RJ Writing Ink

Things that came to an end in 2019

In my look ahead at 2019 that I did at the end of last year, then you’ll recall what I dubbed 2019. I called it “the Year of Endings.” The name came from the fact that several great stories in the form of movies, shows, and games would be ending this year. It felt appropriate.

With the year now largely wrapped up, I decided to take a look back on everything that came to an end. In addition, I wanted to share my thoughts about the way these things ended. Too often have I seen a good story ruined by a bad ending.

Infinity Saga

When Iron Man came out in 2008, I don’t anyone knew what it was starting. As a result of that film, a cinematic universe the likes of which had never been done was born. Now fast forward to 2019, and supeheroes dominate our culture, with Marvel capping off one of the most ambitious stories in history: the Infinity Saga.

I’ve been a fan of Marvel since I was a kid. So when I saw Thanos appear in that mid-credits scene in Avengers, I knew what Marvel was building to. However, never in my wildest dreams did I expect the Infinity Saga to end like it did. The franchise had plenty of high moments, a few low points, but through it all, it remained an incredible ride. The final clash between the Avengers and Thanos was one of the greatest moments in cinematic history. As a result of the MCU, I don’t think our culture will ever be the same again, and I’m happy about that.

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones was, without a doubt, the definitive show of the decade. Based on George R.R. Martin’s books and inspired by Shakespeare’s plays, this show gave us a modern spin on a medieval world. The sheer amount of success it’s had is mind-boggling. From giving dozens of actors their big break, to all the memes and references in pop culture, Game of Thrones was a show that only came around once a generation. Then, we got the finale.

If you’ve read my reviews for the final season, then you know how I thought it was a let-down. Yeah, all the characters I hated died, but the way they did made it feel like a hollow victory. While I don’t agree with how the show ended, I’ve since come to a conclusion. While I think the final season could have been done better, I don’t think it changes the fact that Game of Thrones is one of the best shows ever made. The ride alone made the whole thing worth it in the end. Also, I could at least celebrate Littlefinger’s death.

Kingdom Hearts: The Xehanort Saga

Fourteen years. That’s how long fans had been waiting for Kingdom Hearts 3 to come out. In that time, we had to go through several mid-quels, prequels, and remasterings. However, in January 2019, Square Enix finally gave us the final chapter in the Xehanort Saga for their crossover RPG, Kingdom Hearts.

Personally, I enjoyed Kingdom Hearts III. I loved the updated graphics, the new game play mechanics, and the new worlds based on Disney properties that we could explore. However, my enthusiasm for it was marred by my belief that Square Enix delayed it longer than necessary. Then when I got to the end and saw what happened, I felt more frustrated than sad with how it turned out. Despite this, I still think Kingdom Hearts is one of my all-time favorite series.

Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

After forty-two years, eleven movies, and hours worth of content, it seems that Star Wars is dropping the curtain on the Skywalkers. After Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, they announced their intent to create a Sequel Trilogy, culminating in the release of The Rise of Skywalker earlier this month. The film’s supposed to put an end to the story of Skywalker family. However, I don’t buy it for a second.

Ever since The Rise of Skywalker was announced, people talk like its the end of the franchise. In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth! Star Wars proved a long time ago that it can tell great stories without involving the Skywalker family. In fact, some of the best content didn’t involve the Skywalkers or their friends at all! In other words, I see The Rise of Skywalker as the first chapter in a new era for a franchise that can go on for decades.

Star vs the Forces of Evil

This year saw one of the best cartoons put out in years come to an end. At one point, Star vs. the Forces of Evil was almost as popular as Steven Universe and Gravity Falls. However, that didn’t stop Disney from rushing bringing the show to a somewhat quiet end in May of this year. The question, though, is why I keep bringing this show up.

I think my obssession with Star vs. can be explained with three different reasons. Firstly, I think after being so thoroughly disappointed by it, I subconsciously transferred my love of Game of Thrones to Star vs as a means of coping. Secondly, I felt like Disney rushed to get the show’s final season out, throwing in multiple episodes in the span of a few weeks. As a result, it ended before we could get ready for it. Finally, I think that they could have told more stories in the show. Daron Nefcy has openly said she’d come back to do more with Star vs if Disney asked. Thus, I don’t think the story of Star Butterfly’s done just yet.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

I used to think that My Little Pony was a toy line meant for little girls. Then I saw Rainbow Dash beat the snot out of Starscream on an episode of Death Battle. That made me realize that these ponies could actually be cool. After that, I got into the show, and ended up becoming a brony.

In October of this year, Discovery Family and Hasbro brought My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic to an end. However, unlike Game of Thrones or Star vs., this show came to an end on a very satisfying note. Discovery Family went out of its way to promote it by re-running every episode ever, and the finale managed to tie up any remaining plot threads. In other words, it had a good ending. Best of all, IDW Comics will be continuing the story in comic book form starting next year, so this won’t be the last time we see these characters. I thought it was great seeing one of the decade’s best cartoons go out on a high note, and I only wish other shows could do the same thing.

Happy New Year

Do you agree with my picks? What other great things came to an end in 2019 that I missed? Let me know in the comments below, and happy New Year.

Click here to see more stuff recapping past years.

A Look at Pop Culture Highlights of the 2010s

It’s hard to believe that the 2010s are almost over, and what a crazy decade it’s been. On a global scale, we saw the deaths of dictators and terrorist, major elections, and I might add, an apocalypse that never happened! That’s not what this blog is for, though! It’s about pop culture, and pop culture saw a lot of big things happen.

As the 2010s draw to a close, we look back on what I consider to be the biggest moments in pop culture. It can be a movie, a franchise, or a phenomenon. All that matters is that it involves pop culture.

Anime Goes Mainstream

The 2010s are the decade when the entire Millennial Generation came of age. Thanks to the likes of Toonami and (to a lesser extent) Kids WB, we were also the generation that grew up watching anime. Now that we were all of age, we were to use our powers as fans to make anime a part of the mainstream culture.

