Star Wars: The Xtreme Review (Part 4) (Live-Action Shows)

We continue our Star Wars Xtreme Review by diving into all the live-action TV shows from The Mandalorian to Andor, rating them on their strengths and weaknesses, with honest opinions on what works and what stumbles in the galaxy far, far away.

• The Mandalorian started strong with its space western vibe but faltered in season 3 despite good character development
• Book of Boba Fett functions almost like Mandalorian Season 2.5 with crossovers that are both exciting and frustrating
• Obi-Wan Kenobi features a powerful reunion with Darth Vader but struggles with the controversial character Reva
• Ahsoka successfully brings the Rebels characters to live action with a strong cast and intriguing storylines
• The Acolyte faced pre-release criticism for being "woke" but delivers an interesting story about the Jedi's darker side
• Skeleton Crew feels like "Goonies in space" with its kid-focused adventure story
• Andor stands out as possibly the best Star Wars show with its slow-burn spy thriller approach and revolutionary themes

Star Wars has evolved beyond being just for kids - it's now truly for everyone, whether hardcore gatekeepers like it or not. Stay nerdy. This is the way. This is the May. I have spoken.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Star Wars TV Review
• 0:50 The Mandalorian: Space Western Success
• 4:58 Book of Boba Fett: Crime Lord Struggles
• 8:44 Obi-Wan Kenobi: Vader's Rematch
• 14:23 Ahsoka: Rebels Reunion
• 17:34 The Acolyte: Controversy and Plot
• 23:22 Skeleton Crew: Goonies in Space
• 25:06 Andor: Epic Spy Thriller Excellence

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

What up, gang? It is time to continue the Star Wars Extreme Review with the live action TV shows. Last time we touched on the Mandalorian and the Book of Boba Fett, but I don't remember talking about Season 3 of the Mandalorian and we never got around to the other live action shows. And considering that Andor just concluded his second season, I want to go ahead and get into it, and I know there were some folks that wanted to be on this, but I gotta stand on business and put this out, because the whole this is the may thing is not gonna make a whole lot of sense in june. So please understand that I got to stand on business. So, with that being said, let's go ahead and zone in on this, starting with the Mandalorian. The series starts off strong with its first two seasons as a space western adventure for Mando and his allies to protect Grogu from the wrong hands, but stumbled in his third and final season. So says the critics.

Speaker 1: 1:06

I kind of like the character development from Mando. I know his name is Din Djarin, but I'm just sticking with Mando. I like his character development From Mysterious Bounty Hunter To Protect the Father figure, gina Carano, who was known for Cara Dune. I liked her and right now she's got this ongoing thing with suing Disney for wrongful termination over her opinions on Twitter. Last I check, I don't know if she's going to win. I don't know if she's going to lose, but I guess we'll see in the future. I do like the performance of Bill Burr as Mayfeld and Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon.

Speaker 1: 1:51

There was a division with the fans when Lizzo and Jack Black was cast for the series, but honestly, I didn't mind it, like some folks. They just don't like certain people that seem to you know the type of celebrities where Jesus Christ, they're like everywhere, like in all these movies, tv shows, like I don't know. I don't mind them. There is the inclusion of notable characters such as Boba Fett, fennec Shand, bo-katan Ahsoka and a young Luke Skywalker. I did like that and the series is set up to be similar to the MCU formula Introduce a character that will serve as the forerunner of a decades-long universe. And once Boa Fett was introduced in the Mandalorian, he got his own show. Then eventually, ahsoka got her own show and other characters got their own show. Then eventually, ahsoka got her own show and other characters got their own show and, like I said earlier, with the Mandalorian. It's got a new movie coming out to finalize the series of the Mandalorian Grogu. It'll be like this crescendo for the TV show.

