The Curse of Oak Island S06E03

We're now 5 years in to the Lagina brothers hunt for treasure on Oak Island. Technically you could say they've achieved this, based on recent weeks, or by using your own definition of what treasure is. Regarding the mystery of the island though, they've a long way to go to get definitive answers. However, Smith's Cove might well be the next place that actually turns up results, as the Lagina brothers see the start of their cofferdam arriving in the form of a massive crane on a big pad by the cove. A hydraulic hammer will bash 120 steel sheets into the ground around the cove, then the area will be drained and a new beach for Dan Blankenship will be created. Ok, not the last bit but it's still 3 weeks until the dam will be ready.

Part of the gang are off on a jolly to Calgary to the HQ of Eagle Canada, who are the guys that blew up the Money Pit last week using seismic charges. Have they found anything? Is the world round? Of course they have something to show. If they are paid that much money, they will find something. Interestingly enough, it's revealed now that they also blew up another area nearby to the Money Pit which is known as the Mega Bin (another name for the island for some!) which is an area where previous excavations by Dan Blankenship found evidence of tunnels. The results are in for the Mega Bin. It shows an anomaly at about 50ft deep in the upper corner of the area. Apparently this red blob, which is amongst lots of blue blobs, is a void of some sort. The Money Pit results show a void too, at 160ft, which is smack bang near where they drilled two of their holes last season ... and missed. This, ladies and gentlemen, is why you should always do your research and gain a deeper knowledge of where to drill, rather than just closing one eye and taking a chance! They believe this void might be the Chapell Vault which they were looking for last year when they found those human bones and pottery. Yet another anomaly is also found near the Money Pit which they think shows a flood tunnel. I think I might need a 3 day course to understand those charts though ...

Back at the island, Jack, Gary and Mike West (Geophysics wizard) are at Captain Anderson's lot, number 26, on the beach. Mike has one of those EM61s again on a buggy that he drags around beeping all the time. This scanner is more powerful than Gary's. You'd think there might be a "mine's bigger than yours" fight but Gary is cool with Mike's gadget that can go to a depth of 20ft. First up, they find a 1700's metal spike. Hmm. Then they find a metal hook. Naturally Gary has already put 1+1 together and believes this shows Captain Anderson using the area as a port.

Back in War Room and the gang gather to show off the seismic maps. They pick locations for the next core holes and the priority. Naturally they are going for the obvious first.

The Next Day the brothers observe Smith's Cove's cofferdam construction which is very impressive I must say. A tad later drilling equipment arrives in the form of sonic drills that literally blast everything out of their way when drilling. So, not destroying it by crushing it but obliterating evidence. Nice. Anyhow, geologist Terry Matheson, who helped them with the previous holes which missed the target, helps them choose the next hole sites. First hole is called DE6 and every 10ft they bring back samples. At 80ft deep they bring up wood which they believe is from a collapsed tunnel. Either that, or they've a big beaver problem.

Back at Lot 26, the next item to be found is mighty amazing for it looks like a long metal item with a sharp tip: i.e from a crossbow! Gary is very excited and could do with a minute to compose himself as he thinks it's very old, like Templar old, which is 12th/13th century and possibly used to pierce chainmail. Is it what it looks like though?

Lots of blobs in the Mega Bin.

Lots of wood in DE6.

An impressive sharp tip from a crossbow?

Rating 8/10 - A highly promising episode, with the cofferdam under construction, discovers on Lot 26 and targets in the Money Pit area.

Star Wars Resistance: Episode 16 - "The New Trooper"

Synopsis: Kel and Elia take down a Stormtrooper who was trying to identify them, leading to Kaz and Co trying to help them evade capture.

What I thought: Wow! That was a blast! It's been a while since we'd had this much fun but I totally enjoyed this episode, especially Kaz's antics in the Stormtrooper uniform where he looked nothing like you'd expect of a trooper. Cleverly they left his neck not fully cover by the black undergarment so he was easily identifiable against all the other troopers, but his mannerisms and voice totally gave that away regardless to us viewers. Quite how it took so long for the other troops to notice any suspicions I'm not sure, given Kaz was totally unlike any normal disciplined trooper. I'm also not sure how they knew his identification number after just mere seconds. I'm assuming there are some sort of electronic display/sensors inside the helmets which identify other troopers. Regardless, this is a fun, comical time with Kaz in the uniform, faking it totally with every other trooper, and gathering important data for the resistance at the same time. His confrontation with the First Order BB unit was typical of how Kaz does his action: kicking and falling all over the place!

