Joel Wagler

Joel Wagler

Joined: Feb 9, 2024

Joel is a life long sports and entertainment fan and has spent 14 years covering the NFL, MLB, college basketball, and college football, as well as TV, movies, books, and music as a writer, editor, and sports and entertainment director. He also coaches basketball and bowling for Special Olympics.

House of the Dragon season 2, Ewan Mitchell as Aemon

Ewan Mitchell's amazing transition from The Last Kingdom to House of the Dragon

The Books of Ambha by Tasha Suri: Empire of Sand (#1) and Realm of Ash (#2). Cover images courtesy of Orbit.

Tasha Suri offers a unique perspective on fantasy with her Books of Ambha series

House of the Dragon season 2 - Rhaenrya (Milly Alcock) and Daemon (Matt Smith)

Daemon' dream sequences grind House of the Dragon to an abrupt standstill

The Last Kingdom Season 4 -- Courtesy of Netflix

The Last Kingdom author offers realistic take on the Arthurian legend in The Winter King series

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Courtesy Amazon Studios

If you like The Lord of The Rings, read The Iron Tower trilogy by Dennis L. McKiernan

First Argentines by Jeff Wheeler

Why Jeff Wheeler's First Argentines fantasy books would make a fantastic TV series

“SHOGUN” -- "Ladies of the Willow World" -- Episode 6 (Airs March 26) Pictured: Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga. CR: Katie Yu/FX

4 great movies to watch while you wait for Shōgun season 2

“SHOGUN” Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga, Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige. CR: Katie Yu/FX

Shōgun left out two key historical tidbits about feudal Japan

“SHOGUN” - based on a novel by James Clavell and part of the Asian Saga

Which of James Clavell's Asian Saga books should Shōgun producers adapt next?

Richard Sharpe played by Sean Bean

Why The Last Kingdom fans will love the Richard Sharpe series by the same author

House of the Dragon Episode 7

Were the dark scenes in House of the Dragon lightened since initial release?

“SHOGUN” -- "Broken to the Fist" -- Episode 5 (Airs March 19) Pictured (L-R): Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko, Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne, Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado, Jodai Suzuki as Toranaga’s Brown Kosho. CR: Katie Yu/FX

All 6 books in James Clavell's Asian Saga (including Shōgun) ranked worst to best

Andy Serkis as Gollum from The Lord of the Rings

What if Gollum from Lord of the Rings was in rock band (and covered Sound of Silence)? Watch:

The Last Kingdom Season 4 -- Courtesy of Netflix

10 best The Last Kingdom characters not named Uhtred

“SHOGUN” -- "The Eightfold Fence" -- Episode 4 (Airs March 12) Pictured:Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne,
Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko,
Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige, Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi.
CR: Katie Yu/FX

2 key characters emerge from the shadows in Shōgun Episode 4

“SHOGUN” -- Pictured (L-R): Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne, Nestor Carbonell as Rodrigues. CR: Katie Yu/FX

If you like Shōgun, read these other great historical novels by James Clavell