Author: Julian Cannon

Video Game Review: Yu-Gi-Oh Rush Duel: Dawn of the Battle Royale

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The newest video game in the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise just hit the Nintendo Switch not too long ago. It is Yu-Gi-Oh Rush Duel: Dawn of the Battle Royale.

Dawn of the Battle Royale is based on the current Yu-Gi-Oh Sevens anime. Rush duels are a feature on the show which is the selling point for this game. If you do not know what rush duels are, you are in for a treat. Rush duels limits the field down so both players would have only three Monster Card Zones, and three Spell and Trap Zones. The key here, is that you can normal summon monsters from your hand as many times you want during your turn. And at the start of each turn, you draw cards from your deck until you have five in your hand.

Once you know the basic rules, you are able to play. Being a veteran of Yu-Gi-Oh, I can say that the flow of duels are very fast when you have a rush duel. There were multiple times where my duels would end in less than 15 turns.

As you progress through the story, you will gather cards and in-game currency to buy more cards. Unlike in past Yu-Gi-Oh video games, the way to acquire these cards are based on rarity. That means it is a long grind to get the cards you want because the decks you begin with are too basic.

Here is How You Can Gain Access to Edit Your Deck Early in Yu-Gi-Oh Rush Duel: Dawn of the Battle Royale

Speaking about the cards, there are fan favorites such as Blue Eyes White Dragon, Dark Magician, and others. But their iconic artwork along with several of the classic cards have been altered. I do not know why this decision was made, but I got used to it after a few plays.

I also like that the duel puzzle mode from past World Championship games returned on Dawn of the Battle Royale. This time, they are all under specific ranks and they are quite challenging. Especially for the duel puzzles that have different win conditions.

Overall, Yu-Gi-Oh Rush Duel: Dawn of the Battle Royale is a nice addition to the Yu-Gi-Oh video game franchise. Rush duels are for the ones who want the current TCG simplified and shorter. If you are a first time player, I would recommend playing this game that could introduce you to the genre before going pro with the current TCG format.

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C2E2 2021 Recap and The Best of Cosplay

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Photography by Julian Cannon

For the first time in nearly twenty two months, C2E2 returned for a weekend of cosplay, gaming, panels, and much more. You would think that the ongoing pandemic would have made C2E2 2021 less fun, but that was not the case at all.

Big name celebrities such as John Cena, Hayden Christian, David Hayter, and Giancarlo Esposito were the draws of the show. Also to note, the All Elite Wrestling superstars had the biggest line of the entire weekend. When you have names such as Matt Hardy, Orange Cassidy, and CM Punk appearing in C2E2 under the AEW banner, there will be fans lining up to see them.

But like for any of the guests, it is the first time since the pandemic started that fans of all fandoms are seeing them in person. There were safety measures that were enforced the whole weekend at C2E2. These included proof of vaccinations, plexiglass at the photo ops area, and for masks to be worn at all times on the show floor and in the panel rooms.

Speaking about the show floor, the iconic C2E2 red carpet that covered the entire floor was nowhere to be seen. The same thing happened at New York Comic Con, but it was at this show where I noticed it more. I asked a representative of ReedPop why this decision was made and I was told it was because of the ongoing pandemic. I really felt for the cosplayers who had on heels or footwear that is not built for concrete.

C2E2 Show Floor Entrance. Photography by Julian Cannon

Another thing that was sad to see at this year’s C2E2 was the lack of vendors. Over at New York Comic Con 2021, there were less vendors, but they managed to fill up the empty space. Here at C2E2, it was not a good impression at a first look. I can also say that it was a good thing that I easily walked the entire show floor this time around.

With that out of the way, I enjoyed what was offered at this year’s C2E2. I hope when the show returns in 2022, C2E2 will be back to the scale that it once was before. Now it is time for the best of cosplay! All the photos were shot and edited by me!

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Here is How You Can Gain Access to Edit Your Deck Early in Yu-Gi-Oh Rush Duel: Dawn of the Battle Royale

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Every Yu-Gi-Oh video game featured a deck editor. This is so you can create your own decks to your own preference and style. However, on the recently released Yu-Gi-Oh Rush Duel: Dawn of the Battle Royale, this option is not available at the start.

This is because on the Japanese release of the game a few months prior, you would have to finish the main story in order to unlock the deck edit option. This could take hours of grinding and months to do if you do not have time. Luckily on the latest patch, a solution was revealed.

