The Mandalorian and Grogu

Shortly after season 3 of The Mandalorian television series and paraphrasing the opening crawl (found here):

Though the Empire has fallen (this is set after Return of the Jedi), Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to secure systems, they have enlisted the help of the Mandalorian and his young apprentice Grogu to hunt down these criminals in the Outer Rim. 

Here, Mando and Grogu get their hardest mission yet: tracking an elusive warlord whose whereabouts are known by the Hutts. But to get their cooperation, Mando has to do them a favor . . . and can the Hutts be trusted?

There was a lot I enjoyed about this film. I love the time period, it was fun seeing more of the Hutts (and some characters that appeared in previous series or films), the effects were good, some of the characters/moments were amusing, and the overall message was outstanding. Mando summarizes with this line:

The old protect the young. Then the young protect the old. This is the way.

That theme of sacrificing for the good of others is powerful.

I didn't love everything. It was scarier/darker in places than I expected (lots of monsters; beware if your kids are watching). The delivery was quite linear with no side-stories or sub-plots; it had points where it plodded along as a result. It didn't do much to close out the overall story of the title characters, which seemed bizarre. But my main complaint: this felt like two episodes of the television show stitched together, with a climax about halfway followed by a long dead period as the next storyline built up. 

Ultimately, this movie felt like they starting planning a fourth season of the television show, then abandoned that and decided to make a movie instead. I think it would have been better (and more powerful) as a mini-season. If you're a Mando fan, watch this, but you can wait until it hits Disney+.

Rating: B

Maul—Shadow Lord: Season 1

It is a year after Revenge of the Sith. Jedi Master Daki and his Apprentice Devon hide on an unnamed planet, eking out an existence in the shadows. Elsewhere on the same world, Maul does the same. When the Imperials learn that these Force-wielders are present, they send Inquisitors to eradicate the problem. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend . . ." but can Jedi fight beside fallen Sith without being corrupted?

Maul—Shadow Lord is an excellent animated series, filling in the gaps between Episode III and Solo (from a movie perspective) and between Bad Batch and Obi-Wan Kenobi (from a television perspective). The title character is intriguing—a Sith dedicated to destroying his former master. It creates some intriguing dynamics. Though you know how his story ends, and this series is largely an extended hunt/chase sequence, it is suspenseful and captivating. Recommended.

Rating: A

Battle of Hoth

Today's review is of the 2025 release, Battle of Hoth. For 2-4 players, it takes 30 minutes.

Overview

The opening of The Empire Strikes Back is the famous snow battle scene on the ice planet of Hoth. The Battle of Hoth game seeks to re-create that event. Will you be the courageous Rebels or ruthless Empire? Regardless of which side you choose, you will maneuver your units with Command Cards, roll battle dice, and seek to meet your objectives—before your opponent beats you to it. Will you prevail?

game in progress; image from here

The game comes with a rule book, scenario book, and campaign books. For a new game, you select a scenario in that book (probably the first one) and set up the board as shown there (placing terrain and miniatures of the right type in the specified grids). Each player draws a specified number of Command Cards and the game begins (with the first player determined by the scenario). 

Turn Order:

1. Play a Command Card. This tells you how many units you can activate (and in which zone; the board is divided into three).

2. Order. Announce which units you intend to activate (within limits stated by your Command Card).

3. Move the ordered units, one at a time, within their movement restriction.

4. Attack with the ordered units, one at a time, within their combat range constraints. 

5. Draw a new Command Card.

For attacking, roll dice and record hits as indicated. The number of dice you roll here depends (generally) on range: if you are in an adjacent hex from the defending unit, you can roll 3 dice. Hit units are removed from the board (but a given hex can contain several miniatures, and some may survive to perform their own attack).

The goal in a given scenario is to earn a certain number of 'medals' (generally by defeating units). Sometimes you can earn more medals if you defeat a specific type of unit.

And speaking of units, each has different movement ranges, attack ranges, and other abilities. Play continues until one side earns the stated number of medals. They are crowned the victor!

