Contains major spoilers !!!!!
Huge and utterly dissapointing. After TFA I said this movie would make or break the story. For me it broke.
Where to begin? Let´s start with my biggest problem.
After that rebel cruisers bridge was hit and Leia was thrown into space we saw her drifting in the cold empty vacuum of space. This was a powerful scene and I had tears welling up in my eyes thinking that would be a great ending for the character dying how she always lived. Fighting. I did not realise, or care, that it would have been a huge coincidence had they written this scene at that point not knowing Carrie would pass away. But as I said powerful scene. And then she opens her eyes and floated back into the ship still beeing alive. At that point I was seriously considering leaving the cinema. It´s scifi but, please, without as much as a hint of an explanation that is just awful writing. It is Disney all over it. Anyway I stayed and watched the rest but in general I was done with the movie.
There are tons of other things I didn´t like.
way to much unnessesary and stupid humor. Most of the time it does not fit and just destroys scenes. Holding for General Hux - that might have been OK once but two or three times it just becomes goofy. And there is more of this througout the movie.
the writing was all over the place. So much things going on that do little to nothing for the general plot and just add playtime. Like that whole thing with the codebreaker, going to the casino. Just sugarcoating CGI.
and speaking of playtime - way too long. About five times towards the end I thought it was over. It could have ended when the reached the rebel base- no let´s add another battle. When they realised they where trapped. With Luke going out to face Kylo. At some point I would have been OK with the movie ending with the First Order defeating the rebels, everyone dying, and the franchise done with. But of course that is not happening and the movie ends.....no, just show us a kid with a broom looking at the stars and indicate he could be the hero of a future movie.
in many ways the continuation of storylines is not satisfiying. They introduce Snoke in the first movie without an explanation who he is, where he comes from and how he got there. Would have been OK, could have done later. So now he´s dead without so much as a fight and there are questions left to be answered.
what about Rey ? Are we really to believe her parents were some drunk and drifting scavengers that sold her for money like Ren said ? That would be very stupid because how in the universe could she master the Force in ways even the best Jedis or Sith couldn´t without as much as years of training. Another void in the storytelling.
too many, shall I call them, homage scenes ? A lot of times I felt I had already seen this movie. The scene in the throne room f.e. Snoke = Emperor, Rey = Luke, Ben = Vader, the destruction of the rebel fleet playing in the background and the Ben killing Snoke is like Vader killing the Emperor. I know that was said about TFA as well but I feel it´s much worse here. The Battle of Hoth reviseted would be another thing where they re-did some scenes to a T. All that was left was tow cables.
Those are just some examples of the things I disliked and maybe there could be satisfactory explanation later. There is a lot more but it would take too much time to write it down. But I doubt I will go to the cinema for the next one.
To be fair there where some positives in this movie.
I liked the scenes with Rey and Luke althought they did not really lead anywhere. But some nice insights into Lukes story after ROTJ.
The conversations between Kylo and Rey where very interesting and I thought there was really potential to steer the story to something new and exciting. Not happening.
So overall I was not satisfied. I really like TFA, it built some expectations that where all crushed with this. As far as I am concerned I am done with this new story. I am not not very eager to find out what else the canibalise and how they try to write themselves out of this. There is nothing left.
This is my view of the movie. If you liked it I´m happy for you.
May the Force be with us. Always.
Where is the 11th heart for this episode?
I was so tense when the x-wing appeared and I was holding my breath for the whole fight. When he pulls of the hood I couldn't help but crying.
Even if the show would stop right there I would be very happy. But I am also very eager to see what comes next.
It's going to be a long year.
The movie that propably had the most impact on my life.
I was little over 10 at the time I saw it first. My dad brought it home on VHS. From the first second my eyes were glued to the screen. Immediately after it was over I rewound the tape and watched it again which up to today, close to 35 later, I haven´t done with any other movie. I recorded it on audio tape so I could listen to it, even wrote down the whole thing on paper (that was well before the internet, folks). We re-ennacted the scenes, I had memorized every line. I cannot recall how many times I`ve seen it since then.
I would give it 11 if possible.
This is how you do an action movie. Just the right amount of everything without being over the top. Spot on !
And this, dear writers of contemporary Star Trek, is how you handle a topic like that.
I'm, sadly, not surprised about the rating (68 % at the time of writing) and some comments in regards to this episode. To each his own but I thouroghly enjoyed it.
It was past overdue that Klyden left the ship. I never liked him but there was no way after this he could have stayed. Don't think we've seen the last of him.
Bortus still hasn't performed "My Heart Will Go On"
Reboot this as much as you want Maguire was the best Spider-Man.
I´ve seen Jurassic Park a couple times over the years and I´m always amazed how well this stands up to to later movies. This never looked old, not 10 years after, not 20 years after it was made.
