented in such a way that one could argue they never actually occurred. This aspect of the story is minor and doesn’t affect the outcome at all. Because of its seeming insignificance and the unanswered questions it leaves, this plot point feels like the weak link in an otherwise extremely well-written and engaging novel. And if that’s the only flaw, then I would have to deem this novel an overall success in the genre of crime fiction.

If you’re already a fan of French’s writing, you won’t be disappointed with this latest installment, despite the differences in style between this and her earlier novels. And if you’ve never read anything by French but you’re a fan of clever mysteries or British drama, then I can’t recommend this novel — or any of French’s other works — enough.

French has some of the most developed and compelling characters I’ve read in modern fiction; they’re all flawed, but fascinating and so very real. Her plots are also not predictable or formulaic. So put down James Patterson’s thousandth novel and pick up something truly original.

Exclusive: Librarians cast previews series, with photos

TNT is expanding a successful television movie trilogy into a weekly episodic TV series this winter. The cast and executive producer of The Librarians appeared at New York Comic Con last Sunday to preview the series for eager fans and speak with press including Curiata.com.

The Librarian: Quest for the Spear, an original, made-for-TV, action/adventure film, debuted on TNT in December 2004. The movie introduced Flynn Carsen, played by ER veteran Noah Wyle, as the man chosen to be the librarian of a secret archive of powerful objects. Wyle himself has described the films as Indiana Jones — if the role of Jones were played by Don Knotts.

The film was a big success for TNT and was ranked as the No. 1 movie of the year on basic cable. It spawned two sequels, The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines, which premiered as cable’s No. 1 movie sequel of all time in 2006, and The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice in 2008.

This December, a decade after the premiere of the first Librarian film, TNT is bringing the Library back with an all-new, 10-episode series. Wyle will return as Flynn, albeit in a reduced, recurring role. John Larroquette stars as the reluctant caretaker of a new cast of Library workers, similar to Bob Newhart‘s role in the movies. The series will feature appearances from Newhart and Jane Curtin, reprising their roles from the films.

Lindy Booth, Christian Kane, John Kim, and Rebecca Romijn round out the cast as characters who work for the Library but — importantly — are not Librarians. The Librarian is a position similar to that of the Slayer in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in that there is only ever one at a time.

Those four cast members were joined by executive producer John Rogers at NYCC to explain a bit about the series.

“When the show starts, we’re not librarians,” Kane said of his, Booth’s, and Kim’s characters. “We’re next in line.”

If anything were to happen to Wyle’s Librarian, one of their characters could be the next to step into the role. And when the series starts, the lives of all the potential Librarians are in jeopardy.

According to Rogers, you don’t need to have seen any of The Librarian films in order to enjoy the series; everything you need to know will be recapped in the opening.

“We went back and looked at the Eccleston Doctor Who reboot,” Rogers said, referring to the relaunch of the classic British sci-fi series in 2005, nearly 16 years after its last episode. “The trick is don’t explain it: show it. Audiences are smart; genre audiences, in particular, have been watching variations of these things for a long time — they’re smarter than you, they’ll figure it out, you don’t have to spoon-feed them.”

Rogers believes that, at least with the first couple of seasons, a series should be primarily standalone so fans can jump on board at any point without feeling out of the loop.

“It’s cool if you watch one or intermittently, but you’re rewarded if you watch all of them,” Rogers said.

The Librarians was filmed in a relatively short period of time in order to work around Wyle’s schedule and ensure he would be a part of the series. According to Rogers, there was never a question of Wyle’s involvement.

When he first heard of the series, Wyle’s initial reaction was, “But I’m the Librarian,” Rogers told fans.

Wyle won’t appear in every episode, but his absences are a plot point: he’s out on a mission that runs parallel to the main story line of the show.

Romijn plays a counterterrorism agent who is recruited to protect the potential librarians. Romijn describes Eve Baird as a skeptic who was very reluctant to join the team.

