Whispers, Spoilers & Speculation Corner: 01/09/13

This week, we have more news and spoilers about upcoming books, Once Upon a Time, new and returning Syfy shows, and Supernatural. You can access previous spoilers columns here.

Horrific Reads, Bloody Off the Press
By Nathaniel Katz

Centipede Press dominated this week. Their box set of five works by Michael Cisco is now not only available for preorder but is $75 off the regular price of $250. It includes The Divinity Student, The Golem, The Tyrant, The Traitor, and Secret Hours. These will be gorgeous Centipede hardcovers, complete with cover art from Harry O. Morris and a set of new introductions.

Then there is the matter of Charles Beaumont, no doubt best known for his work on The Twilight Zone. Now Centipede is bringing his novels, The Intruder and Run From the Hunter, back into print, along with the short story collection, Mass for Mixed Voices. The books can be ordered as a set from Subterranean Press for now, but will be on the Centipede Press website before too long.

Subterranean Press has some exciting news of its own this week, as well. The trade hardcovers of The Hunter from the Woods are now available to those who missed the pricey limited edition. They also have just announced the new Necroscope novel by Briam Lumley. The Mobius Murders promises to be the finest of weird mysteries and the volume will be illustrated by Bob Eggleton.

Any summary of the week’s horror news, however, simply has to end with Jen Haeger’s Moonlight Medicine: Onset. In it, Haeger makes the stupendously logical and totally, wonderfully absurd connection we have all been waiting for and gives us a werewolf seeking out proper health care in the form of a woman who is both a veterinarian and an MD. Needless to say, trouble follows.

Once Upon a Time (Sunday nights, 8pm, ABC)
By Heather S. Vina

The big casting news this week is that the show is casting Snow White’s mother!

From TV Guide: “‘The Snow White story usually begins with the stepmother trying to get rid of her,’ says executive producer Edward Kitsis, ‘so we thought it would be fun to explore what Snow’s mom was like. Her name is Eva, and she’s the person who taught Snow White how to be Snow White.’

“Likely airing in late February and early March, the two-part episode, featuring the return of child dynamo Bailee Madison as Young Snow, will naturally take a dark turn. Says exec producer Adam Horowitz: ‘Snow’s mother has a surprising connection to someone we know.’”

This should be interesting. Hopefully, they won’t make her mother into someone bad. And I bet the connection is with Rump!

Executive producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz had a post-episode Q&A with TV Line, answering some questions about what will happen now that Cora has Archie and what her plans are. They also had one with TV Guide, where they expanded on the issues that Emma will face now that she has discovered her magic.

TV Line also has a post of a tweet that Michael Raymond-James (Neal Cassidy) made reporting that he will return to the show in episode 14, “Manhattan,” and will appear in the rest of the season. Season three is still up in the air, according to him.

The TCAS were this weekend. TV Tango (as well as other twitters) reported that Giancarlo Esposito (Currently on Revolution) reported that while he would like to return to the show, there are no plans for him to as of right now.

Spoiler TV has up the “Get Hooked” promo on their site.

The cast and crew spoke with several outlets, previewing this past week’s episode “The Cricket Game.” Here is the Huffington Post article. Kitsis and Horowitz also give some hints about how the Charming-Snow clan are going to be dealing with their new family bonds, and what will be upcoming for Rump and for Rump/Belle.

Here is TV Guide‘s article. Morrison, Goodwin and Parrilla hint at some of the things their characters will be dealing with, as well as discussing how popular the outdoor setting has become for visitors to come and watch them film.

Colin O’Donoghue did an interview with TV Line where he gave a few tidbits about what is coming up for Hook.

A cast member from Britain’s Downton Abbey will be making an appearance on the show. Lesley Nicol, who plays the cook Mrs. Patmore on the period drama, has been cast in a guest role. No info yet on who that role will be, though.

Huffington Post has up a video celebrating the love stories of the show.

