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My Hero Academia Season 4 Episode 21 Review/Recap

Well, the day’s finally here. The UA School Festival is about to start, and Deku and Togata are betting on it. It could be the only chance they have to teach Eri what it means to be happy and smile, after all. However, Gentle Criminal and La Brava plan on crashing the Festival and ruin everything. The fight to protect the UA School Festival starts!

Recap

On the morning of the UA School Festival, Midoriya wakes up early to get some training in with All Might before getting some last minute supplies. By sheer coincidence, though, he ends up running into Gentle and La Brava as they finish their tea ritual. When the former can’t help but gush about the tea he had, Midoriya connects the dots and figures out who Gentle is and what he plans to do. Which is something he cannot allow.

As Deku rushes to stop the villain from crashing the festival, he’s blown back by Gentle’s Quirk, Elasticity. It allows him to give anything rubber qualities, including the air around him. Were Deku relying on his normal tactics, he wouldn’t have chance. However, that morning, Hatsume gave him a completed version of the support gear he asked for: special gloves that let him use his Quirk to create high pressure air shots. With his new abilities, Deku stands his ground against Gentle. The time until the concert begins: 69 minutes.

Review

I would like to reiterate the fact that nothing this season does will top the Hassakai Arc. Thus, I don’t think the show should try and top it. The UA School Festival Arc is about Midoriya growing as a hero by putting him in a situation where he can’t expect any help. If he wants to stop Gentle from wrecking everyone’s fun, he’s got to do it on his own.

Fortunately, the episode makes a point of demonstrating how Midoriya’s improved. His new gloves allow him to create ranged attacks without One for All’s recoil, while the dance training he did for the concert has helped his coordination and reaction timing. It may not seem like much, but without either of those skills, Deku wouldn’t be able to fight Gentle. I’m still hoping that the next few episodes will make up for the lack of action. Go Beyond, PLUS ULTRA!

I Give “Deku vs. Gentle Criminal” a 3/5

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New Revelations about Sidious’ Return and Rey’s Dad

When word came out that Darth Sidious would be returning for The Rise of Skywalker, fans speculated as to how he survived. In October, I posted an article talking about a story from the old Expanded Universe that saw the Sith Lord resurrect himself through cloning. I theorized that this would be a likely explanation as to how he returns in Rise of Skywalker. Sadly, the movie never explained it, so I had to leave that as my headcanon.

Then, I found this article on Screenrant, and I couldn’t help but smile. The newly released novelization of The Rise of Skywalker confirmed that Sidious had, in fact, survived by cloning himself. Before his death in Jedi, he had sensed that Vader may turn on him, so he came up with a massive contingency plan to ensure his return and the resurrection of his Empire.

Sidious’ Plan B

Sometime before the Battle of Endor, Sidious secretly had most loyal followers to create batches of clones for him to inhabit once his body failed him. When Anakin threw him over the railing, his original body died, but his spirit refused to go to hell. Instead, he traveled to Exegol, his secret Sith stronghold in the Unknown Regions, to take his new body.

Meanwhile, those most loyal to him enacted to the Contingency Plan. On the surface, it seemed to be a mad scheme to destroy the Galaxy in retribution for his demise. In reality, it was meant to purge the Empire of all but it’s best and most loyal people. When the Galactic Civil War came to an end, those followers fled into the Unknown Regions where they founded the First Order. What almost none of them knew was that they were one piece to Sidious’ plan. When the time came, he would reveal himself, take command of the First Order, and reconquer the galaxy.

It’s a long and complicated plan that would require decades of plotting in the shadows. It’s also the kind of long-term game that only Darth Sidious could play, and reminds us why he’s one of the most evil beings in fictional history. He even went the extra mile by creating Snoke to lead the First Order and corrupt Anakin’s grandson.

Fortunately, his plan hit a snag. As this article from SyFy Wire explains, Sidious minions couldn’t create a suitable clone of him in time. As a result, he was stuck in an imperfect body, unable to handle his Dark Side powers. That’s why he looked like he was falling apart in the film.

