Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Movie Review.

42 years in the making, let’s see how the final installment in the Skywalker Saga played out.

-PROs:

• Rey Palpatine. The Question we’ve been asking since TFA finally answered. PRO for me because it mirrors Luke & Leias beginning, children hidden from their father/grandpops. Not lazy writing when considering all 9 films as a whole.
• The arcs for our 3 main characters was well done, Poe as a spice runner to Resistance General, Finn had a great deal to do, & found others with similar backstories, while Rey had some good inner conflict to deal with.

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-CONs:

• How’d they fix Luke’s Lightsabre from TLJ?
• What was Finn going to tell Rey? He loved her? Maybe.
• The whole Chewie death misdirect was weird.
• C3POs memory wipes, but then restored.
• Leias death?
• Knights of Ren
• Hux, following Star wars Rebels Kallus’ footsteps as inside spy, was unceremoniously killed off.
• Just gonna be honest, as cool as it was visually, where the hell did all those Deathstars come from? Also that resistanceresistance fleet from nowhere, maybe Lando asked Gandalf for tips.

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-Developments:

• Biggest Q: How did Palpatine survive? Does it matter? He said he’s died ‘before’ so has he learnt immortality from Plagueis? Probably not.
• Snoke was a clone puppeted by Palpatine? A clone of who? Plagueis? If so, what was Snokes purpose overall other than a plot device for Kylo to powerup?
• Force powers expanded. Force healing (which happened in Mandalorian ep7 which was released just before TROS & many EU comic book stories) & Force transfer, which might only be because the link between Rey + Kylo.
• Rey is a Palpatine. Reys father is Sheev Palpatines son.
• Reys mom was Jodie Comer, so maybe we’ll see her in the Obi-Wan series?
• Rey buried Luke & Leias lightsabers at the Skywalker Ranch, and now she has a yellow lightsaber!
• Is there now balance in the force? Was it that Jedi or Sith couldn’t exist without the other. They need to coexist for true balance, right? Maybe Rey, a Palpatine, taking on the Skywalker name represents that balance? Yellow lightsabre and all?

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-Grade:

B+

Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3

Flash S06E09

“Even in the darkest times. Hope cuts through. Hope is the light that lifts us out of the darkness”

– Kingdom Come Superman

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–PROs:

• NerdService #1: Earth-203 – Birds of Prey apart of Arrowverse Multiverse
• Cameo #1: Ashley Scott as Huntress
• Cisco: “That, is a super doppelganger, which is super weird”
• NerdService #2: Monitor gives Cisco his powers back
• Cisco: “Maybe you didn’t hear me under those illuminous mutton chops”
• NerdService #3: Earth-666 – Lucifer apart of the multiverse.
• Cameo #2: Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar
• Lucifer:
• NerdService #4: Black Lightning is apart of the Crossover
• Flash to Cisco amd Caitlin: “You two were there the first time i opened my eyes as the Flash“
• NerdService #5: When he sacrifices himself, Earth-90s Flash has a flashback/scene from the original The Flash show from the 90s of him and Tina mcGee (Amanda Pays)
• Earth-90s Flash: “Keep riding the lightning son, I know you’ll make us all proud”

• NerdService #6: Jim Corrigan/Spectre is here, and Oliver is the next Spectre
• Black Lightning: “We should honour their memory, and rage, against the dying of the light”
• NerdService #7: Black Lightning and Flash shaking hands
• NerdService #8: Supergirl and Batwoman trusting each other more #WorldsFinest
• Lyla/Anti-Monitor fighting The Monitor.
• Pariah saving the Paragons.
• Everyone on the Wave rider standing up to the Anti-Monitor knowing they are about to be erased.
• Lex Luthor: “So, what comes next?”

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–CONs:

• Uhmm, my university exam marks?

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–Developments:

• With the help of Cisco, Ray Palmer found the remaining Paragons
• Paragon of Honour = J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter
• Paragon of Love = Barry Allen/Flash
• Paragon of Humanity = Ryan Choi
• Earth-1 is the final earth attacked by antimatter wave
• Team Flash meet Pariah at Central city on Earth-1 where the antimatter cannon is being powered.
• Iris, Ray and Ralph go recruit Ryan Choi.
• Purgatory for Oliver is on Lian Yu
• The Antimatter cannon is being powered by Earth-90s Barry Allen/Flash. If hes taken off all universes will be destroyed.
• Pariah bought Black Lightning to help, Black Lightning finds out his family is dead.
• Oliver is the next Spectre.
• Earth-90s Barey Allen/Flash sacrifices himself to destroy the antimatter cannon.
• All earths erased except Earth-1.
• Lyla arrives, is being takwn ovwe by Anti-Monitor, kills the Monitor and destroys Earth-1
• Pariah sends the 7 paragons to the Vanishing Point.
• Lex Luthor saves himself by writing himself on book of destiny instead of Kingdom Come Superman.
• All earths in the multiverse are now erased, only 5 heroes, 1 villain and 1 civilian survived: Flash, Supergirl, Batwoman, White Canary, Martian Manhunter, Lex Luthor & Ryan Choi

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–Grade:

A+

This the most comic book thing to ever happen to television! And I am all for it! This is huge, especially for TV, the concept 5 years in the making, one I never though possible.

