The final episode of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier may have left more questions than answers in a variety of ways, but the show’s first season has already sparked a significant development: a fourth Captain America movie from the people behind its six-episode Disney+ spinoff.

The Hollywood Reporter wrote on Friday that the folks behind the Disney+ show — including showrunner and head writer Malcolm Spellman — will helm Captain America 4, with a more colorful title inevitably to come but some significant ties to the story told about Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson.

The head writer and show creator behind Disney+ and Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is developing a fourth installment of the Captain America film franchise for Marvel Studios. Spellman will co-write the script with Dalan Musson, a staff writer on Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

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The feature is likely to continue the story of Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, and the current wielder of the shield. But as the writers get to work, it will interesting to see how the story unfolds with there now being multiple people who have been Captain Americas in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The big question here is what will happen to a potential second season of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, or perhaps (spoilers) Captain America And The Winter Soldier as the show was rebranded in the final episode. That included the arrival of a new costume for Wilson, the hand-picked Captain America getting a shadowy rebrand to US Agent and the big reveal of who the Power Broker is, which looked like it was to set up a big bad for a potential second season of the show. Whether that comes at all now seems up in the air, as the setup may have all been for a Phase 4 movie rather than a TV series.

But what’s clear is that will all be connected, and we should anticipate seeing a lot of Anthony Mackie with a vibranium shield on his back in future years.

The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Cordae, Moneybagg Yo, and more.

Friday saw the releases of Rich The Kid’s “Richard Millie Patek,” an acoustic remix of Vic Mensa and Chance The Rapper’s “Shelter,” a new Young Dolph song (“Plenty Cake” with Rick Ross), and Earl Sweatshirt reuniting with Alchemist for “Nobles,” along with the releases listed below.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending April 23, 2021.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Cordae — Just Until…

Knowing that his fans have been (im-)patiently waiting for a follow-up to his acclaimed 2019 debut The Lost Boy, Cordae put together this collection of four new songs, which includes cameos from Q-Tip and Young Thug.

DijahSB — Head Above The Waters

Canadian rising star DijahSB offers up a smooth, soulful eight-song compilation of vulnerable and witty observations on life, love, and surviving “these trying times.”

Huey Briss — Grace Park Legend

Thank Vince Staples for bringing this under-the-radar release from fellow Long Beach native Huey Briss to my attention. For my money, Briss dropped the best release of the week, with cold-eyed, documentary-style tracks that ooze authenticity with every detail-packed bar.

Lil Yachty — Michigan Boy Boat

The Atlanta pop culture connoisseur has been teasing his ambassadorial mission to the wilds of Michigan for some time and the end result does not disappoint. Here’s where you can encounter the next generation of Wolverine State stars.

Lord Apex — Smoke Sessions 3

Across the pond, Lord Apex has been building a buzz with a biting array of witticisms. On this project, he makes one of his first forays to our shores to tap collaborators like Smoke DZA and Wiki.

Moneybagg Yo– A Gangsta’s Pain

The Memphis veteran maintains the momentum he built in 2020 with Time Served and Code Red with Blac Youngsta, expanding his palette at the same time with features from atypical work partners like Jhene Aiko and Kaash Paige, as well as Chicago’s Lil Durk and Polo G.

Snoop Dogg — From Tha Streets 2 Tha Suites

It’s Snoop. I shouldn’t have to sell you on this (just in case, though: Devin The Dude, Larry June, and Mozzy all pop up here, and the 36-minute runtime is a light lift).

Topaz Jones — Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Mama

Hands down one of hip-hop’s most creative and underrated independent artists, the New Jersey-based Topaz returns after nearly five years with a concise, yet expansive statement, accompanied by a magnificent short film.

WacoTron — Smoking Texas

808 Mafia-affiliated and dedicated to the art of rhyming as much as he is to making undeniable bangers, Texas native WacoTron wears his allegiance to his hometown on his sleeve — it’s right there in his name!

Singles/Videos

Curtis Roach — “Stressed Out”

Relatable. The Detroit native reels off the struggles that keep his nerves frayed and 90 percent of us will feel extremely seen upon pressing play.

