RJ Writing Ink

South Park, Season 23, Episode 9, “Basic Cable” Review

Ever since Disney+ came out last month, I’ve been binging all things Star Wars off it. It’s all to prepare for The Rise of Skywalker. Until that movie, though, the hot thing everyone’s talking about is The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda. Which is why South Park uses the nuances of streaming services as a reason to gush over the show.

Given how many times they referenced it in their show, I think its safe to say that Matt Stone and Trey Parker are big fans of Star Wars. They love it so much, that it’s led them to harshly criticize any problems they have with the franchise. The whole premise of the classic episode “Jakovasaurs” was to express their distaste for Jar Jar. Yet they seem to sing nothing but praise for The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda in their latest episode, “Basic Cable”. If South Park says something’s good, then it has to be.

Like the rest of the season, the episode’s based around a fake spin-off, this time focused on Scott Malkinson. He’s the kid with the lisp and diabetes and all he wants is to get Disney+. That desire becomes two-fold when he gets a crush on the new girl in class, fellow diabetic Sophie Gray. She loves The Mandalorian and thinks its the best thing since Empire; and she isn’t wrong. So Scott thinks the best way to win her heart is to watch The Mandalorian with her.

Cable Hates Baby Yoda and Streaming

There’s just one small hiccup to Scott’s plan: his dad works for the local cable company and refuses to do streaming. Instead he stubbornly clings to basic cable and says that it’s all anyone needs to watch. To be fair, Mr. Malkinson does bring up some valid points about the rise of streaming. It’s forcing cable out of existence, and ensuring that people don’t watch anything together anymore. However, his efforts to improve cable’s success are undermined by the show stereotyping cable’s incompetence. They did this years ago with the episode “Informative Murder Porn”, but here the incompetence is genuine.

In true South Park fashion, Mr. Malkinson and the other cable guys refuse to better themselves. Instead, they decide to shut down everyone’s access to streaming services. This ends up foiling Scott’s plans to woo Sophie. However, Sophie reveals that she wasn’t into Scott like that and just wanted to watch Baby Yoda and The Mandalorian.

In the end, the entire town of South Park gets cut off from their streaming. Despite everything, though, the episode ends on a positive note. Scott forms a genuine bond with Sophie over their diabetes, giving him hope for the future. It then turns into an ad for The Scott Malkinson Show, complete with ad and phone number. The show even goes the extra mile: dial the number, and you’ll be directed to the prices for the various spin-offs South Park’s done this season.

A Roaring Good Time

Ever since Disney+ came out, I’ve been thoroughly invested in it and The Mandalorian. As a result, I could relate to this episode a lot, and thus find the humor in what was happening. In fact, I think this was my second-favorite episode of the season. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it sing praise for Baby Yoda!

I Give “Basic Cable” a 5/5. I loved it and Baby Yoda.

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An Important Message

Shortly after the episode went up, South Park’s Twitter account posted this message

Help him out. For Karpman!

My Top Seven Favorite Arcs Of Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Right when we thought Star Wars couldn’t get any better, we got Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Airing from 2008 to 2013 on Cartoon Network, The Clone Wars became an immense hit with fans, myself included. Even the people who hate the Prequels have to admit this show was good. As a bonus, it marked the debut of Dave Filoni in the Star Wars franchise. Ten years later, and people now consider him George Lucas’ apprentice and heir.

With The Rise of Skywalker out in a few weeks, and the final season of The Clone Wars coming to Disney+ in 2020, now is the to strike. Now is the time for me to look back on my favorite stories from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Two things, though: this will be about story arcs which span several episodes. I’ll be doing my favorite episodes of the show at a later date. Secondly, there’s going to be spoilers ahead. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it on Disney+.

The Malevolence Arc

The very first arc of The Clone Wars, The Malevolence Arc started the show with a bang. In this three episode story, the Jedi face down against General Grevious’ deadly new flagship, the titular Malevolence. Aside from absolutely massive, what made the Malevolence so terrifying was its twin Ion Cannons that could shut down any ship. In a tribute to the original trilogy, the firing sequence of said cannon’s copied the Death Star’s firing sequence.

What some people may not realize is that this arc and the Malevolence were based on the real-life battleship, the Bismarck. This Nazi warship had the potential to turn the tide of World War II in the Atlantic. As a result, the British threw everything they had into hunting it down. Like the Malevolence, the Bismarck was crippled by a small group of bombers before ultimately being sunk. However, seeing the Malevolence crash into a moon looks cooler.

The Zillo Beast

When the Republic tries to test its new droid-destroying bomb, they wake something up. That “something” is a nigh-invincible called the Zillo Beast, and its armor’s so thick not even lightsabers can cut through it. As a result of this revelation, Palpatine orders it captured and brought to Coruscant. Predictably, it gets loose and starts killing everything; which I called, by the way.

When I first saw the Zillo Beast in The Clone Wars, I knew where the show was going: a Kaiju story. However, with the plot and themes, I thought it was more like King Kong than Godzilla. The end result was still epic in scope though. Even if thousands of Coruscanti died as a result, it felt a little cathartic to see Palpatine/Darth Sidious genuinely afraid. I actually hoped the Zillo Beast ate him.