Speaker 1: 3:00

The main disappointment from season 3 was that some of the setup not having enough payoff, such as why does Mando feel the need to be a Mandalorian again, why Bo Katan wants to retake Mandalore so bad, and why was it easier for her to accept the dark saber the second time it was offered to her? Who was it that Mandalorian kid supposed to be? And outside of being that son of another mandalorian does applaud, wait to kick in at the penultimate episode, uh, why should the audience care if there's no clear reason for the characters care? I kind of understand that, but at the same time, ultimately I don't hate the mandalorian. I just felt like it kind of understand that, but at the same time, ultimately I don't hate the Mandalorian. I just felt like it kind of stumbled in its final season. But then again there's the movie. So, yeah, it may have been kind of like well, at least it's not as bad as Game of Thrones, season 8. And, by the way, I've still got to remember that there was eight seasons. For some reason I keep thinking there was six and I'm like, oh damn, there was eight seasons. I kind of mentally blocked out the last two seasons and I think it's mainly because by then George RR Martin is mainly because by then George RR Martin, he didn't have any more books to finish off the rest of the canon, so the two writers for the TV show just had to wing it for the rest of the series. And let's just say we said what we said on the Game during stream review.

Speaker 1: 4:47

Moving on the mandalorian, I give it a 8.5 out of 10. It was pretty good, just kind of stumbled in this third season. Now the book of boba fett, or more like like the Mandalorian Season 2.5, or should I say the Adventures of Tatooine's Nicest Crime, lord and the Mass Assassin, carries him, because between this series and the Mandalorian it's cool to see crossovers. But I can also understand the frustration of some fans noticing how things are becoming required to watch in order for something else to make sense. For instance, if you were to go from the mandalorian season two straight into season three, you might get confused why groku is back with mando. When last we checked he went with luke skywalker to be a jedi, so how did he come back? Oh, you gotta watch the book of boba fett. And no, they didn't do that, uh, but she did get her own show regardless. But it's like you had to watch the Book of Boba Fett for it to make sense. And I did like the callback to Phantom Menace where Mando obtaining an N1 speeder similar to Anakin's, if not the exact same one that was in Book of Bobba fett. But I was not like I would.

Speaker 1: 6:10

I did like the inclusion of cad bane because I'm a big fan. Well, not big fan, but like I really liked the 3d clone war series, like I grew up with that shit when it was brand new coming out on TV and sometimes I'll come home and watch the newest episode not going along. I kind of fell off after I graduated high school but I heard it was doing pretty good. And you know there's the Bad Batch. We're gonna review Clone Wars Bad, bad batch and all the other animated shows eventually, but that's beside the point. I like cat bane being involved. I like this wookiee named chrysanthemum kind of reminded me of a more aggressive chewbacca and it was like watching three of my favorite star wars bounty hunters, including mando, have a real space western gunfight, mandalorians versus the pike syndicate, because you know it was boba mando versus cat bane. I like that shit, oh.

Speaker 1: 7:20

And is it me, am, am I tripping? Or can y'all see Fennec Shand being in Assassin's Creed or Ghost of Tsushima or Ghost of Yotei? Like, not exactly in those games, but like I feel like she can lead her own Assassin's, stealth Mission-like game, like just Star Wars something, and it just kind of plays out like Assassin's Creed or Ghost of Tsushima. Eh, that's just my opinion, though. I will rate the Book of Boba Fett a seven, not bad, but I mainly my main gripe was I just didn't like how it seemed like Boba Fett was being carried by Fennec Shand. And hey, I like Fennec Shand, but like bro, it's your show, do something. Jesus Christ, all that hype from episode 5 and 6 in the original series of Star Wars movies and extended lore, just for him to barely do anything in this series, good lord.

Speaker 1: 8:44

Moving on Obi-Wan kenobi, sometimes structure invites its own destruction. I like that line. After the execution of Order 66, the Jedi being hunted down by the Empire's Inquisitors, including a character that has sparked heated criticism amongst the Star Wars community. Third, sister Reva. Honestly, she was as reckless and impulsive as she was ambitious. She was impatiently wanting to exterminate all the Jedi, especially big fish like Obi-Wan, but the others was like hey, man, you need to chill the fuck out. Like we appreciate your initiative, but calm down like there's still a way to go about it. Like you know, we can't just go around losing composure over total strangers, civilians, and you know, and just go around Losing composure over Total strangers, civilians. You know we're the empire. We gotta let them know that we run shit, which means that we need to be Emotionally stoic, kind of like the Jedi. But you know, we vent our emotions Behind the scenes, we don't come down in front of the peons.

