Uncategorized

We can’t believe the first season of The Mandalorian is already over. The show arrived on our Disney+ services this November and immediately stole our hearts. Baby Yoda was just the beginning. This Star Wars series–the first live-action show set in the galaxy far, far away–is full of heart, love, friendship, action, and so much more. It’s got a little bit of everything for every kind of fan, and we’ll miss it so much.

Luckily, the show will be back for another season, so we don’t have to mourn too hard. And the season finale teased something huge in its final moments. Something that has us even more amped up for whatever comes next than we could have possibly imagined. But if you’re not steeped in Star Wars lore, the significance of a certain object that appeared in the finale might have you confused.

Here’s an explainer for what the weapon is, where we’ve seen it before, and what it means for season two of The Mandalorian.

Lucasfilm

We learn a lot about Giancarlo Esposito’s Moff Gideon in this episode, which was directed by Taika Waititi and is titled “Redemption.” Namely, that he was a leader in the Empire’s siege of Mandalore, that he knows Mando’s real name (Din Djarin), and that he’s in possession of a black lightsaber. If you’re a fan of the Star Wars animated series The Clone Wars and Rebels, then you’ll recognize this iconic blade. It’s called Darksaber, and it belonged to the first Mandalorian to join the Jedi Order, Tarre Vizsla.

The weapon was an invention of George Lucas–who wrote it into The Clone Wars–and The Mandalorian executive producer Dave Filoni, who came up with its backstory. We learn from Pre Vizsla, an ancestor of Tarre’s, that the Darksaber was stolen from a Jedi Temple during the fall of the Old Republic. “Since then, many Jedi have died upon its blade,” Pre explains. The Darksaber was passed through generations, acquiring a prideful symbol-like status for the Mandalorians, who see it as part of their heritage. It’s a sacred weapon, and knowing it’s in Moff Gideon’s possession has several terrifying implications.

For starters, it means that Bo-Katan Kryze is likely dead. Kryze was the leader of Mandalore (known as their Mand’alor) who was given the Darksaber by Sabine Wren in Rebels. According to Darksaber legend, one can only come into possession of the weapon by defeating its former master in combat. So, does that mean Moff Gideon killed her? Or is there more to the story?

Lucasfilm

Luckily, we might not have to wait for the second season of The Mandalorian to find out. The seventh season of The Clone Wars is set for release in February 2020 on Disney+ and will focus on the Siege of Mandalore. Maybe we’ll see an animated version of Moff Gideon, and learn how he came into possession of the Darksaber–and what really happened to Bo-Katan Kryze. It’s possible Gideon seized it without winning it, and his claim to its ownership is illegitimate. That opens up a world of possibilities for both The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian.

And what does it mean that Gideon has the Darksaber? Well, for starters, it means we’ll probably see Din Djarin try to reclaim it for his people. We’ve already seen the Empire try to crush out Mandalorian culture by turning beskar into Imperial currency. There’s no way Gideon’s possession of such a powerful piece of Mandalorian culture will sit well with Din.

But how will learn that Moff Gideon is not only alive, but alive and with the Darksaber? That one will have to wait for season two.

Featured Image: Lucasfilm

The post What Was That Mysterious Weapon In THE MANDALORIAN Finale? appeared first on Nerdist.

The long-awaited animated television series She-Ra (1985) has finally received its reboot, and this new series is making a big splash with its four award nominations.

The show carefully blends heartbreaking themes with humor for a powerful series with a labyrinth of emotions. The show’s creator, Noelle Stevenson, has produced a work that reflects, refines, and reifies the concentration of diversity and inclusion. She-Ra is a spectacular show and enforces what Wonder Woman started — that female superheroes slay.

The reimagined show comes to delight both fans of the original and those who are new to the series. It is currently now on its fourth season, and it is not slowing down. The new She-Ra has a stunning new series of princesses of color (POC) and ages, while keeping as close to the prototype. The series rivals that of Voltron and The Dragon Prince, with its incorporation of LGBT members appearing as normal as any other characters. Each episode delivers a tear-jerking conflict that slowly simmers underneath the surface, setting up a powerful reveal. The four seasons present two characters, almost sister-like, going through a journey of realization, friendship, bravery, and understanding.

The charming cast is composed of strong and talented voice actors. The strong Adora/She-Ra is voiced by Aimee Carrero. The loveable Bow is voiced by Marcus Scribner, and the dazzling Glimmer performed by Karen Fukuhara, which concludes the best friend squad. The villainous assemble is composed of equal talent. AJ Michalka voices the fantastically strong feline, Catra, and her good nature gal-pal who stands by her side, Scorpia, is voiced by Lauren Ash. The leader of the Horde, Hordak, is voiced by Keston John, and the evil sorceress, Shadow Weaver, is voiced by Larraine Toussaint. This cast proves to be as strong as the sword She-Ra holds.

The show begins with its introduction to the titular character, Adora, who will later be known as She-Ra. The opening theme song “Warriors,” by Aaliyah Rose, is a beautiful work that balances female empowerment with friendship that effortlessly syncs with the message of the series. The setting is Etheria during a great war where we find Adora in the middle of training. She, with grace and skill, is brushing her teeth and striking a punching bag with a silhouette image of the soon to be named queen. This initial point of view reveals that Adora is on the side of the evil Horde, which shows that good and evil are not as distinctly clear as other shows have established. Adora along with her friends/team in the training room take down the evil princesses. This animated series has an explosive start, yet the way it maintains that momentum is truly a feat worth all its accolades.

