Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 293

Secretlab’s TITAN Evo Gaming Chair Brings Ahsoka Tano to My Office

When I decorated my current home office, the first dedicated office space I’d had in years, I did so knowing how much time I’d spend in it. I made the space warm with a palette inspired by the earthy tones of Dagobah. Then I acquired shelves to hold my many, many books. I found the right desk and added décor that brings me joy. But one element was never quite right: my desk chair. I wanted something that fit the room’s aesthetic while also being supportive of the body I contort in unhealthy ways while I work and write. I went through two chairs that didn’t leave an impression until Secretlab sent me a TITAN Evo to try.

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I hadn’t considered gaming chairs when I looked for the right addition to my office because when I play games, it’s usually while curled on my couch holding my Nintendo Switch Lite. Being so literal about a chair’s purpose was silly. If you’re sitting at a desk for hours on end, you benefit from an adjustable chair that offers support. Gaming chairs are ideal for this. After about a month of solid use, I can’t claim the TITAN Evo has cured my terrible posture, but I can say my bones are generally happier after a full day at my computer since I can adjust the chair to accommodate how I sit.

Set up is a process. The chair comes in a massive box, and I had to wait until I had assistance to move it into my office and assemble it. If you’ll be moving it up stairs, prepare yourself. Definitely put it together in the room you plan to leave it in. While it takes a little time to sort everything, it’s relatively straightforward. I recommend taking the time during assembly to understand which levers control the various parts of the chair.

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While I wish I could say the TITAN Evo’s ergonomic touches alone were enough to sway me, they were not. It was the most comfortable chair I’d put at my desk by a factor of many, but it was plain. But then I added the Ahsoka Tano SKINS Secretlab also sent. Secretlab has a line of premium chair sleeves that enable you to personalize the Evo and give the chair some zhuzh equal to its comfortable design. Ahsoka is just one of the Star Wars SKINS available. Adding the SKINS sleeve over the chair’s back and seat was simple and quick. It hugs the existing chair structure in every spot, so there aren’t weird gaps or areas without coverage.

The Ahsoka design fits my office vibes perfectly. Having a chair that looks as nice as it feels to sit upon has made my time at my desk more appealing. My cat (also named Ahsoka) agrees. She’s never stolen an office chair from me like this before.

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DISNEY LORCANA’s ILLUMINEER’S QUEST: DEEP TROUBLE Is a Challenging Adventure

Ravensburger has stretched and shaped Disney Lorcana since the trading card game’s first release in August. With the most recent set, Ursula’s Return, the gaming company released a standalone game that brings a whole new way to engage with Lorcana. Ravensburger sent Nerdist a copy of Illumineer’s Quest Deep Trouble for review. After putting in time trying to defeat Ursula, we collected our thoughts. Overall, Deep Trouble is a challenging battle and an excellent way for single players to access Lorcana.

What We Like About Illumineer’s Quest Deep TroubleRavensburger

We love seeing a spin on the way players engage with Lorcana. Deep Trouble features all the same gameplay mechanics you’re used to from regular play, but the twist with Ursula makes it feel different and fresh. Ursula is a powerful villain, and the story and her deck reflects this. The dark nature of her deck adds a cool selection of beautifully creepy art to the game, too. This separate game enriches the lore of Lorcana, which we always enjoy seeing.

I appreciate how Deep Trouble allows for a single-player match or cooperative play with others. Having both options is helpful for those who may not play in a Lorcana league but still want to collect and play. The game’s set up is simple and quick to learn. Assuming you know how to play Lorcana, you’ll be up and running in less than 10 minutes.

Deep Trouble is a challenging game, as I guess it should be since you’re fighting Ursula. It’s a thing worth noting so you can set expectations. I was convinced I was doing something wrong because I lost so badly. Out of three solo games, I won against Ursula only once with the provided Amethyst and Steel deck. In the other two games and in another one with two players, Ursula won by hilariously large margins. I played all the games on the easiest mode. If you advance to more challenging modes, you’ll need your own custom decks to stand a chance—the rules for Deep Trouble even suggest this.

