SUPERMAN & LOIS 2.9

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS: "30 Days and 30 Nights"  

The problems just seem to exacerbate when it comes to the Kent Family, and this episode, the stakes got raised a little more, as it pertains to The Man of Steel himself.  As Alison Allston is about ready to make her grand play, Superman must find a way to stop her, but there's a hiccup in the works, and we find out what that is.  Elsewhere, we see what happens when Superman isn't around as it comes to his boys and Lois...and even John Henry gets involved.  Plus...we really see what's gnawing at Natalie Irons this installment, as well as finding out the results of the Mayoral election in Smallville.  Will Lana be mayor, or will she go down in defeat?  

For the majority of this episode, we see what happens when Superman disappears, as he and Sam were trying to track down Alison Allston, now that she's been broken out of DoD custody, thanks to one of her underlings in disguise (and no thanks to Lucy Lane, who's been working with her all this time, and took her father's credentials in order to gain access to the DoD, and thus release Alison).  When she and some other of her underlings make way towards the quarry, where another portal has opened, it's Alison that's looking to escape to the Inverse, and thus begin her Ascension, and make her...and her underlings, gods.  So, Superman races to the quarry to find her and stop her, but he's too late.  He races within the quarry to try and build up speed or something....but either way, he races into the portal to chase after Alison, and he disappears.  

We now spend the next month or so, watching news reports of accidents and disasters occurring all over the world, and no sight of Superman to stop them.  Which brings to MY attention just ONE thing:  IF there are ALL sorts of these kinds of things happening....WHY isn't the Justice League all over this?  They could just as easily resolve all these issues, but I guess they had to toss out logic in order to give the weight of the "The world cannot survive without Superman" trope.  But either way, the Man of Might is missing, and John Henry Irons has been working overtime to help stop as many of these disasters as he can.  Meanwhile, Natalie is depressed, because it's the anniversary of her mother's death, and it seems like her father can't be bothered to think about it.  They both go to Lana's campaign HQ to help out as it's voting day, but she's too upset to be there to work while her dad is being friendly with Lana and whatnot.  Lois takes her home, and John and Lois talk, and he's reminded of what she was trying to do...and ignored it.  He's just been trying to get on with life, and it seems like Natalie can't.  Either way, it's something they have to work on. 

As for Lana, she's also getting help from Lois and the boys, but some of the townsfolk aren't happy that Jon is there after his fiasco with the X-K inhaler drugs that cost the high school team their season.  Jon takes off to do his job at the store, while Jordan and Lois stick around to help.  However, Jordan hears some screams from some kind of warehouse where there's a fire, and the Smallville Fire Department is on the scene, but they're in danger.  Sarah sees him distracted, since she knows his dad is gone "on assignment in Metropolis" as the story Lois fed everyone.  He says he's got to go, but he'll be back...and heads to the warehouse, where he finds Sarah's dad Kyle, and saves him from an explosion, as he manages to fly out.  John Henry arrives in time, and tells Jordan to bail.  Jordan gets Kyle to the hospital, where he's hurt, but he'll recover.  

Jordan's day doesn't get any easier, when John Henry tells Lois what he did.  Lois is naturally pissed, and forbids Jordan to use his powers.  Jordan says that Sam has been training him, which only incenses Lois more.  Sam tells her he was only training him to CONTROL his powers, not play superhero.  But Jordan says he's the one with powers, and if he can help, he'll help---and throws it in his mom's face.  Sarah goes to see her dad in his apartment, which looks crummy, and she doesn't want to see him this way.  While she had understood what's going on, she still hates to see him like this.  He tries to do more, but he's still hurting, and she hastes to see him that way.  She also talks about her issues with Jordan, and him not talking to her.  Kyle says that she should be his priority, and not the other way around.  

Lois and Sam investigate the site of the fire---the warehouse looks like it was a lab to make the X-K inhalers, since there were traces of it in the building that could've harmed Jordan.  They know there's a criminal organization in town, and the only answers are through Jon---who asks for protection for his source----Candice.  Candice spills the beans, and gives up her dealer, and where he can be located.  Lois and Sam go out to investigate, and Jordan wants to come along...since he can't hear his dad at all.  Lois tells him that he can listen in, but that's it.  Stay in the car, and do nothing else.  She and Sam go and look around, and find yet another lab.  But before they can make good their escape, they're captured.  As she and her dad are tied up, Lois calls out to Jordan as their last hope, as their captor has X-K in the veins.  Jordan comes to the rescue, and easily defeats the captor, and frees his mom and grandfather.   

