Having explored the major characters from Rogue One, now I want to dive in to the appearance of the menace that everyone was waiting for. That's right, Darth Vader himself. As before, there will be
Though Darth Vader's appearances in Rogue One are short, they are satisfying.
Now that the movie has been out for a bit, I think the chances of Disney throwing a blanket over the leaked Vader scenes is low. So I'll post the very satisfying ending where the dark lord shows up and cleans house. If you're a Vader fan, this was an ending not to be forgotten.
Much of what I have to say about Darth Vader and the rest of the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story movie is tied into my last review. It is here I will leave you with these concluding words: Rogue One was not a perfect movie. Indeed, my analysis gives it 3.25 stars out of 4. But this was much better, much improved over the abysmal Episode 7, The Force Awakens, and a well worthy inclusion to the Star Wars franchise as a whole. I will definitely be getting this movie's extended version on DVD when it comes out and, if I get the chance, I'll definitely go see it for a third and final time in the theater. So, that's my wrap-up on my review of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. I'm glad to have gone and watched it and would recommend it to any of you wanting to see a good Star Wars movie that gets back to its roots.
In our next blog, a meditation I've been waiting to pen based on the outcome of the legal battle. I refer to the conflict that began between the independent Star Trek fan film project Star Trek: Axanar and CBS/Paramount Pictures.
We delve into that odyssey in our next meditation.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Storypremiered last year, December 18, 2016 in theaters nationwide. It was the latest offering in the Star Wars
franchise by the Disney-owned Lucasfilm entertainment group, and
promised to give us a critical insight into how the events that preceded
Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hopeunfolded.
Specifically, it explored how the first Death Star's plans were
smuggled to the Rebel Alliance by a band of undercover agents who gave
their all to help bring liberty to the galaxy.
In this meditation on Rogue One,
I will pen a review and analysis of the story that incorporates links
to the YouTube videos I created which detail my thoughts on the movie.
After seeing it twice, I will and can assuredly say with high confidence
that I very much enjoyed this story, and enjoyed it with far more
enthusiasm than I did Episode VII, The Force Awakens.
That said, let's begin. As always I warn you that if you have not seen
the movie and don't wish to continue, this review will have...
!MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
If you are ready to proceed anyway, then we drive onward, fellow Star Wars fans!
Let's start with an overview of the plot of Rogue One. And to do that I'll provide my first video on the story.
The Death Star
So, the Imperial Galactic Empire's
greatest secret, the Death Star, is nearly complete and set to come
online, and the Rebel Alliance must stop it. To achieve this, they
recruit Jyn Erso, criminal renegade and former protege of terrorist Saw Gerrera. Erso is sent to find her father, Galen Erso, scientist and developer of the Death Star, to enlist his aid in stopping the colossal city in space/battlestation by stealing the plans that will allow the Rebel Alliance
to ultimately destroy it. To accomplish her mission, Jyn brings along a
band of Rebel spies, assassins, Imperial defectors, and monks who are
Guardians of the ways of the Force. These are: Cassian Andor, K-2SO,
Bodhi Rook, Chirrut Imwe, and Baze Malbus. Along the way, this hearty
band of heroes encounters a very staunch resistance to their goals. That
resistance comes in the form of the Imperial officer and Death Star
project manager Orson Krennic and the charismatic but megalomaniacal
Grand Moff Tarkin.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a prequel movie set between Episode 3, Revenge of the Sith and Episode 4, A New Hope. What it will be called as an in-between movie I'm not sure, but there it is.
The Characters in Relation to the Story
I'll start off by listing my chief complaint about this movie. While Rogue One is without doubt one of the better Star Wars
films made in awhile, it is not a perfect specimen. It is not even a
great one. It is, in my opinion, however, a very good movie ranking near
the top of the recent films, and definitely scoring above the abysmal
release, The Force Awakens (circa 2015).
Jyn Erso & Cassian Andor
Rogue One's primary issue is its lack of
character development that leaves its audience unable to deeply connect
with them. In the first 30 minutes or so of the story the audience is
rushed through a list of worlds to quickly establish the foundation from
whence we will spring forward into the galaxy and tell the rest of the
narrative. But the establishment of the characters' backgrounds,
motivations, and emotional attachment to each other is in a perpetual
state of arrested development for the sake of "moving things along,
quickly." They are hardly relatable to one another, save for a few like Cassian Andor's relationship to the snarky robot K-2SO and Guardian of the Whills monks Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus in their dedication to the will of the Force and one another. Of course, Jyn Erso's
relationship to her father is given screen-time, but it, in this
viewer's estimation, is so short that when they finally are reunited
after more than sixteen years apart, he lives all of two minutes more
after suffering a fatal injury, long enough to see that she is his
daughter all grown up and has taken up his mission to destroy the Death
Star.
The droid K-2SO
Galen Erso's
death precipitates a conflict between Jyn and Cassian Andor in which
his secret, undisclosed mission to assassinate her father comes to
light. But this conflict is quickly resolved (as in less than one
minute) and never spoken of again. This is one of the types of character
development - in this case through conflict - that receives short
shrift and never rises above a few lines in the movie. Of all the
characters most significantly fleshed out among the protagonists, the
droid K-2SO is the most revealed. His sardonic attitude combined with a
quick and
sharp wit easily make him the most enjoyable of the beings that populate
this film. And of all the protagonists left behind in the story, Bodhi Rook
is the least crafted in terms of his background and reasons for
deciding to assume the dangers of the mission to steal the plans for the
Death Star. While it is understandable from an intellectual point of
view to realize why it is not possible in the short framework of Rogue One
(2 hours, 13 minutes) to go into complete depth about every character,
it is also disappointing because, since we cannot really connect with
them at a base level, once these people all bite the bullet at the end
of the story, do we really care? The answer, for me at least, is no.
And this was after actually trying to feel sad once each of them dies in turn at the end!
