Sherry cask finishing in the Scotch whisky game is nothing new. Doing it right on the other hand … that’s a whole other beast. There’s no getting around that blenders will put whisky that’s not quite there yet or slightly imperfect into a finishing cask to cover up those imperfections or out of a need to speed things up. That makes it easy to get duped by any sort of cask finish. But there are plenty of folks out there in whisk(e)y land who are doing it right. They aren’t cutting corners, they’re taking their time, and they’re adding something truly special to their whisk(e)y to legitimately elevate it.
Enter The Dalmore’s brand-new Cask Curation Series — Part 1. The first release in this new series shows how deeply important cask finishing can be when done right. In this case, that finishing was with sherry casks from the iconic Tio Pepe González Byass winemakers in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
The team at The Dalmore put their heads together with the González Byass crew to find the perfect barrels of sherry (at all ages) to help finish very old The Dalmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This was less about the finish and more about marrying flavors from very specific sherries to very specific whisky. Trial and error was the name of the game as two teams of absolute masters found the perfect balance of wood, whisky, and sherry to create a trio of one-of-a-kind sherry-finished Scotch whisky.
That one-of-a-kind whisky led to 150 sets of three new bottles at 26, 28, and 43 years old. Since there are only 150 trio sets, this is a very rare and elite whisky product with a crazy high price tag — hell, you have to ask to be considered to pay your hard-earned cash for a set, it’s that elite. Naturally, I don’t know if it’s worth it for you because I don’t know who you are. If you’re looking for a truly unique whisky experience with elite-class whisky partnered with iconic sherry wood, then this is going to be a must-have. There are few whiskies that do a sherry finish better than these three bottles. So with that, let’s get into what’s actually in the set.
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months
This new release is the youngest of three elite whiskies that The Dalmore is dropping. This very limited edition bottle is hewn from The Dalmore’s iconic malt that spent years aging in ex-bourbon casks. The whisky was batched and then re-barreled into a González Byass 2002 Vintage Sherry Cask (Cask #4) for years more of aging until just right. The final product was bottled 100% as-is to highlight the beauty of that finishing barrel on classic The Dalmore.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose draws you in with a bright sense of caramelized oranges, fresh floral honey, and ripe off-the-vine apricots with a deep sense of rich vanilla pods, dry cacao, and fresh almonds with a hint of cherry syrup.
Palate: Raisin-heavy spiced cakes are cut with bright orange zest on the palate as cherry syrup leads to almond cookies cut with vanilla oils and a sense of sultanas baking in the hot sun.
Finish: There’s a buttery sense of a fresh croissant on the finish next to creamy espresso for sipping, ginger rock candy, and lush vanilla cake cut with more orange oil, almond, and poppy seed.
Bottom Line:
This is funky and fresh and presents more on the sherry side of things than a classic The Dalmore. If you’re looking for that classic plummy port-finished darkness that the brand is known for, go elsewhere. All of that said, this is so light, airy, and bright, it feels like a wholly new whisky from The Dalmore. Make sure to add a little water to let the citrus and bourbon vanilla get extra creamy and really luxuriant on the senses.
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series The Sherry Edition Aged 28 Years Finished in Very Rare Gonzalez Byass 30-year-old Matusalem Sherry Cask
This whisky starts off with The Dalmore’s ex-bourbon-cask-aged single malt. That whisky was then transferred into a 30-year-old Matusalem Oloroso Sherry, which is a dark, sweet, and spicy sherry with plummy depths. After a long rest, the whisky was bottled at cask strength to let all those dark sherry notes shine in the whisky.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Black-tea-soaked dates, old leathery prunes, and rum-soaked raisins drive the nose toward black licorice ropes, dark and creamy honey with a hint of summer flowers, and a bright burst of star fruit with a deep sense of bourbon vanilla beneath it all.
Palate: Mincemeat pies and sticky toffee pudding (cut with orange zest and salted toffee) drive the lush palate toward bold marmalade, brandy-soaked pears cut with marzipan, and more of that black licorice with a hint of absinth candy.
Finish: Black cherries soaked in brandy and dipped in salted dark chocolate arrive late on the finish with a sense of sasparilla bark, dark molasses, and more of that mince meat pie vibe next to candied orange tobacco and whispers of cedar.
Bottom Line:
Holy shit, this is good whisky. It has that deep and dark The Dalmore vibe while going even deeper on a holiday spiced sherry vibe that just keeps delivering dark and delicious flavor notes on the nose, palate, and finish.
If this list was ranked (it’s not because this is only sold as a set), this would be number one by a country mile.
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series The Sherry Edition Aged 43 Years Finished in Very Rare Gonzalez 30-year-old Apostoles Sherry Cask
This long-aged version takes whisky that spends decades resting in ex-bourbon and batches it. That whisky is then refilled into a 30-year-old Apostoles sherry cask, which is a very sweet, spicy, and plummy sherry with deep woody depths. Once just right, the whisky was bottled at cask strength 100% as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Summer honeycombs piled with bright and fresh oranges greet you on the nose with a sense of fire-roasted chestnuts, fresh raisins, sultanas, meaty dates, and a deep sense of bourbon vanilla with a touch of almond oil.
Palate: The vanilla gets vibrant and rich on the front of the palate as sweet orange binds with dark chocolate just flaked with salt next to huckleberry, black currant, and grapefruit pith with a flutter of oaky tobacco.
Finish: Apricot jam over a sweet and soft scone with a buttery edge drives the finish toward more juicy orange cut with sharp cinnamon, chocolate, and sea salt next to grilled pineapple studded with cloves and nutmeg.
Bottom Line:
This is a stellar whisky that really leans back into the brighter notes of the 26-year-old. It’s almost airy and bright even though it’s over four decades old. Overall, this is the pour you pour when you want something 100% unique and bright.
Dark rum is a great fall sipper to have on hand thanks to the mix of dark fruit, sweet caramel, and warming spicy notes usually found in their flavor profiles. Dark rums also make for some killer cocktails this time of year too. It’s a good time to start thinking about stocking some well-aged rum on your home bar cart, is what I’m getting at.
To help you find the tastiest dark rums to grab this time of year, I’m conducting a double-blind taste test. What does that mean exactly? With the help of my very patient wife, I was able to taste 15 pours of dark rum without any idea what brand or even style each dark rum was. I gave my wife two directives when picking the lineup though: One, don’t grab more than two bottles from the same brand, and two, don’t grab any flavored or spiced rum. All of my dark rum samples are in the same boxes and bins, so it wasn’t too taxing of an ask.
Once the dark rums were poured, I dove in and started tasting and ranking based on the flavor and depth of what was in the glass in my hand. To be very clear, I’m not here to discuss the veracity of these spirits. I know rum has a lot of additives and coloring; I also know that people lose their shit over those details and insist on purity. That’s not what this list is about. This is about dark rum bottles that are on shelves and how they taste. This double-blind tasting is looking for well-made distillates that taste good. It’s as simple as that. We can talk about additives and coloring in the rum game another time.
Sound good? Let’s dive in and find some tasty rums to sip and mix with this fall!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
Nose: The nose draws you in with a mix of dried ancho chili, real maple syrup, hints of bitter chocolate, caramel candy, and a good layer of creamy vanilla with a note of woody winter spices.
Palate: The palate opens with a creamy dark chocolate-covered espresso bean vibe next to more of that creamy vanilla cut with cinnamon and clove that builds towards Christmas spice cakes covered in that same dark chocolate.
Finish: The end then veers into bright and lush fruits — star fruit, tangerine skins, and peach juice — with a nice sense of tiramisu creating a creamy finish.
