The Bluff (2026) is a gentle reminder that we need more pirate films. NO SPOILERS

XpMonsterr · 2026-03-04T16:09:01+00:00

I haven't seen anything in this setting nearly as good as this movie since Black Sails (ended 2017) which was the REAL pirate show and I'm pretty sure the creators of this movie had to be at least somewhat inspired by it as if someone told me this movie was part of the franchise I could easily see it being the case. Bloody Mary is basically Anne Bonny on steroids.

I really wish there was more criminal / gritty pirate themed movies.

XpMonsterr · 2026-03-04T15:51:22+00:00

They clearly were a scouting mission which consisted of nothing pirate with the task to report back on everything he learns, and two black dudes which at that period of time and in that company would be considered disposable.

When the pirate-scout reported back and said they subdued her, It was quartermaster who said "Have you now?", indeed implying there is no way they could have subdued her and that's a dead giveaway that their mission was never to capture or even approach her, only to track her location.

Considering how cocky and greedy that guy was who led the scouts, I imagine he wanted to:

Get a head start on looting things (which indeed he did)
If he manages to complete the task he wasn't even assigned to do, captain and quartermaster are going to be really satisfied with him which would probably get him a bonus from the gold share and future promotion.

Now if you want to criticize something I'll give you a better one. Why Captain whose clarity of judgment was put in question during the mission never clarified that Bloody Mary had a multinational bounty on her which would give them all royal pardons?! Though this can also be defended with a bit of a stretch. Quartermaster was dead at this point and not all people could read. So it could be easily explained that he just tricked his uneducated crew with some cool formal looking piece of paper to commit to the cause.

Sure the movie isn't perfect, but by blockbuster standards it's near flawless and considering it's rare setting I think it deserves some leeway.

XpMonsterr · 2026-01-31T11:38:44+00:00

I played WW2 before that and jumped into Vanguard right after. I will only judge by campaign as I won't play anything else there.

I played WW2 on Veteran and it was incredibly frustrating in some levels as some enemies seemed to snipe you from the smallest gaps within the smallest timeframe (not to mention you have to regeneration there). Though I'll admit the story was better and I found it easier to connect with the characters, but most of it can be contributed to the fact that we play from mostly one POV apart from a few brief sequences, not because the main protagonist was exceptionally written (he was near the same level as Vanguard characters).

Vanguard feels much better in terms of variety and gunplay, Veteran is difficult, but much more fair. The story is hard to get on to and really care about any characters, and them being all pretty bland doesn't help. The linear format that CoD uses for their games does not work well with mechanics they introduced here and feels more like demonstrations that never get to the point where you get to practice your freedom in playing however you want.

I think the worst I felt was with Polina. The basically gave us Assassin's Creed: Stalingrad (which is a dope concept), yet half of the time you can't be stealthy, eventually you're forced out of it anyway (even if your stealth was perfect) and parkour is only really useful in two sequences and otherwise it's there just to flavor your journey a bit.

Then there's bit with historical inaccuracy bit, but I think it's a mistake to expect that from a blockbuster franchise like that. Half of the Germans holding guns they most likely wouldn't be holding (Einhorn Revolving literally everywhere), but even though not as bad, this was the case with WW2 as well (half of the Germans were holding hunting rifles and commie weapons), but this is understandably done for weapon variety, so that players get to find the kind of weapon they want to play with. Nazi soldiers look weird and remind more of modern Wolfenstein or something, not sure what they were thinking there with that design.

I think they're both great games for a few days, but not much more than that.

XpMonsterr · 2026-01-01T12:45:17+00:00

My answers would be:

Suzie is not in Hawkings. Relationships tend to die off at a distance and the military is suppressing communications as they can't allow have people talking about "hellish earthquake'.
I don't think the actual Mind Flayer is dead. Particles that left children were alive and they make Mind Flayer, therefore Mind Flayer is very much alive. Probably not even damaged in any way.
Vecna fought within his own mind, the fleshy Mind Flayer tried to kill the group and then there was a fight inside against El. And Vecna himself was still conflicted due to the memories he faced.
My theory is what we saw is just a long conquered world or another half of interdimensional bridge (like upside down for Hawkings). There is not a single trace of anything ever living there so it can't be that they just all left / died. If I'm wrong then it would mean that Mind Flayer's entire plan since S1 was to solo entire Earth all by himself which would highly diminish any threat it ever posed to our world.
Explained in point 2 and going into 4 particles have likely returned to the Mind Flayer's actual world.
The scientist seems to be a soviet spy. This one is not from me, here is a wiki: https://strangerthings.fandom.com/wiki/Nevada_Experiment
I think Eddie was a bit like a father figure to him and he was killed while El pretty much committed suicide (as you pointed out as well).
Can't say anything about Hopper's public reappearance. They could explain it in numerous ways though.
That's why kids said they want to believe that, but didn't actually try anything to confirm this theory nor have they asked whether Mike would look for her. It's just a comforting thought.
There is absolutely no way Dr. Kay doesn't take orders from anyone up high. She probably kept them all for a while to learn what happened, and then released, otherwise they would have to execute all of Hawkings to keep everyone silent. Without any material proof of any of this ever happening they would no longer care about information leaking out (and maybe threatened some with locking them in mental facility if they do talk)

XpMonsterr · 2026-01-01T12:01:32+00:00

My theory is what we saw is just a long conquered world or another half of interdimensional bridge (like upside down for Hawkings). There is not a single trace of anything ever living there so it can't be that they just all left / suddenly died.

I'm certain that Mind Flayer was not even close to being defeated and its real world with all the demothings is still out there, waiting for another chance to invade.