What We Don’t Like About Illumineer’s Quest Deep TroubleRavensburger

My quibbles are largely related to design and packaging. Deep Trouble replaces the gift set for the Ursula’s Return release, so the packaging is similar to that of a gift set. However, this is its own game. Once you open the box, there’s nothing to contain the pieces in. You can use your own deck boxes and storage, of course, but I wish this came in a dedicated game box to hold the playmat, Ursula’s deck, the two player decks, and the encounter cards.

The playmat has only a single row to track lore. So basically, you can track Ursula’s lore. If you try to stack up the lore trackers for two players in that same row, you run out of space. Yes, there’s a place to track lore for Deep Trouble in the app, but I don’t want to default needing to have my phone out.

Illumineer’s Quest Deep Trouble is available wherever you buy Disney Lorcana.

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In Defense of Otto Hightower’s Propaganda Funeral Procession on HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

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King Aegon Targaryen, Second of His Name, is an amoral, depraved man-child without honor. So when he finds an idea grotesque, it must surely be too terrible for anyone with a shred of decency to entertain. Yet in House of the Dragon‘s “Rhaenyra the Cruel,” the measured Otto Hightower proposed something that horrified his otherwise unethical grandson. The (now former) Hand of the King turned the brutal murder of little Prince Jaehaerys into a funeral progress of propaganda against Rhaenyra. It was a monstrous, sickening plan that turned his family’s private grief into a public spectable. And Otto was right to do it.

That’s not an easy thing to admit, but not for the reason you might think. Defending Otto Hightower’s actions on House of the Dragon means you are also legitimizing Tywin Lannister pulling off the Red Wedding on Game of Thrones.

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It’s hard to imagine anything could make Alicent’s son Aegon recoil with horror. He grew up drinking and whoring his way through Flea Bottom where he frequented kids fighting pits, even though some of those children might have been his own unacknowledged bastards. He’s completely craven, and sitting the Iron Throne has only brought out the worst in him. Yet his grandfather’s ploy to turn little Jaehaerys’s murder into a public relations opportunity on House of the Dragon shocked the King. Even a despicable pig like Aegon recognized what anyone with an ethical bone or beating heart did instantly: this was a truly repellent suggestion, even for war.

But as Otto had told his daughter in private before the small council meeting, “Some good may yet come of this.” He wasn’t going to let Jaehaerys “die in vain,” even if that meant doing something Otto must have known in his soul was disgusting. He wouldn’t simply name Rhaenyra a “slayer of infants” without proof (totally unseemly on its own). Otto Hightower wanted to hold a funeral progress to let the people of King’s Landing physically look at a decapitated six-year-old so they could “look upon the works of this pretender to the throne.”

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From there, word spread to the lords of Westeros, who would inevitably revaluate their loyalty to the Queen. But Otto Hightower wasn’t going to leave anything to chance on House of the Dragon. He was going to milk this unthinkable tragedy for every ounce of publicity he could. “The Realm must see the sorrow of the crown,” he said. “A sorrow best expressed through its most gentle souls.” Those souls were his guilt-stricken daughter and Jaehaerys’ sweet, traumatized, neurotypical mother, Queen Helaena. They’d have to sit behind the boy’s body as they were quite literally paraded through the city.

Otto’s reprehensible idea was even worse in reality. We had to see Jaehaerys, stitched back together, get stuck in a rut in the streets. We had to watch an overwhelmed Helaena made to suffer even more when she should have been left to grieve in private. And we had to hear Rhaenyra, a grieving mother herself, falsely labeled a monster to smallfolk being manipulated. Aegon, miraculously, was right to find the mere suggestion of the propaganda event so vile. Yet Otto Hightower’s reasoning for this House of the Dragon funeral progress is totally defensible. “Jaehaerys will do more for us now than a thousand knights in battle,” he said to the green council on, which ultimately agreed with him.

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The Dance of the Dragons is here. There’s no stopping it now. Jaehaerys’ death will just be one of many still to come. Lots of people are going to die, many of them smallfolk and children as innocent as the little prince. Why not turn the boy’s death into a spectacle if it saves lives? What better outcome could there be? Wouldn’t lessening the pain and suffering of others be the kindest thing the greens can do, especially if the only price is their own pain?

Saying something is “the lesser of two evils” doesn’t mean something is not evil, which Otto Hightower’s House of the Dragon funeral progress surely was. But “lesser” is a relative term, and his plan might lessen the overall amount of evil in the world.