Initial Thoughts:
Well, this is a nice place to start. This is good but very light. All those flavors are just there, making this feel like a cocktail base more than anything.
Taste 2
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a leathery mix of oak, eggnog, honey, and toasted coconut with a dash of tangerine and almost floral coffee.
Palate: The spice marries the woodiness on the palate as peanut brittle, marzipan, and grilled pineapple leads to hints of black pepper and some tobacco.
Finish: That tobacco and pepper are complemented by leathery fruits, melon skins, and creamy spice with a vanilla base on the finish.
Initial Thoughts:
This is perfectly nice too. It’s very woody and nutty but it works with the peppery spice.
Taste 3
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a sense of dried fruits next to woody spice and some vanilla but it’s very basic.
Palate: The palate is light but carries a sense of toffee cut with vanilla and cinnamon next to a whisper of peach and chocolate.
Finish: Honey molasses and more dark dried fruits (mostly raisin) drive the finish toward a very light and short end.
Initial Thoughts:
This tasted cheap and light but did have a profile that said, “Yup, that’s dark rum alright…”.
Taste 4
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a mild sense of old oak and leather next to dark winter spices, dark berries, and a whisper of potpourri.
Palate: The palate has a rich blackstrap molasses sweetness and bitterness that leads to woody winter spices, red berries with a candied edge, and a hint of that dried floral vibe.
Finish: The end gets a little light but it’s more minerality than watery proofing as wet pipe tobacco and sweet vanilla candies dominate.
Initial Thoughts:
This was light too but had a much deeper and clearer flavor profile. It still felt like something you build with or sip slow.
Taste 5
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is very grassy — almost wet straw — with a sense of leathery wood, old cinnamon sticks, and dried red berries.
Palate: Vanilla, dark fruits, oak tannins, and chocolate caramel chews drive the palate as touches of dried red berries and maybe a little black tea mingle on the mid-palate.
Finish: The end leans back into the wet straw and caramel as the vanilla marries to those dried berries with a spicy foundation.
Initial Thoughts:
This was fine but that wet straw vibe was a little off-kilter.
Taste 6
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this one is deep with notes of old oak staves next to a spiced holiday cake full of candied fruits, raisins, dark spices, and buttery vanilla with a hint of espresso bitterness and maybe a whisper of gooseberry.
Palate: The palate leans into the wintry cake spice with a focus on nutmeg and clove creating a lush eggnog feel next to candied ginger, woody huckleberry, pine resin, and Almond Joy.
Finish: The end has a flourish of marzipan and fresh mint next to pineapple tobacco and more of those dark holiday cake spices all wrapped up with soft cedar bark and dry sweetgrass.
Initial Thoughts:
This has a ton going on and it all makes sense with a nice balance. It was a little dry and woody but I imagine over a rock that wouldn’t be an issue.
Taste 7
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich caramel cut with clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg leads to chili-laced dark hot chocolate on the nose with notes of vanilla and orange.
Palate: The vanilla gets creamy on the palate as the caramel carries more dark winter spice, loads of dark chocolate, and rum-soaked raisins next to roasted almonds with a hint of suede.
Finish: Old oak and dry cinnamon sticks round out the finish with creamy vanilla and plenty of chocolate and a mild note of grassy cedar bark.
Initial Thoughts:
This is creamy and sweet with a classic dark rummy vibe emboldened by a lot of chocolate.
Taste 8
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Banana bread with walnuts and plenty of brown powdery baking spice drives the nose toward light tropical fruit, oak, and caramel before a clear note of sweet black tea arrives.
Palate: That pineapple gets woody on the palate as more brown spice melds with sweet rock candy, old leather tobacco pouches, and plenty of vanilla.
Finish: The end takes on a banana foster vibe next to plenty of nutmeg and cinnamon, a hint of orange, and malty vanilla cream that ultimately leads back to a very clear sense of sweet black tea.
Initial Thoughts:
This was complex and very easy drinking, thanks to that sweet tea feel.
Taste 9
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich and spicy caramel leads to mulled wine, old cedar tobacco boxes, dates soaked in brandy, and deep dark chocolate that’s just kissed with sea salt and espresso oils with creamy vanilla lurking beneath it all.
Palate: Rum raisin, eggnog, and cinnamon bark drive the palate toward toasted oak with a sweet edge, dark espresso cream kissed with more dark chocolate, and five-spice that gives way to a hint of water chestnut.
Finish: The five-spice leads to sweet soy (almost like teriyaki sauce without the garlic) before rich caramel sweetness leads back to dark dried fruits and almost tart dark chocolate.
Initial Thoughts:
This is wildly complex and it works. The umami, dark fruit, and buttery sweetness just play so well together on the palate. This is next-level rum.
Taste 10
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich cinnamon cookies dipped in nutmeg-heavy eggnog leads on the nose with stewed pears, overripe bananas, and toasted almonds next to an almost floral sense of pineapple.
Palate: Cellared oak and dark molasses open the palate toward lush vanilla, more cinnamon and nutmeg, and a bright sense of freshly cut pineapple full of fresh juice cut with those brown spices and soaked in rum, creating a pineapple holiday cake vibe.
Finish: A hint of peppery fatty smoked pork arrives late and perfectly accents the pineapple as notes of dark cherry jam, old spice barks, and dry orange zest mingle with old oak staves.
Initial Thoughts:
This is excellent, even if it is very pineapple-forward. It just works and runs so deep and it’s fascinatingly delicious.
Taste 11
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose runs deep with pine-y honey, fresh ginger, rum raisin, and old leather tobacco pouches with a hint of winter spice barks and dried orange, lemon, and lime leaves.
Palate: Overripe bananas and brandy-soaked figs mingle with deep dried and candied orange on the palate as dark chocolate attaches to winter spice, rich molasses cakes, and a sense of funky oak cellars.
Finish: The figs get jammy on the end as the spices sharpen and the chocolate takes on vanilla and gets creamy with a very Christmas spiced cake vibe running deep on the finish.
Initial Thoughts:
This is just good. It’s funky, nostalgic, and deep.
Taste 12
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Leathery fruit and toasted coconut lead to orange flowers, peach pits, and banana fosters on the nose with a hint of Almond Joy.
Palate: Honey and Nutella arrive on the palate next to gingerbread dipped in milk chocolate, light dry tobacco, and a hint of dill.
Finish: Pear and black licorice drive the finish toward more caramel sweetness and a dash of lemon pepper straight out of the 1990s.
Initial Thoughts:
This was fine. The profile was dialed but it was a little light all things considered.
Taste 13
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Sweet dried leathery fruits open the nose toward rich vanilla, caramelized tropical fruits, nuttiness, and a good dose of winter spice mixes.
Palate: Those spices and vanilla mix on the palate to create a winter cake vibe dipped in dark chocolate with grilled tropical fruits cut with honey and chili spice.
Finish: And hint of old leather and oak arrive on the finish with a sense of banana leaves, pineapple skins, and more winter spice.
Initial Thoughts:
This either needed some water or time to open it up a bit. It was very tight in the glass and I feel like there was more here if I had the time to really dive into it.
Taste 14
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This is very light and fresh on the nose with hints of vanilla, coffee beans, and plumminess.
Palate: Almond Joy and vegetable broth drive the palate toward old oak and a hint of apricot jam over light tobacco.
Finish: A hint of bourbon vanilla arrives late with a sense of wood spices, old tropical fruits (overripe), and soft chocolate.
Initial Thoughts:
This was very much a shrug. It’s fine. It’s also very flat.
Taste 15
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a sense of roasting herbs on the nose with an almost fresh moment of sugar cane juice (right off the press) next to dark winter spices brightened with fresh ginger, mango juice, and pineapple cores.
