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The Bad Batch Season 3 Episode 8 (Disney+): The single most annoying thing a TV show or movie can do is have a mystery that the viewer knows the answer to before the characters in the show. Conservatively, one can assume someone who is choosing to watch The Bad Batch on a weekly basis has seen at least the 11 live-action Star Wars movies that have been released. It would probably also be safe to assume that they watched The Clone Wars series that aired on Cartoon Network and Disney+ considering this show began as a backdoor pilot in the final season of that show. Why is this show insisting on acting like the viewer does not know what is going on? It is clear that Project Necromancer is the plan by the Empire to revive the emperor and it is equally clear that these “high M-count” targets are force-sensitive survivors of Order 66. The viewer has been ahead of the team for the entire run of this season and hopefully, this does not go on for too much longer.
X-Men ’97 Episodes 1 and 2 (Disney+): The long-awaited return of the animated X-Men show from the 90s hit Disney+ this week and they appear to have really nailed the aesthetic of the original just in HD. Not only did they nail the look and feel in appearance, but it hits all the name narrative and thematic points. The themes of systemic injustice and racism have been the backbone of the X-Men franchise since its inception (don’t let anyone tell you this was a new development) and that carries through into this iteration of the show.
The Girls on the Bus Episode 3 (Max): The dynamic between Sadie and Lola in this episode is pretty fun to watch, especially since it gives Lola the opportunity to grow as both a journalist and a character. The death of the frontrunner in the race does throw things into slight disarray and is a nice twist considering how much of the show seems kind of predictable. It feels fairly obvious that Malcolm is going to be the person who has the information about Walker and gave Sadie the burner, it feels fairly obvious that Sadie’s indiscretion with Malcolm is going to come back to bite her after she’s caught by her rival, and it’s fairly obvious that Grace’s daughter is dealing with something major that is going to force Grace between family and her career.
This Week In Theaters:
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire: It’s going to be ridiculous and over the top, but it’s also going to be a must-watch. Following their conflict in Godzilla Vs. Kong in 2021, the two Titans team up to fight an even bigger evil this time.
In The Land of Saints And Sinners: Liam Neeson stars in this story about a former assassin who is pulled out of his retirement in his small village in Ireland when terrorists with the IRA show up in his town. Kerry Condon and Jack Gleeson also star.
Last Week At The Box Office:
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire: $45.0 Million
Dune: Part Two: $17.6 Million
Kung Fu Panda 4: $16.5 Million
Immaculate: $5.3 Million
Arthur the King: $4.2 Million
Programming Notes:
A release date and trailer have finally been given for the next Star Wars show on Disney+. The Acolyte will be released on June 4th and the trailer looks like something new and fresh for the franchise. The show is set about a hundred years before The Phantom Menace at the tail-end of the High Republic era and will tell the story of the rise of the Sith leading into the Skywalker Saga.
A trailer was also released for Max’s upcoming original show tied to The Batman about the rise of Oswald Cobblepot’s criminal empire. The Penguin appears to have the visual aesthetic of the movie and should be interesting when it releases later this year.
