Doctor Who, “The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos”, Review!

The season finale of Doctor Who opens with a woman (Phyllis Logan) telling her companion, Delph (Percelle Ascott), that this planet is the place for his training.  She has trained him for 17 years.  It seems like religious training.  He clasps his hands and closes his eyes, his eyes burn with energy, and he forms rocks together before the power fades.  The woman sees something and stops the ceremony.  Then, we get the title, “3,407 years later”, the Doctor has detected nine distress signals from the same planet.  It is Ranskoor Av Kolos which the Doctor translates as “The Disintegrator of the Soul”, I love the goofy space words that really makes me think of aliens.  She says the planet is generating “violent, psychotropic waves” that may make them violent, she gives “neuro-balancers” that will keep Team Tardis safe.  The Doctor targets a ship and lands the Tardis on it.  It seems empty, but there is a man with a pistol.  The Doctor introduces everyone.  She steadily approaches him, he doesn’t know if there are others, and sends the team to look around the ship.  He can’t remember his name!  The battle seems to have wiped his memory.  

DOCTOR WHO -- “The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos” -- Ben Blackall/BBC. 

The man thinks the Doctor just arrived and she offers him a neuro-balancer.  Yaz has found a list of the crew on a console.  The Doctor checks it and finds the ship is perfectly fine.  The man says his name is Paltraki (Mark Addy).  Addy might be recognized as Robert Baratheon in Game of Thrones, possibly Hercules in Atlantis from the Beeb, but I first took nonie of him in A Knight’s Tale (2001).  The woman demands Paltracky return because of the Creator.  It is the Tzim-Sha! I knew these guys would show up again.  He says that Paltraki has taken something and wants it back in exchange for his crew.  One of them, Umsang (Jan Le),  pleads for him to stay away and then screams in pain.  Team Tardis discusses if it is the same Tzim-Sha that they encountered in the first episode, “The Woman Who Fell to Earth.”  Paltraki says that he has recovered an object and the Doctor sees that it is a white crystal.  She scans it with her sonic screwdriver. Ryan finds a device that the Doctor says they can retrace Paltraki’s steps.  Graham says, “We have unfinished business with that monster.”  The Doctor finds she can lift the crystal.  They head outside, a quarry planet, with several ships.  Graham talks to the Doctor and wants to kill the Tzim-Sha.  He realizes that his vengeance for Grace changes his relationship with the Doctor, but Graham wants Tzim-Sha dead!        

They continue to another graveyard of starships.  Paltraki says that through the mist is a floating tower.  The Doctor takes equipment she took from Paltraki’s ship; trackers to be placed on their necks, grenades, and a bomb in a hand-held device.  Paltraki and Yaz are to find his original mission, Graham and Ryan are to find the crew, the Doctor is going to find Tzim-Sha with the crystal.  She uses her sonic screwdriver on the crystal.  Everyone is assembled and she uses her sonic screwdriver and they are teleported inside the tower.  Graham thinks Grace would want him to kill the Tzim-Sha and they face SniperBots that blast each other apart.  They were the threat from episode two, “The Ghost Monument”.  The Doctor faces the woman who wants the object pointing a rifle at her.  She says there are explosive devices attached to the crystal.  The woman says her name is Andinio of the Ux.  The Doctor wants Tzim-Sha to see her face.  He wants Andinio to bring her to him.  Paltraki says his first name is Preston and he comes from Steble.  He says he was part of the last fleet sent by the Congress of the Nine Planets.  Paltraki blasts the sniper bots.  He reaches a room with Yaz, there are five mineral samples, he says they fought their way there.  Graham and Ryan are startled by one fo the crew and sees the others.  Ryan finds more prisoners.  

DOCTOR WHO -- “The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos” -- Ben Blackall/BBC. 

The Doctor sees Tzim-Sha and shows her new coat.  Tzim-Sha says to Andinio to “ready him.”  He takes off his mask.  Tzim-Sha has emerged on the planet and has taken knowledge from all of the people.  He wants revenge.  Graham argues with Ryan and he wants Graham to not take his revenge.  Tzim-Sha says the Doctor made him a god.  Yaz reports to the Doctor as Andinio enters.  She sees Delph who pleads with her not to continue, his eyes flash again.  Tzim-Sha says the tower is the weapon.  The Doctor runs.  She reaches the crystal chamber.  Paltraki says that there are five planets in the crystals.  She communicates with Tzim-Sha that he is breaking every law of the universe.  The Doctor says the technology to bring the planets in the same place is unstable.  Earth is his target.  The beam from the tower strikes the Earth!  Ryan has freed the prisoners which angers Tzim-Sha who rips off the cables to go after them.  Paltraki goes to help with the prisoners.  The SniperBots break through the door, but Paltraki blasts them!  The Doctor sees the Ux, if they are disconnected they might die, she realizes with the Yaz that they can use neuro-balancers on them!  They remove their neuro-balancers making them vulnerable to the planet.  Graham stays behind and promises to rejoin Ryan.  She uses the sonic screwdriver to block the signal and save the Earth.  

The Doctor explains the truth to Andinio and that they are the creators.  The crystals are beginning to crack.  The door opens and Graham sets off the charge.  He says that the Ux can return the planets.  The Doctor activates her sonic screwdriver and the Tardis arrives.  Tzim-Sha faces Graham who aims his rifle. The Doctor takes the neuro-balancers back and claps to activate the Tardis.  She calls for the Ux and puts the telepathic circuits of the Tardis to bring the planets back!  Graham deactivates the rifle and the Tzim-Sha uses his power.  Ryan has his rifle and Graham shoots Tzim-Sha in the foot!  Good work!, Graham O’Brien, hero of the universe!  Some people may think a hero is a Transformer or a superhero, but the true hero is a man from Sheffield! Yaz has Andinio attached and Delph has the telepathic circuits of the Tardis both are in pain as the Tardis sends the planets back.  The circuits explode and Yaz runs from it.  Both Ux fall.  Graham has placed Tzim-Sha in the stasis chamber and tells him to remember one name, “Grace.”  Hard core.  The Doctor and the others are joined by Ryan and Graham.  The Ux say that the tower is sealed.  Paltraki says that he wants to finish his mission.  Delph wants to join him.  Andinio asks the Doctor where she will go, she doesn’t know, but leaves with her fam.  She leaves words with the Ux, "None of us know for sure what's out there.  That's why we keep looking.  Keep your faith. The universe will surprise you.  Constantly", and enters the Tardis. I love this season of Doctor Who, if I had to choose only one season of Doctor Who to exist, it will be this one!  