Palate: The pineapple gets juicy on the palate before melding with rich dark molasses, darker chocolate, and a sense of creamy vanilla layered with rich and sharp winter spices.
Finish: Those spices, chocolate, molasses, and tropical fruit bind on the finish to create a rich and vibrant Christmas cake on the end that’s spicy, fruity, and softly decadent.
Initial Thoughts:
This is a really tasty rum that delivers a hardcore winter nostalgia vibe.
Part 2 — The Smooth Dark Rum Ranking
Zach Johnston
15. Brugal 1888 Doblemente Añejado Gran Reserva Rum — Taste 3
Brugal 1888 is produced in the Dominican Republic. The rum is aged in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks which they call “double-aging.” Those barrels are batched, the rum is proofed, and it’s bottled.
Bottom Line:
This tasted fairly cheap. That doesn’t mean “bad.” It just means that it’s made for mixing. Use it accordingly.
14. Papa’s Pilar 24 Solera Profile Dark Rum Spanish Sherry Cask Finish — Taste 14
This Florida rum is sourced from nine different rums from around the Caribbean and Central America. Those barrels are sent up to Florida where they’re batched and then re-barreled into Spanish sherry casks for a final maturation before batching, proofing, and bottling.
It’s worth noting that this is an official project of the Hemingway family. They’ve gone the Joan Woodward and Paul Newman route with this business and donate 100% of the profits from Papa’s Pilar to various charities.
Bottom Line:
This is perfectly fine rum. I’d use it for mixing cocktails.
13. Proof And Wood 2/3 Pot Still Rum Distilled in Jamaica 3 Barrel Blend — Taste 5
This rum is bottled in the U.S.A. from only three barrels of Jamaican rum. The rum first spent two years in ex-bourbon barrels in Jamaica before traveling to Kentucky where they were re-barreled into ex-rye whiskey barrels for another three years of rest — hence the 2/3 on the label. The three barrels were batched, just kissed with water, and bottled without any extra sugar, color, or flavor added.
Bottom Line:
This is another one that was fine. It was a little funky on the nose but ultimately finished strong. That slight imbalance is the only reason this is lower on this panel’s ranking.
12. Flor De Caña V Generaciones 30 Years Old — Taste 13
This rum is a true cane-to-glass experience from the slopes of the San Cristobal volcano in Nicaragua. This particular expression is a single barrel aged up to 30 years in the shadow of that volcano and is proofed with mineral water bubbling up from the volcanic soil underneath.
It’s also worth noting that this brand is made at a distillery that’s certified as 100% sustainable, carbon neutral, and fair trade.
Bottom Line:
This was very tight. It simply needs a lot of time, air, and water to get into the depth of this pour. I went back to this and after about 30 minutes and a few drops of water, it really bloomed in the glass. But that was no longer part of the tasting panel. Take that for what it’s worth.
11. Plantation Rum Barbados 2013 Limited Edition 9 Years Old — Taste 12
This limited edition from Plantation Rum is a sourced set of Barbadian rum. The rum (from West Indies Rum Distillery) is molasses-based, column and pot distilled and spent eight years aging in bourbon casks by the sea in Barbados. Then those barrels were sent to France where the rum was re-barreled into Maison Ferrand cognac casks for another year of rest before bottling at cask strength with no additives or coloring.
Bottom Line:
This is where we get into the good stuff. This was a nice sipper overall but felt like it’d really shine as a cocktail base for a rum old-fashioned or the like.
10. Angostura Caribbean Rum Aged Seven Years — Taste 1
While Trinidad and Tobago’s Angostura is probably best known for its iconic bitters, don’t sleep on their deep bench of rums. Their seven-year-old expression is a really solid entry. The juice is aged for at least seven years in ex-bourbon casks before it’s blended, filtered, proofed, and bottled with no sugar or spice additives.
Bottom Line:
This is a good standard dark rum to have on hand. It’ll make a mean cocktail and work as a sipper over rocks in a pinch.
9. Plantation Rum Venezuela 2010 Limited Edition 12 Years Old– Taste 2
This limited edition vintage rum from Plantation is sourced from Destileria Sofa’s cellars in Venezuela. The rum is molasses-based, column distilled, and aged in ex-bourbon for eight years. Then the barrels were sent to Javrezac, France for an additional four years of aging in Ferrand cognac French oak casks. Finally, those barrels were batched, just kissed with proofing water, and bottled without any additives.
Bottom Line:
This is a good all-around sipper with a deep profile. It was a little woody, but that can be solved easily with a big ol’ rock in the glass.
This Nicaraguan rum is made on the slopes of the San Cristóbal Volcano. The molasses is made from estate-grown sugar cane from that volcanic soil. The rums are then aged in ex-bourbon barrels for varying amounts of time before blending. It’s important to note that “18” is the average age of the barrels involved and not the age of the expression.
Bottom Line:
This was a pretty good sipper with a very approachable profile. This is the sort of pour that you sip with ice when you want a dark rum that delivers. I can also see this working really well in cocktails as a replacement for bourbon.
7. Mount Gay Barbados Rum Andean Oak Casks — Taste 6
Master Blender Trudiann Branker is creating some amazing Barbadian blends with Mount Gay’s Master Blender Collection. The fourth release takes Mount Gay rum that spent 14 years mellowing in former bourbon barrels just a stone’s throw from a beach and finishes that rum in South American oak from the Andies. After 11 months in those barrels, the rum is proofed and bottled as-is.
Bottom Line:
This is a very complex rum that takes you on a journey. I’d recommend taking the time to let this bloom in the glass with some time and water and enjoying the ride slowly.
6. Brugal Colección “Visionaria” Edición 01 Finished in Toasted Virgin European Oak Casks — Taste 7
This classic Brugal rum is made with their iconic Dominican rum that’s finished in special barrels using the “Aromatic Cask Toasting Technique”. That means that the rum was finished in special barrels that were toasted with Dominican cacao beans as the fuel for the fire. Those beans imparted chocolate aromatics into the wood to play with the rum that was eventually filled into them.
Bottom Line:
This was a chocolate bomb, sure. But it worked. The chocolate was part of the overall profile and not a dominating force. If you’re looking for a deftly layered chocolate-forward dark rum, this is going to be your jam.
5. Chairman’s Reserve Finest Saint Lucia Rum “Legacy” — Taste 8
This Saint Lucia rum is about the blend. The rum is made from barrels of both molasses-based rum and sugarcane juice-based rum (similar to rhum agricole). The rums were distilled on both pot and column stills before aging ex-bourbon barrels on their own. Finally, those barrels were batched, the rum was proofed, and then bottled.
Bottom Line:
This had a really attractive profile. It was so easygoing while offering a deep sense of well-made dark rum. Try it over a rock or in your favorite rummy cocktail.
4. Diplomatico Distillery Collection No. 3 Pot Still Rum — Taste 15
This limited edition rum from Venezuela is all about the pot still juice. The blend is a mix of 100% pot still rums that spent eight years resting in ex-bourbon barrels. The final blend was built to highlight flavor notes that the pot still imbues into the spirit.
Bottom Line:
This was just really easy drinking while offering a truly deep flavor profile. It wasn’t a “wow” sip but it was a very nice one.
This Indian rum is made from locally grown sugarcane at Picadilly Distillery in Indri, India. Once distilled, the rum spends 12 long years in ex-bourbon casks where it loses 94.4% of its volume to the angel’s share. Finally, the casks are batched, just kissed with local water, and bottled.
