The Friday High Five

Old Complaints, New Podcasts, and the Best 'Verse in the Galaxy

Lucasfilm

Every Friday I share 5 things that brought me joy this week. Also, high fives are inherently cool, and I think we can all agree Friday is the bestest day. Hence the Friday High Five. 🙏🏻

5 Things I Enjoyed This Week:

• Ahsoka

• The Revisionist History Podcast

• Acquisitions Incorporated: Series 2

• The Parks & Rec Re-watch

• Firefly

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Ahsoka

Ahsoka ended pretty much where I thought it would, which is neither good nor bad. It just is.

I enjoyed season one even as I found parts of it frustrating. Which is a pretty good encapsulation of the modern Star Wars experience.

The good:

• Baylan Skoll: I’m definitely a sucker for the mysterious figure we know nothing about, and Baylan has some definite Boba Fett/Darth Maul vibes. But I also just dig his whole deal. How he accords himself with the quiet nobility of a former Jedi. The regret he clearly feels for what came of the Jedi Order. How he shows affection toward his Padawan. And even how he remains open to the whims of the Force, which is new for someone wielding a red lightsaber. The Dark Side is all about control, and making the Force do one’s bidding. Baylan has that old-school hippy Jedi thing where he’s content to let things happen as they will.

• Ezra: We don’t get much time with him, but I think they nailed the live action interpretation. Move over, Obi-Wan: There’s a new space Jesus in town.

• Ahsoka: I was pretty meh about Ahsoka until the last third of the season. Making the protagonist for whom the show is named unsympathetic and also kind of a dick is a new look. I wasn’t prepared for it—the Ahsoka from the animated shows, and even The Mandalorian, is warm and friendly. I’m glad she found her way back eventually.

• Thrawn: You can quibble over his tactics and how nothing he did really slowed down the heroes, but that’s a fault I lay at the feet of the writing. For pure understated menace, I thought they nailed it. It’s a shame the show ends before Thrawn really demonstrated why he is so feared, but I know it’s coming.

• Zombie Stormtroopers: This tips fully into the gonzo but I freaking loved it. Do Star Wars horror next!

• Huyang: Big fan of his dry humor.

• Turtle people: I love everything about them.

The not-good:

It really only boils down to one thing—the writing. The show was paced poorly (first too slow, then too fast); the dialogue was often intentionally obtuse and, worse yet, frequently said nothing at all; the characters mostly felt static, both in terms of growth and their ability to impact the narrative; and perhaps most damning of all, it all felt rather anti-climatic. There was never really a question about what was going to happen. There were no surprises. And, sadly, there wasn’t much excitement.

That said, I will watch season 2 because not-great Star Wars still beats no Star Wars.

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The Revisionist History Podcast

I started listening to this podcast hosted by former bookseller and avid historian,

Paul Combs

. I’m a big fan of History in general; Hardcore History is one of my favorite podcasts. However, Hardcore History is a heavy lift. The episodes sometimes push 4 hours.

The Revisionist History podcast’s episodes come in around 8 or 10 minutes, which is just about perfect. The length, format, and tone reminds me of Stuff You Should Know, another all-timer.

I had to commute 30-minutes to work this week. That used to be a daily thing, but I’ve been working from home since the end of 2019 and let me tell you—driving in for meetings you don’t really care to attend is the definition of an unwanted burden. Anyway, Paul helped ease my pain. And he educated me! For instance: Most of the people convicted in the Salem Witch Trials were most likely hanged, not burned at the stake. Also, 2 dogs were killed for suspected witchcraft. I have no idea what those people were thinking.

Paul is newly active on Substack as well. I recommend giving him a follow:

Acquisitions Incorporated: Series 2

It’s newly fashionable to be into nerd things like comic books, action figures, and that foreboding Rubicon few risked to cross lest they end up with their underpants pulled over their head, Dungeons & Dragons. This phenomenon isn’t really all that new, but as someone who still thinks the 90s were only like 10 years ago, it certainly feels like an exciting development.

In my day, you played D&D behind doors and didn’t talk about it. My days sucked.

Thanks to Stranger Things and livestreamed games like Critical Role, D&D has never been more mainstream. I’m super glad about that. But when it comes to my personal favorite way to watch other nerds roll funny-shaped dice, I return to the O.G. of the format: Acquisitions Incorporated.

This is all quickly getting super inside baseball and hella nerdy, so I’m just going to mention that I am beyond thrilled that AI is back in its original, more intimate format, and leave it at that.

The Parks & Rec Re-watch

I mentioned several issues ago that we were revisiting Parks & Rec with our teenage son, after we’d introduced him to The Office. We’re now into season 3 and things are really starting to get good.

Everyone loves Ted Lasso for his enthusiasm and can-do spirit, but I’d like to submit to the court that Leslie Knope was there first. Also, her relationship with Ron Swanson is one of the most heartwarming I’ve ever seen. Doubly so since it is completely platonic.

Firefly

Fox

Last week I created a poll to solicit opinions on my next big article (after White Men Can’t Jump, which is in-progress, sorta). Firefly came out the clear winner, which warms my heart. Sometimes it feels like I’m the only one keeping the torch lit.

I am super excited to dive into this. I have plans. I’m going to rewatch the series (which sadly is only 14 episodes) and the spin-off film. I’ll re-read the first few graphic novels (which are the only ones worth a damn) and probably my faux leather-bounded Firefly: A Celebration. And maybe a book of essays I purchased.

All of this, I do for you, in order to write the best article about big damn heroes you have ever read.

Fine—I’m doing it for me. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it too!

This is a screenshot. Don’t bother clicking, bro—it won’t work.

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