The Nightsisters Trilogy

As Dooku’s best assassin, Asajj Ventress, continued to grow in strength, Darth Sidious saw her as a threat to him. As such, he ordered Dooku to leave her to die to prove his loyalty. Unbeknownst to all, Ventress survived and returned to her homeworld of Dathomir. There, she plotted with her fellow Nightsisters to take revenge on Dooku. This, in turn, would lead to the birth of a powerful new enemy, and hinted at the return of an old one.

Dathomir and the Nightsisters were first introduced in the Expanded Universe content as a group of powerful dark side users. Seeing them get focus in The Clone Wars was an absolute joy to see. It also marked a big change to the show’s status quo, as Ventress went from outright villain to cool anti-hero and the introduction of recurring villain Savage Oppress, voiced by the great Clancy Brown. In the long run, it laid the foundations for the return of one of Star Wars best villains.

The Mortis Arc

On a mission to investigate a distress beacon, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ashoka wind up on the mysterious planet known as Mortis. There, they encounter a family of Force-users so powerful, they’re essentially the embodiment of the different aspects of the Force. The time that the three spend on Mortis with these three beings ends up changing how we view the Force itself.

Unlike much of The Clone Wars, which dealt with the war and its effects on the Star Wars Galaxy, the Mortis Arc’s unique. It deals with the spiritual aspects of Star Wars: the purpose of the Chosen One and the different aspects of the Force. It’s been years since these episodes, and I still don’t think we fully understand the ramifications of what happened.

Aside from dealing with the Force, this arc also saw cameos of deceased characters Qui-Gon Jinn and Shmi Skywalker. The show even got Liam Neeson and Pernilla August to reprise their roles.

The Mon Cala Arc

Season Four of The Clone Wars may have been its best overall, as it includes my last three picks on this list. In the three-part opening to Season Four, Anakin, Ashoka, and Padme travel to Mon Calamari to aid in its planets civil war over the planet’s throne. On one side is the Mon Cala and the young Prince Lee-Char against the Separatist-backed Quarren. However, Dooku has no plans on giving the planet to the Quarrens.

Aside from reminding me of the stories of The Lion King and Hamlet, I love this arc for several reasons. Firstly, the battle in the premiere episode involved thousands of characters and animals, and that’s an impressive feat of animation. Secondly, it gave us a look at Ackbar, the future Rebel Admiral that uttered this legendary phrase: “It’s a trap!” Seeing Ackbar fighting alongside the Jedi in his younger years was enough to make fans squeal with joy. Third and finally, and I didn’t learn this until years later, it served as my introduction to Adam McArthur. Providing the voice to Prince Lee-Char, Adam would go on to play the role of Marco Diaz in Star vs. The Forces of Evil.

Darkness on Umbara Arc

As The Clone Wars progressed, I noticed that the show was getting progressively darker and grittier, and I consider the Umbara Arc one of the darkest stories in the show. That is both metaphorically, and very literally. When the Republic launches an invasion of the darkened world of Umbara, Anakin’s recalled to Coruscant. Meanwhile, his Clone Troopers are placed under the command of Jedi Pong Krell, who proves to be a terrible leader! His strategies are so bad, that’s it’s almost like he’s trying to lose.

Underneath the Sci-Fi technology, I think that the Umbara Arc was the closest The Clone Wars got to a big budget war film. Whereas much of the show focused on the Jedi or leaders of both sides, this arc focused exclusively on the Clone Troopers. Characters like Captain Rex and Fives had done wonders for humanizing the Clone Troopers. However, seeing the Clones chafe under Krell’s seeming incompetence reinforced the idea that they were still people. I shared their frustration at Krell’s poor plans, and when Krell’s true alliegance came to light, I felt my rage boil over. In my eyes, making a viewer or reader feel great emotion is the sign of a great story, and Umbara was one.

Return of Maul Arc

After disappearing for the rest of Season Three and most of Season Four, the four part finale to Season saw us return to Savage Opress and Asajj Ventress. Left without a home and no one else to trust, both end up on the run from the Republic and Separatists. While Ventress eventually builds a new life as a bounty hunter, Savage goes searching for his lost brother. As a result, we see the return of one of Star Wars best villains, Darth Maul.

SAY WHAT?

When I first saw The Phantom Menace years ago, I thought that Darth Maul was one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen. Seeing Kenobi slice him in half remains one of my favorite moments from the Prequel Trilogy. So when The Clone Wars brought him back to get revenge on Obi-Wan, I went crazy with excitement. He was every bit as scary as I remembered him. Maul went on to become a recurring villain in The Clone Wars and its successor, Star Wars: Rebels. Thank you, Dave Filoni and everyone else!

May the Force Be With You

Without a doubt, Star Wars: The Clone Wars was one of the best things the franchise has ever given us. Every time a new episode came on, I’d stand in front of the TV and swing my old toy light saber to the opening credits and I had a blast. With the Skywalker Saga seemingly about to end, I’m glad I got to look back on this amazing addition to the Star Wars mythos. Now, though, I have to ask all of you: what was your favorite story from The Clone Wars? Let me know in the comments. May the Force be with you!

