Book Review: The High Republic "Mission to Disaster"

A little background

Mission to Disaster is a middle-grade novel book in The High Republic series and was released not long after The Fallen Star although the storyline takes place before events in that book. As with most junior novels, it’s a gentler, shorter story with greater enjoyment on a narrative that children can engage with more.

As with all things book-wise so far, I’m consuming my Star Wars via Audible.

This book is by Justina Ireland who has written previous “junior” novels in this series and is narrated by Keylor Leigh as opposed to Marc Thompson who does most of the main High Republic Books. This means that the range of voices is considerably more limited and less distinct, but Keylor does a decent job of adding some distinction. The usual background sound effects and music are still there too but perhaps less polished and less advanced than in the other main books.

The total length of the audible book is 5 hours and 6 minutes, although that’s including the intro and credits. This is around a third of the length of the main books in the series thus also adding to that younger audience appeal. Although technically there are 35 chapters (of about but mostly 5 minutes each), there is also a prologue and epilogue.

The “Crawl”

“The Jedi think the dreaded Nihil marauders have been all but defeated. Their leader is on the run and their numbers have dwindled. Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh hopes this means she will finally have time to really train her Padawan, Imri Cantaros—but reports of a Nihil attack on Port Haileap soon dash those hopes. For not only have the Nihil attacked the peaceful outpost, they have abducted Vernestra and Imri's friend, Avon Starros. The two Jedi set off for Port Haileap, determined to figure out where the Nihil have taken their friend. Meanwhile, Avon must put her smarts and skills to the ultimate test as she fights for survival among the Nihil—and uncovers a sinister plan. Can Vernestra and Imri find their friend before disaster strikes?”

The story

Here's my overview of each chapter to show roughly how the story flows:

Chapter 1 Avon Starros is working on creating a replica kyber crystal of the one she stole from Imri. The facility she's at though is attacked by the Nihil and she is captured.

Chapter 2 Vernestra and Imri are training on a planet with Imri practising force jumps. Vern has a vision of Avon in trouble and the duo head to her assistance after getting confirmation of the Nihil attack.

Chapter 3 Avon awakes to find herself locked in a cargo hold with several other children who have been captured by Nihil. She quickly starts to work on finding a way to get a message to Starlight asking for help.

Chapter 4 Imri and Vern arrive at the port attacked by Nihil. Whilst Imri helps with the damage, Vern searches for Avon and meets up with J6, Avon's Nanny Droid, who both continue the search.

Chapter 5 Avon devises a plan with the other children which they put into action when a guard brings them food. Avon escapes the room and searches for a Comms outlet but is apprehended by a strong Nihil who takes her to meet the boss.

Chapter 6 Imri and Vern discuss options as they learn Avon was kidnapped. They leave the port with the keen J6 to head to another outpost recently attacked by Nihil and also reporting missing people.

Chapter 7 Avon is taken to meet the boss of the Nihil ship, a one Lorna Su (name sounds like anyways). Avon gives little info about herself, and Nihil boss suggests they are recruiting for new Nihil. A very short conversation.

Chapter 8 Vernestra communes with the force and hears Avon and the name of Nihil boss but no location. They arrive on Dalna and meet Jedi master at local temple for dinner and discuss reports of missing people on the planet.

Chapter 9 The captured children are brought a box of games which Avon instantly takes apart to work on a door release mechanism. Once completed she gets to the corridor outside where a Nihil is waiting and instructs her to help on a job.

Chapter 10 Back on Dalna, Vernestra, Imri and local Jedi head into town. They stop at the government building as Imri waits outside and meets Honesty who tells him there is something going on high up in the government.

Chapter 13 - Vern and Imri meet up with Honesty and his partner to discuss what the latter saw one night. They then head out in shuttle along with a few temple Jedi to an area near the mountains where a Nihil ship was seen.

Chapter 14 Avon is taken to the lab aboard the Nihil ship by the resident Doctor and is put to work on helping create Nihil gas bombs.

Chapter 15 The Jedi deal with angry animals roaming about and finding a child hiding in a building. Avon sneaks out of the lab at night to send a message of help but is caught by a Nihil.

Chapter 16 The Jedi reunite the boy with his parents who are in the government. J6 receives Avon's message. Turns out the signal is coming from the planet!

Chapter 18 Very little happens other than Imri waking up and going to where the investigation is being held and Vernestra asking him to go to Starlight to get help to repair the broken relay orbiting planet.

Chapter 19 Officials and Jedi discuss the next options and settle on all heading to a location known as a junction where they think it's most likely nihil might place explosives. It's a two-day trip though ...

Chapter 20 On Starlight, Imri greats a concerned Senator Starros over her daughter, Avon. Later, Imri has a disturbance in the force and rushes to the Vice President of Dalna's room to find they are unconscious after being attacked.

Chapter 21 Avon helps the Nihil scientist create synthetic kyber crystals, albeit secretly flawed ones. She's then taken to see the ground quake machine the scientist has been constructing.

Chapter 22 & 23  Vern, Jedi and officials experience a short ground quake before a young boy runs out on them, hungry, and tells them he knows Avon. On Starlight, Imri and a republic official are mystified over the attack on theVIP.

Chapters 24 and 25 Short chapters - Avon meets the other children again and continues to put her plan into motion. Vernestra and the gang finish quizzing the boy who escaped the Nihil before a few of them continue onwards.

Chapter 26 The Nihil scientist starts the machine with the flawed crystals Avon created leading to much disruption. Vernestra and Co arrive to see off the Nihil but the scientist escapes.

Chapter 27 Everyone, including all the children, arrives back at Jedi Temple. J6 reunites with Avon. The Jedi receive a distress call from the capital city.

Chapters 29 + 30 Vern and co arrive at Dalna city to find it already attacked and the President fled with Nihil. On Starlight, Imri convinces Jedi to take Starlight to Dalna to help with the evacuation.