Lois sees a MUCH bigger story going on here, as they hope Clark will return soon.  We then switch to Lana, as she and the girls get the results of the election:  Lana is the new Mayor of Smallville!  And while Jordan was out helping his parents, he and Sarah talk, and as much as he wants to tell her what's going on...he can't.  Sarah breaks up with him, and Jordan is dejected.  He goes home, and Lois tries to comfort him.  She says she's proud of him tonight for saving her and keeping his cool.  As for Sarah, she decides to hang out with her dad as she tells him of her breakup with Jordan.  Jon, who had done what he could to protect Candice and her dad---walked her home, but got a headache all of the sudden.

We get back to Natalie and John Henry, as he explains why he's been so busy avoiding the anniversary of Lois' death.  Things have changed, but he'll never forget her.  He then pulls up video of when Natalie was born, and honor the most important woman in their lives.  

We end the episode with Superman awakening in the Inverse World...while Lois and Jordan back home are visited by the Jon of the Inverse world.  Knowing that's not THEIR Jon, they know that Superman is in grave danger. 

We finally got to the crux of Natalie's problem this week, and hopefully with her and John Henry, it'll mean smoother sailing.  Sure, she's got some hangups still, but I think we're on a better path for her, and she'll open up more.  She's in this new reality with her dad, and it's time for them to get a serious try to make it work.  As for John Henry, having Steel around to help out is great, since we have NO idea when Clark is coming up, and how much danger he's in over on the Inverse side of things.  As for Candice...hopefully, her and her dad will be safe, but it might mean she gets moved off canvas until either this blows over, or that's that for her.  Jordan and Sarah are done....for now, anyway, and it'll be interesting to see how THEY relate to each other over the next few episodes.  But we know she's going to be helping out her dad and his transition to his new normal, as her mother now takes the reigns as the Mayor of Smallville.  As for Lois and Sam....they now not only have to worry about Superman coming back, but also about the flow of X-K still rampant in Smallville.  Someone is the supplier, and they need to cut off the drug chain at the source.  But Jordan will also be put to the test as a hero, because he WILL be needed until everything gets resolved.  John Henry can't do it alone.  And now with the Inverse Jon on this world, how will HE be of help in getting Superman back home?  And what kind of dangers does Kal-El face in the Inverse world?  

Another episode full of drama, some good news, but otherwise, the danger escalates for the Kents, and those around them.  It's been a good ride this season, so can't wait to see how it all plays out.  What about you?  What did YOU think of our latest chapter?  Subscribe to the blog, and leave your thoughts and comments below. 

Until next time...Up, up, and away! 

SERIES REVIEW: THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT

 

SERIES REVIEW:  THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT  

 Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni continue to deliver on the STAR WARS front, as we got the backstory (in a sense), of what happened to our favorite bounty hunter, Boba Fett.  In The Book of Boba Fett, we pick up where we left off from the end of Season 2 of The Mandalorian, as Boba has taken control of the late Jabba's territory on Tatooine with Fennec Shand's help by killing off Bib Fortuna.  We also finally get the long awaited answers to what happened to him in between Return of the Jedi, and the The Mandalorian.  We get to see what he does as the new ruler of the territory, what new threats he faces, and even a slew of guest appearances (as Filoni and Favreau LOVE to do in order to give us long time fans of STAR WARS what we want). 

