Now that 2023 is over, I thought I’d do a personal ranking of the streaming content we got in Star Wars during the course of the year (excepting Young Jedi Adventures, which I have not watched). Here’s my list, beginning with my favorite, on down to my least favorite:
One of the most wrenching scenes of TBB S2 (besides that one): Crosshair is brought to the brink.
The Bad Batch S2. I think you all know how much I love the Bad Batch, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Season 2 had some great story arcs, more characterization, a new villain, and some heartbreaking moments. The Clone Conspiracy arc was especially fantastic; Echo and Tech both got some quality-time episodes that help us understand their characters more; Dr. Hemlock is creepy, cold-hearted, ambitious, and probably a little insane; and Plan 99–well, you know. I’d like to give a shoutout to Crosshair’s episodes, The Solitary Clone and The Outpost, as nominees for Best Star Wars content probably ever. Once we see a trailer for Season 3, my anticipation will reach a fever pitch, lol.
Oh Baylan, we hardly knew ye. The mystery of Baylan Skoll was one of highlights of Ahsoka, as well as the great performance of the late Ray Stevenson.
Ahsoka. This series was a bit uneven for me, but I still enjoyed it immensely. I will say it’s basically Rebels Season 5, but it was great to see some of my favorite animated characters in live-action. It has great mystical elements (Dathomirian witches!), warp-speed space whales, zombie stormtroopers, ancient artifacts, lots and lots of lightsaber battles, Baylan Skoll (he warrants a category of his own), the return of Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn, and oh yeah, Anakin Skywalker in the World Between Worlds. It was quite the spectacle, it was fun, and I love Ahsoka.
I loved the look of this episode (“Sith”) and the theme of leaving your past behind to become a better person. Also: Force Art.
Visions S2. I really enjoyed Season 1 of Visions–I thought it was a great way to get new, original Star Wars-inspired stories. I had some clear favorites, while others didn’t grab me, but overall it was great fun. So I was excited to learn about Season 2, and I think I loved it even more. Every single episode was a strong installment for me, and I loved the global feeling of this season as well. Some standouts for me were Sith, Screecher’s Reach, and The Spy Dancer. But seriously, I loved them all. I hope we get more Visions in the coming years.
“Bad baby!” Grogu is always the best part of The Mandalorian.
The Mandalorian S3. Sad to say, this was my least favorite Star Wars offering of last year. I’m not saying it was bad; it was entertaining, and I enjoyed it. But it just didn’t grab me the way the first two seasons did. Part of this is because a good portion of it consists of the Mandalorians trying to get along with each other as they attempt to retake their homeworld (I’m not sure why, since it’s almost completely destroyed), and Din and Grogu’s part in it. That’s fine, I understand why this story needed to be told, but I really just prefer the more intimate story of Din and Grogu, what they mean to each other, and their adventures together. I hope we get more of that if a Season 4 happens; the Mandoverse is in a bit of flux right now. Will we get a S4? What about an Ahsoka S2? How will Filoni’s movie fit into it all? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, but this is the only series I have not rewatched yet, and that says a lot.
What about you? What was your favorite Star Wars streaming content last year? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!
Welcome to Day 10 of my NaBloPoMo Challenge, where I randomly pick a card from the Star Wars Chat Pack.
Today’s card asks: What is your favorite Luke Skywalker moment?
Oh man, there are so many! Here’s just a few that I love:
The Mandalorian entrance. As soon as I saw that X-Wing, I got excited. Is it really him? The black glove! It is him! When Grogu called out to a Jedi on Tython, I figured somebody would answer. I didn’t really think it would actually be Luke Skywalker. But really, who else was there at the time? Ahsoka had already said No thanks, Ezra was on Peridea, and who knows where Cal Kestis was. It was truly awesome to see Luke in his prime again, kicking some Imperial droid butt (even if it was a deep-fake; it still made me happy) and saving Din, Grogu and friends. Loved, loved, loved it.
Fighting Kylo Ren in The Last Jedi. This was truly a remarkable moment: Luke distracting Kylo Ren and the First Order so the Resistance could get away, and he wasn’t even really there. Force-projecting himself across the galaxy (I didn’t even know that was a thing! but of course it is, why not?) is a tremendously powerful thing to do, proving that Luke is at the height of his powers here. I mean, of course it took his life, but what a sacrifice! The most Jedi thing a Jedi can do: fight back without really fighting. The look on Kylo’s face when he disappeared is priceless.
Saving Han Solo and his friends from Jabba the Hutt. When we see Luke enter Jabba’s palace and negotiate for Han Solo, this is really the first time we see him so confident, so sure of himself, and it’s awesome. In A New Hope, he’s a green kid, in The Empire Strikes Back, he’s full of questions and doubts, but here there’s a new maturity and confidence in his powers, and it’s great to see. Wow, he really is a Jedi! Once he entered Jabba’s palace, the whole place was doomed, lol.
