My meetings of the London Comic Con

This July 2018, I lived what will remain one of the best moments of my life: The Comic Con of London.

For this important event, I met four actors playing in Game of Thrones, and one actor who played in Star Wars:

Comic Con of London, Day 1

Vladimir Furdik (Game of Thrones)

The very first guest I met at this Comic Con, is my favorite villain of Game of Thrones, and also among my favorites in general. He is the greatest threat of Westeros: Vladimir Furdik, the actor and Slovak stuntman playing the leader of the white walkers, the Night's King himself. Being a fan of white walkers, as much as with giants and dragons, it was a dream come true for me. Vladimir is a very discreet person, who does not speak much, but he has an incredible presence and a eye of steel, you almost have the impression that he pierces you with his eyes when he looks at you. It's the gaze of Night's King, that's what I felt. For the photo, when he put his arm around my neck, I felt almost crushed, because he has strength. If he had wanted, he could have broken my neck like nothing.

Iwan Rheon (Game of Thrones)

The guest I was praying to meet, because before, I was supposed to meet him at the convention in August, but he had to cancel for personal reasons, which is his right. But before, he came to London's Comic Con, and luckily he did not cancel this time. The only one is the unique Iwan Rheon, aka Ramsay Bolton, one of the most outstanding and cruel characters in Game of Thrones, a character worthy of the Joker's madness. While Ramsay is a monster of the worst kind, Iwan is just the opposite. Smiling, very friendly, he puts people at ease and talks with them. He is also very humble and does not think of himself as a superstar. I could not talk to him too much because there were a lot of people to take photos with him, and besides, he was behind schedule and apparently had a plane to take later, so his agent was a little urgent. Even though it was very short, it was a very strong moment for me to meet him and talk to him.

Comic Con of London, Day 2

Rory McCann (Game of Thrones)

For the second and last day at Comic Con, I met another actor I wanted to meet for a long time because he plays one of my favorite characters from the entire GOT universe: Rory McCann aka Sandor "The Hound" Clegane! I had trouble realizing that I met him, especially when I saw him for real. He is a giant, both in size and talent and inside, I was like "OH FUCK O_O". On the photo, I'm trying to make a tough guy's head, but I realize how ridiculous I look beside him XD. Rory is calm, discreet and after all, it's his right. Once again, there was a lot of people for a photo with him, so the meeting was short, but remained engraved in my mind, forever.

Ellie Kendrick (Game of Thrones)

This time, an actress, and not least: the lovely Ellie Kendrick, aka the intrepid, little but courageous, Meera Reed. Even though Meera is not considered as a main character, I am among those who love the character and care about her. She is a badass, she is among the rare characters who killed a white walker, and I also hope she will come back for season 8, to fight the army of the dead alongside the others. Ellie is really adorable, and it does not show in the photo, but I had to bend my legs a bit to not exceed the frame of the studio, they had adapted it to her size (she is 1 meter 55, and I am 1 meter 86).

Ray Park (Star Wars)

The last guest I met at this comic con was not the least. This time, I realized a childhood dream, which I had been waiting for years. Ray Park, actor and stuntman who played one of the most badass siths in the Star Wars universe: Darth Maul! One of the villains who marked my childhood. I remember being a child, when I watched Star Wars episode I, I thought this villain was so cool and dark. If I had been told one day that in many years, when I would be an adult, I would meet the actor of the character, I would not have believed. Ray is awesome and dynamic, he took his time with each person to talk to them and ask them what pose to do for the photo. For my part, I asked for a dynamic pose, and that's what we did. He is a martial arts pro, and it shows immediately in the poses he does, he has training. He is also very friendly with the fans, because when it was my turn to meet him, he shook my hand very hard and said "Hi man, who are you?" almost as if he was talking to a friend.

Finally, it was a really memorable experience, to meet these actors who play characters that I love a lot, but also to make my first comic con abroad. If I can do it again someday, I will, but it will depend on the guests who will be present.

Mathias, the Killmaster

Fire and Blood \m/

Siren: my new series crush

A few weeks ago now, I discovered by chance a new series appeared this year, and which I hope will last several seasons. Siren.

