For lovers of science fiction, superheroes and the supernatural, the arrival of summer offers a variety of streaming options. But as the studios rush to create content to keep us clicking, some programs don’t satisfy while others delight them. Here’s what’s worth getting fed up with or skipping completely.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Strength is strong, but it has nothing compared to the power of nostalgia. Once mocked, the prequels of Star Wars have begun to be loved, especially among the generation that grew up with them. So there was a lot of excitement when it was announced that Ewan McGregor would return to the tunic for a six-part miniseries like Obi-Wan Kenobi. But we didn’t realize it. “Hello“The Jedi master of the prequels, but rather a broken guru, hiding in the desert until he took action to rescue a preteen princess Leia.
The new series, directed by Canadian Deborah Chow, introduced some new faces to the Star Wars universe. Vivien Lyra Blair as a young Leia was a fantastic find, capturing the presence and determination of the iconic character.
The initial reaction to Moses Ingram as inquisitor Reva showed a disappointing side of the Star Wars fandom, as McGregor himself responded after Ingram revealed that he was the object of racist attacks. Fans who stayed with the show would find Reva to be a more layered character than the initial episodes suggested.
Of course, all of this was just a prelude to what so many anticipated from the first moment it was announced that Hayden Christensen would return. It was the final meeting: Obi-Wan Kenobi facing his greatest failure, Anakin, the student turned dark to Lord Vader.
Moses Ingram as the evil Inquisitor Reva in Obi-Wan Kenobi. (Disney +)
After all the waiting, the initial shock was disappointing, and what followed felt slow and slow. A recent interview with Variety may shed some light on why. Screenwriter Stuart Beattie told the channel that he wrote a feature film that was to be Obi-Wan Kenobi, the film. After the poor performance of the film Solo, however, Beattie’s feature film became the basis of the six-part series.
Rating: C per victim of streaming content.
See: Disney +
Eli Glasner’s Summer Emissions Bulletin
As some shows come to an end and others near the end, CBC’s Eli Glasner values the new seasons of Stranger Things, Ms. Marvel, The Boys and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Mrs. Marvel
In four episodes, this is the kind of Marvel show where superhero stuff is almost a distraction. Iman Vellani of Markham, Ontario, remains the strongest element of Ms. Marvel as Kamala Khan, the Peter Parker of Generation Z. She impregnates the character with a sense of surprise and authenticity. The Pakistani-American family around him is also strong, particularly Zenobia Shroff and Hohan Kapur, who are perfect as parents.
As with Spider-Man, in the comics Ms. Marvel has had more of a neighborhood vibe. But the most recent episodes have ripped him off from New Jersey to Karachi, Pakistan. Seeing Kamala get caught up in a power struggle between a group called The Clandestines and Red Daggers may make some want to go back to the simple high school bets. However, weaving the interstellar roots of Kamala with the dark days of the Partition of India is impressive.
Score: B for better building a great reward.
See: Disney +
Stranger Things – Season 4 – Part 1
Watching the new season of Stranger Things causes feelings of being too good and sometimes a feeling of frustration. Like too many series in the era of real-time streaming, the story feels stretched where it could condense, but that would mean fewer clicks.
On the season 4 menu is a story of the Russian prison, a twisted journey down the road of memory for Eleven, in addition to Hawkins teenagers being attacked once again by a mysterious assassin who makes the city sign up for the local Dungeons and Dragons club.
With a budget of approximately $ 30 million per episode, the show spares no expense, although it still features new characters. Many of the fan favorites are still (the Stoic Hopper, Dustin’s endless entertainment genius kid), but they’ve been some of the new faces I’ve enjoyed the most, like Joseph Quinn as Eddie, D&D’s mastermind. metals now trapped in a lifetime. Cover of Iron Maiden. Or Argyle, the pizza delivery man played by Eduardo Franco and Brett Gelman as the infinitely adaptable Murray.
Stranger Things is the kind of show where it’s hard to pick a favorite character, but bouncing from one story to another has been a test of patience. Hopefully the different threads come together for part 2, which will be available on July 1st.
Rating: B + to reunite the gang.
Watch: Netflix
The boys
A caustic look at a world where superheroes and corporations fight for supremacy, The Boys surprises with intelligence and style (and bodies exploding … so many bodies exploding).
While some other shows suffer from weak villains, what has elevated this super satire is Antony Starr as Homelander, a fascist version of Superman who is the most powerful person on the planet. The new season has been a masterful slow burn, as Starr hints at how Homelander’s carefully cared-for façade begins to break down. What has accelerated the breakdown is the return of Soldier Boy, a spoiled riff on Captain America and perhaps Homelander’s only weakness. While a lot of attention was paid to the X-rated crossings at the heart of last week’s episode, it also offered a brief but satisfactorily brutal battle where Homelander nearly lost his head.
Score: A forever exceeds expectations.
Watch: Prime Video