Along the way we learn more important information, not least slightly more about the First Order's time on the children's planet, the recondition nature that Troopers can undergo, that there's more Troopers coming, and that, as we know, but no one else does, that there's a lot of First Order ships out there. Tam isn't convinced there's anything to worry about with the First Order, even Neeku backs her up, and although the children's story saddens her greatly, it's still quite a leap for her to just accept what they say so quickly. I guess we'll have to accept that, as we have to accept how quickly they got the Trooper redressed into the uniform and stood upright, just as the other Trooper's closed in on Kaz.

After the promise of more First Order from the mid-season trailer, and a few quieter episodes lately in that respect, the threat level is really ramped up several notches now we know more First Order are on their way.

Oooops ...

Kaz versus the BB unit.

That's a lot of red dots ...

Rating: 8/10 - A lot of First Order this episode, and some excellent Kaz antics, make this a thoroughly entertaining episode.

The Curse of Oak Island S06E01

We’re back and it’s a foggy wet day on Oak Island, much like my brain is clouded when it comes to remembering what happened last season; lots of digging, chatting in the War Room, money being spent and a cross as the big find? That’s about the gist of my failing memory. However, it’s great to be back, as we can look forward to how people with a lot of money can cause a lot of destruction in a relatively small space for little reward … for another season. This is TV entertainment folks!

Things get started with the obligatory air shot of Oak Island, which is a little foggy today, as Rick and Marty drive towards the island fresh with bags of money and plenty of ideas of how to make as much of a mess as possible. We’re reminded that this is a 50-year-old childhood dream for the brothers who are hoping that this year is the year that dreams come true: much like the last 5 seasons then. Marty says he’s only 70% convinced that something happened on Oak Island, which apparently is much more than he started with, which goes to show how someone with a lot of money can soon find them parted from the $$$$s.

OMG! There’s a new War Room! Apparently, tourists have been causing havoc so a new one has been established in a secluded spot, which you’d think wouldn’t be easy on such a small island. It’s still got the same sign on the outside though (EST. 2013) but hey, who cares about accurate dates on this island? Everyone is inside, like the knights of the round table, including Dan who has rarely left the house. Pleased to see Craig Tester is still there, despite what he said at end of last series. The big three are on the table, no, not Rick, Marty and Jim, but the targets for this year: the swamp, the money pit and Smith’s Cove. The latter involves the idea of a massive coffer dam so they can find that wooden structure underneath which they think are trapdoors. H8 in the money pit is also one of the 3 where they hope a series of multiple seismic analysis will finally reveal what’s below. This feels a little familiar when it comes to wanting to find out what lies below, aside from mud and water. Also on the table is having metal detector expert Gary spend the rest of his life scanning the island, starting with lots 1-8 and a few others never previously checked before. There’s excitement at nuking area of trees in order for Gary to wield his manly detector.

The next day and there’s a trip to the money pit to map those seismic tests. In comes a geophysical company to do the dirty work. First up, a test! Blimey, that’s a change. They have mapped up where they know a searcher shaft from mid 1800s (called Halifax Tunnel) is located. If this goes well, the brothers will feel more willing to spend one million dollars on having the whole area scanned.  A series of 2ft holes along that area are filled with dynamite and then detectors to pick up the vibrations: good vibrations one hopes. This literally is akin to blowing up money.

Marty and three of the team head to Smith’s Cove to see if the winter’s storm has washed anything up. Gary is out with his detector and … he finds a modern iron spike. Next up, they find some lead! Possibly from a ship, so the hype wagon drums up to us. They all seem super excited already.

It’s the first trip to the pub of the season, as some of the gang look over the lead speculating about it, including that maybe those who lost that cross on the cove lost the lead. Hmm, maybe. Or, maybe not. They want to get the lead tested to find out its original geological location. Which, partially in my mind, might be the off the back of a nearby fishing vessel.

Next day again, and the seismic test in the money pit is almost ready, but Gary and Rick head to Lot 2 which has been a little mutilated. Apparently, this is the first ever time this lot has been metal detected. First up, there’s a massive boulder covered in moss which they clear and find a signal near. They found a massive coin from 1797! Wowzers. Now this is actually something tangible. Very handy when they have dates on them huh? Doesn’t really answer much about the mystery of island but shows people were here and pretty careless with their money in the 1790s. It could show that there was a British presence not long after the discovery of the money pit in 1795.

At the Money Pit, the test line is almost ready as they detonate about 150 small charges that will be detected. Not all at once though but one by one. Next day in War Room they look over the results. This shows the a 2D layer cross section of the area that’s like a mosaic mess of colours, but they do show that Halifax tunnel in the results.

Next day and there’s a convoy onto the island as the seismic test team start preparing about 1,000 charges and detectors to create a 3D map of the ground beneath the entire money pit. It feels strange to detonate the ground although I assume it’s a muffled detonation that’s not very destructive.