Review

This is a light and fast miniatures game based on the Memoir 44 rules system, a classic WWII game. It also reminded me of a simplified version of Star Wars Miniatures. The Command Card component is the largest element of choice in this game—and can be the most maddening (if your cards don't align with your existing unit placement or desired strategy). But overall, this is enjoyable as the light experience it is intended to be.

Rating: B+

Thrawn (Timothy Zahn)

Mitth'raw'nuruodo of the Chiss Ascendancy has been abandoned on an alien world. Rescued by Imperials, and having once known Anakin Skywalker, he is brough before Emperor Palpatine and given a chance to start afresh in Imperial Navy. His genius is soon on full display, and he rises quickly in favor and rank. He is not without his enemies, but he will prevail. This is the origin story of Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Thrawn holds a special place in my heart, having been the antagonist in the first Star Wars Expanded Universe book, Heir to the Empire, I read some thirty years ago. When Disney bought the franchise, they relegated all such material to 'legends' status, saying it was no longer canon, but then proceeded to bring some elements back—Thrawn among them. He has since appeared in animated and live-action TV shows alike, keeping the core components of the character the same while altering his adventures, but his beginnings have always been shrouded in mystery. Here, author Timothy Zahn (who authored the original Thrawn books) returns to tell his origin story.

How was it? Okay. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't overly interesting, either. It's always hard when you know the end of a story . . . this is basically an expected tale where Thrawn comes up through the ranks and encounters challenges along the way. He's smart; he uses art to analyze enemies; he has integrity. Some parts were cool; others were boring. There were some plot points that seem far-fetched. It wasn't terrible, but it was vanilla enough that I'm wondering why they bothered to tell the tale. Sometimes impressions of depth are best enjoyed by leaving them unexplored.

Rating: B-

Andor: Season 2

After Andor Season 1 . . .

Cassian Andor ponders his role—if any—in the Rebellion, as he and Bix eke out a difficult existence.

Luthen Rael and his assistant, Kreya, continue their mysterious mission and dubious methods.

Senator Mon Mothma navigates a double life of prestige and covert support for those who resist the Emperor.

Dedra Meero, Imperial Security Bureau, closes in on Luthen while learning not is all as it seems in Palpatine's Empire.

----------

Here, the 12 episodes are divided into four three-episode 'pieces', each set a year after the former and counting down to the Battle of Yavin (Star Wars Episode IV)—the first three are set in BBY 4, the second three in BBY 3, and so on. And obviously, it sets the stage for Rogue One.

Season 2 started slowly. I wasn't a fan after the first episode or two . . . but wow did it end up blowing me away. Like the first season, this one is about sacrifice, but it packs a bigger punch this time around. You know how it ends for most of the characters . . . but the show draws you in with suspense and struggle (both internal to characters and between those on the same side). And they do a good job portraying both noble actions and annoying flaws in characters on both sides—you know who the good guys are, but they do some extreme things, making you feel the complexity and difficulty of the time. 

The storytelling, both within a given episode and between them, skims along the wavetops (like a Hemingway novel)—a lot goes unsaid, implied, in the shadows. The subtlety was brilliantly done and a refreshing change from the "hand-holding" a lot of modern television shows do. 

In short, it is an unusual but refreshing Star Wars offering, and one most welcome. Now to re-watch Rogue One.

Rating: A

Tales of the Underworld

Tales of the Underworld is a six-episode series of shorts (each running 14-15 minutes). It is in the same vein as Tales of the Jedi and Tales of the Empire. It focuses on formative moments in the lives of two people in particular: Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane.

As with previous releases, it is hard to get any real depth in such short episodes. The first three were about Ventress; the last three were about Bane. The first half was decent; the second was excellent. You should be familiar with Ventress and Bane, though, to really understand any of this (the Clone Wars series). These are more connective tissue between established tales than independent stories. 

Rating: B+

Skeleton Crew: Season 1

Set five years after Return of the Jedi . . .

