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Star Wars Visions: A Whole New World

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As a Star Wars fan, I’ve grown accustomed to a certain style of storytelling. Not necessarily because I wanted to… but because I knew that that was just how things were going to be.

Disney bought Star Wars and they had a formula that they wanted to maintain.

This was most evident when Disney first purchased Lucasfilm back in 2014. While the excitement was high for fans about the return of the franchise, the fallout was swift. With the House of Mouse’s desire to control its properties, any books, video games, and comics that were released under the Star Wars label (other than the six films) were no longer considered ‘canon’ and disappeared. (Sigh. Where did you go Dark Forces?) With a single blast from their proverbial Death Star, Disney vaporized such beloved characters as Mara Jade, Grand Admiral Thrawn and more from the Star Wars universe. While some of those characters have been reintroduced over the years, fans were left angered as their favourite tales were deemed unworthy of the next generation of stories. Admittedly, there’s certainly an argument for this decision (after all, Disney couldn’t possible may all these conflicting stories work within their continuity). However, it also limited the space for any real originality to the universe.

Then, along came Star Wars: Visions.

Now available on Disney+, Star Wars: Visions is a 9-episode series of shorts produced by six different Japanese animation studios. Directed in differing styles of anime by different directors, each episode feels like a completely new and exciting interpretation of the galaxy far, far away. 

What’s most impressive though is that, with the release of these shorts, Disney has injected a breath of fresh bacta into the Star Wars tank. Unhampered by the burden of ‘canon’, these visions rely on something much more important: creativity. Like a bolt of lightning, these simple stories have energized a world which had become a little stale. (Aside from Baby Yoda, of course.) For once, Disney allowed their storytellers to develop their own… well… vision for their closely guarded universe, create unique characters and styles that showcase the talents of their artists. Though it’s safe to say that there were certain boundaries given, every short differs wildly from one another and challenges our assumptions about the Star Wars universe. 

A samurai protects a small village from a Sith Lord.

A band of youth embark on a dangerous mission to rescue their friend from Jabba the Hutt.

Two twin siblings battle to redeem (or recruit) the other.

Each individual narrative is fully enclosed with no reliance on the other episodes. That gives each storyteller the freedom to simply dip their toe into the sands of Tatooine without being burdened by larger narratives or story arcs. Most importantly though, they allow the animators to tell their stories in their own voice in their own way. From Solo to Rogue One, there are multiple stories in recent years that site Disney’s penchant to control their IP and has resulted in the firing of numerous directors. However, with Visions, the House of Mouse has turned off the targeting computer and let their animators have the freedom that they need.

And the results are stunning. 

Featuring some truly eye-popping animation, it is refreshing to see the universe stretched with its interpretations. From their use of colour and style to their philosophical conversations, every individual episode feels like a masterclass in anime storytelling. (In addition, the voice cast features some impressive talent as well, including Shang Chi‘s Simu Liu, Henry Golding, George Takei, Alison Brie, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and, of course, Tamuera Morrison returning as Boba Fett.)

In this way, although not quite the restoration of what was lost, these new visions of the Star Wars universe feel like Disney has given a gift to the fans. 

And not just the animators either.

Star Wars: Visions feels like a long overdue gift to those who have been clamouring to hear their own voice represented in the Star Wars universe. Frankly, this begs the question of what could be next? Could there be Star Wars stories told from an African perspective? Indian? Middle-Eastern? The possibilities are endless… and every one of them has the potential to bridge the cultural gap in storytelling as well. No, Visions hasn’t changed the game—but it has provided an opportunity for the world to share in a property that had previously only been told from one perspective.

So, maybe something old really can be new again.

Star Wars: Visions is available on Disney+ on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021

Only Murders in the Building: Killer Fun While Embracing the Mess

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From podcasts to true crime stories, the mystery genre has never been hotter and, thankfully, the sheer joy within Only Murders in the Building keeps that trend alive and well. Tightly written and executed, the series pops with fun amidst the murderous mayhem. As unlikely sleuths, Martin, Short and Gomez are simply delightful together onscreen. Backed by some wonderfully fun supporting cast like Tina Fey, Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan and a dog-hating Sting, the three sleuths bound around the hotel looking for clues to the murder of the mysterious Tim Kono with a youthful energy and enthusiasm in their performances that we haven’t seen in a very long time. 

