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Episode 4. Probably 24 minutes of actual run time when you cut out opening/closing credits and title sequence. I hate that kind of inconsistency, particularly when it ends on a cliffhanger. The non-main party Jedi in this episode are basically going to be Star Trek redshirts, right? Just show us some lightsaber action to show how much of a threat the guy is and then end it with one of our main characters about to potentially bite it.

Could’ve spent more time on character development, but the dialogue is so meh and cliched that I should be thankful for the brevity.

That's a nasty place to finish the episode... A curse on weekly episode drops!

My main complaint concerning the SW shows is the actual runtime vs the length of the length of the re-cap/opening sequence/credits.
Made so much more noticeable by the lack of adds.
At least I can click though them.

 insaniak wrote:
That's a nasty place to finish the episode... A curse on weekly episode drops!

Spoiler:

Qimir still seems like the most likely candidate for Lord Smiley, although that would require him to have freed himself from the rope and got to Kalnacca's house quickly enough to kill the wookie and get out again before Mae got there...

Although someone on twitter the other day did point out that you don't see Koril's body amongst the dead in Episode 3. That would make sense, as she certainly has a valid reason to dislike the jedi at this point, and would also explain how this series avoids the problem of Sith being around, by virtue of the villains not actually being Sith to begin with...

Regarding your spoilers :

Definitely a shorter episode. But we’ve seen Disney+ shows play with episode length before.

The downside is some episodes feel a bit “is that it?” in the moment. The upside though is it can help avoid filler plot added to make up time for syndication, giving the writer and director whatever time is needed to do a given episode or chapter’s plot.

Contents of this episode are decent.

Filler plots are often how we get to know the characters’ other facets and see more of their world. Sometimes you just need an episode where the mother in law shows up or everyone goes fishing to let the characters shine.

 AduroT wrote:

Spoiler:

I’m definitely voting Qimir. I could yet be wrong but evrrything feels so blatantly obvious to me so far.

If the zeitgeist teaches us anything it's that I shouldn't say nice things about a Star Wars show, but...



For more general thoughts:

They should have a beach episode!

Spoiler:

Are we seeing the adventures of young Ki-Adi Mundi and Plo Koon, or are those different Jedi who just happen to look like they might be Jedi we see almost a hundred years later? Not sure what lifespans to expect from those species, as it stands

Just in general, whatever else you may feel about the show?

I’m really enjoying not having prior knowledge about…any of this. Even the excellent Clone Wars and Rebels were backfilling story between known points. We knew for certain who would survive until which point in Clone Wars, and Rebels we knew would ultimately end with the Rebellion getting its disparate arses into gear and pulling it off in the end.

But here, as I’ve mentioned before, whilst I’ve no doubt plot armour is in the offing, it’s hard to say who is wearing it. Even though Osha and Mae seem likely candidates, I’m not taking that for granted.

That’s not something I’m at all used to with Star Wars, and it’s kind of thrilling. Because whilst we know whatever is going on doesn’t directly lead to the fall of the Jedi Order, we don’t really know what the end game is going to be.

Also also?

Has anyone in universe actually referred to 'the Master' as a Sith? I don't think they have.

Seemingly not. Which is a fair observation.

The Sith are seemingly extinct but a rouge Jedi can still be a thing.

The Order isn't perfect after all and people don't always end up fitting in.

There’s also something worry said by Jecki Lon (yes I’m googling the names)

True, but I can see how such a teaching could easily be twisted.

 Gert wrote:
The Sith are seemingly extinct but a rouge Jedi can still be a thing.

The Order isn't perfect after all and people don't always end up fitting in.

A rogue Jedi is definitely a possibility, but I also wonder if Episode 3 was partially intended to remind us that not all force users are Jedi or Sith.

 insaniak wrote:

Spoiler:

Are we seeing the adventures of young Ki-Adi Mundi and Plo Koon, or are those different Jedi who just happen to look like they might be Jedi we see almost a hundred years later? Not sure what lifespans to expect from those species, as it stands

Spoiler:

It's definitely Ki Adi Mundi, as he's listed in the credits. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth on social media about them breaking cannon from people still struggling to come to terms with Legends not being the official timeline, as in the EU he wasn't born yet.



Plo Koon lookalike didn't have lines, so wasn't credited, and might just be a different Jedi of the same species.

Heh, what do you know. I did wonder who we might see, some time back.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Also also?

Spoiler:

I don’t buy our interloper as Mae’s master.

Consider what Mae was told at the end of Chapter 1. Make the Jedi draw first. Show that they’re not invincible and can be killed without weapons. End the myth associated with the Jedi.