I love Return of the Jedi Luke, but my absolute favorite moment, from that movie and everything else, is this one right here (and I don’t think I’m alone):
When Luke throws his lightsaber away, refusing to kill his father and saying these words, he’s stepped into next-level Jedi. He nearly kills Vader, and “wins” the fight, but he realizes he’d pay for that victory with darkness. Just as his father did. Which is no victory at all. His true victory is resisting the dark side and standing up to the Emperor, basically telling him to do his worst (which he does, of course, nearly killing him, giving Vader the chance to save him). This act in itself brings Anakin back from the clutches of Vader; Luke saves his father with compassion. And that, my friend, is Luke’s greatest moment, in my opinion.
What’s your favorite Luke Skywalker moment? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!
Today’s question: Would you rather live on a planet that is one big city, like Coruscant, or a wild planet with only a few settlements, like Sorgan?
The city-world of Coruscant
The village on Sorgan
First, I had to look up the planet Sorgan (even though I got the gist of it); it’s the planet Din Djarin takes Grogu to hide out for awhile and lay low. They meet Cara Dune, and help the settlement there fend off some raiders. No major cities or even towns, no ports, just a few settlements. It also makes an appearance in the book Poe Dameron: Free Fall, by Alex Segura; the Spice Runners of Kajimi have a base there.
Okay, got it. I really don’t like having to choose between extremes; I’m from a big town (or small city, 20,000 people) with the biggest city in the area about 40 miles away. I like the in-between nature of it. My town is big enough to have several banks, a new beautiful library, a movie theater, several pharmacies and supermarkets (one of which I work at), a couple of bookstores, a hospital, a courthouse, etc. Everything you need for modern life. But if I want to get away from it all and go out into nature, it’s not far away. Right in town there’s a few hiking trails, or you can drive a half hour to more rural areas for hiking. It’s a beautiful place to live, actually, in Western Massachusetts. We’re in the middle of our New England autumn glory, though it’s a bit muted by a wet spring and summer. But I still love it. I’ve lived here all my life, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Anyway, if I had to choose? Naboo, if I’m being honest, or Aldera on Alderaan (oh wait, that gets blown up. Nevermind). But that’s not the question. It’s a tough one, but I think I’d go with Coruscant. Only because, even though the planet is covered by city, you can find places that have nature in it, like Central Park in New York City. Arboretums, gardens, things like that. It’s not the same, but I need that sense of security, of being around, not only modern conveniences, but help if it’s needed. You know, like police and medical facilities. I also need libraries, or some sort of access to books, of course. Civilization, in other words. On Sorgan, the people of the krill village would have continued to suffer at the hands of the raiders if it wasn’t for Din just happening to show up. There’s freedom, but there’s no law, either. I prefer order over chaos (that sounds suspiciously like the Empire or the First Order, doesn’t it? Yikes, lol). For some people– the pioneers, the adventurers, the homesteaders, the nature-lovers–there would be no question. My husband, for instance, would choose Sorgan over Coruscant any day.
Of course, if you’re unlucky enough to be born into the undercity of Coruscant, that sucks. In which case, I guess I’d rather be on Sorgan. At least there, you could attempt to grow your own food and live off the land, rather than steal and beg to live. So again, it’s a matter of circumstances. There’s also corruption on Coruscant, and crime, and a LOT of traffic. Ugh. Oh, but during the Republic, there’s the Jedi Temple! I’d love that, even if I only caught glimpses of Jedi. But during the Empire, there’s fear and even more corruption. Circumstances. This is like one of those impossible “Would you rather…” questions I sometimes play with my daughter.
But my choice stands: Coruscant, for better or worse.
Where would you rather live? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!
I got “What is your favorite Grogu moment?” and oh my word, how am I supposed to choose? The little guy is a scene-stealer. I love literally every single scene he is in, lol. Will I go with cutest, most integral to the plot, most heartfelt, or best character moment?
He’s cute in every single scene, so I can’t pick just one of those. Impossible.
Most integral to the plot? Anytime he uses the Force: healing Greef Karga, holding off the fire of explosions, communing with a Jedi on Tython (which brings Luke along). He comes in handy that way in many instances.
Here’s my pick for most heartfelt:
Not a dry eye in the house.
But if I’m going with a moment that truly defines who Grogu is, then it’s the scene where he breaks up the fight between Paz Viszla and Axe Woves (over some dumb thing) while he’s in the IG droid (Season 3, Episode 7). He keeps repeating “No, no, no, no.” Grogu is a Mandalorian through Din Djarin, but he’s also got a Jedi background, from growing up in the Temple and also with his training with Luke. He knows that if the Mandalorians keep fighting amongst themselves, they’re doomed to fail. Cute and smart, and pretty brave for getting in between two Mandalorians poised for violence. He’s a little hero in that moment.
Again, I could choose just about any scene with him in it for my favorite because, duh, Grogu. But that one shows how far he’s come since Season 1, how he’s grown and accepted the different parts of himself.