Set in a restless condo in New York City, Only Murders in the Building follows three strangers whose lives are turned upside down after a young man they know as Tim Kono is suddenly killed. Labelled a suicide by the police, the ruling doesn’t sit well with wannabe sleuths Mable (Selina Gomez), Charles (Steve Martin) and Oliver (Martin Short) who immediately set out to uncover the truth about Tim Kono’s demise. Although they know nothing about each other, their love of true crime podcasts and mystery fuels their passion for the case. However, the greatest lies may in fact be the ones that they tell each other as they keep their own secrets hidden on their quest for the truth.

Despite the age gap between the leads, the team may be unlikely but never seems out of place together. Having found a bit of a career boost in recent years, Short and Martin have worked together for so long that their banter stems out of their very real friendship but even they seem rejuvenated here. In addition, while she may seem like an odd choice at first, Gomez is a suitable addition to the team and she bridges the generation gap, making the series more accessible to younger viewers. 

As with all stories of this nature, Only Murders deals with the impact that the secrets and lies we keep have upon our daily lives. What may set it apart however is its interest in ‘embracing our mess’, rather than simply hide from it. Without giving any spoilers, for Mable, Charles and Oliver the appearance of success and happiness have become just as much of a priority as actually experiencing it for themselves. In each case, these broken souls seem to have everything together on the outside, even as they waste away within. Oliver refuses to let go of his apartment, despite his own financial setbacks. Charles happily reminds people of his career long ago as television detective Brazzos. Mable lives in luxury but keeps her emotional traumas close to her vest. To them, anonymity is power and image is everything.

As they hide their stories from one another, they play a sort of emotional poker with one another (and themselves). However, as their shadows begin to emerge, they become forced to accept the dark corners of their lives that they despise most. (“Embrace the mess. That’s where the best stuff happens,” they’re told.) For Oliver, Mable and Charlie, embracing the mess means being willing to address their brokenness and acknowledge it as a part of who they are. While this is never an easy task, the three characters begin to experience a personal wholeness that has eluded them for some time as they open themselves up to the flaws in their journey. Their stories are as intricate as that of Tim Kono and just as important to reconcile.

Lively and hilarious, Only Murders in the Building has all the makings of a hit. Led by its eager cast and anchored by a solid script, the series is easily one of the most fun surprises of the summer and well worth investigating. Like the podcasts that the characters adore, these Murders are killer fun and should keep people tuning in. 

The first 3 episodes of Only Murders in the Building are available on Hulu and Disney+ on Tuesday, August 31st, 2021, with new episodes weekly.

Vacation Friends: Real Friends v. Vacation Friends

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What happens on vacation doesn’t always stay on vacation.

Vacation Friends tells the story of Marcus and Emily (Lil Rel Howery and Yvonne Orji), a straight-laced couple from Chicago going on a romantic vacation to Mexico. When a mishap leaves them without a room, the two must spend the week sharing a room with wild, thrill-seekers Ron and Kyla (John Cena and Meredith Hagner). Even though they’re fairly level-headed, Marcus and Emily let loose. (After all, they are on vacation…) But, as they leave Mexico, they also have every intent of leaving the craziness (and their friends) behind to resume their lives. However, when Ron and Kyla show up uninvited to their wedding, Marcus and Emily must navigate whether or not their ‘vacation friends’ are actually their real friends.

Going straight to streaming, Vacation Friends is a silly and raunchy comedy that works, despite its flaws. The first feature directed by Clay Tarver, Vacation feels like it could have been a much wilder ride, yet somehow seems familiar (and even predictable in places). In some ways, Tarver seems to be holding back, despite the film’s R-rating and its move to streaming where box office revenue becomes less of an issue. 

Even so, despite its perceived flaws, there’s a lot more to like about this Vacation than you might expect. While the film itself is a fairly standard comedy, the material works primarily due to the strength of all four of its leads, especially Cena. This summer, Cena is having something of a moment with roles in two other major films (Fast 9, The Suicide Squad) in addition to this project. Whereas those films primarily focus on his viability as an action (super)hero, Vacation Friends highlights his often-underappreciated gift for comedy. Even in moments when the material is lacking, Cena’s smarmy charisma somehow continues to sell it. With Howery giving his all as Cena’s straight-man, the two have some genuinely fun moments together as the tw forced friends begin to genuinely care for one another.

