Peacemaker, “Better Goff Dead”, Review!

Re:cap - Vigilante meets with Peacemaker, he is as clueless about adult toys as his best human friend.  Still, he says killing “bad people” gives him pleasure.  Vigilante wants to celebrate Peacemaker out of prison with appliances they loose bows, fire handguns in absurd positions, and throw dynamite at each other.  Laughing and cheering.  Just boys. Leota has an argument with Keeya over her “weird hours.”  Auggie is taken to prison.  The metal music is playing throughout the scenes.  Chris smokes a joint which he hands to Amber, the wife we saw last episode, she tries to hand it to Vigilante still in his mask!  Chris  turns to see the strange device he found is glowing and presses buttons on it like a remote control and it starts to unfold! 

Auggie is taken to prison, a prisoner recognizes him, Annie watches from a behind a window.  He wants a space by a window and moves a black inmate who sees the other white nationalists who bow before him.  The White Dragon is saluted and they repeat, “Hail!” to him.  The super villain first appeared in Suicide Squad #4 (1987). Peacemaker is loading equipment to the van with Leota and Economos while Murn is focused on his ipad.  He mentions homonculi and then Doll Man, another classic character, introduced in Feature Comics #27 (1939).  In DC continuity he had joined Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters.  Then, he tells Leota about the “miniature spaceship” from the device.  Vigilante is peeking from behind a trash can and sent away by Emilia, her character is just so fun.  

Murn mentions that they have to kill Senator Roland Goff.  The van races down a street with slow traffic.  Murn shows them the target, Roland Goff (Antonio Cupo), and says he is a “proponent of climate change.”  Peacemaker says they are going to kill him because it’s a hoax.  Leota zings back bringing up pro wrestling!  Murn says that Goff is a butterfly and asks for the next picture.  Leota then shows an embarrasing photo sent by her wife!  She tries to explain that Keeya was sent to another hotel by Emilia.  Murn is serious about the debriefing noting that Goff travels with his family, wife (Natalia Safran), son (Jackson Ferguson), and daughter (Juliette Ferguson).  He doesn’t know if they are butterflies so orders them all to be killed!  This sobers up Peacemaker and Emilia mocks his killing for peace. 

Then, Murn shows Goff’s bodyguard, Judomaster (Nhut Le), whom we saw from the dance opening.  Judomaster is another Charlton Comics character who debuted in Special War Series #4 (1965) created by Joe Gill and Frank McLaughlin.  His comics costume is red and yellow, but here it is green.  Peacemaker mocks his height.  Murn says Peacemaker and Emilia will take care of Goff while the rest of the team is working remotely.  He says not to kill the family until ordered. At a forest stop, Peacemaker is setting up a high powered sniper rifle, but it is missing his dove of peace symbol.  Leota throws him a Sharpie marker, funny!  Murn sets a device on a tree and Economos wants to know why he doesn’t reveal what is a butterfly to Peacemaker.  He doesn’t trust him and then reveals that he is trying to make up for his past.  Also, that this is the first time he shared a feeling.  

Night, Peacemaker looks through the sniper scope at Goff’s house.  Emilia shares her bag of snacks with him.  In the van, Leota warns them of the arrival of the Goffs.  Economos reports that all of the family and bodyguard are in the cars.  Emilia watches the arrival of the targets through the sniper scope.  Murn orders the kill by Peacemaker, but the tall bodyguard (Sage Brocklebank) blocks the shot, and the family, enters their house.  The tiny Judomaster snacks on a bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos as they stand guard.  Emilia sees the family walk to the next room one by one, almost like robots, she suspects they are all butterflies.  Murn says he won’t order an innocent to be killed like Amanda Waller.  The teams have to wait until morning.  Peacemaker looks at Emilia watching through the scope.  He shares his drink and they share their stars, Emilia’s father gave her a Glock at 12, and then her basic career.  She steps away and Peacemaker looks at the scope until interrupted by Vigilante! 

He had tracked them in the Vigilantemobile, their conversation is heard by the rest of the team, and he tries to hide when Emilia arrives.  Murn orders Vigilante to stay with Peacemaker and Emilia.  Later, Vigilante notes that the family moved to the dining room.  Emilia uses the scope to see the family pour a honey-like liquid into a bowl, very cultish, Murn says they are butterflies.  Peacemaker sees the family drop long, alien tongues into the bowls.  Murn orders him to kill all of them, but he hesitates.  Peacemaker can’t take the shot!  Vigilante casually shots the mother and then the boy.  He shots again killing the daughter.  Lastly is the father, Roland, but Vigilante is kicked by Judomaster!  Then, he takes them all on.  Emilia is thrown down a hill and strikes her head on a rock!  Murn hears the battle and hands a gun to Leota.  He has Economos to watch the gate.  

