Television: Skeleton Crew

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: Disney+

On December 2, Disney+ will premiere Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, its latest television series trying to cash in on its Star Wars investment.

This is Disney’s quick summary of the story:

“Skeleton Crew” follows the journey of four kids who make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet, then get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy, crossing paths with the likes of Jod Na Nawood, the mysterious character played by Law. Finding their way home—and meeting unlikely allies and enemies—will be a greater adventure than they ever imagined.

Clearly, this series is targeted at children, though given how bad some of the series for adults have been, maybe this one will be better. Jude Law has signed on for this adventure, which is a positive sign.

Maybe this is Disney’s plan – rebuild the brand from the ground up for a new generation of kids. Given the earlier series that litter the landscape, that might be the best bet for this franchise.

I would have put my money into Andor, but Disney seems to have abandoned the adults in the room.

Stay tuned.

Update: I enjoyed the first season and hope to see more. It is better made and not as stuck to the Star Wars orthodoxy as the other television series, making it a fresh take on a well-worn galaxy. It may be Goonies with light sabers, but that’s okay. Plus, when you throw Jude Law into the mix, you get an edge that keeps in all the more interesting. A number of critics appear to agree, and Rotten Tomatoes gives the series a 91%.

  • Zaki Hasan, San Francisco Chronicle: “Fresh score. For anyone who says the House That Lucas Built is out of ideas and has been picked clean, “Skeleton Crew” proves there’s still meat left on those bones.”
  • Jack Seale, Guardian: “You’re best advised to pretend Skeleton Crew isn’t there until the holidays begin, and then enjoy it non-judgmentally, sprawled en famille eating chocolates from a round tin. This less-serious Star Wars is an escape to a happy place.”
  • John Nugent, Empire Magazine: “This is a perfectly fun entry in the ever-expanding Star Wars canon: light and frothy by design, driven by a genuinely sweet cast of younglings at the fore.”

Television: Remember to Tune into “Dune: Prophecy” Tomorrow Night

Posted on by onespaceman2000

One more reminder to tune into HBO’s Dune: Prophecy tomorrow night, with the final trailer gives you one last look at what’s in store. I for one look forward to anything that can take me away from this planet for a little while.

You might also enjoy the ScreenRant interview with series executive producer Jordan Goldberg and Travis Fimmel. You may remember Fimmel from the History Channel’ Vikings as well as the short-live HBO series Raised by Wolves.

Another background piece can be found in the USAToday story titled “How Prince William and Prince Harry informed HBO’s ‘Dune: Prophecy’.” Unfortunately, it appears nothing from this distant world can really be fully detached from our own.

Even so, I recommend you find a quiet space to take in the Dune world all over again.

Television: Season Three of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Scene from season three of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. (Paramount+)

I am eager for the third season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds after season two ended back in August. In season two, we had a chance to meet Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, one more piece of the original Star Trek crew.

For a taste of what is to come, take a look at this preview clip of season three. Its shows a fun turn of events as members of the crew find themselves embracing the Vulcan ways for a mission. Of course, nothing is that easy. The interplay between human and Vulcan mindsets continues to entertain, much in the way The Next Generation enjoyed the interplay between human and android mindsets.

It is still unclear when season three will premiere in 2025, but the good news is that Paramount+ has already promised a fourth season, so the fun will continue. More importantly, Trekmovie.com reports that the series will eventually run into the first episode of the original series from 1966, so we can expect more original characters such as Scotty to populate the Strange New Worlds series.

With only one live action Star Trek series still on the air after the end of Star Trek: Discovery earlier this year, it is important for fans that the series continues to live long and prosper.

Fortunately, a few more Star Trek series are the in pipeline. More on that later.

Television: “Dune: Prophecy” is Almost Here

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: HBO Max

If you have yet to see the latest trailer for the upcoming HBO Max series Dune: Prophesy, I recommend you take a look. It provides plenty of information on the battle to come starting November 17th.

The initial images are impressive, though it does not appear we will have the out-of-this-world music we experienced with the first two Dune movies.

Maybe I have seen too many of these series now, but this latest story seems to be a cross between HBO’s Game of Thrones and Apple TV+’s Foundation. Not that I am complaining.

See for yourself, and stay tuned for what looks to be another success from the world called Dune.

Note: For a breakdown of the trailer, visit Secrets of Dune on Youtube. The narrator does a nice job tying the the new series into the two earlier movies.

Television: Will We See a Murderbot Television Series?

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: Tordotcom

I am a big fan of Martha Wells’ The Murderbot Diaries, having read all seven in the series and looking forward to the eighth. So I was pleased to read late last year that the series will be coming to television.

If you are not familiar with the series, the best way to describe it is the tale of a security “construct” that has escaped its corporate tether and now needs to make its way in a human world. It starts its freedom acting like a petulant teenager more interested in old media adventures than humans, but it finds its way as the series continues, saving plenty of humans along the way from greedy corporations. It is just a fun read.

So in terms of television, Apple TV+ is working on a 10-episode first season, which includes Alexander Skarsgård (Succession) in the title role. Given that the main character, or Murderbot, is technically genderless and not interested in the topic of sex in the stories, I am surprised Skarsgårdis was given this type of role. You can read about some of the other actors in the series here.

Much of the story takes place within Murderbot’s head as it throws out sarcastic comments, so getting this onto the screen should prove interesting. Apple TV+ took great liberties with the Foundation series, but I hope that will not be necessary here.

I have yet to see a premiere date, so we are talking sometime in 2025.

Stay tuned.

Note: Apple TV+ is advertising a separate movie called Murderbot about a female robot gone crazy. You can ignore it.