Chapters 31 + 32 Starlight Beacon arrives at Dalna as more volcanos and earthquakes occur. Vernestra and Avon head in a shuttle to Starlight where Avon is still troubled by her use of Imri's Kyber crystal in the Nihil weapon. On Starlight Avon confesses all to Imri who comforts her. When Senator Starros greats her daughter, Avon suspects something is amiss as her mum seems to know a lot of information about her kidnapping adventure. Starlight Beacon arrives at Dalna as more volcanos and earthquakes occur. Vernestra and Avon head in a shuttle to Starlight where Avon is still troubled by her use of Imri's Kyber crystal in the Nihil weapon. Vernestra meets up with Avir who invites her on a mission to head to the Nihil base and end this conflict.

The end.

My thoughts

The main bulk of this book is centred on Avon. She’s an appealing character due to not only being very chatty in her thoughts and to others, but she’s also very clever and bright, as well as eternally positive. We see probably most of this story more from her perspective because of the time taken with her capture and her “aiding” and learning of the Nihil whilst she is stuck with them. Venestra and Imri are the next central characters but really their story doesn’t advance much as they play second fiddle as they learn about Avon’s capture and then look to track her down. Probably Imri gets more character development in this book due to the unique use of his force abilities to calm others and his lead in discussions with authorities on Starlight.

I really enjoyed the time spent with Avon. As said before, she is arguably the principal character in this book and is blessed with bundles of plus-points for reasons to like her. If you don’t like chatty clever children though you will probably struggle with this book because she’s just a bundle of energy and creativity to levels of, well, almost Jedi degree in terms of her knowledge of science and engineering. Her experiments and thoughts on kyber crystals along with what the Nihil are doing is a prelude perhaps to the Empire and the Death Star. She shines throughout this book and makes the time spent with the Nihil seem rather like a trip to a holiday camp. The Nihil Doctor she “teams” up with is also the most interesting Nihil as we learn more of his past, his quest for science but also for destruction. The rest of the Nihil in this group, even their leader, is really part of the furniture in terms of the story.

Vernestra and Imri are a great padawan and master team – and probably the one I personally have felt more like I have spent the most time with due to them being in multiple novels so far. We also get a chance to see Vernestra’s unique sabre whip in action! Imri is a good sidekick in many ways but he’s also hard to work out at times as he dances between playing the complete juvenile in this book to an almost elder stateman in another chapter. It’s a little odd in that respect.

It feels interesting as a general mystery story – what are the Nihil up to, who in government is turning a blind eye or working with them? This is an interesting narrative to keep us going. The inside working of the Nihil is made more interesting with Avon and the bonkers Doctor who warms to her almost like a parent would and is totally taken in yet not totally surprised when Avon sabotages matters. Can’t wait to meet the Doctor again in the future.

Pros: Avon’s personality and creativity is a blast. The Nihil doctor is intriguing and the mystery of what exactly the Nihil are doing is compelling.

Cons: It’s a simple story really but that’s no bad thing and totally understandable as a junior novel. There is though much to take from this story along the way. Imri’s characterisation I found a little odd at times.

Rating

7/10 – Despite the gravity of the situation, a fun story thanks tremendously to Avon.

 

Book Review: The High Republic "The Fallen Star"

A little background

The Fallen Star is the 3^rd main book in The High Republic series after the opener The Light of the Jedi and The Rising Storm. There are of course other books and comics in the series, but Fallen Star is like the feature films, in that it’s part of the main storyline, where all the important stuff happens (well, sort of!). For sub-plot though, I really recommend all the other books and comics to help you get up to speed. As with all things book wise, I’m consuming my Star Wars via Audible. This book is by Claudia Gray and narrated by the awesomely talented Marc Thompson who does all the various voices, adding emotion and drama, along with some good background sound effects. The total length of the audible book is 13 hours and 31 minutes, although that’s including the intro and credits. Although technically there are 35 chapters (of about 20 minutes each), there is also a prologue and epilogue.

The Story

As I was listening to the story, I tweeted out summaries of each chapter. This way I felt I could capture the most important plot points in small concise chunks. Some chapters were combined because mostly the same thing was happening, and some chapters had a couple tweets to capture the slightly busier moments.

So, what the heck happened? Well, the main characters that get the bulk of the time in this book were Jedi’s Elzar Mann, Stellen Gios, Bell/Burry, The Crew of the Vessell and the antagonist’s Nan/Chancy. Marchion Ro is of course lurking, but the story here focuses almost exclusively on Starlight Beacon and everyone who is on it during the dramatic events that entail. Think of this book as Star Wars Meets ‘The Possidon Adventure’ or ‘The Titanic’, and you’ll understand quickly what you’re likely to get as Starlight Beacon’s light is well and truly turned off.

The official summary for the book is:

Time and again, the vicious raiders known as the Nihil have sought to bring the golden age of the High Republic to a fiery end. Time and again, the High Republic has emerged battered and weary, but victorious thank to its Jedi protectors - and there is no monument to their cause grander than the Starlight Beacon.

Hanging like a jewel in the Outer Rim, the Beacon embodies the High Republic at the apex of its aspirations: a hub of culture and knowledge, a bright torch against the darkness of the unknown, and an extended hand of welcome to the furthest reaches of the galaxy. As survivors and refugees flee the Nihil's attacks, the Beacon and its crew stand ready to shelter and heal.

The grateful Knights and Padawans of the Jedi Order stationed there finally have a chance to recover - from the pain of their injuries and the grief of their losses. But the storm they thought had passed still rages; they are simply caught in its eye. Marchion Ro, the true mastermind of the Nihil, is preparing his most daring attack yet - one designed to snuff out the light of the Jedi.

The crawl to the book pretty much goes through that summary and introduces another fact that Avir Kriss is still pursing Lorna Dee. There are a few interesting wordings at the end when it refers to 'an old enemy' being unleashed on the Jedi by Marchion Ro. Sith? Or is this just referring to the leveller in some way? This isn’t much clearer by the end of the book really. However, let’s get a snapshot now of each chapter.

Chapter 1 - We get to see several different Jedi parties chasing down Nihil across the outer rim and having success. These Nihil seem to be mostly Lorna Dee ships though. Meanwhile, someone is running an errand for Marchion Ro on his ship, the Gaze Electric.