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My Plans for December 2019

Thanksgiving Day’s behind us and we survived Black Friday; and I hope the Force was with you if you went shopping. Now the holiday season’s here, and if you’ve followed RJ-Writing Ink since last year, you’ll remember what I did. I watched a holiday special a day, then reviewed it here. Now I’m here to say that I won’t be doing that again this year.

There are multiple reasons behind this. Firstly, trying to write a special a day got hectic for me. I still had to do my other posts, and it got a little difficult. Secondly, there are a few things that I want to focus on for this December. Thus, here are my plans for December 2019. I think you’ll find them taking you to a galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars Hype Build-Up

I don’t get as much of a chance to write about it here, but I’m a huge fan of Star Wars. I enjoy everything from the movies to the books, games, and lore. Despite my love of the franchise, I’ve been a skeptic about the sequel films since they started. However, I refuse to let my optimism be diminished. As such, I aim to make sure the Force is with me for December.

All throughout December, I’m going to be writing about all things Star Wars. There’s no set theme for this, as it can be about anything from the franchise. Some ideas I do have, though, include:

• Favorite Moments in Star Wars
• A look at the philosophies of the Jedi and Sith (and their flaws)
• Characters in Star Wars I’m a fan of
• Good things about the Star Wars prequels
• My biggest problems with the Star Wars sequels

All of this will lead up to my review of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. May the Force be with us this December.

A Look Back on 2019

If you’ll recall, I wrote a post at the end of last year calling 2019 “The Year of Endings.” The rationale being that this year saw the end of a lot things in pop culture. With the year coming to a close, I want to look on some of the things that came to an end this year. I’m not sure if this will be one post or a series of posts, but I can tell you that I plan to have it up between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

To clarify, most of what I’ll be writing about will be things I’ve already written on RJ-Writing Ink.

A Look Back on the 2010s

For better or for worse, the 2010s were an eventful decade for humanity. From world-changing historic events to the rise of cultural icons, the 2010s were big. Thus, with the decade coming to a close, I felt it’s appropriate to look back on the big highlights.

Expanding on my look back on 2019, I’ll be writing on a number of topics. I already have some ideas in place:

• Biggest Global Events of the 2010s
• Best Movies of the 2010s
• Biggest moments for pop culture in the 2010s
• Best TV shows
• Best animated TV shows

There’s no set timetable for this, though. All I know is that I’ll be posting it throughout December.

Some Holiday Specials

Alright, I know I said that I wouldn’t be focusing on holiday specials this year. However, if I see a special or movie that I like, then I want to write about it. Don’t expect it to take up much of my blog, though.

May the Force Be With Us

Well, that’s everything that I wanted to say. In between all this, I’ll be doing posts on my regularly scheduled topics. May the Force be with you!

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Star Wars, The Mandalorian, Episode 4 Review

Chris Adams; Clint Eastwood; and Samurai Jack. What do these disparate people have in common? They’re all lone warriors who chose to help save a small frontier settlement from bandits. They face down overwhelming odds, yet manage to come out on top in the end. Since the legacy of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood is strong with The Mandalorian, this week’s episode follows that tradition. We got an Old Western stand-off, Star Wars style!

Baby Yoda, Muppet Star

After risking his neck for Baby Yoda last episode, Mando needs to find a place where the child can live in peace. However, his choice of a backwater world, Sorgan, has its own problems. There’s a group of raiders harassing village of krill farmers. While he doesn’t want to do it at first, Mando agrees to help them out in exchange for taking the kid in.

Did I mention that Baby Yoda’s getting even cuter, because he is. That adorable little creature’s won the hearts of millions with his looks and how fond he is of his unwitting guardian. The kids on Sorgan fawn over him. It’s ironic without trying to be: fans have been scrambling to demand Baby Yoda merch, and for once, Disney’s caught off guard. However, their initial releases prove to be bad.

Cuteness aside, Baby Yoda’s proven to be a good partner for the Mandalorian. He helps bring out the warrior’s protective side, and I think it’s gotten to the point where he can communicate without say a thing. When his caretaker’s in a brawl outside a tavern, he’s just standing there, nonchalantly eating his stew.

Possible Partners

Speaking of the brawl, this episode saw the introduction of an awesome female character who may or may not be the Mandalorian’s future partner/love interest. Her name’s Cara Dune, ex-shock trooper for the Rebel Alliance. Now she’s working as a mercenary while trying to find a place to settle down to. She’s almost as good as the Mandalorian in a fight.

On a more intimate level, the Mandalorian gets a more solid love interest in one of the villagers, Omera. She’s a young, widowed mother whose surprisingly good with a blaster. Unlike Cara, though, Omera manages to get the bounty hunter to open up a little, and we learn more about his past. He’s never taken his helmet off in front of others since he was a child, for that would mean never putting it on again. For a moment, though, he considers taking off his armor and living out his life on Sorgan with Baby Yoda and Omera.

Western Stand-Off in the Dark

Fate, however, has other plans in store. It’s discovered that the raiders have an AT-ST on their side, something the villagers can’t hope to match. As a result, Mando and Cara teach them how to fight and have them erect barricades. Their ultimate plan is to lure the AT-ST into a giant pit and trap it there. Thus begins an old western stand-off.