Five Sonic Screwdrivers out of Five!   

#DoctorWho, #TheBattleofRanskoorAvKolos, #MarkAddy, #PhyllisLogan

Bumblebee Review!

Bumblebee is a fresh start for the Transformers franchise.  There was an Early Access Screening of Bumblebee on December 8th. It was sold out and every audience member was given a Transformers: Tiny Turbo Chargers toy, not a special edition, but what was offered at stores. Toys are of course a large part of the Transformers story. It begun in 1984 with Hasbro using Takara Tomy mecha toys and rebranding them as Transformers. Then, there was the cartoon series that same year from Sunbow Productions with animation by Toei Animation. There was a collaboration between American animation and Toei with Transformers The Movie (1986).

This was all later known as Generation 1 which was expanded by IDW Publishing in comic books.  I mention all of this was the toys that I liked and show I watched growing up. The same with Bumblebee director Travis Knight who has brought a prequel re-booting the Transformers film franchise. Knight is of course the director of Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) and president and CEO of Laika. Also, that I passed up the earlier Michael Bay movies because they were directed by Michael Bay. This film is more in line with Generation 1 with classic robots that looked like vehicles and even an 80’s sensibility.  

Bumblebee feels like a summer movie, all of the previous Transformers films were released in June, it seems like it will crushed with the other blockbuster movies in the Christmas release window.  The film is a wild action movie at the beginning and end, but it is a gentle, family film in the middle. Perfect for summer. Still, I’m certain that the international audience will love this movie.  The film is written by Christina Hodson who previously wrote the thrillers Shut In (2016) and Unforgettable (2017). The score is by Dario Marianelli who previously worked with Knight on Kubo and the Two Strings and also The Boxtrolls (2014). He brings suspense to the wild opening on Cybertron with Autobots in a fighting withdrawal from the Decepticons.  

Bumblebee, voiced by Dylan O'Brien, known as B-127, isfighting the Decepticons. We see his Bumblebee vision with his helmet on which analyzes his surroundings. The character of Bumblebee is a scrappy fighter who has the strongest connection with humans on Earth. Optimus Prime is there, voiced by original actor Peter Cullen, and fights Soundwave. This was truly the animated series come to life. The Autobots have lost Cybertron and Optimus Prime orders B-127 to scout Earth and establish a base. B-127 enters an escape pod and the Autobots manage to launch while the landing platform is destroyed by Deception missiles as Optimus Prime attempts a delaying action.   

This shifts to Earth, 1987, in a forest soldiers are practicing a paintball exercise. They are led by Burns played by John Cena who gets a revenge filled character, but also some funny lines and his character actually has an arc. The escape pod crashes and scatters the soldiers, not a heavily populated area, but I would imagine that the escape pod would avoid harming the humans. B-127 emerges and is immediately attacked by the soldiers. He is able to use his wrist gauntlet blade to slice through a tree and block them. B-127 transforms into a jeep, but is cornered by the soldiers and Burns at a mine.  

He sees the Deception, Blitzwing, who unleashes his missile payload at them. Blitzwing (David Sobolov) transforms, rips B-127’s blade to cut out Bee’s vocal system, and then stab him in the shoulder. Bee takes out Blitzwing, but the battle has his memory core failing. He scans the lake and takes the form of a Volkswagen bug. There is a problem here; what is the Energon energy source that powers Bumblebee? What is its parameters, do the Autobots recharge or rest?, how long does the energy last? A year?  Ten years? I don’t see the Transformers reload their weapons. Where are the armaments stored? What is also unclear is that the time that passes when B-127 lands on Earth and when he is found again. His exterior is dusty and he gets a beehive forming on his chassis.  Three months have passed?  

This does cut from the memory core shutting down to the alarm clock for Charlie Watson played by Hailee Steinfeld who also voices Spider Gwen in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. She has the girl next door, mixed with resourceful mechanic, and loneliness who needs an E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)-like friend. We see her giving a morning welcome to a photo of her father. Her father is a large part of her character and has abandoned her high diving skill when he is gone. A bright spot is Charlie’s taste in music started with The Smiths, really I was singing along with those songs in the movie, it is also a fun mesh of 80’s songs. Then, we get introduced to her stereotypical family, mother Mrs. Watson (Pamela Adlon), stepfather, Ron (Stephen Schneider), and younger brother, Otis (Jason Drucker). They are all happy and make no mention of the father who has died.  Not much development here for their characters.  

Charlie is busy working on her father’s car and then goes to work at Hot Dog on a Stick located at a pier. Also, there is Memo (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) who works at a churro stand. He is also her neighbor and tries to ask her out. There is someone that Charlie seems interested in, Trip (Ricardo Hoyos) whom she spills drinks on and Tina (Gracie Dzienny) who bullies her. All of these characters slow down the movie. Charlie rides a moped to work and desperately wants a car. She works at the auto shop of Hank (Len Cariou). She knocks over a boat which dominoes into others revealing the 1967 Volkswagen beetle. Instead, she gets a flowery helmet from her mother for her eighteenth birthday and a self-help book from Ron to smile. Hank gives Charlie the car for her birthday. She activates the radio which sends a signal.  