Whereas Marcus and Emily may live organized ‘grown up’ lives at home, their world is shaken by the arrival of Ron and Kyla. Although they may be successful, Marcus and Emily have few meaningful relationships with others. Living their lives by their schedules, the two have built their lives around well-organized plans and clear boundaries. When they meet Ron and Kyla at the resort, there is something appealing about their free spirits, even though they wreak havoc upon their lives. 

As a result, Marcus and Emily reluctantly allow their lives to change temporarily. 

But when they get home, their expectations are different.

For Marcus and Emily, vacation may be a time to play but their ‘real lives’ are based upon professionalism and appearance. As a result, when they run into Ron and Kyla again threatens everything about their ordered lives, especially when it comes their impending wedding. But it’s in these moments that Vacation really surprises. Whereas one might expect that the film is going to hammer down its message about ‘lightening up’, instead the story is really all about the hearts of its characters. 

Despite their brash exterior and wild antics, the true joy of Ron and Kyla lies in their commitment to friendships. To them, friendship is more than a statement but something that truly matters. Their hearts are truly open to serve and care for their friends. Held up against the more reserved Marcus and Emily, Ron and Kyla demonstrate what it means to see past people’s exteriors and love them for who they are at their core. Though they have no personal boundaries, there’s an earnestness about Ron and Kyla that makes them endearing and shows their new friends what it truly means to care for others.

Wacky, wild (and sometimes wonky), Vacation Friends wins you over by the strength of its performances. Anchored by the energetic Cena and friends, the film manages to charm you enough to make this worthwhile. In other words, even though it may not be a perfect Vacation, it’s still one worth taking.

Vacation Friends is available on Hulu and Star+ on Friday, August 27th, 2021.

What If…?: Hitting the Reset Button

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I try to stay away from spoilers, but just in case, SPOILERS ARE POSSIBLE for the first three episodes.

I have to admit it, but sometimes the MCU exhausts me. Now don’t get me wrong. I love it, especially over the past few years as I’ve gotten more involved in the screening and reviewing and podcasting side of things. 

But the analysis? As the young kids say, “sheeeeeesh.” Trying to keep up with all the hidden meanings, easter eggs, comic references, and above all, trying to predict everything that is and was and ever will happen is absolutely a full time job. And sometimes, I really just want to watch something new that I don’t have to try and analyze.

Enter What If…?, the newest Marvel series airing on Disney+. I went into the first three episodes feeling absolutely free because I figured “hey, who knows where this will go.” And personally, I was totally right. It did everything I hoped it would. It connected me with the characters I loved, it stayed true to the heart of the storylines while simultaneously flipping the script on old expectations. The animation kept it youthful and energetic and before I knew it, and it’s absolutely a great tie in to all the impact that Loki has made on all the timelines everywhere in the multiverse.

Episode one takes us back to the original Avenger – Captain America – and marks the moment of Peggy Carter’s (Hayley Atwell) choice to stay in the room. From there, the entire trajectory of both her and Steve Rogers’s stories changes. Forced to make a split-second decision to save the Super Soldier mission, Carter takes Steve’s place and receives the serum. Fighting the same battle but with a new role, Agent Carter faces an even greater uphill battle as she rebrands herself “Captain Carter.” Not only facing the typical gender stereotype of being a woman in a ‘man’s role’, she also finds herself facing a monster we have yet to truly see – and the result will reverberate across other timelines.

Episode two takes two of my favorite stories: Guardians of the Galaxy and Black Panther and gives us a galaxy in which the enigmatic T’Challa is able to persuade even the most deadly of villains (ahem, Thanos) to work towards a more peaceful universe. Oh how wonderful it was to see Chadwick Boseman’s iconic work as Black Panther on screen once more. He 100% embodies T’Challa, and there will never be another one like him. That compelling portrayal gives life throughout this episode as T’Challa wrestles with what it means to serve both his people and the universe. 

Episode three really pulls no punches when showing us what could happen if the Avengers were never the Avengers. Instead of joining together, they are targeted one by one, and Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is left facing a vengeful Loki (Tom Hiddleston really is in his element these days) threatening to destroy the world. But he’s not out for domination… at least, not initially. Instead, they must work together to catch a far more elusive foe, but as we all know about Loki, he’s always got something up his sleeve. 

