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Best cord-cutting stacks: choosing your streaming service lineup

Most of us have left cable companies in the dust, but which streaming service is right for me?

A recent Deloitte report found that 47% of consumers say there are way too many streaming options.

Netflix and Hulu have changed the game when it comes to how we consume media. They’ve been normalizing subscription services and getting us to break up with cable.

As more enter the mix, consumers are piecing together their content from an increasingly fragmented space. Accessing the hottest new shows can come with a hefty price tag.

As cord-cutting costs continue to rise, cable companies will hopefully start stepping in with consolidated bundles.

In the meantime, how do you choose which streaming services to buy?

Too many options

Customers want options, yes. But, it’s frustrating when content just vanishes all of a sudden or is canceled without warning.

That Deloitte report found that the average consumer has three streaming services. For the platforms themselves, the secret to success has been original content.

Netflix led the way, pumping out hits like “Stranger Things” and “Orange is the New Black.” However, now Hulu’s got its own set of hits like “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Also, HBO attracts viewers with programming like “Game of Thrones.”

Those three options alone could easily round out the average consumer’s streaming stack. These easily have enough content to keep you glued to your couch for the long-term.

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What’s the best content mix in 2019?

As far as choosing the right mix of subscriptions, that depends on what you like to watch. Take stock of which platforms have the best mix of “comfort programming” and original content.

For example, Hulu now hosts shows like “Malcolm in the Middle and “30 Rock,” while Netflix has re-watchable faves like “The Office” and “Friends.” Hulu has the edge when it comes to licensed programming. They also have “Bob’s Burgers,” “The Simpsons,” and “Seinfeld.”

Netflix offers the most content overall. They have a constant stream of new comedy specials from heavy-hitters like Tom Segura to legit features like the Oscar-winning “Roma.”

If you’re committed to HBO, you can subscribe to the standalone service, of course. But because of its origins inside the traditional cable package, it’s sometimes included as an add-on with other services.

It’s worth noting that HBO programming isn’t always a win year-round. We’re enjoying the final season of “Game of Thrones,” and “Barry” is back as well. But there’s always a lull after the spring programming block comes to a close.

And then, there’s Amazon, which well, comes with your Prime subscription. They also have great original content such as the movies “The Big Sick” and “Last Flag Flying.”

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A few other areas to consider:

New Movies — HBO shows a rotating lineup of recent releases, though it’s kind of a mixed bag. Amazon Prime and iTunes always have the latest hits. However, you can expect to pay-per-view if you’d like to catch the latest Oscar noms and blockbusters.
Family Content — PBS and YouTube Kids provide a solid line-up of kid-friendly content. And, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon come with a mix of cartoons and movies the whole family can enjoy.
Sports — Sports content is harder to come by than movies and TV shows. ESPN+ and NFL GamePass are among the more affordable options, but they leave out big games like the Super Bowl and other championship events. You’ll usually be able to get the title games with an antenna, however. Fubo’s live channel lineup might be the best option unless you’d rather stick with your local cable provider.
News and politics — Like many cord-cutters, you could lean on the radio and a handful of news sites to keep you informed of the latest updates. However, some people still prefer watching the news the old-fashioned way. PlutoTV offers some news channels through the free app, as does YouTubeTV and cable entrants like DirecTV Now.

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Subscription saturation is about to get worse

Later this year, more entrants are expected to enter the fold, for an even more fragmented streaming landscape. Disney’s version will host animated classics and Marvel’s content library, making it a potential win for families.

While Disney also owns Hulu, the company plans to keep the subscriptions separate for now — so you’ll still have to pay for multiple accounts.

We’ve also got Apple TV+ on the horizon and AT&T’s WarnerMedia service.

Interestingly, the WarnerMedia service isn’t AT&T’s first attempt at a streaming service. DirecTV Now is the telecom giant’s existing offering. It is a competitor to platforms like YouTube TV, Sling, and PlayStation Vue that aims to bring a cable-like line-up to the live stream.