The Truth About Rey’s Father

That same SyFy article reveals the truth about Rey’s father. Instead of being the biological child of Darth Sidious, Rey’s dad was more like a Boba Fett person. The Sith Eternal managed to create another, unidentical clone of Sidious that had none of his power in the Force. Instead of killing him, Sidious sent his clone into the galaxy to continue his bloodline as another backup plan. That’s how Rey was eventually born.

So, since her dad was a clone of Palpatine, that technically makes Rey Sidious’ daughter rather than grand-daughter. This doesn’t change the fact that she’s descended from the guy who’s actor considers more evil than the Devil himself. What this revelation does do, though, is make fans cry out in relief.

Like almost every fan of the franchise, I was dumb-founded at the fact that Darth Sidious could have any children. Mainly because of what that implies. What sentient being in their right mind would do that with that hideous, twisted abomination? It’s a huge relief to know that it was just a clone!

Why Didn’t They Say So?

Unfortunately, these dual revelations about how Sidious cheated death and had a son also reinforce just how much better The Rise of Skywalker could have been. There were just so many small details left out that could have gone a long way to improving the film. If they had dropped more hints about this stuff before the movie was released, or even decided to split the film into two parts, then the film wouldn’t be so controversial.

Still, that’s the beauty of Star Wars. Whenever the films don’t get to explore a subject or topic, the expanded universe will be able to build on that. So I guess this is a good start. Now all Disney has to do is push forward, stop dragging their heels, and bring the Jedi back in full!

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As I was leaving the movie theater after seeing Pixar’s new movie ”Onward”, I realized something. As of this November, Pixar’s been making movies for 25 years! My mind was blown, but that didn’t stop me from trying to review Onward as fairly as possible.

Taking place in a world populated by magical creatures, the world of Onward was once filled with magic-wielders. Then came the conveniences of modern-life, so people stopped using magic. All that changes, though, when a young elf named Ian Lightfoot receives an old wizard’s staff as a gift from his late father. Using the magic of the staff, Ian tries to bring his dad back for a day so he can finally meet him. When the spell’s incomplete, though, Ian and his boisterous older brother Barley set out on a quest to finish the spell so they can see their dad again.

Chris and Tom are Awesome

The heart and soul of the film come from the Lightfoot brothers, Ian and Barley. The two are almost polar-opposites in terms of personality, so the two have a good dynamic throughout the film. Ian’s soft-spoken, shy, and insecure about himself, whereas Barley’s loud, boisterous, and charges headlong without thinking things through.

It helps that Ian and Barley are played by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, respectively. Considering how they worked together in the MCU, it makes sense that they know how to play off each other’s strengths. Tom brings his eager youthfulness as Ian, while Chris lets his most bombastic characteristics shine. They balance each other out, and their relationship drives the film to its climax.

A Story about Familial Bonds

While the trailers for the film make it seem like Onward is about Ian bonding with the dad he never knew, that’s a little misleading. The real story is about the bond between Ian and Barley and how much sibling relationships can mean for a person’s development. According to director Dan Scanlon, Onward was inspired by the fact that his own dad died when he was a baby, so he never knew him. Yet his older brother always remained supportive of him growing up, encouraging his talents and showing off what he could do.

Then one day, he was talking with a friend at Pixar, and she dropped a huge bombshell about why he never missed his dad: because his brother had been his father figure. And like Dan, Ian undergoes that same realization near the end of the film. It’s a real emotional message on how much the bonds we make growing up can make us into the people we become, and Ian becomes a better person as a result. He becomes much more confident in himself, outgoing, and his bond with Barley becomes stronger than ever.

The Good Old Pixar Formula

I’ve seen enough Pixar films to know that there’s a standard formula to them. The film starts off with some sort of conflict occurring, and the protagonist has to resolve said conflict. So they have to go on some sort of journey that changes them or the people around them as people. Then there comes the moment where they hit rock bottom and we all cry. From there, the hero gains a new will to move onward, and they resolve the conflict.

I’m pleased to say that Onward manages to follow this formula to a tee. While that would normally be a problem, it actually isn’t in this case. Pixar’s been the media giant it’s been for the last twenty-five years because of that winning formula. It works to the point where even their less-than-desirable films do well in the box office.