Ausiello at TV Line dropped a few spoilers last week for the show:

“Question: The lack of Once Upon a Time news regarding August W. Booth/Pinocchio and his current state/possible reunion with his dad is getting on my nerves. Please tell me you have a scoop about him? -Angelique”

“Ausiello: The best answer series cocreator Eddy Kitsis will part with, regarding August being seen again this season, is: ‘Perhaps.’ He goes on to add, ‘We are hoping to have him back. August is an important part of the fabric of the story, and it’s a story that we are continuing to tell.’ In the meantime, though, Kitsis confirms that ‘you will get the answer’ to what it was that August showed Neal Cassidy to convince him of Emma’s fantastical backstory.”

“Question: I have a question about Once Upon a Time: Are there any chances to get the Huntsman/Jamie Dornan back? I miss him so much!!!”

“Ausiello: As has often been the series creators’ refrain, you will maybe someday see Dornan again in a flashback, but never in Storybrooke. ‘[Sheriff] Graham is dead,’ asserts Kitsis, ‘and if we brought him back, everyone would say we were messing with continuity. We don’t want to do that.’ Kitsis notes that last season revealed one love of Emma’s life – son Henry – while this cycle introduced us to another, Neal Cassidy, who likely will resurface during February sweeps. As for a certain pushy pirate? ‘Hook is obviously eye-candy,’ Kitsis allows. ‘I don’t know if Emma would stare at him and think he’d be a great father to Henry, but he might be fun in Vegas!’”

And he had another one for this week!

“Question: Looking for a Once Upon A Time scoop. - Sara”

“Ausiello: Your search is over. The ABC hit is casting the 20-year-old version of Regina’s father as well as his fortysomething father, presumably to take part in the same flashback that features Rose McGowan as Young Cora.”

Spoiler TV has a bit more on that casting scoop. “For episode 2.16, the guest role of ‘King Xavier’ is being cast. He’s 45, has a mean sense of humor, and worries about being able to maintain his extravagant lifestyle since gold has become more scarce in his kingdom. Also being cast is the co-star role of a 20-something ‘Prince Henry’ (Regina’s father as a young man), whose marriage could change King Xavier’s fortunes.”

I don’t remember hearing that Regina’s father was a Prince. Then why was her mom so power crazy, if she was the wife of a prince?

TV Line also has up a sneak peak for “The Outsider,” featuring Rump and Belle, and Granny and the Dwarves. Seems like Hook has made a move on Belle, and the poor Dwarves are homesick!

Spoiler TV has up some promotional photos for “The Outsider” at their site.

And finally, the final ratings are out for this new year’s first episode. The show received a 3.1/8 with 9.10 million viewers. That’s actually the same demo and viewership that they had for their last new episode!

Syfy Spoilerpalooza
By Heather S. Vina

For those fans of the Syfy shows, several of them are returning this month. Syfy has announced their “POWERFUL MONDAYS” programming, which consists of new (to the U.S.) series Continuum at 8pm, with returning series Being Human at 9pm and Lost Girl at 10pm.

Continuum is a new show that aired over the summer in Canada, starring Rachel Nichols (Criminal Minds, G.I. Joe) and Victor Webster (Castle, Mutant X).

From the press release: “Kiera Cameron, a cop from the future who finds herself trapped in the present day. When a group of fanatical terrorists escapes their planned execution in 2077 by vaulting back in time to 2012, they inadvertently sweep along Kiera, a dedicated City Protective Services officer. With unexpected assistance from teen tech genius Alec Sadler, Kiera infiltrates the local police department and forms an uneasy alliance with her new partner, detective Carlos Fonnegra. Though desperate to get back to her husband and son, Kiera concentrates on bringing down the terrorists before they change the course of history.”

I tried it over the summer, and I enjoyed it. Nothing stellar, but it was an entertaining show and the mystery was interesting enough. The show has been renewed for a second season, but, right now, there is no ETA on when it will film or air.

Being Human is returning for it’s third season, only, without former co-showrunner Jeremy Carver, who has taken over showrunning duties on Supernatural. There shouldn’t be too many noticeable changes, though, since Anna Fricke (Carver’s wife and his co-showrunner in the first two seasons) is remaining on as showrunner.

