Contemplating Cartoons - The Animated Dramedy

Julian Meush September 28, 2017

Why does BoJack Horseman make me sad? Why do I contemplate my own existence after watching Rick and Morty? More importantly, why is that so important? Both shows are blazing new ground for animated programming and I examine what sets them apart from their peers.

What Happened to Toys "R" Us?

Julian Meush September 20, 2017

With the announcement that Toys "R" Us would be filing for bankruptcy I look back at what made the big-box toy store so special, where they might have gone wrong and what the toy market looks like now that they're gone.

G.R.R.M. Themed Boxes from ReedPop.com

Daniel D'Souza August 17, 2017

You've heard us talking about these boxes on our podcast, they're a Game of Thrones fan's dream come true. A beautifully illustrated, gilded edition of A Game of Thrones, a gigantic silk map of King's Landing, a copy of the Game of Thrones card game, its insane! Not to mention the detailed lithographic map of Westeros signed by George R.R. Martin! Thanks to ReedPop.com we can now bring these boxes to you at a discounted price!

2017 So Far: Movies

Julian Meush July 3, 2017

With 2017 already half over it's time to look back on some of the movies that have graced the silver screen since January 1. Let's be honest, the first half of the year hasn't been great for film but the stuff that was good, was really good. I highlight the best of the best (and one of the worst) in my top 3 standout films of 2017 so far.

2017 So Far: TV

Julian Meush June 22, 2017

We’re almost exactly halfway through the year, and we’ve been treated to a treasure trove of amazing TV so far. So in an effort to organize my thoughts about what I’ve watched so far, and as a means of getting a head start on our year-end Best-Of’s, here are my top 3 standout shows (and one dud) from the first half of 2017.

The New Trend in Trailers

Julian Meush June 9, 2017

We often discuss trailers and their accompanying trends here at Tower of Babble. Whether it's the "sombre piano", the "transformers noise" or the recent "remixed classic rock song", it's always fun to take a look at the monkey-see monkey-do nature of Hollywood. So in that same vein, here's an article from SlashFilm that I didn't know I wanted but I'm glad exists.

May 22, 2025

SSSW/ToB Film Club - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

It's hard to believe that 'Rogue One' premiered nearly a decade ago. At the time, it was fairly well received, considered to be a decent first step into the standalone Star Wars movies, if not a bit messy. As the years passed, we learned more about the production. Gareth Edwards, who retained sole directing credit, was assisted by Tony Gilroy to "fix" the project. Tony went so far as to call it a "corpse" when he came aboard for rewrites and reshoots. It was Tony's inclusion that brought us some of the movies most memorable moments, and ultimately led him to leading the charge on 'Andor', a prequel project that flew under the radar as hits like 'The Mandalorian' hogged the spotlight. With 'Andor' now complete, considered by many to be a masterpiece in storytelling, not just in Star Wars but on television in general, now is the most appropriate time to reexamine the movie that spawned the Cassian-centered prequel series with fresh eyes. 'Andor', which leads directly into the events of 'Rogue One' recontextualizes much of the film, creating a unique viewing experience that pays off a multitude of threads that are brilliantly laid over the two seasons of 'Andor'. It takes the movie, which was already pretty good, and makes it great. Now existing as part of a whole that weaves a cohesive narrative from the nascent moments of the Rebellion all the way through to the destruction of the Death Star in 1977 (the seed that begat ALL Star Wars, and what we appropriately align our Star Wars BBY calendars to). It all feels wholistic and considered when viewed from the broader perspective - an accomplishment that should set a shining example of what Star Wars can and should aspire to.

May 15, 2025

SSSW - Andor S2 Finale

After only 4 weeks - the blink of an eye - it's all over. The best Star Wars story since the Original Trilogy has graced our screens and left us in awe. These final three episodes weren't able to reach the emotional highs of last week's arc, but that wasn't the goal. Instead, it provides time to look back at what brought us here, and sets the stage for the climax of the story to take place not in this moment, but within the now recontextualized film that birthed all of this in the first place, 'Rogue One'. And while the show may carry Cassian's name on the title screen, it's been the cast of characters we've met along the way that truly elevated this experience. Not to pick favourites, but in particular, Luthen and Kleya, who get an episode all to themselves this week are the standouts. And what an episode it was, as their story which shepherded much of the series came to an end, as we all expected it would have to. Embracing those feelings of closure, in the final moments of the series, as Cassian flies off into 'Rogue One', we are treated to our last glimpses of our heroes and villains. From Dedra to Vel and even Perrin, we are left to consider their fates as the story marches with inevitability into what begat all of this way back in 1977. Will we ever see Kleya, Vel, Wilmon, or Bix again? One can only hope - and rebellions? Well, they're built on hope.

May 9, 2025

SSSW - Andor S2 E7 - 9

When dealing in the world of prequels, it’s impossible to escape the inevitable - Anakin will fall, Han will win the Falcon, Cassian will die on Scarif. Somehow, in the midst of some of the most thrilling episodes of television ever put to screen, Tony Gilroy and his team found a way to address that impending doom and weaponize it against the audience to induce some of the most gut wrenching and heart breaking moments we’ve yet to see on ‘Andor’ - “There’s some place he needs to be”. At a larger scale, the show continues to outdo itself on a weekly basis, proving that the Star Wars galaxy provides a colour pallet of some of the richest hues from which to paint bold and personal stories. Proving you can go beyond the larger than life stories of heroics and grandeur to human stories of loss and pain and everything in between. That’s without mentioning the deft touch in pulling in themes that resonates with the contemporary while remaining timeless - a feeling that is a staple of Star Wars. Every detail is considered, every character is deep and interesting. There isn’t much more that can be said about such a powerful piece of art, except that not even the audience can escape the inevitable - only one week remains of this masterpiece.

May 2, 2025

SSSW - Andor S2 E4 - 6

I'm sorry to tell you all, but we're already halfway through this final season of 'Andor'. Fortunately, the quality hasn't dipped one bit as we accelerate into the finish. Join Julian and Rachel as they savour every minute of this 3-episode arch that takes us to Ghorman for the first time on screen. Tony Gilroy and the team at Lucasfilm outdid themselves yet again in crafting every detail. The size of the set alone is impressive, but they take it a step further by developing a unique culture and even language different from anything we've seen in Star Wars before. It all fits seamlessly into this next chapter of the story that has a heavy emphasis on spycraft as the pressure ramps up for both the Rebellion and the Empire.

Contemplating Cartoons - The Animated Dramedy

What Happened to Toys "R" Us?

G.R.R.M. Themed Boxes from ReedPop.com

2017 So Far: Movies

2017 So Far: TV

The New Trend in Trailers

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