In order to unlock the deck editor option, first you will have to defeat Number Six on the main story mode. Then you will have to go to the Student Council Room. On the left side of the map, there is a door. Have your character stand in front of the door. Once your UI disappears, enter the Konami Code. And there! it is unlocked.

Now with this unlocked, you can build as much decks as you want at least one hour into the game.

Be sure to check out my review of Yu-Gi-Oh Rush Duel: Dawn of the Battle Royale next week.

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The Walking Dead World Beyond Series Finale Review

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Nicolas Cantu as Elton, Aliyah Royale as Iris, Alexa Mansour as Hope – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 10 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

The Walking Dead World Beyond’s final episode just finished airing a few minutes ago. And I must say, this was a fresh breath of air compared to The mid season finales of the main show and Fear The Walking Dead.

This is because I felt that there was a conclusion rather than using a gimmick to leave the show open ended. With Silas being a full fledged member of the CRM, Huck’s death, Elizabeth’s arrest, and everyone else finding their own path, World Beyond finished on a high note. I was totally not expecting this and I am satisfied that World Beyond grew to be its own show rather than focusing on Rick Grimes.

Speaking of Rick, Jadis finally confirmed why she said Rick was a “B” rather than an “A” and I am glad that she did. Rick would have been a test subject if he was saved as an “A.” Plus the fact that Jadis straight up murdered Huck brought a smile on my face. Let’s hope that we will see this version of Jadis on the Rick Grimes movie.

I will say this. I wished that Elton got his bite earlier in the season. That way, we would see how he will handle this for the rest of the season. That would have been a bigger plot for him instead of what we got of Elton. Having him lose his arm on the final episode must have been a budget issue rather than a story issue. His monologue at the end was really good though.

The acting and the cinematography is also good on this final episode. The cast went out of their way to make every scene matter with some of the best camera work World Beyond has had.

Then we get to the post credit scene. For the first time in about 11 years, we see Dr. Jenner from the first season of The Walking Dead. But that is not the only surprise. There was more context to where the virus originated and the variant that was in France. This is cool to know. But my question is, what will happen now with this information since World Beyond concluded.

World Beyond’s first season was a struggle and chore to get through. But their second season addressed all the issues from the previous season while also setting the roadmap for the future. I hate to say this, but I enjoyed the final season over 11A of The Walking Dead and 7A of Fear The Walking Dead. It is a shame that World Beyond did not get a third season.

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Fear The Walking Dead Season 7, Episode 8 “Padre” Review

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Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia Clark – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 7, Episode 8 – Photo Credit: Lauren “Lo” Smith/AMC

My first thoughts coming out of the mid-season finale of Fear The Walking Dead is “have they lost their minds?”

Alicia’s first big episode since she returned is a major letdown. Sure, there is a story on how she escaped the bunker after the missile strike. But it leaves little to no substance to the entire story. I have zero idea what the writers were thinking when they crafted this episode. Especially the fact that there was a walker that pointed to Padre at all times. Was I supposed to believe that?

And let’s not forget that they dedicated that walker to follow them. Why would they not take its teeth out? Michonne done that with her pet walkers. It makes me wonder if the writers watched the original show.

Strand and Alicia finally had their reunion. But did it matter? No because by the end of “Padre” we are going to believe that there will be a war between Strand and Alicia’s group. This could have been set in place a few episodes prior to this. No way this needed to happen on the eighth episode.

I am also going to add that just like tonight’s World Beyond, the revelation that Alicia got bit and had her arm amputated just did not want me to care at all. Personally, I am not liking the direction with the character as she is one of my favorites on Fear. Alicia following a walker around for the location of “Padre” was an insult to her character. Absolutely ridiculous. Maybe the walker can magically use his compass mode to find Rick Grimes. I would totally believe that.

Spenser Granese as Arno – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 7, Episode 8 – Photo Credit: Lauren “Lo” Smith/AMC

I think I have complained enough about this episode. I will praise Lennie James’ acting and stunt work as it is always great. Everything else on “Padre” can go directly in the trash. A dud episode to add in an already awful first half. I may be in the minority, but this post-nuclear bomb drop environment for this season is exposing the flaws and plot-holes of how an environment like that actually works. What worked in the previous season is not working here!

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The Walking Dead World Beyond Season 2, Episode 8 “Returning Point” Review

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Pollyanna McIntosh as Jadis, Annet Mahendru as Huck – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 8 – Photo Credit: Chip Jackson/AMC

The Walking Dead World Beyond knocks it right out of the park with another explosive episode.