From the press release: “The new season of Being Human picks up 15 months after the events of last season’s riveting finale which ended with Aidan buried alive as punishment from vampire leader Mother, Sally lost in a state of limbo, and Josh’s plot to kill Ray, his werewolf “maker,” endangering Nora instead. Season 3 features new and returning guest stars including Mark Pellegrino, Amy Aquino, Xander Berkeley, Bobby Campo and Kyle Schmid.”

For fans of the show, Spoiler TV has up a transcript of a conference call with Sam Witwer and Anna Fricke, with some spoilers for the first couple of episodes.

Lost Girl is also returning for its third season. From the press release: “The victory in the final battle of Season 2 has created new alliances for Bo (series star Anna Silk) along with reinvigorating old enemies, like ‘The Morrigan,’ played by Emmanuelle Vaugier (Two and a Half Men, Human Target), whom Bo crossed in an attempt to bring peace to the Faedom. Now Bo, who until now has refused to pick a side, will be forced to make a deadly decision. Among the guest stars will be Linda Hamilton (Terminator) and joining the Lost Girl cast this season is Rachel Skarsten (The Vow, Flashpoint) in a recurring role as ‘Tamsin,’ a thrill-seeking, sexy new Fae who ruffles many feathers. Returning for season three are Kris Holden-Ried (The Tudors, Underworld 4) as ‘Dyson’; Ksenia Solo (Life Unexpected, Black Swan) as ‘Kenzi’; Zoie Palmer (The Guard, Instant Star) as ‘Lauren’; Rick Howland (Billable Hours, Murdoch Mysteries) as ‘Trick’ and K.C. Collins (Owning Mahowny, Doomstown) as ‘Hale.’”

Geek News at the MTV site has up a couple of promotional videos from Syfy for the returning and new shows!

Supernatural (Wednesday nights, 9pm, CW)
By Paula R. Stiles

There are no new episodes until next week, when the show returns with 8.10, “Torn and Frayed.” Tonight, Jensen Ackles’ directed episode of the season, “Heartache,” repeats. This has turned out to be fortuitous, since, not only were Ackles and Jared Padalecki invited to present at The People’s Choice Awards, but Ackles and his wife, Daneel Harris Ackles, also have announced that they are expecting their first child.

We do not normally report on personal news or contests, but The People’s Choice Awards are a big deal (as evidenced by the kerfuffle over Padalecki and Ackles not being invited last season, despite the show winning two major awards) and Ackles’ news is likely to affect the filming of season nine to some extent.

The PCAs will be on at the same time as tonight’s repeat of the show, so you saltgunners are going to have to make a choice which you watch. Or use that DVD recorder.

How Ackles’ news might affect season nine is a good question. One thing we’ve seen is that both leads have been given separate storylines this season, which has entailed their having many scenes separated from each other. This reduces their respective screentime without reducing the overall amount of Sam and Dean. So, we could be seeing much more of that.

Another easy way to take the pressure off Ackles (if he wishes) is for him not to direct an episode in season nine. I’m not sure if Ackles would actually do this, since directing appears to be part of his contract and he has expressed a lot of enthusiasm about it, but it would give him more time during the hiatus to be with his new baby.

A third obvious way to give them both time off is to have episodes about other characters. This method, though, has an ugly history on television and can really turn an audience off. You’ve got the infamous Coy and Vance season from Dukes of Hazzard, the largely Mulder-free (and Scully-lite) eighth and ninth seasons of The X-Files and the fun-less romps with sidekicks in the latter seasons of Moonlighting. And the track record of that this season (Yeah, I’m thinking of “Bitten”) is spotty.

That said, “Blood Brothers” showed that it is possible to have an episode focused on a guest character without making the brothers sidekicks in their own show (the biggest problem with this trope). We could see an episode with scenes from the 1940s of Eliot Ness and Ezra working on a case that has echoes in the present, for example, or more Ghostfacers. This may be why we’re seeing so many guest characters introduced, or reintroduced, this season. They’re trying to see who works and who doesn’t.

The official synopsis for 8.11, “LARP and the Real Girl,” is up:

“FELICIA DAY RETURNS! – Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) investigate the mysterious deaths of two LARPers (Live Action Role Playing) who were playing a game entitled ‘Moondoor.’ The guys are thrilled to discover the Queen of Moondoor is none other than Charlie (guest star Felicia Day). The three learn that a fairy (guest star Tiffany Dupont) has been commandeered to harm people and the only way to stop her is to find her master. Jeannot Szwarc directed the episode written by Robbie Thompson.”

