https://www.cbr.com From the latest streaming series to the timeless classics, get comfy and read about your favorite TV shows on CBR. Fri, 22 Sep 2023 22:16:18 GMT en-US hourly 60 Fan service is a common term that gets thrown around whenever people want to criticize a moment in movies or TV for showing a nostalgic moment purely for the moment, so fans can remember what came before. It's a criticism that argues that the moment is just a cheap form of pandering, and is done without any understanding of what made the original moment great. And it's a term that people have used to describe and discredit the Star Wars series Ahsoka, especially Episode 5.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 22:16:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-fan-service-great/ The purrgil are among Star Wars' most mysterious creatures, and Ahsoka has expanded upon their mythos with the journey to the new galaxy. While the Purrgil's ability to travel through hyperspace has always been impressive, the extension of this ability to traverse new galaxies makes their power even more impressive. However, the question remains, why would the purrgil need to travel so far?

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 20:15:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-purrgil-elephant-graveyard/ Even in animation, Star Wars has never had a problem killing off important characters. Most of Domino squad was killed off in the Clone Wars, along with multiple Jedi, Savage Opress and Satine Kryze. However, the death that resonated most was probably Kanan Jarrus' sacrifice on Star Wars Rebels. He used the Force to push his friends out of the way, but in doing so, he had to let an explosion consume him.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 20:00:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-bad-batch-tech-death-final/ Moiraine Sedai and her Warder Lan Mandragoran have been a central focus of The Wheel of TIme Season 2. While in the books the two are inseparable, the show has gone a different direction. Moiraine has been stilled, and she abandoned Lan because of that. This has lead to a far more unique conflict between the two characters as they both pursue the goal of protecting the Dragon Reborn, yet now they do it separately. This is what may have led Lan to betray Rand to the Aes Sedai and more importantly to the Amyrlin Seat.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 19:20:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-wheel-of-time-lan-betrayed-rand/ The absence of DC superhero Green Lantern from the live-action screen is finally over. DC Studios' new co-CEO, James Gunn, has plans to give the character a big comeback with the HBO series Lanterns. The love and support for HBO shows like the fantasy drama Game of Thrones and the post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us span far beyond fans of the original published books and video games. Their popularity is evidence of the success an HBO Green Lantern collaboration can achieve for the Emerald Knights.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 19:01:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/james-gunn-save-green-lantern/ The Continental is taking audience back into the world of John Wick as it explores the backstory of Winston Scott and the iconic New York hotel. John Wick spent a lot of time in various Continental hotels across the globe, but none was as important or as famous as the New York location. Winston Scott became a foundational character for the series and now The Continental is setting up his own story. Winston's story is already beginning to resemble Mr. Wicks, and that can only help to elevate the character and the franchise.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 18:20:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/john-wick-continental-winston-journey/ William Thomas Riker of Star Trek: The Next Generation is the Enterprise's first officer and resident bearded heartthrob. Growing up in Alaska, he was quite the outdoorsman, but he chose to leave the majestic wilderness from his youth to "boldly go where no one has gone before." Riker was known as "Number One," informally with Picard. Depending when in the timeline or on which Federation starship he was aboard, he's sometimes just "Captain." To his friends, he goes by "Will," his preferred name, as stated in the Season 6 episode "Chain of Command, Part 1." However, Riker wasn't always called "Will" in the series. In fact, part of the original plan for the "most charming man in Starfleet" was to address him as "Bill."

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 18:01:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-tng-riker-will-bill/ There was a time in Fear the Walking Dead when it seemed outrageous to assume Season 1 OG characters would ever cross paths again. Even when Victor Strand, Alicia Clark, and Daniel Salazar were on the same screen together in Season 7, their petty feuds prevented them from being the dream team they were meant to be. Alicia may be gone now, but Madison is back to bring the original survivors (plus the newer ones) together against a common enemy.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 18:01:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/fear-walking-dead-season-8-trailer-takeaways/ From the moment Disney announced the Ahsoka series, fans of Star Wars: Rebels hoped the two shows would connect in a very direct way. Rebels was the first Star Wars series released after Disney took ownership, even before The Force Awakens debuted. The series finale left two big question marks over fans' heads about the fate of an important villain and an important hero. Ahsoka made Rebels fans wait to see Sabine Wren find Ezra Bridger, but the wait was worth it.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 17:20:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-ezra-sabine-reunion-worth-wait/ Werewolf by Night is a lovely little TV special movie released by Marvel back in 2022. The project is actually the first Marvel Studios Special Presentation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and one of the most notable connections between the MCU and the horror genre. As such, it's a perfect pick for both fans of Marvel and horror buffs, and now, it is on track to be even better.The film takes place during one night, following a group of monster hunters searching for the magical Bloodstone and competing to see who gets to wield the powerful gem. Among them is the monster-hunting main character, Jack Russell, who is secretly a werewolf, trying to save his friend, the Man-Thing known as Ted. He teams up with the true heir of the Bloodstone legacy, Elsa Bloodstone, and is left to fight against various villains. Werewolf by Night is Michael Giacchino's directorial debut, having mainly stuck to composing other Disney projects like Up and the Tom Holland Spider-Man trilogy. Despite its high ratings, Werewolf by Night is severely underrated. But it's been revived lately because of an upcoming colorized rerelease perfect for this spooky season.Related: Maggie Gyllenhaal to Helm Bride of Frankenstein Remake Starring Christian Bale