Speaker 1: 10:07

Where was it? Oh yeah, obi-wan? He was laying low as Some guy Working for a foreman it was some sort of construction and tattooing, while he was watching over a young Luke Skywalker While eluding the Empire. I think, like working for a foreman, like it's like some sort of construction and tattooing, like while he was watching over a young Luke Skywalker while eluding the empire. Meanwhile, his uncle Owen was like you know, I don't like you being around here, you know, I understand, but I still got a job to do. You know, your son being the father of you know what? Let me not. Let me not say too much. I won't say too much, but you know, I gotta look, I gotta look after the kid, just to make sure. I'm literally just doing my job.

Speaker 1: 10:55

Leah, a very young one at that, serves a pitiful, pivotal role in this series, foreshadowing how she will make a fine leader in the future. She also has the kind of insight that's usually possessed by grown-ups. Speaking of, she gets chased around by men trying to capture her, but she's out running like I can't say that I hate it, but it did look unrealistic, like something straight out of rugrats or some shit where, like you mean to tell me this little toddler is outpacing you with their little legs, somehow they're fastening you, huh, I mean I guess, if you're like really old and you get winded, I mean I guess you got a good point there. But come on, dog, like it shouldn't be that hard to catch up with a kid. I get it for the actress. You know the plot would be too convenient, but it just looked weird, dog.

Speaker 1: 12:08

And I guess the last thing I want to talk about Is Darth Vader making an appearance, having a rematch with Obi-Wan, and Obi-Wan is like I'm sorry I failed you, anakin, and I like, look, it's all good fam. Uh, I am what you made me, but I'm not your greatest failure. Obi-wan, and I was like that was like the best part of Obi-Wan for me and the worst part was Reva, like just why. I know some of us were talking about, oh you know, black woman wokeness. I don't care for that. I didn't care for that and, speaking of which, I'm gonna get into a because that was like the main offender for Star Wars hardcore fans. But I'll get to that later.

Speaker 1: 13:05

Point being with Obi-Wan, if I were to give it a rating 6? 6? Out of 10? Yeah, because, because, aside from that reunion between darth vader and obi-wan, I really wasn't feeling this one like. I mean, I guess it gave me some answer to what was obi-wan up to, while all those years between episode three and episode 4, like what was he doing? I mean I guess I appreciate that much, but outside of that it just felt like it could have been more, almost like if there was a season 2 like Andor, and they added more. Okay, I'll take back my 6, but for now six decent enough to watch, but not that great.

Speaker 1: 14:07

It wasn't all that Ahsoka, and can I just say damn, it's been a while since I've seen that iconic plot scroll at the beginning of a Star Wars project. You know when they just kind of give you a little play-by-play about what's been going on lately. Like it's been a while since I've seen that and it was refreshing to see that in Ahsoka and we see the gang from Star Wars Rebels getting back together Once again. We're going to talk about Star Wars Rebels next year. Ahsoka and Sabine Wren have a strained relationship since Ahsoka turned her back on her apprentice and the Jedi Order at the tail end of the Clone Wars, like right before Order 66. And honestly, that map that the MacGuffin in this series was looking like an apple, even from Assassin's Creed. So you know, kind of funnyuffin in this series was looking like an apple even from assassin's creed. So you know, kind of funny. I was talking about fennec shamp leading an assassin stealth like star wars game, like seriously like ea. Whoever does star wars games, there you go, ubisoft, whoever come on y'all.

Speaker 1: 15:26

I did like the inclusion of Mary Elizabeth Winston as Hera, because you know I've been liking her ever since Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Of course every time I see her I'm like, oh, there's my girl and we see Grand Admiral Thrawn returning. Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Of course, every time I see her I'm like, oh, there's my girl. And we see Grand Admiral Thrawn returning, ahsoka deals with her past, with the vision of Anakin Skywalker, and we even get to see adult Ezra Bridger, found by Sabine. I kind of like the robot Hu Yong, who's like the voice of logic and reasoning for the team, and balan skull, this ex-jedi gun mercenary, assists morgan elsbeth, with the help of his apprentice shin hati, to restore the empire to its former glory under throng's leadership.