Judomaster fights with Peacemaker and Vigilante, Peacemaker accidentally stabs Vigilante with a blade, and then is knocked out by Judomaster.  Vigilante tries to give up and tries to run, but is pummeled by Judomaster.  He gives out a yell and then the other bodyguard wants them brought into the house.  The bodyguard has Emilia covered with his rifle, Leota has her gun on him, and Emilia wants her to kill the bodyguard.  She ends up taking up her pistol and shooting the guard.  Emilia tells Leota to get a sample and leaves.  Leota takes out a knife to cut the bodyguard.  Emilia meets up with Murn and she tracks Peacemaker to the house.  Peacemaker wakes up without his helmet to see Judomaster in a chair eating his Cheetos.  Vigilante is tied up.  Murn and Emilia head towards the house and Leota says that the bodyguard was not a butterfly.  The truth of the butterflies is revealed, I'm getting a Team America: World Police (2004) echo, along with some painful torture to Vigilante!  The third ep of Peacemaker, three eps were released on the January 13th streaming date, touches on the background of Murn's team, but also has the alienness of the butterfly threat!   

Four Peacemaker Helmets out of Five!  

#Peacemaker, #BetterGoffDead, #NhutLe, #AntonioCupo, #NataliaSafran, #JacksonFerguson, #JulietteFerguson, #SageBrocklebank 

Wheel of Time, “The Eye of the World“, Review!

Re:cap - Nynaeve follows Lan and he tells her that Dai Shan is a title for future kings of Malkier destroyed by the Blight.  Lord Yakota was the guard who took little Lan from the death of his family.  A lost king like Aragorn.  They spend the night together.  Rand is troubled by the last night with his father.  He thinks of the iron door that he broke down.  The mountain that Rand somehow remembers.  The voice of the Black Wind that says he is the Dragon Reborn.  Questions that he tries to work out by hitting several bullseyes with his arrows.  He goes to see Min as she closes up the tavern.  Her first vision was at Tar Valon, she had seen Tam al’Thor.  I like this mysterious version of Min Farshaw.  

This goes back to Tam taking off his helmet and Tigraine gives birth on the Dragonmount.  She tells Rand she saw Tam raise the child at Emond’s Field.  Min hints that Rand goes to the Eye of the World.  Morning, Egwene finds at Nynaeve’s room that she was occupied and Nynaeve apologizes for the friction with Rand.  Rand knocked on Moiraine’s door and tells her that he is the Dragon Reborn.  Sorry viewers, it was apparent in reading the novel early on.  Lan says she had masked their bond.  Rand and Moiraine have reached massive vines in what looks like a dead forest, a distance from Fal Dara, he is told by Moiraine that this is the Blight!  It was all dead from the presence of the Dark One.  They enter the Blight.  Now, the conclusion of season one of Wheel of Time!   

We have another flashback, “3,000 Years Ago”, we have a general of the armies of the Light, Lews Therin Telamon (Alexander Karim).  He is given an answer by Latra Posae Decame (Katie Bryben) in the Old Tongue spoken in the Age of Legends.  Lews is angry that Latra is breaking the Aes Sedai into men and women.  A baby cries at their argument.  Lews wants to cage the Dark One.  She worries about exposing the Dark One to the One Power where he will corrupt it.  Latra says farewell to Lews, the Dragon Reborn, and he says goodbye to Latra, the Tamyrlin Seat.  He leaves his child to protect her, we see outside to the city which has flying craft, towers and futuristic buildings, all destroyed by the Breaking of the World.   

In the Blight, Moiraine finds a rotting corpse covered with mushrooms, Rand asks what happened to him, and Moiraine says young Borderland men try to test their bravery and become infected by the Blight!  At Fal Dara, Egwene desperately packs, but Perrin tells her that only Moiraine knows the path.  In the Blight, Moiraine says they can briefly rest since she has found the Seven Towers of Malkier where Lan was born.  Nynaeve admits to Lan that she had tracked Moiraine to find them. She will show Lan, Moiraine tell that she used to track her, if he returns Rand.  Rand’s hand is corrupted, he knows the Dark One has found them, Moiraine’s mouth is pierced by sword used by the Dark One (Fares Fares).  A rotted face with glowing eyes in a tuxedo-like outfit.  This must be a nightmare.  

Rand looses an arrow at the Dark One’s left eye, he shoves it in, and transforms into a bearded man.  I like this version of evil before Rand meets him in person.  The Dark One says he sees Lews Therin Telamon in Rand who says this is a dream.  He is told by the Dark One it doesn’t matter, they are having a conversation, and that last time Lews faced him with 99 Companions. Rand draws his sword that the Dark One knows came from Tam al’Thor.  Convinced it’s a dream, Rand drives the sword into his stomach and is shocked awake.  He admits it was the Dark One to Moiraine.  She shows him the tiny idol, Sa’angreal, made before the Breaking of the World.  It would give Rand immense power.  Rand says that Moiraine must have thought the Dragon Reborn would be Egwene.  She must be the reincarnation of Latra Posae Decame.  

