Bruce Timm is widely known for his contributions to the DC Comics animated universe. He is the mastermind behind some of the most notable DC Comics animated series such as Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and Justice League Beyond.
Bruce Timm speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con International | Source: Wikimedia Commons
Timm and Paul Dini famously created the character Harley Quinn. The character became quite famous among the fans after she was adapted into live-action movies. In an interview, the Wonder Woman animated movie producer expressed his surprise over the fact that the Batman villainess has become this popular.
Bruce Timm Was Surprised to See Harley Quinn Becoming This Popular Among Fans
Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy in the animated series Harley Quinn | Source: Harley Quinn
Way before her introduction to DC Comics’ canon in 1999, Harley Quinn was originally created by Bruce Timm and Paul...
Bruce Timm speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con International | Source: Wikimedia Commons
Timm and Paul Dini famously created the character Harley Quinn. The character became quite famous among the fans after she was adapted into live-action movies. In an interview, the Wonder Woman animated movie producer expressed his surprise over the fact that the Batman villainess has become this popular.
Bruce Timm Was Surprised to See Harley Quinn Becoming This Popular Among Fans
Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy in the animated series Harley Quinn | Source: Harley Quinn
Way before her introduction to DC Comics’ canon in 1999, Harley Quinn was originally created by Bruce Timm and Paul...
- 4/1/2024
- by Ankita
- FandomWire
There are certainly plenty of movie and TV ghosts we don’t want haunting us. The murderous ones boxed up in the glass house of THIR13EN Ghosts? Absolutely not. Slimer from Ghostbusters? He’s a friggin liability. Sleepy Hollow’s Headless Horseman? No, we need our heads, we’re using them for important stuff like overthinking and retaining the lyrics to “Baby Shark” for whatever reason. And god forbid Pipes ever gets past the door.
There are, however, notable pop culture ghosts that wouldn’t make our lives considerably worse. Perhaps they’re genuinely helpful, and wouldn’t be too much of a bother to have hanging around. Or, and we don’t mean to lower the tone, maybe they’re just really, really hot.
The Den of Geek team have decided who they’d prefer to haunt them below. Have a read, then sound off in the comments!
There are, however, notable pop culture ghosts that wouldn’t make our lives considerably worse. Perhaps they’re genuinely helpful, and wouldn’t be too much of a bother to have hanging around. Or, and we don’t mean to lower the tone, maybe they’re just really, really hot.
The Den of Geek team have decided who they’d prefer to haunt them below. Have a read, then sound off in the comments!
- 10/22/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Ahsoka review contains spoilers.
Ahsoka Episode 8
“The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord” caps off Ahsoka with an ending that, when compared to the powerful cliffhanger in Rebels that set all of these events in motion, pales in comparison. The episode itself has its highlights as well as quite a few lows, but when you look at the bigger picture that was painted over the course of the eight chapters, this grand finale sadly doesn’t feel all that grand, and it certainly doesn’t reach the great heights of more thrilling, poignant episodes like “Shadow Warrior” and “Far Far Away.”
The heroes are left in precarious positions by episode’s end: Ahsoka, Sabine, and Huyang are stranded on Peridea, and Ezra has returned home to reunite with Hera and Chopper (where’s Zeb?!) and deliver the worst news ever: Thrawn is on his way back to...
Ahsoka Episode 8
“The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord” caps off Ahsoka with an ending that, when compared to the powerful cliffhanger in Rebels that set all of these events in motion, pales in comparison. The episode itself has its highlights as well as quite a few lows, but when you look at the bigger picture that was painted over the course of the eight chapters, this grand finale sadly doesn’t feel all that grand, and it certainly doesn’t reach the great heights of more thrilling, poignant episodes like “Shadow Warrior” and “Far Far Away.”
The heroes are left in precarious positions by episode’s end: Ahsoka, Sabine, and Huyang are stranded on Peridea, and Ezra has returned home to reunite with Hera and Chopper (where’s Zeb?!) and deliver the worst news ever: Thrawn is on his way back to...
- 10/4/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Ahsoka article contains spoilers.
Ahsoka Episode 6
It’s been five long years since we saw Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn, zapped into hyperspace seemingly beyond reach in the series finale of Rebels. Bu in Ahsoka’s sixth episode, the nostalgically titled “Far Far Away,” fans finally get to feast their eyes on the reunions they’ve been dreaming about for so long. There was a lot riding on this long-awaited moment in showrunner Dave Filoni’s epic saga, and in most respects it delivers, though one big moment doesn’t feel as, well, big as it should have.
We get to spend a little time with Ahsoka and Huyang to open the episode, and it’s a sweet, fun way to transition from the end of the last episode into this one. As they careen across the galaxy at lightspeed thanks to their Purrgil pals, they...
Ahsoka Episode 6
It’s been five long years since we saw Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn, zapped into hyperspace seemingly beyond reach in the series finale of Rebels. Bu in Ahsoka’s sixth episode, the nostalgically titled “Far Far Away,” fans finally get to feast their eyes on the reunions they’ve been dreaming about for so long. There was a lot riding on this long-awaited moment in showrunner Dave Filoni’s epic saga, and in most respects it delivers, though one big moment doesn’t feel as, well, big as it should have.
We get to spend a little time with Ahsoka and Huyang to open the episode, and it’s a sweet, fun way to transition from the end of the last episode into this one. As they careen across the galaxy at lightspeed thanks to their Purrgil pals, they...
- 9/20/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Ahsoka article contains spoilers.
Ahsoka Episode 5
Welp, it looks like we’re going to have to wait another week (at least) until we see the long awaited, endlessly teased return of Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Ahsoka’s fifth episode, “Shadow Warrior,” taking place almost entirely on Seatos, offering nary a glimpse of wherever Sabine and Morgan’s crew zipped off to, may be more than a little upsetting for some.
But beyond contributing to the agonizing anticipation of what we’ll find beyond “the jump,” in so many ways this episode is one of the most artful, cinematic, polished of the series so far. It’s written tastefully, and some of the most profound messages are conveyed with touches as understated as a slouch in posture or a knowing smile. And the ending leaves us on an uplifting note that invokes what made the Original...
Ahsoka Episode 5
Welp, it looks like we’re going to have to wait another week (at least) until we see the long awaited, endlessly teased return of Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Ahsoka’s fifth episode, “Shadow Warrior,” taking place almost entirely on Seatos, offering nary a glimpse of wherever Sabine and Morgan’s crew zipped off to, may be more than a little upsetting for some.
But beyond contributing to the agonizing anticipation of what we’ll find beyond “the jump,” in so many ways this episode is one of the most artful, cinematic, polished of the series so far. It’s written tastefully, and some of the most profound messages are conveyed with touches as understated as a slouch in posture or a knowing smile. And the ending leaves us on an uplifting note that invokes what made the Original...
- 9/13/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Ahsoka article contains spoilers.
Ahsoka Episode 4
Many of the things that were great about the first three episodes of Ahsoka are built upon in episode four, “Fallen Jedi.” Ahsoka and Sabine’s continue to mend their relationship, we get to see some much-anticipated lightsaber showdowns, and Ezra and Thrawn are teased…some more. In other words, the episode feels decidedly transitional.
But this isn’t a bad thing! Yes, “Fallen Jedi” isn’t as explosive as the episodes that have come before. It does, however, serve as a nice downshift in tempo for the season as a whole, setting up what is sure to be a pivotal episode five. After all, it ends with the Imperial Loyalists (and Sabine) finally making the hyperspace jump to wherever the hell Thrawn and Ezra are, and Ahsoka coming face to face with Anakin Skywalker in the World Between Worlds.
“Sabine,...
Ahsoka Episode 4
Many of the things that were great about the first three episodes of Ahsoka are built upon in episode four, “Fallen Jedi.” Ahsoka and Sabine’s continue to mend their relationship, we get to see some much-anticipated lightsaber showdowns, and Ezra and Thrawn are teased…some more. In other words, the episode feels decidedly transitional.
But this isn’t a bad thing! Yes, “Fallen Jedi” isn’t as explosive as the episodes that have come before. It does, however, serve as a nice downshift in tempo for the season as a whole, setting up what is sure to be a pivotal episode five. After all, it ends with the Imperial Loyalists (and Sabine) finally making the hyperspace jump to wherever the hell Thrawn and Ezra are, and Ahsoka coming face to face with Anakin Skywalker in the World Between Worlds.
“Sabine,...
- 9/6/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Ahsoka review contains spoilers.
Ahsoka Episode 3
Ahsoka’s third episode largely focuses on its climactic multi-stage starfighter battle, which is eye-poppingly entertaining and worth watching the episode for alone. But there are actually several notable interpersonal moments that dovetail nicely with the two-episode premiere and set up what’s yet to come.