Craig, Dave and Peter are on a car ride 300 miles NW to Fredericton to watch over a test of that lead cross from last season. At a university they will laser the cross and then get its isotope that’ll tell us roughly where it came from.

Back at Lot 2, Gary and Jack the destroyer are searching the forest undergrowth. There’s nothing at all to start of with but they zero in on another boulder and, hey presto, there’s something there that’s iron; literally on the top of it and a hole on the side. Definitely manmade but when and why? Gary thinks it might have been used to put a ring and rope around to help pull something along, maybe treasure?

Back at Fredericton and the chemical analysis is on its way. First up, there’s traces of hey ho silver in it which isn’t unusual due to a lack of techniques in the past to refine better. The next main revelation is that it’s not from North America. Let speculation begin! These results are later discussed in the War Room via a teleconference. There’s still a good chance it’s Templar related, not least because it looks very similar to their crosses. There’s talk of Europe specialists to call upon next. Is this another plane trip?

Back at Lot 2, Rick and Laird join to look at that boulder, and pull back more of the moss to reveal yet more drill holes. There’s also a small triangular shape chiselled onto the side of the stone. Is it a freemason mark? Or is it nothing in particular?

Next day and more charges are detonated in the Money Pit but in Smith’s Cove the guys bring in an EM61 metal detector equipment on wheels that can go much deeper than the handheld ones that Gary uses. Poor Gary must be feeling inferior right now.

Rick, Dave and Craig are on a road trip to Irving Company, who have been the people making those big massive holes in the money pit these past few years. These guys have some proposals on how to construct that dam at Smith’s Cove. By way of augmented reality, they show how it’ll look with two massive cranes helping to construct the dam. The guy wearing the headset was totally unnecessary really and timewasting, but it seems Rick and co see enough to cement the deal. No real surprise there then? Some companies only have to sneeze, and Rick is ready to wipe their noses.

Back at Smith’s Cove and the EM61 has trawled the area and locates something metallic in one area deep below the sand although there’s not much to say what it is.

Gary and Rick head to Lot 21 which has also been a little mutilated as well. This is where Daniel McGinnis used to live back in 1700s, whom we had his descendants visit last season and tell the story of a cross said to have been found by him. First up, an old hinge. Then … it’s another jewel/gem brooch of a red colour. Ohhhhhhh, it’s beautiful.

The Money Pit gets yet more destruction by way of dynamite.

This is the result of Money Pit tests ... yeah, It makes no sense to me either.

Oh, a 1797 beautiful coin!

And a broach ...

Rating 8/10 – A very decent start to the season with concrete plans, discoveries, and more money being spent than you can possibly imagine. It all looks very promising, but then, it always does at this early stage of a season doesn't it?

The Curse of Oak Island S05E10

Synopsis

The team unearths a ship's log detailing the burial of treasure on an island eerily similar to Oak Island.

What I thought

At the Money Pit, excavation on H8 has reached 115ft. They are turning up a lot of wood from centuries of previous treasure hunters, most likely the Chappell shaft from early 1900s. The big hammer picker is being used to bring up all the spoils from within the casing as they head towards 150ft.

In War Room, researcher Doug Crowell Is back with the gang to reveal more: 6 pages of a ship’s log from a French fleet in 1700s who were on their way to battle the British and take back Nova Scotia. They failed due to sickness and weather to even begin the siege. Over 100 of them died on the crossing, including the duke in charge (who was a Larchwood). The log entry (in English??) says they decided to dig a pit on an island, of which references in the text suggest it’s in vicinity of Oak Island. Marty doubts it due to how “perfect” it is although I’m still wondering why it’s in English when it’s a French fleet?

Now that the casing is at 155ft and grabber at 150ft, Rick wants to go a little more carefully as it’s near where they believe the anomaly is that they found last week. Now, at this depth, the spoils first go to an area to be metal detected by Gary Drayton before being put on a custom-built wash table to be cleaned and searched more thoroughly. With the pressure of that water hose on the contents that Jack uses, I wouldn’t be surprised if he nukes any evidence! Gary has a few finds in the spoils; first a small metallic nail of sorts (it’s not really explained) before he comes up with a decent sized metal spike with some concrete still on it. This must be from Chappell vault as they didn’t have concrete hundreds of years ago. In the next spoils more goodies start to appear, like a pick n mix as there’s bone, pottery, bolts and glass. As the casing reaches 170ft, things grind to a halt as the chief guy controlling the equipment says that the pressure is so high he feels they are on top of something significant, although they feel it’s wood. Seems it’s not just the pressure from x millions spent that’s on everyone’s shoulders …

It’s time for a meeting to discuss what’s next which basically means they decide to keep going; didn’t see that coming did we? Rick is still worried about destroying any finds, which is sensible, although most of their methodology in the past has hardly been gentle. However, whilst the casing is given new teeth and the outer casing made permanent, Rick and Gary head to Smith’s Cove for more metal detection. Here they first find a modern bottle top before the discovery of the season so far; a lead cross!! Rick reckons it looks like the crosses etched on the wall of the castle room in France that he saw made by the Knight Templars. I see similarities, I agree. Gary reckons it’s old. Something like 1200s-1600s. It certainly looks crude and an old style. It’s got everyone excited, including me, as this appears to be a very significant find, and a fascinating one.

