Everything You Need to Know About Hallmark’s 2018 Countdown to Christmas Movies

Is Meryl Streep in the Narnia cast?

Meryl Streep is reportedly in talks to voice Aslan in Greta Gerwig's Narnia movies. The casting rumor first broke on March 31, leading some people to wonder if it was an early April Fool's Day joke, until Deadlineconfirmed the rumor on April 3. Fans of the book have called the choice everything from "interesting" to "cruel," and the conversation revolves around one particular question: are they making Aslan female?

A lot of Narnia fans were taken aback by the rumor about Meryl Streep because of the fact Aslan is an allegory for Jesus (referred to in the Bible as the Lion of Judah) — especially since Aslan's mane is such an integral part of the series, and lioness' typically don't have manes.

When the White Witch sacrifices Aslan on the Stone Table in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, she shaves off his mane in an attempt to shame him and strip away his identity as King of Narnia. Lucy Pevensie hiding her face in his mane in Prince Caspian plays a huge role in bolstering her courage and faith, and the mane even comes into play during The Last Battle before (spoiler alert) Narnia gets destroyed.

'Narnia' fans have a lot of opinions about a female Aslan.

The most iconic visual of the Narnia series, arguably more than the wardrobe or the lamppost, is Aslan's mane. "If it’s true that Aslan has been changed to a female lion in the upcoming film, it’s deeply troubling that the filmmakers would make the choice to visually distance itself from The Chronicles of Narnia as it has always been known to its fans and the public imagination," one Narnia fan wrote on NarniaWeb. "It would be hard to look at a decision like that and not think that they were deliberately disassociating from the Narnia canon."

Another fan on NarniaWeb points out that having Meryl potentially voice a male Aslan "would be a fine way to convey the genderless nature of the soul. Aslan transcends all of that and was never bound by the idea of duality in the way that the ‘fallen’ believe they are."

@bereckerwentviral for his claim that fans who are upset about the casting simply "hate women" (yes, some of the backlash to Meryl's casting rumor has been atrocious). "I would like to officially say that if I die, I would be more than honored if Meryl Streep were to play me in my biopic, she’s the greatest to ever do it," he said in the comments.

"Meryl was hired based on merit. She’s the best," another Instagram user said in the comments.

However, Netflix hasn't confirmed Meryl Streep as Aslan.

Let the record show that, as of writing this story on April 7, Netflix hasn't actually confirmed anything about the movie outside Greta as director and Atonement cinematographer Seamus McGarvey as Director of Photography. Whether the film is a The Magician's Nephew adaptation, whether Daniel Craig is playing Uncle Andrew, and whether Meryl Streep is actually voicing Aslan are speculation at this point.

As one viral tweet puts it, "Increasingly convinced Greta either has no idea what she wants to do with this movie or has a vision so incredible nobody else can see it." Stay tuned for official casting announcements!

The '1923' season 2 finale opens with some surprisingly emotional moments.

After lies and betrayal of the highest order, Banner finally seems to reach his limit after Jack is killed in cold blood. Banner decides to leave Montana after he realizes he can barely look his son in the eyes anymore. So with his son and wife beside him, he heads to the train station, which is where we see Jacob and his men preparing for Spencer's arrival.

There's a very tense moment as Banner and Jacob lock eyes, and Banner seemingly warns Jacob that not only are Whitfield's men trying to kill Spencer, but Jacob and the rest of his family are in danger, too. Yeah, I for sure already knew that but it's nice to see Banner looking out for someone else...even if it feels like a dramatic 180 in Banner's character. Never underestimate the power of wanting to be a better person for the people you love, I guess.

What happened to Spencer and Alex in 1923?

Alex is alive but not quite well after surviving a snowstorm inside a car — and finding her new friends Hillary and Paul have died from hypothermia. Slowly freezing to death, Alex grabs supplies from their dead bodies and starts a fire in the car to keep warm. (Now, how did the car not explode? Maybe that's a question for another day). As the fire begins to dwindle, Alex has to BURN SPENCER'S LETTERS TO SURVIVE, leaving both Alex and me heartbroken.

Meanwhile Spencer is warm and cozy on his train, and makes friends with a little boy in front of him, telling him about lions in Africa and his hopes for a son one day. But low and behold, when Alex hears the train whistle, she does indeed set the whole car on fire and Spencer finally sees her, leaps from the train, and runs to meet her. That's true love baby!

And after 2 years of wondering Will Spencer and Alex ever get back together?! (at least, 2 years for viewers), they've finally reunited! The train comes to a stop, allowing Spencer to carry Alex on board to a bed. But nothing can ever go smoothly for these characters — and these women can never catch a break. Alex's blackened feet and fingers reveal she has hypothermia. Spencer and the doc use washcloths to warm her up, and it looks like only time will tell if their baby survives.

Spencer Dutton finally returns home to the Yellowstone ranch.