Death Star special weapons director, Orson Krennic
On the other hand, the main antagonist of the story, Director Orson Krennic,
does offer us some intriguing insights into Imperial society and the
hierarchy of social rank. Krennic is a long-time acquaintance of Galen
Erso and has known his family for some time. He enlists a highly
resistant Galen to help him complete the Death Star but in the process
murders Galen's wife, Lyra. As a consequence, Galen is forcibly
conscripted into the Empire's service and Jyn is left orphaned until Saw
Gerrera rescues her. For the next 16-20 years, Krennic presses Galen
Erso to complete the project and make him a very famous and respected
man in the Imperial social structure. However, Krennic suffers from a
gloomy arrogance that causes him to miss some critical matters, and, as a
result, he is slapped down by the military commander, Grand Moff Tarkin.
Ultimately, Krennic meets his end at the hands of the very family - or a
member of it - that he separated and murdered all those years before.
But Krennic's motivations are clear: he wants to be recognized as one of
the Empire's elite, and he's continually failing to gain his aspiration
in its fullest. He even meets with Darth Vader himself in an effort to gain an audience with the Emperor
in order to try and explain why he's so important to the Death Star
project. But Vader slaps him down. Krennic goes away brooding, but not
before a powerful Force choke reminds him to "Be careful not to choke on your aspirations, Director." :)))
And speaking of Darth Vader, let's take another part and draw out his appearances in this movie.
The dark lord of the Sith, and some other thoughts on Rogue One, in our next installment.
This is the second installment of our look into the new television adaptation of The Exorcist. This time we'll be talking about the auxiliary characters and their relationship to the overall story so far. At the end I will make a special appeal for your help. If you wish to watch this awesome series before checking out my blogs or videos on it, feel free to do so because, as before, there will be...
There are conspirators among us, devils in human form who scheme to undo all that the Creator has done and to replace it with their own unholy dominion. This is the plan of the Friars of Ascension in the new Exorcist television show. And they are a most determined bunch!
The Conspiracy of Darkness: The Friars of Ascension
Maria Walters, wife of millionaire George Walters, & devil worshipper
Evil never sleeps, thus the old saying goes. And, as another saying goes, sometimes evil wears a pleasant face. Maria Walters is the pleasant face of the dark side of The Exorcist. She is the "slush mamma of the slush funds" according to one of our other characters, and in her capacities as wife of the dying millionaire George Walters, Maria is using her family's money to finance a conspiracy to assassinate the pope of the Catholic Church and, amazingly, to introduce demonic entities into this world via a satanic ritual known as vocare pulvere, the Ceremony of Ash.
In vocare pulvere, demons are summoned to earth to possess a willing host. But in order to summon them a blood sacrifice must be offered. In this highly ritualized ceremony the sacrifice(s) are other human beings whose murder supplies the body parts necessary to assuage the demon(s) of their human worshippers' devotion and bring them from the spirit world to the material world. Maria Walters has used her money and considerable social influence to procure those citizens who won't be missed by society to become the victims of this ritual. Maria, bless her soul, is a woman of great power but not great potential, at least not according to the demon Pazuzu. And it is those who are full of such potential to be of great use to the fallen angelic brotherhood whom the demons seek out for possession. This is why, though she deeply desires it, Maria is ultimately passed over for possession in the episode, "Star of the Morning," and in fact not getting what she wants until the season finale, "Three Rooms."
Brother Simon. Note the demonic right eye.
But within the Friars of Ascension cult there are those already merged together as a union of human and demon - whom are called the integrated - and Brother Simon is one such individual. Brother Simon is a priest of the Catholic Church who has, long ago, betrayed his vows in order to gain power in this world under Satan and his host (we don't know how long ago but it has been at least six years). Simon has used his position to infiltrate the Church and find those priests disaffected enough by their present lot to want to serve the Friars in their plot to murder Pope Sebastian. Indeed, it is Brother Simon who reveals to Father Marcus that the Friars have approached Sebastian before only to be turned down and sent packing. Though Simon is integrated with a powerful demon he is not among the most powerful, and is made to submit himself to the authority of Pazuzu when confronted by him in Angela's body. Simon takes it upon himself to assassinate Pope Sebastian but is killed by Marcus before he's able to complete his mission.
Police Superintendent Jaffey
There is one other whom we know for sure is among the integrated within the Friars of Ascension, Police Chief Jaffey. We have no other name for him. However, he was assimilated into the demonic brotherhood in "Star of the Morning" and has plotted alongside Simon and Maria since then to undermine the Rance's efforts to find Casey when she goes missing in the story. In fact he enters the Rance's home before his integration in the service of the Friars in an effort to pretend to help them find their missing relative while covertly gathering information on Casey's whereabouts. He does it a second time once Angela is repossessed by Pazuzu, by which time he too is possessed. The two demonic kinsmen recognize each other and play off the Rances' ignorance of the fact. We don't know what other purposes Jaffey may serve at this point. But we do know he goes on to continue plotting with the now-integrated Maria Walters at the end of the season finale and will, more than likely, be back in season two.
The League of Light Aimed at the Friars' Conspiracy
Though the wrong may appear to be very strong and have many great allies in high authority to support its agenda, there is a league of light standing up to oppose its malice. Of course Tomas, Marcus, and Bennett form the nucleus of that league along with the Rance family as quasi-honorary members. But there are those who are in more direct combat against the forces of darkness in this story and whom deserve recognition.
Mother Bernadette
One such intrepid soul is Mother Bernadette who is the mother superior of a convent of nuns located in Chicago (incidentally where the series takes place in case you weren't aware). Bernadette's methodology of dealing with the forces of Satan is somewhat unique in the story. Where Marcus' actions are to compel and coerce the demon from a human host, Bernadette's is to
demonstrate God's love and forgiveness toward a fallen angel. It is a rather interesting position for her to take as a professional exorcist, one I have never really heard of as genuine, but in the TV show it actually does work as revealed in "The Moveable Feast." In a way Bernadette becomes something of a mentor to Marcus, teaching him another way rather than compulsion to invoke a demon's cooperation in releasing a human being from its control. Unfortunately Bernadette's ways are ineffective on the demon inside Casey after she is found and brought to the nuns' priory, and in the end, Bernadette decides to no longer participate in Marcus' effort to exorcise Pazuzu from Casey. Instead, she decides to euthanize Casey to stop the demon from continuing to torture Casey and destroy her body. Marcus naturally disagrees with this position and at first refuses to participate. But, just before they are about to carry out the action, Casey is spared death when her mother enters the priory along with Henry and Katherine after Tomas informs them that Casey is alive and tells them where she is.