Fivio Foreign — “Unruly”

Despite getting arrested this week for carrying a defaced firearm, Fivio struts with every ounce of the swagger we’ve come to expect on a surprisingly jaunty fusion of jazz and drill.

Funkmaster Flex — “You Know” Feat. CJ

Funk Flex previously recruited the recently released Rowdy Rebel for a new song, and now, he gives CJ yet another opportunity to puff his chest out — and lend Flex a little more credence with younger listeners.

Lil Gotit — “Burnt N Turnt” Feat. Nav

Lil Keed’s little brother links up with Nav for an eerie clip attached to a hypnotic but mellow trap banger.

Lil Zay Osama — “We’ll Be Straight” Feat. G Herbo

Coming from his debut project Trench Baby, “We’ll Be Straight” showcases Lil Zay’s wounded scene-setting and coolly melodic flow.

Pap Chanel — “Pap World”

Dropping the follow-up to her Future-featuring Pretty And Paid EP, Pap Chanel finds an innovative presentation that sets her apart from her peers.

Rhys Langston — “Hos On My D*Ck ‘Cuz I Look Like A Drawing Of The Prophet Muhammad”

That’s a wild title, right? Los Angeles transplant is preparing to release his Stalin Bollywood experiment in May, leading off with the abstract ruminations of this psychedelic rock-rap mashup.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Kevin Spacey has tried very hard to keep his acting career afloat amid some very serious allegations of sexual misconduct, but one performance he’s tried to keep quiet apparently includes a “song and dance” during a deposition for one of his legal battles.

A long piece by the Hollywood Reporter detailed the legal troubles Spacey is currently dealing with, including allegations of groping people on the set of House of Cards and other instances that have mounted to a “critical mass” of allegations against him from three different parties.

The piece is detailed and framed with the question about whether Spacey will ever act again even if he can somehow not be found guilty of the crimes alleged. But according to the piece, Spacey has acted just as strangely as the process has played out. That includes a literal performance during a deposition that’s been under wraps because much of the investigations in question have been delayed by the pandemic.

After more than a year of contentious private negotiations, the Spacey case was submitted to an arbitrator in February 2020, right before the coronavirus lockdown began, with protective orders in place so that there would be no reporting on the still raging battle. But like everything in the new bizarre world of Spacey, this legal proceeding turned surreal quickly. At one point during his deposition, Spacey sprung up from his seat and performed a song-and-dance number in the conference room.

Spacey has acted bizarrely in the public eye in the wake of these allegations, so perhaps it should be no surprise that he’s erratic behind the scenes as well. The full piece has some truly head-scratching details, including the unfortunate fates of several people involved in the cases Spacey is currently fighting. But dancing and singing during legal depositions, in this inexpert opinion, are probably not helping his case any.

[via Hollywood Reporter]

Mortal Kombat (Warner Bros. film on HBO Max) — We’ve got another blockbuster-type movie in our living rooms this weekend, and this incarnation promises to be R-rated to the max with plenty of carnage in tune with the video game. Among other qualifications to that point, James Wan produced, so that makes sense! In all seriousness, this is a more serious treatment than the 1990s film, and we’ll get to see Sub-Zero hunting down MMA fighter Cole Young, and someone will end up being the loser of the “finish him” concept. HBO Max released the first seven minutes of the film ahead of time, if you’d like to get a taste of the bloodshed coming to your TV screen.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Disney+ series) — It’s finale time. Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes are still doing their buddy action-comedy thing, but things accelerated quickly (to put it mildly) when John Walker turned Captain America into a villain and got booted from the gig. This led to an honest-to-God surprise cameo, but there’s still plenty of loose ends to clean up. Who’s the Power Broker? Can the show decide if the Flag Smashers are baddies, or nah? Let’s all root for an action-packed finale with clarification on the Sharon Carter/Batroc issue and then send Bucky to Aruba, alright?

The 93rd Academy Awards: (Sunday, ABC 8:00 p.m.) — Over two months past the Oscars’ usual scheduled date, they’re still gonna do this thing. Hopefully, it’ll feel like a real event, and although Mank leads the nominations, Nomadland might sweep the biggest gongs. Steven Soderberg is out there promising that the night will feel like a trip to the movies, so we’ll see how the celebration goes? To prepare for the evening, check out Josh Kurp’s ranking of Best Picture winners (of all time), and come back on Sunday evening for our coverage of the biggest moments.

