(Photo courtesy of HBO and Marvel, all rights reserved)

This April Winter is here, we are in the Endgame, and COBRA Kai is freaking back! With the return of Game of Thrones and Avengers Endgame, April 2019 is going to smash every TV ratings and box office record. We have the dates and info on each return below (including how to get caught up and how to best watch), also learn about a sleeper hit Cobra Kai, whose second season is dropping in April.

Game of Thrones Season 8 (final season) – April 14

The Night King is coming, John is sleeping with his sister, and Cersei is about to do something to screw everyone over at a pivotal moment, the end of Game of Thrones (GOT) is imminent.

When season 7 wrapped up way back in August 2017, I made a selfish prayer. I asked, “God please let me live long enough to see the end of Game of Thrones. “Nothing was wrong with me, I was just so invested in the story that I couldn’t bear thinking about not knowing how things end up. Back then 2019 felt so long away, but here we are, nearing the return of the Starks, the Lannisters, the Targaryens, and I couldn’t be more pumped.

What started out as just violence, sex, and dragons, has become an international phenomenon (maybe those 3 things were the key hmm).  People from all walks of life love GOT and are deeply invested in the characters and story. I’ve heard people on the train talking about the Night King and others out at dinner arguing over how many wolves are left.  It’s made a huge cultural impact and I put it up there with The Wire & Breaking Bad as one of the greatest TV shows of all time.

I predict it will smash every TV ratings record and the finale will be some Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show type of situation where the actual crime rate goes down because everyone is watching TV.

How to get caught up: Well if you got HBO, or KODI, you can obviously rewatch each season, but that’s a tall order, especially now. If you have already watched each episode and just want a refresher, some GOT pump up time, I would recommend watching some of the watershed episodes including: The Red Wedding, The Battle of the Bastards, and Beyond the Wall. Those episodes will get you ready for the 8th and final season.

Best way to Watch: Some people like having Game of Thrones parties, but I say F that. There’s too big of a possibility you’ll have a chatty-catty in the group that won’t shut the hell up when something important is happening: Tv, “John Snow your real father is…WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK OF GRONK RETIRING“. This is season 8, this is serious, it all ends here, no time to play nice. I would recommend watching it with your own version of the Night’s Watch, people you can trust to respect the show as much as you. Obviously, watch it in a dark room with snacks and if you can, while wearing your own Stark faux-fur cloak. I personally like watching it with my Dog Hunter because he has a long snout and reminds of a dragon.

Predictions for the Show: Cersei makes an alliance with the Night King, but not sure how you communicate with the dead. I predict she screws over the forces of good in a pivotal battle against the Dead that causes a lot of people’s deaths. She will do something like not send her troops or block forces from going to help our heroes and cause many important people to die. I think she may also cause the death of Ayra and this, in turn, will be what causes Jaimie to finally slay her (King, Queen, and Sister Slayer). I also predict someone will destroy the wheel and the Iron Throne.

Cobra Kai Season 2 – April 24

Cobra Kai is a continuation of the 80’s movie franchise The Karate Kid. The show follows the original antagonist, now turned protagonist, Johnny Lawrence. Johnny has fallen on rough times since we last saw him lose to Daniel Larusso at the All Valley Karate Tournament. He works a shit job, drives a shitty corvette, lives in a decrepit apartment, and is estranged from his kid. This is in stark contrast to his former foe, Daniel Larusso, who is now a successful car dealership owner with a gimmick based around his karate exploits. Johnny is down on his luck, stuck in the 80’s, and can’t adapt to our current times.

One night while getting beer to continue his lifelong bender, Johnny takes on a bunch of punks that try to rob him and kick their ass using his 80’s Cobra Kai Karate. A local kid, who is often bullied by the punks, harasses Johnny to train him. Johnny finally accepts and reopens the Cobra Kai Dojo to treat outcasts how to defend themselves and be “badass”.

The two original actors for Johnny and Daniel (Ralph Macchio) reprise their roles and season one was surprisingly great. It had tight writing, good acting, hilarious moments, and was a rare sequel/spinoff to a franchise that wasn’t just a nostalgia pile of crap. The best moments are when Johnny embodies the 80’s and tries to teach today’s “safe space youth”, not “to be pussies” and stand up for themselves. It’s a fresh take on the characters and I would recommend it to anyone with a decent sense of humor.

How to get caught up: Season one is available on Youtube Red.  I did the free trial last year, just to watch the show, and wasn’t disappointed.

Best way to watch: Like Netflix, Youtube Red, makes the whole season available at once. They are only 30-minute episodes and I watched them on my phone while traveling to and from Nantucket (Youtube Red lets you download youtube videos for offline viewing). It made the boat trips fly by and I really enjoyed the show. If you have a Smart Tv, or something like a Firestick, you can also watch the show on your TV.

Predictions for the show: The old Cobra Kai leader that made a cameo at the end of season 1 will come back and do something to try and ruin Daniel’s new dojo. Johnny will then turn on his old master and team up with Daniel at a pivotal moment.

Avengers Endgame – April 26

Iron Man came out in 2008, starting the current Marvel Cinematic Universe (CMU), and each subsequent movie has been building towards this movie. It all ends here. Avengers Endgame is the finale for the current MCU. This is the movie that will define the last 11 years for the MCU, and superhero movies in general.

This is also a goodbye for many characters/actors in the MCU. Chris Evans has already stated he won’t reprise his role as Captain America and I predict others will follow. However, if this is the end, as Thor would say, “Let it be the noblest ending of all time.”

Endgame will be over 3 hours and if it’s on the level of Infinite Wars, I will be ecstatic. There are heavy hints there will be some sort of time traveling (the white suits) or a visit to the negative zone (Ant-man will def be involved).  I’m looking forward to Hawkeye coming back as the badass Ronan (kind of like a ninja in the comics), the Hulk making his triumphant return, Thor kicking some ass, and for Rocket Raccoon to once again steal the show.

My only concern is I thought Captain Marvel kind of sucked (too much overacting and hit you over the head with every point) besides the cat. I hope they can right the ship for Endgame and Avengers goes out on the highest note of all the Marvel movies. 

How to get caught up: If you are hardcore, watch all the Marvel movies. However, if you have a life, then watch: Avengers 1, Captain America Civil War, Thor Ragnarok, and Avengers Infinite War (those will fill in all the holes you need to know).

Best way to watch: The movies baby! Grab your popcorn, soda, candy, and get ready to roll. I’ve read comics my entire life, huge comic nerd, and usually I buy tickets to the premiere. However, at Infinite War, I had a bunch of Noob teenagers, screaming and crying throughout the movie, not letting people enjoy the flick. People asked them to stop and they just got louder (I’m pretty sure I threw popcorn at them after they refused to quiet down, Ranna was horrified).

I would say seeing it in the morning or a matinee may be your best bet. I am having nose surgery April 26th, to fix deviated septums, so I hope I’m in some sort of condition to enjoy the film.

Predictions for the movie: They go back in time or go to that place where Antman can shrink to and use the particles to bring everyone back. They will restore the people of the universe, kill Thanos, and a few heroes will die, probably Captain America. I also predict Wolverine will make a cameo, stabbing someone. In the comics they could only beat Thanos because he secretly wanted to lose, will be interesting to see if that comes into play here.