Hello, friends! I haven’t posted for a while, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been reading and viewing. There’s a lot here, so I’m going to be brief. Here’s the latest:
Rebel Force: Trapped (Book 5), by Alex Wheeler. I’ve been enjoying this junior novel series, and I think Trapped is my favorite. It deals with X-7 trying to figure out who he used to be before he was brainwashed to become an Imperial assassin. We never find out who he really was, which is a disappointment, but over all this one was good.
Star Wars Rebel Force: Uprising (Book 6), by Alex Wheeler. This is the final book in the Rebel Force series, bringing the story to a fairly satisfying conclusion. Luke is drawn to a cold desert moon by the Imperial who brainwashed X-7 (under a project that is called Project Omega, btw). Luke is caught, of course, and begins to undergo the same sort of brainwashing X-7 did (in other words, torture), but because he has the Force or something, it didn’t quite work. His friends hatch a plan to rescue him, and it works, but we lose Ferus Olin and Lune Divinian, which made me sad.
The Last of the Jedi Book One: The Desperate Mission, by Jude Watson. After reading the Rebel Force series, I wanted to learn more about Ferus Olin, Lune Divinian, and Trever Flume, characters that I first met in that series; turns out these characters are also in The Last of the Jedi series, by Jude Watson, which takes place twenty years beforehand. I also get the feeling Ferus is also in the Jedi Quest series that comes before that series, so the character has a long history in Legends. This first book has us meet him as a young man, who has been taken prisoner by the Imperials on the planet Bellarasus for leading a rebel group called The Eleven. Obi-Wan Kenobi gets wind of this, and decides he must go help Ferus, who he remembers as a feisty young Padawan who left the Order. A young Boba Fett makes an appearance here, hired by the Imperials to find Obi-Wan and Ferus.
The Six, by Anni Taylor. Off and on, I’m part of a book club that includes me, my sister, her husband, and their daughter. We decided to start back up again, and picked this book to read. It’s a thriller, and a fairly gruesome one, at that. Evie, who has a gambling problem and has racked up a ton of debt, is desperate and agrees to go to a monastery on a Greek island for a chance to compete in six challenges, the winner of which will win money–enough to pay off her debt. But she can’t tell her husband or two small children where she’s going, and Evie has no idea that what she’s signed up for is a game of horror. Not my usual fare, but it did draw me into its mystery, and had plenty of surprising twists at the end.
Disney Gallery: Mandalorian S3. I’m going to say it: Season 3 of Mando is not my favorite. I really liked the dynamic and relationship between Din and Grogu in the first two seasons, and maybe I wanted more of that. But the first two seasons obviously were building up to something more, something broader than just these two characters. Mainly, the Mandalorians, and Bo-Katan’s role in uniting them to retake Mandalore. Fine. But I’ve only watched it once through, and haven’t had any desire to rewatch, which is a big indicator of how much I love a show. At any rate, it’s still interesting to watch these making-of specials, and they never fail to make me appreciate the story more. After watching this one, I thought, eh, it wasn’t so bad.
Emily. I’ve seen plenty of movies about the Bronte sisters, or about Charlotte alone, but I’ve never seen one about Emily specifically, and this one was pretty entertaining. Since we can’t possibly know everything about her personal life, there’s quite a bit of creative license taken here, but it’s not completely outside the bounds of belief. Things like Emily partaking in opium with her beloved brother Branwell; and more particularly, having an affair with the local curate, William. These things are suggested as having an influence on Emily’s outlook and personality, and how she came to write such a strange, passionate tale like Wuthering Heights. Emily has always been characterized as the “strange” Bronte sister, content to spend time alone and not go out into the world; but still, how could a “proper” Victorian lady, the daughter of a clergyman, sheltered and shy, write such a thing? By taking drugs and falling in love and having sex, of course! Oh, and getting a tattoo on her arm that says, “Freedom of Thought.” Who knows? Maybe it’s true, but at any rate, I enjoyed the movie.
That’s what I’ve been up to lately, in between writing some fan fiction, which I’m having a blast with. Feels good to get the pen moving and making characters speak again.
What have you been up to, Star Wars or otherwise? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!
Since I was kind of lazy about writing up each episode this season, it’s time for a Season 3 cumulative impressions post.
This season was markedly different from the first two seasons, in that the first two were focused primarily on Din and Grogu, their relationship, and Din’s efforts to get him back to his “folk.” Season 3 breaks into a wider world, that of Mandalorians and their quest to reclaim their homeworld of Mandalore. Din and Grogu are a part of that, but are players in a larger story that includes the Children of the Watch, Bo-Katan, and her assembled Mandalorians. I enjoyed it, but if I’m being honest, I enjoyed the first two seasons more. Or maybe I was just side-tracked by the simultaneously-running The Bad Batch, which, if I’m again being honest, was far more compelling to me for some reason. Go figure.
So Bo-Katan didn’t have to fight Din for the dark saber. I thought it was a fairly clever way of getting it back into her hands, as Din never wanted it in the first place.
