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Ahsoka Episode 7 (Disney+): The portrayal of Thrawn this week is probably the strongest portrayal of Thrawn outside of the original Heir to the Empire trilogy where he showcases his strategic thinking by being so many steps ahead in his plan where even things going against his plan in the short term do not permanently inhibit his overall schemes. Eman Esfandi as Ezra has been a great addition to the cast and he manages to channel the animated version of his character perfectly. That said, the finale this week has to end with Thrawn making it back to the main galaxy to set up the Heir to the Empire movie and the rise of the First Order.
Fionna and Cake Episodes 9 and 10 (Max): It turns out that all Fionna and Cake was at the end of the day was an exorcize to “canonize” the Fionna and Cake universe within the wider Adventure Time multiverse which was definitely a worthwhile endeavor. The episodes allow Simon to get his closure with Betty, allow the viewer to get a slightly larger taste of the futuristic and dystopian version of Ooo in the future, and allow for the ability to continue on in the future (which is uncertain considering current leadership at WB) without it feeling like the story was shortchanged.
Flora and Son (AppleTV+): John Carney can always be counted on to deliver a heartfelt film about the power of music and Flora and Son is no different. While it isn’t as strong as Sing Street or Once or Begin Again, the story of Flora finding herself through music is still worth watching. That said, the story does kind of fall flat any time it focuses on the relationship between her and her son.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Netflix): Two years ago, Apple TV+ released an adaptation of Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Macbeth that was more or less a direct adaptation of the source material. To that end, Wes Anderson’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
(and the three smaller releases that go along with it) is a straightforward adaptation, down to the stylistic choice to have the shorts be read the same way an audiobook would be while the story is acted out around the narrator. It’s an interesting (and short) watch so it is worth checking out.
This Week In Theaters:
The Exorcist: Believer: Blumhouse continues to reboot old horror franchises (arguably, The Exorcist isn’t a franchise because it’s one good movie and a bunch of terrible sequels) with The Exorcist: Believer starring Ellen Burstyn and Leslie Odom Jr. This is a legacy sequel that serves as both a reboot of the franchise for a new audience and a sequel with some of the original cast that follows as a sequel to the original.
Last Week At The Box Office:
Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie: $23.0 Million
Saw X: $18.0 Million
The Creator: $14.0 Million
The Nun II: $4.7 Million
The Blind: $4.1 Million
Programming Notes:
While Ahsoka may be ending this week, Disney+ is picking up this Thursday with season two of Loki at 9 PM EST.
This final note will be filed under rumors/speculation/leaks, however with Ahsoka wrapping up this week, there is no concrete answer as to what the next Star Wars show on Disney+ will be, something that has not happened since Disney+ launched in 2019. It is worth noting that an (alleged) trailer for the upcoming High Republic show The Acolyte has leaked online which could indicate a release at some point in the near future. It’s unlikely to drop during tonight’s Monday Night Football game, however, it could be released during Good Morning America or during next week’s Raiders/Packers game as tends to happen with major Disney tentpoles. It is worth noting that there is no event on the main stage at New York Comic Con where it would be released.