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AT&T’s Time Warner purchase represents a shift. The WarnerMedia streaming service won’t be released for a while. A beta test is planned later this year, but the streaming platform could bundle some of the standalone options.

Again, we’ll have to see how big cable shakes up the landscape or whether Hulu and Disney join forces.

At the end of the day, maybe we should all just give up and head over to Goodwill to stock up on used DVDs.

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‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ trailer shows witch at war

See the new trailer for the ‘Maleficent’ sequel.

The dark witch is back in Disney’s first trailer for “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.”

The trailer shows Maleficent, played by Angelina Jolie, as she wages a one-witch war on the kingdom near the Moors from the first film. Maleficent appears to be at odds with the new queen played by Michelle Pfeiffer.

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The first film, “Maleficent,” retold the classic “Sleeping Beauty” story from the perspective of the villain. In that movie, Maleficent wasn’t always evil and only fought the kingdom after being betrayed by the king.

Maleficent was also given a complicated relationship with Princess Aurora, played by Elle Fanning. She still lays a curse on her as she does in the original story, but this time, she forms a bond with her while watching her grow up. The two form what could almost be described as a mother-daughter relationship. When Aurora is cursed, Maleficent fights to save her. It is also Maleficent’s kiss that ends up bringing her back from her eternal sleep.

We are hoping to see Maleficent use the full force of her powers. We want to see her become a fire-breathing dragon, lay curses on her enemies, and summon armies to do her bidding. Also, we want to see her do all those things while touting those menacing cheekbones.

The film is set to come out in October of this year.

New ‘Aladdin’ song clip is… worrisome

Oh no. Oh no.

So this summer’s upcoming live-action “Aladdin” has been catching hell since the first terrifying shots of Will Smith’s genie character hit the internet. Today, we got more than a minute of this movie’s version of the song “Prince Ali.” Buckle up.

What is even going on here? As Vulture pointed out, the song is now sllloooooww. Refresh your memory of the original. It’s jaunty, it’s bombastic, it’s packed with life.

In contrast, the live-action version feels like a low-energy rehearsal for the real thing. Also weird: Smith’s trademark “ha ha” and “woo” and “uh-huh” ad-libs feel like something he’s doing just to kill time.

Also, why are we seeing ostriches during the “exotic-type mammals” line? Was no one even looking at the lyrics?

Disney’s live-action “Aladdin” arrives in theaters on May 24.

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Top 10 magical staffs in pop culture

From Overwatch to the MCU, these staffs put most other weapons to shame!

Staff fight! — Oh, yeah. There’s gonna be a lot of Gandalf.

Grab your wizard hat, double-edged straight sword, and haversack of rations, because we’re going on an adventure!

If you were like us as a kid, after reading a good fantasy novel or watching a particularly exciting movie, you went outside and played with sticks. You imagined they had the power to shoot flames, summon shields, or turn people into frogs.

Why? Because magical staffs are awesome! Whether they channel a user’s inherent energy, like Gandalf’s staff, or possess wild magic of their own, like Wabbajack, each of these iconic scepters contain the stuff of dreams, nightmares, and more.

So, let’s talk about the…

Top 10 Magical Staffs in Pop Culture

10. Jafar’s staff

Ew. Creep.

Before Jafar takes over Agrabah, fights Aladdin, and turns into a wildly powerful genie of darkness, his staff is nothing short of memorable. The moment he dials in on Jasmine’s father, the Sultan, with those jeweled snake eyes and turns a once-proud man into his personal flying monkey, there’s no forgetting his staff!

Seriously. If you saw a costume-less person on Halloween holding a snake scepter, we’re willing to bet you’d think: “Huh, where’s the rest of their Jafar getup?” Trust us, it’s true.

But let’s ask the real questions here: does Jafar use his own magic? Does the staff have power itself? Is he a magician because he found the staff, like Aladdin found the lamp? Is Jafar, at heart, just another street rat dreaming of becoming a prince, who took a wrong turn toward the dark side? Is his mother named Martha?

Food for thought!

All musings aside, we’re pretty excited for the live-action remake of “Aladdin”. See it in theaters May 24!