Rosario Dawson and Natasha Liu Bordizzo continue to click as Ahsoka and once-again Padawan Sabine, playing naturally off of one another and conveying that their characters are on good terms but still very much readjusting to the master-apprentice dynamic. Huyang adds a bit of humorously toxic pragmatism to the dynamic, which sets Sabine up as a compelling underdog and makes Ahsoka’s belief in her friend and student mean that much more.
The sparring session between the three of them is a cool throwback to Luke and Obi-Wan, and it’s nice to see practical-effects Huyang filmed so…...
Ahsoka Episode 3
Ahsoka’s third episode largely focuses on its climactic multi-stage starfighter battle, which is eye-poppingly entertaining and worth watching the episode for alone. But there are actually several notable interpersonal moments that dovetail nicely with the two-episode premiere and set up what’s yet to come.
Rosario Dawson and Natasha Liu Bordizzo continue to click as Ahsoka and once-again Padawan Sabine, playing naturally off of one another and conveying that their characters are on good terms but still very much readjusting to the master-apprentice dynamic. Huyang adds a bit of humorously toxic pragmatism to the dynamic, which sets Sabine up as a compelling underdog and makes Ahsoka’s belief in her friend and student mean that much more.
The sparring session between the three of them is a cool throwback to Luke and Obi-Wan, and it’s nice to see practical-effects Huyang filmed so…...
- 8/30/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Ahsoka review contains spoilers.
Ahsoka Episodes 1 and 2
Since its announcement, Ahsoka has had fans of The Clone Wars and Rebels in a frenzy awaiting the return of the Ghost Crew to the small screen in vivid live action. Is the show a worthy continuation of Ahsoka’s saga? And does it cater to those unfamiliar with this particular corner of the Star Wars universe?
Judging from the two-episode premiere of the Disney+ series, the answers are two emphatic yeses. There’s no disconnect between the live-action characters and their animated counterparts, and while Dave Filoni and company take care to preserve the continuity between the show and its predecessors, there’s more than enough here between the writing and the performances for newcomers to get a good idea of who these people are.
Two brand new characters to the story are Order 66 survivor Baylan Skoll (the late...
Ahsoka Episodes 1 and 2
Since its announcement, Ahsoka has had fans of The Clone Wars and Rebels in a frenzy awaiting the return of the Ghost Crew to the small screen in vivid live action. Is the show a worthy continuation of Ahsoka’s saga? And does it cater to those unfamiliar with this particular corner of the Star Wars universe?
Judging from the two-episode premiere of the Disney+ series, the answers are two emphatic yeses. There’s no disconnect between the live-action characters and their animated counterparts, and while Dave Filoni and company take care to preserve the continuity between the show and its predecessors, there’s more than enough here between the writing and the performances for newcomers to get a good idea of who these people are.
Two brand new characters to the story are Order 66 survivor Baylan Skoll (the late...
- 8/23/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Star Wars is back on Disney+! Well, it’s about to be, with the brand new Lucasfilm series Ahsoka just days away from streaming. Ahsoka will see the return of former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) after she was last glimpsed in live-action during the second season of The Mandalorian and its spinoff series, The Book of Boba Fett.
The character has a rich history in the animated Star Wars universe, having appeared in The Clone Wars, Rebels, and Tales of the Jedi, but Ahsoka will give Dawson the chance to be in the spotlight for eight episodes, with the first two making their debut on Aug. 23, and weekly drops to Disney+ planned thereafter.
“This one is really taking the story on in a different way,” Dawson told Den of Geek magazine. “It’s really living with a character for such a long period of time, over several episodes.
The character has a rich history in the animated Star Wars universe, having appeared in The Clone Wars, Rebels, and Tales of the Jedi, but Ahsoka will give Dawson the chance to be in the spotlight for eight episodes, with the first two making their debut on Aug. 23, and weekly drops to Disney+ planned thereafter.
“This one is really taking the story on in a different way,” Dawson told Den of Geek magazine. “It’s really living with a character for such a long period of time, over several episodes.
- 8/18/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
A lot has happened since the turn of the century. We at Den of Geek can certainly attest to that as we’ve seen the movie industry change and grow, embrace streaming, and pivot toward intellectual property. Yet even as our present stays in a constant state of flux, our fascination with the future remains unwavering.
What dreams may come in 15 years? Or 30? Or a hundred as technology evolves and its relationship with humanity is renegotiated?
If you told a room full of geeks 20 years ago that the 2020s would be a world filled with smartphones and tablets, social media-shaped democracies, and something called “TikTok,” they might think you’d written a sci-fi movie. Still in that upheaval, we saw some pretty good science fiction stories come out in their own time, both Hollywood blockbuster big and intimately indie; iconic and underappreciated.
It’s why we’ve polled our complete...
What dreams may come in 15 years? Or 30? Or a hundred as technology evolves and its relationship with humanity is renegotiated?
If you told a room full of geeks 20 years ago that the 2020s would be a world filled with smartphones and tablets, social media-shaped democracies, and something called “TikTok,” they might think you’d written a sci-fi movie. Still in that upheaval, we saw some pretty good science fiction stories come out in their own time, both Hollywood blockbuster big and intimately indie; iconic and underappreciated.
It’s why we’ve polled our complete...
- 6/24/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
This The Walking Dead: Dead City review contains spoilers.
The Walking Dead: Dead City Episode 1
Picking up where a show left off should be old hat for the creative team behind The Walking Dead: Dead City. After all, The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead did that kind of thing all the time. Every few seasons, when there was a narrative need, they jumped forward in time, scrambled locations and places, and generally reset things as befitted the story they want to tell. As such, the new lives for Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) don’t feel jarring. We’ve already been through at least one or two Maggie reboots at this point; what’s another one?
The story is your basic action movie set-up. Someone’s got her child, in this case a teenage Hershel (Logan Kim), and she’s got to get him back...
The Walking Dead: Dead City Episode 1
Picking up where a show left off should be old hat for the creative team behind The Walking Dead: Dead City. After all, The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead did that kind of thing all the time. Every few seasons, when there was a narrative need, they jumped forward in time, scrambled locations and places, and generally reset things as befitted the story they want to tell. As such, the new lives for Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) don’t feel jarring. We’ve already been through at least one or two Maggie reboots at this point; what’s another one?
The story is your basic action movie set-up. Someone’s got her child, in this case a teenage Hershel (Logan Kim), and she’s got to get him back...
- 6/19/2023
- by Ron Hogan
- Den of Geek
This article contains spoilers for Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica.
When future television historians are asked to build the Mount Rushmore of fictional adventures through the galaxy, there is certainly room for debate. Rest assured though, there is a place for Star Trek and even a franchise many didn’t think would make it, Battlestar Galactica.
When Battlestar was released on ABC in 1978, it was almost a decade since Gene Roddenberry’s perennial trek had aired, failed, and was resurrected because of fan support. Since its inception, Star Trek was a survivor, and one of its strengths was always reinvention. This led to feature films, a renaissance of the property in the late ‘80s, and a recent reinvention and “refuel” treatment in the past few years.
Galactica, meanwhile, went from cult classic to mainstream critical success with its reboot in the early 2000s. Yet, that wasn’t the only reinvention in that franchise of note.
When future television historians are asked to build the Mount Rushmore of fictional adventures through the galaxy, there is certainly room for debate. Rest assured though, there is a place for Star Trek and even a franchise many didn’t think would make it, Battlestar Galactica.
When Battlestar was released on ABC in 1978, it was almost a decade since Gene Roddenberry’s perennial trek had aired, failed, and was resurrected because of fan support. Since its inception, Star Trek was a survivor, and one of its strengths was always reinvention. This led to feature films, a renaissance of the property in the late ‘80s, and a recent reinvention and “refuel” treatment in the past few years.
Galactica, meanwhile, went from cult classic to mainstream critical success with its reboot in the early 2000s. Yet, that wasn’t the only reinvention in that franchise of note.
- 6/11/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
A case can be made that Batman is the quintessential cinematic superhero. He’s certainly been the most adapted to the big screen, with the Caped Crusader starring in 12 theatrically released films when you count animation and William Dozier’s Batman: The Movie tie-in from 1966. There’s good reason for that ubiquitousness too.
The visceral mystique of a dark cowl and cape; the shadowy world of an urban landscape crying out for a hero; even the universally relatable origin of an orphan who seeks to fill the void left by his parents’ deaths. Much of the iconography Batman would come to define in superhero comics was on the silver screen first. After all, Batman co-creator Bob Kane once described the character as “half-Zorro,” and for most folks of his generation, Zorro was synonymous with Douglas Fairbanks in The Mark of Zorro (1920), the movie which made the story of a daring...
