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deanfwilson
Reviews
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Subspace Rhapsody (2023)
My specticism disproven
Just like when I heard about the Buffy musical episode back in the day, I had some doubts about this episode (especially with what I saw in the trailer for it, which was somewhat misleading as to how this concept would be approached).
This wasn't just a musical episode, but a classic Star Trek one, where an anomaly is detected, which alters the behaviour of the crew. This is nothing new, and it's not beyond the realms of possibility to think that there could be some timeline or universe where singing is the dominant mode of communication.
The episode is about 50/50 singing and talking, as the crew struggle between their pent-up emotions (built up over the previous episodes) and their attempts to undo the effects of the subspace fold.
While clearly not everyone has the best singing voice, and I expect this was a major challenge for the actors, there are some real standouts, including Le'Ann and Uhura (who is, of course, the perfect character to deal with this kind of phenomenon). The musical production was also excellent, and the lyrics and styles fit the characters they were linked to.
Like the old Buffy episode, this episode worked as a great way to bring emotions to a head and resolve some brewing conflicts between characters. While not quite as impactful as that episode (where bigger reveals were made), this was still a very entertaining episode, which I think only Strange New Worlds could pull off.
I'm disappointed to see it rated so poorly, and I can't help but wonder if some people rated it low "in protest" before even seeing the episode itself. Let's hope folks can be more open to new things in future. To me, that is part of what Star Trek is all about.
Apocalypse Clown (2023)
An off the wall dark comedy with some great performances
The setting is simple, and yet so bizarre, that it's a wonder that this got funding -- but thank God it did! A group of washed-up clowns find themselves embroiled in a plan to save the day (or ruin it) when the power goes out from a supposed solar flare and everything goes to chaos.
While at times silly (though intentionally so), this film is packed with humour, both in the setting, the writing, and the very physical performances given by several of the actors.
It is this latter that makes this film really shine, elevating it from a fun romp to something more impressive. Natalie Palamides as Funzo and Ivan Kaye as the Great Alphonso are particularly outstanding, and not only deserve strong praise for their portrayals here, but deserve more major roles elsewhere to showcase their talents.
There's plenty of very Irish humour and references here that others might not get, but that's part of its charm. It's good to see Ireland put out interesting and odd cinematic experiences.
Ahsoka: Part One: Master and Apprentice (2023)
Amazing opening
This is an amazing opening episode, with action, character development, mystery, and enough hints at both what's to come and what came before.
This episode pays homage to the series that came before, for fans of these characters, but it also gives enough information (without overloading) for those who are completely new, walking a fine balance almost perfectly.
One thing I particularly liked was that the "puzzle-solving" wasn't done in seconds, but shown to be actual challenges that took time and effort to uncover.
One thing I didn't particularly like was the rock music in the speeder bike chase scene. It didn't really seem Star Wars to me, and that's perhaps the only moment that took me out of things.
The ending is a shock (and despite wanting to see more from a certain someone, I hope they don't try to undo this ending, as it would remove some of the impact).
This was an hour-long, and I was kept interested the entire way through. Let's hope the rest of the series holds up to this high standard.
Star Trek: Picard: Imposters (2023)
Has it all
This season continues to surprise with its amazing episodes. This one has it all: action, heart, intrigue. Somehow instead of just being a cash-in on the nostalgia, the writers have crafted something new that touches upon many aspects of the past, and honours that past. Great performances from several characters, and lots of great tit-for-tat dialogue that suggests a much higher calibre of writing than the previous seasons got. I only wish the previous seasons were up to this level, but it looks like maybe, at least, Picard will go out with a bang. Let's hope the rest of the season holds up to this.
Star Trek: Picard: The Next Generation (2023)
A wonderful start to the season
This is an excellent set-up for the season. I just hope it delivers on this promising start, as I felt (mostly) the same about the start of season 2, only to be somewhat disappointed.
Still, with so many returning faces, this season may at least hit the right notes of nostalgia for long-time TNG fans.
Expect suspense, intrigue, combat, and good old-fashioned disobeying orders. There's even a little humour, mostly courteous of a certain Number One, that doesn't feel forced (unlike some of the humour in previous seasons).