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 16:00:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/werewolf-by-night-color-hammer-horror/ Ahsoka is paving the way for some huge events in the Star Wars galaxy. Episode 6, "Far, Far Away," reintroduces Lars Mikkelsen's Grand Admiral Thrawn, last seen on Star Wars Rebels, and moves the action to an entirely new galaxy. Upon arriving in the new galaxy, the villainous crew of the Eye of Sion approaches the planet Peridea, which is soon revealed to be the original homeworld of the Dathomiri -- ancestors to the Nightsisters of Dathomir. The return of Grand Admiral Thrawn after his disappearance at the end of Rebels and the revelations surrounding the Nightsisters' origins come with major implications for the Star Wars galaxy's past and future.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:21:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-sets-up-star-wars-movies/ Disney's Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV series finally got its first major teaser trailer, delivering important insights into what fans can expect to see in the show. It adapts Rick Riordan's brilliant fantasy book series and follows young Percy Jackson discovering he's a demigod, joining a magical camp made for people like him, and engaging in a mind-blowing mission.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/biggest-takeaways-percy-jackson-and-the-olympians-trailer/ Egwene al'Vere is one of the most important characters in The Wheel of Time saga. She carries on some essential storylines throughout the books and the show is starting to open up her story more. As the season has progressed, The Wheel of Time has started to explore one of the first major defining moments in Egwene's life. Having been captured by the Seanchan when Liandrin Sedai betrayed them, Egwene is facing her biggest challenge and her spirit is breaking for the first time. This transformation will change everything for Egwene.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 14:20:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/wheel-of-time-egwene-damane-tranformation/ The Loki Season 2 trailer brought interesting revelations -- and not just about Loki's fate after the murder of He Who Remains by Sylvie. The clip revealed that upcoming episodes will feature Loki and Mobius going through multiple time periods and potentially alternate realities to fix the "sacred timeline."