The visceral mystique of a dark cowl and cape; the shadowy world of an urban landscape crying out for a hero; even the universally relatable origin of an orphan who seeks to fill the void left by his parents’ deaths. Much of the iconography Batman would come to define in superhero comics was on the silver screen first. After all, Batman co-creator Bob Kane once described the character as “half-Zorro,” and for most folks of his generation, Zorro was synonymous with Douglas Fairbanks in The Mark of Zorro (1920), the movie which made the story of a daring...
- 4/28/2023
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: The Mandalorian review contains spoilers.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 8: Chapter 24
“The Return” is a satisfying ending to what has been a rock-solid season of The Mandalorian, with all of the show’s carefully laid-out storylines converging in spectacular fashion. The season was light on the core Din Djarin/Grogu dynamic, but the redirected focus on Bo-Katan and the reunion of the estranged tribes under the mantle of The Creed paid off, underlined emphatically by the (apparent) demise of Moff Gideon.
One of the most dramatic aspects of these past two episodes has been the emphasis on Gideon’s evil plans for Mandalore. He razed the planet, scattered its people, and then had the gall to use their sacred act of forging Beskar armor to bolster his own army of Imperial Mando-lites. Gideon violates. He exploits. He violently misappropriates. Everything he does feels deeply personal, which makes...
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 8: Chapter 24
“The Return” is a satisfying ending to what has been a rock-solid season of The Mandalorian, with all of the show’s carefully laid-out storylines converging in spectacular fashion. The season was light on the core Din Djarin/Grogu dynamic, but the redirected focus on Bo-Katan and the reunion of the estranged tribes under the mantle of The Creed paid off, underlined emphatically by the (apparent) demise of Moff Gideon.
One of the most dramatic aspects of these past two episodes has been the emphasis on Gideon’s evil plans for Mandalore. He razed the planet, scattered its people, and then had the gall to use their sacred act of forging Beskar armor to bolster his own army of Imperial Mando-lites. Gideon violates. He exploits. He violently misappropriates. Everything he does feels deeply personal, which makes...
- 4/19/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: The Mandalorian review contains spoilers.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 7: Chapter 23
The Mandalorian has really outdone itself with season 3’s penultimate episode, “The Spies.” It’s hands-down one of the best, most thrilling episodes in the Star Wars series thus far, with kickass action, poignant character moments, and a high-stakes energy that permeates from beginning to end.
The episode opens with Elia Kane checking in with Moff Gideon in a Coruscant alleyway via an Imperial Probe Droid (a pleasant pop of nostalgia), in a short scene that will probably go forgotten by many but deserves a shoutout for its gritty Blade Runner vibes. Then, we get the Shadow Council scene, which is worth the price of admission alone.
For goodness sake, this scene is jam-packed with so much drool-inducing setup for the future of the Mandoverse it’s ridiculous. Captain Pellaeon (a big Legends blast from the past!
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 7: Chapter 23
The Mandalorian has really outdone itself with season 3’s penultimate episode, “The Spies.” It’s hands-down one of the best, most thrilling episodes in the Star Wars series thus far, with kickass action, poignant character moments, and a high-stakes energy that permeates from beginning to end.
The episode opens with Elia Kane checking in with Moff Gideon in a Coruscant alleyway via an Imperial Probe Droid (a pleasant pop of nostalgia), in a short scene that will probably go forgotten by many but deserves a shoutout for its gritty Blade Runner vibes. Then, we get the Shadow Council scene, which is worth the price of admission alone.
For goodness sake, this scene is jam-packed with so much drool-inducing setup for the future of the Mandoverse it’s ridiculous. Captain Pellaeon (a big Legends blast from the past!
- 4/12/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: The Mandalorian review contains spoilers.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 6: Chapter 22
All of the momentum generated by last week’s rousing fireworks show of an episode, “The Pirate,” is unfortunately lost this week. “Guns For Hire” is an awkward, oddly paced urban detective story whose handful of bright spots are marred by a middling plot that plays out like a video game side mission, stilted exposition, and two of what are possibly the most distracting pop culture cameos one could conjure up in 2023.
The episode opens with a Quarren freight ship that’s been hunted down by Axe Woves, Koska Reeves, and the rest of the Mando mercenaries that split from Bo-Katan prior to this season’s events. The scene is meant to establish that the maskless Mandalorians are morally and ethically blurring the lines in comparison to the Tribe, with Axe being blatantly presented as an antagonist despite the fact that,...
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 6: Chapter 22
All of the momentum generated by last week’s rousing fireworks show of an episode, “The Pirate,” is unfortunately lost this week. “Guns For Hire” is an awkward, oddly paced urban detective story whose handful of bright spots are marred by a middling plot that plays out like a video game side mission, stilted exposition, and two of what are possibly the most distracting pop culture cameos one could conjure up in 2023.
The episode opens with a Quarren freight ship that’s been hunted down by Axe Woves, Koska Reeves, and the rest of the Mando mercenaries that split from Bo-Katan prior to this season’s events. The scene is meant to establish that the maskless Mandalorians are morally and ethically blurring the lines in comparison to the Tribe, with Axe being blatantly presented as an antagonist despite the fact that,...
- 4/5/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: The Mandalorian article contains spoilers.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 5: Chapter 21
Sometimes, you just want to see a good ol’ Star War. Episode 5 of The Mandalorian’s third season is meat-and-potatoes Star Wars goodness served up on a shiny platter, and man, that original recipe still hits. The skirmish for Nevarro delivers everything you’d want from a classic, good versus evil Star Wars battle, and the season’s larger story develops in tantalizing ways in the background, making this one of the best, most robust episodes of the series yet.
The fight over control of Nevarro between Gorian Shard and his pirates and Greef Karga and his people is simple to understand and pretty effective here, thanks to a rock-solid performance by Carl Weathers and some cursory backstory that makes the issue between the former associates feel at least a little personal. It would have been...
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 5: Chapter 21
Sometimes, you just want to see a good ol’ Star War. Episode 5 of The Mandalorian’s third season is meat-and-potatoes Star Wars goodness served up on a shiny platter, and man, that original recipe still hits. The skirmish for Nevarro delivers everything you’d want from a classic, good versus evil Star Wars battle, and the season’s larger story develops in tantalizing ways in the background, making this one of the best, most robust episodes of the series yet.
The fight over control of Nevarro between Gorian Shard and his pirates and Greef Karga and his people is simple to understand and pretty effective here, thanks to a rock-solid performance by Carl Weathers and some cursory backstory that makes the issue between the former associates feel at least a little personal. It would have been...
- 3/29/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars review contains spoilers for The Mandalorian.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 4: Chapter 20
With a brisk 32-minute runtime, “The Foundling” is an entertaining but somewhat shallow episode of The Mandalorian that feels inessential when compared to the three entries leading up to it. There’s nothing introduced here, thematically or narratively, that sends the story in new directions, though several scenes do strengthen the roots of the lore.
At the end of “The Convert,” we saw the Tribe welcome Din, Bo-Katan, and Grogu with open arms, and we see the continuation of that here, with Grogu beginning his foundling training. The show can’t lose when it focuses on Din and Grogu, and Bo-Katan is creeping her way into that equation, too. When she assures Grogu that Din is just pushing him into training because he’s “proud,” it establishes that she understands them and is slowly becoming...
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 4: Chapter 20
With a brisk 32-minute runtime, “The Foundling” is an entertaining but somewhat shallow episode of The Mandalorian that feels inessential when compared to the three entries leading up to it. There’s nothing introduced here, thematically or narratively, that sends the story in new directions, though several scenes do strengthen the roots of the lore.
At the end of “The Convert,” we saw the Tribe welcome Din, Bo-Katan, and Grogu with open arms, and we see the continuation of that here, with Grogu beginning his foundling training. The show can’t lose when it focuses on Din and Grogu, and Bo-Katan is creeping her way into that equation, too. When she assures Grogu that Din is just pushing him into training because he’s “proud,” it establishes that she understands them and is slowly becoming...
- 3/22/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars review contains spoilers for The Mandalorian.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 3: Chapter 19
What’s become increasingly clear about The Mandalorian season 3 is that it feels deliberately paced and plotted, with much of these early chapters being devoted to setup for bigger, more raucous moments and reveals down the line. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? It’s impossible to tell at this point if all of these moving plot pieces will ultimately assemble in a satisfying way, but so far, the story is developing nicely and revisiting some intriguing characters and locales to give them more space to breathe.