As a result, what was once a niche interest is now widely accepted. It’s progressed to the point where western cartoons are taking influence from their Japanese counterparts. However, I think the best example is the fact that Goku has his own balloon at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. You don’t get more mainstream than that.

Cartoons Depict Same-Sex Couples

Before the finale of The Legend of Korra, I never heard of a kids cartoon showing a same-sex couple. The fact that Nickelodeon was willing to do it seemed revolutionary, and I approved of it. Then a show by the name of Steven Universe took the portayal of the LGBT Community even further, and the floodgates were opened. As a result, more and more kids shows are willing to have depictions of LGBT individuals.

What makes this awesome is that all these cartoons are teaching kids that it’s alright to be LGBT. Those kids will grow up and be more accepting of others, and then the LGBT will be more accepted by others. Also, it’s good TV.

Disney Dominates

In hindsight, this may be more of a con than a pro. While Disney’s been prevalent in American Culture for decades, the 2010s saw them reach new heights of success. While they’ve made several popular cartoons, I’d chalk it up to their acquisition of large businesses like Lucasfilm and Fox. As a result, they now have ownership of some of the best franchises and films ever made.

While this does seem good at first, I can’t help but feel concerned about how powerful the mouse’s become. They already own a large portion of the entertainment industry. If it’s decided that they’ve become a monopoly, there could be calls to break up their company. Hopefully, that won’t happen.

Game of Thrones Shakes Up TV

Few shows in the world have been as big or as influential as Game of Thrones was. When HBO first premiered this adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s popular novel series in 2011, few could have imagined how big the show would get. However, the show became a runaway hit that only grew bigger with each season. With a cast, story, and budget that rivaled that of big-budget films, Game of Thrones redefined what could be done with television.

The show’s final season may not have been as good as some fans wanted it to be. However, the fact remains that Game of Thrones rewrote what could be done with TV shows. Thanks to the number of actors whose careers got kickstarted or revitalized by the show, it’s safe to say that Game of Thrones’ legacy will be felt for years to come.

The Rise of Streaming

Ten years ago, I never even heard of companies like Netflix, Crunchyroll, or streaming services. Now we’ve got Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and who knows how many others. In other words, the 2010s were the decade when streaming came into their own.

As we stand on the cusp of a new decade, streaming’s bigger than ever. If I’m not mistaken, they’re poised to become the way most people watch their shows, leaving Cable TV in the dust. For better or for worse, streaming is here to stay.

Superheroes Dominate Entertainment

There’s no denying it: the 2010s were a decade dominated by superheroes. While there had been plenty of great superhero movies in the past, they seemed few and far between. However, all that changed with the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Pushing the boundaries of what could be done with superheroes, films like The Avengers brought the shared universe concept to life in a way that had never been done on the big screen before.

The success of Marvel prompted superheroes to reach dizzying heights of popularity, and now others are trying to join in. Even the world of Anime and Manga’s taken with superheroes, giving us hits like My Hero Academia. As we close out the decade, superheroes stand near the summit of entertainment. By the looks of things, Marvel and DC show no sign of letting that fade away. Here’s hoping we keep getting good content!

Star Wars Returns to the Big Screen

Star Wars remains one of the popular franchises in the history of entertainment, with millions of fans across the world. Thus, when Disney bought Lucasfilm and announced more Star Wars movies, a lot of fans got excited. With the release of The Force Awakens in 2015, the franchise returned to the big screen for the first time since 2008.

The Sequel Trilogy may have ruffled feathers for fans. However, there’s no denying how they helped lead to a resurgence in Star Wars. That, and Disney reset the canon so they can create a more tight-knit universe for the franchise. Given the Expanded Universe spanned thousands of years, Disney’s got a long way to go.

Weaponized Nostalgia

The millennials are now all grown up and able to contribute to our economy. More importantly, though, we’ve reached the point where our childhoods are now nostalgically profitable. As a result, the entertainment industry seeks to profit off that nostalgia as much as possible. Which is how we’ve ended up in a culture filled with nostalgia bait.

I could explain how important nostalgia bait is to the entertainment industry these days. However, I think How it Should Have Ended on YouTube does it a lot better in their “Detective Pikachu Hero Cafe” short.

“Because if you remind people of something they liked when they were younger, they will get excited and want to watch it!”

Detective Pikachu

That the whole premise, really, and with the millennials now of age, our childhoods are fair game. Hence why we’re seeing specials and reboots of the shows we watched growing up. Heck, the return of Star Wars qualifies as nostalgia bait! For better or for worse, our childhoods are coming back.

Happy New Year!

Agree with my choices? What were some major highlights of the decade for you? Let me know down in the comments!

Click here to see more stuff recapping past years.

Click here to see my other animation stuff.

Star Wars, The Mandalorian, Episode 8 Review

When Disney+ started in November, one of the big draws was The Mandalorian. It became the golden boy of the service, with fans and critics calling it the best thing Star Wars has gotten since Empire. The show almost lost its footing halfway through the season, but it got it back with last weeks cliffhanger episode. With the season finale now out, I can safely say that the redemption of The Mandalorian succeeds, big-time!

If you’re wondering what I mean by that, wait until the end. For now, let’s get into all the big revelations.

More Backstory’s revealed

While we’ve gotten bits and pieces of the characters backstories before, this episode managed to give us more than we’ve ever gotten. First we have the Mandalorian himself. While flashbacks have shown us how he lost his family, we’ve never learned his name, until now. His true name is Din Djarin. It may not seem like much, but learning his real name helps to really humanize Mando.

Then we have Cara, the former Rebel Shock Trooper who we learn was from Alderaan. Hearing about that was like a gut-punch to Star Wars fans. Alderaan was one of the most beautiful worlds in Star Wars, and it’s destruction by the Death Star remains one of the most heinous acts in all of fiction. In addition, it’s destruction ensured that almost every surviving Alderaanian joined up with the Rebellion. It helps give some much needed back story to Cara, and tugs at the heartstrings

Lastly, we have Moff Gideon himself. He worked in the Imperial Security Bureau, and those who remember Rebels know these guys mean business. In other words, Gideon’s not some wannabe warlord: he’s a genuinely dangerous man. Worse, he knows a lot about Mandalorian culture, making him a huge threat.