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 14:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/loki-season-2-timeline-possibilities/ As Netflix's Sonic Prime runs through its second season, one of the things fans are most interested in seeing is how Sonic and Shadow interact. Admittedly, the first season didn't do much with the duo, focusing on the blue hedgehog instead. Sadly, as Sonic tried to save the Shatterspace and rebuild the Paradox Prism using the crystal shards, Shadow was just stuck in limbo.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 13:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/sonic-prime-season2-shadow-no-justice/ After the climactic conclusion of the Infinity Saga with 2019's Avengers Endgame, the Marvel Cinematic Universe sat relatively dormant over the course of the following year. This was also brought on by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, but the pause came about mostly as a necessary segue between two distinct eras of the generation-defining franchise. This hiatus was brought to an end in 2021 after the premiere of the MCU's first Disney+ original series, WandaVision. Although Wanda and Vision were well-established parts of the MCU by this point, it was their first time in the complete spotlight, and fans were giddy for this opportunity for profound storytelling.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 12:00:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/wandavision-marvel-crowning-achievement/ As Season 4 of Harley Quinn ends, it's a bittersweet one. Harley has lost her killer's edge, confirming to herself and her peers that she can indeed be a superhero. It goes a long way because everyone doubted her. Thankfully, Poison Ivy and Barbara Gordon are backing her, adamant Harley's meant to shine away from toxic elements such as The Joker and the Legion of Doom.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 20:15:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/harley-quinn-season5-setup/ The sixth chapter of the Ahsoka series on Disney+ revealed much that Star Wars fans have been waiting for since the series was announced. The episode revealed the whereabouts of Ezra Bridger, and how the nine years since he departed changed him. It also revealed Grand Admiral Thrawn, and how little that same time has changed him. However, the revelation of the Great Mothers and the ruins of the Great Witch Kingdom of the Dathomiri make these dark side magic users the most powerful group in all of Star Wars.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 19:20:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-nightsisters-dathomiri-most-powerful-group-star-wars/ When The Spectacular Spider-Man began airing on TV, Marvel fans were unprepared for what it would offer. The series was destined for success due to its fascinating storylines, expansive universe, and comic-accurate characters. Unfortunately, the series, after only two seasons that ran from 2008 to 2009, left viewers disappointed when it got canceled.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 19:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-spectacular-spider-man-young-justice-reboot/ For fans of Ahsoka and Star Wars: Rebels, seeing Bokken Jedi Ezra Bridger again warmed hearts. However, the reappearance of another Rebels mainstay, Grand Admiral Thrawn, chilled them from hearts to spines. Perhaps the oldest of the Star Wars legacy characters appearing in Ahsoka, the return of Thrawn proves the Imperial Grand Admiral hasn't really changed at all. He is still poised, calm and deadly, even though everything from his ship to his uniform has seen better days.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 18:20:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-thrawn-hasnt-changed/ Ahsoka has been showing Star Wars fans what it means to perfectly meld fan service with excellent storytelling. The show has managed to balance huge moments with much quieter and poignant story beats. Baylan Skoll is one of the quieter moments. As a new character, his past is a clean slate to be built upon. In Episode 6, Skoll becomes the voice of the audience as he highlights one of Star Wars' biggest flaws when he is discussing his own lofty goals in the new series.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 17:20:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-baylan-skoll-star-wars-major-flaw/ Grey's Anatomy lost one of its original cast members in Season 16 when Justin Chambers left the series. While he was only one of several original stars to have departed the ABC medical drama (the most notable still being Patrick Dempsey, whose Dr. Derek Shepherd was killed off), Chambers had put in more than a decade of work as Dr. Alex Karev. That meant his exit was shocking to fans, especially when they were told why the actor -- and Alex Karev -- were leaving.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 17:00:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/greys-anatomy-why-justin-chambers-left/ Ahsoka has been building up to a few huge moments with the series. The reintroduction of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the reunion with Ezra Bridger, and the introduction of a new galaxy to Star Wars. In Season 1, Episode 6 "Far, Far Away," all of those tasks were accomplished. While Ezra and Thrawn delivered in spades, the new galaxy was less than impressive. Bringing a new galaxy to the Star Wars universe should have been the biggest moment of the episode, yet instead it felt like a footnote that lacked any real substance or purpose.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:21:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-new-galaxy-unimpressive/ As an animated science fiction comedy series, Star Trek: Lower Decks makes space travel funny. Using satirical meta-humor and over-the-top antics, Lower Decks can do what no other Trek series has ever done -- laugh at the franchise. Yet, self-referential comedy isn't the only thing the series excels at. There's one other thing the animated series has over its live-action counterparts.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-lower-decks-better-aliens/ The Jedi Order is one of the most recognizable parts of Star Wars. First introduced in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, the Order stood for over a thousand generations to protect the galaxy from many different threats that emerged. But the Jedi were not without flaws, as the Jedi Council became rigid and inflexible. This resulted in their destruction at the hands of Palpatine when he ushered in his new Empire.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 15:20:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-new-bokken-jedi/ Throughout Star Wars Rebels, one of Ezra Bridger's greatest strengths is his ability to create connections with other sentient people and creatures throughout the galaxy. His role throughout his time in the Rebellion ultimately was to build bridges between people and creatures to stand against the Empire. In fact, his friendship with the Purrgil is what leads him and Grand Admiral Thrawn to the new galaxy, effectively removing Thrawn as a threat during the Rebellion.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 14:21:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-ezra-sabine-greatest-strength/ The third season of Ted Lasso offers a bittersweet ending as most of the main characters move on to other things, marking the end of an era. While the show features a sort of epilogue illustrating the next chapters of these characters' lives, it plays a beautiful song that got most people in the audience a little teary-eyed.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 14:17:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ted-lasso-season3-cat-stevens/ Doctor Who is nearing its 60th anniversary celebrations. The science fiction show might have gone through a dark period where it was no longer on BBC's schedule, but it made a massive return in 2005 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. The show originated in 1963 and has become a staple of British television. The latest anniversary specials will mark another huge moment in the show's history, and it will undoubtedly celebrate Doctor Who's rich past.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:00:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/doctor-who-60th-anniversary-handle-nostalgia-better/ David Duchovny rose to stardom as maverick FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on the hit science-fiction series The X-Files. Created by Chris Carter, the show originally aired on Fox from 1993 to 2002, for nine seasons and a total of 202 episodes, plus two feature films. However, Duchovny's Mulder literally disappeared in Season 7, puzzling and disappointing fans. Charming and determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost, Mulder was the heart of The X-Files, alongside his skeptical partner Dana Scully played by the inimitable Gillian Anderson.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 00:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/why-david-duchovny-left-x-files/ Debuting Sept. 22 on Peacock, The Continental is an experiment that could test the vitality of the John Wick franchise going forward. Set decades before the events of the four films, the show delves into the history of the Continental and how it fell into the hands of Ian McShane's Winston. Focusing on a young Winston (Colin Woodell) and his conflict with the 1970s owner of the hotel Cormac (Mel Gibson), the show is rooted in both the high-octane action of the original films and a grimy and neon-colored version of New York City.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 21:00:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/continental-executive-producers-interview/ The sixth episode of Ahsoka finally introduces the distant galaxy where Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger have been living in exile. "Far, Far Away" sees Morgan Elsbeth's Eye of Sion arrive at the distant world of Peridea, as teased in Ahsoka's second episode. It is revealed that she has made contact with the native Dathomiri, ancestors of the Nightsisters of Dathomir, and has been coordinating with them in her efforts to retrieve Grand Admiral Thrawn. Besides Morgan Elsbeth's plan to usher in the return of Thrawn, the episode also touches upon Baylan Skoll's own reasons for joining the mission to Peridea.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 20:16:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/baylan-skoll-endgame-fallen-order-villain-ahsoka/ When franchise creator Gene Roddenberry resurrected his spacefaring series 20 years after the initial pilot debuted, he defied the odds. However, it was Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the third series set in this universe, that made it a "real" franchise. The fourth series in the universe, DS9 didn't just prove The Next Generation wasn't a fluke -- it showed that Star Trek had a future beyond the starship Enterprise.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 20:00:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/deep-space-nine-star-trek-real-franchise/ Wilderness, the newest thriller added to Prime Video starring Jenna Coleman, tells the story of a woman who discovers her husband is cheating and hatches a plan for revenge. Based on the novel by B.E. Jones, the series explores a central recurring theme concerning the societal expectations and conditioning of women and girls. Existing television series, from The Handmaid's Tale to Big Little Lies, already delve into these prevalent themes. Wilderness tackles this by questioning how these factors can influence women, leading them to lose themselves within these societal roles and pressures.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 19:01:24 GMT https://www.cbr.com/wilderness-women-expectations-society/ Throughout the duration of Harley Quinn, Kaley Cuoco's titular character has struggled with her killer instinct. She developed a bloody edge after becoming Joker's sidekick, much like the cartoons and comics. But in time, Harley would seek a path of redemption away from his sinister ways.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 18:20:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/harley-quinn-season-4-finale-killer-edge/ When Star Trek first warped onto television screens in the 1960s, the signature alien from the show was the Vulcan science officer, Mister Spock. Allies of humanity and a founding part of the Federation, the logic-loving pointy-eared aliens were much more involved in Earth's development than fans might know.