This series had plenty of memorable moments, surprises, and OMG moments to fill our little fanboy/fangirl hearts.....but it also seems to wander OFF from the main character for a good stretch.  We did start off the series with having the question we ALL wanted answered:  which was how in the HELL did Boba Fett escape the Sarlaac Pit?  We get that covered in the first episode, as well as seeing that the Jawas had stolen his Mandalorian armor.  We also see that he's captured by Tusken Raiders, and forced to dig for black melons in the desert until he came across a monster set upon eating him, a young Tusken, and a captured Rodian.  Having lopped off the head, he returns to the Tusken camp, and earns their respect.  We also see that, in current time, he's now taken over Jabba's palace with Fennec Shand as his right hand guard, and they are gaining tribute from some of the local businesses in Jabba's territory...except the Mayor.  Fett and Shand visit the Sanctuary, a cantina run by a woman named Garsa Fwipp (Jennifer Beals), who offers tribute.  But they're attacked by assassins.  Fett is hurt, and the Gamorrean Guards who joined him, help him back to his bacta tank to heal.  Fennec manages to capture one of the assassins.

Upon his capture, we find out that Mok Shaiz, the Mayor who refused tribute to Fett, had hired him to kill Boba, and they go to see the Mayor personally, who denies such allegations, and has the assassin killed. Fett is then later visited by Jabba's relatives, the "Twins", who want Jabba's throne as their own, but Fett flat out refuses.  They bring out a Wookiee bounty hunter named Black Krrsantan, but Boba shows to be unintimidated.  When healing in the bacta tank, Boba remembers training with the Tuskens on their style of fighting.  After being attacked by a Pyke spice train, Fett stole speeder bikes, taught the Tuskens how to ride them, and they ended up attacking the train, and succeeding in stopping it.  Boba then told the Pykes that they had to pay the Tuskens to travel through their territory.  He then went through a trial that involved a lizard in his head (it looked like some weird acid trip), but it lead Fett to a branch that would end up becoming his gaffi stick.  He returns, and he is accepted into the tribe.

He doesn't get much time to recover in the bacta tank, because Krrsantan has invaded Boba's palace, and yanks him out of the tank, beating the hell outta him.  Fennec returns to help, as does some cyber-bikers he hired as help to stop Krrsantan from killing Fett.  The cyborgs made a deal with Fett after a water-monger named Lortha Peel had asked him to kill them because they're stealing his water, when he himself has overpriced the water for anyone looking to buy.  Once back in the tank, Fett recalls what happened to his Tusken tribe, as he went to go collect the toll that he said the Pykes owed the Tuskens for travelling through their land, and he finds the entire tribe killed.  From what he sees, it's the Nitko gang he stole the speeder bikes from.  With Krrsantan captured, the Hutts apologize to Fett for their transgression, and as tribute, offer him a rancor.  The Hutts warn him about the Pykes, and they take off.  Krrsantan is released, and he heads off.  Boba, Fennec, and the cyborg gang head back into Mos Espa, and find the Mayor gone, but his majordomo is captured, and reveals to Fett that the Mayor is working with the Pykes.  

Back into Fett's past we go once more, as we see how he tried to get his ship back from Jabba's palace, but it was heavily guarded.  This is where we find out how he happened upon Shand.  He took her to a Mos Eisley mod-parlor, and they helped save her from her gut wound (which she suffered at the hands of Din Djarin---our resident Mandalorian).  She is healed, and she then helps Fett regain the ol' Slave-1 from Jabba's palace. He has a few scores to settle, so...he heads out to find the Nitko clan that killed his Tusken clan...and obliterates them.  He then heads back to the Sarlaac Pit to recover his armor, only to find it gone.  But in the process...he and Fennec end up killing the Sarlaac in the process.  This is where his past becomes present, as we catch up finally to him killing Bib Fortuna, who had somehow survived the massacre of Jabba's gang, and became the new leader.  Now fully healed, he heads to Sanctuary to find Krrsantan attacking some Transdoshans, and offers him a job.  He also tries to get the other syndicates to side with him against the Pykes, but hey refuse.  With a little influence from the rancor beneath his banquet table, they decide to stay neutral....but Fett knows he needs more muscle---Fennec has an idea. 