The Mandalorian, Unmasked!

Despite their best efforts, Mando’s group has no choice but to run for it. However, the Mandalorian gets a severe head injury, and his people’s creed forbids him from taking his helmet off to get treatment. As a result, it looks like he’s going to die, until a metal savior comes in IG-11.

Having gone after Baby Yoda and laid waste to the Stormtroopers, IG works around Mando’s rule in order to give him bacta. Since he’s not a living being, he can take his helmet off, and we get our first glimpse at the Mandalorian.

Firstly, he’s younger than he sounds, though that’s more because Pedo Pascal playing him. Secondly, I think this moment ties back into the theme of the episode: redemption. By helping save Baby Yoda, whom it once tried to kill, and saving Mando, IG redeems itself. The irony that Mando’s saves by a droid is not lost upon him, either.

Mando’s now Baby Yoda’s Dad

This episode also reveals the fate of the Covert of Mandalorians. It seems the Empire got to a lot of them after he left, while the rest split up and went to find a new home. It’s a crushing bow to Mando, but he now has a new family and mission.

As it turns out, the Armorer lived and chose to stay behind to gather everything. She tells the group about Baby Yoda’s powers and the Jedi. More importantly though, she declares Baby Yoda to be a Foundling, and gives Mando a new mission. He either raises the child to adulthood (who knows how long that will take) or return him to his people. Either way, he’s now the child’s father.

The origin of Yoda’s people has remained one of the biggest mysteries of Star Wars. As a result, the notion of looking for his actual species could be one of the biggest revelations in the franchise’s history. If they think it’s time to reveal the truth about Yoda’s species, then I pray that they can pull this off.

Oh, and Mando gets a Jet Pack. AT LAST!

Redemption

While I won’t say how exactly the episode ends, I will tell you that the heroes win. Mando faces down Moff Gideon and defeats him, leading to his redemption with the Guild. As a result, Karga promises to welcome him back once he’s read. For now, though, he goes off on his quest to get Baby Yoda home. Cara stays behind to work for Karga, meaning we may see her again.

As I said, redemption was a big part of this episode. Several of the characters redeemed themselves for past mistakes. However, in hindsight, I think the title “Redemption” can refer to how the show redeemed itself. It had started off strong, but it’s middle half got weak. Despite some people thinking it had lost its luster, The Mandalorian stuck the landing. As a result, I can honestly say that it’s a great show.

A new era for Star Wars is approaching, one where the Skywalker family may not be the sole big players. As a result of this post-Skywalker Saga time, the franchise will need to find new ways to support itself going forward. Having seen what can be done with this show, I can honestly say that The Mandalorian will be a pillar of the franchise going forward. I can’t wait for Season Two! Especially considering the weapon we saw Gideon use in the episode’s final moments:

I Give “Redemption” a 4.8/5. Near Perfect

Click here to learn all there is about Star Wars with Wookiepedia, the Star Wars Wiki.

Click here to see more of my Star Wars Stuff.

Stray Observations

• Those two scout troopers talking in the beginning reminded me a lot of Grif and Simmons from Red vs Blue. Two idiots bantering together.
• RIP Kuill
• That astromech droid with the giant body guiding the barge down a lava river reminds me of Charon, the ferryman of the Underworld in Greek Mythology.

I rewrite the final battle of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

I just got done writing my review of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, where I made my issues and praises for the film known. As I was writing it, though, there was one thing that I realized was bugging me more than anything: the final battle between Darth Sidious, Rey and Ben Solo.

I’ve seen what Star Wars is capable of doing with its final battles, and I don’t think that Abrams did enough to make it as epic as possible. So rather than stew over it or complain, I decided to go the fan fiction route. Here’s a summary of how I would have done the final battle.

A Real lightsaber fight

I would have kept everything the same up until the moment when Sidious drains Rey and Ben of their life force. At that point, the Emperor would be restored to his full power. Having no further need for the two, he then attempts to choke the life out of them. But Ben and Rey use their combined Force power to hurl Sidious back into his throne, giving them a chance to recover. Enraged, Sidious vows to break them before making them watch as he destroys everything they hold dear. Brandishing his twin lightsabers for the first time in decades, the Dark Lord then unleashes his decades of Dark Side mastery upon the two Jedi. Then, we start hearing a remix of “Battle of the Heroes” and “Duel of the Fates” play in the background as the duel between the last Sith Lord and the last Jedi begins.

What follows is an incredible display of swordsmanship and skill in the Force as the three combatants put every ounce of their abilities on full display. Lightning-fast strikes, near misses, epic leaps and acrobatics. Basically, it’s what the lightsaber duels should have been like, but weren’t because Abrams couldn’t get it through his head.

The fight continues as the battle in the sky above Exegol continues to rage, with everything proceeding as it does in the film as the cavalry arrives. In the temple below, Rey and Ben are barely able to hold off Sidious, as he’s getting progressively stronger as the fight wears on. By this point, he stops using his lightsabers altogether and begins hurling portions of the temple at the pair. Finally, he then batters the two with thrown debris in a moment mirroring Luke and Vader’s duel in Cloud City. He then hurls Ben into the crevice.

A Final Clash

Having seemingly bested the two Jedi, Sidious then arrogantly decides to make Rey suffer and feel utter despair for her insolence. Thus, he unleashes the full extent of his power on the Resistance Fleet as Rey can only look on. When all seems lost, though, Rey feels a familiar voice and a hand on her shoulder. In her mind’s eye, she then imagines that Luke is standing before her once more, telling her to not give up and let Sidious win. We then see visions of each of the Jedi we’ve come to know throughout the franchise, each offering their own words of encouragement:

• Obi-Wan
• Qui-Gon
• Yoda
• Mace Windu
• Ki-Adi Mundi
• Ashoka Tano
• Kanan Jarrus
• Ezra Bridger
• Leia
• Anakin
• Any Jedi we see in the franchise!