See? No analysis. No guessing games. No frantic fan theories. At least not from me. What If…? is the kind of series that is free to reset expectations and do something out of the box. In a word, it’s fun. Pure, good, fun. And I’m here for it. 

Catch it now on Disney+, and enjoy! We can all analyze later 🙂

Jungle Cruise: One Fun Ride

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Even though it’s a blockbuster based on a theme park ride that’s filled with bad puns, Jungle Cruise is one insane trip.

Jungle Cruise stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as skipper Frank Wolff and Emily Blunt as Dr. Lily Houghton. Set in 1916, at the height of WWI, Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) is a British doctor who reluctantly teams up with Frank, an expert tour guide of the Amazon. Setting sail on his rickety old boat, they go on a jungle adventure to acquire the petals of a magical tree that will change modern medicine and, potentially, even end the war. However, hot on their heels is the contemptable Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons), a German aristocrat determine to use the petal for his own gain. 

In many ways, Cruise feels like a Marvel movie. Filled with witty and charming banter that’s just plain fun, the dialogue pops like the best MCU moments. In fact, there are moments when hearing The Rock banter with Blunt feels like those conversations between Iron Man and Captain America. The chemistry these two have is amazing and just feels so natural. What’ s more, action scenes are also well choreographed and take advantage of the beautiful amazon setting, including all creatures and supernatural elements that are involved. The over-arching supernatural/magical backstory is much more complex than initially expected which was a very pleasant surprise, especially considering it’s based on a fun little ride for vacationers.  

Personally, I loved that they were able to take an iconic Disney ride and make it into an intense action movie. As the tour guide of the ride, Frank even shares the same bad puns that you’d hear from the famed tour guides on the Jungle Cruise at Disney World. Featuring all the dangers of the island such as the natives and wildlife, Cruise really makes you feel you’re back in Florida on the ride itself (except, in a strange way, it feels even more immersive watching the movie.)  

With an eye on inclusion, Jungle Cruise seems to be one of Disney’s major steps toward “wokeness.” As a woman in the early 20th Century, Dr. Houghton gets absolutely no respect from the scientific community. In addition, her brother McGregor (Jack Whitehall), one of the very few rare gay characters in Disney’s movies, is also ostracized simply for his sexuality., Whereas the action genre is traditionally dominated by straight males, Jungle Cruise utilizes these two characters in a way where that highlights who they were and views them as equal

At the same time, Frank’s character arc is also closely tied with this. Without giving any spoilers, Frank has witnessed the absolute worst of people throughout his life. Broken by the pain of his past, he would rather die than spend another minute alive. However, Lily takes an alternative view. Instead of giving up, Lily sees the horror of this world but actively wants to change it for the better. Despite the frustrations that she sees and has experienced at the hands of a male-dominated society, Lily is committed to fighting for a new future, giving the film a more hopeful edge.  

Led by the dynamic duo of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt, Jungle Cruise has everything you want and more from a Disney action movie. Funny and energetic, the film has an adventurous spirit that should entertain all ages. In short, Jungle Cruise is a fun ride.

Jungle Cruise is available in theatres and on Disney+ Premiere Access on July 30th, 2021.

7.23 Living la Vida LUCA

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Set against the Italian Riviera, Pixar’s LUCA tells the story of a young merman as he steps into the surface world for the first time. With his friend Alberto, young Luca experiences a whole new world of adventure, pasta and endless Vespa rides. However, when the world discovers that sea monsters exist, so to does the pressure for the boys to remain hidden, out of fear for their lives. This week, ScreenFish’rs Heather Johnson and Alan Sharrer return to talk about Disney’s tendency to play it safe and the relationship between fear and knowledge.

You can stream the episode on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify, Google Play or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

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Black Widow: Good Hair is a Game Changer

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Do I even have to put a SPOILER WARNING here? Because we will be talking about Black Widow, so…yeah…potential spoilers.

I have short hair. Most days I can leave it down and it doesn’t cause any distractions or issues with my day-to-day activities. But, if I’m going to be doing things like cleaning or travelling, I’m going to somehow put it back out of my face and out of the way. The last thing I want to worry about when I’m active is my hair.

Can you imagine fighting to take down the universe’s most terrifying and powerful villains with your hair in your face? Because pretty much until Endgame and this movie, our mightiest female heroes have worn their hair down. And if you’re wondering why I care about this so much, let me explain. But first, a brief summary of where we are now that Black Widow has released.