Ollie Upton/HBO

You don’t have to like anything about Otto Hightower’s otherwise unethical House of the Dragon scheme to recognize its merits. But the real quandary begins once you do. Because when you admit Otto had a point you also have to accept that you’re making the case for Tywin Lannister conspiring with Walder Frey to pull off the Red Wedding two centuries later on Game of Thrones.

Inviting people into your home under a banner of peace and protection only to slaughter them is obviously reprehensible. It’s the kind of unimaginable act that seems an obvious bridge too far (intended!) even when done against people you are literally at war with. Tyrion will raise the same argument with his father when he learns about what happened at the Twins. But Tywin Lannister will raise the same type of argument as Otto Hightower long before him: “Explain to me why it is more noble to kill ten thousand men in battle than a dozen at dinner,” Tywin will say.

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Is he right? Was Game of Thrones’ Red Wedding—as plainly devious and cruel as it was—justified? If we acknowledge Otto had legitimate cause to use his grandson’s murder to save lives, don’t we have to admit Tywin will have legitimate cause to kill a dozen men in a dishonorable manner because he thinks it will save thousands from dying with honor? What’s honor to the dead anyway? Plus, Tywin didn’t attack innocents victims at the Red Wedding. He only killed soldiers engaged in a war against him and his family, the family he was trying to protect. How is one okay and not the other?

The answer is not obvious because there’s an obvious distinction between exploiting a death that has already happened versus committing literal murder. One is personally repugnant and exploitative, while the other is a war crime. Yet the distinction between the two probably isn’t large enough to make fans of the Seven Kingdoms comfortable. The only real lesson we can take comfort in is one both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon have left unquestioned: the only way to truly save lives in war is never to fight one.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He is sick to his stomach for having defended Otto Hightower in any way. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s Major Duel Showed Why Criston Cole Is an All-Time Great Westeros Villain

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House of the Dragon‘s second episode of season two delivered another iconic moment from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. Identical twins Erryk and Arryk Cargyll, two members of the late Viserys’ Kingsguard who split over which of his children to support, fought to the death on Dragonstone. The show’s emotional, intense duel answered some major question raised by the book. But the tale of that heinous assassination attempt was bigger than just the two dead knights. It’s also a major part of the story about the cretin responsible for the reprehensible plan, Ser Criston Cole. The reason he sent Ser Arryk has firmly established that unaccountable, dishonorable monster is one of Westeros’ all-time great villains.

Ollie Upton/HBO

After making fundamental changes to “Blood and Cheese,” House of the Dragon opted for a more faithful take on the infamous Cargyll duel. Just as all historians agree, Ser Arryk, member of Aegon’s Kingsguard, snuck onto Dragonstone to pose as his own brother, Erryk, member of Rhaenyra’s Queensguard. Fire & Blood‘s sources never agreed whether Arryk was there to kill the Queen or one of her children, only that the plot was a response to the murder of Prince Jaehaerys. The show made clear Rhaenyra was always his target.

The prequel also added a new wrinkle by having Mysaria play a role in preventing Rhaenyra’s death. On House of the Dragon the White Worm was on Dragonstone at the time, rather than in King’s Landing like in Fire & Blood. That made it possible for Mysaria to see a Cargyll twin walking up from the shore’s of Dragonstone. She knew that knight couldn’t be the same man she’d just see inside the castle protecting the Queen. Without the spymaster’s keen eye, Arryk very likely would have cut down the Queen in her bed.

(Fire & Blood says he never reached Rhaenyra’s bedchamber, but it’s easy to see why the Queen’s supporters would hide that fact. It makes her look weak and vulnerable. Aegon didn’t want people to know what happened to Jaehaerys for the same reason.)

Theo Whitman/HBO

The show then took full creative advantage of the conflicting historical sources the series is based on to give us an incredible adaptation. One source, Grand Maester Munkun, said the two brothers fought for nearly an hour. No one could intervene because it was impossible to tell which brother was which. (Something the show also included.) Munkun says the two then died crying in each other’s arms. Another source, the ribald Mushroom, said the fight was quick, brutal, and filled with hate. The victorious Ser Erryk then died four days later “screaming in horrible pain and cursing his traitorous brother all the while.”