Nynaeve can hear nothing in the wind, Egwene hears a roaring, and suspects that something is wrong. Moiraine hears something moving, she starts to channel, and Rand draws his bow.  A fallen vine.  Rand wants to learn to channel.  Moiraine explains she had trouble channeling, an Aes Sedai lashed at her with the One Power until she was able to stop her.  She says that Rand will be able to tap into the One Power when he needs it.  The group of friends including Loilal go to Min, but she won’t reveal what she had seen for others.  Min sees Nynaeve collapsing and her face corrupted by something, visions of men at the tavern dying, and then the city’s horns start to sound!  In the Blight, they hear the horns of battle, and Moiraine says to save their friends, he will need to stop the Dark One.  

Lord Agelmar asks for their numbers, Lord Yakota says 60 Fades and 5,000 to 10,000 Trollocs, Yakota says ropes on the drawbridge were cut by Darkfriends inside.  Lord Agelmar wants to move his forces to the Tarwin’s Gap fortress.  Lady Amalisa says the fortress will fall.  We see Rand and Moiraine have reached the massive pit with stairs around it, the Eye of the World, Rand recognizes it.  He realizes that Moiraine will die if she goes with him, but Moiraine starts down steps.  Lan is in the Blight and reaches the Seven Towers.  Lady Amalisa readies Lord Agelmar with his armor.  He says the women of Fal Dara will protect the city.  Lord Agelmar admits his sister was right to ask for help from the White Tower and knows they will fall to the Dark One’s army and every city will be destroyed.  He says it is the Last Battle and has sent messengers to warn everyone.  

Moiraine and Rand have reached the lower level that is watery with a circle in the center.  It has the Aes Sedai symbol, black Dragon’s Fang and white Flame of Tar Valon encircling each other, the Taoist Yin and Yang.  Rand sees the image of Lews Therin Telamon and then sees the Dark One.  He touches the symbol and then is in a cabin with daylight.  He talks to Egwene outside with their child, Joiya, and gives him the infant girl.  Moiraine tries to waken Rand, she sees the Dark One and summons blades with the One Power stopped by him, and then he turn traps her in a Gentling!  The Dark One laughs, but he has cut her off from the One Power.  The armies are assembled and Lord Aglemar leads the riders Theoden-style into the fortress.  

Lady Amalisa prepares the city defense, women warriors Amazon-style, very cool!  Min joins the refugees escaping Fal Dara.  Warriors remove the fortress throne and Lord Yakota and Uno Nomesta (Guy Roberts) begin digging on the stone below it.  Loilal tells Nynaeve and Egwene that Lady Amalisa needs women who can channel.  Lord Aglemar has his warriors with crossbows ready to fire on the Trollocs.  The Fade orders the charge.  Lady Amalisa is on a plain with two other women when they are joined by Egwene and Nynaeve on the other side of the fortress.  Perrin is frustrated not participating in the upcoming battle.  Loilal says the only thing he can do is ask.  Rand is holding Joiya and becomes suspicious so Egwene takes her child.  

They kiss, but suddenly Egwene and Joiya are motionless.  The Dark One explains that the Dragon Reborn can make the world in his own image.  The temptation, all deception Rand, the Dark One at the Eye of the World wonders what he will chose.  Then, Moiraine has a blade to Rand’s throat knowing that the Dark One will need Rand’s help to escape.  The diggers are paused by some news.  Lady Amalisa worries for her brother.  He is busy sending crossbow bolts out a arrowslit, the Trollocs have climbed on each other, really they should dropping oil and fire from the top.  A Trolloc throws a spear that pins Lord Agelmar against a wall!  The Two Towers Battle of Helm’s Deep with a sobering ending.  In the Dark One’s vision, he manipulates a cord that makes Egwene’s throat bleed, Rand pleads for him to stop and the wound seals itself.  It seems like Rand is falling to the temptation looking at his child.  This is an Anakin Skywalker choice!  