“I get invited to work at the library, I don’t know why; I don’t necessarily want the job, but I’ve received this mysterious invitation,” Romijn said. “I am the guardian of the Librarian — he doesn’t want me either.”

Before long, Eve’s job expands beyond protecting the Librarian.

“We discover that the Librarian and the Librarians-in-training are all in danger, and so I become the guardian to the Librarians-in-training as well,” Romijn said. “Early on, I’m in charge of them, and they’re not prepared for the danger out there, and I have to train them … we really become a family.”

Playing the protector of the group wasn’t too difficult for Romijn, as she has portrayed several physically commanding characters in the past — perhaps most famously that of Mystique in the X-Men movies. Last year, Romijn also did a lot of weapons and mixed martial arts training for her role as Michelle Maxwell on TNT’s King & Maxwell.

“Our job is to run around the world and collect dangerous magical artifacts to keep them out of the wrong hands, and there are all these people chasing us and in pursuit,” Romijn said. “I am sort of there to fight them off.”

Romijn’s two favorite episodes of the season are an episode involving fairy tales, which the entire cast seems excited about, and the Christmas episode, featuring guest star Bruce Campbell.

“But the one I can’t wait for the fans to see the most is the finale, because there’s a huge payoff in the finale,” Romijn said.

Romijn is joined in the Library by Kane, who plays Jake Stone, an Oklahoma oil worker with a high IQ and an extensive knowledge of art history. Kane has worked with Rogers, the executive producer, before in his previous role on Leverage. In that series, Rogers tailored the role to include many of Kane’s own interests. Kane acknowledged Rogers did the same for the character of Jake.

“John Rogers wrote the role as an art history major and I was — at the University of Oklahoma, I was an art history major,” Kane said. “So he kind of incorporated that into the character. And the guy’s from Oklahoma, which I am, and my dad is a hard-working, blue-collar oil man. … So he almost started me right there as Christian Kane.”

When he’s not acting, Kane is also a singer and songwriter who has showcased his musical talents on the small screen in the past. So will fans of Kane’s music get to hear him sing on The Librarians as well?

At NYCC, Kane looked around to where Rogers was sitting before answering with a definite “Yes.” Not this season, Kane said, but if the show continues, he is positive viewers will get to hear him sing.

In his previous role as Eliot on Leverage, Kane played the “hitter” of the team — the guy who was always ready for a fight. But while Jake can hold his own in a bar fight, he doesn’t have the technical combat knowledge Eliot had.

“It’s tough for me, because I have to unlearn everything I did for five years on Leverage,” Kane said. However, he’s been enjoying the change of pace. “It’s been fun to walk in someone else’s shoes.”

But that doesn’t mean you won’t ever see Kane fight.

“I told John … why would you fix something that ain’t broke?” Kane said. “Let me just throw punches, man, that’s what I do.”

Rogers assured Kane he’d get to do some fighting, but warned Jake’s skills would need to grow over time.

“So you see me get better at certain things, and you see me picking up things along the way,” Kane said. “I’m sure that, as time goes on, my character will progress.”

Kane compared his character’s potential progress to that of Wyle’s throughout the course of the Librarian movies.

“When the first Librarian came out, Noah Wyle was a dork … now he’s Indiana Jones,” Kane said, concurring with Wyle’s own characterization. “And it was fun to watch Noah progress along that way; now he’s just a badass.”

The cast of TNT’s upcoming series The Librarians spoke with Curiata.com and posed for photographs at New York Comic Con last Sunday.

Another character with a special skill set is Cassandra, played by Booth. Cassandra is a synesthete: she has sensory hallucinations related to certain actions.

“All of her senses are sort of cross-wired in her brain: sees numbers as colors, science is music, math smells like breakfast,” Booth said.

Synesthesia is a real phenomenon, and Booth said she did a lot of research on it before playing Cassandra.