That said, I can’t help but feel that the Pixar Formula’s getting a little stale. Maybe Onward is a sign that they should consider mixing it up a little in the future to stay fresh. Or don’t; what do I know?

A Fun Time at the Movies

So, Onward is a good film. It’s got a solid story and great casting behind it, and the inspiration tugs at one’s heartstrings. That said, it doesn’t seem to have the same spark that all the classic Pixar films have. It’s a great movie, but I wouldn’t put it in my top five films that Pixar’s done.

If you’re a fan of any of the following though:

• Dungeons and Dragons
• Pixar
• Mystical Creatures
• Chris Pratt
• Tom Holland

Then I’d recommend you go see. It’s a nice testament to the power of brotherly love and has some pretty funny moments to it.

I Give “Onward” A 3.5/5

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7, Episode 3 Review

Star Wars is one of the best franchises of all time for a reason. It combines action, drama, spiritual themes, and cyberpunk for a story like few have ever told. If I could decide when Star Wars is at its best, though, it’s when its doing thing: blowing stuff up in visually spetacular fights. And the latest episode of Star Wars: the Clone Wars not only does that, but hearkens back to early days of the show. In other words, it feels just like old times.

Overwhelming Odds

After managing to get Echo out of the Techno Union base, Anakin, Rex, and the Bad Batch scramble to find a way off-planet. Ironically, it was a scenario like this got almost killed Echo and got him captured. This time, though, Anakin’s not leaving anyone behind. Luckily, Echo has the Techno Union’s entire database in his memory, so he manages to find them an escape route. Then they commandeer the local flying creatures to escape.

Flying giant, winged bats is not only the kind of thing Anakin would do, but that Star Wars would do. As if that’s not cool enough, they get chased by winged battle droids!

Unfortunately, Anakin’s team led the droids back to a village of natives, forcing them to face down overwhelming odds against a superior opponent.

Again, classic Star Wars, like old times.

An Impressive Fight

Star Wars: The Clone Wars has always had some impressive fight scenes. However, this episode cements how far the show’s come in twelve years. Seeing the planet’s natives, Anakin, and the Clones work in tandem to defeat the Separatist droids is a visually stunning, though brief, fight. The visuals, use of animation, and action are awesome. A major step above what we first saw back in the pilot movie all those years ago.

Having the heroes fight an overwhelming foe alongside allies with more primitive technology isn’t new, either. Watching the Rebels and Ewoks beat the tar out of the Empire’s “best troops” remains one of my favorite moments in the franchise. Partly because I enjoy seeing arrogant villains get humbled; and because the Stormtroopers lost to what were essentially Muppets.

No PTSD For Echo

The one thing that I have to complain about regarding the episode is how it uses Echo. This is a Clone Trooper that fans have almost since the show started, and who we thought dead for years. Not only is he alive, but he’s been turned into a cyborg with parts and wires sticking out of what’s left of his organic body. That kind of thing would be very traumatic for most people to endure, on top of a near-death experience.

However, Echo doesn’t seem to be suffering from any PTSD or any changes to his personality. As soon as he’s unplugged, he reverts to his normal personality and doesn’t say anything about his experience. That’s a missed opportunity, if you ask me!

Fortunately, Echo has Rex to help sort out everything he’s gone through. Rex even makes it a point to say that things are going to be “just like old times”, a sentiment that Echo seems to agree with. However, I doubt they can go back to the old times after what Echo’s gone through.

Good Times

So, this episode marked a full return to the action that I loved during The Clone Wars original run. It was short, but nice, nonetheless. No, seriously, the episode was only eighteen minutes long, including the end credits. The next episode should be the finale to the “Bad Batch” arc, so I’m hoping it can stick the landing. Even if it doesn’t, this episode did feel a little like old times.

I Give “On the Wings of Keeradaks” a 3/5

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Hello, everyone, Roderick J Fritz here with another round of Fan A&A Spotlight. Today, we’ll be taking a look at a fanfic writer that I should have covered months ago. He’s one of my personal favorites on fanfic.com, I talk to him frequently in PM’s, and I consider him to be a good friend. Meet the Wandering Hippie!

