NorsePlay.

We loved Midsommar as a horror film, and that's its function.  While NorsePlay's all about media that uses the Norse Lore, as an incidental conveyance for Lore  Midsommer requires some explaining. [Spoilers happening now.] With the subgenre of folk horror, traditions & folklore become subverted & alienized to provoke uncertainty & fear. That's a horror film's job, and Midsommer co-opts four specific things from the Lore to help its story do this: 1. The Runes. Stitched in clothing, painted in folk art inside wall murals, handwritten in a book, and on two rather fake looking runestones, Midsommer uses the Runes as indecipherable roadsigns to sub/consciously make the viewer anxious about where the film's driving them. Aesthetically, the Runes by themselves evoke a mysterious & magical feel . In the Lore, the Hávamál explains that through Odin's self-sacrifice he gains knowledge of the Runes  as a writing system, as associative symbols, and as...

With the prevalence of fandom for Tom Hiddleston's portrayal of the God of Mischief (just search "Loki's Army" for the depth of it), Disney will be producing a dedicated series for their Disney+ channel. Most Disney TV shows are too over-the-top and the acting style is nearly always "on" in a bad way ( Descendents for a somewhat villain-centric example). Also the two Asgardian-related episodes of Agents of Shield really could've been better. Word is that the show will follow Loki through the Endgame timeline, but we feel it would be more of a hit to do the Kid Loki storyline from Journey Into Mystery . Maybe for second season, if this slated for 2021 show gets proper treatment. [Loki from the fun 1966-7 The Mighty Thor cartoon series.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by...

While the Taika Waititi Ragnarok installment was our least favourite for its divergence in overt comic tonality from the franchise 's tenor, it appears Marvel has retained Waititi for the next one and just announced that someone new will be cast as Thor in this fourth film: [Natalie Portman as Jane Foster as Thor.] The concept of Lady Thor successfully hit the comics in 2014, and with MCU's Thor gone a'viking with the Guardians of the Galaxy crew, it seems Natalie Portman's going to heft the hammer . We just hope Kat Dennings will come along as her divine intern and that the director will funnel the humour just to Darcy Lewis where it belongs. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launc...

My bestie sent me this picture of ScandiKitchen 's NorsePlay'd cup. But does a  Star Wars pun from this renowned London eatery actually have anything real to do with Norse Lore? Yes, actually. Aside from the day launching resilience one gets from their cuppas of morning & afternoon  black tips   tea,  that Norse Force is Megin. Megin is the force of intent gathered in the horn ritual , the spiritual energy you're gifting the Gods when you blót. If performed in a pleasing fashion, and if the Gods do accept your gift of Megin, then this exchange ensures that the Norse Gods Be With You in the force of those intentions. [photo by Justin Beltran .] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studie...