Myrddin

That's why I included "movie" before Maul and Grievous. Their characters were pretty thin in their single film appearances. Don't get me wrong. I'm a huge fan of Maul. He was such a menacing presence in tPM. Grievous onscreen was just a mechanical beast. They were both plot driven. As are most things in SW. But let's not pretend all the OT and PT characters were well rounded developed characters. Baylan's story and motivation were short changed in Ashoka, but in the Star Wars universe (outside of Andor), it's more common than not.

Well, he had the same amount of purpose as movie Darth Maul and General Grievous. Or Snoke. Or Captain Phasma. Or OT Boba Fett even. His purpose was to obtain the map for Morgan. He succeeded. His purpose/impact was just over fairly quickly. I think our frustration is not that he had no point; it's that he hinted at something cool beneath the surface but they never scratched deep enough.

I like the "bannered across the sky in fire" being an actual burning banner flapping over the city rather than his image on the clouds. That never made sense to me. At least, I could never really picture it in a non-hokey fashion as a reader. Does this mean the season is going to end with the city chanting "King in the North! The Dragon in the North Reborn! ! The King Dragon Reborn! The Dragon Reborn!

Thrawn needed to win, otherwise he's no threat to anyone, let alone the New Republic. I was surprised that neither dark jedi was featured this week, except in the epilogue. I guess we do need a season 2 to see what happens with the four castaways. I believe the next installment in the "Mandoverse" is Judd Law's Skeleton Crew. And then Mando season 4? If they don't greenlight Ashoka season 2, I guess they can devote an episode of Mando to getting Ashoka and Sabine back home. Maybe they find a copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy wrapped in a towel. Chapter 42: The Encyclopedia Galactica only has three mentions of being able to catch a ride with purrgils. The first one was named Jonah and he basically was taken where he didn't want to go. The other hitchhiker wanted to be a real boy, but became a real snack instead. The third is still waiting for the purrgil to open its mouth to let her out. She's been around the seven galaxies eighteen times at the time of the fourth printing of the encyclopedia.

Have they really mentioned that Matt isn't healed from the dagger at this point? As far that show goes, there's no need for him to go back to the Tower (as much as I'll miss the 2 on 1 duel). He can just go with Rand to the Waste. The trick will be how to get Egwene back to the Tower to become Accepted before starting her Aiel Dreamer training.

I just came to post Argylle trailer. Looks like a fun movie.

I found a translation of il Sacco di Volterra online. The translation is pretty rough, but there is even a scanned version on that site too if I need to check original language or something. Thanks for the tips, all.

Just remind them that back in your day, you were forced to watch the same show as your siblings. And you didn't even have a tv in the car! Unless it was a dvd player in mom's minivan. If they can't share, they can stare out the window or play "watch my hand fly" against the moving scenery outside the window. Teach them some character! (in case my jokes aren't obvious enough)

For real. We all know the proper spelling is eglue.

I've been reading up on Italian Renaissance history, specifically around Federico de Montefeltro. Fascinating guy. Mercenary captain. Prince. Patron. Honorable yet not above scheming to assassinate rivals. Vendetta: High Art and Low Cunning at the Birth of the Renaissance by Hugh Bicheno gives a very detailed account of the rivalry between Montefeltro and Sigismondo Malatesta. Two condotierre basically on the opposite sides of the battlefield most of their lives. Another good read uncovers Montefeltro's role in the Pazzi Conspiracy. Pretty damning evidence that he was one of the main drivers to assassinate Lorenzo de Medici and his brother: The Montefeltro Conspiracy: A Renaissance Mystery Decoded by Marcello Simonetta. Simonetta cracked the cypher that was invented by his own ancestor and advisor to the Sforza dukes in Milan, Cicco Simonetta. Do any of you have more recommendations about the life of Montefeltro? I'm also very interested in reading up on his brother, Ottaviano Ubaldini. He was one of the few people Federico trusted and basically ran Urbino when the Duke was off fighting. Ubaldini was an alchemist as well. Also interested in the Siege of Volterra in 1472. Any recommendations around this are welcome. So far, I've only found short passages in books about Lorenzo or Italian military history (like Mercenaries and Their Masters: Warfare in Renaissance Italy).

Anyone else looking forward to (hopefully) Cat Crosses the Courtyard next week?

I find the best way to enjoy the show is to treat it like the MCU. Accept that they've taken the origin comics as inspiration, but are changing as much as they need to make their narrative flow in a more limited time (8 seasons or 64 chapters). Infinity Gauntlet, Civil War, Phoenix Saga (x2), etc. are very different on screen than the original comic runs. (And I'm anticipating Secret Wars to be nothing like I remember). Amazon's WoT is another turning of the Wheel. I've stopped trying to reconcile the two.

I guess I'm the only one who liked this episode. To me, little hermit hobbits and strange mounts are as much Star Wars as speeders, ships, and lightsabers. I really like how Baylan is a truly gray character, fitting in with neither side and longing for something different. Though I am surprised his apprentice isn't well versed in his dreams. I guess they just need her to be the audience stand in to explain it. Otherwise she'd be saying "at last we shall reveal ourselves and have our revenge" lines. The actress for Sabine continues to embody the character. It would be so easy to veer into overly sarcastic, but she's maintained Sabine's lightness. Ezra's reveal wasn't as big as I expected. It felt downplayed or something. Not sure what I was expecting now that I'm tyyping out my thoughts.

Well, she was a blink and you missed her in Return of the Jedi. I remember as a kid having no idea who she or General Nadine (?) were and why they were giving orders before disappearing. That said, I love that the current actress has carried the torch since Ep3 and made the character hers.

I think it'll be hard for Liandrin to stay in the open once the Wonder Girls return to the Tower with their tale of abduction and being sold into slavery. Surely Liandrin won't be able to get away with three accusers (one being the Daughter Heir) saying she was in cahoots with the invaders. I know. I'm expecting logic. Too much to hope for.

Not thunderous applause?

That's a cool scene, @karaddin. Maybe I should check the show out. Thanks. That effortless effort and economy of motion is how I pictured Lan, even when employing forms flowing one into the other. Fighting is a duty, not a show. I always pictured the Aiel to be more flashy for some reason, not that that is supported by the text. I think it's a cultural impression, as the Aiel as a group love to fight. It's a way of life.

No capes cloaks!

Looks like the Lando show is being upgraded to a movie. After seeing how Kenobi got messed up being turned into a show, I think this is good news. Though Ashoka has had better production values than most Star Wars shows (not including Andor).

One king to lead them all. One king to find the lost kingdom. One king to bring them all and in the oceans bind them.

Arnas Fedaravicius is Masema. He was Sihtric (one of the Utred's friends) in Last Kingdom. ETA: I'm not sure if he's been named on the show... I recognized the actor and looked him up.

Carter is the new Wedge.

It depends on whether that person is widely identifiable. Rand's body stands out more (red hair, dragon tattoos, branded palms) than Moridin. That anonymity is a gift post-Last Battle.

She could be pretty antagonistic in Expanse. Love this casting.

There is no misreading in Ba Sing Se.