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Post by Admin on Dec 25, 2021 21:27:42 GMT -6
Don't forget that Season one begins on the 29th of this month.
Are you looking forward to it?
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Post by vitugglan on Dec 27, 2021 5:14:51 GMT -6
Lol! Yes, I'll watch it. Not sure if it'll be on the 29th or later. Still recovering from all the cooking I did on Christmas.
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Post by vitugglan on Dec 30, 2021 7:37:59 GMT -6
Well. I caught it last night, the 29th. We'd finished the last of 'The Great' and the husband turned to Disney. One episode up. We watched it. The flashbacks were confusing since we don't know (or, I don't, not sure what was put out beyond the movies) most of it. Fairly early on we get the escape from the Sarlac, so there's that. It comes almost immediately, so a teensy spoiler and I think they put out that this would be explained. Good, well-spaced, TV-budget action sequences that make sense in the storyline. Fennec shows up, of course, gets some good action. Boba Fett is showing his age but he still has good scenes commensurate with a very fit yet aging man. The episode shifts from their present to his past. I don't know what's going on with the aquatic sleep tank. We get some of the usual Star Wars aliens. We see that Fett will have to fight to claim Jabba's (and another guy, it's weird, I know the name but it just isn't coming) place in that culture. We also see that Tatooine is a very dangerous place in the wild, not even counting the people. Entertaining. Not stellar, but a lot better than the sequels.
ETA: Hit the '6' instead of the '9'.
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Post by Admin on Jan 5, 2022 2:43:35 GMT -6
Since Boba is Jango's unaltered clone, at least he wasn't set to age quickly. I think he was about 10 when we first see him in Attack of the Clones. Probably would have been 15 or there abouts in Revenge, so 25 in NH, maybe 30s or early 40s afterReturn. If that makes him too young for his looks (since not sure how far past Return this takes place)could always blame the premature aging on his stay in the Sarlacc pit. Plus, bounty hunting is very hard on its practitioners.
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Post by vitugglan on Jan 5, 2022 9:10:29 GMT -6
They address the Sarlac pit almost immediately. His stay was brief. I'd say more that his aging has more to do with some of the things that have happened to him physically, which they show in flashbacks. A person who goes through physical trauma, and one can deduce that he has suffered other trauma not shown, will tend to age faster than someone leading a physical yet less physically abusive lifestyle. It's like they said at my dad's funeral - he lived a good, long life (age 69) considering what he went through (2 world wars, being shipwrecked, having most of his bones broken at one time or another, etc.). It ages you and shaves years off your life.
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Post by vitugglan on Jan 10, 2022 12:07:41 GMT -6
Episode 2 was fairly decent. Some 'present day' stuff, including twin Hutts and a black-furred Wookie, but the highlight (IMO, of course) was the flashback to Fett's time with the Sandpeople. Decent action, nice interactions, showing Fett developing as a leader. Not going to spoil but a decent watch. Not stellar, but better than a lot of things out there.
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Post by Admin on Jan 26, 2022 14:55:18 GMT -6
Last week I binged to catch up (yeah, finally got some days of focus.... go me!!  ) and just got done about an hour ago with today's episode. (squee! Squee! Squee!!) And, it looks like Tatooine is not longer fitting young Luke's description of "if there is a bright spot in the Universe, you're on the planet that its fartherest from!" |
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Post by vitugglan on Jan 27, 2022 6:56:20 GMT -6
I haven't seen past the second (third?) episode. Might catch up this afternoon after I get dinner in the oven. So far, the flashbacks are more interesting than the present to me. I especially liked his time with the Sand People, that train, all that. The brightly-colored hovercycles made me do a second take, and not for positive reasons. That storyline smacked of something a little too simplistic for the set-up, but that's just me. I get that these shows are a new type of thing with an overall arc that lasts the season, so there should be some sort of resolution of the larger question.
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Post by vitugglan on Feb 2, 2022 7:19:31 GMT -6
Okay, have seen episodes 1-5 now. Waiting on hubby to get home so we can see 6. IMO, very slow-burning fuse. I was meh over the first two episodes. Enjoyed the train and motorcycle gang episode but wasn't too keen on the present for most of them. The cartoon-colored Vespas took me out of the whole Tatooine earth-tones vibe. Wondered if Luke or, more to the immediate, Uncle O and Aunt B knew about those cyber-implant salons and that's why they didn't want Luke to go to all these places. Totally squeed at Ep. 5. 5? The not-Boba-Fett episode, in case I misunderstood and you didn't see that ep.
I like the character of Fennec Shand. She's bad-a** but deliciously understated. A good sidekick. I'm too old to have the same references as the reviewers I listen to, so I'm not all butt-hurt about Boba going Zen with the Tuscans. I didn't play with the action figures, I didn't imagine BF doing much of anything but appearing every so often and feeding a giant sand-anemone. People in the mid-30s to mid-40s group seem to have had all those imaginary play memories that are disappointing them now. I asked the second-born, who falls into that age group, and she agrees. She hasn't seen 5 yet (they watch on Fridays but missed last week because of a bunch of stuff including a bowling tournament for 5/9 the next day and home-schooling) so I assured her without spoilers that they'd get more action. She hates spoilers so I left it at that. Anyway, I didn't survey her on the Fennec Shand character. I think I will later.