One of the most notable aspects of this show is its multidimensional villains. Characters are galvanized forward to feel more real with every delicious narrative arc that gives rise to their backstories. These descriptions of their lives allow us to see that being empathic is a superpower we all hold. Each villain makes known why their characters are as they are. Villains are beaten down, pushed aside, and forgotten, but they never give up hope that they will rise from the ashes. They are survivors. Catra is probably the most misunderstood super-villain on the show. Her past, however, is not the only one that is revealed in the span of the program. Scorpia was pushed aside by her best friend. Shadow Weaver had the best intentions but was clouded. Hordac was discarded and hopes for his redemption. These villains show sides that are more multifaceted than other villains.

Adora and Catra are sisters in arms. They grew up together and endured so much pain. They are now comrades turned enemies battling one another, and the cause of this stems from hurt. Their battles are more meaningful because of how close they were. These two young women are complementary opposites at odds with one another. Their costume design helps to emphasize their polemic relationship. Adora is orphaned and taken in by the Horde. Her life begins to change when she is a teenager. Her life has been taken from her in more than one way as the story develops. She has been selected to wheel the sword of power and will be the one to free the people of Etheria. This honor is not a choice for anyone. Adora’s life in the Horde was slightly different than that of her friends. She received more encouragement, praise, and even more attention from Shadow Weaver. Meanwhile, Catra has lived in the shadows of the golden child (Adora). Catra had to be satisfied with second place, with less love, and with less trust. The only way she can win is through rising in the ranks against her best friend.

As the year has developed and the number of superheroes grows, She-Ra has come to offer something more than just another hero with great hair. She-Ra stands for empathy, compassion, and self-sacrifice. The magic that is She-Ra and the Princesses of Power speaks volumes to how friendships can corrode. These friendships often do so because of toxicity and a lack of understanding of the other person’s pain. She-Ra expresses that no matter how strong and brave a hero is, they are not without their own struggles. This superhero show reveals that not all who are evil are truly evil; some are just misunderstood, and sometimes good is found in the most unlikely places. Adora/She-Ra’s compassion, love, and gentler qualities prove that heroes can be defined by more than just brute force.

These strong princesses are warriors. They fight their enemies with power, skill, and bravery in order to protect the world they love. Catra is the only person who understands Adora and vice versa. Yet, the show always walks a fine line between their friendship. The contrast of good and evil, and even the blending of it, at its core, is what makes the spectacle worth watching. She-Ra lives and fights for something bigger than herself, and that is a hero’s journey. She-Ra proves that anyone can be a hero.

The post Review: ‘She-Ra and the Princesses of Power’ Is Worthy of Your Time and My Personal Female Icon appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Kevin Hart is finally conceding that he did not correctly handle the backlash over resurfaced homophobic tweets from years ago that derailed his chance at hosting the 2019 Oscar ceremony.

He addressed the controversy in his new Netflix series, Kevin Hart: Don’t F―k This Up, in which the Jumanji star gives his fans a raw look at his life behind the scenes in the last year—including the Oscars debacle.

“Looking back at it. What I thought it was, it wasn’t. And my approach to dealing with it, because of the assumption that I had, was just wrong,” he says of the controversy in the doc.

He continued: “I fucked up. … Instead, I said, ‘I addressed it.’ I said, ‘I apologized.’ I said, ‘I talked about this already.’ I was just immature.”

The comedian stepped down last year from hosting the Oscars, which he called a dream job, after mounting pressure from the LGBTQ community and its allies over resurfaced homophobic tweets from several years ago.

Hart initially tried to dismiss the controversy, but revealed that he’d stepped down after the Academy called to tell him to apologize or “we’re going to have to move on and find another host.”

“I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscar’s,” he tweeted at the time. “This is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.”

Looking back, Hart says he realized that his approach was all wrong, especially after going on the Ellen DeGeneres show to explain himself. DeGeneres also received backlash after revealing  she called the Academy of Arts and Sciences to ask its leaders to reconsider Hart. Many complained that the interview portrayed Hart as a victim.

“I had conversations with tons of gay friends. I remember Lee Daniels telling me, ‘Kevin, it’s not about the apology. It’s about you saying you don’t condone violence. And that’s when the light bulbs really started going off.”

The Netflix series also shows the different attempts at damage control from Hart’s team. But overall, the comedian realized the fault was his. 

“I missed an opportunity to say simply that I don’t condone any type of violence in any way, shape or form to anyone for being who they are,” he said.

The post Kevin Hart Admits He ‘Was Immature’ About The Oscar Backlash Over Homophobic Jokes appeared first on Essence.

Spies in Disguise opens in theaters this week and stars Will Smith as famous super-spy Lance Sterling who turns into a pigeon when he accidentally ingests a ‘biodynamic concealment’ invention by young scientist Walter Beckett (Tom Holland). Now, Lance Sterling must find a way to stop a cybernetic villain from destroying the world as a […]