The Dark One watches Moiraine with the blade.  Code words are given to two women warriors, it is Padain Fain with a Myrddraal that takes their heads, they are free to infiltrate Fal Dara!  Loilal and Perrin have finished the digging and uncovered the  Horn of Valere which Uno says will call the Pattern’s greatest heroes!  Lady Amalisa hears the horns sounding with the fall of the fortress, she wants all of them to join her with the One Power.  They connect the weaves of the One Power.  Perrin sees Padan Fain and goes for an axe.  The Dark One tells Rand to take away his anger and turn it into wanting Joiya to be real.  A choice that seems to mirror Lews Therin Telamon and his child.  "I can feel your hate. It makes you stronger, gives you focus", says Palpatine.  The weaves of One Power appear around Rand so weaves of darkness!, the Dark One says Rand is channeling, Moiraine starts to cut Rand’s throat.  For some reason, I keep thinking of Voldemort possessing Professor Quirrell in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), Philosopher’s Stone in the UK. 

Lady Amalisa draws on more power.  The screeches draw Uno and Lord Yakata leaving the horn box.  The Dark One says Joiya is becoming real and Rand turns to him. Lady Amalisa draws the One Power into a wave that rolls through the Trolloc army.  Rand reaches down to where he has kept the Sa’angreal, Moiraine sees it about to be activated.  He says to the Dark One that the Egwene he loves would not turn away from being an Aes Sedai and holds out the Sa’angreal!  Then, he blasts the Dark One, at the seal, there are cracks. Rand tells Moiraine that he did it.  Perrin is walking the corridors, startled by bats, hears the Fades screeching and the battle.  Padan Fain has killed Uno, Lord Yakata, and Loilal!  Lady Amalisa is unable to stop the massive power, another channeler falls, then Nynaeve.  She crawls over to Egwene, grasps her arm, and repeats the Wisdom’s ceremony.  

Then, falls, Lady Amalisa’s eyes are pitted and she collapses dead.  Padan Fain takes the Horn case and says that Perrin and the four others are ta’avern, parts of the Wheel.  He sent the Trollocs to bring them to the Dark One!  Rand says he felt the madness and doesn’t want to kill everyone he loves, he tells Moiraine to tell the others he died at the Eye of the World.  Padan Fain says it’s the beginning and leaves with the Fades.  Lan finds Moiraine and says that she can’t touch the One Power!  Egwene is able to revive Nynaeve.  Lan sees the cuendillar stone that couldn’t be broken by the One Power and Moiraine says it is not the Last Battle, it’s the first!  On a beach on the Far Western shore, a young girl (Alexia Rodriguez Melian) sees out on the sea, red sails.  They are strange, Asian-like ships where women channel the One Power, the Seanchan from the second book, The Great Hunt (1990), to send up a massive wave, Abyss-style, that overshadows the girl!  I didn't recognize them at first.  I would have liked to see the Amazons fight, but ok, excited for season two of this series!  The Wheel of Time has touches of other fantasy stories, but there is so much originality in it’s world and characters that makes it memorable!        

 Five Ter’angreal out of Five!   

 #WheelOfTime, #TheEyeOfTheWorld, #AlexanderKarim, #KatieBryben, #FaresFares 

Happy Birthday Marc Singer!

Happy Birthday Marc Singer!  He is a well known genre actor who began sci fi acting in the Planet of the Apes tv series episode, “The Gladiators” (1974).  Singer was in the Vietnam War film, Go Tell the Spartans (1978) as Captain Al Olivetti.  One of his most well known roles was as Dar in The Beastmaster (1982) co-written and directed by Don Coscarelli.  Singer continued in sci fi playing camera man, Mike Donavan in the V (1983) tv mini-series.  This was followed by another mini-series, V: The Final Battle (1984) without series creator Kenneth Johnson. It was finally turned into a sequel in novel form by Johnson in V: The Second Generation (2008).  V was not the final battle since it led to a V (1984-1985) tv series. 

                                                The Beastmaster himself!, Marc Singer, at the Hollywood Collector’s Show, 2003, photo by the author.  

Singer appeared in the Twilight Zone episode in “Extra Innings” (1988).  Marc Singer played Paul Ferguson in Watchers II (1990), the sequel to the film based on the Dean Koontz novel.  Commander Steve Krieger was portrayed by Singer in the sci-fi/horror film, Dead Space (1991).  Then, he returned as Dar in Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991).  “The Long Rain” (1992) episode of The Ray Bradbury Theater series starred Singer. He voiced Dr. Kirk Langstrom, the Man-Bat, in 1992 episodes of Batman: The Animated Series.  Singer played Caleb Cole in the “Mountain Men” (1992) episode of the Highlander series.   

He returned again as Dar in the tv movie, Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus (1996). A time lost Lancelot du Lac was portrayed by Singer in Lancelot: Guardian of Time (1997).  In the Beastmaster tv series he played Dartanus from (2001-2002).  He directed the episode, “Destiny” (2001) of the Beastmaster show.  The fantasy movie, Dragonquest (2009) starred Marc Singer.  In the V re-boot series episode, “Mother’s Day” (2011), Singer played Lars Tremont.   Singer played General Matthew Shrieve in 2015 episodes of the Arrow series.  He was also Peter Braxton in the reboot of Beauty and the Beast for 2016 episodes.  Singer was Sheriff Johnson in the thriller, The Undertaker’s Wife (2021).  Happy Birthday Marc Singer!  