It's here that we start wandering off Boba's story, and back to our old pal Din...who's on another bounty, gets hurt while trying to use the Darksaber in order to defeat his bounty's henchment.  He collects his bounty, but also information on where his fellow Mandalorians are.  In a secret place, he finds The Armorer and Paz Vizsla, and they help him recover, as he recalls his story about how he got the Darksaber, and it's origins, which are traced to Paz, since it was one of HIS relatives that forged it.  The Armorer then takes the staff that Din got from Ahsoka Tano that was made of beskar, and he has her forge it into a gift for Grogu, as he plans to go visit him and check upon him, as he's being trained by Luke. After some training with the Darksaber, Paz ends up challenging Din for it---looking to win it in battle, and become the new ruler of Mandalore.  But Din manages to defeat him.  However, because he has removed his helmet, he has violated Mandalorian law, and thus is Mandalorian no more.  He ends up taking a transport to Tatooine, in order to meet Peli Motto, who had been trying to find a ship to replace Din's destroyed Razor Crest.  However, she managed to wrangle up an old F1  Naboo Starfighter, which Din rejects at first, but Peli manages to convince him to fix it up, and he won't regret it.  So, the two, with the help of some Jawas, managed to fully repair and spruce up the fighter, and Din takes it out for a test spin.  He's happy with the result, and returns just in time to meet Fennec----who has a job for him.  She offers the pay to him, but he gives it back, knowing he's helping Boba Fett, and agrees to do it free of charge---but he's got to visit a friend first. 

Again, we stay with Din for a bit, as he travels to a forest world, where he's greeted by R2-D2, and takes him to meet up with Ahsoka Tano, while we also check in on Luke Skywalker now training Grogu to be a Jedi.  Luke tells Grogu about Yoda, and the choices Grogu must make to become a Jedi.  It is here that Luke is building his new Jedi Temple.  Ahsoka gets Din to agree to let Grogu train, and adhere to the Jedi code.  He leaves the gift he had for Grogu with Ahsoka, and she gives it to Luke, who is seeing some improvement in Grogu's training.  He's unsure of what to do with him, since Grogu STILL has an attachement to Din.  Ahsoka tells Luke he's like his father, but he'll know what to do.  Meanwhile, back on Tatooine, we revisit an old friend of Din's---Cobb Vanth---the Marshall of Freetown (formerly Mos Pelgros), and stops a band of Pykes from dealing spice in his territory.  Din makes his way to Boba's palace, where they try to figure out what to do in case of a Pyke attack.  Din travels to Freetown to enlist Vanth's help along with the town.  After he pleads his case, he leaves, and Vanth tells them to get every able bodied man and woman who can fight.  But before he can rally the town, bounty hunter Cad Bane shows up, and tells Vanth not to side with Boba Fett, and just let things play out.  But thanks to Vanth's overeager deputy, he and the deputy are shot by Bane, who says the Pykes now control everything...and takes off.  Back on the forest world, Luke offers Grogu a choice:  take the beskar chain mail  that Din brought to him, and go back to him, forgoing the Jedi Way, or he can take Yoda's lightsaber, and train to be a Jedi.  We also see Sanctuary get destroyed by two Pykes, who left a bomb in the cantina, and it exploded.  

We finally get a heated battle between the Pykes and Boba's band of fighters.  Luke's X-Wing shows up at Motto's hanger with Grogu aboard, wearing the beskar chainmail.  She takes him to go out and find Din, as he is fighting with Boba Fett to hold off the Pykes and some of the Mos Espa townsfolk who've turned against Boba Fett.  They find out from Cad Bane, that Vanth won't be showing up.  But the townsfolk from Freetown eventually show up to aid Boba, who goes to get the rancor he was training to ride while Scorponek Droids are taking the fight to Din and the rest of the fighters.  Krrsantan is injured quite a bit in the battle.  During the wild battle, Motto manages to catch up to Din, who is renuited with Grogu.  They escape the laser fire, and have to take cover.  Boba then brings in the rancor, and manages to destroy one of them with the monster, and they manage to get through the shield long enough for Din to impale one with the Darksaber.  Eventually, the rancor is out of control, and Fett is knocked off it by Cad Bane, and the two face off.  Bane shoots Boba, but Boba recovers, and kills him with his gaffi stick.  Grogu manages to use his Jedi powers to put the rancor to sleep.  The battle is won, and Fennec has snuck into the hideout of the Pykes, who had been joined by a couple of the syndicate members, as well as the Mayor.  She kills all of them, and the battle is won. 

