The Clone Wars (2008-2020)

 

Starting with a two hour movie, this series chronicled the events of the Clone Wars and Anakin’s slow descent into the Dark Side. The show is great, introducing us to such characters as Ahsoka and Rex and showing the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan and Anakin and Padme. It makes the events of Revenge of the Sith make so much more sense. Although I have to admit that every time they save Palpatine from something I am screaming that they should just let him die…  You also meet many other amazing Jedi and are even more devastated about Order 66. The first five season premiered from 2008-2012 on Cartoon Network. In 2014, Netflix picked it up and released another season. Then in 2020, Disney+ finished it off with one more season.

The Giant Gila Monster (1959)

 

An atomic age movie where atomic radiation has mutated a Gila Monster into a gigantic venomous monster. Normal monster movie shenanigans ensue. There are movies that are better, but for the genre it is a fun romp. Just don’t expect much of a plot.

Death by Terran by One Last Bird

 

This is a really cute story about the beginning of Yondu and Peter’s relationship. It gets into some imagined? back story of Yondu and the decision he makes to raise Peter and not give him over to Ego. (I have never read the Guardians of the Galaxy comics so I only know what the movies tell me. I don’t know if the back story that One Last Bird is canon or not). It takes a while for Yondu to warm up, crusty space pirate that he is, but he eventually does and decides not to give him to his homicidal dad. It really is kind of sweet. It also gets into Youdu breaking into a Kree research facility and being pursued by the Kree. It really is a fun story.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10604285/1/Death-by-Terran

Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)

 

The series that started it all. The first pilot was “The Cage” which featured Captain Christopher Pike, Number One, and Spock. It was not picked up. They ran a new pilot that introduced us to Captain James Tiberius Kirk. Due to low special effects budgets, the series relies much more on character development and relationships than later series. The primary friendship was between Jim Kirk, Spock, and Dr. Leonard McCoy. Nichelle Nichols, who played, Lieutenant Uhura, influenced African American children in the 60’s. She was a valuable member of the crew. Whoopi Goldberg has expressed how Nichols’ work inspired her because “she ain’t a maid.” Martin Luther King JR was also a fan and inspired Nichols to continue to do the show when she was thinking of quitting. I think one of my favorite episodes is the City at the Edge of Forever when they all go back to the 1930’s to fix the future. Really one of the best scifi shows of all time.