I think that the fights in the show have been great so far. However, this was the first one I had a problem with: it was too dark to see. I started getting flashbacks to “The Long Night” from Game of Thrones, and I didn’t like that. I understand that having a stand-off at night helps with drama, but there needs to be a balance to it. Other than that, though, the fight was superb.

Sadly, Sorgan won’t be the place where Baby Yoda can live in peace. The morning after the battle, a bounty hunter almost kills the child before Cara takes him out. As a result, Mando and Baby Yoda have to move on. It’s a standard trope in old west films: the lone gunslinger moves on with the fight over. It’s sad, but it has to be done.

Nice Standalone Adventure

This may be my favorite episode of the show yet. We finally learned why the Mandalorian never takes off his helmet, he gets a chance at happiness, and Baby Yoda remains cute as ever. In other words, it’s everything the fans wanted. While the fight could have been more visible, I left satisfied with what I saw. I can’t wait for next week’s episode!

I Give “Chapter 4: Sanctuary” a 4.5/5. Best episode yet.

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Also, here’s a CGI Loth-Cat!

Redeeming Qualities of the Star Wars Prequels

It’s no secret to Star Wars fans that the Prequel films are considered “controversial”. For the first generation of fans that grew up on the classic films, the Star Wars Prequels seemed like a letdown. Too much dialogue, not enough action, the characters could be bland at times, and of course, Jar Jar. I get that George Lucas created him to attract the younger audience, but did he have to act that dumb?

However, despite all the flak the prequels have gotten, the thing is that they’re actually good. Don’t get me wrong, if I wanted to watch self-centered grown-ups play politics, I’d watch Game of Thrones over the Galactic Senate. Once you eliminate all the flaws of the Star Wars Prequels, though, they’re good movies. Now before you execute Order 66 on me, I want to defend my position. So, here are my reasons why the Star Wars Prequels weren’t as bad as some people think.

They Had the Best Lightsaber Duels in the Films

While the lightsaber duels in the original film were undoubtedly great, I don’t think they hold a candle to what the Prequels gave us. Whereas the the lightsaber duels in the classic films were slower, the Prequels did the opposite. They were all about fast-paced acrobatics and incredible music. The level of choreography the actors put into the duels was so good, the fights looked like deadly dances.

Much of the Prequels lightsaber duels success stems from the improvements made to filming by the time The Phantom Menace came out. As a result, I think George Lucas and his team wanted to go all with the fights. Combined with the masterful score of John Williams, and you got some of the best sword fighting seen in a movie.

The one downside to all this was that it made the lightsaber duels in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi look lame in comparison.

It Opened Up a New Era of Star Wars

In the sixteen years between Jedi and the release of The Phantom Menace, Star Wars had not remained quiet. The franchise had been kept going through different media, from books to comics to even video games. However, almost all of this material took place during or after the events of the films. Everything before that was largely unknown.

The Prequels films changed all that. Suddenly, Star Wars was able to travel back to a time when the Old Republic and the Jedi still existed. When Obi-Wan was in his prime, and when Anakin was still a Jedi Knight. As a result of the Prequels, many unanswered questions about the franchise were finally solved such as:

• How did Anakin become a Jedi
• Why did the Jedi Order Fall?
• What were the Clone Wars?
• Who was Luke and Leia’s mother?

The Star Wars Prequels were like a breath of fresh air for the franchise. Now writers and studios had a new era from which to work with. As a result, we got some of the best characters in the entire franchise, as well as some of the best cartoons.

It Gave Us Two of the Best Star Wars Cartoons

Speaking of cartoons, two of the best Star Wars cartoons of all time were a direct result of the existence of the Prequels. The first one, despite no longer considered canon because of Disney, remains a cult hit with fans. The Force remains strong with Star Wars: Clone Wars.

Created by Genndy Tartakovsky, already famous for Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack, this micro-series had all the hallmarks of Tartakovsky. From the art style to the extended use of scenes with no dialogue, Star Wars: Clone Wars was some of the man’s best work. The micro-series would earn three Emmy awards during its run, and would serve as a major part of the Star Wars canon. The series’ so popular that even after Disney moved it out of the canon, fans have pushed for its return in some form.

Then we Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the show that brought the franchise to new heights. Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars was amazing, but The Clone Wars helped improved on it; it made Anakin’s personality far more likable. In addition, it introduced characters like Ashoka Tano and Captain Rex, who are now fan-favorites in the franchise. I look forward to the day Ashoka gets her own movie. Plus, it managed to bring Darth Maul back from the dead, and made him scarier than he already was.

It Shows Us the Original Jedi Order

Until the Prequel films came out, everything the fans knew about the original Jedi Order came from second-hand sources after it fell. While Luke eventually rebuilt the Jedi in the Expanded Universe timeline, what we knew of the original Order came in fragments. The Emperor was very thorough with wiping out knowledge about them.

