27 JUN 2024 · The Acolyte Episode 5 "Night" features some of the best live action lightsaber fights weve seen from Disney Star Wars. However, action cannot save a series that continually has lazy, covienence-filled writing choices, bad characterizations, and a mystery that isn't so mysterious. Hear my thoughts and examples on all of these points and more, enjoy! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

20 JUN 2024 · The Acolyte Episode 4 "Day" is another poorly written episode filled with baffling character choices, dialogue that fails from both a technical and "Jedi-like" standpoint, and a pace that is intentionally drawn out to end on a cliffhanger while also skipping over crucial character moments. Hear my thoughts on all this, as well as my predictions for where this story may being going, Enjoy! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

13 JUN 2024 · Episode 3 of The Acolyte titled "Destiny" has been a highly anticipated episode of the series due to controversy surrounding the potential "canon-breaking" implications of the episode. Does the episode break canon? No, but it has the potential to go against one of the core tenants of Lucas' Star Wars. The episode fails moreso from the continued pacing issues, clunky dialogue, and lack of subtly in the writing. The Mother character is the best part of the episode. Here all these thoughts and more, Enjoy! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

6 JUN 2024 · My most anticipated Star Wars show is finally here with our first glimpse at the High Republic era in the visual medium. This was a solid start, but not a great one. Even with a much higher production value, great fight choreography, and an interesting mystery, pacing issues and clunky dialogue still persist in these Disney Plus shows. Worldbuilding for the High Republic era also feels lacking. Hear all these thoguhts and more, Enjoy! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

1 JUN 2024 · In a galaxy full of pivotal moments, the "What If" concept has always been a talking point for Star Wars fans. Join myself and a frequent guest on the pod, one of my best friends, Cole Devlin, as we bounce our best "What If" scenarios off eachother. What if Mace killed Palpatine? What if Qui Gon Lived? What if Luke killed Palpatine? This is just an appetizer... Enjoy! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

13 MAY 2024 · The second season of Lucasfilm Animation's series of shorts is here with Tales of the Empire, the follow up to Tales of the Jedi. The six shorts follow Morgan Elsbeth and Barriss Offee, an unlikely selection but one I was interested in. Unfortunately, while these episodes display stellar animation, music, and compelling themes, the 3-part structure of Tales and a lackluster end to Morgan's story hold this series back. Hear all my thoughts and analysis in this episode, Enjoy! Follow on Instgram: @star_wars_markofbalance

3 MAY 2024 · The Bad Batch's story has finally come to close. It has been an inconsistent road but the Mark of Balance podcast has been their week-to-week ever since the premiere back on May 4th, 2021, only 4 months after this podcast begun. Does the finale have Bad Batch's typical weaknesses? Who survives? How does it set up the future of Star Wars animation? Hear all my thoughts, the good and the bad, from this overall satisfying finale. Enjoy! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

29 APR 2024 · For me, Bad Batch has been on crusie control for Episodes 12-14 leading into the series finale this week, which has been disappointing. Hear my thoughts on these 3 episodes and why I feel they have not delivered as much as they should have at this point in the show, as well as my prediction on what new project this show could potentially be setting up. Enjoy! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

10 APR 2024 · Disney remembered that are in fact releasing projects this year and decided to drop 2 new trailers this week for Star Wars Tales of the Empire, a shorts series, and Star Wars Outlaws, a third-person open world action adventure game. Both were great, especially the surprising reveal of who we will be following in Tales of the Empire in Morgan Elsbeth and Barris Offee. The animation also looked chefs kiss. Outlaws continues to promise a lot and this trailer really drove home how vast this game has potential to be, but will Ubisoft deliver? Hear all my thoughts, predictions and more, Enjoy! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

8 APR 2024 · Bad Batch delivers another 2-pack of episodes in its final season with "Identity Crisis" and "Point of No Return". "Indentity Crisis" delivers one of the best episodes of the series with its grim tone and fantastic atmospheric storytelling. Emri's character has been a highlight of the season and I can't wait to see what she does next. "Point of No Return" sees us back on Pabu as the Empire closes in on Omega. This episode was solid but felt like it pulled its punch a bit when it came to stakes. Hear all my thoughts and analysis on these two episodes. Enjoy! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance