Running Streaming Movies/TV Thread

[adam]

I did eventually get the Play button for the Mandalorian, and also was able to download it. Watched over lunch (it's 40 minutes). Solid. Stay away from any references to it on Twitter, cause people are being really fast and loose with the big spoiler.

Here's the question:

Spoiler: DONT READ UNLESS YOU WATCHED EPISODE 1 OF MANDALORIAN

Yoda's kid or clone Yoda. I'm thinking Yoda's kid because 50 years before Mandalorian, puts us in Phantom Menace timeframe, before Yoda knew of the cloners in attack of the clones (which we know were ordered by Palpatine/Darth Sidious). Unless Palp got his hands on Yoda DNA and made one without telling him, and that's actually very plausible if we also believe Anakin/Vader was an experiment where he got Shmi pregnant. Ok, now I'm on the clone train. But it was a Palp ordered clone without Yoda's knowledge. And that's also why the remnants of the Empire are aware of the baby.

 

[mgarbowski]

Here's the question:

Spoiler: DONT READ UNLESS YOU WATCHED EPISODE 1 OF MANDALORIAN

Yoda's kid or clone Yoda. I'm thinking Yoda's kid because 50 years before Mandalorian, puts us in Phantom Menace timeframe, before Yoda knew of the cloners in attack of the clones (which we know were ordered by Palpatine/Darth Sidious). Unless Palp got his hands on Yoda DNA and made one without telling him, and that's actually very plausible if we also believe Anakin/Vader was an experiment where he got Shmi pregnant. Ok, now I'm on the clone train. But it was a Palp ordered clone without Yoda's knowledge. And that's also why the remnants of the Empire are aware of the baby.

Spoiler

Why does it have to be either? AFAIK Yoda is of an unknown species, and until now the only known example, and almost nothing is established as to their traits. So if you're writing the show you can posit almost anything you want. I think the hardest sell is that Yoda had a spouse/partner to have the kid with because then you need to answer how and when and where she was and all that. It could easily be a lab-grown clone. You can say the species reproduces asexually and Yoda had a secret birth, though that seems odd given he was clearly coming to the end of his natural life. Or maybe his species is like the phoenix or Groot: A new baby is born when one dies. Or you can just say there are others of his species, though if that's the case why how come we've only ever seen one -- a Jedi no less -- followed by a mystery infant? I think clone is most likely but really could go all sorts of directions.

 

[LostAnvil]

people are being really fast and loose

that's gonna be me with my pants before watching tonight

 

[adam]

Spoiler

Why does it have to be either? AFAIK Yoda is of an unknown species, and until now the only known example, and almost nothing is established as to their traits. So if you're writing the show you can posit almost anything you want. I think the hardest sell is that Yoda had a spouse/partner to have the kid with because then you need to answer how and when and where she was and all that. It could easily be a lab-grown clone. You can say the species reproduces asexually and Yoda had a secret birth, though that seems odd given he was clearly coming to the end of his natural life. Or maybe his species is like the phoenix or Groot: A new baby is born when one dies. Or you can just say there are others of his species, though if that's the case why how come we've only ever seen one -- a Jedi no less -- followed by a mystery infant? I think clone is most likely but really could go all sorts of directions.

Spoiler

Can't be the Groot/Phoenix, as they say they've been searching 50 years and ROTJ was only a few years prior to the Mandalorian. There was a female 'Yoda', in the Jedi counsel no less: Yaddle. So they could have banged. But it would have to be before Phantom Menace and why would they abandon their child? I think the options are:

1. Yoda Clone
2. Random infant, from a rare species.

( I originally added a photo, but it showed up outside the spoiler, so removed)

 

[LostAnvil]

Spoiler: Mandalorian Ep1 Spoiler

the new Star Wars intro was awesome:

 

[BxLio91]

Watched the first ep of the Mandalorian. I'm in. Holy crap at the ending.
Started Jack Ryan s2 right after but fell asleep so I'll try again today.

 

[The Toe]

Don't watch Let It Snow. One of the worst movies I've ever seen.

 

[mgarbowski]

Mandalorian E2 is not what I was hoping for.

 

[BxLio91]

Yikes!
I'll watch tomorrow.

 

[adam]

Mandalorian E2 is not what I was hoping for.

i didn’t think it too great either in terms of exposition. But what were you hoping for?

 

[mgarbowski]

i didn’t think it too great either in terms of exposition. But what were you hoping for?