Yes, the show has changed over the years and so have the characters. You either like it or not. I think it`s still one of the best shows and I would take any season of Family Guy over all that reality garbage.
Those were some gross scenes for sure. But that's what this show's been doing and I'm glad they didn't tune it down.
Anthony Starr is amazing. How he switches from one expression to another within a heartbeat and scare the shit out of you. But I think ultimately Homelander has to be gone by seasons end. You can't keep this plot up forever.
I wish Vader would've killed her. She's just a weak character. Even a ten year old kid is not intimidated by her. It should have been Vader chasing Obi-Wan from the beginning if it is that much of a personal thing for him. The story could have been so much better.
I'll admit, this episode was rather weak. Convenient writing and all in all a remake of Obi-Wan on the death star. No real suspense since the only character that could have died is Tala.
Easily the best TV show in a long time. Superb acting and very intelligent writing.
I will have to re-watch this before the second season because it´s so complex I´m not sure I´ll remember everything when the time comes.
I want Bortus to sing My Heart Will Go On
This show is growing on me without even trying. It's slow but I don't feel bored. I just like the tension, the dynamic between the rebels (if you can call them that already). The petty Imperial lackeys that are scraping for the tiniest bit of power. I have no clue what role Syril is gonna be playing in all of this. That they keep coming back to him suggest he could be important to the plot. Otherwise it makes no sense. Mon Mothma's family is really loathsome and Luthen seems to be overly anxious.
What can I say - I like it.
The writing is great, you have a story that keeps you interested. You only get dripplets of information each episode. On top of that you have great action sequences. This show continues to improve with every episode.
This was in many ways not what I was expecting. I thought there would be more fireworks. However I enjoyed every damn second of it. The tension was so thick, you could cut it. It reminded me a bit of "The Guns of Navarone" (if anyone here is old enough to remember that). You know that at some point it would all go sideways, that there would be casulties. But I did not expect practically the whole team going down. The Eye looked spectacular and the soundtrack is great, too.
A darn well excecuted episode.
That b/w sequence was absolutely brilliant and althought he was merely the observer D'Onofrio is amazing even without saying a word.
But how on earth did a guy like Dex get past a FBI psych evaluation ?
Without lots of action, without much of the popular Star Wars lore like the Force, Jedi, Lightsabers, this show delivers with every new episode.
It was very interesting to see that Mon Mothma was reluctant to delve fully into engaging the Empire in open Rebellion. We've never seen that side. I also like that they adressed that people are and will be dying like Luthen told her. It's not much of romantisizing. It's war. And the Empire responds the only way it knows how. By asserting even more power. By being predictable, thus playing into the Rebels hands.
"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."
Which at least some inside the Empire seem to understand while others still think of their position.
We also see the glimmer of hope from the people that things are about to change for the better when they hear off the attack on Aldhani. And althought Star Wars is not known for portraying contemporary problems within the story telling, I wonder if the similarities are just random.
I really interested how characters like Syril and Dedra will develop moving forward. Could they actually (well maybe one of them) end up with the Rebels ?
Oh, and the world building in this show is also great: Bureau of Standards. It's the Empire put in a single building and again something that reminds me of our present.
Funny how most people think this is boring filler stuff, or even dislike the whole show, while I do like it more and more.
For me it seems this is the first time that Marvel puts substance over effects. There is an actually story involved instead of just knitting together CGI shots. Of course there is an agenda in all of this, there is no denying that. But I don't see this as a bad thing.
And I'm looking very much forward to the final episode now.
During the recap I thought: please, no. Not pirates again. But this episode really caught fire, literally as well as figuratively. It's beginning to go into the direction I'd hoped for with the Mandalorians.
Now, I wonder since Din still posesses the Darksaber could that become an issue again ? Or can Bo lead them without it now that the Armorer has spoken on her behalf ? And I'm certain it wasn't Mandalorians who freed Gideon. That's a ruse to blame them. Even with him escaping I'm still convinced there is a bigger fish in the water.
We can now safely assume that the ex-imperial is an operative for the empire remnant. I really like that Capt Carson gets a bigger role. He's a really honest guy.
And what do you know - Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios. Another Rebels connection. Uhh, I like where this is going.
This feels much more like mid season episode. That's not saying it was a bad one. Quite the opposite. I had a lot of good laughs and a lot of smiles.
One small point of critique: the whole Lysella story was too predictable. I love the dialogue between her and Kelly. It's obvious where that's aimed at. But why not show her the simulation earlier ? Could've made her understand and accept without all the back and forth.
As for the Clair/Issac relationship - who would've thought it would end in marriage when that started way back. But it works, it makes sense and it doesn't feel forced.