And if the hypothermia and survival of it all wasn't dramatic enough, when Spencer spots some suspicious activity on the train platform, he finds himself in the middle of a shootout that ends with more than a few characters dead — including Banner Creighton, who protects Jacob before meeting his end. After Jacob explains that there might not be a home to return to if Spencer doesn't come to the ranch, Spencer has a beautiful exchange with Alex, who says the idea of "war" isn't an exaggeration for this family, and that Spencer has a duty.

Our favorite younger Dutton proves himself (again) when he returns home. Earlier in the day, Whitfield's men ambushed the Yellowstone ranch, where Zane, Cara, and Elizabeth are all hunkered down. In a truly heartbreaking moment, Cara's confidence wavers and she asks Zane "what they should do" in a voice that made me want to cry! Suddenly there are men on the roof, there are men trying to set the house on fire, and then there's Cara, shooting the bad guys from the attic like the boss she is.

But all it takes is Spencer coming in with a hand gun to end the fight — and he quite literally wipes everyone out before any of Jacob's men can get a shot in.

How does 1923 season 2 end?

The 1923 season 2 ending is one of the most emotional on TV this spring, for better or worse. Teonna, who's been on the run this whole time, finally comes face to face with Deputy Marshall Mamie Fossett and her men, who discover the bodies of Father Renaud and Teonna's father.

Mamie acknowledges that their warrant comes "from a judge we don't know in a territory we don't serve," and that if the trouble ends with the priest, so does their search. But when Teonna lashes out trying to escape, and kills one of Mamie's men, she does end up in front of a judge.

However, her case gets dismissed, and she's free to go. But even though Teonna can hold her head high, fighting back cost her everything, which really left me to wonder what victory, freedom, and even satisfaction looks like in this story. Don't mind me, I'm just having a 1923 existential crisis.

Back in town, Jacob stays at the hospital with Alex, who gives birth to her son, and refuses to give up the premature baby or amputate her hand and her feet. Spencer shows up just in time to meet his son and say goodbye to his wife; He curls up beside her in the hospital bed and wakes up to find her gone. And at the very end of 1923 season 2 before the credits roll, Elsa's voiceover tells us Spencer never truly loved another woman after Alex. After he dies 45 years later, we see Spencer and Alex reunite at a 1920s ball that feels like some kind of Titanic-inspired fever dream.

Pause. I'm actually so upset about this because it just feels like horror after horror has been piled on Alex (and the rest of the women in 1923) this whole time. You're telling me she had to die for this story to be the best it could be?! It's doesn't even feel like a romantic tragedy it just feels depressing. Spencer gets the tiniest bit of satisfaction by killing Whitfield but it clearly doesn't begin to cover the loss.

Jacob's men finally find Jack's body, and without her husband, both Cara and Elizabeth decide there's no real reason for Elizabeth to stay on the ranch. Spencer also sets off (although he'll definitely be back), while Cara and Jacob sit on the porch with the newest addition to the Dutton family (who, it appears, is Yellowstone lead John Dutton's father?!) Despite my complicated feelings about the end of 1923, I do love this scene. Cara and Jacob are simply my favorite characters, and their final moments onscreen prove they've been the steady, consistent heartbeat of the story the whole time.

That’s right, Trader Joe’s sheet cake fans: the Carrot Mini Sheet Cake has officially hit shelves – just in time for all the best spring festivities. This returning product boasts a “moist, flavorful” carrot cake base topped with plenty of cream cheese frosting. This traditional combo truly can’t be beat!

The Carrot Mini Sheet Cake joins Trader Joe’s existing sheet cake lineup that is entirely too yummy. Their current flavors include mainstays like Dark Chocolate Ganache and Chantilly Cream Vanilla Bean, alongside the newer (and gluten-free!) Yellow Cake. TJ’s tends to launch new flavors for their sheet cakes around each season – they’ve even had a Pumpkin Spice version in the past!

One Trader Joe’s fan on Reddit happily announced when the Carrot Mini Sheet Cakes came back to shelves, and plenty of other users chimed in on the excitement.

“I can’t wait,” one person said.

“BRB, about to cause a carrot cake shortage in the New York Metro Area,” another Redditor commented.

More customers raved about the returning spring dessert on another thread under r/TraderJoe’s:

“I went yesterday and have 5 in my freezer for now…” one person said. “I will continue to buy single ones but now have a stash in case they sell out for the season. It is by far my favorite of the mini sheet cakes.”

Another user noted that the Carrot Mini Sheet Cake is “moist, and the frosting is fantastic, not too sweet.”

Trader Joe’s fan account @trader_joes_treasure_hunt also shared the new find with their followers, with countless shoppers expressing their excitement:

“These cakes any flavor are so good!” one person wrote.

“Best carrot cake I ever had in my life,” another said.

“Holy sheet I love some sheet cake,” someone else commented.

The smooth cream cheese frosting makes it an excellent blank canvas to add Easter-themed sprinkles or even small chocolate eggs for the holiday, though it’ll still taste like heaven if you eat it plain. The size of this sheet cake is perfect for sharing with a small group – or just keeping all to yourself this spring!

The Trader Joe’s Carrot Mini Sheet Cake is currently in stores now for $5.99 each. It’s only available for a limited time, so you’ll definitely want to hurry to try it before it’s gone!