“Cassandra does have a very extraordinary version of it. Hers is much more extreme because it’s television, and we do things like that,” Booth said. “It’s a cool thing to play with because it lets me play, lets me express things in different ways that you wouldn’t get to do with a character who sees things through normal eyes.”

According to Booth, Cassandra is probably the “most psyched” to be joining the Library team. Prior to meeting Wyle’s Flynn, she viewed her ability as a curse, but he teaches her that it can be a gift. Because of this, Cassandra quickly forms a bond with Flynn.

“But, weirdly, she really does bond with Jacob Stone,” Booth said. “He’s able to understand her family situation and no one’s really been able to do that for her. And he sees her gift and he tries to understand it, and, again, no one’s ever tried to understand Cassandra.”

Even though Cassandra and Jake form a bond, the actors behind the characters seem to be on opposite ends of the physicality spectrum.

“There was a lot of resentment that I seemed the least physical person on the set, and yet, somehow, I have all of the fight scenes in the first season, allegedly,” Booth joked.

However, when it comes to hand-to-hand combat, Cassandra has a lot more to learn than Jake does.

“Cassandra fights like a girl,” Booth said. “She fights like me. It’s not good. Sometimes she wins, but it’s mostly by accident when she does. … I think a lot of the comedy from Cassandra comes from these weird physical situations she manages to get herself into and tries to get herself out of.”

Fans of Booth’s quirky character from the short-lived October Road, take heart.

“There’s an awful lot of Pizza Girl still inside me, and I think that Cassandra is just like her weirder, smarter sister in some way,” Booth said.

The final member of the team is played by Kim, who has acted in his native Australia but is a newcomer to stateside television. Luckily for him, a very supportive cast has guided him through the process of filming for American TV.

“I feel like Noah took everyone under [his] wing, but me more so just because I was the new face,” Kim said. “I got a lot of advice from him on set. Christian was amazing. … The entire cast — coming into a cast where everyone’s … more experienced than I am … was an advantage.”

Kim dealt with a certain amount of hazing on set, being the rookie as well as the youngest cast member. He recounted one story involving Kane in particular.

“In the library, there’s a rotary phone, and I was just kind of checking it out, I hadn’t really seen or used one of those ones,” Kim said. “Christian comes over and Christian goes, ‘Yeah, we used to have cords on phones. We used to have wires.'”

Kim feels especially privileged to get to work with an actor like Larroquette in his first big role.

“You’ll get to see later on in the season, I have a very fun scene with John Larroquette, and to get to work with an actor of that caliber — they’re all amazing actors, the entire cast — but to get to work with him day in, day out, for an entire week was … amazing,” Kim said. “So that particular episode was one of my favorites.”

According to Kim, his character, Ezekiel Jones, is “too curious for his own good.”

“When he sees something that interests him, he’ll do everything he can to get involved in that,” Kim said.

Ezekiel is very loosely based on a real thief in Europe who stole a jewel just to prove there were holes in the museum’s security. Kim keeps that aspect of his character in mind while he’s acting.

Fans of Leverage may recall Rogers’ extensive blog posts and Q&As after each episode. He is hoping to do something similar with this series, as well.

“We’ve already recorded a series of video logs with each of the writers that talk about the episode coming up,” Rogers said. “Hopefully … after every episode, we’ll be able to do a podcast … [and/or] we’ll be answering questions on the website again.”

“I like the dialogue with the fans,” Rogers added. “It means people are watching.”

The Librarians premieres December 7 on TNT.

Inconceivable pleasures of NYCC come to end on Sunday

Day 4. I can’t believe my very first Comic Con is nearly over already! It’s been a whirlwind of a weekend, but I have had so many great experiences and am taking away some really great memories.