Rating: 8/10 – Numerous smaller finds from H8 show real promise, but the find of the cross just knocks the socks off everything else.

The grabber continues to get all the spoils from H8.

Gary does his metal magic.

Jack insures they keep the workload down by nuking any evidence in the spoils.

Gary finds a spike.

The spoils reveal more bone.

Jack relives his childhood by rolling in the mud.

Gary and Rick find a lead cross!

Star Wars Rebels S04E10 "Jedi Night" & S04E11 "DUME"

Synopsis

The Ghost Crew infiltrates the Imperial headquarters on Lothal to save one of their own before reeling from a devastating loss, the Ghost crew rallies together to find a new purpose and resolve.

What I thought

After what seems like an age since we last saw 'Rebels' and that failed attempt to blow up the TIE Defender facility on Lothal, we're back with what is a double-bill episode, although some countries are showing them individually. Crazy! They really are better back to back, not least because there's little actual content in the second episode, once you've seen the devastating first one.

Let's get it out of the way instantly: Kanan is dead. There should be no ambiguity here, and I don't think there's even a slither of one. No one is even posing the question as to if he survived the end of episode 10. After such a massive loss of a central charecter, and the massive explosion that saw this Jedi's demise, the subsequent episode was always going to be a downer of sorts, but it was one that was definitely needed in order for emotions to be played out. I've seen Clone Wars and Rebels cartoons, but this combo of episodes was the first time I came close to actual tears in what was a massive pay-off for regular fans of the show in terms of reunion and loss for Hera and Kanan.

There's a sign of good things to come at the start of episode 10 when we have Kanan preparing himself for what he obviously seems to know is inevitable, by having a haircut and a shave with a knife that would be best used for chopping up bread. How he managed to shave that well with such an implement I don't know. He's placed Ezra in charge of the rescue of Hera who is being tortured with the electric chair and mocked by Thrawn in a way only he can deliver. Not long before the gang use manual flying contraptions to look like natural "birds" to infiltrate the Imperial Base, the dreaded Interrogating Probe Droid 'ball of no fun' injects Hera with a truth drug. Why it takes that floating device to give an injection I don't know, but I guess it cuts down on nurses. Entering the base proves very easy by air for Kanan, Sabine and Ezra, the latter of the two go their own way to help find transport away from the base, as Kanan uses magnetic suction devices to climb the walls to where Hera is being held. All Jedi's know how to make an entrance, and Kanan has this one nailed, as he arrives via the floor of this room, which for some reason extends outwards unlike the rest of the base. He ruthlessly deposes of the two troopers, one via the "Mace Window" exit technique, and kicks the probe droid down the entrance hole. Hera is delirious due to the drug, making for a fun and emotion moment, especially just before Kanan arrived. When Rukh shows up, Kanan eventually deals with him in a rather uncivilized fashion of force pushing him off the edge, before the pink-pimpernel Death Trooper's have them pinned down, leading to Kanan and Hera escaping via the manual flying contraptions. Incidentally, the Death Troopers this episode speak in garbled code, just like in Rogue One, which is what we all expected them to be like and not as they has been in previous Rebel episodes. That's more like it! Sadly, they don't seem to be much better than regular troopers at aiming this week as the Rebels get away. I'm also not sure why the Death Troopers were dispatched when they are normally guards for high-ranked commanders. Guess Thrawn sent them. He's about at this point but soon gets called away by Tarkin for a meeting with the Emperor to lobby for his TIE Defenders. Good luck with that Thrawn, especially as the Death Star plan gets a mention here. 

Kanan and Hera land in the fueling depot of the TIE Defender factory, quickly climbing to the top of the central fuel cell to await rescue by Sabine and Ezra who have some amusing moments infiltrating an Imperial shuttle, very reminiscent of the Clone Wars style, which is a joy to see. Governor Pryce, left on charge now, has a moment of madness that is pretty rubbish even for her, as she is usually not too bad for an Imperial Commander. She sends in AT-ATs (why?) to pursue this handful of Rebels, and then crazily fires on the fuel cell the Rebels are being rescued from! Is she stupid? Seems so. It's like using a hammer to crack a nut. As the Rebel's are far from safe from the explosion, Kanan courageously sacrifices himself, using the force to hold back the explosion and send the rescue craft to safety. With the episode ending in total silence, and the following beginning the same way, this is a OMG moment that's executed brilliantly.