A Black Lady Sketch Show: Season 2 Premiere (Friday, HBO 11:00 p.m.) — The fast-paced, quick-witted narrative series returns with loads of celebrity guests, but of course, the sketches all happen by the grace of the core cast, including Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, and Gabrielle Dennis. Issa Rae’s executive producing, and once again, things will get experimental with sprinkles of magical realism, but most of all, settle in for the laughs.

Fear the Walking Dead (Sunday, AMC 9:00 p.m.) — Last week, the show brilliantly subverted Negan’s storyline, and this week, Virginia may be gone, but an even greater threat lurks in the wings while Morgan is gathering survivors and making a call for unity.

The Nevers (Sunday, HBO 9:00 p.m.) — This Joss Whedon-created show (with a steampunk elephant in the corner) sees Penance inventing a hope-spreading device as Mary searches for her voice, and the walls are closing in around Amalia’s group.

City On A Hill (Sunday, Showtime 9:00 p.m.) — Decourcy’s pissing people off as usual and at odds with Siobhan, and U.S. Attorney Shimizu is trying to get rid of her no-good gent, and Jackie’s scheming on a new mission.

Mare Of Easttown (Sunday, HBO 10:00 p.m.) — Kate Winslet returns not only to TV but to HBO as a hard-vaping detective in a small town where she both portrays and elevates the “complicated” cop trope. This week, Mare visits a murder scene and must inform the victim’s father, and then she questions suspects while meeting her new partner, played by Evan Peters.

Gangs Of London (Sunday, AMC 10:15 p.m.) — Fans of the beloved Peaky Blinders should pay attention because this new series makes Peaky seem like a pleasant walk in London’s Hyde Park. These warring gangs will prove to be entertaining for anyone who loves The Sopranos or any of Marty Scorsese’s mob pictures.

Couples Therapy (Sunday, Showtime 10:00 & 10:30 p.m.) — Season 2 of this series begins, and I’d encourage you to get caught up on the first round, too, because this series is pretty darn addictive. This new batch of episodes sees Dr. Orna Guralnik guiding a new trio of couples through all of their conflict and resentments and otherwise unhealthy behavior, all with the hope of keeping them together.

Here are some more fresh streaming picks:

Bigger (BET+ series) — Season 2 brings back the fan-favorite Will Packer comedy about thirty-somethings living in Atlanta, while they attempt to maneuver their way through, well, life. That would include professional, personal and other such obstacles, all while searching for love and dealing with uncomfortable truths on occasion. The whole season’s dropping at once, only on BET+

Shadow and Bone (Netflix series) — Need a little fantasy to shut down reality for a while? You’re in luck. Based upon Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling Grishaverse novels, this show follows dark forces that move against an orphan mapmaker (Alina Starkov), whose power might be the key to transforming a war-torn world. Alina must conquer the Shadow Fold threat and train as an elite magical soldier (a Grisha) while learning that nothing is it seems, and she must also maneuver around a crew of charismatic criminals to determine who is an ally, who is an enemy, and who is both.

Rutherford Falls (Peacock series) — The newest Michael Schur sitcom is doing the streaming thing, and this show is flat-out putting its location in the title, in lockstep with the co-creator’s fixation with location. Can Rutherford Falls match up with Scranton and Pawnee, in the long run? That remains to be seen, but Ed Helms stars as Nathan Rutherford, who is (obviously, due to the last name) inextricably tied to the town’s history, and Nathan’s not taking too kindly to a movement to eject a historical statue. This looks about as refreshingly and delightfully offbeat as one would expect from The Good Place creator because everything he touches is magic.

Invincible (Amazon Prime series) — This animated romp drops a new episode and pleases both fans of The Boys and The Walking Dead, and the latter reference has everything to do with the source material by Robert Kirkman. Invincible is an ultraviolent deconstruction of the superhero, and yes, we’ve seen plenty of dismantling already, but this story has heart. Stephen Yeun makes a fantastic leading man here, and the cast (J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Walton Goggins, Jason Mantzoukas, Zazie Beetz, Zachary Quinto, Mark Hamill, and several TWD names) is ridiculously good.