I’m usually the kind of person who avoids crowds as much as possible, so one would think New York Comic Con is a place I shouldn’t go near, but it didn’t bother me to be surrounded by thousands of people all day. Sure, there were times when I really needed to just seek out the quieter atmosphere of the press area, but being in the crowd of NYCC was much easier than I anticipated. Maybe it’s because these people are all like me. In this crowd, a nerdy fangirl doesn’t have to worry about being judged; everyone is accepted here (except maybe Hydra — no one likes those guys).

I took my time getting to the Javits Center this morning, knowing the line wouldn’t be as crazy as it had been yesterday with The Walking Dead panel happening. I was right, as it was easy to walk in and get in line for this afternoon’s Sleepy Hollow panel. Then, my morning of waiting in lines began.

As soon as I had my wristband for Sleepy Hollow, I went over to the autograph hall and purchased a copy of Cary Elwes‘ new book, As You Wish, which chronicles the making of The Princess Bride. I then got in line to have Elwes sign the book.

The line seemed long but moved quickly and, before long, I was face-to-face with a man whose image I’ve known my entire life. I was young when The Princess Bride was released in 1987, and I honestly can’t remember a time before its existence. It has been my favorite movie my entire life. I still can’t believe I’ve now met Westley in person.

Following my brief encounter with Elwes, it was time to prepare for several great hours of Sleepy Hollow scoop. First up was interviews with several cast members and writers of the show, then the actual Sleepy Hollow panel. Everyone was tight-lipped on details of what to expect in the rest of season 2, but they promised they’re doing everything they can to build on the success of the first season. The panel included a screening of the first half of Monday’s episode, featuring a Sleepy Hollow version of the Pied Piper, which, from what we’ve seen so far, looks super creepy.

After the Sleepy Hollow panel, it was time to get in line for not only my last panel of the day, but the last panel of New York Comic Con 2014. I decided seeing Elwes was a good way for me to both start and end the day. The actor took the stage to enormous applause and regaled the audience for an hour with stories from the set of The Princess Bride, most involving Andre the Giant. Elwes was emotional discussing the professional-wrestler-turned-actor who died in 1993.

Elwes shared many humorous anecdotes and was a great storyteller, performing voices for each person he talked about: from the gruff voice of Andre, to the New York accent of Rob Reiner. Elwes had the audience roaring in laughter with a story of how Andre unexpectedly (and loudly) broke wind during their very first scene together, the scene where they give Westley the pill they procured from Miracle Max. Elwes was wonderful to listen to, and I can’t wait to sit down and read his book, which contains even more reminiscences from the filming of The Princess Bride.

And then, all too soon, it was over. The long weekend seems like it flew by too quickly. But I would say my first every Comic Con was definitely a success: I was able to see and do everything I had set out to, and to experience as many aspects of the Con as possible. I was able to meet people I’ve admired for years, and I even managed to control my fangirl urges while doing so.

I had no idea what to expect going into this weekend. I have friends who go to San Diego Comic Con every year, but I didn’t know how this would compare to their experiences. I still don’t, but the weekend was even more fun that I had hoped it would be. I already have my calendar marked for next year!

Marvel expands universe with more Agents, Daredevil

Marvel brought a lot of surprises to New York Comic Con, and I’m not just talking about announcing the return of Secret Wars. Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe received a few treats as well.

The Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. panel took place Friday afternoon in a packed Main Hall. Marvel’s director of television, Jeph Loeb, greeted the audience and, after a few minutes of small talk, he reminded the crowd of one lesson we learned last season: trust no one. At that point, he revealed the Hydra T-shirt he was wearing under a fleece jacket.

A shocked and offended Clark Gregg appeared on stage, greeted by a standing ovation. Gregg told Loeb that the only way to make it up to him would be to show us all something we had never seen before — an all new episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. And so, this week’s episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was screened in its entirety four days ahead of time for the fans at NYCC.