Chapter 2 - Jedi, with Starlight Beacon towed into orbit, are helping a planet recovering from the Nihil. Nihil also begin an attack on multiple worlds elsewhere designed to get the Jedi's attention. Stellan is gifted a droid, nicknamed “45” (who is an absolute blast thanks to Marc’s voice). And Nan, former Nihil, who readers will know if they have read the other secondary novels, arrives on Starlight as a prisoner.

Chapter 3 - Elzar Mann is away on another planet meditating in water. Orla Jareni is his guide. They finish their away time on this distant planet, meet up with the crew of The Vessell (there’s a one of many brilliant Geode moment here). Marchion Ro dispatches a handful of loyal nihil to perform a secret mission.

Chapter 4 - Bell and "Burry" talk about Loden as Nihil spies start secretly wrecking starlight comms (they easily arrived on Starlight in a ship claiming to have Rathtars as cargo which no one bothered or wanted to check – make note here, as one of numerous Jedi failings), Marchion Ro is ready for a new crew to arrive, and The Crew of The Vessell run into Nihil on way to Starlight.

Chapter 5 - Quiet chapter really. The Vessell tangles with the Nihil briefly by disrupting comms for a few minutes which felt pointless. On Starlight, well, not a lot happening. A few dealings with ingoing’s and outgoing.

Chapter 6 - On Starlight, Bell and Burry spar together but sense something is amiss. In a hanger bay, plenty of wounded are arriving from the various Nihil attacks on other planets, to which Indeera (Bell’s Jedi Master) also senses something is wrong but cannot ascertain what. Elzar Mann questions the prisoners ... Sort of. More Jedi begin to feel something on the edge of their consciousness that wasn't right, or missing, but do nothing about it. Nihil spies continue to sabotage Comms.

Chapter 7 - On Starlight, there's more Jedi sensing distant oddities but doing nothing. A strong hint that the Drengir are coming back comes via Stellan's dream, who dismisses it. Sigh. Briefly we see Avir pursuing Lorna Dee

Chapter 8 - Still on Starlight, The Vessell lands in the hanger bay. Some greetings aside, Leox notices a "rival" of sorts, which concerns him. Orla and Reginald (another Jedi) briefly investigate the uncertainly they are feeling but are called away.

Chapter 9 - Still on Starlight, bit of a quiet chapter. Elzar Mann meets up with Stellan Gios who is quite troubled by his dream which seems to have started to cripple him. Leox spars verbally with his rival. The Nihil spies hear about the Nihil prisoners.

Chapter 10 A remote Jedi temple is obliterated by the Nihil. Starlight Jedi begin tentative investigation into strange feelings. Leox's rival snoops about The Vessel. Marchion Ro's new crew arrive in the form of illegal Enforcer droids.

Chapter 11 Orla, Reginald, and Indeera break rules to investigate force oddities in Starlight. They head down to lower decks, to cargo hold where they split up. Reginald calls out in pain, Indeera also struggles against an invisible unknown foe, Orla later finds a dead Reginald.

Chapter 12 and 13. Geode’s flirting is lighter side of matters as Elzar Mann heads to check out poor Reginald and Indeera. The Nihil spies break out Chancey (who was captured at same time) and Nan and put them to work.

Chapter 13 Ro gets all loved up on Gaze Electric, Stellan Gios is still feeling hopelessly like a failure whilst Bell and Burry look over an unconscious Indeera.

Chapter 14 - This is when the shit starts to hit the fan! Not long after Avir Kriss returns to Starlight in the Jedi Cruiser. Explosives are laid by the Nihil spies on Starlight which explode by the reactor core. Everyone is startled. At this point Starlight is split into half and we never get to find out much about the top section where Avir Kriss is. The story concentrates on the lower section.

Chapter 15 Jedi in multiple locations all realising that Comms are down and they've no idea what's going on. The Leveller is loose too. I thought the Drengir were lurking too but turns out not. It’s all a little confusing here but there seems to be multiple creatures behaving like the leveller did at the end of The Rising Storm on Loden. Then the news comes that both sections of Starlight are stuck in gravitational pull.

Chapter 16 Chancey and Nan leave Nihil trio and try to flee station. All over station everyone starting to realise that docking bay doors, escape pods and Comms are down. Stellan Gios discovers that station is caught in gravity pull.

Chapter 17 Bell and Burry use a droid to send a Comms to nearby medical ship requesting assistance and learn of station’s dire situation. Leox and crew alert Stellan Gios that Comms aren't blocked as they thought, and he calls for help. Orla confronts the leveller.

Chapter 18 Bell and Burry use maintenance shafts to get up a level or two and meet Elzar Mann near the hub. Chaotic scenes in the hanger bay as panic starts but Geode stands tall.

Chapter 19-21 Chancey and Nan are trying to save their own skins. Later they bump into Affie (of The Vessel) who are all looking for escape pods. There's a minor confrontation before Nan and Chancey flee.

Chapter 19-21 Orla is discovered by Bell and Burry as a dead husk. Elzar Mann brings back power cells to the docking bay. Stellan Gios confronts the Leveller.

Chapter 19-21 Starlight is totally split into two by this point by another explosion. Both sections in gravitational pull although one section Stellan Gios believes might be able to avoid crashing.

Chapter 22. Stellan Gios evades the Leveller and makes it back to Elzar Mann but in a much-reduced mental and physical state. More preparations on planet below for crash of starlight, and Bell and Burry discover the husk of Burry’s master.

Chapter 23 Elzar Mann is now in charge. Bell and Burry organise a crew in bay to seal off lower deck with the Leveller in. Senator Starros (Ro’s lover and spy in the Republic) is uneasy with droids on Gaze Electric. A mutiny is growing in docking bay as top half of starlight breaks up.

Chapter 24 Elzar Mann works on getting Stellan Gios better. Avir makes contact through the force. Bell, Burry and Leox and crew continue to separate off sections of the lower levels.