Stowaway (Netflix film) — For All Mankind arguably sets the bar too high for every other space travel-focused streaming offering out there, but listen up because the cast is the real treat. Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, Shamier Anderson, and Toni Collette are a dream team when it comes to delivering the drama. As you may have guessed from the title, there’s an (inadvertent) stowaway aboard a three-person mission to Mars, and that’s going to affect the oxygen supply in a crucial way. It’s not the most original space crisis you’ll ever see, but with a cast like this, the freak-out performances (and the solving of the dilemma within mere hours) are guaranteed to be worth the click.

When you hear the words “national park” what comes to mind? Towering trees, awe-inspiring mountain ranges, amazing biodiversity, and wildlife? The places where you go to hike, summit mountains, camp, and pull over every time the shoulder widens to ooh and ahh?

I think of all of those things too, of course. And I do all of them as a national parks-focused traveler. But the thing I really love to do, which might be a little more unexpected on a National Park vacation, is to swim. In lakes and near beaches and in rivers and swimming holes. There is something so quintessentially summer about donning a bathing suit and jumping into a lake, even if the water is still cold enough to make you scream. It just feels right.

Through my travels, I’ve been lucky enough to swim in some of the most beautiful national parks in the United States. And I’m making plans to jump into some new swimming holes this summer. Here are my eight favorites for you to plan your own escape.

Grand Tetons — Jackson Lake — WYOMING

I can’t write a National Parks list without including Grand Teton National Park in some way. It has it all: dramatic vistas and mountain ranges, incredible hiking and mountaineering. But what I love the most is the water. There are lakes for every activity: kayak, SUP, and even a marina filled with motor and sailboats. I always make a stop at the swim beach (well, “rocks on the shore” beach) on Jackson Lake to spend an afternoon relaxing. Surprisingly it is never that crowded, and always more beautiful than I remembered.

Jackson is a big lake with big views. Pro-tip: camp at Colter Bay and you can walk right to the beach. Otherwise, there’s parking right nearby, and a grocery store (with liquor store) to grab some food and have a picnic on the shore.

Other great places to swim: String Lake and Jackson Lake at Signal Mountain

Make a camping reservation for Grand Teton National Park here.

Great Smoky Mountains — Greenbrier Swimming Hole — NORTH CAROLINA / TENNESSEE

Did you know that of the 63 major US National Parks, last year one park had nearly four times the amount of visitors as the second most visited? It’s true. Despite the parks being more popular than ever, there is still one park with visitation that always tops the list: Great Smoky Mountains. In 2020 over 12 million people ventured to the lush southern landscape, with Yellowstone coming in second at just 3.8 million.

I have only visited the park once in late winter — so no swimming for me. But when asking around researching for my next trip, one spot comes up much more than others: the Greenbrier swimming hole. Located near Gatlinburg (one of the gateway cities to the Smokies), it’s easily accessible from route 321. The swimming hole is on the Little Pigeon River, and deep enough for a relaxing swim day.

Make a camping reservation for Great Smoky Mountains National Park here.

Olympic — Lake Crescent — WASHINGTON STATE

The Olympic Peninsula is by far one of the most beautiful and diverse places I have ever visited. Olympic National Park boasts mountain ranges, rainforests, hot springs, waterfalls, beaches, and lakes — truly an outdoors person’s paradise. Not to mention it’s just a short drive from Seattle.

I visited during the rainy springtime and could only sit on the lakeshores imagining what my day might be like in another season. Swimming surrounded by rolling mountains and lush forests whose colors look too emerald green to be real. When I make my way back on a sunny summer day the first lake I’m jumping in is Lake Crescent.

Make a camping reservation for Olympic National Park here.

North Cascades — Diablo Lake — WASHINGTON STATE

Look at any list of “Underrated National Parks” and North Cascades is probably at the top. Despite its paradoxical “famously underrated” status, it still isn’t well visited, despite not being very difficult to get to and looking like this.