The episode, aptly titled “The Convert,” picks up right where “The Mines of Mandalore” left off, with Din Djarin coming to moments after Bo-Katan Kryze rescued him from the depths of the Living Waters, where she witnessed with her own eyes the majesty of a living,...
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 3: Chapter 19
What’s become increasingly clear about The Mandalorian season 3 is that it feels deliberately paced and plotted, with much of these early chapters being devoted to setup for bigger, more raucous moments and reveals down the line. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? It’s impossible to tell at this point if all of these moving plot pieces will ultimately assemble in a satisfying way, but so far, the story is developing nicely and revisiting some intriguing characters and locales to give them more space to breathe.
The episode, aptly titled “The Convert,” picks up right where “The Mines of Mandalore” left off, with Din Djarin coming to moments after Bo-Katan Kryze rescued him from the depths of the Living Waters, where she witnessed with her own eyes the majesty of a living,...
- 3/15/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 2
“There’s nothing magic about the Mines of Mandalore.”
Turns out those words, uttered by Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze in the final scene of last week’s episode of The Mandalorian, were a wonderful bit of foreshadowing for the quietly profound “The Mines of Mandalore.” The dramatic reveal that Mythosaurs are not extinct is a huge payoff in terms of lore, but it also has massive implications for both Bo-Katan and Din Djarin, philosophically.
The ideological disparity between Din Djarin and Bo-Katan Kryze has been one of the most fascinating aspects of the show since their first meeting. She scoffs at his devotion to his Tribe and “The Way,” and he remains steadfast to the beliefs that have been his life’s purpose since he was a foundling. Finding the Mythosaur in the very waters where...
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 2
“There’s nothing magic about the Mines of Mandalore.”
Turns out those words, uttered by Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze in the final scene of last week’s episode of The Mandalorian, were a wonderful bit of foreshadowing for the quietly profound “The Mines of Mandalore.” The dramatic reveal that Mythosaurs are not extinct is a huge payoff in terms of lore, but it also has massive implications for both Bo-Katan and Din Djarin, philosophically.
The ideological disparity between Din Djarin and Bo-Katan Kryze has been one of the most fascinating aspects of the show since their first meeting. She scoffs at his devotion to his Tribe and “The Way,” and he remains steadfast to the beliefs that have been his life’s purpose since he was a foundling. Finding the Mythosaur in the very waters where...
- 3/8/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Last of Us review contains spoilers.
The Last of Us Episode 8
It’s difficult to assess the value of The Last of Us in a vacuum, divorcing it from its immaculate source material. That’s because the show follows the major story beats of the game so closely that you can’t help but think of the PlayStation classic while watching if you’ve played it before.
In the case of “When We Are In Need,” the show’s version of this storyline doesn’t have quite as much dramatic impact as the same chapter from the game. As an episode of television, all of the scenes and performances work, but the religious overtones revolving around the antagonist, David (Scott Shepherd), feel needless, and the pacing of the episode doesn’t serve the story well, either.
The episode’s success really hinges on David’s portrayal, and unfortunately his...
The Last of Us Episode 8
It’s difficult to assess the value of The Last of Us in a vacuum, divorcing it from its immaculate source material. That’s because the show follows the major story beats of the game so closely that you can’t help but think of the PlayStation classic while watching if you’ve played it before.
In the case of “When We Are In Need,” the show’s version of this storyline doesn’t have quite as much dramatic impact as the same chapter from the game. As an episode of television, all of the scenes and performances work, but the religious overtones revolving around the antagonist, David (Scott Shepherd), feel needless, and the pacing of the episode doesn’t serve the story well, either.
The episode’s success really hinges on David’s portrayal, and unfortunately his...
- 3/6/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars review contains spoilers for The Mandalorian.
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1
“Being a Mandalorian is not just learning how to fight. You also have to know how to navigate the galaxy, because you never know where you might be headed next.”
The beautiful thing about The Mandalorian’s season 3 premiere, “The Apostate,” is that it reminds us that this show is all about adventure. It’s a deliberately paced episode with a few bursts of action, some pleasant quality time between Din Djarin and Grogu, and some enticing setups for the rest of the season. Following the duo’s stint in the less-than-stellar The Book of Boba Fett, this re-introduction to the mainline Star Wars series is a much-needed palate cleanser.
The sun-drenched opening sequence with the Armorer and the Tribe’s helmet bestowment ceremony re-establishes the importance of a Mandalorian’s oath to never remove one’s...
The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1
“Being a Mandalorian is not just learning how to fight. You also have to know how to navigate the galaxy, because you never know where you might be headed next.”
The beautiful thing about The Mandalorian’s season 3 premiere, “The Apostate,” is that it reminds us that this show is all about adventure. It’s a deliberately paced episode with a few bursts of action, some pleasant quality time between Din Djarin and Grogu, and some enticing setups for the rest of the season. Following the duo’s stint in the less-than-stellar The Book of Boba Fett, this re-introduction to the mainline Star Wars series is a much-needed palate cleanser.
The sun-drenched opening sequence with the Armorer and the Tribe’s helmet bestowment ceremony re-establishes the importance of a Mandalorian’s oath to never remove one’s...
- 3/1/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Andor article contains spoilers.
Andor Episode 8
In episode 8 of Andor, half of the action is a Star Wars version of the Shawshank Redemption, and there’s something about this specific incarceration that feels a bit on the fake side of the Force, like the Disneyland version of a space prison. Andor episode 8 is good, but as we watch humans literally build the cogs that make the machines of the Empire work, one can’t help but wonder, are we getting a bit too granular with the logistics of Star Wars?
At the point at which Cassian gets thrown into a forced-labor Imperial prison, nobody wanted Andor to suddenly turn into Alien 3, but there’s still something a bit too sanitized about these Star Wars prison sequences. Essentially, this Imperial prison motivates the inmates to be really good at building cogs(?) and pits various teams of workers against each other.
Andor Episode 8
In episode 8 of Andor, half of the action is a Star Wars version of the Shawshank Redemption, and there’s something about this specific incarceration that feels a bit on the fake side of the Force, like the Disneyland version of a space prison. Andor episode 8 is good, but as we watch humans literally build the cogs that make the machines of the Empire work, one can’t help but wonder, are we getting a bit too granular with the logistics of Star Wars?
At the point at which Cassian gets thrown into a forced-labor Imperial prison, nobody wanted Andor to suddenly turn into Alien 3, but there’s still something a bit too sanitized about these Star Wars prison sequences. Essentially, this Imperial prison motivates the inmates to be really good at building cogs(?) and pits various teams of workers against each other.
- 10/26/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Andor article contains spoilers.
Andor Episode 7
The story of Cassian Andor has reached the point of no return. We’re beyond the halfway mark in Andor season 1, and if you’re still into this aggressively different Star Wars show, you’re certainly not going to stop watching now. The tone of episode 7, “Announcement,” seems to reflect this feeling, as the events in this episode all reinforce the same theme: the status quo of every single character is in flux, and everything has already changed irrecoverably.
In a somewhat unsurprising, but refreshing move, Cassian’s first decision after ditching the Rebels in “The Eye” is to return home to Ferrix and pay off his debts. Cassian’s homecoming is pretty horrible, and both Bix and his adoptive mother Maarva tell him to get lost for his own sake. The Empire is now on the planet in a big way,...
Andor Episode 7
The story of Cassian Andor has reached the point of no return. We’re beyond the halfway mark in Andor season 1, and if you’re still into this aggressively different Star Wars show, you’re certainly not going to stop watching now. The tone of episode 7, “Announcement,” seems to reflect this feeling, as the events in this episode all reinforce the same theme: the status quo of every single character is in flux, and everything has already changed irrecoverably.
In a somewhat unsurprising, but refreshing move, Cassian’s first decision after ditching the Rebels in “The Eye” is to return home to Ferrix and pay off his debts. Cassian’s homecoming is pretty horrible, and both Bix and his adoptive mother Maarva tell him to get lost for his own sake. The Empire is now on the planet in a big way,...
- 10/19/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Andor review contains spoilers.
Andor Episode 6
Throughout most of Star Wars: Andor episode 6, “The Eye,” you’re constantly expecting the heist of the Imperial payroll on the planet Aldhani to go horribly wrong. Interestingly enough, most of the Rebel operation goes according to plan. Our insurgents do escape with the money, and thankfully, they don’t resort to killing the family of the Imperial commandant, or any innocent civilians. But, by the end of this episode, three of these Rebels will be dead, and not for the reasons that you think. With episode 6, Andor has picked up the pace, slightly, and brings with it a broader message: Nobody is safe.
Although Andor is the most trope-busting Star Wars product ever, episode 6 is still filled with plenty of nods to other classic sci-fi beats. We get a beautiful celestial event that only occurs once in a few years,...