Chapter 25 Elzar Mann ponders how to get through the radiation sections of Starlight. Meanwhile, Bell and Burry find themselves battling a bunch of Rathtars. Yes, one of the Nihil spies ships actually did have them onboard.

Chapter 25 & 26 Bell uses explosives to separate medical tower from starlight. Nan & Chancey give up on escape pods and lurk in cargo bay. Elzar Mann & Burry use obscure system to create path for ships through starlight.

Chapters 28 and 29 - A mutiny in the main docking bay is averted bravely by the star of the book, Geode. Elzar Mann and Burry battle Rathtars as Elzar Mann gets the cargo bay door open to allow smaller ships to escape.

Chapters 30 - Chancey and Nan head to try to fix the positional thrusters but meet the Nihil gang. Affie devises plan to use leftover power cores to power the escape pods.

Chapter 31 - Chancey and Nan battle the Nihil trio and defeat them. Elzar Mann is heading in their direction too. Bell tries to enter starlight cargo bay but ends up staying outside and giving aide.

Chapter 32 Elzar Mann has a close encounter with the leveller on route to bottom of station. Bell helps escape pods launch. Lenox has a plan to open docking bay doors.

Chapter 33 An enraged Elzar Mann takes out Chancey before Nan escapes. By this time, it's too late to use the thrusters. Ooops. Leox blows open bay door mechanism allowing ships to escape but gets caught in gust of wind ...

Chapter 34 Elzar Mann confesses to Stellan Gios. Nan escapes Starlight. Leox is alive after using a parachute to land on planet below! Stellan Gios sacrifices himself by staying at the controls to redirect Starlight from crashing into a populated area.

Chapter 35 Avir and Elzar Mann mourn the loss of Stellan Gios. The Jedi on the planet help repair Local facilities. The Nihil host a celebration of the century in deepest space.

Epilogue - Marchion Ro broadcasts his victory speech to the entire system, boasting bragging rights and that this part of system is his.

My thoughts

Overall, this book is a slow burner. It’s not really until halfway through that thing really pick up when the first explosions happen. I enjoyed the book although I kept getting a very strong sense of things being deliberately kept from us, especially concerning the … what shall we call them … the anti-force beings or animals that the Nihil brought to Starlight? At the end of Book 2 we saw one animal of sorts attack Loden, and I also had from memory that Bell was affected too, but this is not mentioned at all. It’s hard to understand the threat when it’s not overly clear enough. We know that these animals essentially turn off the jedi’s connection with the force, or mute it, but it’s inconceivable that this doesn’t get a proper investigation by the Jedi in my view. Yes, they’ve been stretched thin by going off to help planets attacked by Nihil, but there are droids and non-Jedi on Starlight? Later on though we get Jedi using force abilities and realising it’s a struggle, which is fine given what little we know, but the huge leaping about stuff with lightsabre doesn’t really seem like a struggle. All in all, I found the whole threat from the anti-force animals too vague and cryptic to comprehend. I like having this anti-force threat and it is delivering serious results but it’s far too vague to have the true impact.

That’s another thing, it’s totally unclear how many people are on Starlight. It’s hinted that lots died from destruction of Starlight but most of the time we only stay with the same few Jedi, those in docking bay, and droids in medical wing. It’s hard to fathom who else is there, and what they were doing as it appears only Stellan and Elzar mostly are running the show. In previous books it has been hard to keep up with all the Jedi but in this book when you’re on a station full of people, some text to demonstrate how busy it is could have really helped in this case. We know a lot were lost, but how many?

Nan, Nan, Nan … I find her so confusing. She loves the Nihil, hates them, wants to be with them, doesn’t want to be with them, helps being reliant on others, wants to be part of a group … she is defiantly complex but so random in what she’s thinking.

On the plus side, this is an epic story with epic consequences. Perhaps not made as dramatic as it could and should have been but nevertheless it was highly significant in the loss of Starlight. I totally buy how Nihil having the blueprints through their Senate spy could achieve this complex task of sabotage and the extra burden Marchion Ro places on the Jedi to distract them literally and through the force. I don’t totally comprehend it did get as much investigation as it did, but maybe there was more that’ll come out in the comics and secondary novels.

We get further development of Elzar with his love/hate relationship with the force and his ability to quickly tap into the dark side without a blink of the eye. He’s certainly going somewhere. Of course, his confession to Stellen is now moot given Stellan’s fate and he says he’ll tell others, but I wonder if he ever will now?

The crew of the Vessell, and Bell/Burry, were the plus points of the book for me. Geode stole the show so many times with his persona and actions. Leox is a happy go lucky positive amusing character no matter what the situation. Bell and Burry are the most Anikan/Obi-Wan Jedi pairing and work so well together in an enjoyable way.

We lost a few Jedi along the way. Stellen, a pillar of the Jedi who was very morale and abiding to the jedi Council, sacrifices himself. In a way, we never really got to know him. He was so stiff and giving out advice and orders, it doesn’t really feel like a huge loss to me. Reginald was a great funny character, like a jedi Leox, and I just knew he was doomed to die when they concentrated so much on him in beginning, however, too soon to mourn him. Indeera I didn’t feel I knew either. However, the one that affected me the most was Orla. I just loved her. She was intelligent, comprehensive and knew lots about the ways of the force. I was somewhat surprised she couldn’t fight the anti-force animals any better than anyone else. I will miss her. I don’t count Burry as dead as I reckon he did survive. I would miss him though. What’s not to like about a Jedi Wookie?????

Pros: The Crew of the Vessel, especially Geode and Leox are worth the entrance fee alone, the progression of a complex Elzar, the continuation of a deeply serious anti-force threat to the Jedi, a significant turn of events in the Nihil’s favour with the destruction of Starlight … and a big shoutout to an amazingly amusing and sarcastic “45” voice by Marc Thompson.

Cons: Strangely, the anti-force threat, despite being severe and devastating, it’s unclear what is happening, and that’s not a good thing for the story in my opinion. It’s a slow-burning first-half of the book, and somehow, the absolutely drama of the crashing of Starlight is not delivered in quite the way it could have been, especially as the only tangible danger to life comes across as limited to those in a medical bay and docking bay.