The story is happening in our time, in a small port city in the United States, Bristol Cove, known for its captions about mermaids. Ben and Maddie are a young couple, both working with marine animals and doing everything to protect marine wildlife from intensive fishing and other threats to the ocean. But their lives change when they meet Ryn, a lost and strange young woman, in search of her lost sister. They will quickly realize that Ryn is not just a human, but a mermaid, and that her sister would be a prisoner at a military base. Very quickly, the situation gets worse, the military doing everything to stifle the case. The ocean does not belong to human beings as they thought, and the situation could quickly lead to a war between humans and the people of the ocean.

What I already like about this series is the appearance and behavior of the mermaids. They are not nice Disney mermaids, but ferocious and dangerous predators, able to kill a shark. Mermaids use their chant to lure their prey towards them, and have claws and sharp fangs. In addition, they have a superhuman strength. When they go on land, their fish tail turn into human legs, and in contact with sea water, become a fish tail again. The metamorphosis is always an excruciating pain because the flesh fuse and detach. Sirens are intelligent and are desperate to defend their territory against humans they consider as invaders, or as prey at times.

My favorite character is Ryn. And not only because she is beautiful and strong, but because she has a complex character. She is a mermaid, and even though she feels mistrust of humans at first, she slowly learns to know them, with Ben and Maddie. She learns their language, their way of life, and learns above all that all humans are not monsters as she thought.

For now, the series has only one season, but I cross my fingers for a second season to come.

Mathias, the Killmaster

Fire and Blood \m/ 

Theory of the Parallel Realities

I have always been fascinated by the theory of parallel realities. Our world would only be one of a myriad of others, all at the same time similar and different. Constants and variables. (Believe it or not, but it's Bioshock Infinite who started my fascination for this theory).
We exist in each reality, but we are different in each of them. I am only one Mathias Poupinais among thousands, just like all of you. For example:
- In this reality I am as I am. In another I can be a woman. In another I am a celebrity. In another, a criminal. In another I am very old. In another I live at a different time (Middle Ages, prehistory, the 1900s, or even in a future that we do not know yet, etc ...). In another I may already be dead, and in another not yet born. The possibilities are limitless.
I think, and this is my opinion, that even if these realities are real or not, our brain is generally conditioned not to be aware of their existence and to protect us from the paradox that it could create in our mind.
This brings me back to another interesting theory: time simply would not exist and all the events (past, present, future ...) would take place exactly at the same time, and the same, without us being aware of it, because again once, our brain would not support the paradox.
I've talked about parallel realities, but there's another theory that joins it: if we die in a reality, among their infinite number, there's bound to be another where we're still alive. So we never die totally. This would be the true form of what is called immortality. 
After all why not? We do not have proof that it exists, but do we have proof that it does not exist?
The universe in which we live is very complex, and perhaps even more than we think.

Mathias, the Killmaster

Fire and Blood \m/ 

2018 = a meeting year of Ice and Fire

I did not expect to live this one day but 2018 will be a year marked forever in my memories. I already met Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister) at an event in Paris, and that was it. But this time there is not one, but several actors / actresses of the series that I will meet, and not least.

At first, in July, my sister and I decided to make a little trip to London, to make our first Comic Con abroad. An experience to live, and seeing the guests who will be there, I can not wait. In London, I will meet the actress Ellie Kendrick, playing the adventurous young woman Meera Reed. The actor / stuntman Vladimir Furdik, aka my favorite villain, the terrifying Night's King. And finally, the one and only Rory McCann, Sandor "The Hound" Clegane, one of the strongest and badass warriors of the entire GOT universe.

And in August, in Paris this time, for a unique event, a special Game of Thrones convention, where several actors will be present. Here are the ones I will meet:

- First, the two children of the Greyjoy family: Alfie Allen, aka Theon, now eunuch but wanting to regain his honor, and Yara the warrior woman and queen of the iron islands.