Andor Episode 6
Throughout most of Star Wars: Andor episode 6, “The Eye,” you’re constantly expecting the heist of the Imperial payroll on the planet Aldhani to go horribly wrong. Interestingly enough, most of the Rebel operation goes according to plan. Our insurgents do escape with the money, and thankfully, they don’t resort to killing the family of the Imperial commandant, or any innocent civilians. But, by the end of this episode, three of these Rebels will be dead, and not for the reasons that you think. With episode 6, Andor has picked up the pace, slightly, and brings with it a broader message: Nobody is safe.
Although Andor is the most trope-busting Star Wars product ever, episode 6 is still filled with plenty of nods to other classic sci-fi beats. We get a beautiful celestial event that only occurs once in a few years,...
- 10/12/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Andor review contains spoilers.
Star Wars: Andor Episode 4
Before 2016, the character of Mon Mothma was mostly the answer to a trivia question. Although she is ostensibly the leader of the entire Rebel Alliance, Mon Mothma doesn’t even appear until Return of the Jedi, and then, only for one scene, to explain the plan to kill the Emperor and destroy the second Death Star. We don’t see her during the Battle of Endor, and she doesn’t stop by for an Ewok hug in the end, either.
Still, as played by Caroline Blakiston, the character left a big impression, and for hardcore Star Wars fans in the 1990s, Mon Mothma was omnipresent in the various Expanded Universe novels and comic books. Yet, despite her brief appearance in the Prequel Trilogy, as played by Genevieve O’Reilly, it wasn’t until Rogue One that it really felt like...
Star Wars: Andor Episode 4
Before 2016, the character of Mon Mothma was mostly the answer to a trivia question. Although she is ostensibly the leader of the entire Rebel Alliance, Mon Mothma doesn’t even appear until Return of the Jedi, and then, only for one scene, to explain the plan to kill the Emperor and destroy the second Death Star. We don’t see her during the Battle of Endor, and she doesn’t stop by for an Ewok hug in the end, either.
Still, as played by Caroline Blakiston, the character left a big impression, and for hardcore Star Wars fans in the 1990s, Mon Mothma was omnipresent in the various Expanded Universe novels and comic books. Yet, despite her brief appearance in the Prequel Trilogy, as played by Genevieve O’Reilly, it wasn’t until Rogue One that it really felt like...
- 9/28/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Andor review contains spoilers.
As wonderful as Diego Luna was as Cassian Andor in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story back in 2016, the feeling of seeing him on screen again in 2022 in Star Wars: Andor can’t be described as nostalgia. Yes, there’s a pleasant sense of familiarity when he walks onto the first scene, but because nearly everything we learn about Cassian on the show is brand-new, and his surroundings are utterly unfamiliar, there’s nothing about the series that’s trying to recreate any feelings we had about Rogue One. Instead, Andor is playing an entirely different game than any Star Wars story on screen.
Comparing Andor to Rogue One isn’t really useful because Rogue One was a one-off movie and Andor is like a great, quiet Star Wars novel turned into a TV series. Even though its setting is spun-out from complex Star Wars lore,...
As wonderful as Diego Luna was as Cassian Andor in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story back in 2016, the feeling of seeing him on screen again in 2022 in Star Wars: Andor can’t be described as nostalgia. Yes, there’s a pleasant sense of familiarity when he walks onto the first scene, but because nearly everything we learn about Cassian on the show is brand-new, and his surroundings are utterly unfamiliar, there’s nothing about the series that’s trying to recreate any feelings we had about Rogue One. Instead, Andor is playing an entirely different game than any Star Wars story on screen.
Comparing Andor to Rogue One isn’t really useful because Rogue One was a one-off movie and Andor is like a great, quiet Star Wars novel turned into a TV series. Even though its setting is spun-out from complex Star Wars lore,...
- 9/21/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Lord of the Rings article contains spoilers for The Rings of Power.
The third episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power sees the show begin to stretch its wings narratively speaking, introducing several characters whose names will sound very familiar to Lord of the Rings fans, such as Isildur and Elendil, while digging deeper into new ones created specifically for the series, like Halbrand, the secret king of the Southlands. (Though I’m admittedly partial to the theory he’ll actually turn out to be the Witch-King of Angmar one day.)
The current story that takes place in the Southlands (read: future Mordor) is a similar original creation, involving the silvan elf Arondir, a soldier who has spent decades as part of the garrison keeping watch over Morgath’s old stomping grounds. And it also introduces what appears to be one of the show’s...
The third episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power sees the show begin to stretch its wings narratively speaking, introducing several characters whose names will sound very familiar to Lord of the Rings fans, such as Isildur and Elendil, while digging deeper into new ones created specifically for the series, like Halbrand, the secret king of the Southlands. (Though I’m admittedly partial to the theory he’ll actually turn out to be the Witch-King of Angmar one day.)
The current story that takes place in the Southlands (read: future Mordor) is a similar original creation, involving the silvan elf Arondir, a soldier who has spent decades as part of the garrison keeping watch over Morgath’s old stomping grounds. And it also introduces what appears to be one of the show’s...
- 9/10/2022
- by Lacy Baugher
- Den of Geek
Disney+ has been around for awhile now so you should know the deal with these monthly new releases. Sometimes a given month on Disney+ is highlighted by a new Marvel show. Other times it’s a Star Wars show. With its list of new offerings for August 2022, however, Disney+ is pulling off the rare content eclipse: Marvel and Star Wars.
The biggest new arrival this month on Disney+ is undoubtedly She-Hulk: Attorney at Law on Aug. 17. Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) stars as Jennifer Walters, a normal human attorney who is somehow embiggified by her cousin Bruce Banner. Will this be the mythical Marvel TV offering that actually offers a non-serialized case-of-the-week format? Guess we’ll find out soon!
Read more TV She-Hulk Trailer Reveals Jennifer, Frog-Man, and More! By Gavin Jasper TV Star Wars Andor Revives What’s Been Missing from the Saga By John Saavedra
On the Star Wars side of things,...
The biggest new arrival this month on Disney+ is undoubtedly She-Hulk: Attorney at Law on Aug. 17. Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) stars as Jennifer Walters, a normal human attorney who is somehow embiggified by her cousin Bruce Banner. Will this be the mythical Marvel TV offering that actually offers a non-serialized case-of-the-week format? Guess we’ll find out soon!
Read more TV She-Hulk Trailer Reveals Jennifer, Frog-Man, and More! By Gavin Jasper TV Star Wars Andor Revives What’s Been Missing from the Saga By John Saavedra
On the Star Wars side of things,...
- 8/1/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Gloop. Guts. Gigantic gore creatures from alternate dimensions having tentacles axed off by plucky schoolkids who should by rights be doing homework/a paper route instead of saving the world, but honestly, who else is going to do it? Not the government, not the military and definitely not the shady experimental lab on the edge of town that’s the reason all the local rats now glow in the dark…
That’s the kind of thing a show like Stranger Things offers, and now that season four is finished and Vecna is safely sealed up in psychic-proof Tupperware and buried under Mount Rushmore, here are a frankly ludicrous amount of recommendations for films and TV shows to scratch your Stranger Things itch (assuming that you’ve already seen the show’s many Steven Spielberg/John Carpenter/Wes Craven inspirations). Aliens. Monsters. High school kids getting covered in squelch, new and old.
That’s the kind of thing a show like Stranger Things offers, and now that season four is finished and Vecna is safely sealed up in psychic-proof Tupperware and buried under Mount Rushmore, here are a frankly ludicrous amount of recommendations for films and TV shows to scratch your Stranger Things itch (assuming that you’ve already seen the show’s many Steven Spielberg/John Carpenter/Wes Craven inspirations). Aliens. Monsters. High school kids getting covered in squelch, new and old.
- 7/4/2022
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi article contains spoilers.
There was always only one way Obi-Wan Kenobi could end: with the Jedi Master riding off into the sunset with his plot armor, Darth Vader defeated, and Luke and Leia back home safe. We know what comes next, too. In nine years, two droids will crash land on Tatooine with a message from Leia that will set both Luke and Obi-Wan on an adventure that will change their lives forever. But as Obi-Wan Kenobi has already shown, many more things could happen to these characters before then. There are probably other untold stories waiting to be spun.
For now, let’s break down what happened in the final scenes of the Obi-Wan Kenobi finale, the meaning behind each character’s ending, and how it all sets up the future of A New Hope…
Why didn’t Obi-Wan spare Darth Vader’s life?...