I don’t really like to rate Star Wars because I’ll watch/read it and enjoy it no matter what, but it’s always a little fun to try to pinpoint things in a review. As I never wrote a review for previous High Republic books I’ve read, I’ll quickly say that I’d give Light of the Jedi an 9/10 and The Rising Storm 7/10.

Rating

7/10 – An epic story of huge consequences in The High Republic series which shows the frailties of the Jedi at this time and the canniest abilities of the Nihil.

Star Wars Resistance: Episode 19 - "Descent"

Synopsis: Evading The First Order, Kax and the gang devise a dangerous method to send a signal to the Resistance for help.

What I Thought:  There's a lot in this episode, making it probably the most fast paced of the season so far. Seems it was the whole gang arrested and not just Kaz, which leaves Bucket to do the most significant thing he's done all season, create a smoke screen and thus aide everything's escape. Well, except Tam. She's still heavily confused and not seeing the First Order as the rest do, although you could say neither is Neeku, but he's quite happy to just do what he is told or had explained to him. Tam meets First Order Security Bureau Agent Tierny who befriends her in order to manipulate information from her. It's a much deeper look at the level and depth the First Order has built up that we have a look at different divisions of this organisation. It's most certainly not all Stormtroopers, ships and Kylo Ren - speaking of which, I'm still betting on a cameo from him in the finale.

Yeager really comes alive in this episode having spent all the season doing his best not to get involved. He's certainly involved now, blasting troopers and then sacrificing himself so that Kaz can get away. There's huge flashbacks to Rogue One with Yeager and Kaz next to the transmitter. It's somewhat a surprise then after all their efforts that the Resistance respond to Kaz's message with a "Sorry", a real little twist. Given what Kaz and co have performed all season and especially in this episode, taking back the station seems like it would be no problem - except, what's to stop the First Order coming back again and again? Where will we end up after the finale? Is Synara going to rally the pirates to help? Why would they help?

Smoke bomb always works but how does everyone else see where they are going?

A new friend for Tam?

Yup, that's a transmitter alright.

Rating: 7/10 - Action packed to a level never experienced on the station before as we had the finale with the stakes amazingly high.

Star Wars Resistance: Episode 18 - "The Disappeared"

Synopsis: The First Order starts locking people up for defying them, leading to Kaz to hatch a rescue plan.

What I Thought: With a title like this, I'm reminded of the Clone Wars. In this case, the lockdown and takeover by The First Order of the station suddenly escalates from patrols ... to complete control. Races are cancelled and the Aces grounded. It's a little surprising that Doza doesn't even try to answer back to Commander Pyre, instead going into secret collusion with Yeager to find a way to get through to the Resistance. Kaz and Torra are left to attempt the rescue, taking down stormtroopers in a rather chaotic ambush, allowing the 4 prisoners to leave the station via the transporter. It's all a rather simple plan, but the propaganda, lying and oppression of The First Order is clearly laid bare as any defiance is locked down, and the Stormtroopers go around praising their own virtues.

Interesting to see the First Order BB unit going around, eavesdropping anyone showing defiance. How they couldn't see that droid, I don't know. What does The First Order gain from locking down the Aces? I'm unsure. Possibly they are control freaks? I'm not sure what the strategic advantage is, although perhaps with no ships airborne, they know they can't get attacked from within?

Clearly Doza and Yeager go back somewhat to be this able to be in cahoots? I would have liked to have seen Doza at least try to reason with Pyre. Before the opening titles he argued successfully with Pyre but almost right afterwards he said nothing when Pyre informed him that the races were cancelled!

Trouble takes a serious turn at the end for Kaz as he finds himself surrounded and arrested!

She's not happy.

Torra proves very capable with a blaster!

This doesn't look good ...

Rating: 7/10 - First Order control is complete of the station within the blink of the eye, as no one is safe, including now Kaz.

The Curse of Oak Island S06E02

Fresh with excitement about that discovery last episode, Rick and Gary drive a long distance across the island to knock up Dan's house where Marty is already gathered. Hope they've put the kettle on! Inside, they show the broach to the two non-experts who both like what they see. Gary's insight is that it's a fancy one but mine is that it's also past its best in its current form. Is it related to a treasure or just accidentally dropped on the floor by someone? We're reminded that this is the second jewel they've found, or resemblance of a jewel. Soon they'll be opening up the Oak Island Jewellers. Gary thinks it's 1700's or older. Thanks for really pinning that down, Gary. We're also reminded of James Anderson (not the England bowler) who was a pirate who once lived on the island.

Back at the Money Pit, and there's more explosions, like there's a badger being chased across the area at 100mph. More seismic scanning at its best is going on. There's been 100 in the last hour, with more being set off in the hopes of making a decent map of the area underneath. Here's hoping it's something that sort of looks coherent.

Laird drives to the Exhibition Centre, clearly having already been busy elsewhere pulling up trees as his hands are dirty. Some of the gang are there for him to look at the latest broach. Laird has never seen anything like it before, so thanks Laird. He does say that jewellery finds are rare in Nova Scotia. He thinks it might be gilded by gold.

Next day and it's off to Smith's Cove to meet two of the company's looking to splash the brother's cash like there's no tomorrow, Irving and Brycon. They plan to make a 25ft deep coffer dam but first a new road needs to be built to get that 300ft crane out to the cove. Apparently it'll take about a week to get started once road is there.

Pub booze-up next as some of the gang gather to talk about the broach and offer zero valuable insights. However, they are going to go on a jolly to Calgary, some 3,000 miles away. Well, Dave and the brothers are. Charles Lewton-Brain is a gemologist and uses a digital video microscope to examine the first "jewel" from last season which he says is hand cut, and has a refractive index of 1.7. That means it's a garnet gemstone!

Next, this season's "gemstone" which is of a softer material, and has an occlusion of bubbles, which means it's nothing special and just glass. Still, it looks pretty. Certainly he thinks it's handmade and not modern. Maybe up to 500 years old. We're told about secret societies, like the freemasons, by the narrator because glass makers used to be quite secretive with their colouring stuff.