Final thoughts on the season:
"Future Unknown" refers as much to the episode as to the show itself. There still is no news about a renewal. It would be a loss to not have another season. I'm sure they could come up with interesting stories. Ed's daughter, his relationship to Kelly, how Claire and Isaac work out, Lysella - there is tons of potential. But they also made sure we get closure if it ends here. I would miss the characters as they have grown on me. I want to see them again and learn more about them. Experience some more adventures with them. That's a feeling no show has given me for quite some time.
Please come back.
Just finished watching it and, like some, I´m a bit on the fence. It´s a good show that has a lot going for it, most of all the cast. The acting is outstanding at times and gives you some really beautiful moments between the characters. John Nobles performance is among the best I´ve ever seen on TV. And I became very fond of Anna Torv. And despite the fact that a lot of the scientific background is borderline at best the show never feels silly.
But like some others mentioned I too think the plot went south during the later parts. The first two season got me hooked pretty fast, the third I think was at times to much to fast. But with the forth came the nosedive. It deteriorated to a point where I simply didn´t cared anymore for the plot and just went on watching to see how it ends. Not to mention that the conclusion has huge logical problems.
I´m not regretting watching it but I don't want to watch it again.
He's back ! Vader enters the picture and immediately the heat is literally turned up. One shot, one breath of him has more weight as ten minutes from the Third Sister.
I had not imagined that him and Obi-Wan would meet that early. And now we have the question of continuity. There has to be another meeting because that one could not have been what Vader was describing in Ep IV (with Obi-Wan being the Master and he the apprentice). Yes, those things matter to me. But as one-sided as the duel here was it had me on the edge of my seat. The lightsabers in the dark, the musical score, Vaders voice - that was an amazing sequence.
How on earth did Reva get past Leia ? There is one tunnel leading to where the pilot was waiting and she had to pass Leia to get there first. Yet she was there waiting, the pilot already dead.
All in all by far the best episode. Obi-Wan talking about Padme and his memories of his own family was another great scene.
Now I'm hyped.
So, let me see what we got here.
A stupid "hommage" scene to Star Trek IV that wasn't funny.
A muscle packed Guinan who's given up on humanity. Since Q changed the actual timeline and not created a fantasy, how does that actually work that she doesn't recognize Picard althought they have met in "Time's Arrow" ?
A totally unnecessary car chase scene with the usual amount of smart comments. Seems like Raffi and Seven are now the comedic relief.
More on-the-nose comments about contemporary earth. I miss the old episodes where you actually had to use your brain to make connections instead of being served pre-chewed food on a silver plate.
And at the end we see Orla Brady as (supposedly) The Watcher. Something that, in my opinion, seems to be just to have a role for her to play. Because I don't believe she's anything else than the Laris we've seen so far in the normal timeline.
I do feel sorry for Annie Wersching who's only hanging around (literally) instead of actually doing something.
It's a mess at this point.
The action sequence was running a bit long but otherwise another solid episode.
I'm surprised there wasn't another way to relieve the steam pressure. Was that just a story tool to generate tension? You would think the builders would incorporate a way to make repairs in case they are needed. Otherwise they were either pretty sure the generator would run forever or they never anticipated it runs so long. Weird.
Did you notice the moment they switched to the back-up the screen showed a healthy, green environment outside ? No coincidence I say.
Bernard is hiding something, he is a much more important player in the tale. Unfortunately I was sure the moment the major opened up to the deputy her clock was running out.
Best episode ever because lightsaber fight !
Seriously ?! It was in parts better but it couldn't save the show as a whole.
OK, I admit I was wrong and there was another match between them. And it was better then the first. But no stupid writing ? Why did Vader just leave Obi-Wan under the rocks ? He couldn't feel he was still alive ? Well, he couldn't feel him sneaking up behind him, couldn't he ? But he knew he was on the little ship. And if that is how it went down why didn't Obi-Wan just kill Vader right there? Could have saved the galaxy lots of trouble. He clearly had accepted that Anakin was gone, he even called him "Darth" (which by the way is wrong because that's a title, the name would be Vader). And they now established that the Empire, and Vader, knew all the time that Kenobi was alive and where he was.
Luke having no memory of being chased in the night by a lady with a crimson lightsaber ? OK, maybe it's one of those selected memory losses.
Reva standing on the surface of Tattoine after taking a lightsaber in her guts just mere hours before ? How is that not convinient writing ? And wanna bet we see her again? Maybe in a spin-off?
Qui-Gon appearing at the end was nice but ultimately useless. This final episode was just ticking up boxes to preserve canon but it also creates logical errors by doing so. And there was never any danger towards the characters.
Hindsight is always 20/20 but after watching what I had high hopes for, I can only say it would have been better it didn't happen.