There was always only one way Obi-Wan Kenobi could end: with the Jedi Master riding off into the sunset with his plot armor, Darth Vader defeated, and Luke and Leia back home safe. We know what comes next, too. In nine years, two droids will crash land on Tatooine with a message from Leia that will set both Luke and Obi-Wan on an adventure that will change their lives forever. But as Obi-Wan Kenobi has already shown, many more things could happen to these characters before then. There are probably other untold stories waiting to be spun.
For now, let’s break down what happened in the final scenes of the Obi-Wan Kenobi finale, the meaning behind each character’s ending, and how it all sets up the future of A New Hope…
Why didn’t Obi-Wan spare Darth Vader’s life?...
- 6/23/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Obi-wan Kenobi article contains spoilers.
Obi-Wan Kenobi finally returns to Tatooine, but not before pitting two Star Wars greats against each other in a reference-filled finale. Darth Vader and Obi-Wan’s rematch opens up the wounds of their former friendship, while also setting them up for their future roles in the Original Trilogy.
Meanwhile, Reva heads back to the Lars homestead. While she has a big decision to make, it’s inevitable that she comes face to face with a young Luke Skywalker, played by newcomer Grant Feely. The fate of the galaxy is once again at stake!
Here are all the Star Wars references, easter eggs, and cameos we spotted in this episode…
Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine
Iam McDiarmid makes a welcome return to his Original and Prequel Trilogy role as the evil Emperor Palpatine (aka Darth Sidious). Here, he appears as a hologram in Vader’s castle on Mustafar.
Obi-Wan Kenobi finally returns to Tatooine, but not before pitting two Star Wars greats against each other in a reference-filled finale. Darth Vader and Obi-Wan’s rematch opens up the wounds of their former friendship, while also setting them up for their future roles in the Original Trilogy.
Meanwhile, Reva heads back to the Lars homestead. While she has a big decision to make, it’s inevitable that she comes face to face with a young Luke Skywalker, played by newcomer Grant Feely. The fate of the galaxy is once again at stake!
Here are all the Star Wars references, easter eggs, and cameos we spotted in this episode…
Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine
Iam McDiarmid makes a welcome return to his Original and Prequel Trilogy role as the evil Emperor Palpatine (aka Darth Sidious). Here, he appears as a hologram in Vader’s castle on Mustafar.
- 6/22/2022
- by Megan Crouse
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi review contains spoilers.
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 6
Obi-Wan Kenobi is perhaps a dish best served in small portions. After five episodes full of cutting confrontations, episode six feels repetitive and contrived. Characters clash because they need to, when they need to. Glimmers of chemistry, and Star Wars tropes that come off as endearing rather than weak links, crop up here and there. But overall, the final adventure for Leia and Obi-Wan fails to tie the series together because it’s too busy trying to tie all of the franchise together. Even the Sequel Trilogy gets a visual echo.
At the start of “Part VI,” Obi-Wan, Leia, and the Path rebels are on the run. In order to give them time to escape, Obi-Wan plays on Vader’s sense of drama. It’s the Jedi he wants, so Obi-Wan baits him into a fight on a rocky planet.
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 6
Obi-Wan Kenobi is perhaps a dish best served in small portions. After five episodes full of cutting confrontations, episode six feels repetitive and contrived. Characters clash because they need to, when they need to. Glimmers of chemistry, and Star Wars tropes that come off as endearing rather than weak links, crop up here and there. But overall, the final adventure for Leia and Obi-Wan fails to tie the series together because it’s too busy trying to tie all of the franchise together. Even the Sequel Trilogy gets a visual echo.
At the start of “Part VI,” Obi-Wan, Leia, and the Path rebels are on the run. In order to give them time to escape, Obi-Wan plays on Vader’s sense of drama. It’s the Jedi he wants, so Obi-Wan baits him into a fight on a rocky planet.
- 6/22/2022
- by Megan Crouse
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Obi-wan Kenobi article contains spoilers.
Obi-Wan Kenobi continues to pull on the heartstrings when it comes to the Jedi Master’s relationship with his former apprentice. Brought together by Qui-Gon and growing up as brothers-in-arms, their connection informs everything Darth Vader has become since his fall to the dark side.
More is revealed about both Vader in “Part 5”, and we also learn more about Reva’s motivations as well as what her connection is to Kenobi. The Jabiim base features some very obscure Jedi names written on the walls, too. Legends fans will be delighted.
Here are all the Star Wars references, easter eggs, and cameos we spotted in this episode..
Hayden Christensen as Anakin in the Attack of the Clones Era
The duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan in the flashback seems to take place some time around Attack of the Clones, based on their appearances. Anakin...
Obi-Wan Kenobi continues to pull on the heartstrings when it comes to the Jedi Master’s relationship with his former apprentice. Brought together by Qui-Gon and growing up as brothers-in-arms, their connection informs everything Darth Vader has become since his fall to the dark side.
More is revealed about both Vader in “Part 5”, and we also learn more about Reva’s motivations as well as what her connection is to Kenobi. The Jabiim base features some very obscure Jedi names written on the walls, too. Legends fans will be delighted.
Here are all the Star Wars references, easter eggs, and cameos we spotted in this episode..
Hayden Christensen as Anakin in the Attack of the Clones Era
The duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan in the flashback seems to take place some time around Attack of the Clones, based on their appearances. Anakin...
- 6/15/2022
- by Megan Crouse
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi review contains spoilers.
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 5
Where is the bar when it comes to Star Wars television? Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 5 wants to evoke the energy (and bigger budget) of the movies, slotting into both the Prequel and Original Trilogies with no-holds-barred aplomb, but it can’t quite pull off the visuals. It’s a pity that Obi-Wan Kenobi hasn’t established enough of an identity to keep me from missing the much more cinematic The Mandalorian. Still, “Part 5” is very entertaining, hooking the show into the larger Skywalker story with good thematic awareness and some unexpected twists.
The Empire has found the rebels on Jabiim. Leia’s hacked droid Lola sabotages the base’s power under orders from Reva. As a reward for her efforts, it seems the Third Sister finally gets what she wants: Darth Vader names her Grand Inquisitor and puts...
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 5
Where is the bar when it comes to Star Wars television? Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 5 wants to evoke the energy (and bigger budget) of the movies, slotting into both the Prequel and Original Trilogies with no-holds-barred aplomb, but it can’t quite pull off the visuals. It’s a pity that Obi-Wan Kenobi hasn’t established enough of an identity to keep me from missing the much more cinematic The Mandalorian. Still, “Part 5” is very entertaining, hooking the show into the larger Skywalker story with good thematic awareness and some unexpected twists.
The Empire has found the rebels on Jabiim. Leia’s hacked droid Lola sabotages the base’s power under orders from Reva. As a reward for her efforts, it seems the Third Sister finally gets what she wants: Darth Vader names her Grand Inquisitor and puts...
- 6/15/2022
- by Megan Crouse
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi review contains spoilers.
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 4
After some empty-looking landscapes last week, Star Wars is back to thoroughly convincing science fiction hallways in “Part 4” of Obi-Wan Kenobi. The setting certainly helps add tension to an episode that fizzles a bit emotionally in the second half. But overall, Ewan McGregor continues to prove himself essential to the galaxy far, far away as his show reaches the final stretch.
Leia has been captured by the Empire and brought to Fortress Inquisitorius, a name at least one person says with a very straight face. To rescue her, Obi-Wan and Tala enlist the help of the proto-rebels on Jabiim, including an operative named Roken (played by O’Shea Jackson Jr). Fans hoping for more Legends canon tie-ins on the planet won’t get them here. Instead, Obi-Wan sees only a few rooms in the base and the inside of a bacta tank.
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 4
After some empty-looking landscapes last week, Star Wars is back to thoroughly convincing science fiction hallways in “Part 4” of Obi-Wan Kenobi. The setting certainly helps add tension to an episode that fizzles a bit emotionally in the second half. But overall, Ewan McGregor continues to prove himself essential to the galaxy far, far away as his show reaches the final stretch.
Leia has been captured by the Empire and brought to Fortress Inquisitorius, a name at least one person says with a very straight face. To rescue her, Obi-Wan and Tala enlist the help of the proto-rebels on Jabiim, including an operative named Roken (played by O’Shea Jackson Jr). Fans hoping for more Legends canon tie-ins on the planet won’t get them here. Instead, Obi-Wan sees only a few rooms in the base and the inside of a bacta tank.
- 6/8/2022
- by Megan Crouse
- Den of Geek
With its list of new releases for June 2022, Disney+ is experience an ideal Walt Disney Company content eclipse. This month will feature both the series premiere of a major Marvel TV property and the finale of an even bigger Star Wars TV property.