In the end, Mos Espa pays tribute to Boba Fett, and he and his clan wonder what to do next, as we see Din and Grogu fly off in his starfighter to who knows where, and we finally see Cobb Vanth in the bacta tank...healing while the mod is standing nearby, ready to do his work to bring Cobb back. 

Overall, it was an amazingly fun series, though it did stray AWAY from Boba Fett GREATLY in order to give us what was going on with The Mandalorian. So, with what happened with Din and Grogu, we have our set up for Season 3 of The Mandalorian.  I just felt that since was a how about BOBA FETT....we could've had MORE of it.  I do appreciate the five year gap from the time of Return of the Jedi until now, but I had thought we'd get more of HIM and what was going to happen when he became the new leader in Mos Espa.  But...it strayed greatly.  But we DID get some AWESOME things happen in this series.  Whomever did the CGI for Luke THIS time around did a MUCH better job---he really LOOKED like Luke, and looked more realistic.  And to see him AND Ahsoka have a chat---that was incredible.  And for her to refer to Anakin when talking to him---our hearts burst with tears.  Do we want MORE Luke and Ahsoka?  Bet your ass we do!  And maybe we get more of it in Mando's next season.  But I felt we could've gotten MORE for Boba, and a better use of his series.  Not sure if there's going to be a Season 2, but maybe....just MAYBE..we can see him and Han Solo finally bury the hatchet?  I'd like to see that.  

The performances were amazing all around, but if there's just ONE knock on this series, is that it strayed AWAY form Boba Fett too much---it was HIS story---NOT Mando's or anyone elses.  Hopefully, they'll have amazing stories for him next season with his new band.  

What did YOU all think of this series?  Where do YOU fall?  Thumbs up?  Thumbs down?  Lemme know by subscribing to the blog, and leaving your comments below.  

Until next time.....May the Force Be With You. 

THE FLASH 8.8

 

RECAP - THE FLASH  8.8:  "The Fire Next Time"  

Team Flash had to deal with a heated issue this latest episode, and it also took on a personal tone with our Scarlet Speedster, as he was reminded about how someone wrongly accused of a crime can pay the price, and lose the chance to spend time with their most prized possessions:  their children.  And when Barry Allen faces the odds, and doubts from his own team about a man's innocence, it spurs him on to find justice the correct way, and use his gut instincts and knowledge to solve the crime, and stop another one before it costs the villain of the piece his own child.  Meanwhile, Iris has assigned Allegra to help out with writer Tonya's article on a media influencer making waves in Central City, as a centerpiece of those who are making a difference in town.  But things aren't smooth there, and Allegra goes against Iris, and we see the results of THAT.  But let's check in on The Fastest Man Alive, and see what he had to face THIS installment...

This week, we meet Jocko Burch - a former career criminal with metahuman powers to absorb and set things on fire.  He's working security for a concert venue, but also has a near 21 year old son he's trying to raise the right way, but his son doesn't seem impressed.  Apparently, poor Jocko here gets accused of a crime that was committed at a local bar in town, whereas the owner/bartender and his waitress got charred to a crisp, and according to Jocko, he was trying to sell a guitar to the guy, and they had a disagreement over price.  Jocko got stiffed, and was pissed off about it, but never made any moves to use his powers, but nonetheless, he's the number one suspect due to his shady past and the powers he possesses.  He's about to go off on the cops when Flash steps in, because Barry was investigating the crime scene with Chester and Frost.  Burch is arrested, and his son taken in to Child Services.  Barry ends up talking to Cecile to see if she'll represent him, but she says that because of how the murders occurred and Jocko's past, the evidence against him is fairly solid.  Even the rest of the team is telling Barry that there's no way Jocko can be innocent.  But Barry refuses to believe Jocko committed the murders, and he heads back to his lab at CCPD, and brings out the board again....looking to see what he can do to clear Jocko of the murders.  