#MarcSinger #GoTellTheSpartans, #TheBeastmaster, #V, #BatmanTheAnimatedSeries, #Highlander, #Arrow, #TheUndertakersWife.   

Naomi, “Zero to Sixty”, Review!

Re:cap - Naomi faces off with Zumbado at a warehouse, but runs off when her power doesn’t protect her.  Lourdes drops her off and walks with Anthony and she brings up their pizza date which she is ready to take it to that level.  Jeff tries to find the actor hired by Dee, but his voicemail box was full.  Dee is sketching a leaf while Naomi enters and admits she has powers.  Commander Steel puts Jeff on the task force.  Zumbado looks at the strange alien writing and it disappears when he has his hand.  Naomi jumps off the bridge, Dee smiles, and says, “No splash.”  The third ep begins with a young Naomi showing a turtle to her father on Earth Day.  Her parents are watching the video and Naomi asks if they are seeing the video because of college week.  She notices her father’s Hartford sweater.  They go over the family album.  This is a needed family scene. 

NAOMI - - “Zero to Sixty” - - KACI WALFALL , ALEXANDER WRAITH - - Photo: The CW -- © 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

At a basement with a strange art performance, Zumbado is there when a woman, Akira (Stephanie March) walks down steps.  Her name is not revealed.  She says sixteen years is a long time to wait and hates the planet.  The woman says Zumbado found her with the disc.  She says they are being hunted.  They know about Commander Steel's plans.  Naomi walks into a dojo with Dee sparring with escrima sticks with a tough, black man.  Naomi is amazed that the dojo is underneath the tatoo shop.  He starts off her training with a tennis ball.  He wants her to bounce the hall in alternating hands.  She mentions the disc.  At school, Nathan introduces himself to a college recruiter, then Anthony, Jacob, Annabelle, and Naomi.  She says she wants to be an environmental scientist. The Hartford recruiter likes her introduction and is eager for her essay. Naomi talks with Annabelle is at Ms. Anderson’s class.  

They bring up a discount by Zumbado that make all of them go to Zumbado’s auto lot.  Annabelle goes on lookout and Naomi uses her powers to short out the electronic lock on the safe to get the disc!  They face Zumbado and then leave.  On the school bus, Naomi shows the disc to Jacob sitting next to Annabelle.  Next they go on tour to the Central Oregon campus.  Naomi looks at a map and heads to the geology lab while Annabelle covers for her.  She goes up to Nathan who wants to go along with them also Anthony.  Also, Lourdes shows up since she was recommended to go to college on her GED.  They sneak into the geology lab and Jacob hands out uniforms to everyone.  Zumbadgo takes the real disc from the “secret compartment” in his safe.  Jacob sends up the laser scan as Zumbado places the real disc activating it.  This Scooby gang always sticks together.  

NAOMI - - “Zero to Sixty” - - WILL MYERS, MARY-CHARLES JONES, DANIEL PUIG, AIDAN GEMME, CAMILA MORENO, KACI WALFALL - - Photo: Danny Delgado/The CW -- © 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The equipment starts to smoke and an alarm goes off.  Naomi finds the disc is missing!  All of the friends are outside of the principal’s office, Jennifer was talkign to the principal, and then takes Naomi away for a talk.  She is disappointed that Naomi didn’t work on her essay and instead went on a tour, trespassed, and destroyed property.  Who actually is paying for the destroyed scanner?  Her mother tells her to show up for dinner at 6 p.m.  Naomi is training with Dee and mentions the current situation.  He takes Naomi to see his friend, Adam Blake (Chase Anderson), busy playing pinball.  Introducing two of the metahumans/aliens is a plus for the show.  He greets Dee as Darkovo and then takes Naomi’s hands to read her energy.  Adam says the disc was a form of “ancient communication”, that the disc isn’t real.  A group of gunmen, Dee later calls them a special ops team, burst into the building and start firing on them with Dee and Naomi slipping away.  

Night, Naomi worries about Adam back at Dee’s tatoo shop, but Dee says it was a military team.  Is this the the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Team?  She returns home to find her parents waiting to have a talk with their daughter.  Naomi forgot the 6 p.m. dinner time.  Greg sends her to her room for Naomi’s defiance.  He says it is dangerous and takes her phone.  The mysterious woman, Akira, says she is not interested in Zumbado’s business.  He shows her the disc activated by Naomi, she is the key?, but Esme doesn’t want any part of his plans.  Esme says she can’t return home because of Zumbado!  Naomi is at her room, Lourdes climbs in her window, with some Zatanna comics.  In her room, there is a poster of Superman holding out his hand, I’m not familiar with the image and it may be original art for the show.  In the comic, Zatanna hid an artifact in a fire that might be like the disc.  The fire at the underground bomb shelter might have the disc translation!  Later, we see Lourdes outside of her store, Levon's Comics & Vintage Collectibles, who's Levon?  The training and more of the Superman-like mystery makes for an excellent episode of Naomi!  

