Entertainment Extra

2 ENTERTAINMENT EXTRA By Dana Simpson TV Media I f there's anything the Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider, Mummy and National Treasure movie franchises have shown, it's that historical fiction and action make a great pair. So, why not make the most of it in the world of prime-time television? That's exactly what CBS aimed to do when it launched the first season of "Blood & Treasure" on the network in 2019. Now, after three years of halted production schedules due to restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, "Blood & Treasure" is back for Season 2, this time on ViacomCBS's streaming service, Paramount+. Don't miss the first two episodes when they pre- miere Sunday, July 17. Created by Matthew Federman and Stephen Scaia, the writer/producers behind the series "Limitless" and "Jericho," "Blood & Treasure" is an action- adventure series for the histori- cally enthusiastic traveler. When Season 1 first began, viewers were introduced to Danny McNamara (Matt Barr, "Walker") pretty well right out of the gate. Calm, cool and well put together, Danny is an antiquities expert who is forced to team up with an old flame in order to stop a ter- rorist who is funding his empire through stolen artwork and ancient artifacts. The old flame is Lexi Vaziri (Sofia Pernas, "Jane the Virgin"), who is hardly old but is certainly full of fire. Explicitly chosen by Danny as his right-hand woman because of her criminal intelli- gence, Lexi is a quick-on-her-feet art thief who struggles to cope with her father's death — some- thing she clearly blames on Danny and which haunts their already tested relationship with one another. Over the course of the first season's 13 episodes, Danny and Lexi try their best to put their claws away and focus on the big picture: save Danny's cohort, Dr. Ana Castillo (Alicia Coppola, "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," 2007), from an art- obsessed terrorist faction, wipe that threat off the face of the planet and make the world a better place in the process. That doesn't mean, however, that the pair of ex-lovers don't still have a sordid history to work out through layers of teamwork and sarcasm. From the very beginning, audi- ences learn that Castillo had made a great find prior to being attacked and presumably being taken hostage, along with her team, by Karim Farouk (Oded Fehr, "The Mummy," 1999) and his gang of goons. Told that Castillo found the tombs of Mark Antony and Cleopatra while on location in Egypt, viewers more than likely (correctly) pieced together that the bulk of Season 1 would take place in Egypt. From undercover missions posing as arms dealers to high-octane scenes chasing bad guys through crowded markets, "Blood & Treasure" later takes audiences on a trip beyond the pyramids of Giza to Spain, Morocco, Quebec and the curious Bermuda Triangle, known for several disap- pearances in its environs. Season 2, which begins July 17 with two episodes, titled "The Soul of Genghis Khan" and "Tales of the Golden Tiger," appears to begin in the Far East, more than likely in modern-day China. While this season is also expected to run for 13 episodes, fans of the series should prepare for some of the same good old- fashioned globe-trotting that took them on a whirlwind adven- ture before the pandemic in 2019. Given all the on-location filming "Blood & Treasure" has to accomplish in order to pro- vide the best experience for viewers, it's no wonder that Season 2 has been delayed for so long. Taking into consider- ation COVID-era travel restric- tions and physical distancing rules alone, the fact that such an intricate show is up and run- ning as soon as two years behind schedule is understand- able to say the least. Now that it's back up and run - ning, though, fans of the first season are desperate to know more about what is to come. While not much news has been released as of writing, Season 2 is likely to begin imme- diately following the freshman season's massive cliffhanger. For those who need a refresher (spoilers!), Mark Antony and Cleopatra's sarcophagi were found once again, safe and sound, but their return now poses a brand-new set of threats; threats that may well make Danny's job quite a bit more dif- ficult going forward. It seems viewers are also in store to learn more about Danny's personal life, including his so far fairly undiscussed time spent working as a special agent for the FBI. Schwering Realty 2 x 2" Pear Tree Gallery 3 x 2" On the Cover Matt Barr and Sofia Pernas in "Blood & Treasure" Barr, Pernas return for more 'Blood & Treasure' Chase Center 3 x 2" American Legion Post 60 2 x 3" Thrifty Muffler 2 x 2.5" 230 Burlington Avenue Logansport 574-992-8038 Tired of Shopping Around for THE Right Mechanic? BRAKE SPECIAL $89.95 PER AXLE. FOR MOST CARS AND TRUCKS Give us an opportunity to earn your business! "We do it Better for Less!"

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