North Cascades is known for its high mountain peaks and the clear blue water of Diablo Lake. What many people don’t seem to know is that you can actually swim here, too. Colonial Creek Campground is a great place to get in and see the shockingly blue water for yourself.

Make a camping reservation for North Cascades National Park here.

Glacier — Lake McDonald — MONTANA

Visiting Glacier National Park is a bucket list experience, to be sure. There are so many iconic images of the park, but one that is most often shared also happens to be the best spot to swim: Lake McDonald. With its multicolored pebbles that are just begging to be Instagrammed, to the clear water and beautiful mountains all around you. I hate the cliche, but… Lake McDonald is almost too beautiful to believe.

I spent a whole day walking the shore, dipping in the lake, and drinking a beer at the Lake McDonald Lodge wondering how on earth this was real life. I recommend you do the same.

Make a camping reservation for Glacier National Park here and a reservation to drive Going-to-the-Sun road here.

Great Sand Dunes — Medano Creek — COLORADO

Great Sand Dunes National Park might feel like a surprising addition to this list. As a park that’s known for being home to the tallest sand dune in North America, water isn’t the first (or even second or third) thing that comes to mind when you ponder planning a trip. But while there’s not exactly a swimming hole, the park does boast one of the most fun places to get into the water in a National Park.

Medano Creek is a seasonally flowing creek that runs between the parking area and the sand dunes. As the snow starts to melt in the Sangre de Cristo mountains in late April, the water starts to flow. By late May to early June, you can experience the “surge flow” of the creek, with waves up to 20 inches deep! It’s a great place to play in the water or even just to float.

Make a camping reservation for Great Sand Dunes here.

Yosemite — Merced River — CALIFORNIA

Yosemite is nothing if not iconic. The granite surroundings and waterfalls take your breath away. It’s known for hiking and backpacking primarily, but what I really love to do is relax near the water. The Merced River runs through the valley and is the perfect place to get away from some of the hustle of the park and refresh yourself after a hike.

Make a day-use reservation for Yosemite National Park here.

New River Gorge — Glade Creek Trail — WEST VIRGINIA

New River Gorge is the United States’ newest park designated as a “National Park” — number 63! I haven’t visited (yet) but I have painstakingly researched all there is to do in this West Virginia landmark. I’m excited to hike on the Glade Creek Trail and find some swimming holes and waterfalls while enjoying a part of the country that isn’t often thought about when considering a National Park vacation.

Make a camping reservation for New River Gorge National Park here.

Click to download here.

The Straw That Broke The Dog’s Neck.

If you met a stranger at the video store this morning and became friends because they could help you score drugs, throw on this episode of Pod Yourself A Gun for the two-hour drive to their dealer’s house. Guest Rachel Fisher from the Hollywood Crime Scene podcast joins Matt and Vince to talk about season four, episode ten of The Sopranos, “The Strong, Silent Type.” Also known as the one with Chrissy’s intervention.

Based on what Rachel and Matt have to say about their experiences with the banal reality of late-stage drug addiction, listening to this episode will be nothing like getting hooked on heroin. It’s fun and sexy and has a parody of “Under the Bridge” for the Bada B-stories. It’s not just addiction talk, though. They also cover America’s bizarre obsession with The Osbournes, the humiliation of getting beat with a xylophone, and how Furio and Svetlana represent the immigration myths Tony wishes he embodied.

If you think Matt should start a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band, tell us in a five-star review on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe to Pod Yourself A Gun on Apple Podcasts.

Email us at [email protected]; leave us a voicemail at 415-275-0030.

Support the Pod: become a patron at patreon.com/Frotcast and get more bonus content than you could ever want, AND if you sign up for the Pod Yourself a Shoutout tier, you can bask in the glory of hearing your name on the podcast, like this week’s newest subscribers The Wolf, Billy Goat, The Zit, Selleck, and Big Fat Josh

-Description by @brentflyberg

Spoilers for The Falcon And The Winter Soldier will be found below.