Four Discs out of Five!  

#Naomi, #ZeroToSixty, #StephanieMarch, #ChaseAnderson 

The Book of Boba Fett, “Return of the Mandalorian”, Review!

This episode of The Book of Boba Fett is the best because it isn’t about the series, instead it is The Book of The Mandalorian!  The show may have turned a corner with The Mandalorian director, Bryce Dallas Howard, at the helm!  No flashbacks, no government officials, or non-threatening crime bosses.  It is The Mandalorian picking up from the last episode, “The Rescue” (2020).  The ep opens with a Klatooinian, the dog faced aliens from Return of the Jedi, they were green in color, but brownish here.  It is a meat packing plant, but I would think this is droid work.  There are plastic-like strips of a curtain, very industrial, the shadowy armored figure appears.  It is The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) in his armor with beskar spear!

He slowly walks the cutting room floor and goes through another curtained room.  There are guards and Mando walks up to the boss seated at a table.  The boss, Kaba (Ardeshir Radpour) doubts that that person is in the room.  He sounds like someone talking through a Halloween mask.  Mando shows him the tracking fob used to bring in bounties.  The bounty hunter offers the others a chance to leave.  Mando tells Kaba the same threat he gave in episode one, about bringing him in warm or cold, as he reaches for his blaster pistol.  The Klatooinians attack Mando, but the blaster bolts just spark off of the beskar armor.  Mando activates his Darksaber.  The Darksaber proves to be heavy and he wounds his leg.  

Kaba tries to blast Mando, not too bright, The Mandalorian slams Kaba on a table, and cuts both in half with the Darksaber!  Mando gets to work with the Darksaber as the butchers look on from outside.  One of the Klatooinians is pale and looks like a bulldog complete with cap.   Mando limps out with the head of Kaba in a bag.  He says that inside there is New Republic credits and offers them to take whatever they want inside the room.  They start to rush in for their payday.  Next, we see the circular strip of space station called Glavis, location unknown, it makes me think of the habitat rings of Elysium (2013).  Mando reaches a posh level of the station and finds the Ishi Tib Guild Master (Helen Sadler).  

Another Jedi alien, Ishi Tib have protrusions like a starfish, eyes at the topmost spikes, and beak-like mouths.  This one is blue with a large, brown parrot-like beak.  She wants him to eat first, but Mando is ready to take the bounty elsewhere so the Guild Master what he is looking for is a Kolzec Alley.  He places Kaba’s head on the table.  Mando struggles to walk in the alley using his helmet’s visor to detect signs until he reaches a door with the Mythosaur symbol, the crest of his tribe.  He walks the bridge with only deep space below him to see the meditating person of The Armorer (Emily Swallow).  In “Redemption” (2019), The Armorer gave Mando the quest to find The Child’s people.  

She was defending the covert from remnant stormtroopers when we last saw her.  He tries to walk the stairs, but collapses.  The Armorer orders Paz Vizla (Tait Fletcher body and Dave Filoni is his voice) to give him help with a medkit.  Paz Vizla clashed with Mando in “The Sin” because of his work with The Empire.  He came to his aid with other Mandalorians to fight off bounty hunters.  Vizla uses a Bacta spray on the wound.  She asks about the weapon that wounded him and then tells Paz Vizla to bring her the Darksaber.  The Armorer says that Tarre Vizsla forged the Darksaber, he was Mandalorian and Jedi.  He was seen in flashback with the Star Wars: Rebels episode, “Trials of the Darksaber” (2017).  

Vizla and Mando move over The Armorer’s forge.  Mando says that Moff Gideon was turned over to the New Republic Tribunal.  The Armorer asks about the Beskar spear and it could pierce Beskar armor.  Mando asks for her to make it into armor, she puts the spearpoint into the forge, and then brings up Bo-Katan Kryze.  The Armorer explains that she got the Darksaber, but not by Creed.  The Armorer brings up the Great Purge, we see countless TIE Bombers drop proton bombs on Mandalore, destroying Mandlorians in the Night of a Thousand Tears, events we heard about in The Mandalorian, this is the first time we’ve watched it.  Then, we see KX-series security droids like K-2SO searching the blazing wasteland like Terminators, but the scene more reminds me of the Giant Warriors in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) with Imperial probe droids overhead.  