With the release of The Phantom Menace, fans finally got to see what the Jedi were like before they fell. While they did indeed try to be the paragons of peace and justice that Obi-Wan said they were, there’s more to it. Viewers saw firsthand the flaws and failures of the Jedi Order firsthand. For all the good they try to do, the Jedi also prove to be very arrogant, rigid, and unwilling to change with the times. I think that the notion of detaching themselves from all emotions, even positive ones like love, is bantha poodoo. In a way, Anakin was right: the Jedi could be just as bad as the Sith. If Rey rebuilds the Jedi Order, I hope she fixes all their mistakes.

The Music

Half of the reason why Star Wars is so great is because of the music behind it. John Williams is a legend of cinematic scores, and the Star Wars films are some of his finest work. One song, though, stands out above all the others: Duel of the Fates.

First played in the climatic duel between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul, Duel of the Fates is nothing short of John William’s masterpiece. From the epic orchestra to the choir chanting in Sanskrit, this song is as epic as it comes. It’s one of the best songs from Star Wars, and widely considered one of the best things of the Star Wars Prequels. When you hear that music play, you know things are about to get epic.

As further proof, when this TV ad for Rise of Skywalker mixed “Imperial March” with “Duel of the Fates”, I went crazy with excitement.

The Prequels Legacy

Maybe the Star Wars Prequels were never as good as the classic trilogy. To be fair, though, could anything live up to the nostalgia and epicness of the classic films? When you get down to it, though, the Prequels aren’t as bad as some people may remember. When they’re at their best, they can hold their own against the rest of the franchise.

Moreover, it’s the legacy of the Prequels that makes them a good part of the franchise. They opened up a new era for Star Wars and brought it back into the public eye. If it wasn’t for the Prequels, Star Wars wouldn’t be the media juggernaut it is today. Not to mention, we got some really good characters out of it.

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twitter.com/starwars/status/1198786787864281088

Centuries from now, I hope historians look back in Star Wars and recognize just how important it was to global culture. It’s one of those things that MUST be remembered. May the force be with us.

Star Wars, The Mandalorian, Episode 3 Review

If there’s one thing newcomers to Star Wars need to know about the Mandalorians, it’s that they’re a warrior people. They’re some of the few people who could fight a Jedi and win! As a result of their warrior nature, they’re very loyal to each other; it’s the Mando Way. In this episode, we see the Mando Way on full display as the Mandalorian makes a fateful decision.

The Mandalorian’s Past

So far, the show’s only revealed the titular character’s past in bits and pieces. However, I think I’ve seen enough to guess what happened to him. From the looks of things, his home was attacked by the Separatists during the Clone Wars. His parents hid him in a cellar to protect him, but the clankers got to them, and would have killed Mando as well.

Say what you will about the prequels, but the battle droids were some of my favorite things about them. They’re both scary and hilarious at the same time. Mostly, though, they’re hilarious, so seeing them again was a fun treat. I also took it as a sign that Disney’s taking its job of creating a more cohesive canon seriously.

As for the Mandalorian, we know he survived the droid’s attack. I’m going under the assumption that he either escaped or the Mandalorians found him. They’ve adopted orphans before to increase their ranks; it’s the Mando Way.

The Mando Way

Regarding the Mando Way, this episode reveals that this group of Mandalorian’s is a little different from what we saw in The Clone Wars and Rebels. In this episode, they speak of an event known as the Great Purge brought about by the Empire. Now they live in hiding, only going out one at a time. In other words, something big may have happened to Mandalore. One that led them to adopt this new “Mando Way” to survive

If you saw the events in Star Wars: Rebels, then you know that the Mandalorians fully rebelled against the Empire. They’re the best warriors in the galaxy, but they can’t fight off the Empire forever. Maybe the Empire tried to wipe the Mandalorians out for good between the events of Rebels and Return of the Jedi. I think that explains why the Mandalorian’s are in hiding years after the Empire collapsed.

Regardless, the big takeaway about the Mando Way is that they stick together no matter what. That ends up saving the Mandalorian at the climax of this episode.

A Heart Under That Armor

Even though the show portays him as a grim Clint Eastwood type of figure, I already found out that the protagonist has a heart. We saw him shoot the IG-11 droid to protect the Baby Yoda. It was for his payment, but that’s besides the point. In addition, he remained very patient with the child when it wanted to play with its surroundings. He grew to care for the baby like a son.

Ultimately, when push comes to shove, the Mandalorian goes full-on papa wolf for the baby. As a result, we got not one, but two amazing firefights in the climax of the story. Seeing the Mandalorian become a Star Wars fusion of John Wick and Clint Eastwood was as entertaining as shootouts get. The pacing was a bit slow at times, but the show writers made up for it by playing up the suspense.

Good intentions aside, the Mandalorian made himself the most wanted man in the sector. For emphasis, every tracker fob at the Bounty Hunter Guild lights up the minute Mando leaves with the Baby Yoda. However, the Mando way means the Mandalorians stick together.

Undoubtedly, the sight of the Mandalorian tribe coming to the rescue was the highlight of the episode for me. It emphasized two things: firstly, that the Mandalorian’s stick together. Secondly, much like a wolf hunts in packs, the Mandalorians do so as well. As a result, they’re nigh unstoppable.

