Major Spoilers for Critical Role’s 2nd Campaign – The Mighty Nein

I have been watching Mighty Nein, which is Critical Role’s second campaign. There’s an episode that many fans refer to as THAT episode, where something major happens. I had this spoiled for me beforehand, which, honestly, I’m thankful for. In episode #26 “Found & Lost”, The Mighty Nein is tracking down some slavers who may have kidnapped their friends. In the process of launching an assault on those responsible, Mollymauk Tealeaf (played by Taliesin Jaffe) is brutally killed by Lorenzo (an NPC voiced by Matt Mercer). I wanted to talk about this moment in greater detail.

Molly’s death is a series of unfortunate events. Due to Laura and Travis being away on parental leave, there were no other party members who could heal if anyone fell unconscious or lost their hit points. This episode had a guest star, Ashly Burch, who played a fighter. I don’t believe the guest stars should have to pick a class that they don’t want to play, but it still played into Molly’s fate. Before going after Lorenzo, I don’t think the group stocked up on healing potions, which would have been smart considering they couldn’t be healed otherwise.

As the attack happened, it became clear as the episode carried on how unprepared this group was for Lorenzo’s crew. Lorenzo was a spell caster whom the group didn’t know previously. Many of the characters lost half their health early on. On top of that, Nott (played by Sam Riegel) will attack and then hide right away. Keg (Ashly’s character) was freaked out, and instead of going into battle, she ran away, which didn’t help Molly’s situation, considering Beau (played by Marisha Ray) and Molly were the only ones up trying to take out Lorenzo and his crew. Watching this episode knowing what was going to happen eventually, I think it’s fortunate that no one else died.

Leading to Molly’s demise, Molly wanted to use one of his Blood Hunter abilities against Lorenzo. For those who are unfamiliar with the Blood Hunter class, Blood Hunter abilities require the player to roll a die and take that much health for the ability to happen. When Molly did this, he rolled high on his die, which caused him to fall unconscious. Since Molly was in close combat with Lorenzo, Lorenzo stabbed Molly, so Taliesin couldn’t roll any death saves to try to save his character. When Matt asked Taliesin what his final words were, I loved it when Molly spat in Lorenzo’s face. Knowing he was going to die, he wasn’t going to let Lorenzo see him afraid, which I thought was admirable and perfect for his character.

Regarding Molly’s death, I think it would be easy to react with judgment. Why would Taliesin have used Molly’s Blood Hunter abilities when his health was so low? To reiterate, the Blood Hunter class at this point in time was brand new. Matt Mercer customized this class to Taliesin, so no one else had played this type of character before. As such, it’s easy for all of us to judge (including myself, since I have played as a Blood Hunter), but it’s an important reminder that at the time, Taliesin was still learning how to play this class, and Matt was learning how to create a class that felt balanced.

It’s interesting because out of all the characters in Mighty Nein, Molly was probably my least favorite. I thought Molly was arrogant and selfish and would often pick a fight with Caleb, even though I felt Caleb was in the right. I was surprised by how emotional I felt after Molly’s death. I felt so bad for Taliesin because not only does your character die, but it’s being live-streamed, so now everyone can see your first reaction. I would hate that. I find that after my own DnD sessions, I need time to emotionally process what happened, and I couldn’t imagine doing that in front of a huge community.

It took me forever to finish this episode because I knew what was coming. I want to see the Mighty Nein get revenge on Lorenzo, and honestly, I miss seeing Travis and Laura. I think the group dynamic is different with them being gone, and I can’t wait for them to return.

I finished watching Star Wars Rebels, and this show was an emotional rollercoaster. How can Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg, and Carrie Beck do this to me? I am glad I took the time to watch Rebels, and honestly, I think this was my favorite Star Wars animated series I have watched to date. I wanted to share my favorite moments and thoughts about the last two seasons.

Major Spoilers for the last two seasons of Rebels

To start off, I wanted to talk about Kanan. Kanan’s fate wasn’t exactly spoiled for me, but since I didn’t see him in Ahsoka, I knew something must have happened to him. The way it played out was tragic. Hera finally confesses her love for him, they share a sweet moment together, and then he holds off the explosive blast so everyone can escape. UGH MY HEART. I am not over it. In the next episode, Chopper holds Hera’s hand and comforts her while she works through his death. Chopper is honestly the best, and I thought these moments between the two were so sweet. There was an episode or two after this where Ezra goes into a Jedi temple and, with Ahsoka’s help, Ezra realizes he has to let Kanan go and accept that he couldn’t save him. While I wish Kanan had lived, his loss shaped the other characters and solidified why fighting for the rebellion is so important.

