As 2018 drew to a close, the "Russiagate" scandal continued to ferment.
The investigations by Special Counsel Mueller and several congressional committees were still ongoing, with the media watching intently.
Would the "Russiagate" investigation lead to Trump's impeachment?
This was something many Americans wanted to know.
The New York Times opined: "The 'Russiagate' investigation shows no sign of ending. Parts of it have already evolved into a political tool for the struggle between the two US parties, and it will continue to distract from Trump's governance. Unless there is currently unknown or unpublished judicial evidence, it is very difficult to see it leading to Trump's impeachment. Even if impeached, it would not succeed..."
For now, in the investigations led by multiple parties, anti-Trump figures placed "high hopes" on the progress of Mueller's probe.
On one hand, Mueller's investigation had penetrated Trump's inner circle, snagging several people close to him.
On the other hand, Mueller's investigation had clearly expanded beyond "Russiagate" itself, and the relevant timeframe was no longer confined to the period of the 2016 election. The possibility of obtaining a "smoking gun" had increased.
A few days prior, mainstream US media had also reported that Trump himself might be questioned by Mueller's team.
"Mueller is definitely acting on the orders of the Clinton family. He and his team are like rabid dogs, trying to tear a piece of meat from my father," Ivanka said over the phone.
Martin casually offered a few words of reassurance.
In his memory, even worse things were about to happen.
Sure enough, history had not changed.
The US 2018 midterm elections officially concluded on November 6th. Fifty states and Washington D.C. elected 35 Senate seats, 435 members of the House of Representatives, 36 state governors, and numerous state legislative seats.
For the first time in eight years, the Democratic Party regained majority control of the House of Representatives, while the Republicans maintained their majority advantage in the Senate.
These midterm elections attracted attention across North America and even the world because their results would affect Trump's policy implementation and his 2020 re-election campaign.
Firstly, the midterms would determine the majority party in Congress and some newly minted governors.
If the ruling party could hold a majority in Congress, it would be conducive to implementing future economic and regulatory policies. If the other party seized the majority of congressional seats, the president's power would be significantly constrained.
Secondly, the fierce competition between the two parties promoted their governing philosophies, boosting public favorability towards their respective parties in preparation for the next presidential election.
In fact, the Republicans initially held the advantage, but the tables were turned at the last moment, reversed by the Democrats.
Many within the Republican Party blamed this outcome on Trump.
Actually, just before the elections began, Trump was only worried that some of his supporters might lack strong motivation to vote.
He said: "I hope they don't take it for granted, stand by with their arms folded, and not vote, resulting in heavy losses because the other side is fighting with all their might in desperation, turning out to vote—their strength is greater. But I think, because of our great success, I have a feeling we will do well in '18. I must say this: history is not on our side."
Jim Ketch from the research organization "Third Way" said: "The president's party typically loses seats in midterm elections, and this year seems to follow that pattern. If Democrats turn out, they should be able to take many, many seats, but whether they can surpass the Republicans still depends somewhat on luck."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said this also posed a challenge for Republicans. He said: "My attitude is, we are helping the US economy warm up, but the winter chill cannot be dispelled so quickly. If we cannot convey this to the American people, then we need to find other work."
After the election results were announced, The New York Times published an analysis by "Blue Gold Think Tank" analyst John Hudak: "Many voters, especially Trump critics, might view the midterm elections as a national referendum on Trump. If the Democrats win, it might signify a further decline in public support for Trump; he may not secure re-election."
The Christmas season arrived.
Aquaman's global box office broke $1.148 billion, with the North American box office exceeding $335.1 million (29.2% of the total), and the overseas box office surpassing $813.42 million (70.8% of the total).
Most notably, Aquaman earned $290 million at the box office in Ching Chong, a figure approaching the $330 million North American box office.
The potential of the Ching Chong box office was undeniable.
Beyond North America and Ching Chong, there were 21 other countries and regions where Aquaman's box office exceeded $5 million.
A famous female film critic in Hollywood, specially on Christmas Day, posted a long review of Aquaman on Facebook.
She wrote:
"The success of Aquaman has proven that people still prefer a more down-to-earth superhero. Marvel films have done better in this regard, though DC is trying hard to catch up."
"The character Aquaman wasn't actually very popular in DC comics. He first appeared in comics in 1941, and was one of the founders of the Justice League in the Silver Age, but his status was high while his popularity was low. Among the seven founders, he seemed barely more present than the replaced Martian Manhunter..."
"In the Super Friends animated series of a bygone era, Aquaman was quite popular among kids, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Superman. But that was too long ago; those kids are now too old to watch movies..."
"Aquaman's lack of popularity, frankly, stems from issues with his powers. While DC kept adjusting them—changing from talking to sea creatures to controlling them, experimenting with various personalities—it wasn't particularly successful."
"His position within the League is another weak point. His combat ability isn't on par with Superman's, his leadership not equal to Batman's, his personality not as fun as The Flash's or Green Lantern's. Cyborg at least can serve as a walking wiki and teleporter. Most importantly, he can't fly. Once stories escalate to a cosmic level, he becomes useless."
"Martin Meyers' film Aquaman primarily tells how Aquaman seeks his origins and matures through the process. Unlike many other superheroes, Aquaman is considered a 'half-breed' among them. Therefore, his identity crisis often leads him to use a tough exterior to protect himself."
"Martin softened the harsher aspects of the comic book 'Aquaman,' giving this superhero a more grounded personality, adding some humor and comedic elements—a bit rough but also somewhat endearing, yet never lacking a righteous spirit."
"Furthermore, his character has some minor flaws. For instance, Aquaman shows no particular desire to win in his rivalry with his half-brother Orm for the throne. He loses several major battles and even flees the scene. These plot points reflect a slight inferiority complex within this 'superhero'."
"If handled poorly by the director, such flaws could make the audience lose interest in the character. But Martin handled it excellently. The character's flaws do not detract from his distinctive qualities; the character consistently has his shining points."
"Also, Martin made significant changes to Aquaman's image in the film. This is a highly entertaining character: long brown hair, strong muscles covered in tattoos, wearing leather pants—a full-on punk rocker vibe, the audience's imagination."
"And in the film, my favorite aspect is this: Even though this is a male-led blockbuster, all of Aquaman's actions are propelled by female characters."
"This is also a consistent feature of Martin films. The female characters always attract attention. Whether it's Pepper in Iron Man or the villain boss in Get Out, they all have distinct characteristics."
"Aquaman's success is inevitable. Superhero movies should, of course, bring joy to the audience, lead them on a fantastic journey, and also let people learn something from the characters. That's how it should be."