There's not really as much to say about the second episode 'Dume' which does play the aftermath of Kanan's death very well. Everyone is deeply affected, not least Ezra and Hera, the latter of which finds great comfort from her family heirloom that Kanan saved for her, along with Chopper who stays by her side. Ezra though feels lost without Kanan, and ends up getting chased by Wolves, who cryptically speak to him, eventually revealing that he needs to fight on, especially as the Jedi Temple (which one though?) is at serious risk and he needs to protect it. This is eventually what Ezra tells the gang they need to do next and sets up an intriguing final 4 episodes, not least as we know the Emperor is involved. I hope we also get to see Thrawn meeting him, although unsure on that one. 'Dume' might seem like filler, but it's a necessary one for it shows the emotions of the gang, which really had an impact on me. It also helps show direction for the setup of the end of the show which promises to have some surprises, I can feel it.

Rating 8/10 - An awesome "Jedi Night' episode, and an emotional fallout 'Dume' episode which is less awesome but packed of tearful moments and a setup for the end of the series.

What I liked

• Death Troopers talking in code! Now that's more like it!
• That Imperial craft the Rebels stole is so Clone Wars
• Everything about 'Jedi Night' episode, especially Hera/Kanan was simply emotional, warming and brilliantly scripted.
• The end of Jedi Night episode! The silence afterwards ...
• The setup for saving the/a Jedi Temple.
• Hera/Chopper's emotional bond
• The gang's grieving is very well protrayed.
• Just the mention of the Emperor perks up ears.
• Rukh being awesome

What I didn't like

• Let's make Death Troopers great again please! They need to be effective.
• Governor Pryce. Why? What was she thinking? Was this an order to undermine Thrawn?
• Rukh being undone by Sabine/Zeb and made to look stupid by being spray painted. Why did he go after them??

Thrawn mocks Hera

Haircut time for Kanan. Would have been easier with the lightsabre.

Health and Safety would never approve this rescue plan.

Climbing walls "sucks" for Kanan.

 

A Jedi knows how to arrive in style!

Death Troopers!

Governor Pryce has a senior moment.

Kanan holds back the flames, and our tears, sacrificing himself.

Kanan :(

Pryce!? WTF?

The wolves really harass Ezra.

Hera grieves with the help of Chopper.

Invisible Rokh? That's a new trick but sadly goes wrong.

Big wolf, daddy wolf, grandmother wolf ...

Poor Rokh.

I hope that's a map.

Star Wars Rebels S04E03 & S04E04 "In the Name of the Rebellion"

Synopsis

As members of the Rebel Alliance, Ezra and the Ghost crew must accept a mission to spy on an Imperial outpost they would rather destroy. Later, after being separated from Hera and Kana, Ezra and Sabine join the desperate quest of Saw Gerrera to hunt down the Empire's elusive secret super weapon.

What I thought

After a reasonable opening hour episode to the season, things really beef up in this double-parter, especially in the second half as Saw Gerrera arrives and so do multiple massive explosions. Although there are references to Ezra and Sabine always blowing things up in this episode, given what we know about Saw, we also know to not only expect things to go boom but also to take a turn for the worse when he’s about. However, for the first half, he’s not about, at least not physically, except for his massive big head (visually and probably figuratively to many other Rebels) appearing to transmit a message to the Rebel base on Yavin IV. This absolutely beautifully stunning setting for a base is interrupted by Saw telling them how rubbish they are and not willing to do what it takes. As if waiting for him to appear, Mom is out of the base and there to dispute his accusations and then cut the plug on his mouthing off. Before this, we had the gang together again as Kanan, Ezra, Sabine and Chopper meet up with Zeb and Hera at the base. I expected Hera and Kanan to rush into a hug but they really held that off, leaving the handshakes and fist pumping to our imagination. As rewarding as seeing Yavin IV was, we also got to see Rex and Kallus once again, albeit both in a small supporting role. Sadly, no AP-5 who would have been fantastic in this episode with his cynical nature.