There was a lot of Bo-Katan in this season, naturally, as she aspires to unite the Mandalorians; but since Din had the dark saber for most of the season, her people trickled away. I found it ironic that Bo-Katan and her people initially ridiculed the Children of the Watch for their silly ways–their no-removing-the-helmet rule, their saying “This is the way,” etc. But she didn’t have a particular laser sword, so she can’t lead them? Mandalorians are weird, lol. But it wasn’t until they were willing to set aside their respective rules–Bo-Katan keeping her helmet on while with the Children, and the Armorer accepting that she straddles both worlds and should take it off and unite them–that they find success.
I never really liked Bo-Katan in the animated series. The fact that she was opposed to her peace-loving sister Satine (who, um, wanted to unite Mandalore) and joined Death Watch and initially supported Maul made her more than a bit villainous to me. She came around in the last season of Clone Wars as she fought Maul with Ahsoka, and then received the dark saber from Sabine in Rebels. In The Mandalorian, her character arc came full circle as she ‘fessed up to her past mistakes and worked to bring Mandalorians together. She even earned Din’s respect, and he hers. It was nice to see.
Din’s character on the other hand fell a bit flat for me this season. He sought redemption in the Living Waters on Mandalore and received it within a couple of episodes. I was kind of hoping he’d move beyond that, join Bo-Katan and her people and remove the helmet, but no. He’s remained staunch about the rules, lol. I suppose the Children are the people who saved and raised him, so their traditions run deep in his bones. Mostly, I just wanted to see Pedro Pascal’s face again, but oh well.
“No. No. No. No. No.” Grogu is a Jedilorian.
Grogu is, of course, as adorable as ever. He’s grown, too, stronger in the Force and not needing a nap right after using it. He’s starting to come into his own, with the paintball competition with Paz’s son, going to find Bo-Katan with R5 when Din was in trouble, and helping Din and Bo-Katan fight off Gideon. He’s a big, helpful boy, lol. And I loved his new ride in IG-11. I was hoping for his first words, but I didn’t expect them to be “yes” and “no” in IG’s voice. Grogu is a new sort of Mandalorian–one who is clearly not human, first of all (and I love that he was accepted as Din’s apprentice without hesitation or comment on that), and he clearly has Jedi sensibilities. Not just his Force abilities, but the fact that he makes Jedi-like choices. When Axe and Paz were having their silly fight about a game, none of the Mandalorians intervened–that’s not what you do–but Grogu did. I was so proud in that moment! That’s our boy.
Moff Gideon in his beskar-plated armor. He wanted to combine the strengths of the Jedi and the Mandalorians without understanding the cultural significance of any of them. Typical of the Imperials–taking without understanding.
The finale was a great episode, with lots of action and plot resolution, but it did seem rushed a bit. I was surprised that the dark saber was destroyed, but I suppose it’s symbolic. Mandalorians don’t need their “trinkets,” as Gideon called it, at least not anymore. Gideon’s clones were super creepy, but were destroyed by Din as soon as we learned about them. To my surprise, the season ended with a happy ending–Gideon was killed (unless one of his weird clones somehow escaped and shows up later), his Mandalorian base and clones destroyed, no good guys were killed (at least main characters), and the Mandalorians relit the Great Forge. Din and Grogu got a nice little cottage on Nevarro, and it seemed like a series finale more than anything else. Will we get a Season 4, or will their story continue in the Filoni Mandoverse movie? It truly doesn’t matter to me; I’m just kind of relieved it ended on a positive note. After the trauma of The Bad Batch, I don’t think I could have taken more tragedy.
A few last thoughts:
That pirate king who looked like plastic Easter grass–wow, lol. The camp was strong in that one.
Some complained about the CSI-like episode of “Guns for Hire,” but I thought it was refreshing. The appearance of Lizzo and Jack Black were a bit jarring, but I’ll chalk it up to more Star Wars goofiness.
R5 referred to as a “hero of the Rebellion” warmed my heart.
I loved the Dr. Pershing episode of “The Convert.” I always love seeing Coruscant. I didn’t trust Elia Kane for a second. She’s creepy.
Zeb! Purgill! I just can’t wait for the Ahsoka series.
The Mythosaur was cool. I thought we’d see somebody riding it into battle, like Boba on his rancor, but that’s probably for another season.
The Armorer fighting with just her tools is incredible. Don’t mess with her, lol.
Kelleran Beq! I wasn’t familiar with the character, but now I am and I love him. So glad for Ahmed Best, who deserves all the love.
The Shadow Council was intriguing. Seeing Brendol Hux, Armitage Hux’s father, is a nice tie-in to the sequels. And Pellaon–Thrawn is near!
I think that’s about it. What did you think of Season 3 overall? What’s your favorite moment? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!