Yet this goon turns up all stealthy, and it’s straight out with their Lightsaber.

Now, I’m not ruling out hypocrisy here. God knows the Sith and Jedi love a bit of hypocrisy (especially the Jedi!). And yes “who did we destroy, apprentice or master’ would be a repeat of the prequel. But it’s still a fun trope.

No, I’m not entirely ruling out sloppy writing, but that is the last resort, reserved for when we’ve seen the whole of the thing.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
There’s also something worry said by Jecki Lon (yes I’m googling the names)

Spoiler:

Its always an honour to see a living being transition into the force.

As in…die. Because that’s said just after Sol swatted the flying pullout thing.

What the flip are the Jedi teaching their Padawans?

That's old news.

"Rejoice for those who become one with the Force. Mourn them, do not. Miss them, do not."

Yoda basically told Anakin that it's cool to kill younglings. and then he and Obi-Wan act surprised when it happens...

There’s still a difference in not being too down about someone passing, and it being an honour to see something die/

Eh, if you propagate an ideal state, there is only the thinnest of lines between actively and passively experiencing it.

Crazy cultists be crazy, should be the takeaway. Even as an original trilogy purist you'd have to see that the Jedi are hardly good guys, lying to make their goals happen and advocating bloody murder as the only way. The prequels do a great deal to reinforce that point, even without Clone Wars hammering home how screwed up the Jedi are.

The_Real_Chris wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
The Jedi asked, and were told “there is no father”.

But, the possibly science or magical origin of the girls was only discussed within the Coven.

Well those dark siders presumably would be rubbish boyfriends and not stick around for the kids, so they generate all the Jedi through their carelessness?

Quite the opposite! The Jedi eschew all attachments. Therefore, dark siders strive to be devoted partners, possibly accidentally going over into clingy.

Unless their children are taken and hidden by the Jedi, which happens with alarming regularity.

 Geifer wrote:
Eh, if you propagate an ideal state, there is only the thinnest of lines between actively and passively experiencing it.

Crazy cultists be crazy, should be the takeaway. Even as an original trilogy purist you'd have to see that the Jedi are hardly good guys, lying to make their goals happen and advocating bloody murder as the only way. The prequels do a great deal to reinforce that point, even without Clone Wars hammering home how screwed up the Jedi are.

Reinforced by Yoda during Rebels. He explains to Ezra the Jedi failed utterly. Not just in preventing the rise of the Empire, but by being so easily duped into helping it come to pass in the first place. Peacekeepers that became Generals, expertly manipulated by a Sith Lord not just hiding right under their noses, but orchestrating the entire war.

So far from the four episode from the show I am a bit disappointed. I think the plot and the writing while not great is passable; a 6.5 or 7 out of ten on this metric. The last episode cliffhanger of a sort is bothering me a bit though, but it's my only problem with passing so far. Also, on another note, am I the only one who think they telegraphed a bit too much the identity of the Sith Lord as the rather bumbling rogue who helps and accompanies Mae and that this said Sith Lord needs a good soundtrack since pretty much all Star Wars villains had a kick ass theme so far.

The acting though is shockingly bad compared to other Star Wars show. It's not painful, but it's definitely at the lower end of the b movie tier. Since Disney took over the franchise, while it produced some mediocre films/shows like Solo or Book of Boba, the acting in general was one of the few elements that was always at least good, but I must say the lead actresses are pretty poor and the side cast not nearly good enough to salvage this. The stunt work looks good, but I expected something more wuxia in style.

epronovost wrote:
The last episode cliffhanger of a sort is bothering me a bit though, ...

I get that it can be frustrating to have to wait, but that's exactly why cliffhangers (done well) are good... they keep viewers invested. And this was a good cliffhanger.

This episode was also a handy clarification that Mae and Osha don't actually have the exact same hair styles... Just the same style of braids they both had as kids.

Also, on another note, am I the only one who think they telegraphed a bit too much the identity of the Sith Lord as the rather bumbling rogue who helps and accompanies Mae and that this said Sith Lord needs a good soundtrack since pretty much all Star Wars villains had a kick ass theme so far.

I mean, they've only telegraphed it if he does turn out to be Lord Smiley (and that's not actually certain, at this point, even if it does look like the most likely possibility)... but they've also, as mentioned just up the thread a bit, never actually confirmed that he's a Sith.

Since Disney took over the franchise, while it produced some mediocre films/shows like Solo or Book of Boba, the acting in general was one of the few elements that was always at least good, but I must say the lead actresses are pretty poor and the side cast not nearly good enough to salvage this. The stunt work looks good, but I expected something more wuxia in style.