Moving away from Kanan, I wanted to talk about Agent Kallus. Agent Kallus is an agent of The Empire, and I think it would have been easy for the show to make him a throwaway character. Someone who antagonizes the group and eventually is killed in an explosion. Instead, Agent Kallus has several touching moments with the Rebels, which help him defect in the end. Seeing Kallus fighting off the troopers on Lothal, I think it was a full-circle moment for him. I did not expect to care so much for his character, but here we are.

Besides Kallus, Thrawn’s appearance is cool to see. I didn’t read much of Legends, the Star Wars novels that existed before Disney bought Star Wars. Thrawn appeared in those books, and the fact that Dave Filoni brought the character back in canon was awesome! I think it was rewarding for fans to see that. It also encourages me to go back and read some of the Legends books because there’s a chance the lore could be brought into future shows or movies. Finally, I liked Maul’s dynamic with Ezra. Maul is trying to push Ezra into the dark side and play on his emotions. I think that was valid for Ezra’s character. He has been through a lot, and Maul preying on that was interesting to watch.

I think I preferred season three over season four. Season four had a lot of build-up, so I felt the episodes were slower to watch. Although I liked how Lothal became the backdrop for the season, I think it was a fitting end to the crew who started their journey on this planet. Once Hera was saved, it was clear that Rebels wasn’t holding back. I did like the epilogue in the final episode. I thought it offered a conclusion to fans, and it leads directly into Ahsoka.

I could go on and on talking about how much I loved Rebels. It’s interesting because I figured I’d like Clone Wars more since it takes place in my favorite era of Star Wars. I think Rebels was more charming to me because, with each episode, you start to care for the heroes and see their individual moments shine. I’m sad Rebels is over, but now that I’m finished with the show, I plan on diving into Ahsoka next. I’m slowly getting caught up with all things Star Wars, and it’s clear that I slept on some of the best shows in the Star Wars universe.

The release of Star Wars: The Acolyte seems to have caused a stir on social media. I’m seeing a flood of comments online about how fans miss when Star Wars wasn’t owned by Disney, along with the vitriol of fans commenting that The Acolyte isn’t good. As a Star Wars fan, I’m always looking forward to new additions to the galaxy and creating new stories across the timeline. I watched the first two episodes of The Acolyte, and I liked them. I don’t know if The Acolyte will be my all-time favorite Star Wars series, but I am curious to see how the series unfolds.

Spoilers For The Acolyte Below

The Acolyte takes place in the High Republic era, approximately 100 years before The Phantom Menace. The show opens with Master Indara (played by Carrie-Ann Moss), who is approached by a mysterious figure, later to be revealed as Mae (played by Amandla Stenberg). After an intense combat, Indara is killed by Mae after trying to save a patron in the bar. The episode cuts to Osha (played again by Amandla Stenberg), who is approached by Jedi as she was seen at the scene of the crime. Osha protests her innocence, but is arrested. She escapes captivity and realizes her twin, Mae, is still alive and is responsible for these crimes. Meanwhile, Master Sol (played by Lee Jung-jae) is sent to investigate and capture Osha and bring her in for questioning. Sol has a personal connection to the case as he was Osha’s former master. Throughout the first two episodes, Sol is joined by Yord Fandar (played by Charlie Barnett) and Jecki Lon (played by Dafne Keen) to find Osha and understand why she is going after the Jedi.

I will say the obvious: I am bummed to see that Master Indara was killed in the first episode. I mentioned in my The Acolyte – First Thoughts post how excited I was to see that Carrie-Ann Moss was a part of the cast. It makes sense now since the trailer didn’t feature her at any other time, but still, I was hoping she would have a bigger part. I’m assuming there will be flashbacks in the later episodes featuring Indara. From a story perspective, I was not expecting the twin aspect with Osha and Mae. I figured Amandla would be a villain serving an evil master; I didn’t think she would be good. I think Yord is going to be an interesting character. He seems to have this arrogance to him, which I think makes sense, as the Jedi were powerful at that time. With the first two episodes, I think there’s enough intrigue to keep me invested. I’m curious to see how Mae’s revenge plays out and who she is serving. It seems like she doesn’t even know who her master is.

I wanted to focus on Master Sol. Sol reminds me of Qui-Gon Jinn. I think Sol believes in the good that the Jedi can bring, but he also seems to have this objective view as well. He will disagree with the orders he’s given, and he also clearly has emotional ties to both Indara and Osha. It sounds like Sol saved Osha, but not Mae, so is he feeling guilty for that? What happened the night he met Osha? I think Sol is going to be a strong character in this series.