Speaker 1: 16:13

Honestly, with ahsoka, it was a step up from obi-wan. It was a step up from Obi-Wan, not that close to I mean. Let me put this like this I want to say I really like the Mandalorian, so I'll at least give it like an 8.5, still staying on the 8.5, boba Fett, I still say a 7 Because, like I said, I want to say Ahsoka. Ahsoka Is right up there with the Mandalorian. I want to give it at least an 8. Considering season 2 is next year, it might either solidify that 8 or it might bring it down. Or it might bring it down or it might bring it up Because, who knows, like as soon as I get the end. Are you going to understand what I'm trying to say? But sometimes you're thinking, ok, I just don't understand the hype around this show. But then season two come around. Oh OK, now I get it. Now I get it. But now you know what? For now, ahsoka is an 8 for me. It was a pretty good watch. It was a fairly good watch. The Acolyte, oh man.

Speaker 1: 17:34

Ever since, during production and marketing, this show received heavy criticism from online commenters being woke. Specific issues, including the initial description of being female centric. Uh, the casting of, among the like I mean, I don't know her name, honestly uh, miss stenberg, who is non-binary and uses both she, her and they, them pronouns. The overall prominence of women and people of color. The idea that Hedlund, who is openly queer and also the first woman to create a star wars series, pushing the lgbtq plus agenda. The series was called the local by some commenters and, as of may of last year, uh, kathleen kennedy spoke out against personal attacks directed by headland, uh, the showrunner, primarily by male Star Wars fans. I was saying that and the showrunner said she did not want to exclude male fans and hope they like the series too, and emphasized that those disappointed by recent entries in the franchise but rejected complaints related to bigotry, racism or hate speech. Ms Stenberg said racist responses to her casting had a negative impact on her and people close to her later released a song called Discourse that criticized the intolerance that she faced. Some folks, like Whip Media, reporting ahead of the series premiere, based on this TV Time app, that the Acolyte was the most anticipated new series of last year. Following two episodes, it was getting negative ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, metacritic IMDB, blah, blah, blah.

Speaker 1: 19:43

Full point being, I'm not going to harp on this too much, but when I was watching all this I was thinking okay, the main thing was they was framing the Jedi to be kind of like an oppressive police force and turns out that with Osha and May, they were the same person but split into two bodies because of when she was born. When they were born, it was like it was under certain conditions on their home planet. When she was born, when they were born, it was like it was under certain conditions on their home planet and somehow they just ended up being twins quote unquote. But in actuality they were like the same person. I did think it was kind of interesting how they switched places at the end, and also with Osha. No, no, it wasn't Osha, it was Mei that got her memory wiped and went with the Jedi. But it was Osha that went with the stranger and ended up like going to the dark side because it was Master Saul that murdered her mother and whatnot. It was a whole rigmarole. Not gonna lie, I didn't hate it, I was prepared to dislike it, but honestly it wasn't that bad. I guess you could say if you're just turned off by all the wokeness, so to speak, then I guess you know, to each their own. But for me, if I were to rate all that, I were to say it goes back down to a seven. Yeah, yeah, I would say a seven. It was okay. Like better than I thought, not gas, well, I did like the stranger. Well, here's the thing. This show makes darth vader look like oh well, you're nothing new, like we had people like you before, like turning to the dark side and whatever, whatever. But I did like the way, the stranger part, like that one scene where he was fighting multiple Jedi and not only did he like carry a lightsaber with his fucking forearm, I believe it was, he also headbutted a fucking lightsaber. Oh bro, like I don't know what to tell you, but it was just so good. It was more impressive than I thought, but then again, like I was getting kind of confused as it was going along like what the hell is going on, but it was actually better than I thought you know. So I'll stay with a seven Moving on with Skeleton Crew.

Speaker 1: 23:22

So what's this? Goonies in space? Excuse me, goonies in space, but seriously. Four kids from a gated community of a world that's like Fort Knox for the galaxy accidentally launch themselves into space and gets caught up in a space pirate's plot to loot their world and take over. That was the weird part. Like Buddy Rowe played by Ju Law, acting like he didn't really know what he wanted to do. He was like acting like Plankton in a way to where you know, oh, oh shit. I didn't think I'd get this far. Do we just wanna take the money and leave, or would it be even better to just Take over the planet? Like we're not trying to hurt anybody, but we'll hurt somebody if you don't give them the money. Bro, bro, bro, pick a lane and stay there. It felt like a really long Disney movie for the kids. But hey, I'm not complaining, I'm just giving my impression. I don't really have a whole lot to say after all that, like I said in the second point, like four kids and yeah, it was not bad, though I would say it's like in it's own way, a six not bad, just not gas either. A six Not bad, just not gas either.

