S5E2 "The House of Black and White": ToB Breakdown

Julian Meush April 20, 2015

In this weeks episode we discuss the arrival of Aria to Bravos, Cerci trying to consolidate power, Jamie's plans for Dorne, Dorne's plans for the Lannisters, Jon's new job and Danny's continued challenges.

S5E1 "The Wars to Come": ToB Breakdown

Julian Meush April 14, 2015

Following what seems to be a Game of Thrones trend, the season opener serves as a sort of refresher; catching us up on all the major plot lines (minus Arya). The Lannister twins mourn their father, Tyrion arrives in Pentos, Daenerys faces the trials of leadership, Varys outlines his plans for Tyrion, and Jon tries to reason with two would-be kings.

S4E10 "The Children": ToB Breakdown

Julian Meush June 17, 2014

Season 4 ended off with a bang. Following last weeks battle at The Wall we catch up with almost all the key players before they all take a ten month break. Jon meets Mance, Stannis makes an appearance, Bran reaches his goal, Danni makes a tough choice, Brienne meets The Hound, Cersei makes a stand, Jamie helps his brother and Tyrion confronts his father.

S4E9 "The Watchers on the Wall": ToB Breakdown

Julian Meush June 10, 2014

Traditionally the ninth episode of every Game of Thrones season delivers something epic. Season 4 does not disappoint with "Watchers on the Wall". Even with all the other amazing moments we've already seen this season. We see giants riding mammoths as the wildling army finally reaches The Wall. This episode never leaves The Wall as Jon learns some lessons in leadership, Sam becomes more of a man and Ygritt sharpens her arrows.

S4E8 "The Mountain and the Viper": ToB Breakdown

Julian Meush June 3, 2014

In an episode featuring the amazing showdown between Oberyn and the Mountain its disappointing that the rest of the episode didn't live up to those heights. Full points go to the big fight with Tyrion's life in the balance, meanwhile Littlefinger continues to scheme, Sansa grows up, Arya reaches the Eyrie and Daenerys looses an adviser.

S4E7 "Mockingbird": ToB Breakdown

Julian Meush May 20, 2014

Tyrion finds a champion, Aria gets more revenge, Jon suggests a radical plan and Littlefinger uses the Moon Door.

S4E6 "The Laws of Gods and Men": ToB Breakdown

Julian Meush May 13, 2014

As is usually the case with Game of Thrones, they followed last weeks plotting episode with one that marks another change to the status quo . Tyrion's trial is really the show stopper this week but we also get some great scenes with Danny, Stannis and finally catch up with Yarra and her attempt to save Theon/Reek.

S4E5 "The First of His Name": ToB Breakdown

Julian Meush May 5, 2014

This weeks episode didnt have a lot of plot development but we did get some great character work. Tommen gets crowned, Cersei pines for her daughter, Aria water dances, Sansa meets her aunt and Jon takes on the mutineers.

S4E4 "Oathkeeper": ToB Breakdown

Julian Meush April 29, 2014

Jaime pays his brother a visit, Margaery learns the truth of Joffrey's murder, Brienne is given a new mission, Jon recruits a ranging party and Craster's final son is born.

S4E3 "Breaker of Chains": ToB Breakdown

Julian Meush April 22, 2014

One week after the royal murder we aren't much closer to finding the truth. Margery laments her luck with husbands, Tywin gets his hooks in Tommen, Oberyn is brought into the fold, the Hound is still a bad guy and the Nights Watch get a new mission. Everything is discussed in this weeks Tower of Babble Game of Thrones breakdown.

Jun 5, 2025

SSSW - Tales of the Underworld

Lucasfilm Animation has been hard at work on their next major project, 'Maul: Shadow Lord', but they've found the time to deliver another installment in their "Tales of" anthology series. The first ones covering the Jedi and the Empire, they now turn their focus towards the Underworld. However, be warned, this is a bit of a misnomer. Don't expect any crime syndicates or really any large scale criminality here. These 2 mini-arcs instead focus on Asajj Ventress (I know, not the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions the Underworld) as she assists a young Jedi on the run from the Empire, and the origin story of Cad Bane. Which admittedly is closer in line with the criminal underworld concept, but is really more interested in telling a western style revenge story instead. All in all, despite the always great visuals and sound/music design, and few interesting ideas, there's not enough meat on the bone here to satisfy most viewers. But most disappointing is its failure to capitalize on the potential of the Underworld concept.

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.