This episode had everything, shock twists and turns like Lex taking Supermans place. Awesome action but also tender moments from Iris and Barrys hug, to the stand the heroes took against the AntiMonitor at the end. So many solid moments.

Along with great cameos (especially Lucifers) there was great character interactions, which is natural, but the drama made it even more cool to watch from supergirl and Batwoman, Flash and Black Lightning to Constantine and Lucifer and Cisco with Monitor, really solid.

This episode was a solid ending to the forst half of our Crossover. We end with the last earth erased, 6 paragons remain with 1 villain, and they’re in the Vanishing Point, a place out of space and time with no friends to call. What the hell happens next? I dont know, but I cant wait to find out.

Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 2

Batwoman S01E09

“Universe after universe has fallen before my power. World after world consumed. With every death, I steal my mirrors strength and mine grows ever stronger. Who am I? I am the Anti-Monitor.”

– Anti-Monitor.

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–PROs:

• Sara: “Oliver died the way he lived, a hero”
• NerdService #1: Earth-74, Wave rider has Leonard as Gideon. Harbinger recruits Mick Rory.
• Kate: “Who wants to meet Batman?“
• NerdService #2: Earth-99: Bruce Wayne is Kevin Conroy
• Cameo #1: Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne.
• NerdService #3: Earth-167, Smallville scene!
• Cameo #2: Tom Welling and Erica Durance as Clark Kent and Lois Lane.
• Tom Wellings Superman: “Sounds like a job for… us”
• NerdService #4: Brandon Routh is Kingdom Come Superman!
• John William’s theme when Earth-38 Superman fighting Earth-96 Superman!
• Bruce Wayne: “Battle not with monsters, lest you become a monster. Ive lost track of how many people ive killed”
• Kingdom Come Superman: “Its the second time Ive gone nuts and fought myself”
• Earth-18: Jonah Hex fights Sara and Mia, where the last Lazarus Pit is.
• Ray Palmer talking with Earth-96 Clark Kent.
• They revive Olivers body, but not his soul.

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–CONs:

• Needed that theme song for Smallville scene.
• So bad that Lex Luthor still doesnt think Clark Kent is the superman on his world because glasses.
• Although focused narrative, the plot juggling took away a lot of the urgency for me.
• Quick fix in Arrowverse: Lazarus pit.
• Iris just joined Clark and Lois on their Superman hunt midway huh?

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–Developments:

• Monitors mission for the heroes: Find the 7 Paragons, beings of purest will.
• Paragon of Hope = Kara Danvers/Supergirl
• Paragon of Destiny = Sara Lance/White Canary
• Everyone finds out Bruce Wayne is Batman.
• Monitor brings Lex Luthor to help
• Lex Luthor goes world to world with book of destiny killing Supermen.
• Earth-167: Tom Wellings Superman! He gave up his powers for his family. He and Lois Lane have a happy ending.
• Earth-99: Bruce Wayne killed Superman, who put him in an exoskeleton.
• Earth-96: Superman lost all his friends when joker gassed the building.
• Paragon of Trust = Earth-96 Kingdom Come Superman
• Mia, Sara, Barry and Constantine put Olivers body in lazarus pit
• Bruce Wayne has kryptonite
• Kate kicks Bruce Wayne into electrical board, electrocuting him.
• They revive Oliver but not his soul, just his body.
• Paragon of Courage = Kate Kane/Batwoman
• Kara wants to use the book of destiny to bring her earth back.
• Kate has a kryptonite round.
• Lyla meets the Anti-Monitor.

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–Grade:

A-

After a good start albeit an slightly packed one, part 2 of Crisis on Infinite Earths has a more focused narrative and gives time into delving into our characters emotions and responses.

What a sight to see Kevin Conroy as a live action Bruce Wayne is a dream come true, and the lesson Kate will take from her meeting him will definitely help her try not to go the way he did.

Tom Wellings Clarke Kent and Brandon Rouths Kingdom come Superman??!?! So much Fan service this covered whatever negatives I found, so good to see them. Happy that Tom Wellings Smallville had a happy ending and that brandon Rouths Superman will have a bigger part to play.

An awesome followup and 2nd hour for the Crisis, really looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Crisis On Infinite Earths: Part 1

Supergirl S05E09

“One thing is certain. Everything we know, everything there is and everything there was… is doomed”

– Pariah.