Sadly, in a future string of events, Bernadette is killed by Pazuzu after he reclaims control over Angela's body in "The Griefbearers" and seeks revenge upon her and her nuns later in the followup episode "162" for their role in what the demon regards as his own torture when they try to exorcise him. She was a character who I believe died too soon in the series, but one portrayed with strength and brilliance overall. She will be missed.
Cherry and Lester Rego
The other dynamic duo in this league of light against the darkness is the married couple Lester and Cherry Rego. We learn of the Regos' association with Father Marcus where their knowledge of Catholic and occult lore becomes readily apparent. It is they who turn Marcus (and later Bennett) on to the vocare pulvere ritual and how Maria Walters is involved through the defunct company Tattersal Landscaping, which her money finances, and how it is all connected to the Friars of Ascension. Together, they help Marcus and Bennett flesh out how deep the conspiracy against the Church goes and who some of the key players are. Lester and Cherry are dogged in their investigations, even when Marcus tells them to back off, and pursue their leads all the way to finding out where Brother Simon and other members of the Friars of Ascension are and when they're planning to carry out their assassination attempt against Pope Sebastian. Unfortunately this gets them killed before the first season ends.
In a way Lester and Cherry remind me of the Lone Gunmen from The X-Files. Like that trio, Lester and Cherry are the backup for Marcus and Bennett, supplying them with inside information and insight, just as Frohike, Byers, and Langly were to Mulder and Scully during the life of that series. And like Lester and Cherry, those three die before The X-Files reaches its conclusive tenth season. But Lester and Cherry don't even make it to the end of the first, so let's hope whoever replaces them in season two of The Exorcist are just as cool as they were. The Regos, like Mother Bernadette, in my opinion, went way too soon.
An Appeal
The Exorcist has not yet been renewed for a second season as of its first-year finale. There are those of us who would without doubt love to see this show get another season! Personally, I have not found a program I enjoyed so much since... well probably since Star Wars: The Clone Wars was on television. Admittedly I am not much of a TV watcher, so when I do invest in a program it's because I really, really like it. And The Exorcist has undoubtedly been worth such investment. It has a marvelous cast - and I really, truly mean that! - great writing, and a vision of where it wants to go and lead its viewing audience. This is the type of storytelling modern television needs more of!
So how can you help let the executives at Fox know you'd like to see more of this series? Well, first be aware that they are in fact listening to fans of the show who've already told Fox they want another season of The Exorcist. Beyond that, though, what those who still want to have an impact can do is use the influence of social media to show Fox that there is a sizable and growing fan base out there who know quality TV when they see it and are willing to invest their time, not simply to watch, but to help garner notoriety by active participation in a series' growth.
So what can you do beyond watching The Exorcist?
Tweet about it. Get on your twitter feeds and write positive comments about how the show, the actors, the plot, etc, have made you feel. Has it caused you to think more about religion? Increased your curiosity about human psychology and interpersonal relationships? Has it caused you to want to know more about demonic possession? Oooooh. Well, "you little stink pot," let Fox know so they can see your devotion.
Second, become involved in the online community who support and love the show. #RenewTheExorcist and #theexorcistcongregation are two excellent twitter feeds of fans working to bring greater exposure and renewal of the story for another season.
Also, make your own videos to post to the Net be they on YouTube or some other platform. I've done so. In fact, The Exorcist is the first show I decided to record regular video reviews on each episode, some of them in multiple parts. Fox keeps tabs on these, people! And they note the reactions the show is getting from these individual reviews. Some of you may even be so inclined to make your own spinoff movies for others to view on the Internet. Do so and let the world see your interest!
Write Fox to thank them for producing such a quality series and for having the foresight to let the show's creators bring their vision to life in their own way without a lot of obstacles standing in the way. And, if you're so inclined, write an old-fashioned printed letter in the same sentiment. Yes, those old handwritten (or typed) letters still carry weight and significance! Perhaps you might even decide to join the Red Feather campaign.
Finally, jump on Fox's website and watch the series, post comments there, and share the show links with your friends.
Get creative and I, like you, have faith that we'll eventually see The Exorcist back for another stunning year!
A Bloody Good Show Indeed
I truly enjoyed watching The Exorcist from beginning to end. It provoked thought, curiosity, and questions about the role of religion and faith in my personal life and in the life of society. It linked me up with others who had a similar interest in the series and broadened my outreach. And it was quite refreshing to watch a solid story on TV that did not insult my desire for deep, considered material by substituting mindlessness and gratuitous dribble that refused to tackle serious issues, particularly with respect to religion, by sugarcoating them or shying away from them altogether. And so I commend this story to you and hope you'll join me in helping to renew and becoming a fan of The Exorcist.
I realize that this topic is not science fiction but horror. And, of course, SF is, generally, what we discuss at this blogpost. But
I wanted to talk about The Exorcist TV series because of what a
wonderful drama I found it to be. And, should you decide to take a
chance on watching it, I'm hoping you will come to appreciate this bit
of quality television to the same or greater depths than I.
On Friday, September 23, 2016 viewers began a ten-episode journey into the realm of the supernatural with a reinvigoration of events springing from the 1973 movie The Exorcist. Premiering on the Fox television network, the fresh, reimagined TV series of the same name brought to life new characters in a new situation who were forced into confrontation with a frightening demonic entity hell-bent - and that is the correct word - to possess and destroy them for its own tormented purposes.
At first I did not think I would like the program. I started off with it from the very beginning and found it a tad odd, slow, and (probably because I'm not really a horror fan) not much to my taste. But I kept watching - premiere episode, second episode - and by the time I'd reached the third show, well let's just say I was enthralled. So I kept going...all the way to the very end! And guess what, people?
I LOVED THIS FRIGGING SHOW!