The Decepticons, Shatter (voiced by Angela Bassett) and the vicious Dropkick (voiced by Justin Theroux), are on the moon torturing the Autobot Cliffjumper (Andrew Morgado). They find the signal from the radio and track it to Earth. Their landing in Texas is less destructive, but Dropkick is murderous, his blast dissolves a person into goo like the Green Goblin’s weapons in Spider-Man (2002). They transform into cars to hunt down B-127. The government has detected the Decepticons and send Agent Burns and Dr. Powell (John Ortiz) of Sector 7 to face them. The Decepticons scan the military vehicles so Dropkick can transform into a helicopter and Shatter into a jet. Triple changer Transformers were also Generation 1.  

Shatter is more clever than her ally and shows them the hologram of the “criminal” B-127 who will bring the war from their world. Burns knows him too well since his face is scarred from their first encounter. Powell is eager to work with them and patch them into the satellite network so they can track B-127. It is obvious where Powell’s character is going and what will happen to him. Burns even tells him that they can’t trust the Decepitcons from their name alone. Funny line. Charlie has moved the beetle to her garage and he of course transforms. The emotion is brought to the character through his blue eyes. Charlie dubs him Bumblebee from the buzzing noise he makes with his voice box lost. He manages to communicate with songs. Charlie tries to teach Bee how to hide when there’s others around, funny, and later activates a hologram message from Optimus Prime to defend the Earth. The duo has to take on the Decepticons and save the Earth! Bumblebee opens on December 21st.  

Three Energon Cubes out of Five!  

#BumblebeeMovie, #TravisKnight, #HaileeSteinfeld, #JohnCena 

Star Trek Vs. Transformers #3 Review!

The cover for the third issue by Philip Murphy has the Decepticons facing the crew of the Enterprise.  The fun continues with the writing team of John Barber and Mike Johnson with art by Jack Lawrence who has worked on Transformers: Lost Light for IDW.  The art has the simple animation of the Filmation cartoon.  A splash page has the combined might of Starscream and the Klingon D7 battle cruiser.  The miners flee from Starscream’s blasts.  Scotty and Spock try to fire their phasers at the cover of a rocky hill.  The wounded Optimus Prime struggles to help the miners.  He uses his body to take the direct fire from the helicopter Decepticon, Airarachnid!  Yes, he is a robot, but this is bravery.  Again, the Federation officers fire their phasers now at Shockwave, but he is not affected.  In the mine, Ratchet hooks up Captain Kirk to a booth-like device.  

Kirk has images of his past; as a boy running through the fields of Iowa and as a cadet at Starfleet Academy as well as the current conflict.  Also, the image of his favorite starship whose blueprints are loaded onto a screen for Ratchet.  M’Ress helps Kirk out of the booth and Jazz applauds his bravery.  This is a bold plan! Starscreams revels in his command of the attack and challenges Optimus Prime.  The leader of the Autobots offers himself up to allow the chance for the others to escape.  Instead, Spock offers the surrender, Commander Kuri beams down to accept the surrender.  Optimus Prime stands with Spock.  This is heroic for all of the characters.  Starscream boasts that he finally defeated Optimus Prime, you know he is going to eat those words!  The next page is a two page spread of the Enterprise bursting from the mines above Optimus Prime and the Decepticons!   

Bumblebee (with M’Ress at his steering wheel), Windblade (with Sulu trying to fly her), and Jazz race out.  The Enterprise blasts the Klingon ship, but it is transforming into what Optimus Prime feared, the Tyrannosaurus rex Decepticon Trypticon!  His blast tosses aside Bumblebee and Jazz!   We find that Ratchet is watching over Kirk at the bridge hooked up to cables.  Ratchet explains that the Enterprise is Cybertronian-sized.  Bumblebee knocks down Soundwave.  Arcee uses her sword to strike Airarachnid in helicopter form!   Then, she leaps into a kick hitting Starscream.  The miners are transported away.  Then, Megatron appears and fires on Optimus Prime! The Klingons have disruptors on Scotty, Spock, and the others.  They are all transported to the Enterprise!  Kirk is straining, the Enterprise breaks apart, everyone on the ship and on the battlefield are amazed!   Then, in a splash page, is the ultimate Transformer for this series, a Transformer Enterprise!     

Five Energon cubes and Dilithium Crystals out of Five!     

#StarrekvsTransformers, #Starscream, #Trypticon, #Enterprise

The Most Shocking Death in Comics!

Superman lost all of his people to the destruction of Krypton, Batman lost his parents to a gunman, but there is more of a tragic death. It is connected to Aquaman whom of course has an upcoming film. Of course this death most likely won’t happen in the movie, but this may not be known to most comics readers. Let’s go back a bit, Aquaman was created by artist Paul Norris and writer Mort Weisinger who only recently was given credit. Weisinger is known as an editor for DC Comics and also co-created Green Arrow. This was in More Fun Comics #73 (1941). An earlier aquatic hero, Namor the Sub-Mariner, was created by Bill Everett in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly (1939). Aquaman’s origin has changed over the years. 

In the Silver Age, he was given a classic origin in Adventure Comics #260 (1959) where he is the son of lighthouse keeper, Tom Curry, and Atlantean refugee Atlanna. Robert Bernstein and Ramona Fradon are the creative team for that comic book. Aquaman eventually got his own title, and was joined in Aquaman #11 (1963) by Mera. She was created by Jack Miller and Nick Cardy. Mera was from the Xebel dimension and had what is now identified as “hydrokinesis” controlling water and forming it into “hard water” weapons. Mera and Aquaman wed in Aquaman #18 (1964) by Jack Miller and Nick Cardy. I’m not certain if Aquaman is the first Justice League character to be married, but I recall that Superman and Batman were having adventures while Aquaman was building a family.   

