Obi-Wan Kenobi
Power is possible, but it has nothing compared to the power of nostalgia. Once ridiculed, Star Wars prequels have become popular, especially in the generation that grew up with them. So there was a lot of excitement when it was announced that Ewan McGregor would return to the robe for a six-part mini series as Obi-Wan Kenobi. But we did not understand the courage “Hello“Jedi is the master of the prequels, but rather a corrupt guru, hiding in the desert until he is called to action to save a minor princess Leia. The new series, directed by Canadian Deborah Chow, has introduced some new faces to the Star Wars universe. Vivien Lyra Blair as a young Leia was a fantastic find, which captured the presence and determination of the iconic character. The initial reaction to Moses Ingram as Inquisitor Reva showed a disappointing side of the Star Wars fandom as McGregor himself responded after Ingram revealed that he had been the target of racist attacks. Fans who stayed on the show would find that Reva was a more multi-layered character than the original episodes suggested. Of course, all this was just a prelude to what so many expected from the first moment it was announced that Hayden Christensen would return. It was the ultimate reunion: Obi-Wan Kenobi faces his biggest failure, Anakin, the student becomes Dark Lord Vader. Moses Ingram as the evil Rev. Rev. Obi-Wan Kenobi. (Disney +) After all the waiting, the initial collision was overwhelming, and what followed was slow and stormy. A recent interview with Variety may shed some light on why. Screenwriter Stuart Beattie told the newspaper he wrote a feature film that was supposed to be Obi-Wan Kenobi, the film. Following the poor performance of Solo, however, Beattie’s feature-length story became the basis for the six-part series. Rating: C for content loss for streaming. Watch at: Disney +
Eli Glasner Summer Flow Exhibition Card
As some shows end and others approach a finale, CBC’s Eli Glasner scores new seasons for Stranger Things, Ms. Marvel, The Boys and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Mrs. Marvel
In four episodes, this is the kind of Marvel series where things with superheroes are almost distracting. Iman Vellani from Markham of Ont., Continues to be the strongest element of Mrs. Marvel as Kamala Khan, Peter Parker of Gen Z. Immerses the character with a sense of surprise and authenticity. The Pakistani-American family around her is also strong – especially Zenobia Shroff and Hohan Kapur, who are perfect as parents. As with Spider-Man, in the comics Mrs. Marvel had more of a neighborhood atmosphere. But the latest episodes have uprooted her from New Jersey to Karachi, Pakistan. Watching Kamala get trapped in a power struggle between a group called The Clandestines and the Red Daggers may leave some wishing to return to the simple stakes of high school. However, the weaving in the interstellar roots of Kamala with the dark days of the division of India is impressive. Rating: B for better build a great reward. Watch at: Disney +
Stranger Things – Season 4 – Part 1
Watching the new season of Stranger Things brings feelings too good a thing and sometimes a sense of frustration. Like so many series in the streaming era, the story seems to stretch where it could be condensed, but that would mean fewer clicks. Season 4 on the menu is a Russian prison story, a twisted trip to the memory lane for Eleven, and the teenagers in Hawkins are attacked again by a mysterious killer who makes the city target the local Dungeons and Dragons club. With a budget of about US $ 30 million per episode, the series is cost-effective and continues to feature new characters. Many of the fans’ favorites remain (the stoic Hopper, Dustin’s endless fun genius boy), but they are some of the new faces I have enjoyed the most, such as Joseph Quinn as Eddie, the D&D metalhead master who is now trapped in the live Cover Iron Maiden. Ή Argyle, the pizza-sharing dude played by Eduardo Franco and Brett Gelman as the endlessly adaptable Murray. Stranger Things is the kind of show where it’s hard to pick a favorite character, but jumping from story to story was a test of patience. We hope to join the various threads for Part 2, which will be available on July 1st. Score: B + for gang reconnection. Watch on: Netflix
The boys
A caustic look at a world where superheroes and companies are fighting for supremacy, The Boys shocks with wit and style (and exploding bodies; so many exploding bodies). While some other shows suffer from weak villains, what elevates this super satire is Antony Starr as Homelander, a fascist version of Superman who is the most powerful person on the planet. The new season was a masterful slow burn as Starr hints at how the carefully maintained Homelander front starts to break. What hastened the collapse is the return of Soldier Boy, an unacceptable riff for Captain America and perhaps Homelander’s only weakness. While much attention was paid to the disgusting X-rating in the heart of last week’s episode, it also gave a brief but satisfyingly brutal battle where Homelander nearly lost his head. Score: A for always exceeds expectations. Watch at: Prime Video