With their words ringing in her ears, Rey then slowly stands, with Luke and Leia’s lightsabers in hand. Now fully committed to finishing his granddaughter, Sidious then brings his devastating force lightning to bare on her. Slowly but surely, Rey pushes forward as we see images of the spirits of all the Jedi Sidious murdered joining her with every step. However, when it becomes clear her lightsabers are not enough, Rey puts them aside and uses the raw power of the Force against the embodiment of evil.

Force Tug of War

Rey continues to bravely stand her ground against the Dark Lord, pushing him back before he begins to retaliate. Right when all hope seems lost, the throne behind him comes hurtling out of the air, forcing Sidious to momentarily shield himself with the force. We then see that this was the result of Ben, who managed to crawl out of the crevice while Sidious was distracted. Rey uses the chance to overwhelm Sidious with his own Force lightning. As the Dark Lord’s claimed by oblivion once more, we then see flashes of all the previously mentioned Jedi standing behind Rey. This symbolically shows that she’s carrying the weight and strength of the entire Jedi as they cast the ultimate evil into the depths of hell. Thus Darth Sidious, the tyrant who enslaved a Galaxy and nearly destroyed the Jedi, finally dies.

That’s How You Do a Final Battle, Abrams

If part of this seems familiar, then there’s a reason for that. I got the inspiration for the final clash between Rey and Sidious from the beam struggle between Gohan and Cell in Dragon Ball Z. That’s a hallmark moment of the series, and a good example on how to kill a good villain.

So, at any rate, that’s how I would have wanted the final battle to play out. I know a lot of it couldn’t happen due to the constraints of budgets and reality. However, I still think we should have gotten that epic lightsaber duel. The Sequel trilogy lacked any good ones!

Do you agree with my idea? How would you have wanted the fight to end?

Click here to learn all there is about Star Wars with Wookiepedia, the Star Wars Wiki.

Click here to see more of my Star Wars Stuff.

My Honest Review of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

I would like to state, for the record, that I’ve always been unsure about the Star Wars Sequel films. I love the franchise to death, but I thought making new movies could end up backfiring. However, I buried by concerns and went to see the new movies anyway. I put up with the fact that The Force Awakens rehashed the original film; and I tried to accept what Rian Johnson did to Luke. Now here I am, having seen The Rise of Skywalker bring an apparent end to the Skywalker Saga. My ultimate verdict: meh. Here’s why.

The Folly of the Sequels

Going into this, The Rise of Skywalker had a lot of things working against it that the original films didn’t. Thanks to the Internet, fans could now be very vocal about what they liked or disliked, and Star Wars became no exception. As we saw with reactions to The Last Jedi, this could divide a franchise’s fanbase in two. As a result, Disney tried to reconcile both parties in the span of a single film and give everyone a satisfying ending. Truth be told, though, I think that making the perfect ending to the Skywalker story was impossible. We can’t please everyone, especially in regards to something as beloved as Star Wars.

Then there’s the effect of The Last Jedi. Despite what critics say, that movie was divisive among fans. Rian Johnson had good intentions, but him trying to subvert expectations split the fanbase in two. I didn’t like how Luke got handled, and I especially didn’t like how Holdo’s actions almost wiped out the Resistance. Needless to say, but The Last Jedi put things in a bind for The Rise of Skywalker.

Lastly, there’s the elephant in the room: the passing of Carrie Fisher. When I heard about Carrie Fisher’s death, I mourned for her like so many others. After that, my thoughts turned to the future of Star Wars. How could they finish the Trilogy without Leia, when The Rise of Skywalker was supposed to give her a prominent role? I think we all knew that this film would be the final chapter in Leia’s story, and the fact that Carrie didn’t live long enough to film it gave the movie a bittersweet tone. That said, I think they did the best with what they could.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Now that I’ve gone over all that, time to dive into the spoiler zone as I talk about five major plot threads that left the biggest impact on me. I wanted to do this without spoiling anything at first, but I realized that’s impossible for me.

Palps is Back!

This one’s so obvious I don’t even count it as a spoiler: Darth Sidious’ back. First off, the film does confirm that Palpatine did die in Return of the Jedi like we saw. However, what the film doesn’t confirm is how the Sith Lord came back from the dead. The closest we get to an answer is Palps quoting what he said at the Opera House in Revenge of the Sith about the Dark Side being a pathway to many abilities. So I’m just using the headcanon that he used the Dark Side and cloning to come back.

Fortunately for the Galaxy, the process brought him back more dead than alive; his body’s falling apart and kept alive by life support. However, while he’s as cunning and manipulative as ever, I think death damaged the Sith Lord’s mind. Whereas before he hid his true nature behind a facade, in TROS he drops all pretenses and openly proclaims himself a Sith Lord to the Galaxy. That would explain why his master plan sounds so convoluted, though:

1. Lure Rey to Secret Base
2. Transfer spirit into Rey’s Body
3. Unleash massive armada of retro-looking Star Destroyers with mini-Death Star cannons to reconquer Galaxy

I’m going to have to devote another post to this, but my point is, I think they could have done a little better bringing Sidious back into the films. When you’re so evil that your actor considers you to be more evil than the Devil, you want to do this character justice

Star Wars, The Mandalorian, Episode 7 Review

I would have gotten this out sooner, but I’ve busy preparing for the holidays and getting ready to see The Rise of Skywalker. The reviews may not be good right now, but I don’t care. Even if the movie stinks, we have the future of Star Wars like The Mandalorian. Speaking of which, their penultimate episode got the show back on track. In addition, the show writers demonstrated their mastery of the delicate art of the cliffhanger.

To End the Hunt

Having been hunted at every turn by bounty hunters, Mando’s surprised when Greef Karga reaches out to him. The Client’s Stormtrooper friends have overrun Nevarro and brought business to a standstill. So, Karga makes a deal with the Mandalorian: help get rid of the Imperials, and they’ll leave him alone.