Fire & Blood makes clear neither account is likely definitive. (The third, from Septon Eustace, only says the twins slew each other.) What history does make clear is which version people came to accept. The book says after the war “the singers and storytellers” showed a “marked preference for the tale as told by Munkun.” Why wouldn’t they? It makes for a better, more tragic song. That makes people cry and willing to pay coin. What House of the Dragon delivered, though, was a far more emotional and honest duel than anything described in Fire & Blood.

The prequel’s duel had both professions of both love and anger. The two brothers, who were essentially once one, fought violently. Each tried uphold their sacred vows even against the person they actually cared about most in the world. They still loved each other and hated what they were doing, but as Cregan Stark said, “Duty is sacrifice.” In the end, Ser Erryk did protect his Queen from her would-be assassin as Mushroom wrote, but he didn’t die from his wounds days later. Killing his brother was too much for Erryk to live with. In his final moment he apologized to his Queen before falling on his own sword.

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It was a truly heartbreaking sequence, one of the show’s best yet. It’s also a scene that captures the personal tragedy that defines the Dance of the Dragons.

And it was all Criston Cole’s fault.

Fire & Blood says the Lord Commander concocted the plan, just as he did on the show. (One slight HBO change is that Aegon had already named Ser Criston Hand of the King before Cole put his assassination scheme in motion.) What House of the Dragon expanded on was the real reason Cole sent Ser Arryk on his ill-fated mission. Into wasn’t just to “pay the princess back in her own bloody coin” after Blood and Cheese. It wasn’t to end a war before it started. It was to make Criston Cole feel less guilty.

At the episode’s start, for a brief moment, Criston Cole showed a tiny shred of humanity. He felt remorse for his role in little Prince Jaehaerys’ death. Rather than doing his sworn duty to protect the Royal family, the Lord Commander was violating it by sharing a bed with Alicent Hightower.

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The Dowager Queen could see Cole was troubled by what had happened. The unimaginable murder of a child had shaken the arrogant Cole. Alicent then asked if he’d told anyone about what they’d been doing. When Cole wondered what kind of idiot she took him for, she said, “One who seeks absolution.” Cole answered, “There is none for what I’ve done.”

That correct acknowledgement was as close as Cole would come to taking any accountability for his unforgivable, dishonorable transgressions. Instead of reflecting on his failures and holding himself responsible for his own sins, Cole turned his self-anger and failures onto another, just as he did in season one. He shamelessly begged young Rhaenyra to run off with him not out of love but so he could he could restore his self-worth. That emotional manipulation didn’t work on her. It did work on Ser Arryk. And the way Cole manipulated a knight of actual nobility showed the full, monstrous depths of the craven Lord Commander.

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“The white cloak is a symbol of our purity, our fidelity,” Cole said to Arryk about a cloak Ser Cargyll got dirty during a funeral for a child. The audaciousness of that statement would have been laughable if it wasn’t so disgusting. Cole then kept piling on as blatant, knowing hypocrisy poured out of his mouth like a waterfall of sewage. “Kingsguard are a sacred trust. Will you so easily sully our ancient honor?” he said.

The way the righteously indignant Arryk responsed also showed why Cole was even more responsible for Jaehaerys’ death than it seemed. When Cole questioned where Arryk was during the assassination (protecting the King), Arryk answered, ““Where were you, Lord Commander? And why has Helaena the Queen been granted no sworn protector? Surely once she ascended she should have…”

Helaena had no sworn protector because Cole is breaking his vows with the old Queen. If he were not, he would have rightfully had a Kingsguard protecting the new Queen instead. If Cole wasn’t sleeping with Aegon’s mother, his son would still be alive.

Ollie Upton/HBO

The despicable Cole couldn’t actually respond to an accurate asessement without admitting his heonous wrongs. So instead he changed the subject and attacked Arryle’s integrity, something Cole lacks entirely. Ser Criston said since Erryk is a traitor and a thief no one could trust Arryk completely. That is unless Arryk went on this shameful scheme, one no respectable member of the Kingsguard would ever ask another to do. Arryk knew he shouldn’t go. He knew this was a vile scheme unbecoming of their order. But he also wanted to keep his vows and prove his loyalty. So he went. And he died. As did his brother.