While I liked the first two episodes, fans have been divided when it comes to recent Star Wars projects. I wanted to first address something circulating online. There’s an interview with Charlie Barnett where he says that, “If you can’t look and see that Anakin blowing up the Death Star possibly killed millions and millions of people”. From A New Hope, we know Luke blew up the Death Star. I have seen fans mock Charlie online for being incorrect with his knowledge of Star Wars. If an actor decides to play a role in a geeky franchise, are they responsible for knowing everything about said franchise, or can actors simply be actors? I already know what you may be thinking, saying Anakin blew up the Death Star is incorrect. Sure, but does that warrant fans going after him? It’s not an excuse to justify online harassment.

Besides Charlie’s comment, he isn’t the first actor to either say something incorrect or comment on their experience with Star Wars. It’s no secret that Alec Guinness didn’t like Obi-Wan’s dialogue and wanted to be killed off in the movie. Harrison Ford has shown a saltier attitude towards Star Wars as well. While it’s cool to see someone like Henry Cavill express their fandoms, I don’t think all actors need to do this unless it’s their hobby.

While I liked The Acolyte, there’s nothing wrong with not liking a show or a movie. I think it boils down to, are you sharing your opinion to open a conversation, or are you spreading negativity when one person decides to say they like something? There’s nothing more annoying than someone saying how much they like something only to receive negative comments. I plan on writing recap posts every few episodes to discuss the series, share theories, and provide context as to what this means for The High Republic.

Critical Role dropped some major news to fans as they launched their own streaming service. Beacon will be Critical Role’s streaming service, where fans can subscribe to unlock exclusive content and discounts on future merchandise. When I found out about Beacon, I activated my free trial. I wanted to share my initial thoughts about Beacon and whether the cost is worth it.

Before Beacon’s launch, I was watching Critical Role on YouTube since I didn’t have Twitch. While watching Critical Role on YouTube works, there is a delay between when Critical Role streams their episodes and when the episodes are available to watch. Their main campaign streams on Thursdays late at night, and I don’t have the bandwidth to stay up till midnight to watch the full episode as it airs. Additionally, YouTube has ads every thirty minutes, which lengthens the time it takes to watch an episode of Critical Role. With Beacon, I can watch each episode with no ads, and the episodes will be available immediately. For me, this has made watching Critical Role so much easier.

With Beacon, Critical Role created its own Discord server for fans to connect. The Discord alone is worth the monthly cost of Beacon. When I signed up for the trial, there were about 6,000 members; now, it’s up to almost 12,500. I have talked to several other fans about other TTRPG systems, cosplay, and other geeky interests that expand beyond Critical Role. It’s been a great way to connect with the fandom and chat with others with similar interests.

While I like Beacon, I want to be up front about some bugs I experienced recently. The first is that Beacon didn’t keep track of where I left off on an episode. Since Critical Role‘s episodes are hours long, it’s annoying to have to remember what time stamp I left off on. I will say that this has been fixed on my end and is no longer an issue for me. Another thing I noticed was that there isn’t a progress bar on each episode. For example, when I log into Disney+, there’s a purple bar below the episode showing me that I finished watching the episode. To my knowledge, I’m not seeing this within Beacon. As a completionist, I like being able to see progress in what I’m watching. I hope this is fixed in the future.

The big question is whether Beacon is worth the cost. I think it boils down to how big a Critical Role fan you are. I think Beacon is worth it because it gives me access to all of Critical Role’s content, including Candela Obscura. If you’re a casual Critical Role fan or the idea of adding a streaming service is cumbersome, I don’t think you would be missing out by skipping Beacon. I am happy for Critical Role as I think this is a big step for them, and I’m excited to be included as a fan.

Spoilers for Star Wars Rebels Below

As part of my May 4th plan, I mentioned how I wanted to finish watching Star Wars Rebels. I’m halfway through the show as I finished season #2 last weekend. I love Rebels and have quickly grown attached to the characters, Lothal, and seeing them succeed against the Empire. Chopper is one of my favorite droids in Star Wars. I wanted to share a few of my favorite moments from the series thus far. There will be slight spoilers for both season #1 and season #2 of Rebels.

Let’s start with Chopper because why not? Chopper is murderous, chaotic, and sassy. While most droids, I would argue, are Lawful Good, I’d rate Chopper Neutral Good or Chaotic Good. Chopper has killed people and will defend his friends. I think Chopper serves as a good contrast and adds something different to the other droids in Star Wars. In the episode “The Forgotten Droid”, Chopper is separated from the rest of the group after seeing a replacement for one of his legs. He ends up being sequestered on a ship where he meets AP-5. AP-5 originally wanted to turn Chopper into the Empire, but they became friends. At the end of the episode, AP-5 is injured by an Imperial officer, leading to a touching moment between AP-5 and Chopper. Don’t mind me getting emotional in a Star Wars series. This episode was great to watch because it shows how Chopper can survive on his own and how he has empathy for others.