Dupont has been a very busy guest star, lately, and appears to have her own Twitter account. Szwarc’s last directed episode on the show was “Adventures in Babysitting.” And, of course, we’re all hoping Robbie Thompson will redeem himself after “Bitten” and that this will be more like “The Mentalists.”

I am very, very curious about the fairy angle (though I seriously doubt the brothers will be “thrilled” to run into Charlie again). A major shibboleth for upholding canon in this one will be if Dean can still see fairies – and if it will be important to the story. Both things should be true in canon. This could also lead to more fun with the idea of perception, since nobody else should be able to see fairies unless the fairy is both powerful and actually interested in being seen. Sam will probably think Dean is bonkers, at first.

The name “Moondoor” (Yeah, “Mordor,” we get it, show) may also have a triple meaning of referencing the portal to Fairie.

This week’s issue of TV Guide has an article out about the upcoming three episodes. Most of the 8.10 stuff is reiteration, but there’s a photo from 8.11 (including Jensen Ackles in what looks like vaguely-English-Civil-War-by-way-of-Kevin-Costner’s-version-of-Robin-Hood garb, Jared Padalecki in FBI mufti, Felicia Day in fantasy sword-and-sorcery female fighter gear, and some chick in a wedding dress from the 1950s. None of this costuming is medieval, show. Just sayin’). The photo of Jensen Ackles confirms an Ausiello tease that the brothers would end up in SCA costumes.

Just a warning that we medievalists are under a geas to snark up, down and sideways about any medievalesque storytelling we come across. Before you can get your PhD in Medieval History, you have to sign a contract in blood. So, expect the review of 8.11 to be Snark City.

Further apropos to the article, it seems that Henry Jones Jr. – sorry, Henry Winchester – the brothers’ grandfather – wasn’t a mechanic, after all, as John claimed. Ya don’t say. I’ll confess to being intrigued by this character. On the flip side, I don’t know when Charlie became a “fan fave” on the show, but whatever. Speaking of recurring writer favorites, D.J. Qualls is in a new FX series, Legit, which may explain his having only been in one episode this season, despite being established as NuBobby.

We have a new episode title out, this one for 8.18. It’s “The Apple Dumpling Gang.” No, I’m not kidding.

There are some character spoilers out from 8.16, “Remember the Titans.” It seems that Prometheus and Zeus will appear (so, literal Greek mythology going on here), and that Prometheus will seek help from the brothers. A pagan god as the PiP? That could be interesting. The episode will be written by Dan Loflin and directed by Steve Boyum.

Ty Olsson is starring in a new sci-fi TV movie/series called “Borealis,” which is supposed to air this Friday at 9pm EST/6pm PST on the Space Channel in Canada. He’s been promoting it on his Twitter for the past month. There’s an article out about it on Space here, though the video is no longer available, and some photos here. This article has some more info about the characters and the plot. The story is about the Canadian Arctic a few decades in the future, when Global Warming has melted all the ice (Ha. I’ve written a series about the opposite scenario, since the eventual end result of Global Warming is supposed to be an ice age around 2050, right about when we run out of oil).

Check it out if you get a chance.

Ratings for last week’s repeat of “What’s Up, Tiger Mommy?” again tied for first place with Arrow and The Vampire Diaries in the demo. The show was also second in audience after Arrow, with a 0.4/1 and 1.31 million in audience, up ten thousand from last week. Savor it while you can. I’m sure The Vampire Diaries (which doesn’t repeat very well) will gallop right back to first place once it returns with new episodes.

We’ll be back next week with more spoilers. Stay tuned and check out our reviews of Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, Torchwood, The Event, Once Upon a Time, Grimm and Supernatural.

If you like these spoilers, please help continue our site by making a donation, buying one of our fiction issues, or buying one of our books: Fraterfamilias, Historical Lovecraft, Future Lovecraft, and our Gothic horror anthology, Candle in the Attic Window. You can also buy Paula’s non-fiction book on medieval Spanish history, Templar Convivencia.