Eleven years after her first appearance in Iron Man 2, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) is finally getting her story. Set between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, Black Widow shines the light on the shadows that have been Natasha’s elusive past. We’ve gotten some brief glimpses into her Russian training and connections and we’ve seen hints to the emotional burdens she wears. Since we can’t go back to the very beginning of her story, I wasn’t sure how we were going to see the path between who Natasha was, and who Natasha now is to us.

As she begins her time on the run after breaking the Sokovian Accords, Natasha is pulled back into a mission she long-believed was handled. She describes Budapest (an event she and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) recall during the first Avengers), as the final step to her defection to S.H.I.E.L.D., effectively finalizing the cleansing of the “red in her ledger.” But she was wrong. A mysterious package arrives at her safe house with a clue about who needs her and she has to seek out the very people she once felt betrayed by.

In the later movies, Natasha thinks of the Avengers as her only family. But we quickly learn here that she once had a sister, a mother, and a father. Even though it was artificially made as a cover for a covert Russian operation, there were a few years where Natasha had a normal life. But it was not to last.

Her “father” was actually Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour) aka Red Guardian aka Russian Captain America. He and brilliant scientist and fellow Widow (and “Mom”)  Melina (Rachel Weisz) had Natasha and “sister” Yelena (Florence Pugh) under their wing until the time came for the girls to begin their training at the Red Room. Together they must work to finish the mission Natasha started all those years ago.

The target? One of the creepiest villains I’ve seen in the MCU yet, Dreykov (Ray Winstone makes him almost TOO real). Mastermind behind the Red Room – an elite training facility that transforms orphan girls into world-wide assassins that work to keep Dreykov in power over the world’s most influential leaders – Dreykov has perfected a mind-control serum with Melina’s genius that ensures his Widows will deliver on his every command. He exploits both their vulnerability and sexuality and rewrites their reality – until Yelena defects and Natasha jumps in to free the Widows from Dreykov and destroy the Red Room for good.

How does any of this lead into a conversation about hair. Well, let’s think about it. For one, Black Widow’s hair has been a topic of conversation since Johansson brought her to life on the big screen. People complained it was too short, it was too long, it was too curly, it was too straight, it went blonde, etc. Here we have someone who regularly takes out pretty scary and powerful enemies, and we are talking about if her hair is right to the character. Dude – I just always wanted to know why it was down? In Endgame, we finally see her hair up for most of the movie, maybe because in space it’s more acceptable? Or because the scene had been set for years’ worth of searching for ways to undo all that Thanos had destroyed, and suddenly it didn’t matter? For whatever reason, I was thrilled to see exceptionally powerful women go into full battle mode with their hair up in Black Widow.

The contrast between Yelena wearing her hair up from the beginning but Natasha evidently having had to take a journey for it to be acceptable to wear her hair up is hopefully a glimpse into the future treatment of female super heroes in the MCU. Yelena has the same sarcastic wit of Captain Marvel, the same desire for what was fake to be real as Wanda, and the same moral compass of Gamora’s change of heart. She is set up to take on the mantle of Natasha and she’s not here to play games. And as silly as it’s going to seem to people, seeing her with her hair up throughout the film gives me confidence that female superheroes are being equipped to fight the same battles as their male counterparts. In continuation of illustrating this point, I give you the original Avengers:

  1. Captain America. Helmet. I don’t know how effective it is but it’s there. And he’s enhanced.
  2. Iron Man. Obviously. And he’s enhanced.
  3. Thor. Yes his hair is down but he can also fly and call lightning to his very hands. And he is a god.
  4. Bruce Banner. One word: Hulk. And he’s enhanced.
  5. Hawkeye. No head covering, but he mostly fights from a distance…because you know, #bowandarrows.

Captain Marvel had a helmet and a much more protective suit but, to this day, people condemn her character – even though she has been the closest one to receiving equal treatment. And she’s enhanced. Natasha fights on the ground, hand-to-hand, and her hair is curled and flowing the whole time. Now I don’t know much about the comics, but, as an average movie-watcher, it’s always bothered me. So forgive me if such a trivial detail has had such an impact on me. Because it demonstrates strength. And it’s just one piece of how Black Widow successfully created a storyline laced with vulnerability in such a way that made the women stronger as opposed to needy. Hair down to hair up is a key element of this transformation.