- Isaac Hempstead-Wright, aka Bran Stark, once young Lord of Winterfell and now almost the equivalent of a god, the three-eyed raven. 

- Iwan Rheon, aka Ramsay Bolton, first bastard of his family, became lord and also the greatest psychopath of all Westeros.

- Nathalie Emmanuel, aka Missandei, a young woman formerly a slave, and now a free maid to Queen Daenerys Targaryen.

This year will be a meeting of Ice and Fire!

Mathias, the Killmaster

Fire and Blood \m/ 

My 1st Evanescence Experience

March 28, 2018. A date and a day that will remain forever etched in my memory. Because it's the day I finally could see a group in concert that I wanted to see for so many years ..... Evanescence, the only and one, a legendary band.
I remember the first time I heard Evanescence in my life. I was ten or eleven, I was in car with my family, and my mother turned on the radio. There was the song "Going Under" playing at this moment and I remember I liked it.
The concert was a bit special because Evanescence was accompanied on stage by a symphony orchestra. The grandeur and luxury of the concert hall, I almost believed myself in an opera.

There was no opening act band, but for the opening, the orchestra first played alone and played some classics. I even recognized mozart and beethoven. I do not listen much classical music but I can recognize the great classics when I hear them. It was interesting and especially a little funny when you know that the audience was composed of fans of rock and metal. But after all, rock and classical music has always been well mixed.

And finally, they arrived. Evanescence. When Amy Lee finally appeared and I finally saw her for real, my heart made a huge leap in my chest. She is even more beautiful in reality, and her voice ..... Her voice ..... For me one of the most beautiful voices in the world .... The voice of an angel sent to earth to sing for the rockers and metalheads. Those who say she has grown too old and her voice is no longer top ..... Bullshits! She is only 36 years old, and her voice has remained magnificent. I rarely had so many thrills at a concert. I have not seen the time pass and it is very quickly pass unfortunately :( Evanescence I miss you already!

I left the room, smiling, with a t-shirt and a poster in my arms, and of course the few photos and videos I made in memory of that day.

Evanescence setlist:

Overture

Never Go Back

Lacrymosa

End of the Dream

My Heart Is Broken

Lithium

Bring Me to Life

Unraveling

Imaginary

Secret Door

Hi-Lo

Lost in Paradise

Your Star

My Immortal

The In-Between

Imperfection

Speak to Me

Good Enough

Swimming Home

Mathias, the Killmaster

Fire and Blood \m/ 

Villain of the Month - Edition N°19

Hellcome followers, for the new edition of the Villain of the Month. This month, go back in a galaxy far far away, to discover one of my (personal) favorite villains in the Star Wars universe: He's the supreme leader of the First Order: Snoke.

There are many theories about Snoke, for example, some think he would be the first Jedi, having shifted to the dark side, others think he is Darth Plagueis, the former master of Sidious and supposedly dead. Well, it's unlikely, because Snoke is described as not being a sith but a powerful being on the dark side. The origins and race of Snoke are unknown, he is described as a humanoid, bald, with a disfigured face and very old appearance.

The goal of Snoke is to see the new Jedi order disappear, and for that, he will not hesitate to corrupt Ben Solo, son of Han and Leia and apprentice of Luke, so that the latter switches to the dark side and destroy the new Jedi temple. Snoke will train Ben on the dark side and give him a new name: Kylo Ren. Snoke will then try to find Luke Skywalker, the last Jedi master in all the universe and will also show an interest for a young human woman, Rey, from unknown origins, discovered on Jakku and having a great connection with the Force.

Rey will be brought by Kylo Ren to Snoke in his throne room, and Snoke will not fail to show his mastery of the Force, and will not be intimidated by Rey's toughness against him, on the contrary, he laughed about. Unlike palpatine who wanted to find a more powerful apprentice, Snoke shows no interest in Rey's power and even demands that Kylo kill her, showing a very (too much) great confidence in his power. This is what will cause his loss as he once again showed his skills for the mastery of the Force, Kylo Ren takes the opportunity to activate the lightsaber of Rey, which was placed on one side of the throne, which pierces Snoke and cuts him in two. The great leader collapses on the ground, having been deceived by the one who was his apprentice and determined to take his place as supreme leader.