Once there, Joe shows up to talk to Barry, and he understands why Barry is so determined to clear Jocko of any wrongdoing....It's February 1st---Henry Allen's birthday.  Joe recalls how Barry had made him a cake for his birthday, but Henry got called out on a medical emergency that night.  It was the last time Barry had tried to celebrate his father's birthday before he was arrested for the murder of his mother Nora.  Joe sticks by Barry, and tells him to do what he needs to do.  Barry figures out that Jocko didn't commit the crime, because the heat signatures from Jocko's powers and the murders are NOT the same.  He has Chester run tests using possible cold fusion.  Jocko eventually busts out, because he's going to get Harold, his son, and not allow him to fall through the cracks of Foster Care.  He meets up with the Social Services gal and Harold, and demands his son.  Both Flash and Frost head out to stop Jocko before he really does some damage, and ruins what chance he has left with his son.  What they end up noticing is that the Earth's core beneath them is interacting with Jocko's powers....and it's causing heat  to rise up and lava to be released.  If they don't stop the lava from acting up, it could kill tens of thousands in Central City.  But Flash has an idea....he's going to stir up the heat beneath the surface, and have Jocko absorb any of the heat.  Flash races into the core, and stirs the heat to the surface, and Jocko manages to absorb it all, thus helping save the day.  It's a new sensation to him, and he likes it.  In the end, Jocko is cleared of any wrongdoing, and he is reunited with Harold.  However, it still leaves the mystery of the murders of the two bar employees, and thus Team Flash gets to work.  

We also got Allegra going off book, and disobeying Iris this week, as Iris wanted Allegra to really learn her job as Managing Editor to help Taylor---the snobby writer---with a story featuring the people of Central City.  Taylor is writing about a media influencer that has gotten the city's attention.  Allegra feels it's a worthless puff piece, and walks away from the interview in order to bump into an old acquaintance she had while in Iron Heights.  The girl is just doing janitorial work, and explains how her life has NOT been easy since being released---and Allegra wants to help her.  So, Allegra gets in the zone and writes her story.  Iris---who really wanted some husband/wife time with Barry earlier, but Barry got called into work on the Jocko murders---reads Allegra's story and likes it---and will run with it.  HOWEVER, Iris is upset that Allegra didn't help Taylor, and she needs to fix it---pronto.  So, when Allegra goes to apologize to Taylor, Taylor is BEYOND pissed off that Allegra stole her headline story, and wasn't there to help her.  She knows what Iris wants, and plans on destroying Allegra.  

It was another decent filler episode, and apparently the mystery surrounding the crispy bar employees will lead into next week's villain, whomever that may be.  But we did get to know Henry Allen's birthday, as the family celebrated and honored Barry's father.  It was a personal issue with him to see that Jocko had his fair shake, and that Jocko have a chance to be with his son.  So, Barry was hell bent on proving his innocence, and in the end, Barry managed to prove his innocence, and taught Jocko how to save the day.  And while the rest of the team had doubts, he never gave up.  Now, they have a bigger mystery to solve---and it has to do with someone who's using cold fusion to burn his victims.  

As for Allegra, she's got a new enemy in Taylor, and there is no doubt Taylor will do whatever it takes to prove Allegra is not what Iris needs at CC Media, and is going to take her down.  However, Taylor SHOULD be careful, since Allegra DOES have superpowers as our ONLY Ultraviolet on the scene, but we'll see what Taylor's actions do in order to discredit Allegra in front of Iris, and get Allegra fired.  Or will Allegra and Iris argue, causing a rift, and Allegra either getting fired from CC Media, or she'll quit.  Either way, a rough road for Allegra is ahead.  As for Iris---she has just seemed....in the background the past few episodes.  It's basically been Barry and the kids, but she's had her appearances, and I wonder if she's pushing Allegra hard to be a better Editor, because she knows she's phasing between time, and not sure how long she's got....so she's trying to ensure CC Media is in good hands, and that means Allegra.  Then there's the issue between her and Barry----not enough of THEM since the end of the Armageddon saga.  So, is she still trying to get pregnant with Nora and Bart?  Whatever it is, hoping they resolve Iris' situation soon, so that she CAN get pregnant with those kids.  So, I keep wondering if they're stalling for the next "Graphic Novel", where Iris is in danger of disappearing forever.  For now, we follow along and see what happens.  But she's DEFINITELY taken a backseat a little bit this season.  

What do YOU guys all think of this past episode?  Give me YOUR little insights by subscribing to this her blog, and dropping some comments below!  I'd sure as hell appreciate it.

Until next time....Keep on running!