I like that BF's building up a family of sorts. I agree with the second-born, glad he recruited Chrysanthem or whatever that Wookie's name is. Currently, not counting 5 (just in case) he's got FS, the two pig guards, the Vespa gang, and the Wookie. Seems like a good start to his empire. Will be watching tonight's episode tonight, hopefully. I think it gets better with each episode. Oh, and there's a spoiler out there about an upcoming episode on IMdB. Adding that in for the sake of laughing at that RL plot-hole.
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Post by Admin on Feb 3, 2022 8:51:59 GMT -6
So, so much squee! in yesterdays episode. The episode's visual shout out to Boston Dynamics "Spot" line with the oh so polite and very industrious distant cousins (I mean, they made him a bench and cushioned it with leaves). Seriously, someone needs to parody that scene and have them break into a flash mob dance routine to "Yub Nub!" from ROTJ.
The "nailed it!!" live action incarnation of a bad ass from the animated Clone Wars.
and that episode finale :: jaw hits floor with resounding THUD! ::
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Post by vitugglan on Feb 4, 2022 6:08:36 GMT -6
Doomcock says that whichever Grogu chooses will determine if the sequels are erased or kept as canon. Rationale: if he chooses to be Luke's first student, that erases VII, VIII, and IX since Ben Solo was Luke's first student in the sequels. If he chooses the armor, that leaves the door open to Ben being the first student, validating the sequels.
I didn't watch the animated series, any of them, so didn't know the stranger from the desert. Nasty looking, and acting, villain. Another choice: do the people of that town (Mos Something-or-other) comply out of intimidation, or do they rebel and help Boba and his growing 'family'? I'm going with option 2, given the bartender's expression when we last saw him, but more frightened heads may prevail. RIP the sheriff. He was a good character. I hope that, since he was only (!) shot once, he'll survive. The deputy, though, should have gone inside as ordered. I think he's a goner.
As for Ep 5, I think, and the second-born (who binged the last two episodes last night) concurs, the other Mandalorian will return in Season 3 as a villain of sorts, seeking to win the weapon from Din Djarin. Whether he'll be a full-fledged villain or just a guy wanting what he thinks is his birthright, I don't know. Also, the whole not removing the helmet schtick - is that core belief that the younger Mandos have forsaken, bringing on the destruction of the planet (a really little thing to destroy an entire race, IMO)? Or is it this one sect that has taken something far too literally? As the husband says, it makes no sense not to remove the helmet for certain things, such as medical (see that episode in Season 1 with the robot) or love-making. I'm hoping that the lore here will be explored a little more. Was the sect that raised Din Djarin a fanatic splinter, or the carrying on the correct tradition?
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Post by Admin on Feb 7, 2022 1:32:04 GMT -6
That would be Cad Bane, bounty hunter and gun for hire. And the Pyke (or is it Pike?) Syndicate sent him to Freetown (formerly Mos Pelga I think is how it was spelled) as a gun for hire to send a message (stay out of our affairs or else). Suspect the Marshal recognized him and knew of his reputation since he sent everyone inside so he could deal with the threat himself and with out distractions. Unfortunately, the Deputy was "new boots" and itching to prove himself. And look where that got him. And my bet is that the Freetowners are not going to take that message laying down.
If I misremember the Mandalorian episodes from the animated Clone Wars, the group that raised Din Djarin are the remnants of a group called "The Black Watch" (I think). They were more militant that the rest of Mandalore and it was their leader who held the Dark Sabre. And the whole "never remove your helmet/show your face" thing probably began as absolute practicality considered it meant you could not be identified easily or tracked through various means. And, yeah, his part of the Watch was a bit more hard core. Bo-Katan Kryze (she was leader of a Mandalorian group seen in the last episodes of Season Two of The Mandalorian who was after the Dark Sabre and got so upset that Djarin took it from Moff Gideon -- which makes Djarin the rightful King of Asgard leader of the Mandalorian people. And, you might remember, Bo-Katan and her followers had no problem removing their helmets in public (and threw shade at Djarin for keeping his on).
You saw that Djarin eats completely alone. He sleeps alone and in the dark (so, suspect any sexual activity would be in the dark as well). Most wounds will be dealt with leaving the helmet in place because they are more than willing to die for the cause, so if one is so badly injured that the helmet needs to be removed... well, we also saw that in The Mandalorian and we know the mental gymnastics he used so that the IG-88 could handle his injuries.
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Post by vitugglan on Feb 8, 2022 6:03:46 GMT -6
Yeah, I'm beginning to think that the Black Watch (I'll take that name, sounds so Scottish!) might be a bit on the fanatical side of things, what with the armorer always asking people if they'd removed their helmets. Given the episode before last, it seems like that's a measure of place in the group since Din Djarin got kicked out for showing his face. Sort-of-like if, centuries from now, Antifa had the same strictures about wearing masks. If dying for the cause is a reason to keep the helmet on even if one has a serious head injury, then I'd say they're fanatics and DD would be better off hooking up with Boba Fett's syndicate.