Spoiler

Pretty much anything but a short 30 minute episode of which 20 minutes was slapstick Jawa humor and much of the rest was "look, it's cute Yoda baby!" It had none of the mystery or atmosphere of E1. It reminded me more of Galaxy Quest (cute but antagonistic aliens, 1-on-1 fight with a big alien animal which the hero only wins with external help). I love GQ, but this isn't supposed to be a send-up.

 

[Seth]

Spoiler

Pretty much anything but a short 30 minute episode of which 20 minutes was slapstick Jawa humor and much of the rest was "look, it's cute Yoda baby!" It had none of the mystery or atmosphere of E1. It reminded me more of Galaxy Quest (cute but antagonistic aliens, 1-on-1 fight with a big alien animal which the hero only wins with external help). I love GQ, but this isn't supposed to be a send-up.

I really enjoyed episode 2. One thing to remember is that these aren't epic once-a-year movies, they're once-a-week episodes. Hard to really say after only two episodes but this one seemed to fit in with where the story arc is going, and as far as the "external help" goes that's perhaps the whole point of this episode, that those powers are alive and well in the Star Wars universe. Was this the greatest TV event ever? Well, no, of course, but personally I was pretty happy with it.

 

[adam]

I really enjoyed episode 2. One thing to remember is that these aren't epic once-a-year movies, they're once-a-week episodes. Hard to really say after only two episodes but this one seemed to fit in with where the story arc is going, and as far as the "external help" goes that's perhaps the whole point of this episode, that those powers are alive and well in the Star Wars universe. Was this the greatest TV event ever? Well, no, of course, but personally I was pretty happy with it.

Spoiler

I agree. There are only 8 episodes. If you break it down like a film. End of episode 1 was the hook, where something happens that starts the plot and hooks the audience in. They nailed that. End of episode 2 should be the end of the first act. It was the end of the bounty hunt, which is now complete.

Double spoiler, don’t read past here if you don’t want to learn about story structure and know where the season is going.

We should expect to story to now take a different direction. I don’t think the Mandalorian will be bounty hunting anymore. Episode 3&4 will be about him turning in yoda 2.0. And the end of episode 4 should be the characters Turning Point in the middle of act 2. I’d assume it’s when he decides not to turn in Y2 for the bounty and instead protect him from the remnants of the empire. End of episode 6 he will probably lose Y2 to the bad guys (will be considered best episode of the season) And he’ll save Y2 again in episodes 7&8.

 

[Seth]

So I've watched three episodes of For All Mankind now and I can't quite put my finger on it. It's like the stories are great but the writing is somehow maybe not living up to that. Or maybe it's the directing. Like they had a pile of good ideas and the storyboards were amazing but then when they made the show it was like they're still in film school. Just to be clear though I find it fascinating, and the story is excellent. But it's sort of like watching old Doctor Who episodes, with their mix of indoor video and outdoor film with some cheesy effects mixed in as well. So basically I'm totally loving it but at the same time I wish it was, well, better.

And in writing this I think maybe I've figured it out. Basically it's totally great but it feels like they had to rush to make the Apple TV+ launch date, and if they had another sox months or a year it would've been amazing.

So, highly recommended, but with a little bit of a shrug and an eyeroll.

 

[mgarbowski]

I stand by my opinion that E2 of The Mandalorian was a disappointment, though it is a decidedly minority opinion. But regardless, E3 sees it very much back to what I hoped for.

 

[adam]

I stand by my opinion that E2 of The Mandalorian was a disappointment, though it is a decidedly minority opinion. But regardless, E3 sees it very much back to what I hoped for.

idk if it’s a minority opinion about E2. It’s valid, but I’ve said my piece on it already.

E3 was awesome. Can’t wait to see where it takes us.

 

[mgarbowski]

idk if it’s a minority opinion about E2. It’s valid, but I’ve said my piece on it already.

E3 was awesome. Can’t wait to see where it takes us.

I wasn't basing that just on the reaction here. It seems to have been widely loved all over various social media sites.

 

[mgarbowski]

My Watchmen finale reaction:

Spoiler

Adrian Veidt saves the world (again) saying, "Anyone who seeks to attain the power of a god must be prevented at all costs from attaining it." Watchmen fans reaction: relief.
Angela Aybar seeks to attain those exact powers. Same fans reaction: cheers.

Meh. Even Lindeloff seems not to understand the contradiction.

 

[21Architect]

The Irishman is good on the first viewing. It’s decidedly better the 2nd time around. Pacino’s scenes with “Tony Pro” are great.

 

[moogoo]

The Expanse is back and it IS AWESOME.