The fourth episode of season 2 features a return to more of the lighthearted, witty banter we grew accustomed to last year while not letting us forget things are much darker than they had appeared then. There are some great moments between Gregg’s Director Phil Coulson and team member Melinda May, played by Ming-Na Wen, as well as a really touching scene with Fitz, who is struggling to overcome head trauma. The episode features a neat tie-in to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, though I doubt viewers see it coming. There are lots of twists and turns in this episode, and it’s probably the best of season 2 so far.

Following the screening of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Gregg begged Loeb, on behalf of the audience, to show us something from Marvel’s new series, Agent Carter, set to premiere in January. The series had begun filming the week before, but Loeb had a cut of one scene that had been shot just four days earlier. The clip featured Hayley Atwell as Carter, Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark, and James D’Arcy as Stark’s butler, Edwin Jarvis. Stark is in embarking on an important mission and leaves Jarvis to help look after Carter. The clip wasn’t long enough to really judge what the series will be like, but it piqued my curiosity.

Saturday at NYCC, Marvel unveiled the first footage from its upcoming Netflix original series Daredevil. The series, which will debut next year, stars Charlie Cox as the blind-lawyer-by-day/hero-by-night Matt Murdock, also known as Daredevil. Vincent D’Onofrio plays Daredevil’s adversary, Wilson Fisk, aka “The Kingpin.” The series also stars Rosario Dawson, Elden Henson, Bob Gunton, Toby Moore, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Ayelet Zurer, and Deborah Ann Woll.

Loeb introduced Cox by telling a story of how Marvel Comics writer Joe Quesada, a big Daredevil fan, called him two years ago — before there was even a possibility of producing a Daredevil series — and told him he had found his Murdock. Quesada was confident the Daredevil rights would eventually return to Marvel, and he wanted Cox in that role. Even Loeb admitted to having a bit of a man-crush on the actor who was indeed hired to play Daredevil.

Executive producer Steven DeKnight, also a Daredevil fan, talked of his love for the character; while working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, he and Loeb would discuss how “we’re gonna do that show one day.”

DeKnight cited both the Frank Miller and Brian Bendis runs of the comics as the main inspirations for the series. In fact, Daredevil’s costume in the clips shown at NYCC bring to mind the outfit drawn by John Romita Jr. in The Man Without Fear. Fans will see these influences reflected in the darker, grittier tone of the show as compared to other Marvel properties.

Cox later confirmed the influence of The Man Without Fear: “Tonally, it suits our show really well.”

“What I love about this show is the moral gray area inherent within,” DeKnight said. “There will be times when you’re not quite sure who to root for.”

As DeKnight phrased it, Murdock is “one bad day away from becoming Frank Castle,” the vigilante antihero also known as the Punisher. Sometimes, the audience will be rooting for Murdock; other times, they may sympathize with the Kingpin.

D’Onofrio seems to enjoy delving into the character of the Kingpin and Fisk, describing him as “a child and … a monster.”

He went on to say that everything Fisk does comes from his own foundation of morality within, and we’ll get to see what aspects of that morality Fisk’s relationship with his wife, Vanessa (played by Zurer), brings out. NYCC attendees got to see the scene of Fisk and Vanessa’s first meeting. It takes place in an art gallery and gives a truly revealing look into Fisk’s personality.

Cox contrasted the creative process of a streaming show like Daredevil to more traditional series, like his work on Boardwalk Empire. Cox identified one of the biggest benefits of being on Netflix to be that there won’t be a week between each episode, so the narrative doesn’t need to remind viewers of everything that has happened — they probably just saw it. Cliffhangers become pointless because viewers can just skip to the next episode. Directors and writers can spend more time on developing a real story without having to worry about recapping anything.

“It’s going to feel like a 13-hour movie,” Cox said of Daredevil.

Three more clips from Daredevil were shown during Saturday’s panel. We saw Karen Page (Woll), known as Dardevil’s long-running love interest in the comics, attacked in her darkened apartment and Daredevil, in a black suit, coming to her aid. The hero’s fight against the assailant escalates, and Daredevil ends up on the street in the rain. There, Murdock flashes back to a conversation with his father, who he tells his son to “get to work.” Daredevil rejoins the fight and takes down the attacker.