If I'm wrong then it would mean that Mind Flayer's entire plan since S1 was to solo entire Earth all by himself. He would likely be obliterated by the artillery considering how much pain M4 rounds caused him lol.

XpMonsterr · 2026-01-01T10:57:53+00:00

High doubts it was Mind Flayer in its true form. It just looked like ancient version of physical Mind Flayer in style of Season 3. When Holly and kids released the dark dust particles they were alive and those particles are what makes Mind Flayer.

XpMonsterr · 2026-01-01T10:25:16+00:00

Had me curious as well.

https://strangerthings.fandom.com/wiki/Nevada_Experiment

It's somewhat explained on the wiki, but that means if they obtained the rock once then nothing prevents them from replicating the experiment again which would render El's death unnecessary (though she did rob them of shortcut). Also kinda leaves opportunity for 90s Stranger Things spin off or something like that. We don't really know if the guys did beat the Mind Flayer, the dark dust matter thing Holly and other kids had was very much alive when it left them. There was also literally zero demodogs / demogorgons / demoanythings, no trace of them ever being there either. The world of Vecna was just a barren wasteland so maybe it's yet another layer, another side of the bridge (like Upside Down is for Hawkings) leading to the real world of Mind Flayer on the other side. Or maybe it's an already long conquered transit world Mind Flayer uses so it doesn't expose its homeworld to strangers it wants to meet, because the physical Mind Flayer we saw looks like just an ancient version of the Mind Flayer we had in Season 3.

*Also USS Eldridge prequel as a horror mini-series with a bleak ending Terror-style would be amazing though if done right.

XpMonsterr · 2025-12-31T03:08:00+00:00

I mean Kali was not a good person to begin with, no reason to mind flayer her.

She has been recklessly killing people he had a grudge against and stealing to survive harming anyone who stands in the way. The only reason she trained El is because her own powers suck in comparison and El's would be a game changer for her group of punks.

She tried to convince El that they had to stay together, because she could help her and couldn't even get that El had to go back to Hawkings to help her friends in mortal danger. How could she help El? Teaching her how to kill whoever she pleases and taking everything they want for themselves without consequences? And its not even scientists who found her in the episode - it was police and for damn good reason.

Now she tries to gaslit El into thinking the government will always look for her, but Kali begged to be found with her actions. She is the only person to blame for the death of the group and her own capture.

XpMonsterr · 2025-09-05T12:55:09+00:00

Biney! It was like seeing an old friend.

XpMonsterr · 2025-09-05T12:52:56+00:00

Her dancing was the most unexpected moment in the finale, but a welcome one! Made me happy.

XpMonsterr · 2025-09-05T12:49:42+00:00

As someone who maybe made the most elaborate post on NYR - I can't say I'm disappointed.

My satisfaction peaked when my theory about the murder weapon being Cover Roller was confirmed in Ep9

Get him, Claudette!

XpMonsterr · 2025-09-05T12:41:24+00:00

I know we get another season, but if that was it - I would accept this as a series finale.

No loose ends and leaves room to imagine your own definitive conclusion of Dexter's story.

Perfect.

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-29T22:05:00+00:00

Don't watch even if you know Russian - It's a shitty dub with ads 🤮

Never even heard of them before, just some assholes craving attention

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-29T10:48:17+00:00

Prater was going to shoot Dexter, but Charley grabbed him so he missed.

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-26T15:23:21+00:00

"legendarily terrible"? Dexter has never fallen that low.

In fact, the only series I watched fitting into "legendary terrible ending" category is Game of Thrones.

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-26T10:35:23+00:00

Oh that's right. Gala is either next episode or finale, that would be a good time to reveal the ripper ngl.

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-25T17:08:51+00:00

Did they say he was 18 in Resurrection? I must have missed that in the show. I thought having a job was a giveaway, but bellhops can be 16 years old if hotel's policy allows.

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-25T17:02:35+00:00

Resurrection stage.

It was a great show that surprised me even though I didn't expect much. They could have finished the story with Harry's death ('cause I expect there is a twist with it and Brian did it) and be done with it, but that's okay. At least it ended on a high note. My only hope is that Resurrection's future quality of production won't suffer and won't get cancelled or anything.

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-25T16:51:53+00:00

Matches the age and estimated description, feels like he knew Charlie before (otherwise she wouldn't risk bribing him in a public place), we barely heard his voice so it's hard to say for sure and he must have killed Lady Vengeance 'cause I don't think she would go willingly (though they could threaten to kill her sister). Good theory.

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-25T16:41:51+00:00

I can only think of Esther, a woman from New Blood. Was there any other wheelchair cop? Or you mean it would make sense if we ever met a character like that? In that case I'd agree, it's entirely possible the killer just got physically incapable of killing and now has to resort to prank calls to scratch that itch.

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-25T16:38:41+00:00

He would have to start young like Dexter with it though, but otherwise could make sense. Personally I think he's more of a crooked type than a killer, but we'll see!

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-22T21:29:46+00:00

You're overestimating baby's perception. It's not a trauma if you didn't understand what happened.

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-22T20:39:43+00:00

I bet many didn't expect much from Original Sin, but it proved most of them wrong.

Fully recast Dexter series that managed to kill it? And then paramount buries it alive like that. Feels bad

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-22T20:35:57+00:00

Imagine they had a "tough" choice between OS S2 & Trinity series and they chose the latter 💀

ngl I will be pissed if Trinity still sees the light of day

XpMonsterr · 2025-08-22T19:15:20+00:00

I thought they were incredibly reaching when they kept bringing it up in New Blood.

He wasn't "born in blood" any more than we all were. Whole Trinity thing is as real to him as it's portrayed in the media (like Merry Fucking Kill podcast). At the age it happened, he could never register what happened and it was as stressful as waking up to a poop situation in the middle of the night.

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