[7.3/10] Hey! A good episode! One where I don’t even feel like I’m just cutting the show slack! I think it helps that this has less chatter from Kaz, and more of him actually trying (and vaguely succeeding!) at being a spy. His little platform jumping adventure with the whole bar cheering him on (or gambling on his failure) was a lot of fun and felt like classic Star Wars capering. And the whole setup and payoff with the communicators for both eavesdropping and getting exposed was nicely done.
I’m tell on board with Tam’s story, which kind of went nowhere. The idea that she wanted to be an ace pilot, had a friend named Hype (Donald Faison!) who got her dream instead is mildly compelling, but also pretty standard. At the same time, I like how the story lets us get to know the ecosystem of the station a little bit better. The idea of the pilots living in better quarters with better access to better things than the plebes do. Hype’s kind of a generic celebrity himself (though Faison imbues some life into him), but the most interesting thing about him is his references to this tentative but mysterious arrangement between him and Captain Doza about the First Order.
I also like the reveal that, despite Kaz’s concerns (and spy job), Captain Doza isn’t collaborating with the First Order; he is, in his own way, resisting them, despite the fact that they’re trying to squeeze him with the whole fuel shipment thing, and threatening him based on his underworld connections. There’s some twisty stuff there, and I like it, particularly with the personal tangle that he now has a personal interest in Kaz after, you know, learning that this kid was hanging from his daughter’s bedroom window.
All-in-all, this wasn’t perfect, but the world and the central premise of the show just got a lot more interesting, which is something badly needed.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2019-01-09T17:55:30Z
[7.3/10] Hey! A good episode! One where I don’t even feel like I’m just cutting the show slack! I think it helps that this has less chatter from Kaz, and more of him actually trying (and vaguely succeeding!) at being a spy. His little platform jumping adventure with the whole bar cheering him on (or gambling on his failure) was a lot of fun and felt like classic Star Wars capering. And the whole setup and payoff with the communicators for both eavesdropping and getting exposed was nicely done.
I’m tell on board with Tam’s story, which kind of went nowhere. The idea that she wanted to be an ace pilot, had a friend named Hype (Donald Faison!) who got her dream instead is mildly compelling, but also pretty standard. At the same time, I like how the story lets us get to know the ecosystem of the station a little bit better. The idea of the pilots living in better quarters with better access to better things than the plebes do. Hype’s kind of a generic celebrity himself (though Faison imbues some life into him), but the most interesting thing about him is his references to this tentative but mysterious arrangement between him and Captain Doza about the First Order.
I also like the reveal that, despite Kaz’s concerns (and spy job), Captain Doza isn’t collaborating with the First Order; he is, in his own way, resisting them, despite the fact that they’re trying to squeeze him with the whole fuel shipment thing, and threatening him based on his underworld connections. There’s some twisty stuff there, and I like it, particularly with the personal tangle that he now has a personal interest in Kaz after, you know, learning that this kid was hanging from his daughter’s bedroom window.
All-in-all, this wasn’t perfect, but the world and the central premise of the show just got a lot more interesting, which is something badly needed.