Running Commentary 4/21/2025
Hello,
Spring has truly arrived, at least according to the sparrows. I’ve seen a chipping sparrow and a white-throated sparrow both in my yard in the past week. A tree sparrow and a few juncos are still hanging around,
Latest
Apr
21
Television Review | Skeleton Crew
Skeleton Crew is good enough to be worth watching, even if you’re not in its middle-schooler age range. It tells a complete story, well, and very much in the spirit of Star Wars while also being built on new characters and settings. Go in expecting a classic hidden pirate’s treasure story. 8/10
10 min read
Dec
08
Thirty Years of Waru
On December 8th, 1994, Bantam/Spectra published Star Wars: The Crystal Star, which has since become known as the worst Star Wars novel of all time. Looking back, thirty years on, does it still take that title? Did it ever?
20 min read
Oct
23
Book Review | The Bounty Hunter Wars
Do not read these books. I cannot recommend them to even the most devoted Boba Fett fan, much less to anyone else. These books are miserable tedium to read. The story told is convoluted, amoral, and ultimately inconsequential. Feature little bounty hunting and less war. 3/10, 2/10, 3/10
14 min read
Oct
02
Television Review | The Acolyte
The Fauci of Star Wars TV. There's clearly been a lot of effort put towards making something great. But it isn't great, not least because it isn't really complete. I don't think the show deserves scorn so much as it deserves pity; I wish that it had achieved its potential. 5/10
18 min read
May
24
Television Review | Tales of the Empire
I think most viewers would be content with what they get from watching Tales of the Empire; moreso than in Tales of the Jedi, the stories told here match their running time, with neither too much being tackled nor too little being told. 7/10
15 min read
May
01
Book Review | The Black Fleet Crisis
The Black Fleet Crisis is a hidden gem of '90s Star Wars. It delivers a thought-provoking narrative while staying true to Star Wars themes. Lando's scenes are some of the best writing of the character, though they should have been their own book. 8/10, 7/10, 8/10
20 min read
Mar
28
Book Review: The Callista Trilogy
The Callista trilogy's reputation as among the worst Star Wars has to offer is grossly exaggerated, but it's not a masterpiece either. Planet of Twilight was the best entry by some margin. The story of Callista on-the-page is as tragic as her story behind-the-scenes. 6/10, 6/10. 8/10
17 min read
Feb
27
Book Review | The Book of Eels & Eels: An Exploration
The Book of Eels was written (in Swedish) by first-time author Patrik Svensson, and translated into English by Agnes Broome.
6 min read
Feb
14
Book Review | The Darth Bane Trilogy
The Darth Bane Trilogy is an essential read for anyone curious about the history of the Sith. The first book is the weakest and the second is the strongest. Karpyshyn did admirably in writing three books worth of story focused on an unrepentant villain. 6/10, 8/10, 7/10
25 min read
Jan
26
On Rey
Rey has really only been a proper character in one pretty bad film. But would any film featuring her necessarily be a bad film? Or is there something to Rey that just hasn't been delivered on yet?
5 min read
Dec
11
Television Review | Ahsoka, Season 1
Well done, but felt truncated, ending just as things felt like they were getting going. Leaving viewers wanting more is great, but leaving them feeling like they got a complete story is also important. What's there, though, is great. 8/10
19 min read
Oct
17
Book Review | Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade
This book is a well-written, well-conceived character study of a person falling to the Dark Side that manages to differentiate itself from the familiar story of the fall of Anakin Skywalker. It's the best villain-perspective book I've read besides Thrawn. The ending is weaker than the rest. 8/10
13 min read
Aug
02
Book Review | Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
Yoda: Dark Rendezvous is not the best Star Wars book I've read but it deserves better than to be lost in the pile of mid-2000s Prequel tie-ins. While the story isn't the most thrilling or meaningful, the character work really is excellent.
14 min read
Jun
09
Film Review | The Big Year
The Big Year is a very sincere look at the world of competitive birding that lets its humor come from the actual funny things that happen to birders. It's a nice little movie that deserves more love than it's gotten. 8/10
10 min read
May
23
Television Review | The Mandalorian (Season 3)
Season 3 is a marked technical and writing improvement over previous seasons. It isn't flawless, but the flaws aren't so persistent or egregious as to spoil the viewing experience. It feels like it could have been longer, and that the first episodes were transplanted into a different show.
11 min read