Bottom Line:
This was a big surprise. It was unique but still offered a deeply layered dark rum tasting experience. I can see this working wonders over ice, allowing the deeper notes to shine.
This one-off rum from The Appleton Estate’s legendary Joy Spence is a recreation of the equally legendary J. Wray & Nephew 17-Year-Old from the 1940s — which is the rum that helped launch the entire tiki craze back then. The rum in the bottle is a blend of four very rare single-estate rums that mimics that iconic 1940s release exactly.
Bottom Line:
Even though this is made for making the perfect Mai Tai, it’s delicious on its own. It’s very pineapple-forward, but it’s fresh and real pineapple (a hard trick to pull off). And if you’re looking to make the best Mai Tai ever, this is the bottle to do it with.
1. Diplomatico Ambassador Selection Cask Strength Finished in Pedro Ximénez Barrels — Taste 9
This Venezuelan rum is made from a blend of 100% pot still rums. Those rums spent 12 years in ex-bourbon casks before being batched. Then that rum was re-barreled into Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for a finishing run before batching, proofing, and bottling without any added sweeteners, caramel coloring, or other additives.
Bottom Line:
This was the deepest and tastiest rum on the panel today. It just kept going, was delicious neat, and beckoned me back for more.
Part 3 — Final Thoughts on the Smooth Dark Rums
Zach Johnston
There’s a lot going on with this list of dark rums. There are so many different flavor profiles, textures, and vibes that you really can’t go wrong finding the one that speaks to you the most.
That being said, the top four or five are the most stellar examples on this panel. Again, each one offers something a little different. So go back and re-read the tasting notes and find something that speaks to you. Or grab yourself a bottle of that Diplomatico Ambassador and be done with it. It’ll be a delightfully deep, spicy, and fun dark rum sipping experience.
Even with Drake’s newest album just hours away from release (theoretically), it looks like his fans can’t help but speculate about what else he’s got up his sleeve. While For All The Dogs is scheduled to drop this Friday, October 6 (less than twelve hours away as of this writing), there’s already a rumor going around that the third installment of his EP series Scary Hours is already on the way. As with many Drake rumors, it started with a cryptic post of his on social media — in this case, an Instagram Story reading, “Scary Hours for those who remain sleepless after all these years… shall we begin?”
Considering that Drake had to make a choice between finishing his tour and finishing For All The Dogs (choosing the album and pushing back its release date in the process), it seems unlikely that Drake has been simultaneously working on a second project. After all, such a release would probably only take attention from his new album — something that would be pretty counterproductive after the months he’s spent seeding excitement for it.
However, given the timing of the post, it was more likely a last-second promo for his new single “8AM In Charlotte.” Considering his propensity for the late-night recording sessions that often spawn his so-called “timestamp songs,” he was probably hyping fans up its release. Of course, given Twitter users’ fondness for deciphering clues (even ones that aren’t there) and taking practically everything literally, it seems that the figurative “scary hours” — i.e., Drake’s favored time for wrapping up projects with these freestyles — were mistaken for a reference to the Scary Hours EPs. He had certainly been teasing one back in June 2022.
Either way, it’s looking spooky out there for Drake haters as he preps the launch of his eighth studio album, just weeks before Halloween.
Earlier today (October 5), Netflix unveiled a new four-part documentary series about David Beckham, appropriately titled Beckham. Given that he’s been married to Victoria Beckham for over two decades now, she gets some screen time, too. In one particularly charged moment, David pushes back on a claim from Victoria (who, keep in mind, is also known in Spice Girls as “Posh Spice“) that she had a “working class” childhood.
In a clip shared on social media by Netflix today, Victoria tells an off-camera interviewer, “We’re very working… working class.” Then, from off-camera, David interjects, “Be honest.” Victoria insists she is as David repeats, “Be honest.” He continues, “What car did you dad drive you to school in?” Victoria starts, “So, my dad did…,” but David interrupts, “No, one answer: What car was it?” Victoria says, “It’s not a simple answer because…,” then David again interrupts, “What car did you get your dad to drive you to school in?”
Victoria responds, “It depends,” which got a “No no no no no…” out of David. Victoria then conceded, “OK: In the ’80s, my dad had a Rolls-Royce.” David says “thank you” and leaves the room, after which Victoria takes a frustrated pause.
At a time when it seems like things need to be either epic or edgy to pop, MAX’s pirate comedy Our Flag Means Death made its mark on the strength of its quirky goodness, its ability to (as showrunner David Jenkins puts it) make its audience feel seen, and a resistance to condescension in service of comedy and servicing its main relationship.
While resultant buzz and hard numbers surely helped the show secure its second season (which debuts tonight on MAX with 2 episodes), it’s easy to assume that the passionate fanbase played an outsized role in MAX’s decision-making. Check Reddit, Tumblr, and other social sites for fan posts and you’ll discover a powerful love fest comprised of fan art, fan fiction, and excitement for the places the show might go with the love-struck lead characters at its heart: Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) and Blackbeard aka Ed (Taika Waititi). Who would want to let down such a vocal group?
Eager to get a sense of the impact of that explosion of love and support from fans and where things are going with Stede and Ed as we head into the new season, Uproxx spoke with Jenkins about last season’s finale, the meaning of happy endings, comparing the show to The Sopranos, and whether we’re going to get Muppets on the show.
Do you feel an enhanced level of responsibility because people are feeling seen by the show and have an affection for the show? Going into creating this second season, you’re obviously exposed to that, you know that that’s there, is there a danger of overcompensating and over-delivering for fans when you’re creating the second season? How do you defend against that?
I try not to think about it too much because I think the strength of the show is that it’s not super back patty. And I think once you get to the point where you’re like, “We’re doing a great job, we’re really doing an amazing thing,” then it’s going to suck. I do think that if you staff the room well and you create a good sociological imagination for the room of a bunch of people who have a bunch of different backgrounds and a bunch of different perspectives and you listen to them and then you try to keep the fan art out of it, keep the things people are asking for and clamoring for… As much as you can, I try to keep that out of the writer’s room and out of the creative. It’s fun to enjoy when you’re going through your thread, but it can’t come into the room. If you’re logically following what the characters are doing, it keeps you from getting high on your own supply hopefully.
Why did we need that break with Ed and Stede at the end of last season? Why couldn’t we continue the momentum of the coupling into season two?
I think because they’re both clumsy and they don’t know enough yet and they’re both emotionally very immature and there’s no way that they’re going to be healthy enough to sustain a relationship knowing what they know. And I think seeing Stede learn that he doesn’t even know what love is until his ex-wife tells him about it at the end of the first season. And Ed’s never let himself be vulnerable before and he gets really burned. Stede never knows what he’s done, he always underestimates his own power and how he can damage something just by doing things impulsively. And then Ed, what does a really damaged guy look like after he’s had his heart broken? I think to skip over those storylines I think gives us a lot less fuel to see them rebuild each other and just try to find a more mature way to be in a relationship.
Is there hope for these characters or are these fatal flaws? And by hope I don’t mean is everything going to be perfect for the rest of the run of the show? Is there hope for something more than just this cyclical thing where they break up, they get back together, they break up, they get back together, the Sid and Nancy of the sea. Is there hope for them to grow?
Sid and Nancy of the sea, that’s a good pitch. (Laughs) I think that, to me, the fun of it is there’s the ending of the thing, they lived happily ever after. Which apparently all cultures have different ways of doing that. Other cultures, instead of saying they lived happily ever after, they say, and the story goes on and on and on. And our insistence that it’s happily isn’t like what our relationships are. Our relationships are constant work and constant, is it going to capsize? Is it not? Oh, it’s really good right now, but what happens when it shifts? And so I like the idea that I want to see these two guys learn what a more mature idea of love is and then see them struggle to maintain it, which seems to be the story of all of our romantic relationships and a lot of our friendships.
