Monday, March 18, 2024

Star Wars: The Bad Batch - Infiltration / Extraction

Now with Omega (Michelle Ang) and Crosshair (Dee Bradley Baker) back in the fold, Star Wars: The Bad Batch turns its attention to working the other clones back into the larger story. After capturing one of the new clone assassins targeting both senators and searching for Omega, Rex (Baker) and his team contact Hunter (Baker) unknowingly putting them in danger of another assassin. While "Infiltration" lays the foundation of the episode and brings the characters together, "Extraction" centers around the heroes racing to stay one-step ahead of the Imperials on their trail. The episodes are solid, but not without some head-scratching moments in terms of the logic given events already laid out for the show.

Transformers #6

Picking up directly from the end of the last issue with Devastator ripping through the depleted ranks of the Autobots, Transformers #6 is most notable for the tease of Optimus Prime's death before one of the Transformers' new friends makes a sacrifice. And then we see what a badass Optimus Prime can be, stemming the tide and pushing the Decepticons back on their heels.

Zorro - Unmasked

The penultimate episode of the season centers around the secret cult of the Bear Clan giving Diego (Miguel Bernardeau) one-month to kill Monasterio (Emiliano Zurita) who stands in the way of their plans for California. During this period, the newly married Lolita (Renata Notni) confronts Diego who not only confesses he is Zorro but enlists Lolita's help in identifying other members of the clan as well. Those they find meet just at the end of Zorro's sword and in the pit with Nah-Lin (Dalia Xiuhcoatl).

Friday, March 15, 2024

Love Lies Bleeding

Love Lies Bleeding reminded me strongly of body horror with the genre turned on its head by highlighting the glistening muscled bodies of female body builders, often even providing close-ups of bulging muscles, fetishizing them not for the grotesque but instead with more seductive ends in mind. While the purposes are different, the end result remains much the same with the focus on the body at times overpowering that of the character.

In a movie full of awful human beings, what writer/director Rose Glass offers is a tale of the least awful pair of the bunch falling in love. The noir-ish revenge thriller offers us gym manger Lou (Kristen Stewart) dealing with her shitty day-to-day life and her complicated family drama involving her father's (Ed Harris) criminal enterprises and her sister's (Jena Malone) disastrous relationship with her abusive husband (Dave Franco). Into her life walks bodybuilding drifter Jackie (Katy O'Brian) with her own clouded past who provides a chance for love.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Bob's Burgers - Jade in the Shade

While the rest of the family stays at the restaurant for an unexpected contest between street performers, "Jade in the Shade" gives us a main story featuring Linda (John Roberts) and Louise (Kristen Schaal) searching for treasure in an episode that makes callbacks to The Bob’s Burgers Movie. While touring an old timey hotel's celebration of its bootlegger past, Louise becomes obsessed with the legend of hidden treasure. Just wanting to spend some time with her daughter, Louise gets roped into the escapade that take them to the the under-pier.