The characters were compelling, and surprisingly well-developed. They were deep and able to relate to - to empathize with - because of the solid portrayals delivered by an impeccable cast of quality thespians who brought a magnificent A-game to each and every show week after week! And the program's overall plot was mysterious and complex enough to keep this guy on the edge of his seat waiting for the next twist to come round the bend. And boy did they, deliciously! So I was hooked, and ultimately didn't let the slow start discourage me from continuing to watch until the season finale.
With that being that, in this meditation on the TV series, I'm going to provide an overview of the storyline that weaves in some of my videos on The Exorcist (they're all conveniently available on YouTube), because during the first-season run I did a near episode-by-episode review, delving into the plot points and characters, and offering my takes and speculations on where the series was going and what it was evolving into. I'd like to share that with you now. So let's begin.
The Characters
Let's begin by highlighting the primary people that populate this new Exorcist incarnation (no puns toward any religious use of the word intended there) because this is where our foundation is and the launching point from whence we'll understand the story.
The Rance Family
Henry Rance
To the right is Henry Rance, patriarch of the Rance family, the man who tries to hold his fragile family together once things begin to go wrong. We don't know it when first introduced to him, but Henry is suffering from a brain injury that transforms a normally sharp and intelligent architect of man into a slow and dimwitted individual who is barely conscious of what is happening around him, including to his daughters and wife. However, over the course of the show, Henry begins to recover, and, as we come to discover, the mishap that caused his brain trauma is not an accident, but the calculation of deliberate provocation meant to confuse him and distract his wife with his condition so that others may become the target of the supernatural designs of the demonic entity at war with the Rances.
Angela Rance
This is mom Angela Rance, the feminine mystique of the program in whom is vested a number of matters. Angela, as we come to know her, is a dedicated wife and mother, in addition to having a thriving career in the hotel industry. She is a devout Catholic, guiding her family in the ways of upright religious discipline and ensuring their spirits are just as cherished as their mortal existence by taking them to weekly Mass. But there is more to Angela than meets the eye. And it is through the unfolding of the series that we come to find that Angela Rance is in fact actually Regan MacNeil - yes, thatRegan MacNeil - from the original 1973 Exorcist movie, who was demonically possessed as a young 12 year-old girl. After a series of strange events start to happen with her children and inside her home, Angela/Regan begins to suspect that one of her girls is demonically possessed, just as she was long ago. More on this later.
Katherine "Kat" Rance
This is one of the children of the Rance family, Katherine Rance. Known as the graceful one, Kat - as she's also called by her parents and sibling - is a ballet dancer. She's prone toward mild narcissism and self-absorption, especially after the tragic accidental death of her girlfriend and fellow dancer, another young woman we know only as Julia. Yes, Katherine is revealed to be a closet lesbian, or, at the least, experimenting in that direction. Upon Julia's death, Kat goes into a deep depression from whence she withdraws from the family and isolates herself in her room, also becoming very antagonistic, particularly toward her parents. She especially resents her mother for not accepting her sexual orientation and being unwilling to even speak the name of her girlfriend, and is angry at her father for effectively being a "potatohead" unable to care for himself or be wholly present in the family's affairs. However, this will change as it becomes more apparent that her sister's problems are actually greater than Kat's own.
Casey Rance
And this leads us to the younger sister of the family, Casey Rance. She is the tomboy of the two girls and whom might also be considered the wallflower. Where Katherine is elegant and beautiful, Casey is rugged and cute by some estimations, but far from the glamor girl. Because she's treated differently, and somewhat less, than her sister by others (possibly including her parents too), Casey is resentful of Kat and always searching for a way to distinguish herself from her superstar sibling and be noticed of her own merit. Her emotional discontent leads Casey on a journey toward demonic possession. Yes, you read it right. Though it is Mother Angela's Rance's original contention that it is her daughter Katherine who is demonically possessed, we come to learn (as does Angela) that it is in fact Casey who has been taken over by the seducing power of an evil spirit. The demon's segue into Casey's life is the promise of self-actualization separate and distinct from her sister's long shadow, and acceptance for her own innate beauty and talents. The demon leads Casey down a primrose path until it has burrowed deep enough into her psyche to take full control over her body and mind.
the demon, "The Salesman," Pazuzu
This is that demon. Calling himself "The Salesman," this otherworldly entity is on a singular mission when we first meet him to seduce Casey into his web and capture her soul for his own. He grants to her preternatural powers she's incapable of summoning by herself, such as superstrength, knowledge about others she can't possibly know, even the ability to injure others without actual physical contact - all classic signs of demonic infestation of a living human being's body. However, there is more to the Salesman than meets the eye, even for a demon, for we come to learn that this fallen angel is the very same evil spirit that once possessed Casey's mother, Angela/Regan MacNeil as a child! Yeah! Whoa! Later in the series he reveals himself as Captain Howdy, the exact same name he used when first contacting the young Regan in her mother's basement in the '73 movie incarnation. It is here, and through the revelation of Angela's real name as Regan, that The Exorcist TV series is not shown to be merely some spinoff of the 1970s movie, but an actual continuation, after a fashion, of those events! It is demonstrated that the Salesman/Captain Howdy is in fact Pazuzu, the exact same demon confronted by Fathers Lankester Merrin and Damien Karras in the film. It's also shown in the television story that this quite clever demon is singularly responsible for all the travails that have been happening to the Rance family over the life of the program - from Henry's brain injury, to Kat's car accident, to Casey's emotional problems - all in an effort to get revenge on Angela/Regan for beating it forty years ago. Man, what a determined fallen angel this one is! Even four decades don't stop it from wanting to reclaim Angela as its own.
But there's another angle, a late-comer to the struggle against Captain Howdy/Pazuzu that the new Exorcist creators introduce into this hellish mix, one I did not expect, but was pleasantly surprised to welcome.