For years, Dreykov (Ray Winstone and one of the creepiest villains-to-date) exploited the emotional vulnerability and the sexuality of orphaned and discarded girls and controlled them in order to maintain his power over the world’s most influential leaders. We know this because we have seen Natasha use it in previous films, whether she is using staged modelling photos to distract Tony from her identity or secretly interrogating Loki by using her past as a tool to get what she wants out of him. She was trained to do that, and so were the hundreds of Widows trained after her. The ponytail, the braids, even the earrings…all of them work together as a visual representation of the strength of these women to do what needs to be done. In Black Widow, they are being freed from the constraints of how they have been viewed and used by those around them.

And for me at least, it’s about dang time. If I’m not going to clean with my hair in my face, I sure as heck ain’t saving the world with it in my face. And now my heroes don’t have to either.

Black Widow is now available in theatres and on Disney+.

7.20 Sympathy for CRUELLA De Vil

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In Cruella, Emma Stone brings the backstory of one of Disney’s most famous villains to life. Well before there were 101 Dalmatians, Cruella De Vil was an aspiring fashion designer. However, when she matches wits against the (even more) evil designer, The Baronness (Emma Thompson), Cruella and her friends Jasper and Horace must scheme to bring down London’s queen bee. This week, Allen Chabot, Mira Ibrahim and TeenFish’ Daniel Collins return to talk about having sympathy for our villains and walking the line between redemption and revenge.

You can stream the episode on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

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Cruella: When Black and White Turns Grey

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Bold. Complex. Mesmerizing.

And, by far, the best Disney live action yet.

Yes, I am talking about Cruella with Emma Stone and Emma Thompson. Not one who typically flocks to live action Disney features (call me too sentimental for my 90’s animated favorites), this movie blew every expectation out of the water. The tapestry of this story weaves together color, creativity, and character development in such a way that every moment kept me engaged. I’m still sitting here with my mouth agape as I play it all back in my head.

Set against the backdrop of 60’s and 70’s London, young Estella works to be the good girl that her mother encourages her to be. With her uncanny style, unfiltered opinions, and explosive personality, playing nice isn’t exactly second nature to her. But for the sake of the mother she loves, Estella (Emma Stone) navigates both trauma and genius to stay as she is, until Cruella fully emerges from the depths in retaliation of a painful truth. Consumed with taking out her former mentor and now-enemy the Baroness (Emma Thompson – absolutely perfect), Cruella subverts the Baroness’s grip on the London fashion scene with a rock star edge and in-your-face theatrics. With the help of long-time partners in crime, Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser) and a team of nonconforming designers including Artie (John MCrea), Cruella is on the precipice of being unstoppable. But will she survive her own ambition and vengeance?

As an origin story, the set up for the characters and storyline of 101 Dalmatians is well-placed and subtle. Anita and Roger fade in and out just enough to play key roles without overshadowing the heart of this story. We get to the root of Cruella’s obsession with dalmatians, and Jasper and Horace are elevated to relatable characters as opposed to bumbling second-rate thieves.

But this movie has its own heartbeat – one that loves and bleeds – and Stone’s performance is the soul of the film. Her transformation from Estella into Cruella kept me in a state of “is she or isn’t she” the unfeeling villain we’ve seen before now. Against the backdrop of the statement black and white color scheme, there was a grey in-between for me. Behind every villain there is a beginning, and that beginning isn’t always evil. And the other side of that coin is that behind every hero, that beginning isn’t always benign. Morality can get murky depending on a variety of factors and influences, and Cruella really hit that point home.

It’s an exceptional film with layers of development, visualization, ambition, and even heartbreak. And it’s a testament to both the writers and the cast that with every turn I was invested in characters that I’m supposed to define as “bad guys.” Did I close my laptop ready to absolve them of them crimes? No. But did it remind me that our stories are rarely as black and white as we think? Definitely.

Cruella opens in theaters and is available with Disney+ Premier Access on Friday May 28th, 2021.

The Bad Batch: Bad Batch, Good Series

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(L-R): Crosshair, Echo, Hunter, Tech and Wrecker in a scene from “STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH”, exclusively on Disney+. © 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

It’s hardly a secret that May the 4th has taken on a life of its own.