With the release of the latest Mandalorian Season 3 trailer and the upcoming release date of March 1st, I decided to do a Mando rewatch of Seasons 1&2, as well as the two episodes in The Book of Boba Fett (and perhaps all of BoBF). Since it seemed so far away for so long, I hadn’t really thought about the show for the last year or so, but I’m definitely getting back into that Mando vibe. The spaghetti western beats, the music, and of course, Baby! I forgot how much I love it. Here’s the trailer for S3, in the off chance you haven’t seen it yet:
As expected, it looks like we’re going to get more focused on Mandalore, what it means to be a Mandalorian in this post-Empire period, what role Din Djarin will play, and of course, Grogu’s growing Force powers. I won’t unpack everything in this trailer, but suffice it to say, I’m psyched!
And of course I’ve been watching Season 2 of The Bad Batch. I really missed these guys, too. Here are some thoughts on the first four episodes:
Omega is back and badass.
Eps 1&2 “The Spoils of War” and “The Ruins of War”: The two-part opener has our crew going on a mission for Cid, but also for themselves–if they can snatch some of Count Dooku’s “War Chest” that the Empire is confiscating, then they can retire to an easier, safer life, which is something Hunter in particular would like for Omega. Echo thinks they should be doing more against the Empire, and makes his thoughts known to Hunter; unfortunately, Omega overhears and misunderstands him, thinking she’s put a wrench into their style of life. This makes her particularly keen on succeeding in the mission.
While not spectacular as a season opener, it’s still entertaining, and I really like how it focuses on character development. Echo and Tech, in particular, get more screen time; Echo has a few touching moments with Omega, and Tech has a learning moment with Romar. Tech also comports himself admirably in combat with the clone regs, despite a broken leg. Wrecker, not normally the innovative one, throws together a new weapon out of Separatist wreckage, and Hunter has to do a bit of tech work that, well, Tech usually does. Romar also reminds Omega just to be a kid.
The clone reg in charge of defending the War Chest mission for the Empire, Wilco, makes his report to Rampart, telling him that it’s Clone Force 99 that tried to steal the treasure. Thinking they had died on Kamino, and in fear of consequences for his failure, he tells Wilco to change the report and lie. Wilco refuses, and Rampart kills him. Truly, the clones are too good for the Empire. Despite the inhibitor chip (the influence of which seems to be waning), some clones are still operating under the principles of the Republic, as Cody will demonstrate in Episode 3.
Cody and Crosshair at the Battle Memorial on Coruscant. I’m assuming these are names of fallen clones.
Episode 3 “The Solitary Clone”: This exceptional episode catches us up with Crosshair, and reintroduces Captain Cody. Crosshair was finally rescued from Kamino after, I don’t know, 32 rotations or something, after being left for dead. And yet he still remains loyal to the Empire, something that even Rampart questions. “I’m a soldier of the Empire,” he responds. I’m starting to think that Crosshair stays with the Empire, despite removing the chip, because he doesn’t know how to do anything else except be a soldier. The rest of the Batch aren’t soldiers anymore, not really, and their future is vague. Perhaps he doesn’t know who he is outside of his assassin skills. The rest of the Batch are willing to find out who they are beyond soldiers, but Crosshair is stubbornly refusing, perhaps out of fear. Anyway, that’s my take on it.
So Rampart has a mission for him, although he’s not in charge–Cody is. Fans have been wondering what has happened to Cody after Order 66 (at least in canon), and I’m happy to see that he’s questioning the Empire and himself. (In Legends, he remains loyal to the Empire, which makes me sad, lol). So he and Crosshair are assigned to go to Desix to rescue an Imperial Governor named Grotton after he’s taken prisoner by the world’s rightful governor, Tawni Ames. The planet was a Separatist world during the Clone Wars, and feels the Empire has no jurisdiction there. The Empire, of course, feels differently.
We get a really amazing sequence of events as Cody’s team makes their assault and battles B-1 battle droids and droidekas, and it feels like old times with clones against battle droids again. But this time they’re fighting for the Empire, and the rules have changed. Cody and Crosshair are impressive as they work together to gain access to Grotton, but Cody negotiates with Tawni Ames (definitely Kenobi’s man) and convinces her to release him. He seems not to understand that the Empire does not negotiate, that the principles of the Republic do not apply here, and Grotton commands him to shoot her. Cody hesitates, but Crosshair doesn’t and kills her. Cody watches helplessly as stormtroopers arrive on Desix, and realizes this is not a galaxy he recognizes.
Back on Coruscant, Cody asks Crosshair if they’re making the galaxy a better place. Again, Crosshair replies with “We’re soldiers, we do what needs to be done.” Cody remarks that what makes them different from battle droids is that they make their own decisions, and have to live with them. Later, Rampart tells Crosshair that Cody has gone AWOL, and I’m so happy about that! I’m hoping he comes across Rex and we see him again, fighting against the Empire. But now Crosshair is, once again, all alone. The regs don’t like him, and now even Cody is gone. And despite his loyalty, the Empire doesn’t trust or respect him. What’s it gonna take, Crosshair??? Lol. I’m really looking forward to his arc this season.