I'm still going with Mr. Homeopathic Healer stalking and trying to fight DD for the Dark Saber in season 3 of The Mandalorian. Seems like a set-up, what with his ancestor forging the weapon and DD being kicked out of the cult.
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Post by vitugglan on Feb 16, 2022 8:24:37 GMT -6
Overall thoughts on the series. There may be spoilers for the last episode, in case you haven't seen it yet:
Disappointing. I like that Boba took the usual steps at reaching what is, essentially, middle age. IIRC, his character is older than Luke - wasn't he a child in the prequels? Luke and Leia are born at the end of that series. I'm guessing Luke was supposed to be late teens or so in the original, and he ages (duh!) through the trilogy, so maybe he's at least approaching 30 in RotJ. That puts Boba in his early 30s at the very least, so I'm comfortable saying he's approaching middle age. So, his switch to a more inward-looking, thoughtful person after his escape from the Sarlac (sp?) pit and his time with the Tuscans shows a turn in thinking, IMO. The character has also had some hard physical knocks in his career as a bounty hunter and that, I think, would take a toll on his body that may hasten physical aging and make a guy want to step back and look for alternative ways to deal with problems. Some people have suggested Stockholm Syndrome in relation to the Tuscans and his adopting their more Zen-like ways. I don't know. Maybe.
However. The way the writers interpreted this change made the character look weak. Instead of looking like Fennec's mentor, he looks like he's stepping back and letting or insisting that she take over. She delivers most of the hard-punching lines in meetings, she takes on the most dramatic action sequences between the two. He even looks like he's trying to be a guru in the Fennec Shand episode instead of a fellow bounty hunter imparting wisdom. He came off as passive. Again, IMO. (Maybe the actor had some issues so this was the best or only way forward. I don't know but it's possible.)
Some people have said that there should have been more emphasis on the spice trade. It's contraband, the thing crime syndicates fight over all the time. These people suggest that Boba should have gone darker, not all hearts and flowers, and let's all be friends. The Vespa gang should have been either trying to buy spice or selling it instead of being denied water. That actually puts a very different, and more political, spin on things IMO. I agree that the contraband should have played a more major role in Boba's mindset. Not sure about going much darker, but a little bit, yes.
I enjoyed the action sequences. They were well paced with the rest of the series, not all bunched up at once and the show didn't rely on them. They escalated in severity until we got the major battle at the end, which was fitting. That battle involved everyone in the series to the extent possible. IMO, Boba should have taken a more central role, though he acquits himself well enough with the animal and the epilogue killing of the red-eyed stranger, so we also got the duel of the champions.
The Mando complication: It seems that the writers relied on The Mandalorian to boost the show. Boba didn't do much of anything in those two episodes and the entire series was diverted from Tatooine to wherever Mando was. Mando totally upstaged Boba in his own series, which is indicative of the series as a whole. I hoped that Mando would submit to Boba's authority, seeing as this was The Book of Boba Fett and not The Mandalorian. I wanted them to team up long-term because I think Mando would be a good addition to the syndicate. What makes this a complication is that Mando suddenly became the star and focus of the series just by showing up. That shows weakness in the main character, which may be a fatal flaw in the character as written. That's on the writers.
The Fennec complication: When Fennec takes over in the various episodes (chapters? it's 'Book of...') it feels like the writers are pushing an agenda. I like the character and I'd like to see more of her. She's reminiscent of Princess Leia in the original trilogy, IMO. She's also younger than Boba, so more physically able, given that they probably have had similar encounters as bounty hunters. Still, when she suddenly goes off all I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR, the feeling for me is that Boba is deliberately forced to take a knee in the face of such FemProwess. He's almost like a child on the naughty step, sadly watching his friends play while he just sits.
Overall: Uneven. Good development in Boba's change from kick-a** to more of a zen guru type, but they destroy that a few times with his taking over Jabba's syndicate, killing what's-his-name who tried to take it over, and Boba's trying to look (yeah, trying. That's how it came across to me) to swing his weight around in Mos Whatever. There are too many chinks in his armor at this point to see the strong character everyone thought he was. Action: good, IMO. Colorful Vespas: Meh. Took me out of Tatooine's usual earth-toned drabness. Subordinates: Good. An eclectic assemblage of Star Wars species that haven't been too fleshed out, at least in the movies. Boba: I think Boba should have been stronger, more like Mando in his resolve and determination, though more morally ambiguous. Fennec: Probably the best outcome of the series. I want to see more of her. Plot: Meh. Totally meh. Should have centered on the spice trade instead of sort-of centering on it. It should have been the main focus of every episode, even the Mandalorian ones. It's the reason for the battles and killings we see, it should have been center stage instead of lurking in the wings. Casting: Good. I like Temura (sp?) Morrison and Ming Na-Wen (sp?). The actors played the sleazy characters sleazy, the good guys were good guys. Sets: Believably Star Wars.
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) and just got done about an hour ago with today's episode. (squee! Squee! Squee!!)