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 18:01:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-humanity-vulcan-pet-project/ Prime Video's latest thriller, Wilderness, starring Jenna Coleman, portrays a stay-at-home wife who has reached the end of her tether due to her husband's lying and cheating. This frustration drives her to devise a revenge plan that spirals out of control, illustrating the repercussions of seeking revenge and how swiftly these situations can deteriorate. Coleman has demonstrated her versatility and emotional depth in roles such as Clara Oswald in Doctor Who and in portraying a more accurate Constantine in The Sandman. Now, she brings further authenticity and nuance to her performance as Olivia Taylor.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 17:00:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/wilderness-dark-consequences-jenna-coleman/ One of the recurring critiques of Star Trek is how the series, known for its diverse alien species, focuses "too much" on humanity. Putting aside the real-world truth that no extraterrestrial species have yet gotten SAG cards, it's no accident the universe Gene Roddenberry created is so Earth-centric. This criticism is often born from the fact that humanity as 20th- and 21st-Century denizens are painfully aware is nowhere near as noble, curious or empathetic as Star Trek's humanity is. This is a case where the critics have, inadvertently, stumbled onto the very reason the series and its larger universe exists.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 14:00:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-humanity-prominent-not-aliens/ Seemingly overnight, Netflix's One Piece series has become a worldwide sensation, becoming one of the most celebrated anime adaptations of all time. That success has led to some well-deserved praise, including from the series' creator, Eiichiro Oda, who recently made a special announcement about the show. One Piece will be returning for a second season, and as Oda revealed in his announcement video, a new crew member will be joining the Straw Hats -- and they may have a little more fur than the rest of the gang.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 12:00:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/tony-tony-chopper-netflix-one-piece-explainer/ 30 years after its premiere, The X-Files still holds a fascination for its adoring fan base. Premiering in the fall of 1993, the series found a devoted cult following before exploding in popularity around its second and third seasons. Its success led to tie-in novels, comic books, video games, and two trips to the big screen. To this day, Mark Snow's iconic theme music is used in television news reports detailing UFO phenomena.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 22:00:48 GMT https://www.cbr.com/x-files-reimagined-tv-procedurals/ Jennifer Esposito left Blue Bloods in 2012 after playing the dynamic Jackie Curatola for three seasons. Her departure from the CBS police procedural was something of a dramatic affair as Esposito had been unceremoniously fired. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Esposito had been given doctor's orders to take a week off work because of her celiac disease, but CBS had been convinced it was a scheme to get more money.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 21:01:50 GMT https://www.cbr.com/blue-bloods-jennifer-esposito-jackie-returning/ The most underrated Star Wars animated series is Star Wars Rebels. However, it can also be the most difficult to figure out. Star Wars has had a habit of jumping across the timeline with its various projects (and sometimes within them) and Rebels is no different. That makes it hard for viewers to pinpoint exactly when in canon the events of the series happen.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:30:49 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-rebels-seasons-franchise-timeline/ Star Wars is no stranger to death. From Qui-Gon Jinn's tragic end in The Phantom Menace to Obi-Wan Kenobi's sacrifice in A New Hope, the franchise doesn't hesitate to kill off characters. But its most heartbreaking loss is still that of Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars Rebels.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:01:44 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-kanan-death-rebels-most-devastating/ Anakin Skywalker's appearances in live-action Star Wars shows have avoided depicting the Jedi Knight's most commendable traits, much to the detriment of the character. Anakin's prequel backstory has been praised by fans for adding a much-needed layer of narrative complexity to Darth Vader. But his flashbacks in Ahsoka have forgotten some of the character's humanity.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 19:01:40 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-television-keeps-neglecting-anakins-heroic-legacy/ In Season 3 of Smallville, Ian Somerhalder had a six-episode recurring role as Adam Knight. His mysterious character had a complicated relationship with Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk), ultimately resulting in his death. After Lana was trampled by her horse, she underwent physical therapy. Adam pushed her to start walking faster, and they became close friends. He developed feelings for her, but as time passed, the audience soon realized his true intentions. Strangely enough, his character was linked to Batman before his death. His name, a combination of Adam West and Batman's common nickname, the Dark Knight, along with his background that included deceased parents and martial arts training, led many to speculate that he was a version of Bruce Wayne.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 18:00:41 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ian-somerhalder-smallville-character-batman/ Kindness warriors across the globe watched as Ted Lasso ended its remarkable three-season run with what is presumed to be the show's series finale. It's rare for a series finale to please all fans, and despite the show's successes Ted Lasso left a lot of faithful viewers feeling unsatisfied. That being said, Ted Lasso has a second chance to end its story, at least if The Richmond Way by Trent Crimm (formerly of The Independent) is ever published as an actual book.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:01:36 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ted-lasso-the-richmond-way-trent-crimm/ The Power Rangers franchise has now been running for 30 years, with the classic Mighty Morphin Power Rangers still being the most iconic incarnation. For as popular as it was, however, all good things always come to an end. Thus, the first take on the series morphed into a new form that was stronger than before, though it only did so after some of the series' best promotion ever.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:00:28 GMT https://www.cbr.com/power-rangers-zeo-franchise-best-build-up/ Star Trek and David Lynch don't have many opportunities to cross paths. Star Trek is one of the biggest franchises on the planet, depicting a peaceful and optimistic universe in which the better angels of our nature have prevailed. David Lynch is cinema's foremost surrealist, creating powerful -- and often deeply disturbing -- images of strange realities slithering beneath the surface of common perception. The director has famously eschewed overtly commercial endeavors like Star Trek, and while the sci-fi saga is no stranger to the more unsettling side of the final frontier, it's never come within sniffing distance of the troubling depths Lynch calls home.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 14:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-lower-decks-space-koala-david-lynch/ Even before Ahsoka, the titular character has had a long journey. She was once part of the now-fallen Jedi Order during the Clone Wars. But she walked away from her training under Anakin Skywalker. The former Padawan later engaged in battle against her former master, now Darth Vader, and went into hiding following that fateful encounter. The fifth episode of Ahsoka, “Part Five: Shadow Warrior,” however, has reunited her with her late one-time teacher -- in a sense, anyway.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 13:00:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-becomes-jedi-in-new-galaxy-star-wars/ Science fiction -- and Star Trek in particular -- loves a good AI-running-amok story. The idea of humanity creating its own doom through a robot or similar creation is too powerful to ignore for the final frontier. That started with Star Trek: The Original Series and has continued in almost every entry in the franchise, including latter-day series. Even Star Trek: Lower Decks plays into the trend with a trio of potentially genocidal computer-based organisms currently up to no good.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 12:00:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-lower-decks-rogue-ai-trope/ When it comes to Star Trek there are few ideas inherent in Gene Roddenberry's universe than the Prime Directive. This guidance from Starfleet forbids the explorers from interfering with less advanced cultures. Of course, if one were to list how many times the Prime Directive is violated in the franchise, it would be much longer than the list of when it's respected. Breaking the Prime Directive is an important part of the morality questions at play in Star Trek stories.The Prime Directive was surprisingly fully formed at the outset of the franchise, even predating the idea of the United Federation of Planets. While there are many things Star Trek Into Darkness got wrong, the opening of the film is perhaps the perfect bite-sized idea of how the Prime Directive works and how it clashes with its heroes' morality. Captain Kirk and McCoy hide their faces and distract a planet's indigenous population, while Spock goes to the center of a volcano to use some sci-fi technology to prevent an extinction level event.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 22:00:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/breaking-prime-directive-important-star-trek/ Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation were extremely satisfied with Star Trek: Picard Season 3 for its reunion story and how it drew from the franchise's history. However, Star Trek: Picard The Complete Series on DVD and Blu-ray showcases how versatile the universe Gene Roddenberry created can be, from moments of fan service to how disparate stories come together to make a single narrative. Every season of the series picking up 30 years after Jean-Luc Picard's last adventure tells a unique, discrete story. However, taken together as a body of work, throughlines and themes emerge. The creative teams behind the scenes working on Picard changed each year, particularly in the writers' room. Literary legend, and longtime fan of Star Trek, Michael Chabon ran the show in the first season, introducing audiences to a Starfleet future where the venerable organization lost the faith of the man who most embodied its ideals.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 20:00:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/picard-blu-ray-versatility-star-trek/ The third wave of series in the universe Gene Roddenberry created had a tumultuous start, just like its second wave. In one way, Star Trek: Picard was very similar to The Next Generation era of the saga, because of the revolving door of showrunners. Yet, throughout the special features for Picard Season 3, the addition of showrunner Terry Matalas proves how unique an experience it was for the longtime cast and crew. The co-creator of the fantastic 12 Monkeys, Matalas is a Star Trek fan through-and-through. Perhaps that connection to the franchise or simply his individual style of showrunning is what makes Picard Season 3 different from so many other Star Trek shows. From special featurettes to the episode commentaries, the cast cannot stop talking about how great it was working with him.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 18:00:32 GMT https://www.cbr.com/picard-season-3-special-features-unique/ When the Ahsoka TV series was announced, a key item fans wanted from showrunner Dave Filoni was to see Ahsoka meet her former master, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). Luckily, he does return as a unique version of Darth Vader -- more human, and, as expected, someone with a bit more wisdom. His arrival ties into what many expected: a trial to see where Ahsoka is mentally.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:01:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-trial-star-wars-caves-comparison/

