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Ahsoka Episodes 1 and 2 (Disney+): There is simultaneously a lot going on in these first two episodes while entirely being set within the finale of Star Wars: Rebels. People who previously watched Rebels may be frustrated with the slow pace and reintroduction of characters and concepts they already know, however it is worth noting that the general audience will most likely not have a frame of reference for Sabine and Hera Syndulla. There are a lot of concepts from various aspects of both the old non-canon “Legends” continuity and the new expanded universe, including some notable references to Knights of the Old Republic and Outbound Flight. That said, this show is clearly going to be what the book Heir to the Empire
was in establishing Thrawn as a force for the remnants of the Empire in the post-Return of the Jedi galaxy, his use of morally ambiguous figures who can use the force, and set up the movie that Filoni is doing in the near future to wrap-up all these loose ends. Considering the appearances of the Night Sisters, it is also worth noting that it is possible that Thrawn comes back via the same means that Ahsoka did in Rebels, namely bringing him forward through time with the world between worlds.
Harley Quinn Season 4 Episode 7 (Max): The view into the future of what becomes of both the world and Harley and Ivy’s daughter does a lot to up the stakes going into the last batch of episodes. The number of references to Avatar in this episode is hilarious and fits with the motif of the season very well which makes this episode one of the more entertaining entries this season. The reveal that the Gotham of the dark version of 2048 is led by Damien Wayne is pitch perfect based on how he has been characterized over the course of the show up until this point.
My Adventures With Superman Season 1 Episode 9 (Adult Swim/Max): Clark’s crisis of confidence in this episode is fantastic and Jack Quaid has a great performance as he portrays this. The realization that the military sees him as only a weapon is visibly harmful to Clark and his resolve after makes him one of the best adaptations of Superman that has been put to screen.
Telemarketers (HBO/Max): This is one of the better docuseries to come out in recent years as it catalogs the rampant fraud that permeates the charitable donation collection telemarketing industry. The series follows a few individuals who worked for one of the largest and most notorious collection houses as that one gets shut down and new versions start to crop up. The run-and-gun style of filmmaking gives the documentary a real indie look and feel which matches with the guerilla-style reporting that is utilized for the series and it allows the filmmakers to become characters without them becoming the focal of the narrative.
This Week In Theaters:
The Equalizer 3:
Last Week At The Box Office:
Gran Turismo: $17.3 Million
Barbie: $17.1 Million
Blue Beetle: $12.8 Million
Oppenheimer: $9.0 Million
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem: $6.1 Million
Programming Notes:
As noted in the article about the SAG strike this weekend, Warner Brothers has followed through on their threats to shift their release slate should SAG and the WGA not capitulate to their demands. Dune Part II
has shifted from November 3rd, 2023 to March 15th, 2024, Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire has shifted from March 15th, 2024 to April 12th, 2024, and The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has shifted from April 12th, 2024 to December 13th, 2024.