Speaker 1: 24:56

Speaking of gas, let's go ahead and talk about what I dare say might be the best live action Star Wars show by far Andor. It does start up slow, but it builds up brilliantly. We have Cassian Andor Searching for answers To his past and he gets accosted by two asshole guards that led to Andor killing them and becoming a wanted man. You have Zero, who's like this Imperial fanboy, and it's really funny how he essentially wanted justice for those guards. But if he had just left this whole thing alone he wouldn't have died. And the funny, the funniest part about it was he did all that searching for cassian. Andor finally finds him, fights him, almost kills andor. But andor just looked at him like who the hell are you? And dude was just taken so aback that he was like wait, you don't know who I am. I'm like yeah, dude, you're like a nobody in the grand scheme of all this and then he just gets shot unceremoniously, like damn, like, just go to show that you didn't matter that much.

Speaker 1: 26:20

Speaking of mattering, luthen, who is the real architect of the rebellion, was living this double life as an antique dealer who wanted to expose the empire and whatnot, working with, uh, senator mon martha. Uh that was secretly funding the rebellion while managing her political life and attending her daughter's wedding between her, luthen and or and a bunch of people. It felt like a Spy thriller Once again slow burn, but once you get to the Good parts, it gets really good. There were like some speeches and some dialogue that I really liked, like, for instance, the axe forgets, but the tree always remember Only one way out by Keanu Lloyd, who's also being portrayed by uh andy circus. Great performance, by the way.

Speaker 1: 27:21

I I'd say that, um, the prison episode, season one, episode 10, was my favorite season one. Uh, episode 9 and 10 of season 2 Is my favorite out of those and at this point, andor will be known for His epic speeches that Lights a fire within his listeners, whether it's the characters in the show or the audience to the end, like, for instance, when Cassian's adoptive Mother died and they had this whole hologram Message at her funeral and she gave this epic speech and the funny part is that the hologram was kind of glitching out but she was like saying fight the empire. But if you look closely, with the way her lips were moving, it sounded like she was saying fuck the empire. But disney got like dub over that and I she said fight the empire, like right, right, right, right, right. Another thing is the whole thing with bix like, like you know, almost getting assaulted Now going on.

Speaker 1: 28:36

I was like I kind of didn't expect that in a Star Wars show and that's the kind of thing I think Star Wars is for everybody. Some say Star Wars is for kids. Star Wars is for everybody At this point because you know, between the Acolyte and other shows, I'm like at this point, star Wars is for everybody at this point, because you know, between the Acolyte and other shows, I'm like at this point, star Wars is for everybody. Anybody can get into Star Wars and the hardcore gatekeepers don't like that. But yeah, like Andorra was pretty good. You know, cassian just wanted to find answers, find his sister and what not. And after all this, by the way, luthien, he sacrificed himself, he burned away his future for a sunset, he'll never see almost the same thing that Cassian ends up doing. So he burned away his future for a sunset. He'll never see Almost the same thing that Cassian ends up doing. And I like how that one phrase Rebellion is built on hope was passed around where Cassian heard it from that one guy. And then Cassian told Generoso, and then Generoso said the same thing in Rogue One. And all this leads up to Rogue One, which, by the way, is still my favorite Spinoff show, spinoff movie From the Star Wars series.

Speaker 1: 30:07

I was really digging Andor. I was just. Once again it just came off kind of slow, but when we got there, we fucking got there. So with Andor I would say a 9 out of 10. Once again it just started off a little too slow for me, but we got there. But that was my two cents on all the live action star wars tv shows. I'm gonna go ahead and close this one out. So go ahead and have yourself a good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good night and ultimately, take it easy. Remember that great things are coming, so stay nerdy. This is the way. This is the may I have spoken.