Mando knows it’s likely a trap, though. Thus, he recruits some of the allies he’s made throughout the season.

I thought this was a nice way for the show to demonstrate the Mandalorian’s character development. When the show started, he was a lone wolf not trusting anyone. However, since Baby Yoda came into his life, he’s started to warm up to others, and gotten a few trustworthy allies. Now those allies come back into play with the return of Cara, Kuiil the Ugnaught, and surprisingly, IG-11.

I thought we saw the last of IG-11, but I should have known better. The IG droids are as tough as they come. Heck, in the Expanded Universe, one of them tried to start a Galaxy -wide droid revolution. In other words, Mando’s smart to be distrustful of it, even if Kuiil says he reprogrammed it to do work. That said, I think it’s possible for a droid designed to kill to change for the better.

Baby Yoda’s Powers

With his team of four (five counting Baby Yoda) joining him, Mando returns to Nevarro to meet with Greef Karga and settle things. No surprise to anyone anyone when it does turn out to be a trap. Karga planned to hand the baby over and kill Mando to get the Imps to leave. The plan changes, though, when the group gets attacked by Mynocks. Karga gets wounded and poisoned, but Baby Yoda saves him by using the Force to heal his wounds.

This power may seem to come out of left field, but its not a new thing. Several Star Wars games where you play as Force-sensitive characters use it as a game mechanic. The technique involves using the Force to accelerate the body’s healing process; at its most powerful, it can sustain damaged organs. However, to the best of my knowledge, it drains the user significantly.

This was the first time we saw Baby Yoda use the Force since the second episode, and I thought it was a good way of reminding us of how powerful that cute baby can be. Worse, since he’s a child, he’s young and impressionable; we saw him Force-choke Cara when he thought she was hurting Mando! This is why we need to bring the Jedi back, Disney.

Moff Gustavo

Bringing the Jedi back will have to wait some thirty years, though. As Qui-Gon Jinn would say, we should focus on the here and now. Right now, the audience learns that the Client’s working for a former Imperial Moff! Not much is known about this Gideon, played by Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad fame, but the fact that he’s a Moff means he’s dangerous.

In the old Expanded Universe, a lot of high-ranking Imperials became warlords after Sidious kicked the bucket. While Disney has yet to fully flesh out the post-Endor era, I see no reason why this won’t be the norm. Regardless, Gideon seems to have a large force serving him, and Mando’s group gets overwhelmed. Worse, they catch up to Kuiil, who went back to the ship with Baby Yoda, and gun him down. Thus, we end on our cliffhanger.

Great Cliffhanger

The episode seemed a little slow at times, I won’t lie. However, once we got into the third act, it starts to pick up, as we see who the Mandalorian made an enemy out of. An Imperial Moff’s not someone to be taken lightly, and given how this episode ends on a cliffhanger, we don’t know how Mando will get out of this situation. We don’t even know if Kuiil’s alive or why they want Baby Yoda so badly in the first place.

Knowing the Empire, though, I’m betting Gideon wants the kid for some grand, convoluted scheme to create an army of Force-clones to conquer the Galaxy. A lot of the Empire’s plans tend to be grandiose and a little crazy like that. However, we don’t know given how the episode ends on a giant cliffhanger. Which I think is brilliant.

The fact that I feel frustrated and eager to learn what happens next means that the writers knew what they were doing. Cliffhanger’s are designed to entice people to come back to find out what happens. That’s the feeling I got after watching this episode, and I can’t wait until next week to see how the season ends. It will be a great way to end 2019!

I Give “Chapter 7: The Reckoning” a 4.5/5. Second Best Episode of the Season

Click here to learn all there is about Star Wars with Wookiepedia, the Star Wars Wiki.

Click here to see more of my Star Wars Stuff.

www.cbr.com/star-wars-reveals-ren-means-lightsaber/

That’s what “REN” means? You, Disney, too lame, explain now!

I Call out the Jedi Order On Their Mistakes

For forty-two years, the Jedi Knights have been some of the greatest paragons of good in pop culture. Wielding the power of the Force and armed with their lightsabers, they’re symbols of peace and good. However, once you’ve been into the franchise long enough, you see that the Jedi aren’t perfect. In fact, they can be just as bad as the Sith and dark siders they fight.

With the Rise of Skywalker out on Friday, and the future of the Jedi uncertain, I think now’s a good time to look at the flaws this group has. In addition, I’ll be providing examples of mistakes they’ve made in Star Wars, both in the new canon and Expanded Universe. Just because I love them doesn’t mean I can’t call them out on their nonsense.

No Blaster Training

This is more of a nitpick than an actual flaw the Jedi have. In a Galaxy where almost everyone has access to energy based firearms, the Jedi rely on the Force and their lightsabers for defense. Normally, that’s all they need, but even that can fail them.

Normally, the Jedi don’t use blasters because they see them as clumsy and, more often than not, lethal. Meanwhile, a lightsaber is methodical and doesn’t necessarily kill a person when used. Thus, they see it as an elegant weapon from a more civilized time. Here’s what I have to say to that:

Once the Empire rose, the last thing a Jedi would want to do is use a lightsaber in public. Therefore, blasters become a preferred option for Jedi trying not to draw attention.

Personally, I fail to see why the Jedi didn’t integrate blasters alongside lightsabers. Firstly, most, if not all blasters, have a stun setting so they can be non-lethal. Secondly, with the use of the Force, a Jedi will likely be far more accurate with their shots, to the point where can deliver non-lethal hits. In the Expanded Universe, there are several cases in which someone draws on the Force to deliver incredibly accurate and deadly shots. If the majority of Jedi trained with ranged weaponry, they could be deadlier than even the most skilled non-Force users. Finally , I think watching a Jedi dual-wield a lightsaber and blaster would incredibly badass.