Yes, it’s constant work, but there’s also constant reward, it’s micro treasures that you uncover along the way. And so seeing them do that, when I talked to Rhys, there was a notion expressed that it’s nice to see characters just hang out and be together. Can we anticipate seeing that at some point in the future with these characters where they can get over some of this and over the hurt?
I think so, and I think we get there in this season, but I think what, to me, mature love is being comfortable with a thing called midlife, which is just life without volatility. Sometimes being comfortable, just being okay is the hardest thing. It is their struggle to be, can we just be together and fine? Is an interesting struggle. But I think that has to be a struggle for it to be interesting and I think that there have to be moments where things are good. Tony and Carmela on The Sopranos, very troubled marriage. There are moments where things are all right.
I hope Stede and Ed aren’t modeled after Tony and Carmela.
That’s a different relationship.
Slightly different. Who’s who in that? Ed is Tony, maybe? No, maybe not.
Ed’s got strong Carmela energy.
That’s a good point. I think you’re actually right. I think Ed is Carmela and Stede is Tony.
I think that looking at Aunt Bonny (Minnie Driver) and Mary Read (Rachel House) as a George and Martha couple, where’s it’s like, that’s a very, very messed up, way more mature (relationship) than Stede and Blackbeard’s relationship because they’re dealing with marriage and committing to each other for a long time and they have a very poisonous view of it. But I think they’re looking at, who are couples that are successful? They’ve never seen a successful relationship. Ed’s parents are messed up, Stede screwed up his marriage. And to watch these two people who are damaged just learn how to be okay, that seems like a good journey to me. And I think you want to reward that with some times that are okay. That’s where it’s fun that they could die at any minute because they’re pirates, so other things can happen.
The ensemble was so strong in season one, it’s great in season two and you also have some guest stars this season. As a showrunner, do you ever get nervous that you’re going to lose the thread of the characters, that you’re not going to be able to service all of these characters with the same level of affection?
Always.
How do you balance that?
It’s tough. I think you can tell if a guest star is even (within) the script. You’re like, okay, this is a lot. And then you look at the page count. I think that was a thing with Will Arnett. We can get Will Arnett to play Calico Jack and it’s a fun, big character and it’s really easy to be, “Woo, Calico’s got a lot to do, let’s look at page count here. Let’s add a good sea story for Frenchie and Wee John, I haven’t seen them in a minute.” And I think with this show we’re blessed. We have so many muppets and everyone’s such a brilliant actor and any of these characters could have their own show. I think that the balance is always striking. Does everyone have enough to do? Does everyone have enough of a meal or even a bite in an episode and then with two fewer episodes, it’s definitely a constant struggle through this season.
You mentioned Muppets. Can you add literal Muppets?
You can always add Muppets. I would argue that Karl the Seagull is a Muppet in a way. We couldn’t use a seabird in New Zealand in season two, and so we had to figure out how to do it so all of Karl’s stuff was shot in Los Angeles. But maybe we should have made him a Muppet, that would’ve been a little easier.
As far as season three, do you have a plan in place or do you wait, take a breath, see how things are received?
Take a breath, see if this is something that Max wants to do again. They were really gracious in giving us season two and in helping us rightsize the show so that this is something that they would want to do post AT&T. Warner Discovery is being, I think, a lot more fiscally responsible. God bless AT&T and Jason Kilar for giving us the first season. But I think it’s a big show. I think for season three, if it makes sense for them and we have the fan response, we loved making it, they’re wonderful partners. I have a very strong notion of where I’d like to take that show for a third and final season. I’d love to go on this ride again. It’s a joy to make.
Without spoiling anything, does season two end in a way that if that was the last bit, that people aren’t going to light things on fire, that people will accept that as an ending? Is it satisfying or do you have to leave it open to try to push?
It was very important to me to land season two in a place where if this was it, this particular audience would feel like Ed and Stede had their due and it wasn’t just pain, but it was something that could be construed as a happy ending. And I think there’s a clear way forward for a season three, but I think if this were it, I think this could be a kind and non-upsetting and gratifying way to wrap the show up.
Over four years ago, the world first received news of the next Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg followup to HBO’s Band Of Brothers. A lot has gone down since then, but the pair did not forget about their audience. Not by a long shot, and Spielberg’s Amblin Television has officially joined forces with Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s Playtone for Masters Of The Air, which will be coming fairly soon to an Apple TV+ streaming device near you.
When? On January 26, 2024. That was easy.
This shall be the second such followup, more than 20 years after Band of Brothers on HBO in 2001. They later launched The Pacific in 2010, and the gang is now back together for a limited series starring post-Elvis Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan, along with Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, Nate Mann, Ncuti Gatwa, and more. Yes, this new project is obviously based upon a true story as related in Donald L. Miller’s book, Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany.
Apple TV+’s description further promises “a true story of brotherhood and American airmen in WWII Europe,” and back in 2019, Deadline summarized the project as “the story of the American bomber boys in WWII who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep.”
Kara Coley, a bartender at Sipps in Gulfport, Mississippi, got an unusual phone call on the job last week.
“Good evening,” Coley answered. “Thank you for calling Sipps!”
A woman on the other end of the line asked, “Is this a gay bar?”
Sipps welcomes everyone, Coley explained to her, but indeed attracts a mostly LGBTQ crowd.
“Can I ask you a question?” the caller followed up. “Are you gay?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Coley said.
Then things got interesting.
“What was the one thing you wanted from your parents when you came out?” the woman continued.
Coley, who’s tended bar for about 17 years, was a little caught off guard. In all her years of experience fielding requests and helping others working in the service industry, she’d never received a question like that.
“My son just came out to me,” the woman continued on the other end of the line. “And I don’t want to say anything that may mess him up in the head.”
Coley thought for a moment. Then she asked the woman if she accepted her son for who he is.
The woman answered “yes.”
“You should definitely let him know that you love and accept him!” Coley said. “I think everything will be OK from there!”
The woman thanked Coley for her input and they parted ways.
Later that night, in the early hours of Jan. 19, Coley decided to post the entire interaction to her Facebook page, noting how “random” it all had been.
In the days following, her post went viral, amassing over 1,500 likes and hundreds of shares.
So I got the most random phone call at the bar tonight! 😀Me:Good evening Thankyou for calling Sipps!Lady on phone: Is… Posted by Kara Coley on Friday, January 19, 2018
The post’s comment section soon filled with love and gratitude for Coley’s simple but endearing answer.
“My heart is truly touched by this,” one Facebook user wrote. “A parent wanting to support correctly, and a beautiful response. This is progress. This is love and acceptance in the rawest form.”
“Kara, this old granny lesbian is so grateful for you, and for a parent that thought outside the box to get advice!” another user chimed in. “Keep being you!”
“[The response] has been amazing,” Coley writes. She believes her post struck a chord with friends and strangers alike because people are looking for encouraging news: “Every day people wake up and there’s so much negativity in the world — people just need a breath of fresh air!”
For parents to an LGBTQ child, it’s still vital to understand the facts too, Coley noted: “Educate yourself [on LGBTQ issues] and do a little research.”
Ideally, parents should have access to better resources than their local gay bar when it comes to getting help with LGBTQ parenting. At the end of the day, though, the best thing you can do as a parent is make sure your kid understands you’re there through thick and thin.
“Just knowing you have someone in your corner takes a little weight off your shoulders,” Coley wrote.
Learn more about being a good ally as a parent of an LGBTQ child at PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). If you’re a young LGBTQ person who needs help, resources are available at The Trevor Project.