Another clip introduced Dawson as Claire Temple, whom Loeb described as a “nurse, who works at night,” strongly hinting at the character of Night Nurse. Temple has discovered a bruised and battered Murdock on the street and brings him to her apartment to help him. Murdock is concerned that she has removed his mask and has now seen his face.

In the third clip, Page thanks Murdock and his best friend and law partner, Foggy Nelson (Harden), for winning her case by supplying them with dinner. She then volunteers to help them around the office and clean for free — which prompts a moment of levity when Murdock asks if their office is messy.

Just from these clips, it is clear that Daredevil has a darker and more serious tone than Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. However, that doesn’t mean it’s taking place separate from the rest of the MCU. When asked at NYCC about its relationship to the other Marvel properties, Loeb stoked the fires of fans everywhere with a smile and Marvel’s latest catchphrase:

“It’s all connected.”

Backstage at NYCC with Sleepy Hollow cast, producers

On Sunday afternoon at New York Comic Con, Sleepy Hollow executive producer Len Wiseman, show runner Mark Goffman, writer Raven Metzner, and cast members Orlando Jones, Lyndie Greenwood, and series newcomer Sakina Jaffrey discussed the second season of the hit Fox series.

While remaining cagey about details for plans in the second season, they did drop a few hints about what is to come, such as the fact that Ichabod Crane will soon discover karaoke as well as yoga. When asked about favorite Ichabod-vs.-21st-century moments, Jones cited the karaoke scene as one of his favorites.

During the panel, the audience was treated to the first half of tonight’s episode, which features the Sleepy Hollow version of the Pied Piper. Like everything in Sleepy Hollow, he’s much more malevolent than the legend would have one believe.

The panelists were a little more forthcoming with information during press interviews prior to the panel. They stayed away from specific details, but did give us some hints of what to expect in season 2.

Metzner revealed that we will be seeing other sides of Jenny Mills this season. As he described it, we’ll get to see more of her “emotional and beautiful and lighter side” in the fifth episode, which airs October 20. He also revealed that there would be a lot of interesting things happening with Jenny’s character in the second half of the season.

According to Metzner, one of the added benefits of having 18 episodes this season is the ability to delve a little more into the story lines of each individual character.

“We are really able to stretch out a little but more and give all our characters little chances to have larger stories,” Metzner said.

The writers have also introduced a new character this season, in the form of relic hunter Nick Hawley. Greenwood’s initial response to Hawley’s effect on the dynamic of the team was that, “He’s really hot.

“He’s like this Indiana Jones type, and I love the interaction with him and Crane, I just love him,” Greenwood added. “You know, he shakes things up a bit.”

Metzner went on to further state that Hawley’s position as an artifact hunter will help generate more stories for the show, and he promised we will learn more about Hawley and Jenny’s past relationship. However, as for Jenny’s relationship with Captain Frank Irving and the chemistry there, Wiseman only responded with a simple, “Who knows?”

One of the big questions was about the future of Jones’ character, Irving. Now that he knows his “lawyer” was really the Horseman of War, will he understand the full ramifications of the contract he signed?

According to Jones and Wiseman, Irving will start to discover that with tonight’s episode, and it will have a big impact on Irving, “because there’s part of … signing that contract that does work in his favor, as dark as that is; there is something that will be offered that’s quite hard to turn down, as most deals with the devil are. … It is something that his character’s going to have to struggle with because the temptation is not an easy one to turn his back on.”

Jones has a lot of respect for the Irving character and perhaps is hopeful that he will make the right choice — if there is a right one to make.

“I think what [the writers] have clearly built is a character unlike any police captain I’ve ever seen, whose really going through an emotional journey in both family and redemption, but he’s — he’s broken, and part of it, I think, is his past haunting him in the sense that my daughter’s handicapped, and I feel responsible for that, and everything I’ve done to try to get ahead of that 8-ball has just not gone my way,” Jones said. “But I love the fact, no matter how it goes, he just keeps trying. I love his commitment to try to be a better man while it all falls apart. That’s part of what I love about the character.”