While I spent a whole paragraph talking about Chopper, I think the other characters are interesting. There’s Kanan, a former Jedi whose master was killed in Order 66. Hera, a fighter pilot from Ryloth, joined the Rebellion, which caused tension with her father, who was focused on freeing Ryloth. Sabine Wren, a former Mandalorian who always seems to have more than enough explosives on her person. Zeb, a Lasat guard who was recruited by the rebellion. Finally, there’s Ezra, who joins the team in the pilot episode as he tries to steal from them while on Lothal. All the characters have their moments to shine in the various episodes.

The last thing I wanted to touch on was Ahsoka’s appearance in the show. I knew Ahsoka was in Rebels, but I didn’t realize how big a role she would play. I finished watching the episode where Ahsoka realizes Vader is Anakin. How heartbreaking! Ahsoka was going to find out one way or another, but it doesn’t make the moment any less devastating. In the last two episodes of season #2, when Ahsoka, Kanan, and Ezra are looking for the Sith Holocron, I think those two episodes were arguably the best episodes of the series to date. The fact that Maul reappears, uses Ezra, and blinds Kanan, wtf!!! I can’t believe none of that was spoiled for me, and I’m glad it wasn’t. It still came as a shock. Ahsoka and Maul have such a fascinating dynamic, and I didn’t realize they would be reunited on the show.

Star Wars Rebels has been fun to watch, and I’m intrigued as to how the rest of the series will progress and add to Star Wars lore.

Trying to get caught up on Critical Role is a daunting task. I finished Vox Machina last year and started watching Mighty Nein, Critical Role’s second campaign. In between watching Candela Obscura and Critical Role’s Daggerheart content, I needed to take breaks due to burnout. Since I have now gotten back into watching Mighty Nein, I wanted to share my initial thoughts about the story, the characters, and my overall thoughts on the campaign thus far.

I’m currently on episode #18, which doesn’t feel that far into the campaign, but I think it’s safe to say that I’m already picking or gravitating towards a few of the characters. I think the standout characters for me are Fjord, Jester, and Caleb. Fjord (played by Travis Willingham) is such a departure from Grog in the best way. I recently watched the moment where Matthew Mercer guided the players out of the room, so Fjord could have a moment to himself. He swallowed his own sword, and I’m sitting here watching it all play out in shock. I am curious as to how Fjord’s story unfolds. Jester (played by Laura Bailey) is such a delight. I think she brings levity to the table. Clerics seem to have stereotypes associated with that class, and Jester kind of blows everything out of proportion, which I adore. Laura seems so happy to play Jester, and I think it’s fun to watch. With Caleb (played by Liam O’Brien), he has the personality of a Wizard. He is focused on learning new spells, and the way that Liam describes Caleb’s spell casting is so descriptive. While Fjord, Jester, and Caleb are my favorites thus far, I am curious to see how the other characters interact amongst themselves.

As far as the story, I am not sure if Mighty Nein has a story arc going on right now. I think what makes Mighty Nein different than Vox Machina is that Mighty Nein is shown from the beginning, whereas Vox Machina is a home game that transitioned into online streaming. As such, it feels like Mighty Nein doesn’t have story arcs since each character’s backstory needs to be revealed, and the characters are getting to know each other. It’s clear certain things are important (Mollymauk being called Lucien), but I don’t exactly know what the Mighty Nein are doing at this point in time. It’s not a bad thing; it feels more casual versus having a set list of tasks that need to be done, which Vox Machina follows more of that format.

From what I have watched, I like that Mighty Nein has a darker magic feel to the story. The fact that the campaign began at a carnival set the tone for the campaign, which I find interesting. I think Mighty Nein is more chaotic in a lot of ways, which has been a blast to see how these plans work out. I feel excited to continue each episode because I think the cast seems excited to be playing their characters, and there’s enough going on where I don’t want to be left on a cliffhanger.

I’m curious to see how Mighty Nein continues. I have been spoiled by certain events that happen, and I know I’m getting close to one of them. However, it doesn’t take away the joy of watching Critical Role. With every episode watched, I’m getting closer to being caught up on all things Critical Role.