The fact that everyone is starting to go berserk on the CRM on their own ways makes it even more satisfying. Even during the shootout that involved Will, Elton, Silas, and Indira’s group really brought in the tension in the air. It was much needed after seeing how CRM operates this entire season. If they actually let CRM go forward with those planned executions, that would have been a dark hour!

Much like tonight’s episode of Fear The Walking Dead, I seriously hope that they do not make CRM look weak in the upcoming episodes. But I am enjoying what is being offered here.

During the episode’s beginning, there is an emotional scene with Will. His acting was phenomenal during this scene which was capturing the emotion instantly. however the slo-mo camera went for way too long in my opinion. But it did not hurt the scene at all.

Joe Holt as Leo, Nico Tortorella as Felix – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 8 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

Leo and Felix are plotting this plan against Jadis and the CRM very well. I totally did not expect for Joe to be the brains behind the plan. The rest of the characters are going along with it. It is a huge contrast to how they were behind the walls compared to the current time.

The Percy and Iris relationship is growing on me. When I watch them, I do see a connection with the two characters. Could they both make it out alive by the series end, that is another question I have looming over my mind.

Call me crazy, but I have been enjoying World Beyond over the majority of the main show’s final season and Fear’s seventh season. That is something I did not think I would say in 2021. There are two more episodes of World Beyond and I am really curious to see how the show will wrap up.

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Fear The Walking Dead Season 7, Episode 6 “Reclamation” Review

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Maggie Grace as Althea – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 7, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Lauren “Lo” Smith/AMC

We may have just witnessed the final appearance of Althea on tonight’s Fear The Walking Dead. And to be honest, I am okay with it.

This is because the character has not been utilized to it’s full potential ever since her first on screen debut back in season 4. Sure, we uncovered a chuck of story with Al in the coming years, but it never seemed to make me sympathize with Al. That was until she meet the CRM soldier Isabelle.

Speaking of CRM, whoever wrote this episode must have not seen World Beyond. The military members are a force to be reckoned with. And all it took was for this episode to make two members look goofy and silly for no apparent reason. Fear The Walking Dead is hit and miss with groups. But that one should have not been made to look like a joke.

Lennie James as Morgan Jones, Maggie Grace as Althea, Karen David as Grace – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 7, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Lauren “Lo” Smith/AMC

I did however like the scene where Morgan used the civil war style cannon to blast the two soldiers to pieces. But his plot armor of finding all of these characters is getting tiresome. Especially since there are points where everyone is taking their masks off or riding horses that seemed to be immune to the radiation. That is my biggest issue with this current season as it is giving me flashbacks to the level of stupidity of season five.

Maggie Grace is a great actress and I believe this episode showcased how great she is. Al letting go of her journalistic past to live the rest of her life with Isabelle is quite telling. What is going to happen to the rest of those video recordings? Who knows! The seventh season has been very underwhelming so far besides the fifth episode. Things need to pick up!

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Interview: Natalie Gold Talks The Walking Dead World Beyond

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Natalie Gold as Lyla – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

This week’s episode of The Walking Dead World Beyond showcased the demise of Lyla Bellshaw. Her death is one of the best executed of the series so far. Here to talk about the big character death is Natalie Gold, who played the character in this brand new exclusive interview.

The theme for this episode is to catch the mice and then when the mice runs out of energy, it gets devoured better. And the next thing you know, the same thing happens to your character later in the episode. What went through your mind when you went through the entire script?

NG: “I knew that Layla was going to go. I just didn’t know how. And so when I read the script, I just thought it was a really cool epic death. I thought it was a full circle moment for Lyla in a way that she gets killed by by an invention of her own creation. Like she killed Barca and its poetic justice for her. In her mind, she started to break a little bit. But she keeps telling herself it’s for the greater good and she ends up being on the other side. So. I felt sad for Lyla. I think she was trying to do her best.”

Your death scene really played out well and I love the gore that came with it. Would you like to tell me some of the behind the scenes work that went into developing that scene?

NG: “Oh, we had an incredible like a whole VFX team. So the special effects team and their whole department took me to the trailer to get that huge bite mark on my neck. And then we had a whole system with the blood and everything. So that was really cool. I hadn’t gotten to see them yet because they work on all the empties and they do all the cool effects and stuff like that. So that was pretty awesome.”

Was that scene done in one take?