9. Every Pickaxe from Fortnite

HAAAAAAHAHAHAHA!

We’re totally joking, these don’t count as staffs and (most of them) aren’t magical. Just wanted to make sure you’re paying attention.

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The Real 9: Jack Frost’s staff

Winter is coming…

If you haven’t seen “Rise of the Guardians,” we recommend it!

Jack Frost, the main character, teams up with Earth’s guardians, the Avengers! Wait, no, he joins holiday heroes like Santa, the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and Sandman. Together, they battle Pitch, the veritable lord of nightmares.

But forget all that for now. Look at Jack’s staff!

It is shaped like an avant-garde shepherd’s crook and made of either a gnarled branch or a bunch of brown paper towels wrapped around PVC pipe. This staff creates ice and cold when used by Jack Frost. Generally, he just brings winter to Earth, but when children are in danger of Pitch’s nightmare-scape, he’ll essentially become Frozone from “The Incredibles.”

We’re pretty sure Jack Frost’s staff isn’t the source of his true power, because he became a guardian after saving his brother from ice. THEN he gained frost magic, so it was inside him all along! Isn’t that nice?

8. Mercy’s Staff (Caduceus)

In the picture above, the cosplay staff was made entirely of Legos.

Now, about the staff: anyone who’s played Overwatch knows the importance of healers. No healer is better known than the techno-angelic Mercy, who uses her staff to heal teammates while they fight. We aren’t exaggerating when we say a good medic makes the difference between life and death, victory and defeat.

Wouldn’t it be great if your teammates didn’t also verbally abuse you while playing healer? That would be awesome.

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7. Sailor Moon Staffs

Ever been to Comicon?

If so, you’ve probably seen the Sailor Moon girls. And if you’ve seen the Sailor Moon girls, you’ve probably seen their awesome staffs!

Each one of the Sailors has their own staff, but Sailor Moon herself wields the Moon Stick. The Moon Stick allows Sailor Moon’s alter ego to transform into Sailor Moon. It also allows her to launch attacks such as the Moon Healing Escalation Attack.

If you haven’t seen “Sailor Moon,” do yourself a favor and check it out on Crunchyroll.

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6. Maleficent’s Staff

Quick list: Maleficent’s staff…

Curses Aurora into a deep slumber.
Turns Maleficent into a will-o-the-wisp and then a spinning wheel to complete the requirements of her own curse.
Summon a huge storm, lightning, AND thorns.
Turns Maleficent into a GIANT DRAGON!

Never forget, in the original animated film, this staff performed some of the most exciting and versatile feats of magical power ever to be seen in a Disney movie.

5. Shazam’s Staff

The recent release of Shazam contained what we believe to be a seriously underrated staff! Simply by touching it and saying the wizard “Shazam”s name, orphan Billy Batson turns into a superhero!

While the staff doesn’t actually produce ice, control minds, or open portals like you’d expect from something on this list, it’s still awesome. We believe the ability to turn anyone into a super-strong, lightning-powered hero who can fly gives it a firm bid for Number 5, at least.

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4. Gandalf the White’s Staff

Few character introductions hold a candle to that of Gandalf the White. He appears in a flash of glory and uses pure magical energy to swat aside Legolas’s arrow and Gimli’s ax. When the radiance dies down, you see him fully, in new duds holding a beautiful white staff.

It’s his final form: the original convoluted staff became a shiny, pale piece of artistically intertwined branches. When put to its full use, Gandalf can personally ward off an entire flock of Nazgul.

Even when used without magic, it still can knock orcs over the head with ease. This staff does a whole lot, and looks good doing it! It’s equally as awesome in the old EA “Return of the King” game.

3. Loki’s “Sceptre”

C’mon, people. It’s Marvel.

The scepter was first seen in “The Avengers,” and came back in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” where it helped create Vision. It also helped give Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver their powers.

The staff shoots blue bolts of energy. It uses the power of the Mind Stone. It can control people with just a touch. The pointy end can skewer agents named Coulson. The blunt end can briefly bonk Captain America in the head before he shouts “not today” and spin-kicks you in your shiny, helmeted head.