For my part, I was very shocked (and even disappointed) that Snoke died so fast. Played by the excellent actor Andy Serkis, a badass style, a clearly visible power, Snoke is an already iconic villain who deserves better. For my part, I choose to believe that he is not totally dead. If the Jedi can return as spirits of the Force after death, it is confirmed that Dark Side Adepts can too. Snoke could then come back as a dark side spirit, even more powerful than when we was alive, and could haunt Rey by trying to corrupt her to the dark side and push her to kill Kylo Ren. Snoke could even mention Rey's parents to stir up her anger.

Mathias, the Killmaster

Fire and Blood \m/ 

Hero of the Month - Edition N°23

The universe of Lord of the Rings has given us a multitude of legendary and iconic characters that we love or hate, but have made a name for themselves and marked the spirits. And here is one of them, and personally, one of my favorite Tolkien characters: Boromir.

Born in the year 2978 of the Third Age, Boromir is the eldest son of Denethor II, the steward of Gondor, and Finduilas of Dol Amroth. His younger brother, Faramir, was born five years later. The two brothers lose their mother very young. They have excellent relations (Boromir protecting Faramir and Faramir admiring Boromir), not at all tainted by jealousy, despite their opposite temperaments and Denethor's preference for his eldest son.

In June 3018 AD, when the armies of Sauron attack the ruins of Osgiliath, Boromir, captain of the Gondor, is sent to defend the city. Overwhelmed by numbers, the Gondorians must retreat behind the Anduin, after having shot down the last bridge over the river; among the last defenders, only four manage to escape, among whom Boromir and Faramir. 

One day, Boromir, representing the Gondor, went to Rivendell, to attend the council of Elrond, to decide the fate of the Ring of Sauront that was found. 

During the council, Boromir does not hesitate to express his fascination for the ring, going so far as to say to use his power against Sauron, but his idea is quickly rejected. Boromir shows himself at first as someone very sure of himself. He becomes one of the members of the Fellowship of the Ring. On another occasion, during the ascent of the mountain, he again shows his desire for the ring, but changes his mind and returns it to Frodo, Aragorn having been ready to use his sword against the Gondorian.

But during the trip, Gandalf falls into the chasm of Moria, and broken, the Fellowship must take refuge in the Lothlorien. In front of Galadriel, Boromir feels very bad and the elven witch shows him a terrifying vision: Minas Tirith in flames, ravaged by the armies of Sauron. Boromir will later confide in Aragorn and the latter, as a friend, will support him.

After their rest with the elves, the Fellowship resumed its journey on the river Anduin and made a halt on the bank of a forest. Frodo having gone away to be a little lonely, cross the road to Boromir, gone to fetch wood. The discussion ignites very quickly and Boromir, like possessed, tries to take the ring by force but fails. Realizing what he has just done, Boromir tries to be forgiven, but too late.

Later, while an Uruk troop attacks, Boromir intervenes to help Merry and Pippin against the attackers. Boromir once again shows his soldiering skills and kills several enemies, but is sadly struck by an arrow sent by the Uruk leader, Lurtz. Despite the injury and pain, Boromir remains standing and continues to fight, killing several uruks despite his injury. Two more arrows hit him, immobilizing him on his knees. Aragorn arrives, kills Lurtz and finds Boromir, dying, three arrows in his chest.

Broken, Boromir accuses himself of all the misfortunes that happened to the Fellowship, no longer recognizing himself, but Aragorn comforts him, telling him that he fought bravely and that his honor is safe. It is with the broken heart that Aragorn attends Boromir's last breath, after he called Aragorn "My brother" and "My King." So were the last words of Boromir, one of the greatest warriorsof the middle-earth.

His corpse is put in one of the elven boats for a funeral. Aragorn will sing for the memory of the late Gondorian. The boat drifted slowly down the river to the waterfalls, carrying the boat and Boromir's body away. 

Mathias, the Killmaster

Fire and Blood \m/