The new Marvel arrival is…well, Ms. Marvel herself. The series bearing Kamala Khan’s superheroic name is set to premiere with its first episode on Wednesday, June 8. And none of those “multiple episode premiere” shenanigans this time, Ms. Marvel will continue with one episode each week until its sixth episode finale, as the TV gods intended.
Read more TV Ms. Marvel: Iman Vellani Appreciates the Show’s John Hughes Vibes By Delia Harrington TV Could Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Open the Door for New Spin-offs? By John Saavedra
Speaking of finales, Wednesday, June 22 will be the sixth and final chapter of the long-awaited Obi-Wan Kenobi, starring Ewan McGregor.
The new Marvel arrival is…well, Ms. Marvel herself. The series bearing Kamala Khan’s superheroic name is set to premiere with its first episode on Wednesday, June 8. And none of those “multiple episode premiere” shenanigans this time, Ms. Marvel will continue with one episode each week until its sixth episode finale, as the TV gods intended.
Read more TV Ms. Marvel: Iman Vellani Appreciates the Show’s John Hughes Vibes By Delia Harrington TV Could Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Open the Door for New Spin-offs? By John Saavedra
Speaking of finales, Wednesday, June 22 will be the sixth and final chapter of the long-awaited Obi-Wan Kenobi, starring Ewan McGregor.
- 6/1/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
If you tuned into Star Wars Celebration last week hoping to get lots of updates on Lucasfilm’s upcoming slate of films set in the galaxy far, far away, you likely came away very disappointed. We learned virtually nothing new about the three films currently in development during the four-day conference in Anaheim. Instead, the Disney+ series were the real stars of the show, with The Mandalorian season 3, Andor, Ahsoka, The Bad Batch, and new animated series Tales of the Jedi taking top billing. There was even a new Star Wars video game announced over the weekend, but not a single thing about the medium that birthed the franchise in the first place.
What gives? Well, it’s no secret that things are a little hazy in terms of when we might actually get another Star Wars film. With Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron film pushed out of its original Dec.
What gives? Well, it’s no secret that things are a little hazy in terms of when we might actually get another Star Wars film. With Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron film pushed out of its original Dec.
- 5/31/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Obi-Wan Kenobi review contains spoilers.
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 1 and 2
Ewan McGregor’s return as Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi is a Prequel kid dream. With the sort of cast reunion the Sequel Trilogy provided for the children of the ’80s, McGregor and Hayden Christensen are poised to stoke the same fervor for fans who grew up in the early 2000s. Luckily, Deborah Chow brings her directorial confidence from The Mandalorian to a strong start for the six-episode Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries. Backed by the tragic events of the Prequel Trilogy and McGregor’s powerful acting, the two-part opener offers plenty of Star Wars delight and solid characterization for the Jedi on the run.
Ten years after Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader, Obi-Wan is trying to keep his head down while working a 9-to-5 for his meals, just carving away meat from a desert whale day after day. A...
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 1 and 2
Ewan McGregor’s return as Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi is a Prequel kid dream. With the sort of cast reunion the Sequel Trilogy provided for the children of the ’80s, McGregor and Hayden Christensen are poised to stoke the same fervor for fans who grew up in the early 2000s. Luckily, Deborah Chow brings her directorial confidence from The Mandalorian to a strong start for the six-episode Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries. Backed by the tragic events of the Prequel Trilogy and McGregor’s powerful acting, the two-part opener offers plenty of Star Wars delight and solid characterization for the Jedi on the run.
Ten years after Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader, Obi-Wan is trying to keep his head down while working a 9-to-5 for his meals, just carving away meat from a desert whale day after day. A...
- 5/27/2022
- by Megan Crouse
- Den of Geek
The 1980s were in many ways peak Stephen King when it came to screen adaptations. For one thing, the man himself was at the height of his popularity. He has of course remained one of the world’s best-selling authors for decades, but his initial string of books that started in the mid-1970s and extended well into the ‘80s—which included classics like Carrie, ‘Salem’s Lot, The Shining, The Stand, and Different Seasons, just to name a handful—made him into a genuine publishing phenomenon like no other.
At the same time, the success of Brian De Palma’s 1976 big screen adaptation of Carrie, followed by the 1979 CBS-TV miniseries based on ‘Salem’s Lot, helped open the floodgates for a massive influx of screen adaptations of his work. That wave was launched with Stanley Kubrick’s prestigious and controversial take on The Shining, although the films that followed in...
At the same time, the success of Brian De Palma’s 1976 big screen adaptation of Carrie, followed by the 1979 CBS-TV miniseries based on ‘Salem’s Lot, helped open the floodgates for a massive influx of screen adaptations of his work. That wave was launched with Stanley Kubrick’s prestigious and controversial take on The Shining, although the films that followed in...
- 5/11/2022
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
Despite all the making-of books and documentaries, and the myth-making surrounding the creator of Star Wars, there’s no way George Lucas could have predicted the long-lasting effects his 1977 space adventure would have on pop culture. Sure, maybe he did write outlines for additional prequels and sequels while crafting the story of the original film, but he also had a lower-budget “Star Wars II” backup plan had A New Hope bombed at the box office in the summer of ’77.
As we all know now, quite the opposite happened. The adventures of a young farm boy named Luke Skywalker caused a chain reaction that would explode into a full-blown franchise of movies, TV series, books, comics, and video games. Oh, and all those wonderful toys, lunch boxes, trading cards, bed sets, and all that other nerdy merch. It’s no exaggeration to say that with a galaxy far, far away, Lucas took over the world.
As we all know now, quite the opposite happened. The adventures of a young farm boy named Luke Skywalker caused a chain reaction that would explode into a full-blown franchise of movies, TV series, books, comics, and video games. Oh, and all those wonderful toys, lunch boxes, trading cards, bed sets, and all that other nerdy merch. It’s no exaggeration to say that with a galaxy far, far away, Lucas took over the world.
- 5/4/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Few movie villains (not named Dracula or Darth Vader) have been portrayed as many times on the big screen as the Joker, DC’s infamous agent of chaos, the Clown Prince of Crime himself. Ever since Jack Nicholson brought this laughing madman to theaters in 1989, film-goers have been obsessed with the supervillain who plagues Gotham City and haunts the Batman‘s nightmares.
His unique appearance, unpredictable methods, indecipherable past, and insatiable hunger for evil have kept filmmakers and actors coming back for more over 30 years later, which has resulted in several reinventions of the character, most of which feel definitive for their moment. Nicholson’s turn in ’89 felt like the perfect marriage between the campy version played by the legendary Cesar Romero in the ’60s and the much darker sadist featured in the comics of the late ’80s. The late, great Heath Ledger’s Academy Award-winning performance brought us a...
His unique appearance, unpredictable methods, indecipherable past, and insatiable hunger for evil have kept filmmakers and actors coming back for more over 30 years later, which has resulted in several reinventions of the character, most of which feel definitive for their moment. Nicholson’s turn in ’89 felt like the perfect marriage between the campy version played by the legendary Cesar Romero in the ’60s and the much darker sadist featured in the comics of the late ’80s. The late, great Heath Ledger’s Academy Award-winning performance brought us a...
- 4/30/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
The following contains spoilers for The Flash
The Flash Season 8 Episode 12
The Flash returns from a week off to pick up the pieces in the wake of one of its biggest cliffhangers in recent memory: the revelation that the mysterious Black Flame isn’t, in fact, Ronnie Raymond resurrected and returned, but Deathstorm, a monstrous being that feeds on grief and seems more than a little obsessed with his widow Caitlin.
Though Deathstorm clearly comes from the same long line of colorful, outlandish comic book villains Team Flash has often been tasked with facing, this story is, at its heart, one about very real and recognizable emotions: Love, grief, loss, the idea that some part of us will always miss those who aren’t with us anymore, no matter long they may have been gone. And, in many ways, those are the kinds of everyday stories The Flash has always tried to tell.
The Flash Season 8 Episode 12
The Flash returns from a week off to pick up the pieces in the wake of one of its biggest cliffhangers in recent memory: the revelation that the mysterious Black Flame isn’t, in fact, Ronnie Raymond resurrected and returned, but Deathstorm, a monstrous being that feeds on grief and seems more than a little obsessed with his widow Caitlin.
Though Deathstorm clearly comes from the same long line of colorful, outlandish comic book villains Team Flash has often been tasked with facing, this story is, at its heart, one about very real and recognizable emotions: Love, grief, loss, the idea that some part of us will always miss those who aren’t with us anymore, no matter long they may have been gone. And, in many ways, those are the kinds of everyday stories The Flash has always tried to tell.
- 4/28/2022
- by Lacy Baugher
- Den of Geek
This article contains spoilers for Russian Doll season 2.