Alright, that got silly but you got the point: it’s awesome!

Although you might not be able to wield Thor’s hammer, Loki’s scepter can be just the tool you need to plan your own alien invasion.

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2. Wabbajack

There may never be another game like Skyrim. Our fingers are crossed so hard for Elder Scrolls 6, we can’t even tell you.

In Skyrim, there were many staffs. Dragon priest staffs shot elemental energy, Magelight staffs performed great alteration spells. Conjuration staffs like the Sanguine Rose brought Dremoras from the planes of Oblivion. Yet, despite all of that…

No. Other. Staff. Can. Turn. Someone. Into. A. Sweet Roll.

Wabbajack is the Daedric artifact of Sheogorath, the Daedric prince of madness. When using it on an enemy or an NPC or chicken that looked at you funny, it will have a completely random effect on them.

Maybe it will turn them into a bunny who scampers off in fear. Maybe it will make them explode in a blur of lightning. The Wabbajack essentially throws its target into a lottery where anything can happen to it.

It will forever live on in our hearts as one of the most wildly, delightfully unpredictable weapons in video game history.

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1. Gandalf the Grey’s Staff

Let’s get this line out of the way from “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”

Though frankly, every line that comes out of Gandalf’s mouth sounds a little mystic and exciting, in no small part thanks to the acting prowess of Ian McKellan.

According to the novels, generally, Gandalf uses it to channel his own magic. In the movie, this can be seen when he illuminates the Mines of Moria and fights the Balrog. In the books, we particularly enjoyed when the fellowship was stuck in a tree and Gandalf pretty much burned the forest down to ensure their escape. That was intense!

Aside from Loki’s sceptre, this can be considered the most popular and widely known staff in pop culture. Gandalf the White’s never captured the universal charm and simplistic beauty of this one, with its white crystal held in the twisted branches.

Conclusion

Eat your heart out, swords.

These staffs go to show that your typical weapon might not be the most effective. Though you shouldn’t bring a knife to a gun fight, bringing a staff to a Nazgul fight might be in your best interest.

If we missed anything you wanted to see, let us know about it in the comment section below.

How streaming services are becoming cable all over again

Have you noticed streaming services taking up more of your paycheck?

Remember how revolutionary Netflix and Hulu were when they came out a decade ago?

Being able to watch any episode of dozens of shows anytime you want? For a sub -10 monthly price? It seemed so futuristic, and millions of people across the world cut their cable cords in favor of this new consumer-friendly technology. It truly seemed like we’d see the death of cable television, with its barrage of ads and constantly soaring prices, within the next few years. As it would turn out, cable is still alive and kicking, but something potentially worse is beginning to take its place. Streaming services have become the very evil they set out to destroy.

What’s happening to streaming?

The whole idea behind streaming services in the first place was having all of your favorite movies and shows bundled together in one convenient inexpensive package. Far too often, you’d purchase a cable subscription that would come with dozens of expensive channels that you didn’t want. When they first hit the scene, Hulu and Netflix alleviated this problem by featuring some of the most popular movies and shows on their services. If there was a big show that you wanted to binge, you could bet that it would be on either Netflix or Hulu. This so-called “Golden Age of Streaming” lived up to its name by providing consumer-friendly options to people who had been squeezed dry by cable companies for decades.

This worked out nicely for a few years because even if you bought both Netflix and Hulu it still cost far less than a cable subscription. Both of these services became enormously successful, and it seemed most households had at least one of them.

Of course, in a capitalist society when something becomes successful, other people want to hop on the bandwagon. New streaming services started crawling out of the woodwork. From major networks promoting their own content (HBO Now, Showtime) to massive sports organizations putting up games and exclusive content (NFL Game Pass, NBA League Pass, WWE Network), it seemed everyone wanted a slice of the pie.

