del Toro’s ‘The Strain’ deliciously dark and stylish
First episode impressions (TV review): The novel and comic book series now gets a small-screen adaptation.
First episode impressions: ‘The Bridge’ Season 2 (TV review)
There are several grim and violent shows on TV, especially the cable networks, but “The Bridge” (9 p.m. Central Wednesdays on FX) started its second season with an hour so incredibly bleak that 1) it confirms that […]
First episode impressions: ‘Extant’ (TV review)
“Extant” (8 p.m. Central Wednesdays on CBS) unveiled a tasty hodgepodge of science fiction ideas in its premiere episode. For now, they are comfortable clichés, but I hold out hope that the show will coalesce into […]
All 22 episodes of ‘Gilmore Girls’ Season 3 (2002-03), ranked
TV review: “Gilmore Girls” gets complicated as Rory goes through her last year of high school.
‘Star Wars on Trial’ Part IV: Do plot holes in ‘Star Wars’ make it ill-suited to a smart viewer? (Commentary)
Here is the fourth and final part of my series inspired by Benbella Books’ “Star Wars on Trial”(2006), a collection of essays responding to eight charges against the “Star Wars” franchise. Sci-fi author David Brin, a […]
‘Star Wars on Trial’ Part III: Does ‘Star Wars’ portray women as fundamentally weak? (Commentary)
Here is the third installment of my series inspired by Benbella Books’ “Star Wars on Trial” (2006), a collection of essays responding to eight charges against the “Star Wars” franchise. Sci-fi author David Brin, a critic of […]
‘Star Wars on Trial’ Part II: Has the success of ‘Star Wars’ been bad for other sci-fi? (Commentary)
Here is the second installment in my series inspired by Benbella Books’ “Star Wars on Trial” (2006), a collection of essays responding to eight charges against the “Star Wars” franchise. Sci-fi author David Brin, a critic of […]
‘Star Wars on Trial’ Part I: Does ‘Star Wars’ promote bad political, ethical or religious values? (Commentary)
In 2006, Benbella Books put out “Star Wars on Trial,” a collection of essays responding to eight charges against the “Star Wars” franchise (plus a ninth, overriding charge: Considering all the factors above, ‘Star Wars’ has been […]
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Jabba the Hutt,’ ‘The Jabba Tape’ and ‘This Crumb for Hire’ (1995-98) (Comic book reviews)
In its nearly quarter-century as the home of “Star Wars,” Dark Horse often gave fans what they clamored for (see “Boba Fett” or “Darth Maul” or the Royal Guard-centered “Crimson Empire”). In other cases, the […]
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood’ (1998-99) (Comic book review)
The main thing I remembered from my first reading of “Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood”(1998-99) was that it was really hard to follow. And I wasn’t the only one. A letter writer mentioned the confusing […]