Angela's mother, Chris MacNeil
We are treated to the presence of Angela's mom, the former actress Chris MacNeil herself, who shows up on the scene when she discovers that her granddaughter Casey has gone missing thanks to news reports. When Grandmother MacNeil appears she and her estranged daughter Angela, expectedly, don't get along due to Angela's perception of how Chris exploited her possession for greed and profit when she was a girl. This causes some strong disagreements as to how to go about finding Casey, and nearly scuttles said efforts when Angela asks Chris to leave when she erroneously invites a reporter into Angela's home to interview her. But, as time goes on, the two reconcile in part because of Henry's insistence that Chris can help them find Casey. Mother (Chris) and daughter (Angela/Regan) begin a slow climb toward mutual trust that is promising, but, unfortunately, will be cut short by tragic events.
But there's more still, other personae who play pivotal roles alongside these main characters.
The Holy Fathers
Yes, yes, I know this is a title generally reserved for the
Holy Father, the Pontiff himself, the Vicar of Christ, the Pope.
However, I am using the title a bit tongue-n-cheek to reference the
three manly and courageous Church priests of the TV series - Fathers
Tomas Ortega, Marcus Keane, and Devon Bennett. Each is a standup,
righteous man in his own way, and each deserving of respect in the
story. Let's explore why.
Father Tomas
This is one of our good men of integrity, Father Tomas Ortega. He is a modern priest just beginning his career as a man of the cloth. His outlook parallels that of Father Damien Karras from the 70s movie in that Tomas does not believe in demonic possession. As a man of modern times, Tomas relegates such arcane thinking to the medieval Church where he regards it to belong. Demons, he believes, are nothing more than metaphors, projections for the internal dispositions and psychological states of people, especially those who think themselves afflicted by the presence of such beings. However, Tomas gets a rude awakening to the reality of the intersection between the natural and supernatural when he's confronted by a possessed Casey inside the Rance family home.
But there is another side to Tomas, his old girl-flame, Jessica, whom he still exchanges occasional letters with and whom is still in love with him despite her status as a married woman. This leads to an inevitable affair (both emotional and physical) with the matrimonially dissatisfied Jessica, and, consequently, to a weakness in Tomas that can ultimately be exploited by the demon he will confront when he decides to help the Rance family. Tomas is also going rogue against Church orders by aiding Casey without the permission of his superiors. But despite all this, Tomas is a man of deep and abiding love for those whom he cares and a man striving in his heart to be the quality priest he believes God wants him to be. This makes him altogether a decent human being worthy of his position even considering his failures.
Father Marcus
Father Marcus Keane is the exorcist of the show, mimicking the experience and knowledge of Lankester Merrin in the original movie. But more, Marcus is a man of power and awesomeness on his own. My nickname for Marcus is "The Punisher" because he's proven himself willing to go toe-to-toe with the forces of darkness be they natural or supernatural. And he knows how to win when he does! Marcus' background has made him ideally suited to be a Catholic exorcist. Early in life he was confronted with the truth of human ugliness when he witnessed his own father murder his mother at the tender age of seven years old. He killed his dad in retaliation and self-defense but was orphaned as a result. The Church took Marcus in as a ward and, later, secretly trained him to become an exorcist when he showed the capacity to do so by confronting a demonically possessed man at only 12 years of age! For the last forty years since, Marcus has plied his trade from place to place, helping those who must be freed from the horrific devastation of demonic control. There's more to Marcus too. It's revealed in the show that Marcus is known to the fallen angelic brotherhood as a priest to be regarded, even feared. They in fact want Marcus with them and, in the past, have tried to tempt him to join them on the other side, against God's order. So far Marcus has resisted their siren song of treason against the Heavenly Father's celestial authority.
Father Devon Bennett
Father Devon Bennett is also a most intriguing character. The Prefect of Papal Outreach and Security, Devon is a politician of refinement and education. He's adept in different languages, diplomacy, negotiation, and he is a skilled fighter able to handle himself against Satan's mortal minions in combat. Devon is a hard fighting soldier who's faced the possessed before and beaten them. He is the first besides Father Marcus to realize there is a vast conspiracy underway to assassinate the reigning pope and destroy the faith of millions in the process. Devon goes undercover of his own recognizance to find the would-be perpetrators behind the plot and bring them to justice. In the process, he is captured by the enemy and tortured. He is even given the choice to die or become one of the demonically possessed and serve the satanic brotherhood. But he does not give in and survives to fight another day, and help keep his brothers Marcus and Tomas honest. He is a scholar-warrior and a superb addition to this group of staunch truth-seekers.
In our next installment on the new Exorcist TV series, more characters and a deeper look into the major plot themes of the series.
The "Coda" series are a separate section of The Talagxaon Particle storyline designed to chronicle minor character arcs and subsets of the main plot. In Punishment of God we continue the story of one of our primary heroes, Nadukwe Amenaci, as he battles the Shroud of Shadows in their scheme to create a powerful narcotic capable of addicting countless species across the Galaxy of Light.
Join me in celebrating the release of Punishment of Godand the continuation of our great science fiction serial, The Talagxaon Particle as we explore the high drama and themes of human existence and the upward reach of our species!
I chose to judge TFA
based on its merits as a standalone movie, not as the first portion of a
sequence. I've also never read the novelization, so I cannot judge that
as a tie-in. And based upon those judgments I found the storyline
woefully lacking in originality, consistency, and development. Whatever
excuses were made by Jeffrey Jacob Abrams are, woefully, wanting and no
longer deserve patience.
In fact, to sum up my thoughts on TFA, let's start with him.
J.J. Apologist
Abrams doesn't deserve any more of our trust, period!
I'm not backing off what I said about this dude. He's
disappointed me too often to let him off the hook. Once again, as he
did in true apologist fashion with Star Trek: Into Darkness, J.J. Abrams has taken to the Net to try and explain his screw-up with The Force Awakens. And
the fact that he's done this punk move of trying to justify himself
demonstrates that his mind is stricken to the quick with personal
knowledge that he messed up, again.
I know he will never admit to this or apologize directly but can we say: Guilty conscience much, Abrams?