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 16:21:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/daryl-dixon-isabelle-spinoff/ Star Wars icon Dave Filoni knows how Ahsoka Tano and Luke Skywalker first met, but he hasn't found a place to tell the story yet. At least he hadn't before the Ahsoka series debuted on Disney+, following up the character's appearance on The Mandalorian in Season 2 but, seemingly, preceding her appearance in The Book of Boba Fett, where Anakin Skywalker's son and former padawan share a smile and some conversation.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 16:00:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-tano-luke-skywalker-first-meeting-dave-filoni-star-wars/ Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has become one of the franchise's standard bearers in a very short amount of time. Fans have responded enthusiastically to its fresh take on The Original Series era, as it depicts the crew of the Enterprise in the years before James Kirk became captain. It's based on the original Star Trek pilot, "The Cage," and features a bevvy of new characters as well as classic figures from The Original Series.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:50:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-cast-character-guide/ In the annals of Star Wars history, many fans consider Luke Skywalker's most formative relationship to be the one he forged with Ben Kenobi. He didn't fully know the story about Obi-Wan and his dad Anakin, which led him to believe in Ben unconditionally -- but even after the truth came out their bond remained strong, which was why the former Jedi Master often appeared as a ghost or spoke to Luke through the Force.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:40:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-book-of-boba-fett-luke-mentor-wasnt-obi-wan/ The triumphant final season of Star Trek: Picard is finally available for fans to own on DVD or Blu-ray, but The Complete Series feels more "complete" than the disparate stories may suggest. Each season was a unique narrative and visual experience more akin to a movie series than a television show. While the journey Jean-Luc Picard takes is the obvious focus of the show, watching the complete series highlights why each season needed to include the Borg. Beyond being Picard's greatest enemy, it tells an important story about how Gene Roddenberry's ideal future dealt with the aftermath of such a destructive force.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:00:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/picard-blue-ray-explains-borg/ When Star Trek: Deep Space Nine aired in 1993, it set itself apart from any Star Trek show preceding it with its primary location of a large space station, darker tone and a later-season focus on serialized storytelling. The series thrust its characters into conflict with the Dominion, a military force comprised of many species from the Gamma Quadrant who invaded and threatened Starfleet and the Alpha Quadrant like no other enemy before.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 14:11:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-why-terry-farrell-jadzia-dax-left-ds9/ When the Ahsoka TV series was announced, Star Wars fans were excited over rumors that Hayden Christensen would return as Darth Vader. He reprised the role in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, and thankfully, he shows up once more to bring his journey full-circle. This time, he's in the World Between Worlds, meeting Ahsoka as she toes the line between life and death.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 14:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-darth-vader-real-version/