What gets this episode going is that a new massive communications antenna (you know, just like the ones we see in Rogue One) is being used by the Empire and is causing them to get the heads up on the Rebels. Mom Mothma therefore instructs the Ghost team to utilise it to the Rebel’s advantage rather than destroy it. This was going to plan, until the Rebels actually landed on the device, by way of a heavy landing by Ezra, Sabine and certainly by Chopper! This whole skydiving that happens in this show I have to just accept at face value. It all doesn’t quite add up for me, as Ezra says he doesn’t need a jetpack, yet he uses it? It’s all just odd how casual they are with this but, hey, it’s a cartoon! Anyhow, once an Imperial cruiser arrives, things start to go comically wrong, as he there’s Stormtroopers falling over each other as Chopper manipulates the tilt of the dish, and Ezra doing an even worse impersonation of an Imperial voice than Han Solo in the detention centre on the Death Star. Seriously, that was Ezra’s plan, to chit-chat to that incoming cruiser? That’s the biggest waste of an idea ever. Sure enough, it’s time to bail out, but the Ghost is preoccupied by TIEs but luckily Saw is at hand, as he helps rescue the three and also nuke the dish, taking out the cruiser at the same time, naturally.

This takes us into part 2 and Sabine/Ezra/Chopper hooking up with Saw and his wingman to infiltrate a civilian cargo ship which Saw has intel on being used by Imperials. Sadly we see little of the space station that the cargo ship undocks from but once inside the cargo ship, it’s all creeping about like Scooby Doo and totally awesome as the gang indeed find the Empire is using the cargo ship, where they find a group of prisoners whom seemed to be on the way to Scotland’s Comedy Fringe Festival, given their comedy abilities. But no, they are all weapon experts who were made prisoners by the Empire for not agreeing to help them. Rogue One reference? Tick. Secret Weapon? Tick. Krennic and Death Troopers? Tick ... well, almost. Krennic gets name dropped but there be Death Troopers guarding a massive Kyber Crystal in this cargo ship! This isn’t just any gang of Death Troopers. Oh no, these boys and girls are fresh out of Death Trooper training squad because they seem unable to know how to utilise their secure comms, weapons or armour, for they are made mugs of by the Rebels. Saw, determined to find out what’s really going on, has no interest in helping the prisoners, leading to a game of cat and mouse with Sabine/Ezra before he destabilises the kyber crystal upon bailing out when a Star Destroyer shows up and no secret Imperial weapon evident. Needless to say our gang get out alive, but not before the cargo ship goes supernova, taking out the Star Destroyer with it ... naturally.

Rating: 8/10 – A gritty action packed episode full of Star Wars and Rogue One nostalgia.

What I liked

• ·         Saw Gerrera and his wingman were cool and were awesomely portrayed.
• ·         The secrecy and conspiracy elements were top-notch.
• ·         References to Rogue One were like hand outs of candy to fans
• ·         The ‘green’ alien prisoner was absolutely a great comedian as well as scientist.
• ·         Chopper back on form providing humour and comically dealing with Stormtroopers.
• ·         Yavin IV looked beautiful.

What I didn’t like

• ·         It was odd hearing Death Troopers talk in English. They are way more cool when talking in code.
• ·         Death Troopers made to look like the they were no better than StormTroopers.
• ·         How did the Star Destroyer captain not notice the energy build-up until the last minute?
  

Yavin IV looks absolutely beautiful.

I'm so reminded of Rogue One here!

Meet the new comedy gang!

Death Troopers, but not as you've seen them before ...

That's a massive crystal!

Chopper kicks Stormtrooper butt!

Bang, Crash, Wallop.

Twin Peaks: The Return S03E1 & S03E02

What I thought

First up, a confession. I've not watched ANY of the previous two series of this show, HOWEVER, I am familiar with many of the concepts of the show; the red curtains, dancing dwarf, a giant, murder, mystery, weirdness, Dale Cooper, a lady who talks to logs etc. Even without seeing an episode before, I know all about these bits and bobs (no pun intended) because I'm a sci-fi TV fan, and it's been impossible to get through the last 25 years without hearing and seeing photos/clips from this show. I toyed with watching the first two series on catchup, but life is too short.

I sat down highly excited about this show's return, which, considering I hadn't seen it before, I'm not sure why I was so much in anticipation. However, once I started watching it, it quickly became apparent. Somehow my subconscious knew this was my type of show. The similarities to LOST and especially 2001: A Space Odyssey are uncanny. This is an intoxicatingly hypnotic show, mostly due to the mannerisms of the character's and the way it's filmed. Everything is just plain weird. The characters, the way they behave (which even for the most typical person doesn't seem quite normal) and their dialogue is somewhat a classic lesson on how to say just enough without actually being totally implicitly clear. It's like a lesson on how to be a politician in many ways. They will say and do just enough to plant questions and confusion in you, but never enough to actually enable you to be sure you really know any answers..