The
bollocks is strong with this man as he spews nonsense about how it was
necessary to take a step back in order to go forward, and how George
Lucas himself derived Star Wars from other primary sources older than his take on the classic hero tales. Confoundit, Abrams, we know that! And it is more than acceptable that you would want to use classic hero archetypes/ideals in TFA. These archetypes are as old as the human species and stories encompassing them have been thousands of years in the making.
The
critical difference is that, though these stories tell the same tale of
the human experience - fundamentally because human nature has not
changed - they do so with difference scenarios and different situations,
different takes on the same origin themes.
What you did, Abrams, was copy almost to an instance, the same storyline, the same plot points, the same characters from a tale that you saw as a kid!
YOU PLAGIARIZED!
YOU STOLE!
Do not try to feed us garbage about going back to go forward. And don't do it again with Episode VIII!
Last Thoughts on the Lead Characters
Finn the Renegade
Ya don't need a lightsaber to be a badass dude, just attitude
I've
already delved into a long analysis of the fellow, so I won't repeat.
But I am still hoping that Finn is Force sensitive. If he is, maybe he
doesn't necessarily become a Jedi? Perhaps instead he pursues an
awareness and connection to the Force in another way? There are after
all other non-Jedi Force sensitives in the galaxy who develop a
connection to its essence without the formalities of Jedi immersion or
indoctrination. However, if he is Force sensitive, I think it essential
that he become a Jedi for the prestige and merit it will bestow upon him
in the fan community. If he does not become a new member of the Order,
then it is of essence that he be a strong sensitive, profoundly developing
his abilities in such a way that bestows upon him high honor, status,
and position. He should not become some galactic witch doctor or
ignorant mystic, but respected, powerful, perhaps even feared. Either
way, as stated previously,
this chap needs some serious redemption. And he's got the stuff to make
it happen. He's good looking, charming, funny. And contrary to his
display in TFA, Finn's got guts for real. I can only hope that
some (more really) of what I suggested in my diatribe on him gets
incorporated into the upcoming movie.
Killer Kylo
Will Killer Kylo come back hard? We'll see.
Though I still believe Darth Maul
would make Swiss cheese outta the guy and Darth Sidious would be
embarrassed by him, one question does arise: Is Kylo Ren actually a
Sith? You see my previous observation was based on the idea that the guy
is a Sith, and as such, represented one of the sorriest of the bunch
ever known to exist! Sith are intensely, even brutally trained, and as
such generally are bereft of the kind of emotionalism and weakness which
Ren showed. Because of that I called b.s. on his character development
and didn't like how this man came off. However, Supreme Leader Snoke did
intimate that he needed to complete Ren's training. So maybe there's
room for a meritorious comeback, like Finn, if he's pulled off right
next time. I'll leave his redemption as a villain of weight for VIII.
And for god's sake, elevate the man's level of dialogue. They don't have to get all Lord of the Rings on us here, but worthy villains deserve to be seen and heard. Some Shakespeareanism would do us all good.
Rey
Choose your path, young padawan.
This gal actually does have potential, and I don't
dislike her; Rey's actually quite an interesting character and very easy
to like. She's easy on the eyes too. I do, however, dislike how she was
used to fit a gynocentric, feminist agenda.
That said, this person can be a very entertaining and inspiring
individual if developed properly in the next story. Hopefully we'll see a
more complete personality instead of one crafted for feminist howlers
to jump, shout, and scream, "Yahoo!" at. But, femitards, if Rey gets
your panties wet, so be it. There's more than enough about her we don't
know to satisfy everyone, I'm sure. That said, I'd really like to watch
this individual struggle in the next film and earn the props she
was simply given in number 7. Give her some Dark Side temptations to
overcome, a better backstory than the easy out of being a Skywalker or a
Solo orphan. Skip the Kenobi descendant stuff too. In fact, make her a
PALPATINE if she has to be someone's descendant! Rey being Darth
Sidious' granddaughter would be a very fine plot twist to cover ground
with!
A More Mature Focus
As with Revenge of the Sith back in 2004 - which I'd hopedwould
deliver a more mature story with a darker theme that brought out the
dangers of the fall of Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi Order, and the
Galactic Republic itself - so too did I wish to see a The Force Awakens
that revealed to us the fact that it's a dangerous universe out there
and not everything is going to be safe or pleasant. And when one is
immersed in high drama - where the fate of entire star systems, planets,
and a galaxy is on the line - people will die, blood will be spilled,
planets will fall. Instead, in my opinion, while RotS reached for
this goal, and it was without question George Lucas' aspiration, I got
it, but I didn't quite feel it - which, again, is essential in high
drama. Whether this was because of Lucas' direction or some other
matter, I don't know. Nonetheless, I wished for an emotional
satisfaction in the critical moments and was left quite literally
wanting until the final lightsaber duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan
Kenobi on the rocky crests of Mustafar. It was all on the line here, and you knew it! I only wish the rest of the story was as assertive in building up to this point.
Likewise, TFA left me with no critical moment to savor and no feeling of real danger. And by the way, what was up with John Williams'
score? Did anyone else get a letdown here? I can't recall one theme or
melody that stood out to me, aside from Rey's! As a thought: Was
Williams' score so low-key and unmemorable because they are planning to
replace him? After all, he is 83 years old and may not want to keep in
this for the long haul too much longer. Are they easing the maestro out
of our minds for a younger, fresher composer? Or perhaps, as we've
already ventured to speak, the lion's share of this movie was just so
unworthy that Maestro Williams was that uninspired.
No, Star Wars is not Shakespeare, but it is high space drama. In that sense, we, the audience, need
to be swept along on emotional crests that demonstrate the tension and
verity of the reach the characters struggle for. To that end, high
dialogue and melodramatic acting, properly balanced, are essential.
George Lucas understood this and strove for it, particularly in the
prequels.
The perennial movies which have repeatedly demonstrated this in the modern cinema remain The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and have been unmatched by any cheap imitations thus far. The Clone Wars is a hefty Star Wars example to model, and Abrams can take some lessons from it.