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 13:00:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/twd-daryl-dixon-questions-zombie-births/

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 12:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season1-episode2-recap-spoilers/ Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 saw the normally cold and logical Vulcan science officer, Mr. Spock, decide to explore his human side, with particular emphasis on experiencing emotion. While this may seem like a departure from canon, it could be argued that his experiences during this time in his life better explain his vehement dedication to logic and the emotional suppression embraced by most Vulcans. He’s already experienced devastating heartbreak as he watched his romantic relationship with Nurse Christine Chapel unravel near the end of the season.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 20:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-tpol-spock-journey/ Ahsoka's fifth episode brought one of the most complicated Star Wars concepts to life: the World Between Worlds. There, Ahsoka found herself face to face with her former master like she has time and time again – but this time, he's there the way she remembers him, as Anakin Skywalker rather than as Darth Vader. He's a physical manifestation of her past failures, and she must learn from him to move forward and become the hero everyone needs her to be right now.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 19:30:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-and-anakin-confrontation-jedi-fallen-order/

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 18:00:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/only-murders-in-the-building-stars-played-themselves/ Ahsoka continues to keep viewers on the edge of their seats with gripping drama and epic revelations regarding major characters in the Star Wars franchise. The new Disney+ series follows Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) as she struggles to keep the villainous Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) from returning to wreak havoc on the galaxy. Along the way, Ahsoka is also forced to come to grips with her own past, including her feelings regarding her former master, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), and his fall to the Dark Side.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 17:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-darth-vader-alive/ The fifth episode of Ahsoka, "Shadow Warrior," saw Ahsoka reunited with her master, Anakin Skywalker. Ahsoka found herself back in the World Between Worlds after seemingly being killed by Baylan Skoll and was greeted by her old master. The reunion was not an easy one, however, as Anakin had one final lesson for his old Padawan, and intended to put her to the test with a trial by lightsaber. Their duel moved from the World Between Worlds into their memories of the Clone Wars and saw Anakin tapping into both the light and dark sides of the Force.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 17:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-anakin-return-recalls-darth-vader-duel/ In the Star Trek franchise, Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets it serves are a bastion of noble purpose. For the most part, it has consistently portrayed in a positive light as a noble effort to help the various species of the universe. But in Futurama, those ideas are taken to a darkly comical extreme.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 16:00:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/futurama-doop-star-trek-parody-explained/ Ahsoka viewers were left shocked at the end of the series' fourth episode, when Ahsoka found herself once again in the World Between Worlds. This mysterious, ethereal realm was first introduced on Star Wars Rebels, which saw Ezra Bridger access it via the Jedi Temple on Lothal. Rebels revealed that the World Between Worlds existed beyond the confines of time and space. While here, Ezra was able to reach into the past to save Ahsoka's life during her duel with Darth Vader on Malachor. However, the exact nature of this strange domain is yet to be revealed.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 15:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/what-ahsoka-reveals-world-between-worlds/ Star Trek: Deep Space Nine broke new ground for the venerable franchise when it debuted in 1993. For seven seasons and 176 episodes, it explored the dark corners of the Federation aboard a strategically vital space station far from the rest of Starfleet.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 14:50:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-deep-space-nine-cast/ What If...? Season 2 is right around the corner with new episodes showcasing hypothetical scenarios in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The first season provided an interesting concept, as fans got to witness their favorite characters deviating from established canon. Each episode of the series revolved around an important storyline from the 15-year history of the MCU, and detailed how it might have played out under different conditions.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 14:00:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/what-if-series-mcu-weakness/ After All Rise left so many unanswered questions, "Unwanted Guest" has some very high expectations -- and a chance to make a big impact. Yet the episode opens with Ness Johnson having an up-tempo fantasy sequence, before the audience is reminded that she's unconscious in the ICU after being stabbed. Things haven't calmed down at the Hall of Justice either, as protesters are outside the doors about a vandalism case that Mark Callan and Luke Watkins are handling. Judge Lola Carmichael is rightly presiding over a meeting in Courtroom 802 to discuss how everyone can move forward after the riot that wounded Luke, Ness and Teddy Biswas.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 13:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/all-rise-season3-episode11-recap-spoilers/ Over the five decades since its inception, the Star Trek universe continues to inspire new generations of Trekkies. The original series that began in the mid-1960s has spawned countless spin-offs in television shows, as well as animation and feature films, some of which are still under production.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:30:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-every-tv-episode-movie/ The Simpsons operates on a uniquely flexible approach to its static continuity. While the specific dynamics of the show rarely change, the characters have gone through all sorts of growth and development over the years. This extends to their professional work, which has seen both Homer and Marge take on a truly absurd number of jobs over the show's decades' worth of episodes. Oftentimes, these are throwaway gag jobs, but they sometimes come with far more important roles within the ecosystem of Springfield.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:00:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-simpsons-homer-marge-better-springfield-mayor/ Episode 5 of Ahsoka hugely delivers on fan expectations, finally giving audiences moments they've wanted to see in live-action for decades. After Episode 4 ended with Ahsoka in the World Between Worlds and meeting Anakin Skywalker again, audiences finally get to relive moments from Star Wars: The Clone Wars in live-action. Audiences get two glimpses of how brutal the war truly was at different points in Ahsoka's life.

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 22:00:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-battles-ahsoka-episode-5/ For all the goodwill The Boys garners, the Prime Video series hasn't shaken things up enough across its three seasons. While the stakes keep rising with every passing episode and the spinoff Gen V ties into Season 4, Billy Butcher and his crew are no closer to taking down Homelander and Vought Industries. Despite all the gory fight scenes and dropped bombshells, the plot feels like it's beginning to drag -- a bad sign for a series that prides itself on never playing things safe.

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 20:00:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-boys-season4-homelander-powers/ Canonically portrayed as a binary energy, The Force in Star Wars consists of a light and dark side that "binds the galaxy together" and stems from life itself. Through this dichotomy, as a consequence, Force-wielders are depicted as either Jedi or Sith -- religious practitioners whose two distinct monastic philosophies are at odds with one another. Due to their intrinsic natures, a constant power struggle within the galaxy ebbs and flows between both groups, depending on which is stronger. This dynamic, of course, was brought to fruition by Star Wars creator George Lucas, and he won't have it any other way, despite some of the fandom arguing that there's a middle ground a character can take between the two ideologies: becoming a gray Jedi. Nevertheless, according to Lucas, grey Jedi don't exist.