The cast and producers of Sleepy Hollow chatted Sunday with Curiata.com in the New York Comic Con press room.

Another popular topic was that of the new sheriff in town, Leena Reyes, played by Jaffrey.

When asked about his thoughts on the new sheriff, Jones joked, “She don’t know what’s going on! I’m trying to tell this fool, there’s something happening in Sleepy Hollow that she doesn’t understand.”

In a more serious tone, Jones added, “But she’s me from last season. She doesn’t know. And she has a very specific connection to the sisters in that she knew their mom, and she knew them as kids. … She’s in a more interesting position than Irving was, in some ways, because she has that personal connection with Abbie.”

Jaffrey defended her character’s decisions so far.

“All I can tell is that she believes in her mission and I think she … she’s good, as far as I’m concerned, she’s good and she’s right,” Jaffrey said. “She’s not there to play, she’s not giving anybody an inch.”

Goffman added, “I really like crafting strong characters with a distinct and strong point of view, and Sheriff Reyes, I think, has that.”

Jaffrey had never seen an episode of Sleepy Hollow prior to joining the cast, and, in fact, hadn’t really watched much of the genre.

“When I was younger, I think it wasn’t the type of show that I thought I could relate to in any way,” Jaffrey said.

But now, Jaffrey is thrilled to be a part of this show and feels “blessed” to have finally discovered this world. In fact, Jaffrey feels that there really isn’t much difference between Sleepy Hollow and her previous series, House of Cards.

“You could call Frank Underwood a monster,” Jaffrey said.

Jaffrey also pointed out that there’s chaos in Washington and there’s chaos in Sleepy Hollow; neither of them is that different from the other.

Wiseman wasn’t too forthcoming about what other historical characters we might be seeing in upcoming episodes, though he and Jones did confirm we would see Irving’s family again. Goffman also confirmed we will see the mother of Jenny and Abbie Mills.

“We do a lot with Abbie this season, learning about her history as she really is trying to understand her role as a witness and how that’s impacted her family and her ancestry, because what we learn is that there is a much bigger picture that becomes clear by the end of this season, and we will have full episodes where we really get to meet her mother,” Goffman said.

When asked about the Kindred — the creature Abbie and Ichabod raised to fight the Horseman in the second episode this season — Goffman suggested we might be seeing him again.

“Yeah, I hope so,” Goffman said. “I think he’s got some grand plans. It’ll be fun to see how he plays out in the rest of the season. Don’t forget about him.”

The Sleepy Hollow cast and producers posed for photos.

Walking Dead, Constantine turn Saturday dark

I got to New York Comic Con at 8 a.m. Saturday and spent nearly three hours waiting in lines. It was worth it because I managed to procure wristbands for both main stage panels I was hoping to get into this afternoon: “AMC’s The Walking Dead” and “Marvel’s Daredevil, Exclusively on Netflix.”

I finally left the queue hall around 11 a.m. and decided that, since the first panel I would be attending did not begin until 3:30 p.m. and I had a couple of hours to kill before I needed to worry about getting in line, I would just wander the show floor to experience what a Saturday at NYCC is like compared to the first two days. I had heard stories, but I wanted to see for myself.

Saturday at NYCC is kind of crazy. While I thought the Javits Center was pretty full the first two days I was here, that was nothing compared to what it now looked like. Nearly every inch of space in the building was filled with people, comic characters, cartoon characters — fans in every costume you can think of and then some. One of my favorites was a girl in a Rocket Raccoon costume who had made her own dancing, potted Groot.

