Why Benicio Del Toro's Star Wars Character Isn't the Worst

Julian Meush December 22, 2017

There appears to be one constant among those who’ve seen The Last Jedi. Whether you liked it or not people seem to agree that Benicio Del Toro’s character is terrible. Playing a character named DJ he doesn't have a huge role in the film, but with so much hate being thrown his way I wanted to offer him up some defense.

Exploring the Frustrations Surrounding Star Wars Battlefront II

Julian Meush November 16, 2017

Star Wars Battlefront II officially launches tomorrow. What should have been an overwhelmingly exciting day for gamers and Star Wars fans alike is instead mired in a controversy. Microtransactions, specifically loot boxes, have reportedly poisoned the games multiplayer and people aren't happy. I look at the reason why so many gamers are frustrated by EA's microtransaction strategy.

What EA's Star Wars "Update" Really Means

Julian Meush October 18, 2017

This week EA announced that there would be major changes coming to their much anticipated action-adventure Star Wars game. Along with that news we learned that they would be closing Visceral Games, the studio who had been working on the game since 2013. I examine what their curt press release says about the future of the game, the publisher and the games industry as a whole.

Five Thoughts - March 8, 2014

Julian Meush March 8, 2014

After a few busy months I'm back with another Five Thoughts (so much for "working title"). This time I explore a few of my favorite things: Lego, Star Wars and Batman. I also look at some of the big reveals from the past few weeks, including the Guardians of the Galaxy and Arkham Knight trailers.

Happy FCBD, and May the 4th be with you!

Julian Meush May 4, 2013

Not much to say except go out there and enjoy some free comics at your local shops while living by the Jedi code. and who knows maybe there is a free Star Wars comic somewhere just to make things all meta. Enjoy your weekend, from all of us at Tower of Babble!

ToB: TV Talk

Julian Meush May 2, 2013

The Tower of Babble crew chats TV in this portion out of the Tower of Babble Podcast. We talk Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and more.

Apr 15, 2026

SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 3 & 4

Now that the premiere is out of the way, the team at Lucasfilm Animation can focus on driving the story forward with authority. The pacing is much improved this week as time feel more evenly dispersed across the characters. There's a greater concentration on characters who can wield a lightsaber and it's appreciated. No shade to the crime syndicate storyline, but we've kind of seen all that already (it was quite literally a 'Clone Wars' arc). The action remains strong while taking another step forward with lightsaber duels joining the mix. Plus, the fast cutting from last week seems to have been dialed back, which is appreciated as it provides more clarity in action scenes. For example, Devon's engagements with Maul are gripping, and with the additional time provided to Master Daki, the stakes feel ratcheted up. Kevin Kinner's music remains a highlight, the illusions to the Anakin vs Obi-Wan Mustafar theme was a particular highlight. In general, there is still room for more character growth, especially with characters not named Maul, who really can't/won't change - but happy to proven wrong! This show feels like it's in full swing already, which is good because next week things look to be really heating up as we hit the half way mark. Julian and Rachel unpack it all!

Apr 9, 2026

SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 1 & 2

It's been some time since we've been able to sink our pointy teeth into a meaty Star Wars animated project. Since the finale of 'The Bad Batch' all the way back in May of 2024, all we've had to tie us over were anthology installments of varying quality. Praise the Force, that wait is finally over with the release of 'Maul: Shadow Lord', the latest full length series from Lucasfilm Animation. The series marks another technical leap forward for the animation studio, taking their patented visual style and adding another layer of detail and artistry that jumps off the screen. The story follows the titular, Maul shortly after the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire, he's looking for revenge and the series wastes no time dropping us right into the thick of things (3 car/speeder chases in 40 mins is impressive). And while we know much of Maul's criminal dealings (and most of the rest of his life actually), the introduction of a new Padawan into the mix, another apprentice-to-be for Maul, adds a layer of intrigue to an otherwise underworld focused story. Join Julian and Rachel as they unpack Chapter 1: "The Dark Revenge" and Chapter 2: "Sinister Schemes", in intricate detail.

Apr 8, 2026

Bonus Episode - ToB Film Club - Slap Shot (1977) - Review + Commentary Track

In honour of Matt strapping on the goalie pads again for the first time in many years (and not completely pulling his groin), it only made sense to revisit the classic hockey comedy, 'Slap Shot' from 1977. This isn't the first time seeing the movie for either Julian or Matt but it's been a long time so there are plenty of questions still to answer. Here's a few examples: How well shot are the hockey scenes? Does the movie feature more or less actual hockey than 'Heated Revelry'? Does the plot and/or humour hold up all these years later? All these questions are answered in time, but we're also trying something new this month. Instead of a traditional movie review, Julian and Matt decided to go a layer deeper and add a full commentary track for the movie as well. So enjoy the full review, which takes place, before, during, and after the movie itself, and sync up your own copy of the movie (there's a countdown before we start) to get the full experience!

Mar 20, 2026

Bonus Episode - 2026 Oscars Recap

Matt and Julian are back to unpack the results from last Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony. While the show itself had few surprises (there was a tie though so that's something!), between Conan's bits, the winners, and the losers, there is plenty to discuss. Congrats to 'One Battle After Another', PTA and all the winners ('Sinners' probably deserved a better fate, but respect to MBJ for his ascension)! Plus, I still can't believe the bit about making Leo into a meme actually made another meme. Join us for the full deep dive!