Mando vs. the Imps

Whatever Imperial warlord wanted the Baby Yoda will now be after the Mandalorian. Which means the next few episodes are going to be a lot of fighting and running from the bad guys. In other words, we just got a Jason Bourne story alongside John Wick and Clint Eastwood.

I don’t know what will happen next episode, but after seeing what the show’s had to offer, I know it will be good. The Skywalker Saga may be coming to an end (for now), but The Mandalorian feels like a bright light for the future of the franchise. As a bonus, this episode introduced me to the woman who will be helming the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series, Deborah Chow. I think Kenobi’s in good hands.

I Give “Chapter 3: The Sin” A 4.5/5. As Perfect as We can Get

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Ever since Disney bought Lucasfilms, and with it, Star Wars, I’ve kept a skeptical eye on where the company takes the franchise. Then they axed the Expanded Universe and thirty plus years of extra content that they’ve yet to make up for. They may have given us Thrawn back, but I won’t be satisfied until I see the return of Revan! However, I think Disney’s starting to step up, and a big example would be the new show, The Mandalorian.

Taking place five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, The Mandalorian follows the titular character. Working as a bounty hunter in the Outer Rim, he accepts a job from an Imperial Remant. The mission: find a target of unknown appearance, and bring it to them. However, he soon realizes that there’s more to this job than he thought.

Space Western

The Mandalorian’s essentially Star Wars’ take on a space western, with the start of the first episode making that clear. Firstly, it takes place in the Outer Rim, a region in Star Wars known to varying degrees of law and order. Depending on where someone is, governments may not exist. In other words, its the perfect place for outlaws, criminals, and guns for hire, just like the Old West.

As for the the gunfights Westerns are famous for, The Mandalorian has them. The titular character lives up to his people’s reputation when he storms a bandit hideout in the first episode. He did have help from an IG Assassin Droid, but regardless, he’d have gotten in. He’s a Mandalorian, after all.

The Mandalorian Himself

If I could best describe the Mandalorian, he’s like a combination of Clint Eastwood and Samurai Jack. He’s quiet most of the time, never speaking more than necessary. He’s almost impossible to beat in a fight, and he’s great with a blaster.

Owing to the fact that we’ve yet to see him without his helmet, we don’t know what the Mandalorian looks like. In addition, it seems like his past will be revealed piece by piece. What’s known is that he wasn’t born a Mandalorian; he’s a foundling. Given the nature of that term, it’s implied that the Mandalorians found and raised him. Thus, he probably had a rough time growing up, turning him into the warrior he is today.

Despite being a deadly killer though, the Mandalorian’s not cold-blooded. His actions show that he does seem to care for other people. However, it’s locating his target that brings his concern for others to the forefront.

Baby Yoda

It’s impossible to discuss this show without talking about the target, the Baby Yoda. Aside from being super adorable, its inclusion is historic for Star Wars. Firstly, we know almost nothing about Yoda’s species; not even their name. Secondly, this is the first time I’m aware of that we’ve seen a baby Yoda.

Third, and I cannot emphasize this enough, the baby can use the Force! If that baby can use the Force, then it explains why the remnant’s of the Empire are after it. Who knows what they could with the Force at their disposal once more. One thing’s for sure, though: the Mandalorian’s getting involved in some deep poodoo.

Star Wars Done Right

For the first time since Disney took the reins of Star Wars, I feel confident in their ability to treat the franchise right. This new show looks and feels like a true part of Star Wars, and I love it. It also helps that it’s made by two men we can trust: Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni.

Jon Favreau’s proven himself to Disney through his work in the MCU. However, what interests me more is Dave Filoni. The man behind Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Rebels, and Resistance, he’s as big a fan of the franchise as we are. More importantly, he learned under the wing of George Lucas himself; that makes him Lucas’ apprentice. In fact, I hope to see Dave Filoni take the reins of Star Wars in the future. If The Mandalorian continues to be a success, then that may happen.

Overall, I recommend checking out The Mandalorian if you have Disney+. It’s got a lot of potential, and Star Wars needs to start rebuilding its universe outside the films. So, starting this friday, I’ll be reviewing each episode of the show as it comes out. Hopefully, this will help lead into what I have planned for December regarding Star Wars. May the Force be with us.

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A Look at How Darth Sidious Cheated Death in the Expanded Universe

Ever since the trailers for The Rise of Skywalker dropped and we heard the laughter of Ian McDiarmid, Star Wars fans went crazy. As a lifelong fan of the franchise, who is admittedly a little bitter over the loss of the EU (#MakeRevanCanonAgain), I was skeptical. I immediately asked one question, the same question everyone is asking: how the heck could Darth Sidious still be alive? We saw Anakin throw him over the railing and explode in a ball of dark side energy. Not even a Sith Lord could survive that.

However, assuming it’s not a red herring or he’s a ghost, I keep coming back to a single theory: cloning. We know Palpatine has access to advanced cloning technology. It’s possible he could have made clones of himself when and if he died. It’s a theory that’s been proposed already, but that’s not what I want to talk about. What I want to talk about the time in the Expanded Universe where Palpatine did, in fact, come back from the dead. It’s called the Dark Empire series, and I think it gives us clues on his possible return in The Rise of Skywalker.