Wim and his friends live a peaceful, if boring, existence on At Attin. But all that is about to change . . . for a chance discovery will send them on an adventure of a lifetime. Now if only they can find their way home . . . it's a big galaxy out there.

I can't review this fully without revealing some spoilers, so I'll keep it high level. There is a cool story here (or elements of one) and some fun characters (like the droid SM-33). It is basically Star Wars meets Indiana Jones and/or golden age of piracy. But it is at its heart a typical coming-of-age tale—a Disney channel special set in the Star Wars universe—where kids rule the day (and magically know how to do things) and adults are either helpless bystanders or bad guys to be outsmarted.* That annoyed me. The cool elements raise the grade for me, but it could have been so much better.

Rating: C+

*One reviewer called this "Goonies in space." That's it in a nutshell.

Han Solo & Chewbacca: The Crystal Run (Part 2)

Picking up where Part 1 left off . . .

Han has been left for dead, injured and abandoned on a random world. Chewie is locked up on a prison planet. And yet, the heist they were working continues . . . can they heal, escape, reunite, and hit it big?

This one is better than the first part, but only just. There are some interesting moments, and cool tie-ins or references to characters seen in Solo and Episode VII, but the relevance to the wider story is still unclear and conclusion is open-ended and unsatisfying . . . until/unless they tie up loose ends and have some sort of point. 

Rating: C+

Han Solo & Chewbacca: The Crystal Run (Part 1)

In the days before the Rebellion, smuggler Han Solo and his sidekick Chewbacca work for Jabba the Hutt. He sends them (with an old 'friend') on a heist that could yield the payday of a lifetime. But such things are never easy . . . with twists and surprises galore, can our heroes win . . . or even survive?

There was also a one-shot "Life Day" issue at the end of this, where Han and Chewie reflect back on this wookiee holiday through the years.

Meh. It has been nearly four years since I last read a Star Wars graphic novel*. Things like this remind me why. I was at the library yesterday and picked up some graphic novels; this one looked promising. It was . . . uninspiring. The art was fine, the story oh-so-very predictable, and I'm not quite sure what the point was. (That said, I hope to cover part 2 tomorrow to see if there is a satisfying conclusion.)

Aside: in a universe like Star Wars, any tale should either

1) develop the overall story arc in some meaningful way, or

2) explore a side character/event in a meaningful way (that may impact the overall story OR have a message of some sort)

I felt like this graphic novel did neither. 

Rating: C-

*The Force Unleashed II

The Acolyte: Season 1

Set 100 years before Episode I, The Acolyte tells the story of a curious planet, a cult of witches, a Jedi investigation, and a mysterious Force user. At the center of it all are Osha and Mae, twins separated as children by disturbing events. With the truth shrouded, can any of them learn what's going on? (I won't say more to avoid spoilers.)

This eight-episode series has been consistently panned by fans (though part might be due to a review bombing campaign) and applauded by critics. I thought it was okay: it was fun to see a time never before explored on the big screen, new planets, and a wookie Jedi. There were also some good plot twists and intriguing storylines. On the down side, the characters weren't great, some plot elements were the 'same old thing' (in Star Wars stories), and the final episode was poorly done, unconvincing, and maddeningly inconclusive/open-ended. That in particular left a bad taste in my mouth. A second season could redeem it if done well, but as a stand-alone experience, it is unsatisfying.

Rating: C-

Tales of the Empire

Tales of the Empire is a six-episode series of shorts (each running 12-18 minutes). It is basically season two of Tales of the Jedi. It focuses on formative moments in the lives of two people in particular: Morgan Elsbeth and Barriss Offee.

As with Jedi, it is hard to get any real depth in such short episodes. The first three were about Elsbeth; the last three were about Offee. I enjoyed them all, but you need to be familiar with the movies, the Clone Wars series, and Ahsoka for these to make any sense. These are more connective tissue between established tales than independent stories. I wish they had made more and made them more stand-alone.