This article originally appeared on January 24, 2018
In every home, the laughter and dreams of children echo the loudest, filling spaces with joy and imagination. In this spirit, Max & Lily, a vibrant family-run company, was founded. For over two decades, this husband and wife team has been crafting kids’ furniture that is not only sturdy and safe but also brimming with fun and creativity. It’s not just a business; it’s a journey of crafting love and safety into every piece of furniture, making bedtime an adventurous story rather than a routine.
Imagine a household where the children are the creators, sketching dreams with their vibrant imaginations, and parents are the skilled craftsmen, bringing those vivid dreams to life with an artisan’s touch. This is the everyday reality at Max & Lily. With input from their children, this dynamic duo has brought forth furniture designs that are both incredibly fun and functional, crafting a loving balance where every piece of furniture celebrates the magical outcomes of dreaming and creating together as a family.
At the heart of Max & Lily lies a splendid mixture of craft and imagination, where intricate designs meet playful elements. Think of bunk beds with easy slides for a joyous morning descent or ones with built-in staircases that double as storage cubbies, adding an element of surprise and functionality. This delightful mix of whimsy and expert craftsmanship goes beyond your everyday furniture, blossoming into a wonderland where kids can embark on daily adventures and parents can bask in the warm glow of safety and quality that Max & Lily promises with each creation.
Featured Products
Beds by Max & Lily invite joy, comfort, and style into your child’s room. They transform an ordinary bedroom into a dreamland crafted by the perfect blend of imagination and craftsmanship, a venture where family values meet excellence. And here are just a few of the pieces the company has to offer.
Twin Over Twin-Size Low Bunk Bed
25% OFF
Kid’s Twin Over Twin-Size Low Bunk Bed
$449 at Max & Lily
Imagine walking into a room where a twin-over-twin low bunk bed sits, crafted with the most splendid knot-free, solid wood. A space saver and a safe haven for young kiddos, it nestles perfectly under low ceilings, giving it a cozy and welcoming aura. When it comes to styling, think soft rugs and twinkling fairy lights to make this the cozy nook every child dreams of.
Twin Over Twin-Size Low Bunk Bed With Staircase
21% OFF
Kid’s Twin Over Twin-Size Low Bunk Bed with Staircase
$699 at Max & Lily
Next up, we have this wonder with a built-in staircase, a design that brings the ease of climb combined with savvy storage solutions. This low bunk bed is not just a place to crash; it’s an adventure waiting to happen with steps leading up to sweet dreams. Those little cubbies? Perfect for your kiddos to arrange their favorite books and toys, encouraging them to keep their space neat and tidy, fostering a sense of responsibility and organization from a tender age.
Twin Over Twin-Size Low Bunk Bed With Easy Slide
24% OFF
Twin over Twin Low Bunk Bed with Easy Slide
$529 at Max & Lily
Now let’s ramp up the fun a notch! Slide into delightful mornings with the twin-over-twin low bunk bed equipped with an easy slide. This fabulous piece is more than a sleeping area—it’s a playground right in the comfort of their room. And don’t you worry a tad about safety because the gentle curve ensures a soft landing, encouraging safe play while nurturing their imaginative minds.
Mid-Century Modern Twin Over Twin Low Bunk Bed
23% OFF
Mid-Century Modern Twin over Twin Low Bunk Bed
$579 at Max & Lily
Stepping into a room graced with the mid-century modern twin-over-twin low bunk bed is like taking a delightful journey back in time, with a fresh twist. This piece, dressed in retro-chic pecan and walnut finishes, adds a vintage sparkle to modern spaces. Picture this bed paired with funky geometric prints or classic neutral tones, creating a sanctuary of style and comfort that stands the test of time.
Scandinavian Twin Over Twin Low Bunk Bed
21% OFF
Scandinavian Twin over Twin Low Bunk Bed
$499 at Max & Lily
Lastly, for the lovers of clean lines and understated elegance, the Scandinavian twin-over-twin low bunk bed is your go-to. It embodies the essence of minimalism, offering a serene and clutter-free environment that helps foster concentration and tranquility in young minds. When styling this beauty, think airy spaces adorned with simple, nature-inspired elements that bring a touch of calm and sophistication to your little one’s sanctuary.
Once upon a time, in a delightful family home, two young minds, Max (at the wise age of 8) and Lily (a bright 6-year-old), embarked on a marvelous journey with their parents to revolutionize kids’ furniture. Through countless brainstorming sessions and animated discussions around the dining table, the energetic siblings sprinkled their youthful ideas generously. This combination of child-like wonder and safety-first features created a furniture line that checked all the boxes for kids and their parents.
Nestled in the traditions of German precision and Danish aesthetic elegance, Max & Lily holds onto a rich legacy of fine craftsmanship. From their beginnings in Germany and Denmark, they’ve made their home in sunny Charleston, SC, embodying hard work, integrity, and a keen eye for detail. Every piece of furniture crafted here tells a story of sustainability, a pledge to the future. With the use of knot-free, solid pine wood, they’ve embraced an eco-friendly approach, ensuring their creations are a beacon of hope for generations to come.
The Max & Lily Difference
Max & Lily crafts furniture with solid wood that stands sturdy and looks timeless, promising years of memories and laughter. It’s the kind of quality that lets you sit back, relax, and know that you’ve brought nothing but the best into your home.
Max & Lily puts safety first, ensuring their furniture flaunts low VOC, non-toxic finishes, creating a healthier environment for your family. It’s the peace of mind every parent cherishes, knowing their child is safe, even when they are lost in the world of dreams.
But the dedication doesn’t stop there. Max & Lily steps is constantly testing their products to not only meet but exceed the safety standards set by the US and EU. They go the extra mile to ensure each piece passes stringent tests, offering an added layer of assurance to families.
Each piece of furniture carries with it a 1-year warranty, a bold statement of its durability and the trust Max & Lily has in their products. It’s not just furniture; it’s a promise of longevity and quality, a testament to a brand that values your peace of mind above all.
And the Max & Lily shopping experience is just as delightful as the products themselves. No more nail-biting waits or puzzling setups. They’ve smoothed out the wrinkles in furniture shopping, offering easy-peasy deliveries in compact boxes and straightforward setups. So, when a Max & Lily package arrives at your doorstep, know that joyous comfort is just a few moments away, without any fuss or hassle. It’s not just a delivery; it’s the beginning of countless happy dreams and joyful mornings.
Remember those magical childhood dreams filled with adventures and fairy tales? Max & Lily are making those dreams tangible with every piece of furniture they craft. It’s a beautiful journey from a spark of imagination to a masterpiece of craftsmanship, with a sprinkle of childlike wonder and parental love in each design.
Are you ready to step into this dreamland? The world of Max & Lily is wide open for you to explore. Dive in, discover the joy, the safety, and the imagination that waits in every corner. It’s more than just furniture; it’s an invitation to build dreams, create joy, and witness little smiles that light up rooms. So click here to embark on this magical journey with Max & Lily, and discover a world where furniture that’s built to last and designed to enchant.
The Walking Dead has been taking viewers on the franchise’s first French tour with Big Ass KickerDaryl Dixon. Norman Reedus is hopefully avoiding bed bugs (surely, you’ve heard what’s going on over there), and whaddya know, his character has joined forces with, as he calls them, “killer nuns.”