Here Endeth the Critique
I realize my opinions are
going to be in the minority, at least until the hype and excitement
wears off and logic begins to prevail among some of you. Regardless, my
thoughts stand. Star Wars 7 lacked passion, imagination,
inspiration, and depth. Whatever one thinks of George Lucas and the
original trilogy or the prequels, that is not what he gave us starting
in 1977-2004. Lucas attempted something new, fresh, and more mature each
time he went into Star Wars, especially during the prequel era; it was not Transformers
amusement for teens made to blow 'em up, shoot 'em up, and sex 'em up.
It was fun, certainly, but it addressed the great ideas of human
existence, reaching for truth above idiocy. That Lucas fell down, or
failed miserably in some estimations, is beside the point. But if he'd
done with Episode VII what Abrams has the beatdown would have struck back hard, and rightly so.
What J.J. (Jar Jar) Abrams has given us is by far and away an inferior specimen.
And the fact that he makes up excuses masquerading as reasons, the fact
that he's trying to subtly walk it all back, should tell you something
about the thought processes going on in his mind. Further, his track
record to date should serve as a warning for future manifestations to
come. If he has screwed up Star Trek, twice, and now screwed up Star Wars, what investment of trust should you reward him with SW8 and beyond? Seriously.
I
truly wanted to like this movie, but alas I cannot give it the super
positive ratings nor enthusiasm I'd originally invested it with. I will
not even be interested in rushing out to buy a DVD copy unless it is at a
supremely discounted price. SW7 has also made me far less
enthusiastic to see the next movie. The fact that J.J. Abrams is only
producing it is beside the point. Under his direction (and that of
Kathleen Kennedy) a tone has been set. Is it absurd to think that such a
tone will not continue in SW8? This suspicion can even be extended to the spin-off story, Star Wars: Rogue One
set to premiere this December 2016. Whatever the future of this
franchise is to bring, it will be up to fans to ensure that it is not
de-evolved into a cesspool of political agendas, poor storytelling, and
nostalgic rehashing of what has already gone before it. The story should
push forward, breaking new ground just as George Lucas did with the
first trilogy and at least attempted to do with the second. The story
owes him and its fans that much. If it cannot or will not do so under
Disney's stewardship then perhaps it is time for fans to do what they've
been up to for some time now -- creating their own original (and quite
frankly, superior) stories independent of the big film houses. We've
shown them we can make stuff that appeals to us, written, produced, and
directed by us... and with our own money. If Star Wars continues along
its current course, we may have no choice but to go exactly that route.
Meanwhile we'll just have to see what happens in Episode VIII. I know this much however: I will not be rushing out to see number 8 after what I saw in TFA and will read spoilers, reviews, and YouTube videos by fans before spending one red cent to get in. I'm just that displeased.
Of
course, the Subspace Meditator will continue his thoughtful meditations
on speculative fiction and the upward reach of man with articles
speaking to these high ideals at this blogspot. I'm currently working on
a few new articles and will publish them once complete.
I want to use a separate space to discuss Finn because what he represents is also critical to a deeper understanding of what TFA was all about. Come, let's to it.
Finn: The Black Stormtrooper/"Magic Negro"
For those unfamiliar with the concept of the magic negro please follow the link.
Finn fights with Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber
From the announcement of his character all the way to opening day, a big deal was made about the personality of Finn as played quite elegantly by John Boyega.
The biggest conflagration centered around why a black had to be in the
lead and why, presumably, he was to be the individual in whom the Force
would awaken. The constant advertising for TFA consistently led many to
believe that it was the character Finn who would be the center of the story
and, perhaps, around whom a new Jedi Order would arise via the training
of now Master Luke Skywalker. To be on clear footing, the anger over a black superstar at the heart of Star Warsdid exist but was from a minority of vocal opponents and was not shared by most, including this writer.
In fact, like most celebrants, I welcomed the idea of another strong black
male character and looked forward to seeing his hero's journey to the
Force.
Finn, Rey, & Kylo Ren, misdirection in advertising
This, however, turned out to be a clever marketing deception created to
misdirect the expectations of hot-to-trot fans and, I dare say, preserve
Disney's "gotcha" surprise bait-and-switch of non-Force-sensitive Finn
for super Force-adept Rey. And this is why, in
advertisement after advertisement, it is Finn, and not Rey, who
is seen holding and wielding a lightsaber. Finn as main protagonist and hero
turns out to be a complete falsehood as the last 30 or so minutes of the
film ultimately
reveals, though many breadcrumbs are dropped along the way to
clue us in. However, this particular gripe is not about preserving the
surprises of the storyline, but about fooling the fanbase in order, the
Subspace Meditator suggests, to serve a larger, yet more subtle agenda.
It is that agenda which I flesh out more in part two of this
meditation. For now, let's analyze Finn a bit further.
Strong, but Nuanced Black Male Inclusion
Lando Calrissian, a black man of mixed motivation in Star Wars
In real-world terms,
Finn's ostensible purpose is to prove the diversity of the "galaxy far,
far away," to embrace the fact that humans in space aren't just lily
white, and
further, that non-white humans are capable of more than being a sidekick
to the
white hero. But a sidekick is exactly what Finn turns out to be. And
upon inspection he turns out to be far, far less. In
the beginning of the story his character is portrayed as an elite
stormtrooper with a conscience who faces a moral dilemma and thus must
choose
which side he will serve. In this choice is a powerful moment for the
character and one that opens up a host of possibilities for his
long-term development. However, this angle is given bare bones service.
The story later reveals
that Finn is not after all one of the First Order's elite, but a
sanitation worker who just happens to also don stormtrooper armor from
time to time, and who just happens to mysteriously know very, very
important things about the First Order's prime weapon, Starkiller Base.
How he, a janitor, is supposed to know such things is not even
mentioned. He just does so that, somehow, he can, at last, become
important to the audience. Though he's marketed as such, in this movie
Finn is no hero in any real sense of the term, but instead an inveigler
(Han Solo recognizes him as such with his line, "Women always find out
the truth. Always."), a
coward, and a kiss-up to the female lead. He is the comedic relief of
the show. And though this is executed quite well from an onlooker's
perspective, and is certainly reflected in Boyega's performance, Finn is
obviously out of his element in the course of events and using humor to
hide both his fear and lack of resolve. He spends the majority of his
time trying to find ways to run away from peril or rescue Rey and gain
her approval even after she's repeatedly demonstrated that she doesn't
want his help, nor is interested in his romantic overtures.