Rating: B+

The Bad Batch: Season 3

Shortly after Season 2 . . . the Empire badly wants Omega back. Her brothers—the 'defective' (and elite) fighting force now opposed to the Empire they once served—won't let that happen if they can help it. But against the might of the Empire, a hidden facility, and a terrible secret project . . . what hope do they have?

The Bad Batch series ends with a bang. Unlike the first two seasons, this final one felt more directed towards a purpose. It had occasional (and pleasing) cameos or homages to various other stories/series (the movies, The Clone Wars, etc.), and a reasonably satisfying conclusion.

Rating: A-

Star Wars Unlimited

Today's review is of the 2024 release, Star Wars Unlimited. This collectible card game is for 2 (or more) players and takes 30 minutes.

Overview

You are a leader in the Star Wars galaxy, determined to be victorious by destroying your opponent's base first. To do so, you will use your deck (with cards that are units, events, or upgrades) to battle in two arenas (ground and space).

the starter decks

Setup is straightforward. Each player takes their leader and base and places it before them. Shuffle your deck, draw 6 cards, and put 2 of them face-down in your resource row. It will look like the below image:

The game after setup

Gameplay happens over a series of rounds, each with two phases: action and regroup.

- Action phase: you can play a card, attack with a unit, use an ability, take the initiative, or pass

- Regroup phase: each player draws 2 cards, resources a card, and ready all cards.

The player who has the initiative goes first in the next round, taking the first action. 

Action phase explanations: Playing a card means paying its resource cost and putting it (exhausted, or turned sideways) into the appropriate arena (space or ground). Attacking with a unit means taking a ready (non-exhausted) unit in an arena and attacking an opponent's unit in that same arena OR attacking the opponent's base. (Exhaust it to attack.) Using an ability is just that: some units, leaders, or bases have abilities that have a prescribed cost for a certain effect. Taking the initiative means you are done for the turn, but gives you the right to go first in the next round. And passing is an action you take when you are done all other actions.

The key to this game is understanding that you alternate actions with your opponent. You might (for example) attack with a unit, then they play a card, then you play a card, then they use an ability, then you attack with a unit, then they attack with a unit, and so on. It's deliberately "back and forth," so proper sequencing is important to strategy.

A unit can attack by exhausting and dealing its damage (value in red, see below) to its target. Damage is dealt in counters, so your target might survive to live another day, but still be damaged. A unit's defense value is in blue; when that is met or exceeded, the card is defeated and discarded. If attacking a unit, both cards deal damage to each other. If attacking a base, only the base takes damage.

Rounds and phases continue until one player destroys the other's base. They win!

For those interested in more information, here is the quickstart rules, a card database, and how to play video.

Review

This game is very similar to Star Wars Destiny. And that was a great game, so it makes sense why its parent company would produce a card-focused spinoff. Star Wars Unlimited is fast-paced, easy to learn, and full of meaningful decisions. Game-wise, it is excellent. 

Theme-wise, I wasn't as thrilled. I love Star Wars, so no problem there. But I'm not a fan of the overly cartoony art (which was a deliberate style choice; Fantasy Flight Games could have re-used art from its prior Star Wars ventures but chose not to). And I didn't feel like it captured the epic grandeur of the movies . . . this is a tactically-focused conflict. Both of these are personal preferences, so it doesn't affect my overall rating, but it does mean I won't seek to collect this.

Rating: A

Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game

Today's review is of the 2023 release, Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game. For 2 players, it takes 30 minutes.

Overview

Whether you play as the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire, your goal is the same: destroy 3 of your opponent's bases. Can you do so first?

This is a deckbuilding game in the spirit of Dominion. Each player starts with a basic deck of 10 cards that grants resources or attack abilities. You'll add to your deck as the game progresses, giving you more powerful options. 

During setup, prepare the galaxy row (the central 'market' where cards can be purchased) and Force tracker (set it to neutral). Then each player chooses one of their bases as their starting base, draws 5 cards, and the game begins.