Mando wants the armor forged for a foundling, Grogu, of course Baby Yoda’s name revealed by Ahsoka Tano in “The Jedi” (2020). Not using his true name unless it is brought up.  He wants to see Grogu again.  We see The Armorer forge something, chains fall, chain mail armor?, which she ties up in a cloth origami-style to look like The Child.  You know this is a perfect merch item.  Later, she spares with Mando using the Darksaber and she wields her forging tools.  Mando falls off the bridge and The Armorer says he is fighting against the Darksaber so it is heavier for him.  Again, she easily defeats him.  Vizla interrupts their practice to reclaim the Darksaber.  The Armorer asks Din Djarin if he agrees to the duel.  This is his real name revealed by Moff Gideon in “Redemption.”  She walks away as they take off their jet packs.  

Vizla has a vibrosword and a personal combat shield.  He briefly claims the Darksaber, but Mando ends the duel with his vibroknife at Vizla’s neck.  The Armorer asks them if they ever removed their helmets, Din Djarin has to say yes, and she says he is no longer a Mandalorian.  He can only find redemption in the mines of Mandalore which Mando says are destroyed.  A Star Liner Travel passenger line docks at a starport, we hear about “nonstop service to Tatooine”, very Star Tours.  A security droid, in the RX-series also from Star Tours, asks him to turn over his weapons or he can’t take the flight.  A Rodian youngling waves to him. On Tatooine, he takes his weapons back from a bell droid, another RX-series droid, I would actually have liked the G2 repair droid from the ride.

Then, we get the BD unit droid, a head like electrobinoculars and two legs. It was first seen in the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2021) game with BD-1. Another merch item!, it is swallowed by a womp rat, and then blasted by Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris).  She was last seen in “The Passenger” (2020).  Her droids are fearful to help with the womp rat.  Peli goes in with her blaster rifle and the womp rat pulls her back!  It is shot by Mando’s blaster.  She has a ship for him, under the sheet are two engines, I first thought a podracer, but then the rest is shown and it is a N-1 starfighter from The Phantom Menace (1999)!  The prequels, all of Star Wars is in this series, the rest of Lucasfilm is terrified of the prequels.  Peli says it was hand-made on Naboo.  She convinces him that she will make it flight ready with his help.  He is working on the underside of the starfighter with BD's help.   

Peli has found a power assimilator that will make the starfighter the fastest ship!  She found the part from Jawas and admits that she dated one!, love it!  Peli speaks to the Jawas in Jawaese, we don’t see humans speak alien languages, she must have the Galactic Phrase Book & Travel Guide printed in our galaxy in 2001.  I like the scurriers slipping around the hangar.  Also, the building scene montage which makes me think of Iron Man (2008), construction of tech in pieces that makes you think it would work.  BD projects the location of a panel for Mando and his thanks makes the droid hopping with happiness!  The Jawas bring Mando a compression booster, it looks like the pole Leia used to hold the trash compactor walls, that they took from the Pykes.  A sandbat crows to announce the morning, it is a beastie first seen in Star Wars: The Old Republic (2011).  

The starfighter is taken out by Pelli’s DUM-series pit droids.  This is a Rocketeer (1991)-worthy scene.  Pelli has him take it out for a test flight.  We get the cockpit perspective of Mando flying.  The N-1 zips through Mos Eisley and then, he heads towards Beggar’s Canyon, this is the reverse course of the podrace.  Then, Mando takes it for a joy ride into space, and sees the Rodian youngling on the passenger liner.  Mando is contacted by two X-Wing fighters, one pilot is Lieutenant Reed is played by Max Lloyd Jones, who doubled for Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian finale.  The other pilot recognizes his voice, it is Captain Carson Teva played by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee otherwise known as Appa!  Teva was last seen in “The Siege” (2020).  Mando uses the Kineso-switch which blasts the starfighter at sublight speed, mistaken for going into hyperspace, it’s the Star Wars version of NOS!  Pelli says an old friend stopped by, it's Fennec Shand!, tying into the main show again. The Book of Boba Fett ep has a complete The Mandalorian story with endearing characters and new concepts that are ripe for Disney merch!             

Five Thrones of Boba Fett out of Five! 

#BookOfBobaFett, #ReturnOfTheMandalorian, #PedroPascal, #ArdeshirRadpour, #HelenSadler, #EmilySwallow, #DaveFiloni, #TaitFletcher, #AmySedaris, #MaxLloydJones, #PaulSunHyungLee, #MingNaWen  

Superman and Lois, “The Thing in the Mines”, Review!

