The Franchise Report

Content updates from our favorite IPs

🌌 From A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Ahsoka E3 Review

Coming in at just 34 minutes, the runtime for this episode had me worried. I’m happy to report that the worry was unjustified and that this episode was a banger.

The mythology grows. Space whales. Jacen Syndulla (the son of Kanan and Hera). Ahsoka fighting on the wing of a ship like the Jedi that found her, Plo Koon. Gigantic hyperspace ring. Baylan at conflict. I’m all in.

The space battles look way, way better here than they do in other Disney+ shows and I thought both Rosario Dawson and Mary Elizabeth Winstead got to flex their acting chops a bit.

Some will call this a set-up episode, but it was jam-packed with fun and lore and set the stage for what should be a fantastic part 4 next week.

The Disaster Lineage is alive and well. I feel some mystical Star Wars on the horizon…bring it.

If you’re late on getting caught up with the series, find my Ahsoka Primer here.

🦸‍♂️ Cape Shit

Blue Beetle

Listen - we’ve seen this movie before. It’s a rehash of dozens of origin stories…but this one has a different heart. The family aspect and Latino culture run deep and I can imagine how much it means to be a member of those communities.

Xolo is gifted and deserves more praise. Same for Bruna - they both have the goods and can absolutely carry a franchise. When this gets fused into the new DCU, I hope they’re both retained.

The main villain was terrible. The secondary villain was great. There was a surprising choice or two that kept me engaged, and there was a specific sequence towards the end that gave me some heavy Man of Steel vibes - which naturally made me emotional. I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would.

3 stars. Letterboxd review here.

The Rest

Content updates from smaller franchises and projects

🎥 Films, TV & Streaming

The Killer

David Fincher’s next film, The Killer, is set to release in select theaters and Netflix on November 10. The film follows an assassin who botches a hit job and is on the run and looks like both Fincher’s and Fassbender’s gritty return to thriller cinema.

The vibe of the trailer is fantastic and looks unique, with Fassbender donning a brimmed hat and Hawaiian shirt which I’m sure will be someone’s Halloween costume. It’s a shame that this won’t get a worldwide theater release, but I’ll take a new Fincher thriller even if I had to watch it on my phone.

More

• The live-action One Piece adaptation was released and it’s getting decent reviews, which is better than I anticipated.

• Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa are starring in The Wrecking Crew, a buddy action movie from Angel Manuel Soto, who directed Blue Beetle.

• Killers of The Flower Moon is getting a worldwide release on October 20 instead of a limited release on October 6. It will get an IMAX weekend.

The Gaming Industry

Content updates from the world of gaming & esports

The Starfield embargo was lifted yesterday morning at 12pm EST - so reviews are in. Metacritic & Opencritic both sit at 88 & 87 overall. Scores seem to be incredibly polarizing, with outlets like IGN & PC Gamer ranking it in the 70s and other reviewers giving high praise like Paul Tassi at Forbes and Andrew Webster at The Verge. Some of my favorite gaming YouTubers also gave mostly positive reviews, including LegacyKillahHD, Mr Matty Plays & ACG.

It’s being praised for its worldbuilding, side quests, deep customization, shipbuilding & combat and a surprising narrative. Some of the negatives include the usual Bethesda jankiness (you know what this means if you’ve played Fallout or Elder Scrolls), some dated mechanics, and a slow start among some minor bugs.

If you don’t know much about Starfield or RPG-style games, watch/read some of those reviews above and scroll through the Starfield Twitter page - they provide a ton of information and experience to see if you think it’s worth trying for yourself. Other games that inspired Starfield include Oblivion, Skyrim, Fallout 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, etc.

Early access began at 8 pm EST last night but I was too busy to dive in. I’m incredibly excited to get lost in a new world, so I think later tonight will be my time. If you’re playing, please send me a DM or email reply - I need some space friends. Five years after it’s official announcement, we’re finally here. Early impressions review next week.

More

• The Valorant Champions 2023 is going on and a ton of celebrities are attending - including Ben Affleck who mentioned he’s a KAY/O main. This is awesome lmao.

• Cartman is me waiting for Starfield. BUT IT”S FINALLY HERE.

• One-time commission of a 24k gold Viper Signature Mini by Razer. Insane.

• NBA 2K continues to tease The City with its new title. I gotta say, as a former NBA 2K addict, this looks SICK.

• The PC bus is great but can it run Starfield?

The Weekly Rant

Fantasy Football Season

I used to love the show The League - a Chicago-based semi-improvised comedy show revolving around a fantasy league, the members and their families. It was a hilarious microcosm of the phenomenon known as fantasy football. The effect it has on mental health, on families, the nonsense it brings and the shit-talking it brings.

Since watching that show in high school, I’ve been hooked. Every year. Every fucking year, I do the research. Get excited. Watch college ball. Watch film breakdowns on YouTube. Listen to podcasts. Find obscure Twitter accounts that have great knowledge and advice and keep them to myself. Every single year I put my blood sweat and tears into fantasy football for heartbreak….and it’s time to do it again.

Nothing beats an in-person fantasy draft. Beer. Wings. More Beer. Some extracurriculars. Shit talking. Brotherhood. Escapism. I’ve had two drafts already and have a couple more between now and kickoff next Thursday and it feels like fucking Christmas.

This time next Sunday I’ll be in my Batcave, staring at the monitors with 5 games on and my fantasy leagues pulled up, chugging coffee…and it just feels right.

For those of you who are drafting this weekend…godspeed. I’m ready to get hurt again.

The Quick Hits

Nonsense updates from the week

⚡ What I’ve Been Consuming

• Ahsoka - Love it. Full review above in our Star Wars section.

• Apex Legends S18 - I’m addicted to the ranked grind. Newcastle main.

• Untold Johnny Football - These untold Netflix documentaries just don’t feel right, but it was still fun. Manziel’s 3 stars. Letterboxd review here.

• Blue Beetle - Gave my full review in the DC section. It’s a win for the culture and the cast. 3 stars. Letterboxd review here.

• My Adventures with Superman - Animated series on Max, thoroughly enjoyed the art style and voice acting in the first couple of episodes.

💣 Random

• Therapy is great, going to the movies alone is better.

• The Korean Zombie (UFC) announced his retirement and got a phenomenal sendoff from the crowd. Chills.

• Nah, “im skippy mcdippy” is hilarious lmao.

• Spike from The Rugrats Movie squaring up with a wolf. DOG.

• Dua Lipa cosplaying Star Wars characters. “Tenth level. Thousands of battle droids.”

• Ever seen an avalanche tornado? Now you have.

• Dog cosplaying as the Pixar lamp. Dude gets AIR.

🐦Tweet of The Week
Not even close to baseline.

📽️ Trailer Recap

• The Marvels | Trailer

• The Killer | Official Teaser

• Five Nights at Freddy’s | Official Trailer 2

👀 Keep An Eye Out

• Aug 31 | Starfield Early Acces

• Sep 01 | The Equalizer 3

• Sep 07 | Ahsoka E4

• Sep 08 | The Nun II