Exactly what's going on, I'm not sure. I can take lots of guesses, but I'd probably be shot down by hardcore Twin Peak fans for being totally wide of the mark. How the episode started and everything in the top-floor skyrise apartment building was just mesmerising and so 2001: A Space Odyssey; little to no conversation, not a lot to really make sense of, lots of sitting around, posturing, posing and looking mysterious, but at the same time just looking visually beautiful to observe. Sure, I knew something would eventually happen, and that Tracey was really into that guy. Wasn't quite expecting them to get it on and get mutilated by an entity, but it was a pleasant viewing surprise. In fact, there's another death in this episode and I'm clueness as to how they all relate. This poor high school principal getting pulled in for murder, the double revelation to his wife that they are both cheating on each other and all the confusion as to who knew what and why ... well, every time I thought I knew where that was going, i didn't. I'm still not sure if he knew or not? It seemed he did but then one moment he and his wife were so close and the classic loving couple and the next they were really like worst enemies. Amazing how that turned around. And the body which is of two people? The lady he supposedly murdered? Does that relate to poor Tracy and the lad in the skyscraper? Who knows.

Of course, then we have Dale Cooper's doppelganger wandering about, being all kung-fu, mysterious and murdering people I've no idea who they ever were, but it was sort of entertaining. Why he has to have his hair like that though ... it's just ridiculous. The real Dale Cooper is in the black lodge place with the red curtains, having entertaining and quite frankly odd conversations with random people, including a tree with a brain on the top? What? It sometimes looks a little 1950s sci-fi and then also just feels plain weird and fascinating at the same time. I love everything in that place even though i don't really understand it all. The posturing. The pausing between speaking. The way they walk about. The background sounds. The camera positioning. It's really amazing and captivating to me.

I don't like musical endings to any episode so the last few minutes deflated the experience for me somewhat, and also the fact that I really wasn't totally sure what I'd been set up for. What is the series arc? I guess it's Dale Cooper and his doppelganger but what else? Those murders? We could have done with seeing real Dale out in the real world before the end I think, just so we know where we are starting next episode. I'm also no fan of doppelgangers for the reason that it never feels right or real when the real person and doppelganger are in the same scene. Never quite works for me, although we've not had that in this show yet.

Anyhow, at end of episode, I was reasonably satisfied. It mattered not that I'd not seen the show before, or knew who anyone was aside from a few characters, as it was a fascinating world with so many questions coming to mind and visual delights that I really enjoyed it.

Rating 8/10 - A fascinating and captivating beginning, full of serious weirdness.

A room with a view

Don't drink coffee before sex.

Like an episode of Judge Judy.

Don't be cheeky.

It's a talking tree!

Star Wars Rebels S03E02 "The Holocrons of Fate"

Synopsis

"Maul is back, kidnapping the crew of the Ghost in order to force Kanan and Ezra to hand over the Sith & Jedi Holocrons to him."

What I thought?

Second episode in and we're already rocking quality. I've not been the biggest fan of Maul's return from being cut in half in the 1st Star Wars film, but this was my personal favourite episode of his in a long time. He's calculating, fierce, mystic and dominating as he captures the crew of the Ghost (off screen) and demands Ezra and Kanan (who were elsewhere) to hand over both holocrons in return for the crew. Needless to say this is a ruthless Maul, who we find out has little to no sentiment for being nice, as he tries to kill Kanan as soon as the opportunity arrives and gives the order to his droids to kill the crew a little later. This is great stuff and everything I wanted to see from Maul as he strides about looking a considerable foe. Despite being ready to kill everyone, he still sees Ezra as his apprentice, as they both join together the two holocrons. This particular bit was a little of let down. Supposedly, so Bendu tells us earlier in the episode, when such holocrons are joined together, they will tell you whatever you want to know. Ezra wants to destroy the Sith (not totally sure why that's his crusade entirely but hey ho) and Maul wants to know ... well, he doesn't tell us. Kanan stops the unification just as both are getting answers, in order to save Ezra's soul I guess. Ezra ends up knowing only random things that are no use at all, and Maul dashes off muttering "He lives" as if he had seen that scene from last season with Ashoka finding out about Anakin. I'd guess Maul refers to Kenobi here. And given that's likely the case, they wouldn't start such as storyline without seeing it through, so I'm pretty sure we'll see Obi-Wan sometime in the near future! How cool is that? Or did he mean Anakin? Nah, Maul hated Kenobi so one would think it was about him.

As with all cartoons, it's hard to get over some oddities, such as how the pathetic droids in Maul's possession could keep the crew at bay, especially as Chopper seems very easily subdued on multiple occasions. Doesn't quite make much sense how Chopper manages very little in this episode when he doesn't appear to be that injured/chained up. The first escape that the crew attempt sees them destroy 3 droids in less than 3 seconds, yet they are at their mercy most of episode? Seems daft to have us believe that, but then this episode was all about Maul and the holocrons so let's not worry about technicalities too much huh? And, after wondering what on earth Kanan was thinking when he gave a sith holocron to a total stranger last week, we see that nothing bad came of it, as Bendu tells them where he stored it, using the opportunity to reunite Kanan and Ezra as a partnership in order to retrieve the device. Very nicely played. A bit much to see the hug between them though. Is this the end of Ezra's dark path? I certainly hope not. It's been toyed with for so long that I'd really not want it to be over that soon. Did anyone see where the holocrons were at the end of the episode? Hmm.