The second "gem's" broach is looked at next and he says the wire around the outside section is super ancient. The technique used is called block twisting. Potentially it's older than 13th century which makes it that much older than anything else they've found on the island so far; yes, even older than Dan Blankenship.

Next day and the road is being made. Marty, Craig and Alex held off to Halifax to meet that Professor of Chemistry lady again and get that broach examined. She uses magnifying scope and chemical composition. Initially there's just brass but, wait for it, there's some sections of GOLD!

Gold
(Gold)
Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believe in, 'cos you are.

Blimey! Actual gold? Well, I'll be blown down. It is perhaps only gold plated but could be up to 700 years old.

Later that day, in the War Room, all this info is shared and much nodding and fist pumping goes on. Ok, not a lot, but they are happy.

Rick & Dan (the other Dan) are at the Money pit to check on those seismic charges and ... it's all done. Should take only two weeks to get data processed and generate a 3D Map. Ohhh, at least two weeks goes quickly on this show.

We end up with a familiar site. The road is ready to the cove and lots of large lorries and trailers make their way onto the island.

Rick points out how much bigger the "gem" looks when magnified ...

This is ancient stuff. The thing in gold, not the pointer.

The convoy of serious money being spent arrives.

Rating 7/10 - Although this is a bit of filler episode in terms of new action, we get a lot confirmed about those two broaches and we are ready to start that dam and get that 3D map.

Star Wars Resistance: Episode 17 - "The Core Problem"

Synopsis: Poe turns up, and he and Kaz go off to explore an area where the First Order have been lurking.

What I thought: Whilst we don't really learn much new that we didn't already know before, this episode in itself shows us that we're not going to have to wait too long to catch up with the events of TFA. Well, we're assuming that's the case because Poe says he has to take BB-8 on a mission to Jakku, and we all know how TFA opens. It would be a real twist in the story if this isn't the mission we see the end of in the movie. Could he have been there before? Given the devastation of the nearby star system (missing a star) and planet cored out, you'd think we're being expedited up to TFA but it could yet be a wait. We will have to see.

We don't know how Poe arrived, or how Kaz got back to the station with CP-23, his new droid, but we do know how they both exited the station, in a rather ridiculous manoeuvre: how did the TIE fighters not spot that distinctly coloured Fireball on top of the cargo ship? How did Poe hang on to Kaz's ship so much? Oh well, we just have to accept these things.

I was hoping for a little more in the destroyed Star System investigation but all we mostly got was reinforcements of things we already know, such a evidence for Starkiller base and a totally destroyed town with a sort of temple. Ring any TFA bells? I'm not sure why the rest of the intelligence was dismissed: what about all those First Order ships?

The First Order Probe droid seemed destined to stay hidden until it decided to go all macho on us and attack. Quite who'd trust Kaz with a blaster I don't know, but he single handed stopped the droid, although almost taking out BB-8.

Still, at least we're ticking off the list, and hopefully future First Order detail will continue to add to that which we didn't already know. You'd also think that the Red TIE pilot must recognise the Fireball and that can't be good for Kaz.

Looks familiar ...

Trouble lurks.

They arrived quickly!

Rating: 7/10 - The pace accelerates up to TFA, as we get a stark awakening of the threat from the First Order.

Star Wars Resistance: Episode 15 - "The First Order Occupation"

Synopsis: Kaz helps smuggle Synara out of the station, who is being pursued by the First Order.

What I thought: At the end of the last episode it was 2 stormtroopers on the station, but clearly there are more now. All together we never see more than 4 but there's possibly a few more, given the TIE fighter circling the base and that lots of things such as platforms are under First Order control. This really does feel like the title says, an occupation. How we got to this from the last episode, we don't see, but the First Order have done their homework and already suspect Kaz (who they seem to not know even though they saw him on CCTV) then move on to Synara whom they suddenly seem to believe is the spy even though they hadn't questioned Kaz. Oh well, it still was a fun episode.

Once again Kaz is at his ridiculous best, yet even more haphazard than normal, as he must bang his head and knock over more objects than in the entire season thus far. His romantic chat-up lines need more work too, given how he totally fails to show affection in a manner any sane person would understand. Kaz and Synara in the elevator scene was brilliantly done as they stood there, trying to pass time by doing nothing in particular.

Synara escapes, thanks to Neeku and BB8 helping Kaz's attempts. Only one escape capsule left? Where's that latest health and safety report due?? Unless I'm wrong, I got a strong vibe in the closing minutes that Synara might be force sensitive. The sea monster is seen observing her, and she's also playing with sea birds whilst waiting on the water's surface to be rescued. As sure as sure, we've not seen the last of her.

Almost everyone is harassed by the First Order, including the cleaner!

LOL

Synara has a way with the animals ...

Rating 7/10: The threat and obtrusiveness of the First order feels real, yet the entertainment remains.

Star Wars Resistance: Episode 13 - "Dangerous Business"

Synopsis: Flix and Orka head out for a day break, leaving Kaz in charge of the shop ...

What I thought: Yes, another episode not obviously central to the overall arc as a whole but this one brings up a siematic recognition of more First Order sneaky stuff as the piece of mining equipment that the mining guild member was after looks heavily like they were using it to extract more minerals from somewhere. The presence of 4 stormtroopers on his very large vessel clearly indicated it was for them, as they guarded it. If we add this to the space station episode recently, it shows clear evidence of the First Order up to no good. Exactly what though, isn't fully clear.

This week's star of the show goes to Bitey, the pet of Flix and Orka, whom bites anything that's waved in front of his face. Somehow Kax manages to get bitten at least nearing ten times this episode without drawing blood or needing medical attention. Tetanus anyone? Given the size of the nashers on that pet, that's some pain resistance Kaz has! As one might have suspected by Bitey's continuous presence, his biting comes in handy, as a way to bring down ships. Whether the one cable being bitten would do it, or it was a combination of a chain reaction by the pet being shot and electrocuted, we'll never quite know, although I suspect the latter.

