Easily the best episode so far. As always with star wars I’m sure I can nitpick - why do the pseudo hermit-crab bipedal-lobsters have houses if they also have shells? - but I found the episode to be much more captivating than others so far.
I quite enjoyed the start of the story, and how while yes it’s pure fan service, it also bases the films as stories being told to others. I don’t know why I found this oddly beautiful, but I did, and I really like the idea of Star Wars being this whole, vast, story being told to young students as an education, presumably after all the problems have been solved.
One non-plot plot related point. Loads of the exterior scenes in this episode were shot on the west coast of Scotland, north of Ullapool. It’s an absolutely beautiful, and fucking bleak, part of the world. Highly recommend if you like standing alone in nothingness and feeling small, especially when it’s pissing it down.
Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photos.
I found Thrawn to be the only redeeming part of this episode. Otherwise the pacing felt so slow I though we were coming to a grinding halt. Sabine knows that she actually needs to hurry in order to have any chance of getting back. But no urgency whatsoever. Finding Ezra also felt way too easy. In all that running time we could have learned something about the turtle people or the circumstance of those raiders.
We’re so spoiled by the CGI and production values of the Star Wars shows but I find the writing really lacking in some aspects.
I don’t necessarily know that Sabine cared about getting back is the thing. As far as she’s aware, their only ride back is a Star Destroyer, and she knows they may not survive the trip. Hence her lack of urgency.
I get the pacing. I’ve been skipping the show until there were a decent number of episodes out, but after watching 1-3, I just jumped straight to 6. Does not look like I missed anything important other than Gandalf Ahsoka the White.
I’m glad that the show has steadily improved throughout the season. Im actually looking forward to new episodes now instead of watching out of a sense of ritual obligation.
The show’s casting has been very hit or miss for me. I love Mikkelson as the voice of Thrawn, but be doesn’t quite look the part and I kind of wish they had recast. Ezra on the other hand is terrific. I don’t know where they found this guy, but I bought him 100% from the jump and his reveal didn’t disappoint.
Conceptually I understand what you mean with Mikkelson but the voice is just too perfect. I think the slightly goofy appearance will fade as the character continues to appear. I think it’s just a little jarring at the moment, but that will fade.
For Ezra, I’m actually not as immediately sold. I don’t have any complaints, I just don’t think we’ve seen enough of him yet. Plus years have gone by so characters are going to change.
I really wish they’d gone with Benedict Cumberbatch, who both has the look and the voice of Thrawn. But I still think Mikkelson will deliver a satisfying portrayal.
I thought Ezra looked bad on the hologram, but seeing the actor now “in real life” with the beard he looks great.
Having seen very little of the leaks and footage of him, I was worried how they would handle Thrawn. But so far I'm very pleased.
Rest of the show was alright except Ray Stevenson who continues to be great.
I hope so much that Ray Stevenson gets a real ending this season. He has been absolutely fantastic and I really want more of his character. I know it’s not possible without a recast, so I hope he gets the chance to show us everything he’s got before the season ends.
By far the best episode of the season, but that isn’t saying much. What a slog its been to finally get to this point.
I’m still not clear on any character’s motivation save Sabine (who frustratingly doesn’t immediately say to Ezra that they need to leave now or be stuck there - - since she can’t know ahsoka followed. Edit: oh and Morgan, who is about generic a henchwoman as you can get in terms of motivation).
The little village guys were cute but in a tonal boomerang that Filoni excels at: deep dark mumbo jumbo about witches, murdering mercanaries in cold blood… Oh look cute little snails!
I’m glad he didn’t direct this episode though… The penchance for lingering wideshots to evoke prestige is grating and does little to bolster the otherwise boring camerawork and rote editing.
I’m watching out of boredom but expect very little payoff in the long run. I’m sure season 1 will end with them returning to the regular galaxy, having squandered 8 hrs of TV for a story best told in 2 hrs
It really feels like Filoni is struggling to adapt to live action filmmaking. You would think someone from animation would direct more dynamically and with a tighter rhythm but everything is so glacially paced. Which I don’t normally mind but this is supposed to be action adventure. I can’t tell if it’s the studio demanding they squeeze more runtime out of this to justify the budget for streaming or if he’s just so in awe of seeing his characters come to life that he wants to linger on them forever.
Thrawb is as intimidating as ever. The combination of of “yes, this is all as planned” but also “I know nothing about who you’ve brought along”. Prepared for things that he couldn’t have possibly prepared for. Terrifying. Excellent.
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