There are a few types of cards in the game:

- Bases are what you must protect (if they are yours) and attack (if your opponent's). A base has a defense value; once it takes hits equal to or exceeding that, it is destroyed.

- Capital ships can participate in attacks (on bases) and protect bases. They also have a defense value and stay in play until destroyed.

- Units (troopers, vehicles, starfighters, characters, etc.) can participate in attacks (on bases or the galaxy row). Or they may add resources or have some other effect on the game. They are discarded at the end of the turn.

On their turn, a player can do the following actions any number of times in any order:

- play a card (from their hand to the table, resolving effects like gaining resources)

- purchase a card (from the galaxy row, putting it in their discard pile. Then replenish the galaxy row)

- use a card ability (turning it sideways indicating its use)

- commit to an attack (choose units to attack galaxy row cards OR choose units and capital ships to attack opposing bases)

- resolve an attack (add up the damage and put that many counters on bases/capital ships, or see if it equals or exceeds the defense value of a card in the galaxy row, discarding that card if so)

Once a player is out of options or chooses to pass, they discard their hand and all unit cards, return unused resources to the pool, draw 5 cards, and the other player takes their turn. Once your draw deck is depleted, shuffle the discard pile to make a new draw deck, enabling cards you purchase to circulate into your deck. Play progresses until a person destroys 3 bases.

game in progress; image from here

One final comment: the Force track can swing the momentum in the game. Certain cards grant the ability to 'gain Force,' meaning you move the Force token that many spaces towards your side. Other cards benefit from the Force being with you (meaning the token is on your side in general), and you gain an extra resource if the Force token is 3 spaces away from the neutral area.

The official video is a nice overview.

Review

I really enjoyed this game. It is fast-paced and well-designed. I was wondering how having faction-specific cards would affect the experience; the ability to attack (and benefit from) opposing cards in the galaxy row is a neat twist and keeps things moving. The Force track is also a nice addition, giving people various things to manage (and providing meaningful choices). I want to play it more. I wish it were for more than 2 people, and I think the game would be enhanced by expansions (I hope they're coming!), but even as it is, this is a winner.

Rating: A

Ahsoka: Season 1

In the post-Empire world, the fledgling New Republic rebuilds the galaxy and tries to maintain the peace. But rumors of a new—or old—threat emerge: Grand Admiral Thrawn, exiled to another galaxy, may have survived and is trying to return to unite and lead the Imperial remnants. Ahsoka Tano is sent to investigate; can she stop this new menace? She won't be alone; Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, and others will help her. And she'll need their assistance, for the Night Sisters of Dathomir are intent on stopping her. Who will prevail?

Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker's padawan introduced in the animated Clone Wars television series, was largely a prequel-era character until she came back in Rebels. As such, Ahsoka follows the events of Rebels: Season 4 and is effectively a live-action continuation of that animated series. It was decent. I liked the story; the execution felt lacking. The acting seemed a bit wooden, the music a bit underwhelming, and the action a touch unimpressive. It was fun seeing previously-animated characters "come to life," but it could have been better.

Rating: B-

The Mandalorian (Season 3)

The beloved saga continues! Picking up where season 2 left off, Din Djarin and Grogu have various adventures as they seek to (first) return Din to the Mandalorian ranks (by bathing in the waters beneath Mandalore) and (second) assist Bo-Katan and the Mandalorian remnants as they re-take their homeworld. But Imperial fragments, led by Moff Gideon, won't go down without a fight . . . and have a few surprises in store. 

I think the series continues to be solid, though one story in particular in this 8-episode arc was overlong and largely irrelevant. The others were decent, moving Din and Grogu's story forward and greatly expanding Bo-Katan's role. I enjoy seeing the "post-Return of the Jedi" state of the galaxy. I'm told season 4 has already been written, and I can't help but wonder, based on the emphasis this time, if they will adjust the show's name to The Mandalorians.

Rating: A-

The Bad Batch: Season 2

Bad Batch: Season 2 picks up where Season 1 left off. Here, we follow the elite clone trooper force (now independent of, and on the run from, the Empire) as they take on various missions and try to find their place in a now-unfamiliar galactic landscape.