I don’t know about you, but I love all the Star Wars series on Disney+. I particularly liked Andor and The Mandalorian, but even Obi-Wan Kenobi appealed to my fondness for the prequels. I heard rumblings about The Acolyte, but didn’t know much about the series except for the fact that it takes place before Phantom Menace. Like many others, I immediately saw the trailer drop on Instagram, and I had to watch it. I think The Acolyte will be an interesting addition to the Star Wars universe.

The Acolyte trailer opens in a Jedi temple with younglings being asked: “What comes into your mind?” One youngling answers, “I see fire.” The music drastically changes, leading into a hand-to-hand combat sequence between Carrie Ann Moss and, I believe Amandla Stenberg. I loved the moment when Carrie Ann Moss used the force to stop the blade. I think it’s neat to be able to see different types of fighting scenes that aren’t just with lightsabers. Throughout The Acolyte trailer, it’s hinted that someone is hunting Jedi, but no one seems to know why. The trailer ends with a red lightsaber being thrown through the trees and Jedi being blown off their feet by an unknown force.

I think for me, the number one reason that I’m looking forward to The Acolyte is the period it takes place in. We have seen a lot of Star Wars content after the prequels, but nothing before. It’s interesting seeing the Jedi in this type of role where they are the detectives investigating who is targeting them and for what purpose. I am curious as to what will be revealed about the Sith. Is this the Sith that’s coming after the Jedi, or is there another group that’s seeking out Sith power, and for what purpose?

The cast of The Acolyte is stellar. I know many have been fans of Carrie-Ann Moss from The Matrix, but I recognize Carrie Ann Moss from Memento and Jessica Jones. Rounding out the cast are Amandla Stenberg, Dafne Keen, Manny Jacinto, and Lee Jung-jae. I’m not exactly sure what everyone is playing, so I think there’s a lot of intrigue there as far as whether their characters are good or evil.

While watching the trailer for The Acolyte, I couldn’t help but read through the comments. The comments are overwhelmingly negative. I’m not going to address the comments specifically, but what I will say is that I find it sad that people are so quick to judge something without knowing much about it. I’m excited to see more in the Star Wars universe, so that’s why I’m looking forward to watching The Acolyte as the episodes premiere.

The Acolyte is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on June 4th.

When Prey was first released on Hulu, I heard nothing but good things about the movie. I was sick a few weeks ago, so I found plenty of time to sit on the couch, isolate, and watch movies. I wanted to watch Prey, but then I decided that I should just do a Predator marathon, so I could watch all the movies in the franchise, which I think would make watching Prey that much better. Predator is a classic, and I found it to still be enjoyable to watch years later.

For those who have never watched Predator, Predator stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Major Alan Dutch, who is called into action along with his rescue team. Alan reunites with a former colleague, Al Dillon (Rest in Peace Carl Weathers!), who agrees to help assist. When Alan and his team investigate, they realize Al lied to them about their mission. In the meantime, a creature is shown in the trees, stalking Alan’s team. After killing Billy (played by Sonny Landham), Alan realizes they are being hunted, and what’s hunting them may not be human.

I think there are a lot of reasons that Predator is still highly regarded, but I think what I like the most is how Predator capitalizes on the fear of the unknown. The idea that something is stalking their group and not feeling confident that this being is human, that’s scary. Combining that with being in unfamiliar territory and not being able to see the creature, it’s unsettling. I think the tone of the film changes when Blain Cooper (played by Jesse Ventura) is killed because the Predator’s plasma cannon is so powerful. While Predator is considered a sci-fi film, I think an argument can be made that Predator could be a horror film too.

Another thing that I liked about Predator was how all the characters stood out from each other. Alan is clearly the protagonist and the hero of the story. Al is shady, but then he ends up sacrificing himself to help Mac (played by Bill Duke). Speaking of Mac, I think his reactions to losing Blain are completely valid. Mac starts to lose it a bit, and I thought that this was not only realistic but also added to the horror element of the film. I’d also argue that Rich Hawkins (played by Shane Black) was the wisest one in the group because he put it together first that whatever is stalking them might not be from Earth. I think it’s easy for a group of characters to blend together and come across as forgettable, but Predator doesn’t fall into that.

Watching Predator so many years later, I think it’s interesting. The first thing I always laugh at is how Jesse Ventura was once our governor, which feels like such a Minnesotan thing to say, but I can’t help it. In many ways, Predator is a product of its time. There are a few slurs thrown in by some of Alan’s men, and one of the men makes an off-color joke about going down on his girlfriend and her vagina. The script for Predator wouldn’t fly in today’s society, which I think shows how much we have grown. We still have a ways to go, but still.

I’m looking forward to watching the other Predator films because, honestly, I don’t think I have seen any of them. Predator can be streamed on Hulu.