It was teased all the way back in season 1, and then again, more directly, in this season’s premier episode. There was a chance that the showrunners were taking it slow. Maybe we wouldnt get the big reveal until next season? But this show has been anything but shy when it comes to fan service, and this episode does nothing to change that. Like last week’s introduction to Ahsoka, that took place within the first few minutes of the episode, Chapter 14 wasted no time before giving us a hint as to what was to come. Notbaly, this episode was directed by none other than renowned action director, Robert Rodriguez. A great fit to finally show off you-know-who’s combat chops (that until now we’ve only ever heard about)! With only two episodes left this season, and two major reveals under our belt, the stage is set for what could be a very thrilling finale. A finale that may yet bring more surprises. Time will tell!
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SSSW - The Mandalorian S2E5 "The Jedi"
Rumours have been flying about a certain Jedi (ahem Citizen) making their appearance this season for a long time, and though those rumours may have spoiled the surprise for some, seeing that character brought to live-action was absolutely worth the wait! Besides the obvious excitement about seeing live action lightsabers on the small screen (and who is wielding them), this episode brought several other reveals that are arguably just as exciting. Not the least of which being the reveal of Baby Yoda/The Child’s actual name! Hard to believe it took a season and a half to get the name of one of the most popular characters on screen today! But wait there’s more! We haven’t even started talking about the craftsmanship of this episode or the homages to Akira Kurosawa’s work. It’s truly something special and I’m sure this episode will likely be a favourite of Star Wars fans for some time. Yes there’s a lot to unpack, but don’t let your fear (or anger) at missing everything turn you to the darkside. Julian, Dan, and Rachel break down every detail for your benefit. Enjoy!
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Episode 158 - Fincher Unleashed
As the pandemic rages on, and we adjust to the new normal, so does Hollywood. With news that Wonder Woman 1984 will be coming to HBO Max on Christmas, the future of the theatre going experience becomes even more clouded. Meanwhile, David Fincher is in the press, promoting his latest streaming endeavor ‘Mank’, (and dropping some spicy takes!) fresh off signing a 4-year exclusive deal with Netflix of his own. We watch as the Hollywood landscape is remapped on the fly. But it’s not all doom and gloom! I mean, there’s a ‘Wedding Crashers’ sequel in the works, and a new Predator film coming from Dan Trachtenberg. So there’s SOME hope is all I’m saying. Julian, Dan, and Jeremy also touch on the latest from the Snyder Cut, and weigh in on the pressing subject of whether streaming services should let credits play uninterrupted (you know, the important stuff). All that, and so much more, on this week’s Tower of Babble Podcast.
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SSSW - The Mandalorian S2E4 "The Siege"
The Mandalorian hits the halfway point of the season with a return to a familiar setting. Mando returns to Nevarro to reconnect with some old friends, and though not particularly plot heavy, it’s certainly a fun ride. Grief and Cara need Mando’s help to take out the last remaining Imperial stronghold on the planet, but they get more than they bargained for when they discover the true nature of the base. This action packed episode drops some interesting hints to the larger Star Wars galaxy (including a reference to The Phantom Menace!), setting up an interesting mystery for the rest of the season. The show has seemingly set the groundwork for things to really start moving next week. The Razor Crest is repaired, the bad guys are mobilizing, and all signs point towards a particular Jedi/citizen making an appearance next week. Exciting!
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SSSW - The Mandalorian S2E3 "The Heiress"
This week’s Mandalorian brings us the shortest episode of the season but boy is it dense! Julian, Daniel, and Rachel, spend arguably too much time breaking down every minute detail, and major reveal. And this episode definitely brings it on when it comes to reveals. Without burying the lead, we are introduced to the titular heiress, Bo-Katan Kryze, for the first time in live action. Something long time Clone Wars and Rebels fans will be sure to be excited about. That’s without even mentioning the major name drop that comes at the end. These reveals create ripples throughout Star Wars, and pose a lot of additional questions . Which only makes us hope that we start getting answers soon. In the meantime, there’s certainly a lot to discuss.
