Elliot Kessler

I don’t think I’ve seen anything like this show. It is original, unpredictable, thrilling, and emotional, all with that Star Wars feel but with a darker twist. I love it so much. I cannot stop gushing about it. This episode was so much more than I hoped for.

(Spoiler warning for those who haven’t seen this episode!)

The robbery was tense, unpredictable, and exciting. I loved every moment of it. I enjoyed the tense sneaking around, which was made even more enthralling by the previous episodes making me care about all the characters in the group. The action is done very well, and having them begin with a late start made everything much more exciting.

The stakes were high going into the robbery. This could either raise or squander the rising rebellion. Because of the films and shows already released, we know that the Rebellion thrives and achieves victory over the Empire. Because of this, the writers know they can’t rely on that alone to keep the tensions high. The writers instead depended on the characters they developed throughout the first few episodes. They depended on relationships and group dynamics to keep the audience engaged, which worked extraordinarily well. It was tense the whole time, and we got to see the true nature of some of the characters. Some weren’t as calm and collected as they appeared, and some were very calm.

The visuals and spectacle are astounding. The way it was described, I expected the Eye to be beautiful, but I didn’t expect what we got. It looked incredible, all the crystals flying into the atmosphere and burning in brilliant colors. It was pure spectacle, but the show earned it. The show isn’t only focused on spectacle like most modern shows are. This show is focused on intelligent, engaging, exciting storytelling with some beautiful shots along the way. That’s what we need more of.

After the robbery finished, the surviving crew, containing Cassian, Vel, Skeen, and Karis rushed to a doctor to heal Karis, who had been crushed by containers of credits during the getaway. When the four reach the doctor, Vel brings Karis inside while Cassian and Skeen remain outside. The two begin talking, and Skeen discusses how he and Cassian could split the money they stole fifty-fifty and abandon Vel and Karis. Cassian asks about Skeen’s brother, which he talked about in the last episode, and Skeen had said he wanted revenge for what the Empire did to his brother. Now, Skeen says he never had a brother.

This is some fantastic character work. I loved this little twist. It added so much to the world of this show. I would never have predicted that Cassian would have shot him on the spot. That was also fantastic and aligned with what we see at the beginning of “Rogue One.” It was amazing.

This show is not going how I thought it would, and I love it. I expected a basic “Star Wars” show, but this is far darker and more mature, especially with all the character deaths. This show is not holding back, and I am all for it. It is amazing. There is a ton of potential for the rest of the season, and I cannot wait to watch it.

Thanks for reading! Have a fantastic day.