When it comes to Marvel theories, Kevin Smith‘s last attempt didn’t come to fruition during the events of WandaVision (Although, there’s a chance his Fantastic Four theory could still be right.), but the jorts-wearing comic book lover is sitting pretty after accurately guessing the identity of The Power Broker in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier finale. Granted, Emily VanCamp’s Sharon Carter was looking like the prime suspect to be the puppet-master dealing super-soldier serum behind the scenes, although her past with Captain America and family history made it hard to accept that she could actually be the show’s secret villain. But it turns out Agent 13 really did break bad, and Smith called it earlier in the week on his Fatman Beyond podcast thanks to the iPhone theory. Via Comic Book:

“Listen, I thought this was interesting, FMA Presents on Chatter said, ‘Kevin, do you know about the Sharon Carter phone theory?’ You know, they showed Sharon Carter this week and she was hiring Batroc and the intimation was that she had hired him the first time so you’re like what the f*ck, but this is interesting,” Smith said. “Villains cannot use iPhones. Heroes can use them, but she does not. Are Apple products not allowed to be filmed in the hands of bad guys? I think that’s true.”

So what is the iPhone theory? Back in February 2020, Knives Out director Rian Johnson revealed a dirty little secret about Apple products. “I don’t know if I should say this or not,” Johnson told Vanity Fair. “Not because it’s lascivious or something, but because it’s gonna screw me on the next mystery movie that I write. But forget it, I’ll say it, it’s very interesting. Apple, they let you use iPhones in movies — but, and this is very pivotal, if you’re ever watching a mystery movie, bad guys cannot have iPhones on camera.”

Considering Johnson made this revelation over a year ago, you would think Apple would’ve reversed its position because talk about a huge giveaway when trying to build a mystery, but judging by what just went down with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the practice seems to be alive and well.

(Via Comic Book)

The crowd went berserk last Saturday as Gracie Laney, a senior at Logan High School in Utah, neared the finish line in the final leg of her 4X200 meter relay. But most of the shouting wasn’t for her. It was for the furry four-legged track-and-field star coming up behind her.

Holly had escaped her owner’s grasp and ran out onto the track. The dog was so incredibly fast that it beat Laney to the finish line from at least 30 meters behind.

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Laney had a strong lead and couldn’t believe that anyone would catch her. “At first, I thought it was another runner and I was surprised because we had a pretty good lead,” she told KSL. “As it got closer, I thought, ‘That’s too small to be a person,’ and then I noticed it was a dog.”

Laney almost ran over the dog when they crossed the finish line.

“When the dog crossed in my lane, I was afraid that I was going to trip over it, and then I was worried that I was going to spike it with my spikes,” she recalled. “It all happened so fast.”

Insider noted that the dog was so fast on the track it threatened to beat Usain Bolt’s all-time record in the 100m he set at the 2009 IAAF World Championships. Bolt ran the 100m in 9.58 seconds, Holly was a tad slower at 10.5.

Dog breaks loose to wins relay race in US high school track event

www.youtube.com

Unfortunately, the judges didn’t name Holly the winner of the race. That honor went to Laney and her team from Logan High who won with a time of 1 minute 59.27 seconds.

Friday was apparently a day to express your frustration with Disney online, for one reason or another. Whether you’re upset that the Disney theme park experience is becoming too “woke” or you don’t like Marvel superheroes getting in the way of your enjoyment of a basketball game, there was truly something for everyone to get slightly miffed about online.

Animatronic sex slave auctions aside, what got hoops fans riled up was an announcement made by ESPN that it would show a Warriors-Pelicans game next month with a supplemental broadcast that involved some Marvel tie-ins during the interactive broadcast. Nothing will change with the regular broadcast, but one airing on ESPN2, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes will be a “groundbreaking collaboration” called Marvel Arena Of Heroes.

The pitch is, well, a bit odd and synergistic, but if it strikes you as weird there’s a whole other broadcast to watch on May 3 at 7:30 PM. Via Marvel:

The latest development in Marvel and ESPN’s long history of sports content collaboration, the telecast will integrate elements from an original Marvel story and iconic characters including Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Black Widow, and Doctor Strange into an original story throughout the live game, including 3D virtual characters, custom graphics and animation packages.

