5 Geeky Things I'm looking forward to in 2021
Well, I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a year. We’re surviving rather than thriving, and that’s totally okay - it is a global pandemic after all.
Seeing as 2021 is within reaching distance, there're many things generally to keep hopeful about, and I for one would like to list some of my favourite things coming to the world of nerd over the year. Because seriously, there's a lot of doom and gloom right now, but we can always rely on fandoms to help us get through.
I'd love to put in more events and IRL things in here, but sadly right now we just don't know when we'll see the return of things like Comic-Con. Therefore, everything I've included here are things that I know for certain are on the way. So, here we go!
The new MCU shows
I’ll admit, I’ve watched Disney Plus a lot more than I thought I was going to. From classic Simpsons episodes to new titles like Soul, the Mouse House streaming service has me hooked. However, I’m most looking forward to all the new Marvel shows on the way - and we don’t have long to wait.
WandaVision kicks off on 15 January 2021, with new episodes dropping every single week. This looks to be the most bizarre of all the new shows, being a mash-up of classic oldie sitcoms and mind-bending drama. Take a look at the trailer below for a taste:
After that, we have The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, which (if it keeps to schedule) releases on 19 March 2021. I think this will be the most similar to the traditional Marvel action blockbusters - but fortunately for us we’re going to get around eight hours worth of story time.
Of course we can’t mention the new shows without giving a shout out to my favourite God of Mischief, Loki, whose show will debut in May 2021. I’m getting ‘heist vibes’ from this show, and I’m excited to see how the alternate dimension version of the character will slot into the overall narrative.
2021 will also bring What If…?, an animated show about alternate versions of classic Marvel plots, Hawkeye, a series following the sharpshooting Avenger, and Ms. Marvel, a show exploring a brand new character in the MCU - Kamala Khan. She’s a polymorph who writes fanfiction, so I think I’m going to love her.
Sonic the Hedgehog 30th anniversary
Now I can admit that Sonic is a bit less mainstream than the MCU, but it is the nerdy series that has captured my heart for the longest. I grew up on both the 2D and 3D games, which got me into animated shows such as Sonic X and Sonic Underground, which led me to reading the Archie comics and generally exploring online fandoms for the first time ever.
The first Sonic the Hedgehog game released in 1991, so next year marks the 30th anniversary of the blue blur. We’ve not been told exactly what’s coming from SEGA, but new games are said to be in development for release - and I have a hunch that we may be getting the long awaited Sonic Adventure 3.
Both Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 are some of the most beloved games in the series, and fans have been clamouring for a third installment. Some argue that Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) is the spiritual successor to these games, but seeing as that title flopped harder than a wet fish, I wouldn’t be surprised to see SEGA pulling out all the stops on the next 3D title.
We also know that Sonic has a brand new Netflix series on the way, as well as a sequel to the 2020 film starring Ben Schwartz and Jim Carrey. Both of these will release in 2022 sadly, but I imagine more details and trailers will pop up over the next year.
Finally, the IDW comics of Sonic have been nothing but stellar so far, with great takes on some of the characters, especially Amy Rose, whose growth from hysterical fangirl to fearless leader has been wonderful to witness. I eagerly await to see what storylines will be published next.
All those films missing from 2020
I look after the entertainment coverage for Tech Advisor, and man oh man has it been heartbreaking to see titles be gradually pushed back throughout the year, before being removed entirely from 2020.
No Time to Die - Daniel Craig’s last run as James Bond - was one of the first major films to move. It’s currently scheduled for a Spring release date, which at the moment seems to be the time that the government is pegging as a slow return to normality. But hey, we’ll wait and see.
Black Widow is also due around this season. This year is the first year without any MCU content at all, so it will be great to return to the comic book world, especially with such a badass character such as Natasha Romanoff. We’re also getting two new films, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and The Eternals, both bringing a fresh look to the franchise.
I’m also intrigued to see how the HBO Max deal will affect the cinema industry as a whole. If you aren’t aware, Warner Bros. announced that all its new cinema titles will also release on the US streaming platform on the same date - just as Wonder Woman 1984 has. This includes The Suicide Squad, Godzilla Vs. Kong, In the Heights and The Matrix 4.
I suspect that Disney Plus may also move to a similar model, should theatres continue to remain closed across the world. Of course I’d like to stress that this is an industry that I don’t want to die - and as soon as cinemas reopen in London safely, I’ll be making a trip in my mask to see all the big 2021 films. You can count on it.
The return of some Netflix favourites
There’s no chance I’ll be cancelling my Netflix subscription anytime soon, and 2021 has made certain of that, with the return of a LOT of shows that I’m super duper excited for.
Stranger Things is long overdue its fourth season, which was halted in production due to the big 'rona. I bloody love Stranger Things - it manages to capture that eighties horror/sci-fi fusion perfectly, and always leaves me hooked for what’s next.
Sex Education is also coming back for a third season. Now I admit, this show does have a few weird plot threads. For example, why are they in an American style school in the UK? But still, the messages and transparency about sex in this show are super refreshing, and I really look forward to seeing what topics they tackle next. Fun fact also - Emma Mackey (the actress who plays Maeve) was in my halls at uni and directed a play that I was in.
And naturally, I can’t help but mention (toss a coin to) The Witcher (oh valley of plenty). This show was so darn good that I actually got the game adaptation of the story on Xbox One. There’s some major characters being introduced next season, and I’m buzzing for it.
More Twitch streaming
I can’t wrap up 2020 without mentioning my new hobby - streaming. Honestly, I never set out this year to take up Twitch. It really was one of the many lockdown babies that birthed due to suddenly having a lot of free time indoors on my hands. However, it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I’ve strengthened existing friendships, and gained a whole bunch of new ones. I’ve grown my humble channel with the help of my wonderful mods and viewers. I’ve joined an inclusive stream team - Emporium - which is full of a whole host of streamers whose content I look up to massively. And of course, I’ve loved playing new games with my wonderful community.
For 2021, I’m going to actively work on collaborating more with other streamers from across Twitch. I’m going to push the limits on my channel, and try out brand new things (I really want to give Tabletop RPGs a whirl) to have new experiences. And I’m going to do it all in the most chaotic fashion possible - in-keeping with my channel’s theme.
But most of all, I’m excited to see what other streamers have planned for 2021. I’m already seeing goals and plans being manifested, and I’m ready to tag along on these adventures and experience all of the streaming entertainment.
What geeky things are you looking forward to this year? Let me know in the comments below!