Though it began as an internet joke by fans, Disney has leaned into this unofficial Star Wars holiday to release new content and celebrate the galaxy far, far away. Now, with the day upon us, Disney+ has taken the opportunity to begin their next chapter of the Wars world with The Bad Batch, the latest animated series from hit-maker Dave Filoni.

Admiral Tarkin in a scene from “STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH”, exclusively on Disney+. © 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

As the creator of the original Clone Wars and Mandalorian series, Filoni has become one of the founders of modern Warsstory-telling. With an emphasis on character development and long-form narrative arcs, his style has served them well, especially with the company’s increasing emphasis on Disney+. With The Bad Batch, Filoni returns to the Clone Wars era but, rather than simply continue the franchise (again), the story now focuses on a rogue squadron (pun intended) of faulty clones. Similar to the way in which Mandalorian offers a twist on the familiar, The Bad Batch also takes the world created by Lucas and creates something exciting and new(ish).

Picking up immediately after the clone troops have executed the now-infamous Order 66, the elite troop of soldiers Clone Force 99 are left shocked and confused by what has just taken place. After having followed their Jedi generals for years in the heat of battle, suddenly they have been commanded to wipe them out. (“All of them,” growls Palpatine.) However, as members of a bad batch of clones who have been genetically enhanced above their brothers-in-arms, Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair and Echo seem immune to the Emperor’s orders. Lost and confused in the post-Clone Wars era, the Bad Batch must attempt to find their place in a much darker world than they could have imagined.

Emperor Palpatine in a scene from “STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH”, exclusively on Disney+. © 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

With a slightly darker edge than its animated predecessor, Bad Batch has genuine potential to be the next great Star Warsseries. Featuring solid story-telling and interesting characters, The Bad Batch is entertaining and engaging from the first episode. Filoni and his crew have yet again [re]created a world that’s worth our attention. Although this set up of a rag-tag band of freedom fighters may feel familiar within the Wars universe, the fact that the group consists of Imperial troopers somehow makes it seem fresh. 

What’s more, the timing of the story feels like it actually fleshes out part of Lucas’ original vision. (Admittedly, the poor writing of the prequels leaves ample space for this to happen.) By continuing the story post-Order 66 from the perspective from anyone outside the Jedi Order, Filoni opens up the importance of that moment to those who aren’t normally featured. This is yet again another example of how Disney+ has allowed Star Wars to give smaller characters not named Skywalker their moment in the sun. (Who knew that I’d be glad to see the Kimino cloners again?) Though formulaic, it is still working… and fun to watch.

Omega in a scene from “STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH”, exclusively on Disney+. © 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

Admittedly, the story doesn’t need the addition of a ‘kid’ to the group. (At least, not from the first episode.) With the inclusion of ‘Omega’, the Batch has someone else to protect and provide the necessary childlike innocence that they will need. This seems to be the trend for more mature Wars stories in order to ‘soften’ the groups for younger viewers (read: Yoda, Baby) but it isn’t always necessary. 

What makes this Bad Batch interesting is that, as ‘faulty’ clones, they have a unique flaw that sets them apart from other troopers: free will. Because of their genetic modifications, this crew of misfits are able to avoid the power of the Emperor’s viral commands and make their own decisions. In other words, despite their Clone DNA, this batch has the ability to make moral decisions instead of following orders blindly.

(L-R): Echo, Tech, Hunter, Crosshair and Wrecker in a scene from “STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH”, exclusively on Disney+. © 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

This squadron has a conscience.

Usually viewed as mindless drones who execute the Empire’s wishes at will, this group of troopers with the ability to reason for themselves creates some interesting tensions. In the pilot episode alone, the frictions within the unit mount as they attempt to wrestle with the implications of disobeying orders for the first time. Having been told what to think their entire lives, their circumstances have forced them to decide the nature of their duty for themselves. On the one hand, they value the military chain of command and accomplishing their mission.

On the other, they have begun to question what’s right and wrong.

Admiral Tarkin in a scene from “STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH”, exclusively on Disney+. © 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

For this group, morality is a new experience and offers solid potential as the story unfolds. As they process their way through a new world, Hunter and his crew are literally blank slates in search of their own identity and ethics. As a result, these new toys appear to have given Filoni and his team the opportunity to explore what makes something good or evil.

It’s also what appears to make watching this Bad Batch a good choice.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch premieres on Disney+ on Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 with new episodes airing on Fridays.