Star Wars: The Bad Batch in Review & Commentary

Although the wait will be long for the next season, I’m finding The Bad Batch is essential watching for any Star Wars fan.

STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCHThe Bad Batch finished its first season run, and I’m still wondering when and if Hera Syndulla and Kanan Jarrus will meet. Technically, part of the runaway Jedi’s journey was covered in the comic book series published by Marvel Comics and written by Greg Weisman. I doubt the two-parter with Hera can be left just like that, with her and us knowing she’ll become a resistance fighter. As for getting cameos from past fond favourites, like Ashoka, I feel that’s not the direction Dave Filoni is aiming for. 

What this season represents is in how various civilizations are not pleased at the fact The Republic has fallen and the Empire is taking over. Democracy has fallen. 

Continue reading “Star Wars: The Bad Batch in Review & Commentary”

Anime Expo Lite is Coming and Star Wars!

Star Wars Anime
Image from Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures Trailer (2019).

Anime Expo Lite
Runs July 3-4, 2021

Coming to Disney Plus
Sept 22, 2021!

The next Star Wars project, Visions, is getting a sneak preview at Anime Expo Lite, and it’s bound to be a crazy reimagining of those adventures we all love in that galaxy far, far away. Host and pop culture maven Chastity Vicencio and Lucasfilm’s Jacqui Lopez (Executive Producer), James Waugh (Executive Producer), Josh Rimes (Executive Producer), and Qubic Pictures’ Justin Leach (Co-Executive Producer) and Kanako Shirasaki (Producer) will talk about the process in putting together this anthology series before it debuts on Disney+ later this year.  

What can we expect? This event requires a small $5 (USD) donation to access not only this presentation but also many more exciting news during the weekend. All proceeds supports commUNITY Action Fund by Hate is a Virus.

Continue reading “Anime Expo Lite is Coming and Star Wars!”

Star Wars The Bad Batch Isn’t Without Its Rough Spots

I suspect the series will be about this team thwarting every attempt the Emperor has planned to extend his reach. The trade wars are over.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Gets All-New Poster

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Dave Filoni’s love for Star Wars makes this latest instalment, The Bad Batch, a must watch. One reason is simply because it’s a continuation of the ongoing narrative which started in the animated Clone Wars series, and another is how the psychological action-adventure drama sees the loss of freedom (and will of an individual) a permanent theme. It’s safe to say knowing the movies, Episodes 2 “Attack of the Clones” and 3 “Revenge of the Sith” will do more to establish the backdrop for anyone needing a refresher.

The first ten minutes of the pilot reveal when this tale takes place in that timeframe. One detail to take note on is that Caleb Dume, a.k.a. Kanan Jarrus of Star Wars Rebels is a Jedi in training who’s escaped death.

A hundred eighty rotations later, the team of Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, Crosshair finished their mission and are headed home to Kamino. They are still wondering what Order 66 is supposed to be about and whether that kid died “a long time ago.” When they land, the newly minted Empire is setting up shop. The passage of time is perplexing because, according to most resource guides, a cycle is often in reference to a day instead of an hour. Unless we’re dealing with a theory that there’s 42 hours in a cosmic day (aka rotation), not much time has really passed.

The team soon has Grand Moff Tarkin wanting to see how well they function. Their way of independent thinking is a result of their faulty programming. They are one of the first batches of clones created for the Republic’s War against a Phantom Menace, and since their introduction in The Clone Wars Season Seven, I’m enjoying this look at the war from a conscript’s perspective (even though they’ll eventually turn into mercenaries).

Continue reading “Star Wars The Bad Batch Isn’t Without Its Rough Spots”

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Psychoanalyzed!

Star Wars: The Bad Batch is set to debut May 4, with a special 70-minute premiere, and may well prove to be the new Rebels of a growing Alliance.

STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCHBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Disney+
May 4th, 2021

Star Wars: The Bad Batch will debut with a special 70-minute premiere, and this team may well prove to be the new “Rebels” to join a growing Alliance. That’s my take on this renegade team of Clone Troopers with genetic defects who have broken their programming. They are the only warriors willing to take on dangerous missions, ala Mission Impossible, for the glory of the Empire. This tale takes place in the aftermath of the Clone Wars. Somewhere along the line will be a breakdown of their conditioning so they can be totally independent, true to the spirit of this franchise.

The action is more in line with Fast and the Furious, but for the characters involved. They’re generally well adjusted-well sort of. Whatever’s wrong with their neural pathways can’t be fixed in Kamino since being activated. I’m betting there was subterfuge to cause this group to be what they are. That’ll be revealed in later episodes when we look to their past. Hunter, Echo, Tech, Wrecker and Crosshair aren’t Transformers. They’ve earned their nicknames because each member is talented in their own unique way.  

Continue reading “Star Wars: The Bad Batch Psychoanalyzed!”

The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special Builds on a Tradition

The Freemakers. You’d think there’d be room for this beloved show; this family is technically part of the LEGO Star Wars universe, and they deserve a return to celebrate Life Day rather than to be discarded.

LEGOBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

On Disney+

The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special is perfect to give fans a chance to sort of forget a certain lamented television program about this galaxy, far, far away. Love that past live-action special or hate it, the only thing fans need to know is that Life Day is canon. It’s celebrated throughout the galaxy as a time for all families to get together. It was originally a Wookie holiday where they pay respect to the Tree of Life.

This animated take pokes fun at this franchise in the way many a LEGO toon does. Poe is all gung ho (willing to toss his uniform to the washer) while donning a gaudy sweater, Finn is training to be a Jedi and Ray is frustrated that she can’t train this former Stormtrooper. The nice part of this tale is that it can work as an official continuation after The Rise of Skywalker. However, because of a certain level of craziness that goes on, it’s unlikely Disney & Lucasfilm will say that it is.

Continue reading “The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special Builds on a Tradition”

In Recognition of #starwarsday Revenge of the Fifth

Revenge of the 5th | Revenge, Star wars birthday, Star warsWhether you are recognizing May 5th as “Revenge of the Fifth” in honour of all the bad guys in Star Wars. or the day after for a better play on words with the Sith Lords, it’s safe to assume fans will watch either the prequel trilogy or end of the Skywalker saga on either day.

In recognition of today, Episodes One to Three will be considered and its influence on the franchise.

Continue reading “In Recognition of #starwarsday Revenge of the Fifth”