The acting in Book of Boba Fett was, I think, largely worse than this one, and they're both no worse than the acting in the Prequels.

And Solo is a fun movie, for all it's flaws. I rate it as better than at least two of the Sequels.

 insaniak wrote:
I get that it can be frustrating to have to wait, but that's exactly why cliffhangers (done well) are good... they keep viewers invested. And this was a good cliffhanger.

I agree that it was a very good cliffhanger.

This episode was also a handy clarification that Mae and Osha don't actually have the exact same hair styles... Just the same style of braids they both had as kids.

Really? I thought it was pretty obvious that Osha had shorter hairs than Mae even though they have the same kind of braids.

I mean, they've only telegraphed it if he does turn out to be Lord Smiley (and that's not actually certain, at this point, even if it does look like the most likely possibility)... but they've also, as mentioned just up the thread a bit, never actually confirmed that he's a Sith.

The Jedi cast cannot confirm that he is a Sith because they are convinced and will remained convinced that the Sith are dead and gone and that, while there are no known rogue Jedi or rogue splinter order of the Jedi around, this is their most likely hypothesis. Note that they specifically refuse to inform the Jedi council as to avoid a political scandal or Jedi being murdered by a force trained assassin, but it also gives a convenient excuse as to why, a 100 years later, Darth Maul would be the first known Sith encounter in a 1000 years. I think the red lightsaber is a dead giveaway that he is indeed a Sith since rogue Jedi and even "Dark side users" are not represented in Star Wars canon as wielding red light sabers. When Dooku recruits Ventress, she has a green and blue lightsabers and after leaving him a yellow one. Baylan and Shin Hati have orange one's. I think the Jedi in this series are still in denial which is very understandable.

The acting in Book of Boba Fett was, I think, largely worse than this one, and they're both no worse than the acting in the Prequels.

In terms of quality overall, I would agree that Boba Fett is currently a worst show than the Acolyte, but I disagree on the acting. Temuera Morrison has a solid screen presence and is an excellent "body actor" (conveying emotion and information through body language alone) and the side cast was pretty darn good too. Maybe the cast of the Acolyte will grow a bit more on me, but so far it's a bit bleh.

The prequels had good actors with poor direction and rather bad dialogues so I would not say it's so much an acting problem in this case.

And Solo is a fun movie, for all it's flaws. I rate it as better than at least two of the Sequels.

I would agree that people have been strangely hard on Solo. It wasn't a great movie and certainly a fairly unremarkable addition to the Star Wars franchise, but it was a fun movie with fairly low stakes.

Solo, at worst, is just kinda disposable. Of all the Star Wars live action stuff? It brings the least to the table in exploring and expanding the universe.

That’s not to say it brings nothing. Just not as much as the rest.

Though a chunk of that is Disney’s seemingly stubborn refusal to delve any further into Crimson Dawn, and how Maul went from heading up a powerful crime syndicate, to being lost and alone on Malachor.

And let’s face it. The criminal underworld is a significant part of Star Wars yet to be given on-screen proper justice.

Solo is just a movie that's hard to pay attention to because its actual story is constantly distracted by explaining every single detail ever hinted at with the character. The purpose of every scene is constantly sidelined to explain the origins of the dice or his name or his blaster or his ship or what have you that its basically impossible to get a sense of the actual events of the film.

epronovost wrote:

This episode was also a handy clarification that Mae and Osha don't actually have the exact same hair styles... Just the same style of braids they both had as kids.

Really? I thought it was pretty obvious that Osha had shorter hairs than Mae even though they have the same kind of braids.

For what it's worth, I didn't notice a difference either until this episode.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

And let’s face it. The criminal underworld is a significant part of Star Wars yet to be given on-screen proper justice.

Doubt they will. Nasty criminals are not kid friendly, maybe Andor will given the importance of crime groups to the Russian revolution, but don't count on it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 LunarSol wrote:
Solo is just a movie that's hard to pay attention to because its actual story is constantly distracted by explaining every single detail ever hinted at with the character. The purpose of every scene is constantly sidelined to explain the origins of the dice or his name or his blaster or his ship or what have you that its basically impossible to get a sense of the actual events of the film.

That was terrible. Really terrible. Like they took one of those background books and wanted to make a story out of all the wikipedia articles. Such a shame as a straightforward grow up/meet up/get in the game origin story (without early rebellion charity work, make him a criminal, his humanising can be in the original trilogy, but sure throw in a bunch of Empire resentments) could have been great fun.