When a heartbroken Ser Erryk fell on his sword, he ended his life. Ser Criston Cole, named Hand of the King as reward for his treachery, responded by returning to Alicent’s bed, once and forever sullying his white cloak and all that it stands for.

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The reason that tragic duel on Dragonstone happened ensured Criston Cole’s true place in Game of Thrones‘ infamy. The Lord Commander knows deep in his black green heart he has “brought disgrace” upon his sacred ranks. But it’s not that he he just doesn’t care and refuses to take personaly responsibility that makes him so vile. It’s that he makes his failings, dishonor, and guilt everyone else’s problem, a problem they pay for with their lives. That’s why he’s truly one of the greatest, most hatable villains in the history of the Seven Kingdoms.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist and the world’s leading Criston Cole hater. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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DOCTOR WHO Answers a Big Question About Ruby Sunday

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Doctor Who’s season finale is here already and it ended with Ruby Sunday getting answers to questions that she’d been asking her whole life. In the finale, the Doctor and Ruby face Sutekh as this god of death sweeps through the universe. Sutekh wants to not only kill every living being, but he also wants to know the secret about Ruby’s birth mom, too. When he landed outside the TARDIS in 2004, the sight of Ruby’s mother was beyond his comprehension and he cannot see this mysterious woman. Of course, the Doctor and Ruby Sunday use that curiosity to defeat Sutekh, but they also get a legitimate answer about who her biological mother is.

BBC Studios/Bad Wolf Studios/Disney+

After pretty much all things turn to dust, they travel to 2046 when Roger ap Gwilliam requires everyone to get DNA tested. They go there and use the technology, along with Ruby’s blood and the sonic screwdriver, to find out her parentage. Sutekh appears and wants the answer and it seems Ruby will give it to him. But, it is simply a trap so the Doctor can take control of the TARDIS, drag Sutekh back through the time vortex to undo all the death, and then sentence the god of death to his demise.

Who Is Ruby Sunday’s Biological Mother and Father?

Afterward, UNIT, the Doctor, and Ruby Sunday take a look at her DNA results and there is an answer about her birth mother, whose name is Louise Allison Miller. She’s 35 years old and had Ruby when she was only 15 years old. Louise was living with a stepfather who was “trouble,” which explains why she left Ruby at the church. Three years later, she moved to Coventry and got her degree, moving on with her life as a nurse. The Doctor said she was important because they thought she was important, making her existence super important. The pointing at the Doctor wasn’t at him but at the lamppost that said “Ruby Road,” which was her naming Ruby. (Does this make sense? I don’t think so.) 

Louise seems to be an ordinary person …at least, for now. Doctor Who is always cooking up something weird.

BBC Studios/Bad Wolf Studios/Disney+

Ruby’s father is William Benjamin Garnet, who was also fifteen. We don’t see him in the episode but we know that Ruby goes off to find him, leaving the Doctor for now. (More on that in a bit.) The Doctor and Ruby Sunday do go and find her mother. While he thinks they should respect her choice to not look for Ruby, she decides to go into the coffee shop and thank her mother for keeping her safe. Ruby brings Louise to meet her mum Carla and grandmum and they all share a meal together. Louise says she wanted to look for Ruby but wasn’t sure if her daughter would be angry with her. The Doctor encourages Ruby to go on this new adventure of getting to know her birth parents. 

What Does the Reveal About Ruby Sunday’s Mom Mean for Doctor Who Season Two?

We do know that Ruby Sunday will continue to travel with the Doctor in season two. We can assume that the Doctor will meet his new companion, played by Varada Sethu, and may even spend some time with her before Ruby comes back into the mix. But showrunner Russell T Davies himself said that Ruby Sunday is very important to what happens in season two. If her story truly does tie into the Timeless Child arc, then we may discover that Ruby Sunday’s biological mom Louise Miller may not be so ordinary after all. For now, Ruby is off and spending time with her biological parents and seems happy with her personal life.