The surprise was the birth of Arthur Curry, Jr. nicknamed Aquababy in Aquaman #23 (1965). The birth is difficult so Aquaman and his ally, Aqualad, find a rainbow anemone and save his child and wife. Aqualad, known as Garth, first appeared in Adventure Comics #269 (1960) by Bernstein and Fradon. Aquababy is born and unleashes his power which threatens Atlantis. He exhausts his power and then only has his mother’s hydrokinesis power. Now comes the sad part with Adventure Comics #452 (1977). The comic book was by David Michelinie and Jim Aparo. It features the menace of Black Manta introduced in Aquaman #35 (1967) by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy. It is ten years when Black Manta finally removes his helmet and reveals that he is African-American. He has kidnapped Aquababy and placed him in a globe of air that suffocates him since Arthur Curry, Jr. breathes underwater. Black Manta forces Aquaman and Aqualad to fight so he will spare the child. 

Aquaman fights to the death which shocks Aqualad forever. He is freed and shatters the globe with his trident. It is too late! Arthur Curry, Jr. has died. Yes, it is fictional, but I keep thinking why a villain would go to such lengths against an innocent. Aquaman attempts to chase after Black Manta, but Aqualad refuses to join him shocked at the betrayal. Aquaman of course does not capture his eternal nemesis and eventually Mera divorces him over this tragic event. This was all changed with the New52 with Aquaman and Mera starting their relationship. We saw in Justice League (2017) that Mera (Amber Heard) and Aquaman (Jason Mamoa) meet for the first time. It is possible that this tragic event never happens with the Aquaman films. We will see where it all goes when Aquaman swims to theaters on December 21st.   

#Aquaman, #PaulNorris, #MortWeisinger, #Aquababy             

A Live Action Lion King!

On July 15, 2017, the D23 Expo hosted the Live-Action Movie Panel.  The Walt Disney Pictures section featured a stunning preview of Lion King (2019).  This was the entire “Circle of Life” sequence that was at the beginning of the 1994 animated film.  The official teaser trailer was dropped on November 22nd in time for Thanksgiving.  This covered a few scenes from “Circle of Life” as well as other sequences.  The trailer brought in 224 million views so interest is high.  The film was cast and started filming 2017.  It is set to open on July 19, 2019. Rob Legato, the visual effects supervisor for the film, worked with Jon Favreau on The Jungle Book (2016) which had live action parts with actor Neel Sethi. Legato was interviewed by the Hollywood Reporter for Jungle Book and said, “I don’t consider this an animated movie.”  There seems to be some confusion with the trailer since it showed similar scenes as the animated film.  Can Lion King be considered live action or similar to the animated film rendered in realistic computer animation?  

The Lion King teaser trailer is brilliant in showing us what we are familiar with in the animated film, but given a new vision with computer generated imagery.  A CGI rendered Lion King may offer few opportunities to add to the story.  One of the Lion King products inspired by the film was the album Rhythm of the Pride Lands (1995) which was composed by Lebo M who was the first vocal heard in “Circle of Life” and conducted the choir for the film.  When Julie Taymor was developing the Broadway musical, she took songs from the album and also brought in Lebo M.  It brings more of an African sound to the Lion King story.  The other part that was expanded with the musical was Nala, the lioness who finds Simba, this will be important since Beyonce is voicing the part.  In the musical, she sings “Shadowland”, The Lioness Hunt scene, as well as “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”  In fact, the structure and presentation of the musical is interesting considering what the Favreau film can bring to it.  The familiarity of the animated film takes away nothing from the Broadway musical. I suspect the same would be with the new movie.  

One of the best parts of the musical is that you suddenly find a rhino walking down the aisle next to you!  I think this can be accomplished with 3D, but this has to be the next generation 3D.  Also, the audio has to match, you have to be there at Pride Rock, singers have to be right next to you and then wander down the theater!  Then, there was the other part that I was thinking of a possibility for the live action film.  Of course, if it is computer generated characters and settings, it probably not too much live action.  Obviously, audiences will be upset if human characters are a part of Simba’s story.  So, what if it is a framing device like the Grandfather in Princess Bride (1987)?  Before, we get to it, what bothers me about Lion King is that we sense that it takes place in Africa; African animals, we hear African music, and we see Mount Killmanjaro which is in Tanzania, located in eastern Africa.  Still, we don’t see the people, obviously because it is the story of lions and other animals.  So this is where I see it as a bullied Grandson (JD McCrary), his Grandfather (played by James Earl Jones) brings him to a Storyteller (played by Lebo M?).  There is a song in the Broadway musical, “One by One”, that really brings in a celebration and African sounds.  This would interrupt the narrative after “Hakuna Matata” and inspire the Grandson.  At the end of the film, the Grandson can stand up to the bullies, and the Storyteller finishes with Simba’s “Circle of Life.”  These are just possibilities, we will have to see for ourselves, when The Lion King opens on July 19, 2019!      

#TheLionKing, #JonFavreau, #JDMcCrary, #JamesEarlJones

Star Wars: Resistance, “Secrets and Holograms”, Review!

A video game hologram of a speeder appears, a pullback to see Tora playing the game, very 80’s graphics with the speeder dodging asteroids.  The generic opening shot of Colossus Base was getting boring, why not the rest of the planet?, waves with a whale creature breaching?  She sways in a dance move to move the speeder, so this is what video games are like in Star Wars?, love it!  Tora wasn’t seen since “The High Tower”, five episodes ago!, there is a lack of energy when she isn’t around the show.  A space slug crushes her speeder.  Her pet Buggles hops on Tora as the window opens.  I do recognize it from the Terryl Whitlatch, creature designer, book, Wildlife of Star Wars (2001).  She wants to go on a hover cruise.  Tora collapses on her father’s couch.  She worries that he seems to have changed with the First Order there.  Via hologram, Captain Doza contacts Commander Pyre for a meeting.  The droid, 4D-M1N, escorts Tora back to her room.  Tora tries to distract her with Buggles and she is locked in.  She hacks into the door lock and leaves the room.  Buggles barks at her, but relieves himself, funny even without Nekku.  It is surprising that the narrative has shifted to Tora and it is more fun. 