Sidious’ Cheat Code

Like many Sith, Palpatine tried looking for a way to cheat death so he could rule his Empire for eternity. Fortunately for the Galaxy, while the Force has ways to extend one’s life by decades, even centuries, true immortality is a myth. Thus, Sidious found himself a workaround using cloning technology. He made an army of mindless clones of himself that he could inhabit when his original body died.

As a result, when a redeemed Anakin threw him down that reactor, he did die, but his spirit stayed behind. He traveled to his private fortress near the center of the galaxy, where he possessed a younger clone of himself. Thus, Darth Sidious returned from death.

The Shadow Hand

One would think that his first priority would be letting the Galaxy know he’s alive. Rather than do that, Palpatine stayed in the Deep Core and watched his Empire tear itself apart like a pack of starved Womp Rats. He built up his forces and created an arsenal of super weapons. These included the Eclipse and Eclipse II, two Super Star Destroyers with miniature versions of the Death Stars superlaser. There were the World Devastators, mobile factories that sucked planets of resources and churned out ships and weapons. Then my personal favorite, the Galaxy Gun, a platform capable of firing planet-destroying missiles through hyperspace. It’s like the galaxy’s biggest sniper rifle.

Around six years after the defeat at Endor, Sidious made his move. Using the Force to create a portal to his fortress world of Byss, Sidious captured Luke Skywalker. Rather than face certain death, Luke pretended to bend to the reborn Sith. However, Sidious eventually broke him for real, turning him into the leader of his armies. With an armada of ships and deadly superweapons, Sidious announced his return to the Galaxy.

However, Sidious once again underestimated the power of love for another person. Leia chose to confront her brother, and was able to bring him back from the Dark Side. Together, they used the Force to cut off the Emperor’s connection to it. As a result, he lost control of the massive Force Storm he just created, destroying him and his flagship.

He then came back, again.

Final Death

Having suffered several major setbacks, things only got worse for the Sith Lord. Due to the actions of a traitorous guard, Sidious’ remaining supply of clones were falling apart; even the genetic template was damaged. Desperate, Sidious sought the aid of the spirits of the Ancient Sith Lords. They advised him to take the body of Leia’s infant son, Anakin Solo.

Yes, Leia and Han names their youngest son Anakin. They wanted the name to stand for something good again.

Sidious tracked the family to Onderon and brought his armada in to finish the job. However, Luke arrived soon afterwards. Alongside him and Han was a Jedi survivor of Order 66, Empatojayos Brand, and his padawan, Rayf Ysanna. The three Jedi engaged in a furious fight with the Sith Lord and his Dark Jedi guards. Despite besting his guards, the Emperor killed Ysanna and mortally wounded Brand. However, Han Solo arrived, and with a well placed blaster shot, struck the Dark Lord down; which is what Sidious wanted. No longer needing his body, his spirit rushed towards young Anakin. Before he could do anything though, Brand used the last of his strength to throw himself in front of the baby and his mother.

Knowing that he was dying, Brand used all his power to trap Sidious within him. He told Luke he would drag the Emperor to the depths of hell, where all the Jedi he’d murdered would ensure he would never return. Thus, cursing the Skywalker bloodline, Darth Sidious died, this time for good.

A Similar Scenario for Sidious?

First off, this story came out in the early 90s, well before the Prequel Trilogy established the idea of the Chosen One. Thus, even though it’s said the Chosen One would destroy the Sith, Sidious’ survival seems to contradict that. It was a crazy time for Star Wars.

Secondly, I bring this story up now because, in my opinion, cloning may be the best way to explain how Sidious’ returns in The Rise of Skywalker. He could have created clones of himself on some remote planet where he could lay low and gather his strength over the next thirty years. That, and he’d probably see the Galaxy falling apart as some sort of sadistic entertainment.

How he came back, though, doesn’t matter in the end. What matters is that Darth Sidious is back from the dead, and by the look of things, he has dark plans for Kylo Ren and Rey. What’s surprising, though, is how I’ve warmed up to the idea of Sidious returning. If the rumors and speculations are true, then he’s been behind everything in the movies. He’s one of the greatest villains of all time, the overarching antagonist to Star Wars. Seeing him one last time will be awesome. Plus, after all’s said and done, he’s still got the Villain Pub on How it Should Have Ended to go back to.

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My Thoughts and Hopes for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

I was six years old when I first saw The Phantom Menace on VHS at my grandparents home. That marked my introduction to the universe of Star Wars. Since then, I’ve read the books, played the games, and I went gaga over Star Wars: The Clone Wars. My loyalty to the franchise was great enough that I reluctantly put aside my misgivings and went to see Disney’s sequel trilogy. Too bad that The Force Awakens was a rehash of the first film, and the The Last Jedi wasted Luke. Still, nothing can diminish my love for Star Wars, and I intend to see it through to the end.

After the D23 2019 Expo announced that fans would have to wait a little longer for a trailer, I thought it’d be a few weeks. Imagine my surprise when I wake up this morning and find out Disney dropped the new trailer for Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. After looking it over a few times, I thought I’d breakdown a few notable things I found.