Do all those plot pieces actually have a purpose ?
We went back in time to restore the timeline. Now we have Soong and his cloning (funny that he doesn't protect his files). Jurati and her personality issues. Rios's Doctor is back in the picture. Raffi's becoming more annoying with every episode. I'm still not sure what's Q's play ? And Picard having a traumatic episode. Does all this actually have something to do with the main issue ?
Oh wait, there was a little bit of Renee Picard in there. And concerning that, I don't know if her not making the mission is the problem or her making it is. Maybe it's something else entirely. I am also confused that Picard didn't seem to know about his ancestor. From TNG we know he's well versed concerning his family history. But neither the date nor the place seemed to be important to him.
I don't hate the show but I'm also not overly enthusiastic. Truth be told, I'm bored. And that's worse than either of the other options.
This is neither an action fireworks nor has it endless battle scenes. You should know that before you watch.
It is a slow build up that can be percieved as running a bit too long. But I really liked it. It's an honest movie, well produced. It looks and feels real. And so does the battle once it takes place. I so appreciate doing this not in CGI but putting the camera right in the middle of it. As for the historical accuracy or how it relates to the source material, I do not know. But it also isn't that important to me as this is a movie that, first and foremost, is there to entertain.
All actors are doing really well but Sean Harris was the one who really stood out in my opinion.
This show suffers the same problem as Kenobi.
It was highly anticipated and everyone is waiting for "the" one thing to happen. It is easy to look at. Meanwhile we get one action scene after another but little content. I like lightsaber fights as much as the next guy but even I are bored by them at this point. And they are stretched out for no reason other than to fill the time. Furthermore monotone one word dialogues, and totally predictable writing. And you realize by now that this should have been a movie rather than a mini-series.
Even the massive reveal at the end wasn't a surprise as the title of this episode alone was a massive spoiler in itself.
But this is how you catch bees. Just pour enough honey over it.
The book isn't really a big surprise nor does it help a lot. We already know there was a time before the Silo when things were different. The question is what happened to make them go in there and what is outside now.
The big reveal was right at the end as there is someone monitoring everything that happens inside the Silo. And I don't think it's Judicial. They might nor even know about it. But someone has to know. Maybe Holland ?
Could the Silo be some kind of experiment ? You know, the kind we do today where we put people in isolation to see how they would fare on long space travel. It's still damn near impossible to pinpoint a time for the events. All we know that the Silo is up for 140 years minimum. Which would be a hell lot of time for an experiment. And the tech inside the Silo, which was surely up to date back then, looks really old now. And who might the mysterious "Him" turn out to be? Got to be a new player in the game.
Well, at least things are progressing.
It's a very good episode but I wish it would have come at a later time. Maybe even next season. But with a fourth season still not confirmed and all but given I think they wanted to set some things straight.
At almost one and a half hours this is practically a double episode and I must say that this was the first time I thought it was a bit too long. The first half was OK. I was really dissapointed by Haveena's decisions. Her motives might've been honorable but I was totally with Ed when he told her what he thought about it. What follows was a predictable way the story unfolded. I'm not sure where they wanted to go with the hinted possible romance between Kelly and Bortus. Especially since they already threw a wrench in it at the end.
Everything really picks up at around the time when Gordon speaks up and calls out the Moclans for what they are. What follows are some powerfull scenes f.e. when Bortus adresses the Council as a father who's child has been abducted and tortured. Those were some hard to swallow scenes seeing Topa being tortured (kudos to Imani Pullum) and MacFarlane once again shows he's not shy to go there if it helps the plot. And I fully expected Bortus to turn around once again and kill the torturer but he didn't want his child to see him kill another.
We finally get the only logical conclusion that the Moclans are thrown out of the Union because everything else at this point would be a cheat. Going back to Gordon, I too am sick and tired of people doing bad things from a position of power and always getting away with it. (Take that sentence for what it is - I will not say anything more).
There is the surprise return of Clyden (I expected him back at some point but not so soon) but I think his change of heart is genuine and believable. Almost loosing your child can change your perspective. And he also makes peace with Kelly. Like I said - all this might've worked even better at some point in the future but who knows if there is one for the show. Now, with Clyden back that hinted thing between Bortus and Clyden makes even less sense.
And why haven't we learned about the "Traitor" on Moclus ? Is that supposed to be falling into background noise or will that be re-visited.
Couple of other notes:
Dolly Parton- it's amazing Seth pulled that of. In hindsight it seems like a given but I never would've thought she'd do it.
LaMarr's "Yeah, Sherlock" had me spill my drink. That was so delivered on point.
It's the character moments at the end that had me somewhere between smiling and, yes, tearing up. Any episode that achieves that is never a bad one in my book.
