Just Watching

Star Wars still has our attention. (internet image)

 I've been a Star Wars fan since Episode IV debuted in 1977, the first of what was to be nine movies is now a combination of movies, series, and animated features totaling 21.

 The animated shows (Clone Wars-movie and series and Rebels) I've avoided on principle; some suggest you include them if you want to do a deep dive on all things Star Wars.

 Obi-Wan Kenobi is the latest series on the Disney+ streaming service.  It fits between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope in the original nine chapters.

It was a satisfying addition to the collection.  Obi-Wan, Princess Leia, Darth Vader, and the Skywalkers are approximately 20 years younger than when we see them in A New Hope.  From 30,000 feet it fills in some missing chapters.  I've written about Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in earlier blogs - Kenobi fits between those movies in the saga.

If you are a fan of the genre, you'll probably enjoy seeing what "Old Ben" was up to after training Anakin and before he was Leia's "only hope."  I did.

An intelligent thriller on FX.

In newer fare, FX and Hulu just started The Old Man, a seven episode show airing new episodes Thursday nights on FX.

John Lithgow and Jeff Bridges are the lead actors.  Originally on the same side in government work decades earlier; Lithgow's character Harold Harper is brought in to find his former colleague Dan Chase.

Episode one unveils the two characters piece by piece, as if peeling an onion one layer at a time.  The second episode provides more backstory on their relationship but it is difficult to see where this is going.

There is strong language and violence as you might expect in a thriller which plays in grays more than black and white.

My final suggestion is Ms. Marvel, also showing on Disney+.  It's the story of a young fan of the Avengers, especially Captain Marvel.  The high school student dresses up as a junior version of the Captain when her life begins to change.

The center of the story is Muslim girl and her community; that's not the focus of the story, just the perspective in which its told.  We've seen the first three episodes in the six show series and are enjoying it.

I doubt we ever watch this series, if we didn't watch all of the Marvel Character movies during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Ms. Marvel is the latest addition we've enjoyed.  We also liked Loki, WandaVision, and Hawkeye.  We didn't stick with MoonKnight, letting it pass after two episodes.

While a familiarity with Captain Marvel and the Avengers series helps, it's not necessary to follow Ms. Marvel.