Announcements

• All the Black shows Poppa’s House, The Equalizer spinoff among cancellations at CBS

• PlayStation’s Ghost of Yōtei arrives Oct. 2

• Sinners wins second weekend in historic fashion

Return to Andor

Disney+’s critically acclaimed series, Andor, returned for its first three-episode arc this week. Happening a whole year later, we follow our various players as tensions rise on both sides of the brewing war.

As Cassian hits trouble on a covert mission, his family hides in plain sight as farmers on the Outer Rim. However, their cover comes under threat as Imperial forces arrive to conduct impromptu audits.

Planets away, Mon Mothma prepares to complete the deal with her nefarious benefactor. Underneath the sublime bliss of holy matrimony, she walks a tightrope when a confidant threatens her carefully structured network.

On the other side of the galaxy, the Empire’s brightest pupils are collected to discuss their newest initiative: destabilizing a country for political and economic gain.

The first three episodes gradually ebb us back into this world, with intention. As the first two episodes of season one took their time establishing the setting, characters, and motivations, this season premiere drops us back into the chaos. Abrupt at first, everything fits like a glove soon enough.

The world-building is phenomenal and evident where the money was spent. The scale of the locales and set designs are enlarged, embracing the diversity of the galaxy. The writing is taut, intentional, and lively. Feels lived in, even the comical moments. And the acting, of course, is stellar, with a host of new faces and characters.

Ultimately, this season feels more relevant as our world experiences fascism in its most transparent form. Many have never experienced this level of institutionalized hate, and it’s hard to reconcile. However, it isn’t new. It’s as much a part of this country’s existence as people’s will to resist, and ultimately, win.

Fight the empire every Tuesday through May 13 at 9 p.m. ET.

Review: ‘The Order’ excels in execution and commentary

Justin Kurzel helms a tense and reverent true crime tale with powerful performances from Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult. Set during the transformative 80s, when the Black middle class was ascending and the seeds of the Civil Rights Movement had borne fruit, a veteran FBI agent (Law) joins a small-town deputy (Tye Sheridan) to investigate a string of armed robberies. Soon they tie the violent syndicate to a new offshoot of the Aryan Nation, led by Hoult’s Robert Matthews. Co-starring Journee Smollett, The Order is a perfectly paced caper, reeling with timely commentary on how this ideology gains traction in everyday white Americans.

The same misinformation and rhetoric justifying violence and disdain toward others happens today. Imaginative anxiety about replacement theories and the downward spiral of the original people existed in conclaves of economic deserts. Those same deserts connect today, across the web and social media, espousing even more sinister ideas. Unfortunately, these falshoods are openly validated through statehouses, schools, and churches country-wide.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Order is available to stream on Hulu.

Coming Attractions

Predator: Badlands - After the success of Prey (which should have been in theaters) I’m excited to see the prequel story continue. This time, our hunter’s hunter is the protagonist.

Thunderbolts* - Marvel attempts to right the ship with the non-Avengers Avengers team-up flick. Friday, May 2.

NBC’s Found continues its perfect blend of heartwarming drama and thriller suspense as M&A searches for a missing woman with Down Syndrome. The show is a shining reminder of the wonderful TV left on broadcast, with performances worthy of applause. Just as one thinks there isn’t enough story to be told, a new development reinforces why the show deserves a third season.

Tune in to episode 20 this Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.