Clearly one knew that Kaz looking after the shop was going to bring chaos, and not only did he lose them the equipment, but also totally trashed it, as if a bull had gotten loose. BB8 did a fantastic amusing job of trying to defend the place, but ultimately it was Kaz and Bitey who somewhat saved the day quite spectacularly. News of this will undoubtedly spread across the station, and can only grab more attention on Kaz.

BB8 defends the shop.

Bitey does what he does best.

Abandon ship!

Rating 7/10 - Entertaining episode once again with charismatic Kaz at his outrageous best, BB8 entertainingly defending the shop, and Bitey proving to be an amusing and useful side-kick.

Star Wars Resistance: Episode 12 - ""Bibo"

Synopsis: Nekku makes friends with a smelly hungry creature which brings danger to the whole platform.

What I thought: I know what you're all thinking: this is a filler episode. Where's the First Order? Where's the season arc that we all got excited about in the mid-season trailer? Well, if that's what you're after, you'd not be liking this episode, but there's much more to this show than the overall Sequel Trilogy arc.

This was an entertaining episode. Sure, it was quite clear to see where the whole plot was going to end up as soon as the big creature turned up, but we got to see a lot of the mechanism and heart of the station, from the top boss, Captain Doza admiring Kaz's piloting skills, to the engineering section which reveals those two children from several episodes ago (Children from Tehar) have even more significance than before: the younger one is clearly force-sensitive. Was this why the First Order wanted them? Did they know this? Are they hunting down force-sensitive children much like the Emperor did?

Then there's the reference right near the start to The Clone Wars, in regard to the salved equipment that Synara trawled up. Name dropping like that is delightful. Also, great to see Synara back although still clearly conflicted as she's in league with the pirates still and potentially still assisting them although it's still highly possible she's looking for a route out and will eventually side with the platform crew.

Brilliant also to see the Aces out there. Fast they are becoming individually more interesting, especially the stormtrooper helmet pilot with the tie-esque fighter. We also get to see that Kaz is easily as skillful, if not more skillful, than the Aces.

Neeku and his smelly friend.

The children are back.

Octopus is on the menu.

Rating: 7/10 - Predictable, but enjoyable episode with Neeku in fine form throughout, and tidy pickings of extra information gleaned regarding the children.

Star Wars Resistance: Episode 11 - "Station Theta Black"

Synopsis: Poe and Kaz go for a spin and discover an abandoned First Order facility that's not really that abandoned but actually about to be blown up.

My thoughts: It really feels like things are heating up and leading to some sort of climax. The Fireball is once again in action as Kaz borrows it to head out with Poe to meet General Leia! It didn't need Leia in it for Kaz to hand over the data he got from last week, but it was a nice touch. The most surprising thing to me was that there appears to be zero other people on the resistance ship! I know they are short on staff but I don't recall seeing anyone else! Although it was totally unnecessary, it was nice to tie-in the bigger resistance picture, make Kaz feel valued and to spice things up. I'm still unsure what Poe sees in Kaz, other than his flying skills, and why Kaz is so up for for being in the Resistance against a threat that's largely really unknown?

The scenery at the First Order station is amazing but I can't get it around my head that it would be left so abandoned? Why leave such an obvious physical base empty without any guard? Yes, there was a security system there which detected Poe/Kaz but why not bring the explosives to blow it up before you leave? Totally weird but super fun when Kaz/Poe get chased about and somehow manage to get away from every close encounter. Kaz is naturally totally ridiculous once more but pulls it off in a way Jar Jar Binks used to.

It seems the First Order were busy plundering resources from the area for weapons. No one believes that'll make much of a wave in the Senate, which makes one feel that they must still be quite thick in the senate or Snoke has just as much a hold over them as Palpatine did?

It's General Leia!

Not so abandoned after all, eh?

Kaz screams and falls all over the place but gets the job done.

Rating 7/10 - More Resistance context setup for us here and some enjoyable confrontation in what was beautiful scenery at the space station.

Star Wars Resistance: Episode 10 - "Secrets and Holograms"

Synopsis: The First Order finally arrive ... for a chat with Captain Doza, whilst Kaz does his best to find out what it's all about.

My thoughts: It's a return to form for the charismatic Kaz who performs his full repertoire of comedy poses and expressions this episode. Quite frankly, he's totally OTT and ridiculous, but I have to say, highly entertaining. There's actually a lot of silliness to this episode, of which Torra, Captain Doza's daughter, seems to share the same genes as Kaz, as she's also too is hyperactive and easily excitable. Thankfully again, much like most characters on this show, she's very likeable. What I don't quite understand is why she continually sneaks out of her room and the tower but later when she "rescues" Kaz from her father's office, she chooses the trash compactor route for them to evade everyone? Bizzare. Naturally, I assume it's intended to link back to Rucklin's jump as some sort of glorified servant in the tower where he's emptying the trash from Doza's office. That can be the only reason, and of course the game simulator sub-sub-sub-plot of the episode, so they can do some crazy leaping and jumping about to evade the compactor's lasers. As enjoyable as it all is, especially to see a view that is so nostalgic to A New Hope, I can't help but worry about the efficiency rating for this compactor which seems to fire haphazardly at anything that moves, rather than the static trash that it's actually there to incinerate? Is it really this stupid or was this done for effect? I can only guess the latter.

Learning that Captain Doza was a former senior employee of the Empire really raises an eyebrow, although you just know that Kaz's assumption about what that means is going to be anything but accurate. Having also gained the data off the agreement form between Doza and the First Order, I'm wondering what that could possibly tell anyone that they don't know already? Most T&C stuff is really dry and hardly known for containing sensitive material. Hopefully we'll find out a little about that at least. Clearly one can tell from the conversation between Doza and the First Order that it's all a little sketchy on the finer details:

How many stormtroopers will be positioned on station? As many as needed.
When will they leave? Whenever.

It's hardly committal is it?

Nice to see Rucklin, our Fred Jones lookalike (from Scooby Doo) back again and has not totally left the galaxy. He's far from happy with Kaz, which is uncanny, given it was all his fault really about their fallout. I forsee him causing more minor issues for Kaz in the future but not totally getting his way.