Let’s not kid ourselves; the “ending explained” part of this article’s headline is nothing if not ambitious when it comes to a show like Russian Doll, and this is particularly true of its second season. Implying that there’s an explanation to be gleaned goes against every lesson Nadia and Alan learn in the course of the seven episodes. If there’s any resolution at all in the finale, it’s that the time traveling pair have once again learned a little bit about why they are who they are and come that much closer to self-acceptance.
That being said, the descent into the genuinely surreal does warrant some exploration. There are plenty of paradoxes in Russian Doll season 2, but none break reality quite like Nadia removing her infant self from the 80s, presumably to prevent the traumatic upbringing the...
Let’s not kid ourselves; the “ending explained” part of this article’s headline is nothing if not ambitious when it comes to a show like Russian Doll, and this is particularly true of its second season. Implying that there’s an explanation to be gleaned goes against every lesson Nadia and Alan learn in the course of the seven episodes. If there’s any resolution at all in the finale, it’s that the time traveling pair have once again learned a little bit about why they are who they are and come that much closer to self-acceptance.
That being said, the descent into the genuinely surreal does warrant some exploration. There are plenty of paradoxes in Russian Doll season 2, but none break reality quite like Nadia removing her infant self from the 80s, presumably to prevent the traumatic upbringing the...
- 4/20/2022
- by Michael Ahr
- Den of Geek
Spring has sprung, it’s bunnies and chocolate as far as the eye can see, and if you’re lucky you might have an extra day off work. If you’re having a wonderful Easter time, we positively encourage you to ride that wave with this list of unashamedly adorable movies.
Conversely, if your Easter time has proved somewhat sucky, there is comfort here. Snuggle up, fire up the streamers, and bathe your brain in endorphins, with this collection which ranges from modern classics to nostalgic delights.
Bridesmaids (2011)
You might remember it for the pooing in the street bit, but that moment far from defines a movie that is a celebration of female friendship, where Kristen Wiig calls a teenage girl the c-word. Paul Feig’s love letter to ladies is packed with a killer cast, it’s got songs, puppies, chocolate, booze, dresses, and everything else we females adore.
Conversely, if your Easter time has proved somewhat sucky, there is comfort here. Snuggle up, fire up the streamers, and bathe your brain in endorphins, with this collection which ranges from modern classics to nostalgic delights.
Bridesmaids (2011)
You might remember it for the pooing in the street bit, but that moment far from defines a movie that is a celebration of female friendship, where Kristen Wiig calls a teenage girl the c-word. Paul Feig’s love letter to ladies is packed with a killer cast, it’s got songs, puppies, chocolate, booze, dresses, and everything else we females adore.
- 4/15/2022
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
This The Walking Dead review contains spoilers.
The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 16
One last mid-season finale, and that will be all she wrote for The Walking Dead. One of the biggest hits in cable television history, The Walking Dead spawned a zombie renaissance, all without using the Z-word. Two spin-off shows have already hit the airwaves, with one more definitely on the way and two other ones announced. That’s not counting all of the other media that spun up either as a response to or to ride the coattails of The Walking Dead like the brilliant Black Summer. There’ll be time to look at the legacy of the show later; for now, we’ve got “Acts of God” to witness.
At this point, The Walking Dead has a good handle on what the show does well and what the show doesn’t do well, and as such, “Acts...
The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 16
One last mid-season finale, and that will be all she wrote for The Walking Dead. One of the biggest hits in cable television history, The Walking Dead spawned a zombie renaissance, all without using the Z-word. Two spin-off shows have already hit the airwaves, with one more definitely on the way and two other ones announced. That’s not counting all of the other media that spun up either as a response to or to ride the coattails of The Walking Dead like the brilliant Black Summer. There’ll be time to look at the legacy of the show later; for now, we’ve got “Acts of God” to witness.
At this point, The Walking Dead has a good handle on what the show does well and what the show doesn’t do well, and as such, “Acts...
- 4/11/2022
- by Ron Hogan
- Den of Geek
This The Walking Dead review contains spoilers.
The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 15
Everyone in the world of The Walking Dead is keeping an impressive amount of heavy secrets. As Ezekiel (Khary Payton) says in “Trust,” darkness is heavy, and some people can carry more of it than others. For Ezekiel, his dark secret is also his way to spread a little light into a world sorely needing it. For someone like Lance Hornsby (Josh Hamilton), it seem as if it’s just darkness all the way down. Everyone else is cloaked in shades of gray. Democracy might die in darkness, but The Commonwealth thrives in foggy dusk and bruised dawn light and the true currency is secrecy.
However, the darkness carried can overwhelm even the strongest shoulders, and even the darkest heart can be overcome with worry, even if it’s only the selfish fear of discovery that motivates. Throughout “Trust,...
The Walking Dead Season 11 Episode 15
Everyone in the world of The Walking Dead is keeping an impressive amount of heavy secrets. As Ezekiel (Khary Payton) says in “Trust,” darkness is heavy, and some people can carry more of it than others. For Ezekiel, his dark secret is also his way to spread a little light into a world sorely needing it. For someone like Lance Hornsby (Josh Hamilton), it seem as if it’s just darkness all the way down. Everyone else is cloaked in shades of gray. Democracy might die in darkness, but The Commonwealth thrives in foggy dusk and bruised dawn light and the true currency is secrecy.
However, the darkness carried can overwhelm even the strongest shoulders, and even the darkest heart can be overcome with worry, even if it’s only the selfish fear of discovery that motivates. Throughout “Trust,...
- 4/4/2022
- by Ron Hogan
- Den of Geek
Gonna let you know right up front: Deep Water is not for me. But it’s not for you either, and it’s not for anyone who likes a well-written, well-directed, and well-cast motion picture. Yet like that proverbial car crash we’re always hearing about, it’s hard not to keep looking at it. Just 10 minutes in, it’s all too clear why this turgid “erotic” thriller — based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith, no less (The Talented Mr. Ripley) — was shoved off a theatrical release by 20th Century Studios and shuffled onto a Hulu premiere berth instead.
Ben Affleck plays Vic Van Allen, who’s fabulously wealthy due to his invention of a chip that the military uses in its battlefield drones. In other words, he’s invented something that helps kill people, as numerous characters remind him throughout the film, not that he cares what they think.
Ben Affleck plays Vic Van Allen, who’s fabulously wealthy due to his invention of a chip that the military uses in its battlefield drones. In other words, he’s invented something that helps kill people, as numerous characters remind him throughout the film, not that he cares what they think.
- 3/16/2022
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
There have always been great sci-fi games. But in the last 15 years, we’ve gone from wondering what it would be like to be able to play the kind of grand sci-fi adventures we’ve seen in movies, TV shows, and books to actually playing things that now can’t be replicated in any other medium.
Yes, improvements in video game technology have contributed to sci-fi games becoming bigger and better, but science fiction has always been about so much more than fantastic technology. The best sci-fi stories often find the humanity in the alien and the intimate in the infinite, and that’s just what many of the best sci-fi games of the last 15 years do. Whether they’re taking us to the furthest reaches of outer space or offering us a peek at a not-too-distant future, gaming’s greatest sci-fi adventures allow us to control experiences that could previously only be witnessed.
Yes, improvements in video game technology have contributed to sci-fi games becoming bigger and better, but science fiction has always been about so much more than fantastic technology. The best sci-fi stories often find the humanity in the alien and the intimate in the infinite, and that’s just what many of the best sci-fi games of the last 15 years do. Whether they’re taking us to the furthest reaches of outer space or offering us a peek at a not-too-distant future, gaming’s greatest sci-fi adventures allow us to control experiences that could previously only be witnessed.
- 3/11/2022
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
Over 80 years of stories have made Batman one of the most enduring characters in pop culture history. In that time, the Dark Knight has also been the subject of more big-screen adaptations than any other superhero to date, starring in 11 live-action movies and counting. The Batman is the latest take on the character, with 2023’s The Flash set to bring back two other Caped Crusaders for a time-shattering adventure through the multiverse that will then lead into HBO Max’s Batgirl, where the Dark Knight will play a supporting role.
As much as we love seeing Batman in theaters, not all of these movies have been entirely successful. The same goes for the actors who’ve starred in these films. Every Batman fan has a favorite big-screen Dark Knight, one performer who they feel perfectly encapsulates all of the qualities that make the World’s Greatest Detective such a great character.
As much as we love seeing Batman in theaters, not all of these movies have been entirely successful. The same goes for the actors who’ve starred in these films. Every Batman fan has a favorite big-screen Dark Knight, one performer who they feel perfectly encapsulates all of the qualities that make the World’s Greatest Detective such a great character.
- 3/10/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
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