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STAR WARS Oreos’ Sugar Crystal Creme Is Galactically Good—A Cookie Review

Lucasfilm and Oreo came together to deliver us the perfect food item: Star Wars Oreos. I know what you’re thinking: these are basically just Oreos but with Star Wars packaging. But, it’s not so. Star Wars Oreos are honestly the best kind of Oreos I’ve ever had. And yes, there is a ton of fun to be had with colors, designs, and joining the dark or light side. But the Star Wars Oreos aren’t just more fun than other kinds of Oreos, they are actually more delicious. Strap in for our review of the Star Wars Oreos.

Star Wars Oreos Let You Join the Dark or Light Side

First, the Star Wars Oreos conceit is just a lot of fun. Depending on what your pack of cookies reveals about you, you can join the dark side or the light side. But you can’t know which side you’ll join until you unwrap your box.

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If your Star Wars Oreos dictate that you’ll join the light side, then you’ll see bright blue creme, the traditional honorable Jedi color of choice. You’ll also get to chow down on 10 different Oreo designs featuring your favorite Star Wars heroes. You can bite into Luke, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Rey, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Mace Windu. When I opened up my Star Wars Oreos, I ended up being on the light side. (Which I’m fine with, I swear…)

Iconic “Side” reveal!!!!

Read all about it: https://t.co/uhniuL4Zyn @starwars @Oreo #Gifted #StarWars pic.twitter.com/G132eYmKhd

— Rotem Rusak (@Moondancer1626) May 30, 2024

If you happen to end up on the dark side of Star Wars Oreos, then your Oreos will have a Sith Lord red color to them. Inside, you’ll find 10 designs celebrating Star Wars‘ best villains in Oreo form. These Oreos feature Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Darth Sidious, Boba Fett, Stormtrooper, Jabba the Hut, General Grievous, Count Dooku, and Scout Trooper. Potentially, dark side Star Wars Oreos have more fun.

Oreo/LucasfilmThe Packaging for These Star Wars Oreos Is GorgeousOreo/LucasfilmOreo

Who isn’t a sucker for fun packaging? Regardless of what side you’re on, your Star Wars Oreos will come decorated with art by Greg Hildebrandt, who has been a Star Wars poster artist since 1977! The art features all the dark and light Star Wars characters found on the Oreo designs facing off in an epic battle.

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It’s also worth noting that the characters on the Oreos themselves are well-drawn. Good job, Oreo designers.

Do Star Wars Oreos Taste Good?Oreo

Regardless of the Star Wars fun, though, you should buy these Oreos for one very simple reason. The Star Wars Oreos honestly taste better than regular Oreos, and that’s because of their secret Force powers. Yes, the creme in Star Wars Oreos is not like other cremes; it’s actually studded with  “Kyber” inspired sugar crystals. And that rocks.

Star Wars Oreos Have Sugar Crystals in the Creme

We love the Star Wars Easter egg inherent in “Kyber” sugar crystals. But what we love even more is the critical texture component these sugar crystals add to the Oreos’ creme. And, just to confirm, these crystals aren’t pop rocks; they’re just small hints of sugar. I would describe the texture as something like a slightly crunchier take on funfetti icing. The sugar is a little bit crunchy but also fairly soft, so it’s really pleasing against the creaminess of the creme. The sugar also adds a hint of a slightly different sweetness against that of the creme, and it all works nicely together.

I like an Oreo, but I absolutely devoured these Star Wars Oreos.

How Can You Buy Star Wars Oreos

Happily, Star Wars Oreos are now available at grocery stores near you. Additionally, you can purchase them online. These galactic cookies will cost you $5.29 a pack. And they are worth it!

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We Can’t Believe the Death of Wookiee Jedi Kelnacca on THE ACOLYTE

Star Wars: The Acolyte proved right away that it was a series unafraid to kill its major characters. And ever since it dispatched Jedi Master Indara in its first episode, the Star Wars series has pulled no killing punches. But in episode four of The Acolyte, we were truly stunned by one character’s sudden death. Beware, spoilers await you in this article.

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In episode four of Star Wars: The Acolyte, we could not have expected to find Wookiee Jedi Master Kelnacca dead in his forest hideaway. We knew, of course, that Mae was on the hunt for the Wookiee Jedi. He was one of the four Jedi stationed at Brendok during her childhood tragedy. Two of those Jedi are already dead. As mentioned, Mae killed Master Indara, and she also killed Jedi Master Torbin in previous episodes. But we at least got to see both of those Jedi battle for their lives before they met their ends. (Even if Master Torbin did it while in the deep trance of the Barash Vow.)