What's in that contract?

Kaz gets all up and close to the Empire ... uniform.

Comedy ensures as Torra and Kaz beat the incinerator.

Rating 7/10 - Enjoyable episode thanks to Torra and Kaz's eccentric behaviour as they skirt about The Tower.

Star Wars Resistance: Episode 8 - "Synara's Score"

Synopsis: On a mission to repair a vital platform defense, Kaz calls on the help of Synara as the platform comes under attack by pirates.

My thoughts: Well, it's highly convenient of course plot wise, but the main surprise here is that somehow Neeku didn't gob off to everyone the secret that Yeager's crew were repairing the canons. I'm also curious as to how much time has passed since the previous episode as it appears to be at least several weeks going by what Kaz says of Synara. Why were these canons not fixed earlier? I'm also somewhat surprised Captain Doza is drawn to the First Order so "quickly" after the attack and the canons saved the day? Where did the Aces go? What was that important cargo that was obviously occuring miles away? Then there's the question of how did the reactivation of the platform guns send the pirates on the run so quickly? It wouldn't have made much difference to the raiding they were doing on the platform? And where exactly is security when all this pirate raiding is going on? Why is Synara creeping about during the attacks?

So many questions from this week's episode, although I expect most of the answers are simply a matter of accepting what you see and not questioning it too much. Synara seems to go from ruthless secret pirate to a potential "goodie" during the course of this episode, as her being saved by Tam really opens her eyes. Although I'd somewhat have preferred her to go on being an inside pirate for longer, this is a promising progression for her, although I feel a sacrifice coming along in future for her.

The pirate raids did some serious damage. Their raid seems designed to just steal stuff rather than take over. Their action sequences are amusing as they all seem pretty wacko. It's great to see the elderly alien guest star in the episode once again in the background, making off with some goods that most likely were not hers. I still don't understand where security personnel were all this time. I assume they were there somewhere. It would have been handy to have seen them at least once during the battle.

The threat of the pirates seems ever present. It'll be interesting to see how the whole pirate/first order dynamic goes if/when the First Order assume control over the station. The bigger question is, why do they want it?

Additionally this week, it's also an episode with very little zanny Kaz in it. He seems rather normal this week and even useful. Has the tide turned and has he grown up already?

Nothing to see here ... except ... a steamer?

I'm thinking those weren't originally hers?

Doza gives in?

Rating: 7/10 - Pirate attack/raiding scenes really spices up the rather straightforward episode.

The Curse of Oak Island S05E15

Synopsis

There's a discovery in Smith's Cove that's not quite up to THAT cross standard, a relic from the past is delivered and some real treasure (maybe) is FINALLY found!

What I thought

It’s the penultimate episode of the season. Can the team top the discovery of THAT cross? Will the Money Pit ever prove to be a worthwhile venture? Will Jack shave his beard?

We’re in the War Room having a big discussion about the Money Pit where the gang call up Mike Huntley, the diver, via a conference call about going down DMT to check out what the heck that metal structure is at the bottom. Naturally, he’s up … for going down.

At Smith’s Cove it’s time for some digging, Lagina style, as they get out their kick-ass ‘No stone unturned’ yellow JCB. Marty is driving with Jim, Charles and Rick assembled nearby. With the tide out, they start digging near to where they found THAT cross. After digging up a trench and starting to go through the spoils, they find a whole load of wood in the trench, perhaps a wooden structure. But, with the tide rising very quickly, they go further speedily and see what else is there. We’re reminded by the narrator of a previous excavation done by Dan Blankenship where they found a wooden-U-shape structure which had roman numerals carved on some of the wood at strategic locations. That excavation was cut short by a storm; this one is cut short by the tide coming in. Later in the day Rick and Charles visit Dan Blankenship to discuss his previous excavation although nothing new about his 1971 adventure can be conclusively revealed from this conclusion, but with that piece of wood they have dug up, they can get it carbon dated to see when that U-shape was likely created.

Road-trip time! Rick, Dave and Charles head North to Wolfville to meet the descendants of a man who worked with Robert Dunfield who have an artefact from the Money Pit that one of the crane operators, Harold Bishop, found back in the 60s when Dunfield tried but failed to reach and find the Chappell Shaft.  It’s a section of wood (with a modern plaque) allegedly found in the Money Pit that is thought might be part of a ship. We then have a reminder of Doug, the researcher, and his ship log translation from a few weeks ago before the gang talk about the various tests that can be done to find out the date of the wooden section’s metal nails, the actual tree and maybe the tree’s species.

A few days later, it’s a War Room meeting with John Wonnacottt, a geophysical engineer, someone who worked with Dan Blankenship on the u-shape structure 30 years ago, albeit to an inclusive verdict. The wood found in Smith’s Cove earlier is dated as 1684-1732; the Bishop wood 1646-1690. Bingo!

Yet another few days later, Rick and Gary are back in Lot 8 for metal detecting near to where last week they found the keyhole/lockplate object. First up, they find a metal button, quite small, maybe military from late 1700s. Next, it’s part of a broach. Then, just nearby the same hole, they find a jewel!! Yes, no sh*t Sherlock, a jewel!??? Hold the next season of Oak Island, we’ve found … Treasure!!!!! It’s a nice red jewel, 12 facets, in a worn unexciting circular metal casing. The metal bits aren’t very pretty or interesting, but the jewel itself is as clean, intact and beautiful as it was when it was first cut. The narrator gives us the story of Marie Antoinette and her missing crown jewels that are rumoured to have been buried on Oak Island. Pure speculation of course. The gang get really excited about the jewel, as they should, but what’s it date? It’s value? We won’t find out this episode though as those blooming credits start to roll.

Rating 7/10 - A show of discoveries, all potentially very significant. And there's TREASURE!?

When it comes to excavating, it's not worth doing without a JCB, right?

Oh man, not more blooming wood??? Well, this is 1600s wood!

Rick sniffs the wood and smells late 1600s. He's right!

It's a button ... sigh ...

It's a broach .... ohhhhh

IT'S A JEWEL!!!! OMG!!!!!