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 19:00:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/anakin-skywalker-ahsoka-tano-grey-jedi-at-heart/ Games of Thrones fans already know that Rhaenyra Targaryen's death is inevitable. Even casual viewers of House of the Dragon are aware that multiple characters are praying for the downfall of The Black Queen. One of those is Alicent Hightower, her once best friend and confidant, who later becomes Rhaenyra's stepmother. There's also Alicent's father Otto, who conspires to usurp her throne from the beginning. Even Rhaenyra's uncle and second husband Daemon Targaryen has his eyes set on the Iron Throne at one point.

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 18:11:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/who-kills-rhaenyra-targaryen-house-of-the-dragon/ Echo, whose real name is Maya Lopez, is the daughter of former Tracksuit Mafia commander William Lopez. Her first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is in 2021's Hawkeye, starring Clint Barton and Kate Bishop. However, she isn't one of the good guys when fans first see her. Having been raised by Wilson Fisk (Kingpin), Echo is on a quest to find her father's killer, and her taste for vengeance is just beginning. The unique thing about Echo and the actress who plays her, Alaqua Cox, is they are deaf. She is the first deaf hero to star in her MCU TV show!

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 18:00:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mcu-echo-phase-five-best-hero/ Throughout the nearly 60-year history of the universe created by Gene Roddenberry, its fans are hard to please. So, that the biggest complaint about Star Trek: Picard Season 3 is that it relied too much on fan service is itself a victory. While there is nothing wrong with a generational saga like Star Trek making visual, narrative and thematic connections to past iterations, the words "fan service" are dirty ones to storytellers. However, the showrunner for Picard recently explained how Season 3 might accurately be called Star Trek fan service.

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 17:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/picard-season-3-star-trek-fan-service/ Stranger Things is one of the most popular shows on Netflix, with its tone ranging from science fiction and horror to comedy to propel the story thanks to a mixture of characters from different backgrounds coming together to save the world. When Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) goes missing, it's up to his three best friends, Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), and Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin), to find and save him. Will had entered a dimension known as the Upside Down. His return seems hopeless until the three remaining friends stumble across a young girl in the woods, only identified by a tattoo that reads "011."

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 16:51:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/eleven-stranger-things/ As Season 4 of Harley Quinn proceeded, Harley and Poison Ivy found themselves facing massive trials and tribulations. They struggled with their jobs, as Ivy wanted to change the toxic Legion of Doom, while Harley wanted to prove herself alongside the Bat-Family. Unfortunately, the death of Nightwing altered things drastically, resulting in Harley feeling alienated.

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 16:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/harley-quinn-season-4-finale-explained/ While Nathan Fillion may be saving the day on his ABC procedural comedy-drama The Rookie, the fan-favorite actor previously thrilled audiences on Castle as its eponymous, crime-fighting protagonist Richard Castle. Also airing on ABC from 2009 to 2016, Castle was tentatively slated to reach its ninth season -- only to be abruptly canceled. Here's why the network changed its mind and ended the series rather than give it a final season.

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 15:11:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/why-castle-ended-season-8/ The Star Wars universe has featured many beloved characters from Luke Skywalker to the Bad Batch. But just because many heroes and villains have been introduced doesn't always mean that they've had their stories fully explored. While current Star Wars shows have done their best to do this, there's still so much ground to cover, especially with the heroes of Star Wars Rebels. A great example of this could be proven by the captain of the Ghost, Hera Syndulla.

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 15:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-hera-jacen-seperation/ The Wheel of Time is in its sophomore season and the show has really begun to hit its stride. The series is moving swiftly through the complex stories of the books and is creating an engaging and stunning show for audiences. As The Wheel of Time moves forward this season, it's clear that the series is setting up for one of the first major conflicts from the books. While Season 1 feature Rand discovering that he was the Dragon Reborn and fighting Ishmael for the first time, that is nothing compared to what is coming. The Battle of Falme will test both Rand and all his companions.

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 14:20:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-wheel-of-time-upcoming-battle-of-falme/ As with most new entries in the saga created by Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek: Voyager was a controversial series amongst fans. After seven seasons, four with the unassimilated Borg character Seven of Nine, the series finale remains a classic in the franchise's history. However, the romance between Seven of Nine and Commander Chakotay, the ship's first officer, was a massive mistake for narrative reasons. The continuation of the characters' stories in Star Trek: Prodigy and Picard corrected it, but it's worth examining why the choice was the wrong one.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 23:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-voyager-seven-of-nine-chakotay-romance-mistake/ Ahsoka has reinvigorated the Star Wars franchise with an epic storyline featuring plenty of fan-favorite characters and jaw-dropping reveals. The eight-episode Disney+ series features the former Jedi Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) as she struggles to keep the galaxy safe from the looming threat of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) and his acolytes. However, Ahsoka also has to come to terms with her own history, reconciling with the past in order to help train the next generation of Jedi, which includes her own Padawan, Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo).