Re:cap, last ep, Superman’s mother, Lara reveals to him that the underground threat is otherwordly.  Lana runs for mayor.  Jonathan believes that the sudden strength of his teammate, Ron, was due to steriods.  Could he be a candidate for Lt. Anderson’s Threat Reduction Agency?  Sarah reveals to Jordan that in summer camp, she kissed a girl, which she says was just a casual thing.  Jordan walks away.   Superman is floating above the Earth, this is as powerful, as Superman Returns (2006).  He struggles with something that makes his temples glow and crashes to Earth!  At the barn, Clark explains the situation, John Henry says he will go to the mines.  

In his room, Jonathan looks over pic of Ron on his cell phone, they talk about the situation with Sarah.  Natalie drops in and gives her perspective, Jonathan agrees especially when he compares it with the revealing of Jordan’s powers.  Lana goes over some of her points with the family, Kyle and their younger daughter Sophie, she is worried, but Kyle believes in her.  Kyle is eager to get ready for Sarah’s quincinera.  On tv, is “Inverse Theory”, the show hosted by Ally Allston (Rya Kihlstedt) watched by Lois.  It's strange to have a cult the subject of this season since we had IRL problems with a Smallville actor, ripped from today's headlines or something else?  Her father, Sam Lane (Dylan Walsh), says he is relaxing on a lake.  As they are about to leave, Jordan wants to reveal his powers to Sarah, Clark is angry and has his heat vision eyes flare!  Lois finishes her phone call, Sam is on the way, and she drives the family in the car.  

SUPERMAN AND LOIS - - “The Thing in the Mines” - - TYLER HOECHLIN, ELIZABETH TULLOCH - - Photo: Bettina Strauss/The CW -- (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

At the farm house, Clark thinks over his angry, and Lois returns.  Smallville High, Jordan is conflicted about his problems, and sees Sarah.  Jonathan is obsessed about Timmy, she tells him that he took some kind of crystal at a party.  Lana has a citizen’s meeting to talk about her ideas about small business loans to farms.  One man, Chuck (Toby Hargrave), asks if she had reverse mortgage that made him lose his farm and her recruiting of people for Morgan Edge.  Sam Lane says they will eventually have to tell Lt. Anderson.  Lois shows him the podcast and wants him to talk to Lucy.  He is protective of his baby girl.  Football practice, Jonathan watches on the sidelines.  Timmy tells Jonathan it is his girlfriend, Candace, who is selling the crystals. Jonathan tackles him and they get into a fight.  A stray punch knocks down Clark!  Another rage spell, he throws a football helmet into a wall, he blasts his heat vision into his hands, burning them!  

His powers are out of control and Jonathan wants him back home.  This reminds me of DC Comics Presents #85 (1978) where Superman’s powers suddenly shut off.  Sam Lane is at the farmhouse, when Jonathan drives up with Clark, Lois asks him how he feels.  Lois says he is feeling what the underground creature is feeling!  An empathic bond?  John Henry is taken to the mines by Dr. Faulkner.  Lana is back home giving up.  Natalie is getting no calls when Jonathan stops by to talk to her.  They go off to play a game.  The burn marks are fading on Clark’s hands.  Lois tells him to apologize to his sons.  She says, “Now is not the time to go all doomsday on me.”  John Henry is searching the mines and finds blood on yellow crystals.  They find the collapse and John Henry finds marks on crystals thinking it was an explosive.  Dr. Faulkner knocks him out with her flashlight!

SUPERMAN AND LOIS - - “The Thing in the Mines” - - DYLAN WALSH, ELIZABETH TULLOCH - - Photo: Bettina Strauss/The CW -- (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

At the kitchen, Clark goes to speak to his sons, Jonathan doesn’t blame him.  He only wants to learn how to drive the truck.  Clark speaks to Jordan alone.  He says that if anything would happen to Sarah, Jordan would feel worse.  Clark promises Jordan can tell Sarah in a year.  Dr. Faulkner sets explosives around the cave-in.  Sam Lane tells Lois that he read her article.  He says that after his wife went away, he concentrated on work, Lois tearfully says she wanted him around.  I really like this development of General Sam Lane.  He says he contacted Lucy and she will meet with her sister.  Lana throws darts with a glass of wine when Sarah joins her.  Sarah admits that she kissed a girl. Lana tells her that if Jordan doesn’t forgive her, he doesn’t deserve her.  Sarah takes her mother away for her idea.  Lois talks with Clark who feels like a failure.  They kiss, and then Clark falls down at the creature breaking free, he flies away as Superman.  Troops surround the creature in a containment suit, it’s Doomsday!  He is not what you expect!, a misdirect?  Superman and Lois has those dramatic, family moments mixed with a threat that is tearing up Superman!  

Five Crystals out of Five! 

#SupermanAndLois, #TheThingInTheMines, #RyaKihlstedt, #DylanWalsh, #TobyHargrave