STAR WARS: RESISTANCE -- “Secrets and Holograms -- Disney/Lucasfilm. 

Kaz is walking with BB-8, he mentions his mission from Poe to connect Doza to the First Order.  We finally get Kaz back to his mission after four episodes!  He wants to get into the High Tower.  BB-8 opens a door and Kaz bangs his head into Tora who takes him away.  She mentions her father is meeting with the First Order about the pirate attacks.  Tora sees a yellow gem-like fruit who the vendor says costs five credits, he notices who she is and raises it to twenty credits.  The other racers ask her about the pirate attacks and Kaz gets them some room.  The Kylo Red shuttle passes overhead to land.  Tora mentions she can only fly in Flight Simulator Squadron.  I have a feeling that they might convert this one to an actual video game.  Kaz is excited and wants to play especially since it will get him into High Tower.  Commander Pyre enters Doza’s office with his stormtroopers.  Captain Doza wants to know how many stormtroopers will be on the base.  He also wants to know how long they will be there.  Pyre’s answers are not specific which is cause for Captain Doza to reject the First Order.  They sneak into the High Tower and try to dodge the security droids.  The droids are a nice obstacle, a threat of discovery, more than a danger.  

Tora leads them to another pilot’s lounge.  They racers want to get back to racing.  Kaz stuffs his mouth with food.  The Rodian Hype boasts about his racing skill.  Hype was in episode five, “The High Tower.” He asks Jace for his bantha milk.  Jace is angry at Kaz for destroying his racer.  I like the continuing story of Jace from the “Fuel for the Fire” fourth episode.  Tora and Kaz are in the middle of seeing the meeting between Captain Doza and Commander Pyre.  4D-M1N has the data pack from Captain Doza.  Kaz enters Tora’s room, Buggles likes BB-8, and Kaz likes her set-up.  They start playing Flight Simulator Squadron, Kaz loves it, Tora shoves him away when the door opens for 4D-M1N.  BB-8 waves hi to the droid who activates an intruder alert!  She orders 4D-M1N to deactivate and she returns to her normal voice.  Kaz slips out and then BB-8.  They hide from security droids.  BB-8 opens the door to the office.  Jace sees Kaz enter.  He runs up to Captain Doza while Commander Pyre is about to board the shuttle.  Doza takes him away and Jace reports he saw someone break in. I really like the connective story that ties in characters through the season.  We do break away from Tam, Neeku, and Yeager.  

STAR WARS: RESISTANCE -- “Secrets and Holograms -- Disney/Lucasfilm. 

They run while Kaz checks the drawers and loads the data pack information.  BB8 tries to warn him.  Kaz falls and opens a closet that has Imperial uniforms with a captain insignia.  Jace looks around the office and says it was Kaz.  He hears Kaz gasp and Doza sends him out after attempting to open the closet.  Tora goes to her father to bring up the concerns of the racers. Kaz leaves the closet and the door opens, it’s BB-8!  They dodge security droids and Kaz is startled by Tora.  He promises to tell her why he was in her father’s office later.  Tora takes him into a dark trash incinerator.  Laser blasts vaporize the trash.  This is a good twist on the trash compactor.  Kaz sends BB-8 to open the door, he dodges the blasts, as well as Tora with her acrobatic moves.  She says it’s like a holo game.  They escape while Jace throws trash out.  It trips up Kaz. They manage to escape.  She asks again what Kaz was doing, he says he wanted to know “how the other half lives”, which he already did with the lounge and Tora’s room.  Tora asks him if he is a spy since she knows he flew for the New Republic.  He says he quit the navy to be a racer.  Tora sneaks back to her room and sees her father who says he will take her on a hover cruise.  I really like that Tora is watching out for her father, I think Captain Doza’s relationship with Yeager, and his daughter, shows that he is a good person struggling with working with the First Order.        

Four Lightsabers out of Five!   

#StarWarsResistance, #SecretsandHolograms, #ToraDoza, #Buggles     

Stranger Things #3 Review!

We continue with Will’s journey into the Upside Down with the comic book guidance of Jody Houser and Stefano Martino.  The art by Martino is moody and keeps the tension.  Will Byers is fearful looking into the darkness and we see that he is under a statue of an angel with the strange vines of the Upside Down.  There is a flashback where we get Will going to the basement of Mike’s house.  He hears the report that the search for Will has been called off and he is presumed dead.  Will runs out of the house.  He returns to his house and uses the Christmas lights hung on the wall by his mother.  Will spells out “NOT DEAD” through the lights.  He tries to use the walkie talkie, sings The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go”(1982) which was played by his brother, Jonathan, and cries under a poster of Jaws.  This brings back memories of his Dungeons & Dragons group, Lucas and Dustin who decide their characters will head for supplies to defend a town from an army.  Will follows along.  Dungeon Master Mike notes that there is a suspicious presence.  

Will wakes up hearing The Clash’s song and he sees a round portal to the ordinary world, but can’t break through.  He faintly sees his mother, but then he hears the Demigorgon!  She tells Will to run with Demigorgon right behind him.  This is the fourth episode, “The Body.”  Will hides in a sewer opening, then into a cemetery.  He returns to his house and hears the voice of his father, Lonnie, at the portal.  This is seen in the fifth episode, “The Flea and the Acrobat.”  Will screams for him and then smashes a chair against the portal.  Will walks in the woods and sees hears from a wounded man bleeding on the forest floor.  He is the hunter, Dale, who was out with his fellow hunter Henry, when they were attacked by the Demigorgon.  Their story was in Stranger Things: The Story of Henry and Dale (2017) made by a fan.  Will tries to reassure him, but Dale dies.  He hears Nancy’s voice and the Demigorgon is searching for her.  Will throws rocks that distracts the Demigorgon so she can escape.  He tries to run for the portal, but it closes.  Will is the hero, even though he doesn’t escape, he is able to help Nancy leave the Upside Down. A solid issue that answers a few questions.     