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 20:15:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-star-wars-gandalf-the-white/ Tom Holland has been portraying the third iteration (after Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire) of the Marvel Comics character Peter Parker/Spider-Man in live-action movies since 2016. After first appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Captain America: Civil War, he was last seen in his third solo film Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021. That movie seemingly concluded with the promise of a Spider-Man 4 starring Tom Holland releasing at some point in the next phase of the MCU. With Spider-Man's cinematic future ensured, there is still the question of when the wall-crawler will appear on the small screen, whether that be via Disney+ or otherwise.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 20:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/spider-man-show-can-coexist-with-movies/ Ahsoka is the latest offering from showrunner Dave Filoni, expanding the Star Wars universe in new and exciting directions. The new Disney+ series follows Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) and her Padawan, Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) as they struggle to keep the villainous Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) from returning to their galaxy. In its first few episodes, Ahsoka has been filled with numerous high points, as audiences revel in the expert storytelling from Filoni and the other creators behind the exciting new Star Wars project.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 19:00:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-star-wars-dave-filoni/ In Disney+'s most recent episode of Ahsoka, "Part Five: Shadow Warrior," audiences caught a glimpse of some very familiar iconography. Fans of Star Wars Rebels will have surely recognized the iconic symbol of Kanan Jarus resting comfortably upon his son Jacen Syndulla's shoulder. While this could be viewed as a simple callback to his father, the symbol itself means much more to those who knew and loved Kanan, as well as to the galaxy he helped save.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:20:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-jacen-syndulla-kanan-jarrus-shoulder-armor/ Jennifer Love Hewitt made headlines when she joined Criminal Minds for the CBS drama's 10th season. The actress had been a familiar face on television since her breakout role as Sarah on Fox's Party of Five in the 1990s and the supernatural series Ghost Whisperer, and she was becoming part of one of the most popular TV series. Unfortunately, however, the arrangement didn't last very long.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:10:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/criminal-minds-why-jennifer-love-hewitt-left/ The CW's Smallville is an iconic DCTV show that set the standard for superhero series when it first aired in 2001. The prequel Superman show follows a young Clark Kent as he struggles to know more about his alien identity while dealing with being a human teenager in the small town of Smallville. Right by his side through all his ups and downs are his best friends, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross. Clark, Chloe and Pete are almost inseparable, spending most of their free time together at the school's newspaper, The Smallville Torch.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:00:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/smallville-created-blueprint-superman-sidekicks/ The world of The Walking Dead is only getting bigger, as new spinoffs--including Dead City, Daryl Dixon, and The Ones Who Live--continue to find success on AMC. The post-apocalyptic franchise has been around for over a decade now, but shows no signs of coming to an end any time soon, even almost a year after the flagship series came to an end with its eleventh season. However, where the franchise will go remains a closely guarded mystery, though its showrunners all seem to be working toward some mysterious plan.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 17:01:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-deads-alternate-ending-next-chapter/ Ahsoka fans are eager to see how the titular character's role will play out within Star Wars, and rightfully so. Ahsoka Tano has always been an enigmatic character despite appearing on and off within several installments of the franchise. However, one thing is sure about her: she had terrific teachers. As Anakin Skywalker's Padawan, she was trained in the heat of battle during the Clone Wars, so she learned from the best warrior the Jedi Order had to offer. This made the young Togruta a competent fighter in her own right. Nevertheless, the ex-Jedi also has an inherently strong connection to the Force, much like her former Master, which only seems to get stronger as Ahsoka ages. Perhaps this was something that Grand Master Yoda sensed in her initially, which can explain why he originally paired the two together in The Clone Wars animated movie. Either way, Ahsoka's journey and robust ties to the Force prove she's well on her way to becoming Yoda's spiritual successor as a wellspring of Jedi knowledge, wisdom and clarity.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 16:01:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-tano-yoda-spiritual-successor/ The Wheel of Time is deep into its second season and fans have been already treated to a litany of surprises and stunning moments. On top of Lanfear being revealed at the end of the fourth episode, it seems that the Seanchan are finally putting their plans into action. Another major focus of both season has been the Aes Sedai Liandrin of the Red Ajah. Fans of the books know her to be a strong antagonist of the Aes Sedai from the Two Rivers. While the series has shown Liandrin to be friendly and kind to Nynaeve, Season 2, Episode 5 "Damane," has finally revealed Liandrin's true motives.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 15:20:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-wheel-of-time-liandrin-black-ajah/ This Apple TV+ fantasy horror series, The Changeling, based on the award-winning novel by Victor LaValle, places Apollo (LaKeith Stanfield), a rare second-hand bookseller, and his librarian wife, Emma (Clark Baoko), at the center of a disturbing series of incidents that offer insights into the effects of generational and childhood trauma. While the series may lack a real narrative payoff, it captivates audiences through emotionally riveting and unsettling performances and by exploring many themes and topics through the horror genre.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 15:00:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-changeling-tackles-childhood-trauma/ Of all the aspects that make All Rise unique, Lola Carmichael and Mark Callan's friendship is the most endearing. The OWN series rests squarely on the shoulders of its impressive cast, who have brought each character to life with complexities not found in many other shows. That is particularly true of what Simone Missick and Wilson Bethel have been able to accomplish with Mark and Lola, whose relationship is unlike anything else TV has to offer.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:50:26 GMT https://www.cbr.com/all-rises-lola-and-mark-callan-friendship/ The Wheel of Time has shown a lot of improvements in its second season. There has been a new sense of urgency injected into the story and with that comes a lot of big character introductions. From more of the Forsaken, to the formal introduction of the Seanchan, The Wheel of Time is wasting no time in moving through the hefty fantasy series. The latest character to be brought to the small screen in Season 2, Episode 5 "Damane," represents a huge leap forward for the story and the potential for some huge changes to the source material.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:21:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-wheel-of-time-aiel-aviendha/ Throughout Star Wars: The Clone Wars, one of the key story points is how the Jedi Order places too much responsibility upon Padawans, who are far too young to become soldiers in the fight. Like many other Padawans, Ahsoka became a leader in the army at only fourteen years old, commanding troops and having to bear the losses of soldiers under her command. Even before the massacre of Order 66, Ahsoka's generation of Padawans and Younglings had already lost the chance at a childhood due to the Clone Wars.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-flashback-clone-wars-casualties/ Everything changed for Sabine Wren and Bo-Katan Kryze when the Star Wars heroes led their people into battle against the Galactic Empire. Both characters fought with significant weight on their shoulders. The burdens of the poor choices they had previously made remained on their minds as well as in the thoughts of their fellow Mandalorians. What would it take for Sabine and Bo-Katan to shed their tarnished reputations and lead with the trust and respect of their people? They made their discoveries almost simultaneously defending Mandalore despite the vastly different paths they took to get there.

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 12:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-sabine-bo-katan-mandalore/