Tech saves Cid’s neck.
Episode 4 “Faster”: Some fans might call this one “filler,” and maybe they’re right in a way. I don’t care for the word, though; I prefer “breather.” It is a bit jarring after the super-heavy episode 3, but it’s nice once in a while just to have a bit of fun. And this one focuses on Tech, who is my favorite at the moment.
This one has Tech, Wrecker and Omega (Hunter and Echo are off on a transport mission) accompanying Cid to Safa Toma, which hosts a form of podracing called “Riot Racing.” Cid has a droid racer named Tay-0 who’s quite annoying and funny, and who loses the race to a racer owned by a Dowutin named Millegi. Cid and Millegi, who seem to have a shady past together, made a bet on the race, and now Cid owes him credits she doesn’t have. Omega, who seems fond of Cid but probably shouldn’t be, proposes another race. But Tay-0 gets busted up and Tech decides he’ll step in and be the racer.
Tech employs his own strategy to win the race: instead of focusing on hurting or disabling the other racers, he gets rid of his own weapons in order to go faster; he also takes a risk on a shortcut, using his pilot skills to win the day. Using thoughtfulness over aggression is very Star Warsy, and I think George Lucas himself, who had a need for speed, would appreciate this episode.
I think this episode also sets up some trouble ahead with Cid. When they’re leaving, they’re warned by Millegi that their loyalty to Cid will not be rewarded in kind. Perhaps a Cid betrayal will spur the Batch on to bigger and better things. I can’t wait to find out!
The season finale of The Book of Boba Fett aired Wednesday, and I, for one, really enjoyed it. The series has been a little uneven, to put it mildly, and our expectations were constantly challenged. I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. Star Wars has a certain feel, and there are certain things we expect, but I hope it never gets predictable (I imagine that’s why I loved The Last Jedi so much).
Anyway, despite how one may feel about the series as a whole, this last episode wrapped things up fairly well, with only a few little bumps. I don’t think I’ll do a full recap, because I want to comment on a few things, but basically all the players came together in Mos Espa to duke it out for Tatooine.
First, I want to mention that I love how Din isn’t abandoning his beliefs simply because he got kicked out of the Children of the Watch. Probably not surprising, but I figured maybe he’d take his helmet off more often, because that’s the reason he got kicked out in the first place. I thought maybe he’d think, you know what? The heck with it, now I can do what I want. But of course he doesn’t–he’s Mando. These are beliefs he grew up with, and though he’s bent the rules a few times–with the ultimate result of being cast out–he still believes in that “bantha poo-doo,” as Boba calls it. He promised Boba he’d help him; he’s not going to run when things start to look bad. His word is as strong as beskar; he’s willing to go down with Boba here.
Baby goes solo.
Secondly, I’ve heard some comments about Luke sending Grogu back to Mando by himself, with only Artoo to pilot the ship. When I saw the X-wing heading towards Tatooine, I thought, oh, okay, that was quick, Luke is bringing Grogu back already. But once he lands at Peli’s bay–no Luke. Just little Grogu peeking out, with Artoo in the back. Some people have called Luke “vindictive” for not accompanying Grogu, that he’s pissed that he chose Mando and so basically sent him off to fend for himself.
Please.
Even though we’re still trying to figure Luke out during this time period, I think we can assume Luke is above petty vindictiveness. Why would he give Grogu a choice in the first place if he’s going to judge him by his answer? If he’s going to go that far, just hide Mando’s gift, keep the kid and keep training him, if that’s what he wants. Grogu would be none the wiser. But Luke recognizes that there’s a conflict in Grogu, and that’s why he wanted to give him the choice (and there’s a big debate about this too; claims that Luke is making the same mistake as the prequel Jedi in not letting Grogu train and still have his attachments–that’s a conversation for another post, I think, lol).
But that doesn’t answer the question: why send him back alone? Well, I think the answer is that we just don’t know. We didn’t see them parting ways. Maybe something important came up and Luke couldn’t leave. Who knows? But I don’t think we should assume anything.
Reunited, and it feels so good.
Besides, Luke showed up in the Mandalorian S2 finale to save the day. I don’t think the writers wanted him to show up again and repeat that motif. So Grogu came alone. Maybe Luke gave him a big hug and some cookies and sent him on his way. I’m not going to worry about it.
Some feel that Grogu coming back in this series at all was a mistake, that the writers should have waited for Mando S3 to tell that story. That the whole build up of the first two seasons of The Mandalorian, of Din trying to get Grogu back to the Jedi, and their heartbreaking goodbye, was all for nothing to have him come back so soon, and not even in the right show. And maybe they’re right.
Was I disappointed to see Grogu? Nope! Not gonna lie, I loved seeing him come back to his Mando dad. I’m impatient. I didn’t want to wait until later this year to see their reunion, and I’m glad it happened now. So once Mando S3 starts, they’re back in the saddle and ready for the next adventure, whatever it may be.
Don’t piss him off.