Choose to Avoid their Emotions

Part of the Jedi’s code is to avoid using their emotions. They see it as means to cloud their judgement, and that negative emotions like fear and anger can lead to the Dark Side. As a result, the Jedi are seen as paragons of fairness and ideal as mediators and judges.

Unfortunately, there’s a flaw in choosing to avoid one’s emotions: not everyone’s capable of doing that. In fact, given how their job involves getting involved in potentially life-threatening and traumatic experiences, not dealing with one’s feelings can be a bad thing. Worse still, because the Jedi see emotion as a potentially bad thing, they have no way to help members who clearly need emotional support.

Take Anakin Skywalker, for example. He always felt guilty for leaving his Mom in slaver, something most Jedi had a hard time understanding. So when he started having nightmares about his Mom in trouble, their advice was to “be mindful of your thoughts”. That was a mistake, as Shmi Skywalker was in great danger, and ended up dying in his son’s arms. As a result of that traumatic experience, Anakin lost himself in his rage and killed the entire village of Tusken Raiders, even the non-combatants. Afterwards, he never told anyone outside of Padme and Palpatine, the latter of whom would use the knowledge to force further to the Dark Side. He kept the anger and guilt bottled up because he knew that the Jedi would refuse to forgive him.

I won’t condone what Anakin did, but I think many of us understand how traumatic the experience was for him. The Jedi wouldn’t have been able to, and that anger, guilt, and fear festered and helped push him to the dark side. The best thing the Jedi could have done was reach out not with horror, but with sympathy and understanding. Me? I would have been horrified at first, but would understand how much Anakin was suffering and that pushing him away would do more harm than good. In that moment, what Anakin really needed was a friend that understood why he did it and would help him atone for his actions.

Forbidding Attachments

Piggybacking off what I said above, because the Jedi are paranoid about emotions leading to the Dark Side, the idea of emotional attachments is frowned upon and forbidden. They see it as a potential weakness and fear that it will lead a Jedi to forsake their duty if it meant rescuing someone they loved. In my honest opinion, though, I think the whole thing’s poodoo.

Yes, people can make rash decisions when our loved ones are on the line. That said, most of the Jedi fail to realize that bonds between loved ones does more good than harm. Love is one of the most positive emotions that a sentient being can feel, be it love for a friend, a family member, or partner. That love can, in turn, serve as an anchor to keep a Jedi from falling to the Dark Side. Both in canon and in the Expanded Universe, love has actually helped several Jedi come back from the darkness.

I think the problem isn’t necessarily attachments. I think the true problem is that Jedi don’t know how to deal with pain and loss, and thus they embrace their inner darkness. In the Expanded Universe, Luke Skywalker recognizes this mistake of the old Jedi Order. Given his own experiences with the redemptive power of love and attachment, Luke thus allowed the New Jedi Order to marry and raise families. Hopefully, Rey or someone else will do the same if they rebuild the Jedi.

Believing Those Fell to the Dark Side were Iredeemable

In the original trilogy, both Obi-Wan and Yoda told Luke that trying to bring his father back from the darkness was impossible. This attitude was a reflection of the Jedi’s deeply entrenched belief that the Dark Side was something to be destroyed on sight. As a result, they saw anyone who fell into its grasp as beyond saving and must be destroyed. Yet as we saw, Luke proved them both wrong when Anakin chose to save his son’s life.

Looking back on the films, I realize that Obi-Wan and Yoda gave up on Anakin too easily. As is often the case in real life, anyone is capable of changing for the better. They need only be willing to let that happen. While Anakin remains the best example, Star Wars is filled with examples of Jedi who fell to the Dark Side but redeemed themselves. In other words, that whole “forever will it dominate your destiny” stuff is bantha poodoo. Not even Yoda knows everything.

We Still Need the Jedi

I could going about all the screw-ups the Jedi have made, both in the EU and in Disney’s canon, but I think you got the picture. The Jedi Order was a flawed organization that messed up a lot. From a certain point of view, you can see why Luke thought the Jedi had to end with him.

Here’s what I have to say: screw that.

The Jedi aren’t perfect. They let the Sith rise to power, they had no idea how to handle negative emotions, and they thought love was the root of evil. That doesn’t change the fact that when they were doing what they’re supposed to and helping others, they did a great job. The Galaxy saw them as symbols of justice and hope. No matter what Luke may have thought of them in The Last Jedi, that doesn’t change the fact that the Galaxy needed the Jedi to come back. As long as there are jerks who want to use the Force to bully others, the Jedi need to be there.

In other words, I hope that The Rise of Skywalker sees Rey do what should have been done a long time ago: bring back the Jedi.

Click here to learn all there is about Star Wars with Wookiepedia, the Star Wars Wiki.

Click here to see more of my Star Wars Stuff.

My Rankings for Every Lightsaber Duels in Star Wars

The moment you hear that hiss and the sight of the plasma beam coming out of the hilt, you know shit’s about to go down. Each of the main Star Wars movies has at least one lightsaber duel. With The Rise of Skywalker coming out soon, I’m taking a trip down memory lane. These are my rankings for worst to best lightsaber fights in Star Wars thus far.

For this, I will only be using the duels that occur in the main films. In other words, no Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Rebels, or other material. However, I will do them in separate posts, so don’t worry.

#12-Darth Vader vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Episode IV: A New Hope

This may have been the one that started it all, but it’s also the slowest one. In order to buy time for Luke and his friends to escape, Obi-Wan duels his fallen apprentice and friend one final time. However, the duel itself is very slow-paced and lacks excitement. In addition, while I’m not certain, I think Obi-Wan let Vader win.

Thankfully, some fans decided to remake the duel with more modern tech, and the results are cooler.

#11-Rey vs Kylo Ren, Episode VII: The Force Awakens

I had doubts about the sequel trilogy, but I held out hope that at least the lightsaber duel would be epic. After all, the fights in the Prequels were some of the best in the franchise. Those hopes were dashed when I actually saw Rey and Kylo Ren fight.