After a narrow victory over an invading alien army, the Avengers receive an ominous threat from the enemy who vows to return in greater numbers and force. The Black Panther and Iron Man quickly realize they will need more help and form a plan to expand their ranks to fight this impending threat. Recognizing the superior physical abilities, agility, and tenacity of Earth’s greatest athletes, the Avengers will hold a series of contests where the winners earn the right to train and fight alongside them as Marvel’s Champions! The Avengers will begin their recruitment with the NBA elite and observe the battle between the Warriors and the Pelicans, focusing on three star players from each team.

It’s a bit much, sure, but as anyone who may have attended a minor league baseball team’s Star Wars night can tell you, it’s not awful storytelling. Basically the broadcast will turn the game into a mini-game of sorts that doubles as a big boss battle. Players will have their actual plays and stats turned into points, and whoever gets the most fake points in the real basketball game gets a prize. Those players are, as follows: Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins for Golden State, and Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram for New Orleans.

It’s sort of like the Nickelodeon broadcast that the NFL did earlier this year, which was actually a hilariously delightful experience where Nate Burleson shined. It’s fair to be a bit more cynical about this given all the Disney and Marvel tie-ins here, but it seems ultimately harmless. But not to a considerable amount of NBA fans who were generally outraged that the league would attempt something this silly.

It is, admittedly, a lot. But it’s not exactly a shock to see Disney try to leverage all of its properties and see people get mad about it in the process. Gamifying a game to fight comic book crime is a lot more cynical than having exploding slime cannons in the end zone of a football game broadcast on a children’s cartoon network, but the solution for detractors of that broadcast is the same as the answer here: just watch the main feed and ignore the memes online.

(Via Marvel)

Lagavulin is one of the most iconic Islay single malts on store shelves. For many, the peaty whisky is the entry point to the wider world of smoke, Port Ellen, and Islay. And there’s a good reason for that. The smokiness of Lagavulin is subtle, sweet, earthy, and very much tied to the inky black sea around the famed Scottish isle where it’s made. The layers of smoke transport you.

Luckily, it’s not straight into the ashes of a peat-burning stove, like true smoke bombs. Instead, it’s sort of like being transported to a beach campfire under a blanket of stars with piles of spent oyster shells littering the sand around you. The smoke is there but other flavor notes predominate.

Today, we’re ranking the core U.S. bottles of Lagavulin (we’ll cover limited editions another time). The 5 bottles listed here are all on the higher side of the price scale when it comes to whisky (think $60 to $120), but we’d argue that each of these bottles is worth the investment in both time and price.

A quick note before we start. We’re not ranking Lagavulin 25 and Lagavulin 37. While we adore both of those expressions, the prices are in the thousands of dollars. They’re also very rare releases with dwindling stocks (further driving up prices). Still, the 25-year-old is an extremely silky example of the briny and smoky brand, which we do absolutely reccomend. If you have the means, you can buy it here for $1,260. Lagavulin 37 is the true gem of the line. The expression is bottled at cask strength after mellowing in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry for nearly four decades. You can snag a bottle for $3,000, assuming you have that much in change between your couch cushions.

Let’s get to it! If you’re into trying the more subtly peaty side of Islay whisky, click the prices to grab a bottle for your home bar.

5. Lagavulin Game of Thrones House Lannister Aged 9 Years

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $80

The Whisky:

This is an interesting expression. The juice is classic Lagavulin that’s been aged for nine years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry and built to celebrate the House Of Lannister amongst the wider Diageo Game of Thrones line of whiskies.

Tasting Notes:

The whisky draws you in with a thin line of briny smoke that leads towards a slight honey sweetness and a touch of Band-Aid plastic. The palate sweetens significantly towards salted caramel, more honey, touches of bourbon vanilla, and a hint of over-ripe banana peels. The end isn’t too long and leaves you with a balance of that Band-Aid plastic, banana peel, and vanilla smokiness.

Bottom Line:

This is fine but doesn’t really wow. And if you’re spending nearly $100 for a single bottle of whisky, it’d better wow. Again, this is an interesting edition of Lagavulin, but it would never be the first expression I’d reach for or start a newbie with.