NG: “The blood was done in one take because we just did that at the end. But the fight between me and Barca, we did multiple times and that was kind of a beautiful. We had our stunt choreographers creating this amazing fight. And then Al Calderon, who played Barca and I rehearsed it, and then when we went to go do it, we just added 1,000,000 times and it was a lot of fun and totally exhausting. We were both very sore the next day and exhausted. And then we had our two amazing cameramen. Craig and Joel, and they’re with us at some points. So we were jumping around the cameras and over cables maintaining this fight. So that was crazy and fun. Safe, but just a lot of energy. And then we stopped so I could go get the prosthetic on my neck like we would. We would cut right when he was about to bite me and we had just that take for him and for the blood to kind of spread out.”

Do you have any stories to share about working with Pollyanna McIntosh?

NG: “Oh God, it was. We had a great time. We spent a long day like in the interrogation room and we just felt really like happy to be working with each other and it just felt like a kind of cool, incredible energy. We were excited to do those scenes and then work with each other. Pollyanna is so cool and such an amazing actor and so dedicated to the universe and the story and the character Jadis. it was so incredible to have her come on. I was kind of her direct subordinate and her being the one that I had to answer to, all the pressure fell on my character in a very cool way.”

Were you able to take anything home from the set from either season one or season two?

NG: “I did get somebody on our props department made these like amazing stickers that were like comic book kind of photos, but hand-drawn. It is Leo and Lyla being scientists out in the wilderness. That was so much fun.”

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The Walking Dead World Beyond Season 2, Episode 6 Review

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Aliyah Royale as Iris, Ted Sutherland as Percy, Nico Tortorella as Felix, Alexa Mansour as Hope, Joe Holt as Leo – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Steve Swisher/AMC

Jadis made her return to The Walking Dead universe last week on World Beyond. Now that she is a full fledged member of the CRM, things have changed.

Over the last six years since Jadis saved Rick, she told Huck what she was up to in between that time. It is here that I was convinced that Jadis is not the same person she once was. Pollyanna McIntosh brings a unique presence to the show just as Elizabeth does when she first appeared. So far, I like what I am seeing with Jadis. With the revelation that she used her language to manipulate them into working together, they retroactively made the former group The Scavengers on the main show more interesting.

It’s interesting to see Felix and Huck’s uneasy alliance. Even though they don’t trust each other, the two of them still have a connection, and I think that was apparent in the last moment when Huck advised she would be with him. However, if she has the chance, she would still like to be friends with him.

I also figured that Dev was going to die real soon. I however did not expect him to go out with an unexpected death. Will is going to have to continue running from the CRM before they capture him.

Natalie Gold as Lyla – The Walking Dead: World Beyond _ Season 2, Episode 6 – Photo Credit: Chip Jackson/AMC


As World Beyond continues, it seems like everyone is going to die trying to spread the word about the CRM. Iris and Hope will get to the truth without being killed by the CRM, but it won’t be in time to stop them from using chemical weapons on them.

World Beyond has achieved an intrigue level that meets my expectations. I believe the series should have started out in the same way as it is now. After wasting so much time on a coming-of-age survival adventure story, the plot turned completely away from it. I am happy to say that the series has finally found its footing!

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Fear The Walking Dead Season 7, Episode 4 Review

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Mo Collins as Sarah – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 7, Episode 4 – Photo Credit: Lauren “Lo” Smith/AMC

Fear The Walking Dead’s Sarah caught my interest since her debut a few seasons ago. But the character has not been fleshed out. On today’s episode of Fear, it is my favorite involving the character.

While Sarah was looking for Wendell, she encountered Josiah. I find it a sheer coincidence that they found each other this quick. But the encounter did impact the story told for this episode. It is a good thing that Strand assured Sarah that Wendell is okay. But can we honestly believe him since we have not seen his body?

Speaking of which, I like the fakeout they did in the episode as I was believed that Wendell was devoured. But as I learned with TV tropes, until I see a body, nothing is confirmed. But Rufus getting bitten gives me flashbacks to Shiva being devoured on the main show.

Mo Collins as Sarah, Danay Garcia as Luciana – Fear the Walking Dead _ Season 7, Episode 4 – Photo Credit: Lauren “Lo” Smith/AMC

Even though they appeared for a few minutes, it is good to know that the other characters such as Charlie, Lucianna, and AL are doing fine and that they watched over Sarah. Mo Collins did great during this episode! I wondered why it took them this long to showcase her full potential.

I am really curious on why Strand is written this way. It is becoming difficult to believe that Strand will evolve into a different character every episode. He wouldn’t be this ruthless and evil, though it was better than riding hot air balloons. It’s almost cartoon-like. I find it so petty that he can dictate who can enter his building. He now has a ruthless lackey who was originally a shy guy in the season six finale. It’s hard to believe that.

With the criticisms aside, this episode is solid and one of the best this season!

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