So, what about Boba? This is his show, after all, lol. That’s a bit harder to answer. I was on board with him wanting to change, after the Sarlaac and his time with the Tuskens. He wanted a family, people he could trust, and to put his bounty-hunting days behind him. He wanted to protect the people of Mos Espa, and of Tatooine. Okay. And he did that, defeating the Pykes with the help of all his allies, after some initial problems. He killed Cad Bane (we think–red winking light? Idk), and I think it’s important that he killed him with the gaffi stick and not his blasters. The gaffi stick is a symbol of who he is now, and everything he’s learned from the Tuskens.
Bane called him a “cold-blooded killer” (as if he could talk), and then Boba proved him right by killing him. Was it out of character? I don’t think so. Boba has changed, yes, he wants to do the right thing (I guess), but he’s no Jedi. You mess with him, he’s gonna get those crazy eyes and mess you up.
But then at the end of the episode, he’s walking with Fennec and generally feeling uncomfortable with the people he saved honoring him. And he says, “I don’t think we’re cut out for this.” I’m not sure what to make of that statement. Some think it means he’s going to move on and leave it to someone else (Fennec replies to him, “If not us, who?” which leads me to another point soon).
It seems strange to me that Boba would go through all that and risk his life to drive the Pykes out and become the leader (daimyo) of Tatooine, and then immediately leave because he’s uncomfortable with it. Huh? I thought that’s what he wanted. I guess you should be careful what you wish for, lol. But maybe he’s just commenting on it, without really any intention of leaving. I really don’t know.
Vanth on the mend.
But then we get a post-credit scene of Cobb Vanth in Boba’s bacta tank. We were led to believe he was dead, shot down by Bane, but now we see he’s not quite dead yet, lol. And the Mod who saved Fennec is getting ready to “modify” him, if you know what I mean. So, I’m glad that he’s alive. But are they setting us up for Cobb Vanth to take over for Boba? It could work, I suppose. But again, I just think it’s weird that Boba would suddenly take off after gaining what he supposedly wanted.
Those are the main points I wanted to talk about. The rest of the show was entertaining. The action was great, the massive droids were cool, and of course, Boba showing up on the rancor was fabulous! It was inevitable, and it was great. And then Grogu calming the beast down afterward was priceless–size, indeed, matters not. The little guy curled up asleep next to the rancor was pretty darn cute. And the ending scene with Mando giving in to Grogu and hitting his turbo or whatever it was and streaking super-fast through space was fun, too. Grogu sitting in that little bubble in Mando’s ship was clearly meant to be, lol.
Monster on the loose.
So, no word on if there’s going to be a Season 2 of Boba Fett, but I’m guessing no. I think the show served its purpose–telling Boba’s story and also being a bridge to The Mandalorian S3. I think Boba and Fennec will surely show up in future shows (especially if Boba does leave Tatooine). Was it perfect? Nah. But it had some perfect moments.
What did you think of Episode 7? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!
Please be warned there are major spoilers for Episode 6 below.
“From the Desert Comes a Stranger.”
#$^*(&%$$^&(*(*^%#@@$%&*()_(&*()_)(*&!!!!!!!!!
That’s pretty much how I feel about the latest episode of BoBF, lol. Whew, what an episode!
I really didn’t think we’d get to see Mando visit Grogu at all in this series; I thought we’d get back to Boba and maybe we’d see the little guy in The Mandalorian S3. It’s a strange decision, but I’m not complaining! Nevermind Cobb Vanth, Luke, Ahsoka Tano, and Cad Bane. Cameo riches!
OMG, these two…!
So backing up, Din makes good on his decision to go see Grogu (I’m not sure how he knows where they are or Luke’s name at all; Luke gave no information on that when he scooped up Grogu, but maybe they’ve been in contact? I don’t see why they would be, though. Any ideas?). He takes the Naboo Starfighter to a forested planet and runs into R2, who leads him to Luke’s new temple that’s in the process of being built. But no sign of Grogu or Luke. The ant-like droids that are building the temple make a bench for him to wait, so he waits.
Meanwhile, we see Luke training Grogu in another part of the forest. They’re meditating, and Grogu gets distracted by a frog (naturally) and nearly eats it. Luke notices, and uses the Force to lift a multitude of frogs from the pond, showing Grogu what he can possibly accomplish–if he focuses and commits himself. (CGI Luke looks great, by the way. I almost thought he was an actor who just looks remarkably like Mark Hamill, lol).
ESB vibes, but cuter.
He talks about Yoda, and helps Grogu remember where he came from. We get a flashback of baby Grogu in the Jedi Temple during Order 66. Three Jedi are defending him against clone troopers who are attacking them. We don’t see how Grogu escapes, however. When he comes to, Luke tells him the galaxy can be a dangerous place, but he will teach him how to protect himself. He introduces Grogu to the training remote, and before long he’s hopping and flipping along, evading the thing. We even get a scene of Luke running through the forest with Grogu on his back, hearkening back to ESB with Yoda. Priceless!
