The Mandalorian & Grogu

Mando and Grogu are now working for the New Republic as independent contractors. They are sent to the Hutt twins (successors to Jabba) to take a job in return for info on former Imperial leaders. This job is to find wayward Ratta (Jabba's son) and return him to the fold. This is one of the most re-tread movies I have ever seen. It is remarkably lazy storytelling, relying on Star Wars tropes and nostalgia entertainment. Unfortunately, the tropes haven't held up well, and the nostalgia is long gone. If Disney is going to continue the world with any success, they need creative storytellers exploring new worlds. 

2 stars (out of 5)

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (serial)

Korean hospital drama where mysterious Dr. Kang is hired to take over the failing trauma center at the university hospital. He assembles his team and starts to train them to become actual trauma specialists. He does this amidst the political and budget limitations of a director who really just wants to make money. Based on this description, the english language version of this would be kinda lame. But since this is the Korean version, it is actually pretty good. 

3 stars (out of 5)

Lucky (serial)

Anna Taylor-Joy plays Lucky, a small time grifter who was taught everything she knows by her father Timothy Olyphant (who happens to be in prison for a big time theft from a big time drug dealer). When she and her boyfriend move said big time theft cash, and then said boyfriend disappears with the money, Lucky moves into action. Find the boyfriend, find the money, avoid the big time drug dealer (and his enforcer Annette Bening). A well paced series with Lucky playing thief, daughter, detective and all around good person. 

4 stars (out of 5)

Balthazar (serial)

Seasons 1-3

French police procedural featuring Raphael Balthazar (the medical examiner) and Helene Bach (police captain). Balthazar is a massively talented and massively arrogant person who somehow comes across as fun and lovable. He know just how far to push is superiority on others. And he IS generally right. The two leads have a love/hate relationship where they grow into a mutual respect and need for each others talents and emotional support. Overlay this with the trauma of Balthazar having lost his girlfriend to a serial murder a decade ago, but still not recovered. Especially since the man convicted is not the killer and Balthazar regular sees and speaks to his "clients" including his girlfriend, we are regularly confronted with the trauma. Enjoyable characters, with the requisite odd-ball supporting cast thrown in to mix things up. 

3 stars (out of 5)

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Action adventure by Guy Ritche that is historical fiction, mostly fiction. Based on the WWII Operation Postmaster, a small group of rakish men sail a fishing trawler around west africa into the "neutral" colonies. They are seeking to sink a German U-boat supply ship which will finally make it possible for the U.S. to cross the atlantic and enter the war. Of the key characters, the kill ratio is probably 100:0, with only one injury (fiction). But we get the typical small group chemistry and banter throughout. I would characterize this as "glittering generalities" propaganda. 

3 stars (out of 5)

Avatar: The Last Airbender (serial)

Season 1 & 2

Aang is an air bender and the selected next avatar. The avatar is a keeper of balance, able to master bending of the four elements (air, earth, water, fire) and holds the mission of keeping the nations in harmony. Unfortuantely for him, the Fire Nation attacked the Air, annihilated all and by chance, Aang was thrown into a 100 year hibernation in the north. When he awakes, he befriends two from the Southern Water Tribe, and learns of the trauma of the past 100 years without an avatar. This series is the progression of Aang's development into an avatar. Learning to bend, learning to care, learning to control. Effectively, a a morality tale unfolding in the fantasy world. I bought in to the story telling and the world building, I overlooked the "fantasy hallmark" feeling, embraced the YA targeted dialogue and preaching. I only wish it had been complete before I started. Now I need to wait a year for the final season to drop. Hope I don't forget...

3 stars (out of 5)

Ellis (serial)

Season 1 & 2

British TV drama where DCI Ellis is a London ringer who is sent to outlying districts when the locals are ill equipped to manage a particularly big case. She is brilliant, eccentric, and dogged in her pursuit of truth. She is sent in, and so rarely welcomed, and battles through it all to find the culprit. Her discovered help in the first case (DS Harper) becomes her go-to assistant for the rest of the season and their ongoing interactions, working relationship and discovery of each other is also a slow burn. Fantastic.

4 stars (out of 5)