However, Kelnacca, the very first Wookiee Jedi to ever appear in live-action Star Wars, did not get that chance. Instead, when Mae finds him on the planet Khofar, ready to turn herself into the Jedi, death has already visited the Wookiee Jedi. The mysterious, villainous Sith Lord, known to us only as the Master, got to Kelnacca first. We see two lightsaber slashes decorating the Wookiee Jedi’s chest, and, yep, he seems quite dead.

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We do get to see Kelnacca in flashbacks during episode three of Star Wars: The Acolyte. And it’s possible we will see him again in other looks at the past. But this The Acolyte death still feels incredibly premature. After all the excitement at finally bringing a Wookiee Jedi to live-action, we really only see him alive for a scene or two. And we don’t even get to see him in action. It would at least have been cool to see the Wookiee Jedi take on the Master in an epic lightsaber battle before meeting his death. But, instead, all we get is a slumped-over version of the Wookiee character, dead where he sits before we can ever encounter him in real-time.

Lucasfilm/Disney

Kelnecca’s actor, Joonas Suotamo, shared that the death of the Wookiee Jedi was a shock to him. He reveals that Kelnecca dying was a surprise for him, sharing, “No, that wasn’t discussed. I learned it as we went, and it was very surprising. So I wasn’t aware initially, but ever since studying film at university, I’ve been on the story side as well, so I thought it was a necessary thing to happen in terms of it follows the story and is very sad and very dramatic. And what a shock too to see all these powerful Jedi to meet their fate in such a way!”

Perhaps there’s still a chance Kelnacca is not fully dead but only partially dead. We’ll have to wait for more episodes to see. But The Acolyte really did kill Jedi Master Indara in its first episode. So it feels like we have to believe Kelnacca’s death is also a permanent one. And that seems like a huge shame given the no doubt fascinating existence and history of the character. Wookie Jedi don’t come around every day, after all… Not to live-action Star Wars outings, at any rate. Maybe one day we can visit Wookiee Jedi Master Kelnacca in a show all of his own.

Originally published on June 18, 2024.

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Bryce Dallas Howard Will Direct One Episode of STAR WARS: SKELETON CREW

Lucasfilm revealed a new live-action Star Wars television series at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim in spring 2022. The show from MCU Spider-Man trilogy director Jon Watts and writer Chris Ford sounds like a Goonies-style adventure set in a galaxy far, far away.

One of the directors of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew shared a bit more about the experience. Bryce Dallas Howard revealed about her upcoming Star Wars involvement, “What I’ll say is that I’m doing an episode of Skeleton Crew, which I’m super excited about. I went to college with Jon Watts and his writing partner in this, Chris Ford. And so, that was very exciting and getting to do that.”

Lucasfilm

Here’s what we know about Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

Title

The title of the upcoming Star Wars live-action TV series is Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew‘s PlotLucasfilm

We know a few details about the plot of Skeleton Crew. The story will take place in the New Republic era. That’s the same timeline as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. It centers on a group of children lost in space.

A synopsis for the series shares:

“Skeleton Crew” follows the journey of four kids who make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet, then get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy. Finding their way home—and meeting unlikely allies and enemies—will be a greater adventure than they ever imagined. 

Behind the ScenesNerdist

Jon Watts directs Skeleton Crew and Chris Ford is writing on the series. The duo created the show. Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau provide producing support. Skeleton Crew was production since at least September 2022, as the creatives shared an image from the set at D23 Expo during that time. The series is now done with production.

Directors include Watts, Ford, David Lowery, the Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Lee Isaac Chung. 

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew‘s CastLucasfilm

The first cast member Lucasfilm confirmed for Skeleton Crew was Jude Law. Joining Law on the journey are Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, and Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Tunde Adebimpe, and Kerry Condon. 

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew‘s Release Date

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew doesn’t have a release date yet. However, Disney+ has confirmed that this Star Wars series will arrive in 2024.

Originally published on September 22, 2022.