Good = Maul's portrayal is top-notch, Master/Apprentice reunion for Kanan/Ezra and Kanan kicking some ass again. Strong hint of Obi-Wan returning.

Not so good = Ghost crew's easy incarceration, Bendu turning out to be as he seems (i.e. neutral and pleasant) and not much found out from holocrons combining.

Rating 8/10 (Excellent)

Star Wars Rebels S02E21 "Twilight of the Apprentice"

Synopsis

"After gaining information about the Sith, Kanan, Ezra and Ahsoka battle the Inquisitors with the help of a new ally, but are overmatched when Vader arrives."

What I thought?

This is the first ever episode of Star Wars Rebels that I've watched twice. I rarely watch anything a second time, not least all the way through. Some of the reason for that I won't go into here, but did my views change from first to second time?

Yes, they did. On first watch I was underwhelmed. Probably because I'd been so hyped up about a massive finale, Vader, and someone probably dying, that when it didn't all happen the way my mind had somehow predicted, it was naturally deflated. But, there's a heck of a lot contained in this episode and lots to digest long after it's finished, which is why this episode is most definitely rewatchable as you debate and re-debate nuggets of information amongst the massive reveals.

In short, Ahskoa, Kanan and Ezra find a sith temple. The former Darth, Maul, seduces Ezra when he becomes separated from the other two, slowly fueling his darker sides as they uncover the secrets of the temple. How much Maul is betting on Ezra being the apprentice that he claims near the end, is anyone's guess. All Maul wanted was the power behind the temple to destroy all his enemies; Jedi and Sith. Throughout the episode, the inquisitors are there, including a new one, who seem to only be a plot point to distract our heroes before they run away and then come back at inconvenient points. The Grand Inquisitor in series one was awesome. He was mysterious, strong and had great dialogue. The inquisitors in the second series are just annoying, quite frankly, and carry no weight to them other than the inconvenience one might feel after stepping in dog poo. Not to worry, because Maul kills two of them (off-screen deaths of course, this is a cartoon) and although the 3rd one kind of gets away, it's ambiguous if they died. But it's suggested from other sources that they are indeed dead. This could be the end of the inquisitors. As a concept they are great, but this second season they've been much of nothing really.

Vader arrives near the end, on top of his tie-fighter! An awesome entrance. He chats too much for me, but only just too much. Maul is very chatty throughout the episode but this is the post-film Maul who does nothing but natter. He's very different to the film's Maul who was almost mute. I like Maul, but somewhat prefered him when he hardly muttered a word. Word on the street though is that Maul is the third season's main foil for our rebels. He doesn't care much for them, but we can be sure he cares less for the Empire.

We never saw Maul Vs Vader but we did see some of Ashoka Versus Vader. The fighting wasn't overly dramatic but the cinematic display throughout this episode, along with background music was awesome. Vader seems to do nothing but stride and push his lightsabre about these days rather than be too animated, but he's clearly dark, evil, big in stature and powerful. Naturally one can never have enough Vader on screen.

So, at the end what do we have? Looks like Ashoka will be playing less screen time next season, going by rumours. She's still alive, despite everyone believing she was destined to die in the finale. Vader is slightly battered from the experience. Probably more battered than I'd expected given his powerful awesomeness. Kanan ends up blind, which looks permanent. This probably spells more trouble for Ezra as with Ashoka and a slightly more subdued Kanan we now have clear evidence from this episode that Ezra is dabbling in the dark side much more.

A few quibbles; Vader, arrives on top of ship. Autopilot? It flies away when he dismounts? Guess it must of been. I also didn't think how reasonable Kanan and Ahsoka were with Maul rang quite right either. And why would Yoda send them there? Lots to think about.

Rating 8/10 (GREAT)

It started with a ... ship, of course. Hic!

Anyone falling from that height, with that much rubble, would be dead or very hurt but alas our heroes are fine.

Maul didn't really help at all with the doors.

Chopper was awesome as always. Manning the tie-fighter guns was cool.

The Inquisitors this season are really a menace and annoying, carrying little threat.

Some beautiful visuals in this episode.

Cool use of lightsabers but far too much of it and somewhat ridiculous.

Now this is how you make an entrance.

The man behind the mask.

How dark is Ezra going to go next season?