Looking back on my season 1 thoughts, season 2 is much the same. Some episodes seemed like random adventures—filler. Others had important links to other Star Wars canon, foreshadowing plot points we would see in maturity in later shows or films. And there is the occasional 'cool' cameo of a fond and familiar face. On the whole, too little happened in 16 episodes. Season 3 seems inevitable . . . I hope they pick up the pace and bring it to a satisfying conclusion.

Rating: C

Star Wars: The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight (Tony DiTerlizzi)

In this book, Tony DiTerlizzi condenses the original Star Wars trilogy into one book, focusing on Luke Skywalker's story. Ultimately, his goal is to use the story as a vehicle to showcase Ralph McQuarrie's original concept art for the saga.

The story was far too rushed, re-telling three movies in 64 pages, but I really enjoyed the art (which was the whole point anyway). Since it is concept art, it didn't always portray what ended up in the films, but it was impressively similar most of the time—George Lucas used an awful lot of McQuarrie's ideas. In addition, the art on a given page didn't always directly correlate to that part of the story, but it made sense to pack as much of the art as possible into this book. 

This is a book where you ignore the text and simply enjoy the pictures.

Rating: A-

Andor: Season 1

Cassian Andor, the Rebel operative who died retrieving the Death Star plans in Rogue One, gets his own prequel television series in Andor. This 12-episode tale follows him through the years immediately preceding the movie- his troubled past, his difficult present trying to sell stolen Imperial technology, his run-in with Luthen Rael (who tries to get him to join the Rebels), his involvement in a Rebel heist, his subsequent flight to avoid such a life, a later unrelated arrest/escape, and the forebodings of his future. But it's not just about him. We also get a look into Luthen's and Mon Mothma's work for the Rebels- one in the shadows, the other as a senator on Coruscant. And we even get some insights into the Imperial perspective through Syril Karn, obsessed with finding Andor, and Dedra Meero, an Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) supervisor. Can a rag-tag band group of Rebels coaelesce to overcome Imperial might- or is it too little, too late?

This show has its share of fans and critics. My kids called it "good but boring." It was certainly grittier and less action-packed than your typical Star Wars fare, focusing instead on the suspense, sacrifice, and machinations required of those planning a Rebellion. I liked it overall, though I thought there were some plot points that seemed forced or poorly explained. And I could get confused with keeping all the characters and storylines straight. 

Ultimately, I see the show's primary value in its portrayal of sacrifice. Multiple characters give of themselves in varied ways for the Rebel cause. Perhaps the most poignant moment of the whole series is this exchange (copied from here):

Lonni Jung: And what do you sacrifice? 

Luthen Rael: Calm. Kindness. Kinship. Love. I've given up all chance at inner peace. I've made my mind a sunless space. I share my dreams with ghosts. I wake up every day to an equation I wrote 15 years ago from which there's only one conclusion, I'm damned for what I do. My anger, my ego, my unwillingness to yield, my eagerness to fight, they've set me on a path from which there is no escape. I yearned to be a savior against injustice without contemplating the cost and by the time I looked down there was no longer any ground beneath my feet. What is my sacrifice? I'm condemned to use the tools of my enemy to defeat them. I burn my decency for someone else's future. I burn my life to make a sunrise that I know I'll never see. And the ego that started this fight will never have a mirror or an audience or the light of gratitude. So what do I sacrifice? Everything!

Powerful.

Rating: B+

Tales of the Jedi: Season 1

Tales of the Jedi is a six-episode series of shorts (each running 12-18 minutes). It focuses on formative moments in the lives of two Jedi in particular: Ahsoka Tano and Master Dooku.

It is hard to get any real depth in such short episodes. The first three were boring; the last three were excellent. You should be familiar with Episodes I-III and the Clone Wars series for these to make any sense, though. These are more connective tissue between established tales than independent stories.

Rating: B