While I admit that seeing Rey call Anakin’s lightsaber to her was an epic moment that convinced me she was Luke’s daughter, that was the only cool thing about this fight. It lacked any of the elaborate acrobatics or techniques we saw in previous films. I understand that JJ Abrams wanted to return to Star Wars roots, but the lightsaber duels were some of the best things about the Prequels. This felt like a step back from what I was used to.

#10-Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi And Yoda VS Count Dooku, Episode II: Attack Of The Clones

In hindsight, I think its safe to say that Attack of the Clones is the weak link in Star Wars. The movie’s great when there’s actual action being shown, but then we have Anakin’s “I hate sand” speech. What was great, though, was the duel of Dooku vs. Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Yoda.

Despite putting up a valiant fight, Obi-Wan and Anakin are still no match for the more experienced Sith Lord, with the latter losing his arm to the Count’s blade. However, then Yoda shows up and turns the tables on his former Padawan. As a result, we got to see the legendary Jedi Master in action for the first time, and even in his advanced age, he’s a deadly opponent. The one problem is that he kept jumping all over the place like Kermit the Frog. Which I know is ironic since Yoda’s voice actor Frank Oz is part of the original cast of The Muppets.

#9-Anakin and Obi-Wan vs. Dooku, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Despite being the apparent big bad of the Clone Wars, Count Dooku barely does anything in Revenge of the Sith. While trying to “rescue” Chancellor Palpatine from General Grevious’ flagship over Coruscant, Anakin and Obi-Wan engage in their final duel with Count Dooku. Obi-Wan gets knocked out, and Anakin’s forced to duel the Sith Lord on his own. Ultimately, he ends up winning and straight up kills the Sith Lord.

In a movie with no less than five lightsaber duels, this one wound up being my least favorite. While Anakin’s victory shows how far he’s progressed since Geonosis, this fight lacks the savage brutality, high stakes or emotion of the other fights in the movie. In addition, Anakin’s victory is soured by the fact that it was a test by Sidious to see if he could be turned to the Dark Side.

#8-Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. General Grevious, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

General Grevious hated the Jedi, but he hated Obi-Wan the most. As a result, when Obi-Wan confronted him on Utapau, the cyborg decided to fight him himself instead of siccing the entire army on him like any sane man would do. The result is a brutal and winding chase and battle which ends with Obi-Wan finally putting an end to the cyborg.

Going into the movie, we knew Obi-Wan would win due to plot armor. That still didn’t stop me from being impressed with their duel. Grevious was a terrifying opponent and one of the few non Force Users able to wield a lightsaber. Despite

#7-Kylo Ren and Rey vs Praetorian Guard, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

After failing to convince Luke to join the fight against the First Order, Rey allows herself to be captured and brought to Snoke to try and redeem Kylo Ren. In an unexpected twist, Ren ends up saving her life by killing his master, doing what Grandpa Vader could never do. As a result, the two fight back-to-back against Snoke’s Praetorian Guard.

Firstly, I can’t remember the last time a Dark-Sider had the guts to kill their master, so when I saw Ren do it, I was impressed. Secondly, I think this fight was a huge step above the snoozefest that we got in The Force Awakens. While not at the same level of the Prequels, this lightsaber duel showed off how powerful both Rey and Kylo Ren were. On their own, they’re incredibly powerful, but together, the two are unstoppable. Too bad Ren decided to stay on the Dark Side.

#6-Yoda vs Darth Sidious, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

This was the kind of lightsaber duel that would make fans drool. As Obi-Wan confronts Anakin on Mustafar, Yoda faces off against Darth Sidious in the Halls of the Senate. The resulting fight between the two masters of the Force, while brief, was very brutal with neither holding back. Seeing the two fight on almost even footing reinforced just how powerful each was. In the end, though, this duel resulted in a draw with neither side claiming victory. As a result, it gets placed halfway on this list.

#5-Mace Windu vs Darth Sidious

While Return of the Jedi showed us how powerful Darth Sidious was in the Dark Side, it was Revenge of the Sith that showed us how deadly he was with a lightsaber. Faced with a team of four Jedi led by Mace Windu, the Dark Lord of the Sith drops his facade at last and unleashes his full power as a Sith; and it was terrifying!

From the primordial howl he gives to the sight of him cutting down three Jedi Masters in seconds, this duel reminds us how dangerous Darth Sidious is. However, what I love about this fight was seeing Mace hold his own against the Sith Lord. In fact, some fans speculate that had Anakin not intervened, Master Windu would have won.

#4-Luke vs Darth Vader, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

The climax to what many consider to be the best Star Wars movie saw Luke recklessly head to Cloud City to rescue his friends. Too late, he realizes that its a trap as he faces off against Darth Vader. While he manages to put up a valiant fight, even briefly pushing the Dark Lord back, Luke proves no match.

Going into this lightsaber duel, we knew that Luke had little chance of defeating Vader. This only made it all the more painful to see Luke battered and dismembered by the end of the duel. However, the real trauma is more emotional. In this now legendary, Vader drops one of the biggest bombshells in the history of storytelling: that he’s Luke’s father. Not sorry if I spoiled it!

#3-Luke vs Darth Vader Round 2, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

In an effort to redeem his father/protect his friends, Luke let himself be captured by the Empire. This leads to him being brought to the Emperor and forced to duel his father once more. Only this time, it’s a far more even duel. At least, until Luke refuses to fight his father anymore.

The film had already shown how far Luke had progressed in the year between Episode V and Episode VI, but this lightsaber duel drove that point home. Not only did Luke match Vader blow for blow, but once he finally snaps and lets his rage out, he completely overpowered him. Seeing the once invincible Vader be brought to his literal knees was a sobering moment. Thankfully, Luke had the common sense to refuse to give into his anger.

#2-Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan vs Darth Maul, Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Say what you will about The Phantom Menace, but it has three things that redeem it, and this lightsaber duel’s at the top. In the midst of helping to free Naboo from the Trade Federation, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan engage in a ferocious duel against the Sith Lord Darth Maul. The end result was one of the most exciting displays of swordsmanship in the entire franchise.