If you’re reading this, Hippie, I’m only saying what you’ve told us on Fanfic.com. No personal info.

The Life of the Hippie

Hippie’s been very open about the details on his life, enough that I can get a clear picture of him. He grew up in Pittsburgh and is currently in his early-mid twenties and an aspiring writer. From what I can gather, he was a huge geek growing up, being a fan of many popular cartoons, anime, and comics. In addition, he’s also an avid play of Dungeons & Dragons and a proficient Dungeon Master.

However, it seems his early years of adulthood were rough on him. According to his author’s notes, he made some poor decisions in his last years of college that made him feel like he wasted his time. On top of that, his friends started to drift apart, and he lost a ton of money to an online scam. As a result, he wasn’t in a good place for a while. All that changed, though, in June, 2017, when the Wandering Hippie published the first chapter of a fanfic story called “A Tale of Moon and Monsters.”

As it turned out, working on his fan writings was just what the doctor ordered. It gave him a sense of purpose in life, and within months, he turned things around. He got a full time job as a caretaker and bird handler at a pet store, joined a volunteer fire department, and found a new group to play D & D with. Most importantly, though, he found recognition from the fans he gained from his stories.

As A Writer

Thanks to his time as a Dungeon Master, the Wandering Hippie became proficient in the delicate art of world-building. That skill would translate well into his recreation of the universe of Star vs. The Forces of Evil, letting him build up a complex and storied world that not only builds upon the show, but even improves it in some aspects. At the time of this writing, it’s basically at Game of Thrones levels of complexity. Some may think that’s a bit much, but I see it as pushing the concept of Star vs. beyond what Disney allowed. If you read my character analysis for his stories, you’ll know he gets bonus points for fixing characters with less than desirable personalities (*cough* Rhombulus *cough*)

The best way I can describe the Wandering Hippie’s writing style is taking the comedy and drama of Star vs., mixing in PG-13 elements. Then he stirs in some tastefully chosen soundtracks and songs from shows and movies, the complex history of a Game of Thrones world, add fourth wall breaking Author’s notes and numerous pop culture references. The result is a story that, somehow, manages to work really well.

Messing with the Fourth Wall

One of Hippie’s trademarks is that he likes to use his Author’s Notes to mess with the fourth wall of the story. By the time he starts Star the Monster Princess, he uses them to speak to the readers directly. More often than not, he uses it to tell jokes or act out some cool scene he wants to do. I.E. pretending to be a thief, facing down the embodiment of reality, fighting an evil squid version of himself. However, he also uses them to discuss serious elements, letting us know when something’s of personal importance to him. Heck, he even admits that he cried during some of the more serious moments of Monster Princess, which he says is a sign of a good writer. I’d have to agree with him.

He’s also not alone in the author’s notes, either. He’s joined by three other people who help him. The first one is Omnitraxus Prime who, thanks to being aware of the multiverse, can somehow hang out with Hippie. There’s also the Narrator Guy from Spongebob Squarepants, who gets into arguments with Hippie every now and then. Lastly, we have Janna, who’s trolling abilities in his story have risen to fourth-wall breaking levels. Hippie tried getting rid of her at first, but since she’s Janna, he gave up on that; now she just hangs out with them.

Pop Culture Aficionado

I dub the Wandering Hippie as a pop culture aficionado because his stories are filled with references to various cartoons, books, and other mediums of story-telling. In fact, this goes beyond simple references and using other brands soundtracks. Many chapters of his stories include characters from the many cartoons and movies he watched growing up. Since this is a fan work, he can get away with it without those pesky ownership rules.

I personally enjoy the entire concept, because almost every reference or character he uses are from things I’m already familiar with. The latest chapter alone included cameos from Hellboy, Jackie Chan Adventures, Ed Edd n’ Eddy, and The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy.

Say Hello to the Hippie

Now, there’s another reason why I wanted to make this post. A while back, I had suggested to Hippie that he get a new logo for himself. So to surprise him, I hired a fan artist by the name of Gogola on Instagram to make a drawing of him. Thus, I figured that this post would be the best way to share it with him. Hippie, this is for you, man!

Hope you enjoyed this, guys!

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