Four Walkie Talkies out of Five!

#StrangerThings, #LonnieByers, #NancyWheeler, #TheStoryofHenryandDale 

Heroes in Crisis #3 Review!

The mystery continues with the massacre at Sanctuary!  The strange part is that it was stressed that the deaths in Sanctuary will have an impact on the DC Universe.  In Superman, he’s teaming up with General Zod, Batman is working with The Penguin, and Wonder Woman is partnering with Ares.  So, it really doesn’t feel like this series has any bearing on the larger DC Universe.  I understand that it gets troublesome with dozens of cross-overs, but Heroes in Crisis seems to be in its own timeline.  Crisis in Infinite Earths, Zero Hour: Crisis in Time, and Final Crisis all seemed to have impact with other titles and heroes.  They should clarify that this takes place five months later than the current titles or something.  This issue has a cover by Clay Mann with Batman holding up the gold Sanctuary mask, blood is splattered on it, and Batman regards his own reflection.  The nine issue series is written by Tom King with art by Clay Mann with first and last pages and also art by Lee Weeks.  Weeks has drawn issues of Batman and also the Superman: Lois & Clark limited series.  His art doesn’t have the cinematic scope of Mann’s pencils, but does have the camera lens of Tomeu Morey’s colors.  

We have the interviews of Lagoon Boy, The Flash (Wally West), and Booster Gold.  The heroes introduce themselves, boast, and then explain how long they’ve been at Sanctuary.  Then, we get a splash page of Lagoon Boy cut down by a blast in the woods.  I always expect the title, “Master of the Lagoon”, and credits to run at that point, but it is saved at the end of the issue.  The Flash is in a bed talking to his son, Jai, introduced in Flash #225 (2005).  He lost his powers along with his sister, Iris.  It seems like Jai has died and Wally is trying to reassure himself talking to his son.  He puts on the Sanctuary mask.  Next, we have the Sanctuary house with an elderly couple, like the Kents, and a red-haired woman.  They are not identified, but the woman reminds me of Jenet Klyburn, a scientist and ally to Superman.  They greet Booster Gold floating in to Sanctuary.  Lagoon Boy is on the ground, picks himself up, and calls for another blast.  A computer voice asks Wally West what he wants and he calls for his backyard.  This forms instantly like the Holodeck in Star Trek. Then, he calls for his wife, Linda, and children.  He has to work through their possible deaths?  

Booster Gold is wearing his Sanctuary robe and unsure about the mask.  The farmer is showing him around Sanctuary, Booster has on his mask, and to his room.  He mentions the Chamber, the Chamber Sessions, and that the mask can be worn in public areas for anonymity. We finally get how Sanctuary worked.  Lagoon Boy is again on the ground, bleeding, and he is haunted by the sounds of his former team mates in the Teen Titans, Power Boy and Little Barda, screaming. They were heroes from Apokolips and the incident was in Titans East Special #1 (2008).  Lagoon Boy feels remorse over not being able to help them. We get Flash’s memory, Captain Cold has his cold gun pointed at Jai and Iris in costume with their father, and his children tell him they love him.  A final memory and a chance to say goodbye? We get a splash page of Booster Gold in anguish, he asks the computer if it is made from Kryptonian crystals.  It explains that Batman built it using Superman’s technology and “Wonder Woman’s compassion.”  The computer mentions that the Holodeck is to reflect on the situation.  Lagoon Boy explains that he is taking the painful blasts so he won’t hesitate in fear again.  It ends with another blast that disturbs the birds in the forest.  We get Wally tucking in Iris at night.  She asks how he got his powers and doesn’t think it makes sense that lightning gave him powers. Booster Gold is sitting across from his duplicate formed by the computer.    He is angry that the computer seems to be judging him.  

This leads me to some theories.  One, the killer is some group or villain that somehow got to Sanctuary, not probable with Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.  Two, it is the patients themselves that killed each other or themselves, goaded by the computer?, a sober part of Post-Traumatic Disorder?  The one I’m tending towards is Three, the computer decided that it can’t help the patients and came to the conclusion it was best to eliminate them with the blasts.  Unusual, the computer asks if Booster Gold is losing his hair, an attempt to chip away at his confidence?  Lagoon Boy has had enough and the blast stops in mid-air Kylo Ren-style.  He says he will return, he hopes to somehow laugh, and then we get the emergency message.  Connected to Lagoon Boy not finishing his treatment?  A splash page of the Flash racing out of the door with other Sanctuary members in robes.  Booster Gold socks his counterpart as the emergency alarm sounds.  The computer double attacks Booster Gold and he realizes that there is an emergency.  It could also be Booster Gold pushing the computer that sparks the incident.  Lagoon Boy stands over the dead bodies of Hot Spot, Red Devil, and Gunfire.  Some metal blade cuts through Lagoon Boy.  He falls and laughs.  Then, we get Flash holding the body of Roy Harper known as Arsenal.  He holds the body close and says he didn’t want to die alone.  Harley Quinn knocks Flash out with her over-sized hammer.  Booster Gold walks up and admits that it is his first day at Sanctuary.  Then, we get the interviews of several members of Sanctuary including Commander Steel, Gunfire, Red Devil, and Poison Ivy explaining how long they’ve been at Sanctuary.  Is it the computer seeing the increasing numbers and little progress as a way to eliminate the patients?  This series is still intriguing and I get more of a sense of the clues in this mystery.    

Three Pieces of Peach Pie out of Five! 

#HeroesinCrisis, #LeeWeeks, #LagoonBoy, #Flash  

Doctor Who, “It Takes You Away”, Review!