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–PROs:

• NerdService #1: Batman (1989) happened on Earth-89. Also, so great hearing that score.
• Cameo #1: Robert Wuhl as Alexander Knox from Batman (1989).
• NerdService #2: DCs TV show The Titans is now apart of the Arrowverse multiverse.
• Cameo #2: The Ray from Earth-X appeared on his Earth.
• NerdService #3: Batman (1966 Tv series happened on Earth-66.
• Cameo #3: Burt Ward from the ’66 TV show.
• Burt Wards Robin: “Holy Crimson Skies of Death!”
• Cameo #4: Will Wheaton as a doomsday prophet
• NerdService #4: Clark and Lois using dialogue Marlon Brando used to say goodbye to Jonathan Kent.
• Cool sequence of Harbinger recruiting all the heroes of Earth-1 to save Earth-38.
• Brainiac-5: “This one speaks to rabbits”
• Kara to Clark: “Krypton is not a place, it’s a spirit. Its hope. Its sacrifice. Its what our parents did for us. its what you did for Jonathan”
• NerdService #5: Oliver gives a Green Arrow suit to Mia.
• Earth-16 Oliver meets Earth-1 Sara, who came with Lois lane and Brainiac-5 to save Jonathan.
• NerdService #6: Arrow, Atom, Batwoman, Mia, Flash, Superman and Supergirl fight off Shadow Demons.
• Sara to Earth-16 Oliver: “Your a good man Oliver Queen, on every earth”
• NerdService #7: Heroes hold off demons while Alex, Lena, Dreamer and Alex Olsen protect civilians.
• Oliver fights off against an army of Shadow Demons to save as many people as he could, without a weapon.
• Monitor on Oliver: “He fought to his last breath, knowing every moment was another life saved.“
• Monitor (cont.): “Of 7.53billion, 3billion souls madr it to Earth-1 on the armada of ships. I calculate 1 billion souls survived due to his noble sacrifice.”
• Oliver’s last word to Mia: “You keep me in your heart OK?”
• Monitor admits Oliver wasn’t suppose to die this way.
• NerdService #8: Oliver disarms and goes against a God, fights off another Gods army to save 1billion people, what a way to go out.

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–CONs:

• It was a PRO Titans was shown in same multiverse, but would have liked to see more. I know it’s not possible just my own selfish wants
• Just refused footage of The Ray.
• Nitpick: Flash should’ve been more shocked to see Lyla as Harbinger, right?
• Transmatter portal thread wasn’t the most interesting but was needed.
• Not that impressed with Mias suit, but Im sure itll get upgrades.
• Jonathan Kents subplot is weird, but then again, Why would you show Earth-16 2046 Oliver unless you’ll bring him in?
• I wish we had a time traveling space ship.

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–Developments:

• Antimatter has now erased Earths-89, 9, X, 66 and Earth-2 from Arrow.
• Titans (Earth-9), 1989 Batman movie (Earth-89) & Batman TV show (Earth-1966) all apart of Arrowverse Multiverse.
• Does that mean Doom Patrol is too?
• RIP #1: First major loss, Argo City erased with all the civilians and Alura. Jonathan was sent to earth.
• Kate reveals her identity, Oliver introduces Mia.
• Harbinger says Earth-38 is the tipping point and must be protected.
• The Quantum Tower protects against the antimatter wave.
• Jonathan was sent to Earth-16 but in the year 2046.
• Martian Manhunter convinces Alex to ask Lena for help.
• Oliver summons the Monitor after finding out Flash and Kara will still die, that his sacrifice was to save them from Elseworlds Crisis.
• Lena creates Transmatter portal.
• Heroes can’t save Earth-38, so Monitor saves them one by one until Arrow who disarms monitor then fights holds off the Shadow Demon army to save as much as he could.
• RIP #2: Billions of Earth-38 civilians.
• Nash wells/Pariah arrives and admits his penance for releasing the AntiMonitor.
• 3 billion Earth-38 civilians saved and now on Earth-1.
• RIP #3: Oliver Queen/Green Arrow.

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–Grade:

B+

What a start and what an episode. The episode wastes no time, fast paced. The ambition and scale is huge but its also fun and personal. Never in my life would I think Ill be in a positionto write a review on an adaptation of Crisis on Infinite Earth, but here we are!

The writers have done a good job at keeping it fresh, there are story elements I thought would happen later, that just happened this early ie the erasing of multiple Earths including Earth-38 and especially the death of Oliver Queen! It makes the crossover surprising and unpredictable and the stakes are truly high.

Speaking of Oliver, a main character, the one who started the whole Arrowverse, on the first crossover episode, is killed off. Bold move, Stephen Amell has been given alot to do emotionally these last few weeks, and he has come out gold.I still can’t believe Oliver Queen is dead. They were brave enough to do this for Ollie, imagine what theyll do in Flash episode! Im so excited!