This seemed like a good thing at first, as it let consumers view some of their favorite content whenever they wanted. But the more streaming services appeared, the more content was spread out amongst them. Now, simply buying Netflix or Hulu wasn’t enough to get all of the content you wanted.

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Why streaming services have become cable

To understand what streaming services are becoming, we first need to look at the history of cable. When television first became popular in the 1950s, it was free for anyone with a TV to access with an antenna. Broadcasters and television studios made their money off of commercials that played between, and sometimes during, shows. As technology advanced, TV transitioned from analog signals to digital signals, which required a cable box to use.

Cable boxes had to be purchased and subscriptions had to be bought, but consumers thought that it would be worth it because you wouldn’t have commercials. For a while, this was actually true, but cable companies soon became absurdly powerful and started placing commercials in TV programs just because they could. Not only that, but they also started increasing the price of cable packages because there were no other viable options for watching TV. As cable companies got greedier, consumers became disgruntled, yet were forced to play ball if they wanted to watch TV. Now, streaming services are following a similar path.

Netflix and Hulu debuted at incredibly low price points and became extremely popular when pitted against oppressive cable packages. However, as both services realized their stranglehold on the entertainment market, they steadily increased their prices, ignoring consumer outcry. They did this because they could, just as the cable companies did all those years ago.

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Now, as dozens of streaming services have emerged, picking a streaming service is no longer the simple and consumer-friendly affair that it was a decade ago. As new players appeared in the streaming game, they further fracture content across different platforms, forcing consumers to buy new services if they want that content. For example, before Disney+ debuts in November, they will gradually pull all Disney content off of competing platforms like Netflix. Say goodbye to Marvel movies and Disney classics on other platforms, because if you’re a Disney fan, the only streaming option will be Disney+.

It’s this kind of fragmentation that will lead to increased prices and fewer consumer options. Streaming services know that their content is valuable, and they will raise their prices because they know that they can. Disney knows how valuable their properties are just as Netflix knows how popular its original shows like “Stranger Things” or “13 Reasons Why” are. Consumers will be forced to choose between increasingly pricy options to get the content they want, while also paying for content that they don’t care about.

This sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

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New Lion King trailer shows Scar, Timon, Pumbaa

Disney’s new trailer for Lion King shows that Simba is gonna be a mighty king.

“Everything the light touches is our kingdom.”

Disney released the first full-length trailer for the upcoming Lion King remake coming out in July of this year.

We got to see the first shots of Scar, Timon, and Pumbaa. Aside from James Earl Jones reprising his role as Mufasa, the film has an entirely different voice cast from the original.

Taking the reins from Jeremy Irons, Chiwetel Ejiofor takes on the role of Scar. Ejiofor gets a few lines in the trailer, and his chilling tone sent shivers down our spines. You may recognize Ejiofor from movies like “12 Years a Slave” and “Four Brothers.”

Our favorite bug-eating duo also made an appearance. Voiced by Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen, Timon and Pumba sing their hearts out to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

Eichner was made famous by “Parks and Recreation,” and he also has a popular YouTube channel. You probably know Rogen from his movies “Knocked Up” or “Sausage Party.”

We have yet to hear Beyoncé voice Nala or Donald Glover voice Simba. However, we have full confidence that Beyoncé will have a performance that will inspire all the single ladies. Also, Glover is bound to give us a performance that is anything but childish.

Time travel to see now-dead Disney rides with this YouTube channel

Remember the amusement park rides of your childhood? This YouTube channel takes you back in time before they met the wrecking ball.

A trip to a theme park is a rite of passage for nearly every American kid. The rides! The character costumes! The terrible food that costs too much! The souvenirs that also cost too much and end up getting thrown away when you move! To keep audiences engaged, theme parks are always changing. Cool new rides are always being added, but that means old rides and attractions meet the wrecking ball. If you want a serious dose of nostalgia, it’s worth subscribing to the Defunctland YouTube channel.