The Tardis is overlooking a Norwegian fjord with Team Tardis looking on.  The Doctor eats some grass and then finds a sheep.  She thinks it might be the Wooley Rebellion.  Ryan points out a cottage.  They find boards covering the windows of the cottage.  The Doctor knocks and then uses her sonic screwdriver to open the locks of the door.  She sends Ryan and Graham to check the upstairs.  They find sweet wrappers and open a closet door, Ryan screams, they find a little girl with sunglasses hiding. She says a Thing took her father.  The Doctor asks if Hanne (Ellie Wallwork) is blind.  Her father has been gone for four days.  Her mother has died.  Hanne’s watch beeps and she urges them to get into the house.  The Thing hunts at that time.  Yaz and Ryan check out a shed and find animal traps on the table.  They hear roaring in the woods.  Team Tardis goes into the house and the Doctor has Graham watch from the window.  Graham checks out a mirror that he and Ryan can look through.  The Doctor uses her sonic screwdriver to stop it.  She shoves her head into a strange dimension.  The Doctor says the mirror is a portal.  In a mirror to another world? Very Alice, Through the Looking Glass.  

DOCTOR WHO -- “It Takes You Away” -- Simon Ridgway/ BBC. 

The Doctor writes a message in chalk to protect Hanne.  She says her dad’s name is Erik.  Ryan stays behind with Hanne as the others enter the portal!  The dimension in the house reminds me of The Twilight Zone episode, “Little Girl Lost” (1962).  They have entered a misty dimension, Graham points out light in a rock, the Doctor ties string to a rock.  She asks the demon, Ribbons (Kevin Eldon), if he’s seen Erik.  He threatens Graham with a dagger and the Doctor backs him with her sonic screwdriver.  Ribbons wants the “tubular”, sonic screwdriver, in exchange for information about Erik.  He leads leads them away.  Hannah is angry that Ryan said her dad would leave her.  She wants to enter the portal so Ryan takes her away and locks a door.  Ribbons throws a rat to distract a flesh moth drawn to the lantern, a red globe, and he cuts the string.  Ryan follows a wire to a speaker that was producing the roars.  She knocks him out with the door and takes the key.  Her resourcefullness reminds me of Millicent Simmonds in A Quiet Place.  Yaz is getting lost.  Ribbons points out the cut string and takes Graham hostage with a knife.  He sees a flesh moth and more check on them.  The lantern light goes out, Ribbons snatches the sonic screwdriver, and Graham tackles him.  Graham is becoming an action hero!  

The Doctor warns everyone that the flesh moths are drawn to movement.  Ribbons tries to reach for the sonic screwdriver and the moths swarm over him.  The Doctor picks up her sonic screwdriver and they run, but end up on the other side.  Hanne enters the portal and finds the string.  The Doctor opens the door and finds Erik (Christian Rubeck).  He has set up the recording to keep his daughter in.  They find Hanne’s mother, Trine (Lisa Stokke), who was dead in the other world.  Everyone finds, this is shocking, Grace!  A dimension of lost loved ones?  Hanne makes her way to the devoured body of Ribbons and Ryan gets the lantern.  He tries to reassure Hanne, but she knows he’s lying.  A flesh moth lands on the lantern.  On the other side, Grace says she’s real, Graham doesn’t believe her.  He shows her a gold frog necklace which she explains.  The Doctor works it out with Yaz that the Anti-Zone formed because the Other Side is dangerous.  She explains the Solitract told by her one of seven grandmothers.  The Other Side is the Solitract, a “conscious universe”, that is a doorway to the universe.  Yaz says it’s a trap and they start running.  Graham tries to explain the Tardis to Grace.  The Doctor runs up, tells Graham they have to leave, and that Grace is not Grace.  She tries to use the sonic screwdriver.  Ryan and Hanne escape from the flesh moths.  Hanne gets through to the Other Side and sees her father and mother.  She draws back realizing that Trine is not her mother.  The loss of a family member is so difficult and this episode really tackles it with a sci fi/fantasy twist. 

DOCTOR WHO -- “It Takes You Away” -- Simon Ridgway/ BBC. 

The presence of all of them is disrupting the Solitract.  The Doctor understands that the Solitract has taken forms to connect with people.  Yaz gets through and then Hanne confronts Trine who sends her out.  The Doctor tells Graham that Ryan is in danger.  Grace pleads for Graham to stay.  He says that Grace would never put Ryan in trouble.  The Doctor puts Trine with the choice between her and Erik.  He says she’s not Trine and she sends him out.  The rumbling stops and bright light fills the room.  In the bright limbo, the Doctor walks, there is a frog on a chair.  The Solitract talks with the voice of Grace.  The Doctor tries to explain the universe.  Her hands begin to shudder.  The Solitract misses the Doctor who says they will be “friends forever.”  The Doctor leaves.  This is for some reason sad to see a lonely frog.  The Doctor is in a crumbling Anti-Zone with the others.  They run through the portal with the Doctor leaping behind them, she uses her sonic screwdriver, and the mirror shatters.  Erik sees the Doctor’s message, later he says Hanne and he will leave for Oslo.  Hanne hugs Ryan.  Graham looks back and Ryan checks on him.  Thanks Chris Chibnall for bringing up some memories.  Ryan calls Graham grand dad and they head into the Tardis.  This episode seemed to go off track half way through, but then hits you with an emotional punch!         

Three Sonic Screwdrivers out of Five!   

#DoctorWho, #ItTakesYouAway, #EllieWallwork, #LisaStokke

The Titans, “Donna Troy”, Review!

Young Dick Grayson walks into a bedroom in the Wayne Mansion and throws his wing ding.  It is caught by a young girl, Donna Troy (Andi Hubick), on a bed.  She mentions the 

Justice League and Diana.  Dick says his mission was dealing with the Joker.  He went on 

the mission against Batman and dead victims were part of the Joker’s crimes.  Dick wants to 

quit and the girl asks him if the Joker will quit.  She says Bruce and Dick will stop the Joker.  