The new captain of a familiar starship was a standout for me, as a kind of foil to Picard. It was refreshing to see someone who doesn't view Picard and co in such a good light (as I would expect in real life).
Andor: One Way Out (2022)
Such incredibly good writing and acting
This is perhaps the best episode to date (perhaps tied with episode three), giving us a real rebellion in a place we've lingered for a bit in previous slow-burn episodes. Boy do they pay off and burn brightly now.
You might find yourself audibly rooting for the prisoners in their epic escape, but just as much you might find yourself moved by the performances of Andy Serkis, Stellan Skarsgard, and Genevieve O'Reilly, all of whom deliver powerful moments in this episode.
As for Andor himself, we've seen him go from a reluctant mercenary to a genuine rebel, and I expect to see this journey continue further over the remaining episodes of this season and everything to come in season two.
Rogue One showed us what a different take on Star Wars could mean, and Andor continues to deliver, exploring the little-seen underbelly of both the Empire and the Rebellion. It's a sight to behold.
Andor (2022)
The other world of Star Wars we needed
When Andor was announced, it was probably the least exciting of the various series on the cards. As soon as the trailer dropped, however, that changed completely. And the show itself doesn't just live up to the trailer -- it surpasses it.
Andor is a slow-burn, but boy does it burn. It has some of the most incredible writing, dialogue, and acting of the entire franchise -- taking Star Wars beyond mere entertainment and making it art.
Rogue One surprised us, and it become one of the best Star Wars movies ever made. This tale, showing the bourgeoning Rebellion and Andor's reluctant enticement into it, delivers on the promise made by Rogue One: that Star Wars didn't just have to be about Jedi and Sith, or the Skywalker family, to be engaging and meaningful.
Expect drama, intrigue, suspense, and some incredible schadenfreude by episode 10. These are complex characters, and this is a complex world, where both sides of the fight linger in a realm of grey. At one point we're told "This is what a reckoning looks like." Well, for the show as a whole, this is what good storytelling looks like. And I can't wait for more.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: A Shadow of the Past (2022)
Morfydd Clark leads a powerful opening salvo for Rings of Power
I had my doubts. I really did. I am an avid Tolkien fan, and approached this series with some trepidation (though not the irrational hate that I saw from some others).
Some slightly dodgy Irish accents aside (I'm Irish, for what it's worth), this was a wonderful opening episode, with a standout performance from Morfydd Clark as Galadriel (and I say that as someone who felt that Cate Blanchett's performance was nigh impossible to match).
This, to me, captured the "Biblical" feel of The Silmarillion (even though it barely touches on those events and instead focuses on a understandably time-compressed renedition of major Second Age events). The closing scene, in particular, was both beautiful and powerful -- and I really wanted to watch more.
Overall, the writing is very good, the dialogue is mostly excellent, and the acting is good to great. The visuals are spectacular. The ideas are familiar in places and fresh in others. The soundtrack hits all the right notes. Nothing about this is mediocre. While it's different tonally to the Lord of the Rings movies (it has to be, as it's a very different time period, and a very different story), it gives hope that the rest of the series will actually live up to the promise and do justice to Tolkien's work. If nothing else, this will show people that there is more to the Professor's mythos than the events of the late Third Age.
Quite frankly, the lore issues are more minimal than many made out. We could split hairs over how many whiskers Disa should have on her chin, but the reality is she delivers as a female dwarf in a really likeable way. We could spend all day debating whether there should be two Durins alive at the same time, but we would be fools to think that time compression wouldn't be used in an adaptation of a story spanning almost three and a half thousand years.
If you're in doubt, watch it and judge for yourself. Go in with an open mind and give it the chance it deserves. Find fault if you will, sure, but let people find joy if they will too.
The Book of Boba Fett: Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian (2022)
Best episode of season so far
Great episode throughout, with the right mix of old and new. It was arguably more of a The Mandalorian episode (only the brief appearance of Fennec Shand at the end ties it into the Boba Fett story). A bold move to devote an entire episode like this, but one that, in my view, paid off. Love the Naboo fighter. I can now see Grogu where the droid normally goes.