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THE BOYS’ Eric Kripke Promises This Comic Twist Is Out and Other News Odds & Ends

Eric Kripke talks about The Boys‘ comic twist the series will skip. Netflix launches its open popcorn line (and malls?). Marvel will kill Deadpool (in the comics). Here are all these news odds & ends, and more.

The Boys Prime Video

The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke promises that unlike in the comics, Black Noir will not end up being a Homelander clone.

He tells Variety:

No, and I don’t mind saying it. In the comics he’s a clone of Homelander this entire time and is actually the one doing all these horrific things. And again, it’s a hell of a twist. But it’s like, well wait, the villain I’ve been following isn’t really the villain. And mileage varies, and I’m sure fans are mad I’m not going that way, but that felt not as satisfying to me. I’m like, if I’m going to follow this villain, I want this guy to be the villain. So I was never really into the clone idea.

Plus, cloning feels like too — I’m going to sound silly — but cloning feels too magical for the show. We try to say that superheroes are the only slippery banana, and that everything else we try to make as grounded as possible.

Netflix Netflix

Netflix is creating its own line of popcorn… and its own malls.

Netflix shares:

Today, we’re excited to announce that Netflix and Popcorn Indiana are teaming up to bring Now Popping, an all-new ready-to-eat popcorn line! With flavors like Cult Classic Cheddar Kettle Corn and Swoonworthy Cinnamon Kettle Corn, this partnership promises a snack experience tailored to every viewer’s taste. Discover your favorite flavor, nationwide at Walmart, today. 

The popcorn retails for $4.49, but no word on how much it is if you want to share a pack.

Netflix

Additionally, the streamer has revealed it will be opening two entertainment, dining, and shopping complexes, a.k.a. malls. Per Variety, “They’re not exactly theme parks, but the new Netflix Houses — to open next year in King of Prussia, Pa., and Dallas — will feature a wide array of shopping outlets, eateries and experiential activities tied to the streamer’s major franchises like Bridgerton, Stranger Things and Squid Game.“

Marian Lee, Netflix’s chief marketing officer, shares “At Netflix House, you can enjoy regularly updated immersive experiences, indulge in retail therapy, and get a taste — literally — of your favorite Netflix series and films through unique food and drink offerings. We’ve launched more than 50 experiences in 25 cities, and Netflix House represents the next generation of our distinctive offerings. The venues will bring our beloved stories to life in new, ever-changing and unexpected ways.”

Netflix invites you to imagine, “waltzing with your partner to an orchestral cover of a Taylor Swift song on a replica of the ‘Bridgerton’ set –– and then walking around the corner to compete in the Glass Bridge challenge from ‘Squid Game.’” After that, you can enjoy “food inspired by Netflix shows from around the world” or buy “that Hellfire Club T-shirt you’ve always wanted from Stranger Things.”

Deadpool Marvel Comics

Marvel is all set to kill Deadpool in Deadpool #6 by Cody Ziglar and Rogê Antônio. Marvel shared of the issue:

Wade Wilson triumphed against Death Grip! This is the first issue of a new arc and killing Deadpool NOW would be an INSANE thing to do. Which is exactly why we’re doing it.

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New Images From HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2, Episode 2 Have Released

Every week, we eagerly anticipate a new episode of House of the Dragon. But to make that wait a little easier, Max is releasing teaser images from new episodes of the Game of Thrones series a little early. These images don’t tell us too much about what’s in store in the new chapters of House of the Dragon season two, but they are fun to speculate over. Let’s take a look at the sneak peeks the streamer has released for House of the Dragon season two, episode two. Of course, these are technically spoilers, so look away if you don’t want to know anything more.

New Images From House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 2 Click To View Gallery Max Max Max Max Max Max Max Max Max Max Max Max Max Max Max Max

We see Alicent and Helaena in mourning, Jacaerys/Jace and Baela together on a cliffside, Daemon looking a bit shifty, and Ser Criston Cole, no doubt, up to no good. We’re happy to see Alyn and Addam of Hull in these House of the Dragon season two, episode two images, and Hugh Hammer is back as well.

Max

We can’t wait to see how these sneak peeks come together as House of the Dragon season two releases its second episode this Sunday, June 23, at 9 pm on HBO and Max.

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