The girl throws back the wing ding which Dick catches.  She says, “After all, us sidekicks 

have to stick together.”  The partnership of Donna and Dick is like the early Teen Titans 

comics (with Kid Flash and Aqualad).  The character of Wonder Girl first appeared with the 

Teen Titans in Brave and Bold #60 (1965).  Strangely, there was a Wonder Girl played by 

Debra Winger in the Wonder Woman tv show, but she went by the name Drusilla. 

Chicago, Rachel is busy cooking eggs, when Garfield surprises her.  He makes coffee and 

brings up Dick and Kory.  Rachel’s mother isthere in a bathrobe and hugs her.  Then, she 

says that Garfield cares for her daughter, then offers a hug with Garfield. He awkwardly 

stands by her.  Kory is startled awake in bed next to Dick.  He says she was talking in her 

sleep, but in a confusing language.  Dick says he can’t be Robin.  Kory ends their 

relationship until they can find their identities.  At breakfast with everyone, Angela offers a 

place in Ohio, Garfield calls it a secret base. 

THE TITANS - “Donna Troy” - John Medland/©2018 Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Dick goes on his way and Rachel hugs him. He goes to knock on an apartment, a 

woman, Donna Troy (Conor Leslie) answers, and he says he quit.  She says she’s late and

Dick walks with her.  He says he quit and burned the suit.  She left her costume in the 

closet.  The woman leaps over a garbage truck, Dick follows, a bit slower, but with style.  A 

train takes Kory and Garfield to Ohio, she flashes back to her torture, and gets some 

bourbon.  Garfield gets a text from Rachel and Kory says they should give some time to

mother and daughter.  A gallery has some photographs of Donna’s work.  She tells him to 

go mingle.  Angela tells her daughter that she never wanted her taken away.  Rachel brings 

up Melissa, her adopted mother, and Angela says she was a friend.  She brings up her 

father, whom Angela says built a “cult of personality” and that her powers come from her 

father.  Angela cries saying they are safe.  Rachel looks at the train window and only sees 

her reflection.  Garfield says he is confused over the killing he did as a tiger and that it may 

have control over him.  He drinks one of the bourbon in a glass and Kory goes to check on 

a man who was at the bar.  Kory walks the train cars, finds the man, Jerry Ridley (James

Hawksley) and slams him against the wall to ask if the people from the asylum are after 

them.  He wheezes out, “I can’t breathe” and Kory spares him.  A man starts talking with 

Dick who goes on about technical matters.  The man excuses himself.  

Donna gets a text for a meeting and tells Dick that she has to leave and will be back in an hour. In the train, the man makes a call, Jerry Ridley, makes a call to agent about the wanted woman, Kory!  Donna sees a jeep that takes her away, Dick watches this, staring out in a nearby car.  The train stop and Kory is worried. At the meeting, Graham Norris (Damian Walshe-Howling), talks with Donna, he doesn’t want his picture taken.  He decided to go against her boss for making personnel changes, she takes pictures inside a truck with exotic animal skins.  Donna hears an animal growling in the next truck, a bear., Graham leaves and then Dick drops in with his staff. Donna is angry for Dick knocking down Graham and she gives him a fist that sends him back down.  She wants her pictures to take down the entire operation to Cape Town.  Donna wants Dick to take a picture with his cell phone of her unconscious next to Graham.  At her apartment, she gets some beers, angry that Dick stepped in when she had the situation under control.  Donna mentions that Diana took her in after the fire.  This is part of her original origin that was revealed in Teen Titans #22 (1969).  She left behind being Wonder Girl.  It could be Donna takes the identity of Troia with armor or an all black uniform which she became in New Titans #55 (1989).  Donna Troy was always the voice of reason in the New Teen Titans comic book.  She was always the sister to Dick Grayson and the same applies here.  Donna asks for Dick’s cell phone and sees the pictures he took of Kory’s storage room.  She says the letters are an “off shoot” of Sumerian that she learned in Themyscira.  I really love Donna Troy connected to Wonder Woman.  It seems like this Titans could be an off shoot of the DC Extended Universe from the films. 

THE TITANS - “Donna Troy” - Christos Kalohordis/©2018 Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

Kory hears that the train is coming to a stop.  She wakes up Garfield to go find the others.  Kory finds Angela who says Rachel went to the bathroom.  Agents approach from the next train car and Kory uses her power to burn the door. FBI agents fire at her.  She unleashes her power making the train car explode. The passengers leave along with Garfield, Rachel, and Angela.  A green tiger growls at a maintenance worker who runs.  Angela pulls his truck over to see Kory on the road.  Day, Killdeer, Ohio, the truck pulls up to a lone house by a tree.  Angela finds a key to open the door.  Kory gets flashes of vision.  Rachel offers to heal her and possibly restore her memory.  In the house, Kory and Rachel sit, as Garfield and Angela watch.  Dick drives with Donna who tells him that Kory is called Starfire.  We finally get Starfire as a Tamaranean.  She hasn’t flown as part of her powers.  Deciphering the writing, Donna says “Her mission is to secure the Raven.”  Rachel uses her power and Kory can see visions of her in a starship.  Donna says it could read different ways, but she fears that Kory was sent to kill Rachel.  Kory’s eyes flare green and she grabs Rachel’s throat.  Dick drives his mini-van down the road.   I love Conor Leslie’s portrayal of Donna Troy, on her own, I hope she joins the team or makes several cameos helping out the team in the next season.  I absolutely love the old Titans with the new Titans, getting close to the comic characters, and that the show might be a spin-off from the films.  

Five Wing Dings out of Five! 

#TheTitans, #DonnaTroy, #ConorLeslie, #AndiHubick