Ah yes, nuns who will — if it comes down to it — defend themselves through deadly force. Never seen that before in a horror franchise, right? I’m being ornery, but The Walking Dead chose the perfect venue to go there with the sisters of the Union Of Hope resistance. They are, obviously, much more advanced in their ability to survive than Father Gabriel when Rick Grimes stumbled upon him. To be fair, Gabriel eventually got it together, but Daryl Dixon picks up with the nuns already in fighting form. Isabelle (Clémence Poésy) is particularly industrious, and she also takes us into the earliest hours of the apocalypse in Paris. She’s not a prim and proper nun, and Daryl might be enjoying that revelation a little too much.
So, let’s be silly, too, and consider recent TV and movie nuns and rank them for sheer fun. Also, this entire list is an exercise in recency bias because badass nuns have been rising again in the streaming era. You can’t get away from them. Here are five prominent nuns ranked from least to most badass, but I wouldn’t want to run into any of them in a darkened hallway.
Warner Bros. Pictures
5. Valak From The Nun
Powers: A formidable demon and supposedly the Great President Of Hell. Can scare the pants off you by standing there and doing nothing. Can possess a human. Yells very loudly.
Execution: The issue with Valak, unfortunately, is that the chosen form of a Marilyn Manson-looking sister was what spooked audiences most. That unholy scene in The Conjuring 2 where Valak lures Lorraine Warren down a hallway and transforms from a shadow into a portrait was full of the right kind of tension. The expected jump scare never arrived, so the tension continued to build to shambolic heights with no resolution. Yet that promisingly scary beginning for Valak fell to pieces by the end of the movie because Lorraine easily defeated the demon simply by the power of saying its name. That was somehow enough to condemn this demon back to Hell.
Then The Nun movies happened, and although the first movie grossed $366 million worldwide, you can’t talk to anyone who’s seen The Nun 2 without hearing complaints about jump scares, which takes Valak into comedy territory and away from what made this demon so sinister in the first place. Valak could have been a badass contender, but The Conjuring universe dropped that demonic ball.
HBO
4. Sister Night From HBO’s Watchmen
Powers: Being a cop, obviously. She’s adept at martial arts and can run fairly fast, although not fast enough to catch the slippery Lube Man. Maybe she can walk on water now? We never received a clear answer there.
Execution: I struggled with where to place Angela Abar, a.k.a. “Sister Night.” On one hand, she is a whirling dervish in a fight, and much of her arc is shadowed in generational trauma that evokes powerful messaging. Yet on the other hand, I also have to consider that much of Sister Night’s “power” has been handed to her by the state. The show’s decision to take on both racism and police brutality was a daredevil turn that not everyone felt worked out for the best. Perhaps that’s because Damon Lindelof raised questions rather than hinting at answers, and not everyone was a fan of his approach.
In the end, I decided that it’s best not to overthink here. Angela can be inferred to have inherited some badassery from her grandfather, who was the original Hooded Justice. However, there’s the reality that the Earth-bound “heroes” of Watchmen are merely people in costumes, and in Angela’s case as with the other policemen in this show, they wear costumes to conceal their identities. Angela, who wasn’t in the Watchmen graphic novel, likely chose to wear a “nun-like” costume (with rosary-like beads hanging from her waist) because she was brought up by nuns. And yes, she is more badass than you or I, but I do have to dock points for how she failed to capture Lube Man.
Peacock
3. Simone From Mrs. Davis
Powers: She is fearless and can fight. She also inexplicably survived a crossbow shot to a vital organ (from her own mother) during childhood. She’s in tight with Jesus, who does have powers to bend time and reality and make some mean falafel and all that.
Execution: Yes, we’ve got another Damon Lindelof nun, although Tara Hernandez must receive all due credit in the writing department. This terrific show grappled with some of the bigger questions that confound mankind in 2023, which is also why it hits too close to home to be a mainstream winner. This, after all, is probably not the most fantastic time for a free-wheeling parable about an algorithm to hit with the masses. And if you squint hard, there are parallels between this show and two recent box-office smash hits — Barbie and Oppenheimer — perhaps a subject for another day.
Mrs. Davis was simply too “oddball” to reach those audience numbers, but it did give us Sister Simone, who ended up being one of the most dauntless and bravest humans on Earth, if not the bravest. She can be laid back enough to get boozy with a nun portrayed by Margo Martindale but never lets go of her own fierce determination to take out the AI by destroying the Holy Grail, even possibly at the expense of her own life. The whole exploding-head phenomenon did not even deter her, nor did the “Buffalo Wild Wings” twist that showed exactly how dangerous and humanity-altering that AI can be when it manages to run amuck.
Simone, however, ends up being a riveting paradox, a woman who literally marries Christ yet accepts his adultery even though she’s clearly not happy about it. On the other hand, she also does not operate upon blind faith, nor does she subscribe to society’s vision of how a nun should behave. Simone does not need rescuing, and the show leaves open a very interesting question: have she and Cowboy Wiley actually been rendered immortal by their shared liver? It’s a question that we’ll probably never know the answer to, and for that missing information, Simone takes a hit.
Netflix
2. Ava From Warrior Nun
Powers: Ava has been implanted with a powerful glowing Halo, which ideally helps her (and her fellow kickass nuns) to fight demons and settle the score between Heaven and Hell. She’s not the strongest fighter, but she is the chosen Warrior Nun.
Execution: The Halo’s powers expand upon facets of the bearer’s character, which is one reason why, once embedded, Ava was able to free herself from her human trappings and seize upon super strength and, on some level, invulnerability and ability to move through matter unabated. Unfortunately, the Halo’s power has been waning for some reasons that are not totally clear, but it’s fair to assume that Adriel is siphoning some energy, and the combination is affecting Ava’s power to sustain her powers.
Ava’s route to nun-dom was also not a typical one. She had been paralyzed in a car accident and committed suicide, and suddenly, she woke up with those Halo powers on the road to being the Warrior Nun. She also doesn’t trust the church or wish to embrace its tenets, let alone take Catholic nun vows and consider herself married to Jesus. So I suppose she is a quasi-nun, but the story takes a non-linear route to a coming-of-age story that makes Ava not only endearing but also more of a rebel than the church would prefer. However, she does have plenty of backup, especially ultra-badass Beatrice.
Additionally, Warrior Nun fans are such an enthused legion that, even though Netflix canceled this series after two seasons, a rabid campaign led to the news that a trilogy of films will be on the way. Where that will happen, no one is saying yet, but Ava and her crew will fight again.
AMC
1. Isabelle From The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
Powers: Her powers are very earth-bound: fighting like hell, protecting Laurent, and giving Daryl a hard time for not speaking French. And in response to Daryl’s “killer nuns” quip, Isabelle insists that the Union Of Hope convent is merely capable of defending themselves. She’s not kidding.
Execution: Look, if it wasn’t for Isabelle, Daryl Dixon might no longer be alive and would be another walker stalking through France. And perhaps even more importantly, if it wasn’t for Isabelle, Daryl would have never done the unthinkable and taken a bath. That was a brave feat in and of itself.
Again, I’m arguably guilty of recency bias with this top ranking, but Isabelle happens to be one of the more compelling characters to enter into The Walking Dead universe in some time. She’s not cartoonish like many of the entrances we’ve seen on the current season of Fear The Walking Dead. She’s more layered than new Dead City characters, and Isabelle might be making “good choices” nowadays, but how she reacted to the first moments of the apocalypse set the stage for her survival instincts to kick into high gear. She quickly swept away the life of being a hardcore partier/thief and ditched Quinn when his instincts felt both inhumane and “off.”