In many ways, this fight came to exemplify what Star Wars could do with lightsaber duels for me. From the fast and furious clashing of lightsabers, to the acrobatics, the Duel of the Fates, this was leaps and bounds above what had come before. Also, it’s why I’m so critical about the fights in the Sequel Trilogy. If George Lucas could do this twenty years ago, then JJ Abrams has no excuse.

#1-Anakin vs Obi-Wan, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

This was the fight that fans had been waiting for since Empire. Needless to say, what we got in Revenge of the Sith didn’t disappoint. Having learned of Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader, Obi-Wan fights him in a terrifying duel that will shape the Galaxy for decades.

More than any other example, I consider this to be the definitive lightsaber duel in Star Wars. Considering its importance, it’s no surprise George Lucas’ team went all out. From the lava-strewn surface of Mustafar invoking an image of Hell, to John Williams’ masterful music, this fight screams epic! In addition, the fact that Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen spent weeks practicing so they could fight shows the level of dedication the cast had.

In the Star Wars films themselves, this fight manages to be both epic and heart-breaking all at once. On one hand, it’s the most amazing lightsaber duel in the films. On the other, it symbolizes the death of the brotherly bond that Anakin and Obi-Wan had. The final sight of Anakin burning alive beside that river of lava’s enough to bring tears to one’s eyes.

May the Force Be With You

Do you agree with my picks? What has your favorite lightsaber duel been from Star Wars? Let me know in the comments! Until then, may the Force be with you!

Click here to see more of my Star Wars Stuff.

Click here to learn all there is about Star Wars with Wookiepedia, the Star Wars Wiki.

Star Wars, The Mandalorian, Episode 5 Review

Over the years, Star Wars has provided us with some of the most iconic planets in the annals of fiction. However, of all the amazing and exotic worlds the franchise has given us, none are as iconic as Tatooine. As the birthplace of the Skywalker Family, that desert planet’s integral to the franchise’s mythos. As a result, any Star Wars story that includes Tatooine qualifies for fans-service. So when I saw that this week’s episode of The Mandalorian was taking us to that iconic planet, my fanboy instincts went off. I hoped that this would be the best episode yet!

So why does it not feel like that?

Back on Tatooine

After running from another bounty hunter, Mando and Baby Yoda make an emergency landing on Tatooine. There the ship and Baby Yoda are looked after by a woman with the same hairstyle as the one from Alien. Meanwhile, Mando heads to the Cantina in search of work to pay for repairs.

From the moment the Mandalorian sets foot on Tatooine, the fanservice starts rolling in. The Mos Eisley Cantina is one of the most famous places in the Star Wars films, so seeing it is a treat. However, the joy’s diminished by the fact that there’s no Bith band playing that famous “Cantina Music”.

It’s not just the settings that act as fanservice, but the characters as well. Sitting in the infamous booth where Han shot Greedo is another young and cocky guy named Toro. He’s after a bounty on Tatooine to get into the Guild, so Mando helps him for the money. They run into some Tusken Raiders, Mando talks their way out, find the bounty. Then Toro tries to capture Mando and Baby Yoda, and it ends as well as you’d think.

Not as Fun as I Thought

I thought coming back to Tatooine after all these years would be so much fun, yet it’s not. The last time fans saw the planet, Luke and his friends had rescued Han and killed Jabba the Hutt, one of the most powerful crime lords in the galaxy. In the real world, the death of someone as big as Jabba would send shockwaves through the Outer Rim. At the very least, I think Tatooine would get a little more dangerous as people tried to take the Hutt’s place.

In other words, this was the best chance Star Wars had to show us what life was like on Tatooine post-Jabba and post-Empire. However, they wasted it. Not even an inkling of what life’s like now.

What About Boba Fett?

Speaking of Mandalorians, Tatooine’s the last place we saw the most famous Mandalorian of them all, Boba Fett. In Return of the Jedi, we saw Fett be unceremoniously thrown into the Sarlaac Pit. That’s the last time we saw him in the franchise, but that doesn’t mean he’s dead.

In the now non-canon Expanded Universe, Fett was eventually able to escape the Sarlaac. He’s one of the few people in galactic history who can say they did that. Afterwards, he continued his career as a badass bounty hunter, returning once a year to blast the Sarlaac from orbit. Since this feat only makes Boba Fett cooler than he already is, I think Disney’s ignoring a huge opportunity by not addressing Fett’s fate.

All of this may have changed, though. In the final shots of the episode, we see someone walk up to the corpse of Toro’s bounty. Fans have noted that the unseen character was wearing clothes that looked a lot like Fett’s spurs. As a result, many are convinced that this is a sign that Boba Fett has now escaped the Sarlaac in Disney canon.

I really want to believe that it’s Boba Fett and that Disney’s finally bringing back such an iconic character. However, my gut’s telling me it’s likely another bounty hunter on Mando’s trail. In other words, the show’s teasing us with more easter eggs.

Not a Good Episode

I never thought I’d say this, but this was the first episode of The Mandalorian that I couldn’t get into. Maybe traveling to a place that’s already been visited in 4 of the Star Wars films wasn’t a good idea after all. Seeing all that fanservice was fun, but we’ve already seen plenty of things on Tatooine. Unless the show planned on adding something new to the lore of the planet, then it didn’t really need to go there.

Despite this minor goof up, I still think that The Mandalorian is best thing Star Wars has gotten in years. Once The Rise of Skywalker comes out, it will be shows like this that will carry the franchise until the next film gets released. While it’s important for those shows to pay tribute to the past, they should try to explore new places. It’s a big galaxy, and there’s a lot of Expanded Universe material that can be adapted back into the canon. That is the way that Star Wars will thrive.

I Give “Chapter 5: The Gunslinger” a 2.75/5.

Click here to see more of my Star Wars Stuff.

Click here to learn all there is about Star Wars with Wookiepedia, the Star Wars Wiki.