4. Lagavulin Aged 8 Years

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $65

The Whisky:

This expression was originally released to celebrate the distillery’s 200th anniversary. The whisky was created to mimic the juice that was being bottled back in the 1880s, during a high point in Lagavulin’s history. The whisky became a modern hit and is now part of their core line.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a sense of fried fish wrapped in newspaper that greets you on the nose next to honey-lemon, dry and earthy malts, and a nod to chocolate-covered cherries. The taste brings a solid billow of campfire smoke with traces of dark chocolate, burning cinnamon sticks, dry mint, and burnt potato skins (yes, really). The end is long-ish and marries the tastes together, leaving you with the memory of drinking a dark mint-chocolate spiked espresso next to a smoldering backyard fire on a cold autumn night while somewhere in the distance the sea laps at the shore.

Bottom Line:

It’s wild how much more complex this is than the GoT expression while being a year younger. This really is a great gateway peated single malt, one that’ll draw you into the style without suffocating you with smoke.

3. Lagavulin Offerman Edition Aged 11 Years

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $116

The Whisky:

Everyone probably knows that Nick Offerman is a huge Lagavulin fan. He’s been appearing in ads for the brand for a while now. He also had the honor of making his own barrel selection for his signature expression. In this case, it’s an eleven-year-old whisky that bears Offerman’s own visage on the bottle.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is subtle in all the ways that make Lagavulin so enticing, with hints of backyard smoked meats, hard cherry wood, and hints of vanilla. The palate layers in honey-mustard sweetness, paprika spice, and a slight fatty-bacon note, underpinning the smoke. The finish isn’t too long but lingers as the spice, sweetness, a touch of new Band-Aid glue, and wisps of fatty backyard BBQ smoke slowly roll through your senses.

Bottom Line:

This is not a stunt whisky. It’s a well-rounded and delicious addition to the Lagavulin family from a true believer in the brand. It’s also the perfect backyard BBQ pairing whisky for summer.

2. Lagavulin Aged 16 Years

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $104

The Whisky:

This is the most recognizable Lagavulin out there. The malts are smoked just down the road from the distillery at Port Ellen and the juice is crafted expertly by the sea at Lagavulin. Then the whisky spends 16 long years mellowing in old American and Spanish oak.

Tasting Notes:

Imagine a beach fire that’s using dried seaweed as fuel next to mugs of honeyed black tea and a clump of wet moss on the nose. The taste of this dram meanders through dried pipe tobacco smoke laced with hints of vanilla and tart apple while notes of briny caramel lead towards an oyster shell minerality. The finish is pure silk as the seaweed grows wetter and the smoke sweetens towards that caramel, vanilla, and apple.

Bottom Line:

This might as well be tied for first place. It’s delicious and perfect in a Smoky Cokey. Grab a rocks glass. Fill it with ice. Pour in two ounces of Lagavulin 16 and then top it with Coca-Cola (preferably the good stuff from Mexico or Europe that doesn’t use corn syrup).

It’s one of the best whisky and cola applications there is and will have you hooked for life.

1. Lagavulin Distiller’s Edition

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $118

The Whisky:

Last year’s Distiller’s Edition was another prime example of the heights Lagavulin can reach. The juice was aged for 16 years in the core Lagavulin barrels (ex-bourbon and ex-sherry) and then finished for around six months in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks that were very specifically made and held specific sherry before the whisky was loaded into the barrels. The result is a 16-year-old Lagavulin that’ll help you fall in love with the brand and style.

Tasting Notes:

This feels like all the subtle notes across the Lagavulin range have come together in the best way. You’re drawn in with hints of honeyed smoke, salted caramel apples, mild hints of vanilla, and smoldering coffee grounds. The taste ties the honey to a soft oakiness next to vanilla-chocolate coffee, seaside salted taffy, and a touch of fish oil. The end is very long and pure velvet on the tongue as the sweet oak fades towards a sweet smokiness, with a hint of salty roasted almonds and burnt vanilla husks.

Bottom Line:

That six months of finishing in a Pedro Ximénez sherry casks really takes the 16-year Lagavulin to a new dimension of almost baffling smoothness.

This is such an incredibly easy dram to sip, you’ll forget about adding water or ice entirely. I’m here to remind you to add at least a few drops. A little water or a single rock will really open this up, creating a truly special tasting experience from beginning to end.

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