During my wanderings, I also passed the booth where Sean Maguire of Once Upon a Time was autographing and was able to catch a glimpse of Robin Hood himself. I was hoping for the same when I approached the area where Manu Bennett of Arrow and The Hobbit movies was doing photo ops, but he had not arrived yet.

I came down to the line for The Walking Dead panel two hours early, not because I was concerned about getting a good seat, but more because I was ready for a break and wanted to rest. While I was waiting, I was able to watch the Star Trek: The Next Generation panel on the large screens set up outside the room.

The Walking Dead panel was terrific. That cast just works so well together, and it’s apparent how much they love their characters and care about each other. Melissa McBride was brought to tears talking about Carol’s journey because she is so invested in her character.

Following The Walking Dead panel was Marvel’s Daredevil preview. Marvel has put together a great cast, and the footage they debuted here looks great. I can’t wait to see the show when it premieres.

After Daredevil, I went over to the Constantine screening, mostly so I could see the cast Q&A since I had already seen the episode. I enjoyed the episode even more the second time around — I think they’re on the right track with the tone for the show, even though it surprises me a little what NBC is allowing them to do. Some of the upcoming plans for the show sound interesting, and they will be following some of the story lines from the comics.

The last item on my schedule for Saturday was the screening of the new episode of Doctor Who. I always jump at any chance I can get to watch an episode of the show in a room full of Whovians. It’s always better to be surrounded by fans who understand all the jokes — especially in moments when the Doctor offers someone a jelly baby or asks the mummy that is about to attack him, “Are you my Mummy?”

And that was my Saturday at New York Comic Con. I may not have had any celebrity run-ins today, but it was still a really good day. This weekend has been a great experience all around so far, and I can’t believe it’s nearly over already!

NYCC Friday: Coulson lives, Librarians preview new show

I arrived at the Javits Center for the second day of New York Comic Con an hour before the show floor opened Friday morning and there were already crazy long lines of people. I immediately got in line to get my wristband for the afternoon’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. panel, right next to a girl dress as Melinda May with her own Asgardian staff.

The wait in line was a long one — over an hour — and I know I’ll have to get here even earlier Saturday if I want to have a chance of getting into the Walking Dead panel (though I’m not getting my hopes up).

With my wristband for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. secured, I headed over to the line for the panel for TNT’s upcoming 10-episode run of The Librarians, a continuation of the made-for-television movie series. I love the Librarian movies to begin with, but I’m also a big Leverage fan, so knowing there would be a lot of that crew involved — plus star Christian Kane — I’ve been very excited about this show.

The panel was great. It became apparent early on that the cast is also excited about this project. They all seem to really enjoy their characters and each other and are ready for people to finally see what they’ve been working on. And if the clips we saw at NYCC are any indication, it’s going to be good.

Later in the day, it was time to cash in my wristband to attend the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. panel. The session was monitored by men in black suits with night-vision goggles, so there was no way to take pictures. The majority of the session was on video anyway, so there wasn’t much to photograph. Clark Gregg, the man behind S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Agent Phil Coulson, made an appearance after Marvel’s head of television, Jeph Loeb, revealed the Hydra T-shirt he was wearing. Gregg was greeted with an enthusiastic standing ovation. He told of how he requested to come to NYCC because it was here two years ago that he learned Agent Coulson was indeed alive despite the events in The Avengers movie.

Gregg and Loeb introduced next week’s episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which includes an undercover operation with Coulson and Agent May. Gregg and Loeb followed that up with an extra surprise for the audience: a clip from the upcoming Agent Carter, which just began filming last week. The clip featured Hayley Atwell as Carter, Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark, and James D’Arcy as Stark’s butler, Edwin Jarvis. The clip was short, but it was enough to whet our appetites for the series, which premieres in January.

Much of today was spent waiting in line, but I surprisingly didn’t mind a minute of it. Everything I’ve had the opportunity to see and do has been entirely worth it.

Look for a more detailed review of The Librarians and Marvel panels next week, and stay tuned for my recap of Saturday, coming soon!

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