Time travel to see old amusement park rides with Defunctland

Defunctland produces some high-quality mini-documentaries that detail the now-dead attractions of our youth. From Disney parks to Universal Studios, Cedar Point, and other parks around the world, Defunctland shows you the origin stories of these attractions, the launch hype, and the critical flaws that led to their demise. Here are some of our favorite episodes:

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Defunctland even has its own subreddit where people can share memories of old theme park attractions.

What’s your favorite theme park ride that no longer exists? Let us know in the comments below!

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Elsa is back in a dark, action-packed trailer for ‘Frozen 2’

Elsa’s back and she looks ready to kick some butt.

Disney dropped their first teaser trailer for “Frozen II” today and it looks, uh, dark.

As the trailer begins, Elsa is stuck on a beach somewhere, determined to escape by running out on the ocean and using her freezing powers to solidify the water as she runs on it. Looks like she’s going to have some trouble escaping, but it’s not for lack of trying.

We also see Kristoff riding with a herd of reindeer and looking determined.

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Here’s Elsa using her ice powers to save Olaf from some, uh, pink fire.

And our heroes are overlooking a valley that looks positively autumnal.

You can watch the trailer here:

What’s crazy is that this trailer comes off more as a superhero movie with all its ominous drums, grim faces, and action shots. Maybe they’re setting up Elsa to join the MCU? We’d love to see a duet between her and Tony Stark. (“Would you like to build a suit of nanotech armor?”)

Frozen 2 is scheduled to blow into theaters November 22.

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Daredevil canceled – what the hell is going on at Netflix?

Why would Netflix kill its beloved superhero series?

While Marvel’s movies have been near-universal home runs, their TV shows have been far more hit-or-miss. The gold standard so far would be Netflix’s “Daredevil.” And now, it seems the superhero has met his most terrible foe: cancellation.

What’s really weird is that “Daredevil’s” team had no idea this was coming. Expecting bigger things to come, they even planted a tip to the MCU in the most recent season. Check out this tweet from the show’s executive producer:

Man, so weird to be in the Daredevil writers room today, getting the news that we’re cancelled. On the walls were an entire season 4 laid out – and it was so f***g cool. So many moments we wanted the fans to see… Sigh, this business.

— Sam Ernst (@havensam) November 30, 2018

It seems like the creative team was (pardon the pun) blindsided here. Because Netflix doesn’t release viewership numbers, we don’t know how many people watched “Daredevil.” But anecdotally, we heard far more praise for the show than for many of its Marvel counterparts. Great casting played a role: Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Deborah Ann Woll were just some of the solid ensemble that kept us glued to Hell’s Kitchen.

Along with great acting, “Daredevil” offered incredible fight choreography. This scene from Season 1 was frequently shared as the oh-my-god-you-have-to-see-this clip that drew many to the show.

“Daredevil” also deserves praise for being one of the rare superhero shows to depict semi-realistic pain for its hero. This io9 essay goes into great detail about why we loved the movie heroes of the 1980s – they all got beat up. Now, it’s unlikely you see the hero suffer (or even bleed) in an action movie. “Daredevil” wisely showed the physical toll of spending your nights battling bad guys. That stuff hurts, and the pain lingers. Hurting your hero is the quickest way to gain an audience’s empathy.

What is Netflix doing?

So why would Netflix kill off one of its most acclaimed shows while ambushing the creative team with the news?

Most likely, this is a preemptive move because of Disney’s upcoming video streaming platform. Disney owns the right to nearly all of the Marvel properties except those airing on Netflix. When Netflix canceled “Iron Fist,” it wasn’t too much of a surprise because of that show’s generally poor reception. “Luke Cage” also got the ax. With “Daredevil,” it seems we’ve got a domino chain that will end up claiming “Jessica Jones” and “The Punisher,” too.

Our guess is that Netflix didn’t want to cancel “Daredevil,” but its hand was likely forced by some kind of impending legal battle. Perhaps it was better to end after a highly regarded third season as opposed to fighting Mickey’s lawyers down the line.

We don’t know if Disney will resurrect the same team for its streaming service when it launches next year. (That would set up a strange scenario where Disney might pay Netflix to share the first three seasons for Disney+, or some kind of soft reboot where no one talks about the old storylines.)