Mace Windu, a powerful warrior-priest black man in Star Wars
But to see only these
characteristics is to miss the greater mark behind Finn's
inclusion. For sure, he is no Lando Calrissian and certainly no Mace Windu.
But he is the type of male that feminist SJWs can go for- a wussified man who worships the ground women walk on, who plays second
fiddle
to an overbearingly strong female, who herself steals the show
from men and
is, superficially at least, flawless and above reproach. In nearly
every scene involving himself and Rey, Finn is given second-class
treatment and shown as less decisive, less courageous, and less
competent than she. Finn's
insertion was not about degrading the black male per se as
much as it was about exalting the female lead by using the black male
of the show as proxy. It is his purpose to elevate the main woman
character to near goddess-like perfection, to pedestalize her above the
earth and sky in order to fit the feminist paradigm. To this end, the
dude's near lack of real development and his overall
purpose as a character was for little more than as a
tool to make Rey look so totally awesome that she completely
overshadows him from the very first encounter to the very end. In these
aspects Finn is a representation of the magic negro, and beyond this what some call a mangina or a white knight. Love-struck Finn will do anything - anything
- for his sweetie, Rey. And the culmination of his trouble, the grand prize of his herculean efforts, is a
friendzoned hug from her in a "thanks for not abandoning the
fight" moment inside Maz Kanata's cantina. And yet for the rest of the story Finn
continues to chase his honeypot across the galaxy because he simply
refuses to leave her no matter what.
Anything that happened in TFA could have proceeded so with or without Finn. He was just that inconsequential. Therefore, any outrage by
those with prejudiced hearts about a black male lead who gets
the white girl and/or who becomes the epic hero of the story was absorbed by this bigger agenda.
Of
course not all black men are strong and do not have to be shown in
fictional stories as such. However, some inkling of the hero's journey
should have been seen in Finn as he is the second lead protagonist. Some
elements of him finding his purpose, separate and distinct from his association with Rey, or on her behalf, should have been portrayed.
But there's a way to remedy this, my people, and it doesn't mean Finn bosoming up to Rey. Hear me.
Getting Those Interstellar Babes
There's more to the galaxy than white chicks!
Though some actually
criticize the idea, at this pace it would be better for Finn to be seen
in the next installment actually getting some action from a sexy space
alien chick. And I personally would have no problem with this! After
all, Captain Kirk
made out with many intergalactic honeys in his time with no
incompatibility issues with interspecies mating. From
green-skinned lovelies with great...belly buttons, to grey-toned
beauties with tails, James T. Kirk lacked for nothing in the universe's
manifestation of feminine diversity. His experience was bountiful! So
what would be wrong with Friendzoned Finn hooking up with a blue-bodied
babydoll with awesome curves? Why should the space-faring white guys
have all the fun? Moreover, it's a big galaxy. Why should Finn limit his
horizons only to the white human female? Should he genuflect to her
just because she's in close proximity? Hell no! Rey isn't the only game
in the stars.
However, not either should he be paired up with a black female space jockey because that also is too simplistic
and is what everyone would expect. And quite frankly it's too
comfortable; it would too easily satisfy black critics who'd see Finn
coseying up to "white" Rey as an insult to black pride, and him getting
with a "sister" as only more condescending tokenism; and it would just
as too conveniently be an out for white supremacists insulted at a black
man "stealing" another of "their women." No, make the audience think! and in the doing, perhaps make them all
uncomfortable! Take risks, which is what novel films are supposed to
do! So, saying "fuck it" to both of these easy answers is the right way
to bring Finn back and let him stretch his horizons, and see all the
galaxy would have him see!
Yes, let Finn shag the alien girl with head tentacles and Force powers!
The cheeky humor of my
proposal aside, I really do think it a great idea. And though I do not
want to see Finn's character polluted into a sexual degenerate nor Star Wars
into an X-rated freakshow, it would be nice to see him get some
meaningful nuances to his character in the form of a smooth-talking
playboy who grows some courage rather than a mangina
afraid of the whole universe. Also, giving Finn some of those Han Solo
bad boy qualities would be a splendid way to atone for killing off that
iconic character in this Episode VII stupidity. Finn obtaining a ship of his own and pursuing a critical subplot of Episode VIII with his new alien space babe in tow would be a great redemption for the "cowardly lion" we observed in TFA!
And to avoid the feminist bullhockey, his new girlfriend doesn't need
to be the one rescuing him from every hidden danger around the corner;
they should share responsibility for each other. Finn doing his
independent thing, more than some casual horizontal hulu or one-off
smooch with Rey, would show audiences that the black man is definitely
capable of being more than the sidekick or mere shadow of the white
lead. He can explore the galaxy by himself, get into (and out of) hot
spots by himself, and build great relations with the universe's many
peoples on his own terms. This is what you want to see of black
inclusion in science fiction, is it not? This is what black sci-fi
geeks, male and female, have been longing for for ages, isn't it, a
black person who can meet the challenge of space exploration without
having to be guided by a patronizing white hand? And that of course is
not limited to mere romantic indulgence - though that has been our
example here - but to all endeavors of sophistication and significance.
As not only a black man in sci-fi, but more as a rogue stormtrooper searching for a righteous cause, Finn has awesomepotential.
If it is developed properly, this character can be one of the most
endearing and beloved - and if not beloved, then at the least,
controversial - in Star Wars history. He can take a place right
beside, if not superior to both Lando Calrissian and Mace Windu.
Spin-off stories and even films could one day be created about him. But
he must be developed appropriately, now, starting with Episode VIII correcting the idiocy he was wrapped in with TFA. Finn can be
redeemed, big time, but it's up to us as fans to DEMAND the writers
give this guy a fair and proper shake at being a true hero just like
Luke Skywalker, Calrissian, Windu, or Han Solo, and not another
marginalized magic negro.
In my next and last meditation on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, some conclusions.