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SSSW - The Mandalorian S2E2 "The Passenger"
After an exciting season premiere featuring a giant monster, a new character, and little overall plot development, we get the second episode of the season! Which also features a giant monster, a new character, and arguably less overall development. That’s not to say it was a bad episode, it certainly executed on the horror and creepiness it had set out to deliver. However, it’s hard not to be a little disappointed that they didn’t follow up on the interesting tease they left us with last week, or give us an inkling into what’s going on with Moff Gideon and the rest. Instead we’re treated to a monster of the week type episode (to be fair it still had a few fun surprises. Love those X-Wings!) as Mando continues his quest to find more Mandalorians.
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Episode 157 - Green Lantern, James Bond, and Moon Knight
After a brief hiatus, the ToB Crew returns to cover the latest in film and television news. Of course the film part seems to be less and less relevant these days as streaming services have become the defacto home for all things motion picture. Unfortunately, that means much of the film news is sad and depressing. Like the passing of Sean Connery, or the impending death of movie theatres. But it also means more news from the land of Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and the like. Such as, additional details about the Green Lantern series coming to HBO Max, Oscar Isaac's casting as Moon Night for Disney+, and that Netflix is, once ,again, raising it's subscription prices. The guys also dive into an interesting 'Agree or Disagree' segment revolving around the state of Warner Brothers. Plus a brief discussion on the first season of HBO's Lovecraft Country. All that, and so much more, on this week's Tower of Babble Podcast!
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SSSW - The Mandalorian S2E1 "The Marshal"
Welcome back to Small Screen Star Wars! With every major blockbuster movie being delayed or moved out of 2020 there hasn’t been too much to get excited about this year. That is, until now! The Mandalorian has returned, and with it brings exciting new adventures from a galaxy far, far away. The acclaimed series returns and kicks off it’s second season with a bang. Mando is on the hunt for other Mandalorians so he can return Baby Yoda to “his kind”. This sees him return to Tatooine to hunt down a mysterious stranger in Mandalorian armour, beyond the Dune Sea. We’re introduced to new characters and creatures as Mando makes a deal to take down the apex predator of dessert, a Krayt Dragon. Julian, Dan, and Rachel are here to break down every minute detail for you. From the backstory of the titular ‘Marshal’ to the implications of the episodes big reveal. Enjoy this jumbo sized season 2 premiere recap and join us as we cover the entire second season!
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Episode 156 - Too Soon for the MCU Spider-Verse
With about a month since our last full show, there's been a lot of news piling up. The guys dive into all the juiciest stories to cover the latest in film and television (oh and obviously the biggest story of the month, Steve joining Super Smash Bros). Unfortunately, before getting to the fun stuff, Julian, Dan, and Jeremy, hypothesize about a grim future where movie theatre chains have all gone out of business. It's truly the darkest timeline, but one that seems all too possible, with all the remaining blockbuster releases for this year being moved into next year (or later in some cases). On a more exciting note, the news of Jamie Foxx's Electro joining the MCU for Spider-Man 3, along with Doctor Strange, begs the question if it's too soon to start introducing a multiverse in the MCU. On the DC front, it's discovered that reshoots for the Snyder Cut of Justice League will cost $70 million, and the much maligned streaming service, DC Universe, will officially close its doors as all it's major shows will move to HBO Max (don't worry, it'll live on in a comic book subscription form). Speaking of TV, 'The Boys' is getting a spin-off series, Ted Lasso is renewed for season 2 (I had to mention it) and Nick Fury is getting his own Disney+ series. All that and so much more (I know, I always say that, but this time there's literally so much more stuff!), on this week's Tower of Babble Podcast!
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ToB Games - Next Gen Pre-Orders + Microsoft & Bethesda
It's been awhile since the ToB Crew got together to talk gaming, but with some of the biggest video game news of the last 5 years unfolding before our eyes, we felt it was time to get back in the saddle. Julian and Jeremy sit down to discuss the huge news of Microsoft buying Bethesda and what that means for not only ‘Xbox Game Pass’ but also for Sony and the next-gen console battle as a whole. It's a major shift of power in the gaming space but it also means fewer independent studios (so it's not all good news). Speaking of anti-consumer moves, the guys also touch on 'Super Mario 3D All-Stars' and Nintendo's baffling decisions around the bundle. Lastly, the pricing for the next-gen consoles are unpacked and the question of "is the series S price point a game changer?" is posed. All this and so much more on this week's Tower of Babble Podcast.
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