I’m so sad that we won’t be continuing this story. Mostly I’ll miss seeing the friends I’ve made everyday. Thank you to every person who contributed to this series over the years. And to @erikoleson because of you we are going out on a high. @Daredevil #Daredevil pic.twitter.com/aVmXu1UwFu

— Deborah Ann Woll (@DeborahAnnWoll) November 30, 2018

Streaming wars to come

When Netflix began, lots of companies lined up to share their catalogs. The ability to stream old episodes even helped “Breaking Bad” grow its audience every year. The power of the streaming platform became so huge, those companies soon pulled their properties off Netflix to try to monetize them elsewhere.

The result is that Netflix has largely abandoned existing properties to start creating their own. Some estimates suggest Netflix will spend $13 billion on original programming this year alone. (For the record, that amount would be enough to make “Avengers: Infinity War” about 32 times.)

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What’s troubling for Netflix, however, is that more than 80% of Netflix streams are for non-Netflix shows like “The Office” or “Shameless.” And 42% of Netflix subscribers watch little or no Netflix originals. Uh-oh.

For Disney’s big streaming leap, they threw down more than $52 billion to buy up Fox, which gets them the rights to the X-Men franchise, “The Simpsons,” and more. Disney is planning its own superhero shows featuring Loki and Scarlet Witch. Disney will have a huge advantage with its library of well-known properties, while Netflix has the edge with existing subscribers and infrastructure, even if they struggle with a fairly abysmal batting average on new series.

It looks like “Daredevil” was simply an innocent bystander in this battle of media titans. When you’re talking about multi-billion dollar media deals, the Kingpins of the world have an unbeatable edge over scrappy blind lawyers from Hell’s Kitchen.

Disney reportedly planning shows for Loki and Scarlet Witch

Could Disney be cooking up some streaming series for two MCU characters?

According to sources at Variety, Disney is planning to jump-start its new streaming service with limited series for a few Marvel Cinematic Universe characters without their own movies.

If you’re one of the three people on earth who hasn’t seen “Avengers: Infinity War,” there are some SPOILERS below:

Tom Hiddleston’s Loki has become one of the MCU’s breakout characters. Though the MCU is often criticised for its paper-thin villains, Loki has become a fan favorite due to his ambiguous morality, strained relationship with Thor, and cunning personality.

His shocking death at the hands of Thanos at the beginning of “Infinity War” perfectly foreshadowed the tragic events of the rest of the film. Due to his demise, his miniseries would presumedly be a prequel. Loki’s disdain towards Thor and his non-royal heritage gives his origin story gravitas and weight, lending itself perfectly for a miniseries. It is currently unknown if Chris Hemsworth, Idris Elba, or any other members of the Thor cast will make appearances in the series.

Infinity War spoilers end here, slowpoke. Now join the rest of mankind and go see the movie.

Wanda Maximoff (a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch) has a relatively unexplored backstory in the MCU. In the comics, she is the daughter of mutant freedom fighter/terrorist Magneto and a practitioner of chaos magic, which often sees her encountering characters like Dr. Strange and Dr. Doom.

In the movies, however, Wanda’s powers are the result of experimentation with the Mind Stone. Her pre-powers upbringing in the war-torn country of Sokovia is harsh, with her and her brother Quicksilver protecting each other from a civil war fought with Stark weaponry. It is unclear if the series will be an origin story or a continuation of “Infinity War,” but it is doubtful Disney would continue the story of “Infinity War” in any capacity before the release of Avengers 4, making it much more likely to be an origin story. Wanda’s upbringing and psyche are more tortured than most of the other Avengers, and a miniseries that explores her pain in detail would make for an interesting show.

These shows aren’t the only ones planned for Disney’s streaming service. A continuation of the fan-favorite “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” is in development for the platform, as well as shows based on “High School Musical” and “Monsters Inc.” While consumers are not pleased with every major studio coming out with their own streaming platform, Disney’s massive catalog of movies and TV shows, as well as original content, is sure to sway uneasy viewers.