It wasn’t long before she watched her sister turn during childbirth amid the “miracle” birth of Laurent, and Isabelle had a new purpose shocked into her. She’s devoted although not devout in her faith, and these nuns aren’t exactly sticklers for the whole “being married to God” thing. She would also be a “fun” nun to hang out with under better circumstances. That’s why I hope that Isabelle will be around for the long haul and not simply for one mission with Daryl to deliver Laurent to “the Nest.” Daryl obviously won’t make it back to The Commonwealth this year (Norman Reedus is currently shooting Season 2 in France), so hopefully, Isabelle will be back alongside his crossbow, too.
‘The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon’ airs Sunday nights on AMC.
It’s interesting, from David Gordon Green’s perspective, it’s not like he just jumped straight from doing three Halloween movies into, now doing three Exorcist movies. For him, The Righteous Gemstones is in between and it’s more of a back and forth. But for horror fans looking at Green’s filmography, it sure does feel like he’s going straight from one classic horror franchise to the next. But it would be impossible to argue with Green’s success: his three Halloween movies combined cost around $60 million and the three movies combined grossed around half a billion. (With the second and third movies being released on streaming the same day as theaters.)
In The Exorcist: Believer, Leslie Odom Jr. plays Victor Fielding, a widower father raising a teenage daughter, Angela (Lidya Jewett), on his own. Angela and her friend, Katherine (Olivia Marcum) go into the woods one day and, three days later reappear possessed by demons (as what happens in Exorcist movies), as now everyone frantically tries to figure out how to save the two girls. A woman with some experience with possessed daughters is enlisted to help, marking Ellen Burstyn’s first return to an Exorcist movie since the original.
Ahead, Green explains why he wanted to make three Exorcist movies, what he thinks of the original sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic (now that’s one crazy movie), and how he plans on figuring out how to tie this Exorcist movie in with the next two.
Explain to me how this happens. You just did three Halloween movies. So you and Danny McBride get together and say, “Let’s do three The Exorcist movies now?” Was it brought up that people will think you just make classic horror trilogies now, or did you not care and moved forward?
It does seem weird now when you put it like that. But we’re juggling horror movies at the same time we’re doing The Righteous Gemstones comedy series. We go back and forth. So, for us, if you’re just in our creative workshop in our office, it never feels redundant. First of all, because you finish a project, you go into a comedy, you go into a horror movie, whatever it is. But then also with this movie, it’s so different from Halloween in terms of horror. Until marketing started happening, I don’t even think I thought about it as a horror movie. The Exorcist is certainly a very unnerving, fucked up movie that affected me in my nightmares as a youth and forever, but it doesn’t feel like what I’ve at least come to know in the vernacular of genre horror movies. It doesn’t fit into that category, the original film.
The original film, yes, but I think where it does fit in is because they did make a bunch of sequels to it that once again, like Halloween, we’re ignoring? Do I have that correct?
We’re not really ignoring… I guess we are ignoring them. We’re not dismissing them. I don’t think anybody steps on anybody’s creative toes.
Where do you stand on Exorcist II: The Heretic then?
Heretic is one of the boldest, fucking craziest art films I’ve ever seen.
It is bold.
It’s certainly worth a re-watch.
It is fucking nuts.
It is absolutely bonkers. I was actually talking to Linda Blair about it yesterday. It’s so funny just hearing her stories from that set.
What did she say that you could repeat?
None of it.
Okay.
None of it, but you know what? I’ll follow up with her and make sure she puts it in her biography that she’s writing because it’s so fun.
It’s a crazy cast.
It’s so legit in so many ways, and then it just goes buck wild so I don’t know. There’s an affection I have for anybody taking bold swings and not just trying to recreate… I don’t know, I just remember seeing Revenge of the Nerds II, and being like, “You’re just making a larger, longer belching contest.”
Nerds in Paradise.
Yeah. Can’t you do something different with nerds?
I love that Anthony Edwards had just done Top Gun and I assume he didn’t want to do Revenge of the Nerds II but had to. In the movie he has a broken leg and he just calls to check in on the guys every now and then.
So good. So I’m sorry for him. He missed paradise.
He did miss paradise.
But that being an example of a movie that you’re like, you’re just making a different version of the same movie again. And I love somebody saying, “Ah, let’s shake it up and let’s do it this way.” So not that it’s a success or my favorite movie in any way, but it’s something to watch and ponder.
Is that why you put the line in that Chris MacNeil hadn’t seen Regan in so long? Because the events of Heretic could have still happened then.
One hundred percent.
Regarding Ellen Burstyn returning as Chris, this is a Jamie Lee Curtis situation where she had come back in the past for Halloween movies before yours. Ellen Burstyn hasn’t been in an Exorcist movie since the original.
Yes. It was an ingredient that I thought would be really helpful to have, some sort of grounding to the original film and not just licensing tubular bells and playing the theme song. But Jamie brought so much integrity to what we were doing on Halloween movies, and she’s a respected person in culture…
And now just won an Oscar…
Well now, yeah, but at the point when we’re making that movie, she’s a charismatic celebrity of interest and brings credibility to something that can just be a slash genre that people can roll their eyes at. And so I guess that’s what my hope was in this movie, too, is not seeing it as a traditional horror movie, but a drama in the sub-genre of possession movies. Can I try to bring some pedigree to it that would help us navigate the drama and as scary as we want to make it? And as unnerving as we want this movie to be? I think if we don’t have a real human story within the movie that’s relatable, that has history to it, I think it’s less dramatic.
So the idea of bringing her back was important to me. And then getting to know her, and talking to her about what she might be interested in, and trying to structure something that felt personal to her and appropriate for her, it was fun. It took a little bit of trust and a few tea parties at her house before she signed on. And those were extraordinary moments, too, and if it had not gone any further, I would’ve thought I’ve had a brilliant insight into one of the icons. But the fact that she trusted us and dove in with us was amazing.
So how will this trilogy fit together? Because when you start doing Halloween, we didn’t know exactly where it was going, but it’s like, well Michael Myers and Lori Strode are going to have their showdown over the next two movies. But this one seems a little more complicated, at least to me, how they will all fit together.
And we’ve got a roadmap, but also, like we did with Halloween, our first Halloween, 2018, was two-thirds of our first script. And then the success of that gave us permission to just make the second one just anarchy and go ballistic. In this one, we have a roadmap of where we go with two and three, but nothing sacred, nothing confirmed. Wherever you go, there are problems. I literally finished the movie last week…
Oh, wow.
I haven’t seen it finished yet. We finished the sound mix, I approved the credits in their own separate entity, and the music is all done. Tonight I’m watching it all for the first time. You saw the fucking completed movie before I did. So the ink is still wet on this movie in reality and, in my mind, I haven’t reread our notes from where we wanted our ambitions of the trilogy since before we started shooting.
So it’ll be really interesting. I’ll say three weeks from now, four weeks from now, after I go and take a deep breath after the release of a movie, which is where I always just disappear for those weekends and go somewhere and vacuum my brain because it’s not healthy to read reviews and box office reports and that kind of stuff. I’m going to be off in Mexico running around on some sort of weird adventure. And then I’ll come back with a clear head and I’ll watch the movie again. And before I say goodbye to it for a creative chapter, I’ll watch it one more time and say, all right, now having processed it, completed it, done the journey… And at that point we can acknowledge the realistic relationship our film will have with the world, then let’s see where we want to go. And sometimes it is making a longer, louder belching contest. But, for me, usually, it’s reinvent it, fuck it up, shake it up, do something different, or take a deep breath and do a pallet cleanser. So what becomes the priority is yet to be seen.
And that does make a lot of sense why you like Heretic so much, from everything you just said.
“Like” is a strong word.
“Admire,” is that the right word?
Yeah. Oh, yeah. Great. I totally admire John Boorman. A guy at that point in his career, John Boorman made the choices he made. I salute him.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
(@mosthiphop) 