Friend of the family.
Din wakes up from a nap to see Ahsoka standing there. He’s surprised, and she says she’s a “friend of the family.” So obviously Luke and Ahsoka have met, and have talked about Anakin. I would have liked to see this meeting, but maybe we will in the Ahsoka show (please?). They walk to where they can see Luke and Grogu training. Ahsoka implies that Din is there for his own sake, rather than Grogu’s, and that if Grogu sees him it will make it harder. He gives her the gift the Armorer made, and with a heavy heart, he leaves.
He looks a bit vulnerable without the armor, no?
Back on Tatooine, Din shows up at Boba’s palace, and we actually get to see Boba with his team. He has no speaking lines, however. Fennec says they need some ground forces or something, and Din says he might be able to help with that. So he goes to see Cobb Vanth and tries to convince him and the people of Freetown to help. I forgot to mention that the episode opened with a scene of Vanth running off some Pykes from his territory. So he knows that trouble is coming, but hates to get his people involved. He tells Din he’ll see what he can do, and once Din leaves, he notices someone walking into town from the desert (oh, he’s the guy from the title). And guess who it is?
Blue meanie.
Cad Bane, notorious bounty hunter from the Clone Wars (and recently The Bad Batch, facing off with Fennec over Omega). There’s a superb Western vibe as Bane faces off with Vanth, warning him not to get involved in the coming conflict. Vanth stands his ground, but unfortunately his gung-ho deputy gets involved and mouths off. Bane shoots the deputy down, and injures Vanth, then walks away. Pretty sure they’re gonna get involved now, lol.
The last scene is with Luke and Grogu. He shows Grogu the gift from Din, which turns out to be an adorable little chainmail shirt. But before he gives it to him, he also shows him Yoda’s old lightsaber, small enough for Grogu to wield eventually. Basically, he’s giving Grogu a choice: stay with him and train to be a Jedi, or go back to Din and be a Mandalorian. It ends there, with Grogu’s big sweet baby eyes unsure what to do.
I’m pretty sure Grogu will choose to go back to Din. Luke himself observed to Ahsoka that he wasn’t sure if Grogu’s heart was in the training. And of course there’s that Grogu-sized bubble just waiting for the little guy to fill it on the Naboo starfighter. And that’s why Grogu is not at the temple when Ben Solo destroys it. He’s not, dammit.
Oh, and Garsa Fwips’s cantina is blown up by the Pykes in a terrorist act. Luckily it looked like it was Max Rebo’s night off, so I’m guessing he survived–he’s a lucky little blue elephant guy. But Garsa’s character seems a little wasted here.
RIP. It was her prettiest gown, too.
Anyway, all the chess pieces are being placed on the board, and they’ll all come together next week in the finale. I think. I’m guessing The Book of Boba Fett is a one-shot deal and that there will not be a Season Two. I think, lol.
This show has definitely challenged our expectations of what it was ultimately going to be, and be about. Its structure is odd, to say the least, but it’s also given us some wonderful things, and that alone makes it worth watching. I can’t wait to see what happens next week! (Boba better charge out into the battlefield on that rancor, or I’ll be gravely disappointed, lol).
What did you think of Episode 6? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!
Honestly, I haven’t done much reading this past week. I finished The Fallen Star (you can check out my review here) and I’m just waiting for Midnight Horizon to come out Feb. 1st. I’ve read a few chapters of Race to Crashpoint Tower, but I can’t seem to get into right now. I’ll finish it eventually, lol.
Me watching Episode 5 of “Return of the Mandalorian.”
The Book of Boba Fett Episode 5, “Return of the Mandalorian” was fantastic, with Din Djarin returning and showing us what he’s been up to since he said goodbye to Grogu. You can check out my thoughts on the episode here.
I noticed on Disney+ there were a few new shorts from Marvel called “Marvel One Shots.” I think mostly they’re just little DVD extras from the movies over the years, but I hadn’t seen most of them. The Thor ones were the best, just hilarious, lol. Or the Daryl ones, I should say, because the one with the Grand Master was pretty funny, too. Jeff Goldblum is just weird and wonderful.
Jean Luc and his new crew (besides the hot Romulan).
Most of my interest this week has been taken up by watching season one of Star TrekPicard. I haven’t visited this franchise for a long while now, and I had an absolute blast catching up with Jean Luc Picard and his cohorts. It’s a wonderful show, completely unlike any Star Trek show I’ve ever watched (and I’ve watched them all, lol, except the new one, Discovery–that’s next, probably). Instead of a starship captain and his crew going on weekly adventures in space, this show focuses on a particular story, a mystery that Jean Luc feels compelled to unravel, propelling him out of retirement on his vineyard (retirement has never set well with Jean Luc anyway, lol). We meet interesting new characters, and get a few familiar faces, too, that warmed my heart. I just loved this show, and have so much to say about it, I’ll probably write its own post sometime soon.
That’s it this week. What’s been entertaining you? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!
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