Disney’s Really Pushing the Star Wars Nostalgia

The first half of the two minute special look’s dedicated to flashbacks. Starting with the iconic setting twin suns of Tatooine, the video goes through a montage of key moments throughout the films. Whether you grew up watching the original films four decades ago or saw the prequels like I did, it’s a trio down memory lane.

Given how culturally important Star Wars to almost three generations of people, I’m not surprised Disney went this route. They’re trying to bet on gathering fans of all ages for the presumed final chapter to the Skywalker Saga. Of course they’d try to use nostalgia bait to do so. The cherry on top of all this, though, is hearing Luke Skywalker’s voiceover; more on that later.

Lost Imperial Fleet?

Once we get into the first look proper, the first scene that stands out to me is the sight of a fleet of Imperial Star Destroyers. Unlike the larger and deadlier Star Destroyers used by The First Order, its made clear that these are the originals from the classic trilogy. The question is, what are they doing in the movie?

Right now, I can only think of two potential explanations. The first is that the First Order’s started salvaging ships from the Empire to help bolster their forces and speed their galactic conquest. The second is that this is an abandoned fleet of ships that the Resistance locates and commandeers. This would help them combat the First Order on slightly more even terms. Given how little of the main Resistance was left after The Last Jedi, I’m betting that General Organa would resort to the latter.

Rey’s Fall to the Dark Side?

After failing to get Kylo Ren to redeem himself, it seems that Rey’s given up on Vader’s grandson. We saw both literally and metaphorically shut the door on their Force Bond, after all. Since then, it looks as though a final battle between the two’s inevitable, with the video even showing a few seconds of one duel.

What surprises most, though, is what shown after said footage. We see a hooded Rey in a forest wielding a bendable version of a red, double-blades lightsaber. If you pause the video for a few seconds, you’ll notice that the crimson blades have the same jagged, crackling features of Kylo Ren’s lightsaber.

Right now, fans are speculating what this could all mean, and if Rey ends up choosing the Dark Side. I wouldn’t say that’s impossible: while training with Luke, we saw how she opened up to the Dark Side with ease. Going off of that, it makes sense that some fans could be worried about her going dark.

Personally, I’m not as convinced about that. From my perspective, Rey’s brush with the Dark Side seemed different from others we’ve seen use it. Some use it for the power it gives them; others use it for vengeance. The whole reason Anakin initially became Vader was to save his wife and unborn kids. Rey, on the other hand, got drawn in by simple curiosity. She wanted to know who her parents were, but beyond that, she didn’t seem to care about power or the like. So long as she doesn’t let herself be drawn into darkness, I don’t think she’ll fall.

I think it’s also important to point out that this isn’t the first time a trailer for a Star Wars film faked us out. Remember how Jyn Erso was in that Imperial uniform isn’t rh trailer for Rogue One? That never happened.so there no telling if it will happen here.

Rey’s Lightsaber?

The last shots show Rey wielding a form of double-bladed lightsaber. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen type of lightsaber, either. In an episode of Season Two of Star Wars: Rebels, we see visions of Jedi Temple guardians wielding the same kind of foldable lightsaber.

The weird thing, though, is that we see her practicing in a forest with her original lightsaber. AKA, the one used by Anakin and Luke Skywalker. I thought it damaged beyond repair, but I suppose Rey found a way to fix it, as we see her using it again.

In the time since The Last Jedi, Rey’s seemed to have made the Skywalker lightsaber her own. Throwing it a tree and then calling it back is a sign of her power growing. That, however, makes its absence at the end even more perplexing.

Evil Threepio?

This doesn’t seem to be anything major right now, but it’s got a lot meme potential! For some reason, we see a clip of C-3PO with now red eyes. The internet’s going crazy over speculation right now. My money’s on either evil twin or reprogrammed to do something big in the film. I just hope it doesn’t ruin his character too much

Is Palpatine Really Back?

This wasn’t addressed directly in the preview, but I think it needs to be mentioned: Palpatine. The Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious, Palpatine’s the overarching antagonist of the first six films. Yet even though it looked like a redeemed Anakin killed him, promotions for the upcoming film indicate he’ll return in some form.

If Darth Sidious’ really going to come back, then I have one question: how? I saw him go over that railing; he exploded in a maelstrom of Dark Side energy. There’s no way he could survive that.

If he’s really alive, then I’m afraid there’s only one way that could happen. In the now non-canon EU, it’s revealed that the Sith Lord made an army of mindless clones for him to possess. Clever, but it still didn’t stop the Luke, Leia, and their friends from destroying him for good. I really hope that this isn’t a case of cloning, though. It feels dumb now.

Even if he somehow survived what happened to him, I doubt he’s lived for thirty-plus years. He’d be more than 110 year old. No amount of the Force can keep a human’s body running that long!

Given the poster and the sound of his voice in the preview, though, I know Palpatine’s got a role to play. My only hope is that Disney doesn’t mess it up. The idea of bringing him back already makes the idea of Anakin being the one to destroy the Sith pointless.

Your Thoughts?

So, everyone, I want to know what your thoughts are on this matter. What things stood out to you from the D23 Preview for The Rise of Skywalker? Does it pump you up for the movie in December? Let me know in the comments.

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