THE STAR WARS ANTHOLOGY FILMS NEED TO CHANGE

There's no way to circle around it. Solo: A Stars Wars Story is a failure. It can be chalked up to many different reasons, but that's not what we're here to discuss. What we are here to discuss, however, is the current state of the Star Wars anthology films. Episode IX will be releasing next year, and it is likely we won't get another 'mainline' Star Wars entry soon.

However, in the wake of Solo's struggle, back and forth reports have emerged on the future of these spin-off films. Some claim Lucasfilm is readjusting their approach, while others report that they are being outright shelved. Whatever the case, we are definitely in store for a change on the release of future Star Wars films. Which is a shame, really.

The anthology films are the chance to really grow the Star Wars universe. Explore places and characrers we've never seen or heard before. Stories that are so far from the Skywalker saga that the characters may not even know who the Skywalkers are. The Star Wars universe is one that is vast and diverse. It's about time for the films to reflect that.

It's All Connected

The original pitch behind the anthology films was to explore perviously unseen corners of the Star Wars universe. True, both Rogue One and Solo are essentially standalone stories. But they're both directly tied to other films in the series. 

Rogue One leads directly into A New Hope. Solo, naturally, deals with the origin of one of the franchise's most iconic characters (whether audiences wanted it or not). So, while they're films that could in theory stand on their own, they also lose a lot of their value without prior knowledge of the other films. 

That's not to say they can't still feature established characters. Part of the fun of having a cinematic universe (which is what Star Wars is becoming) is seeing different characters weave in and out of films.

As much as I don't particularly care for Darth Maul, I thought his reveal at the end of Solo was great. It makes sense to see some of the more prominent characters show up in different corners of the galaxy. But I just wish the stories themselves weren't tied so closely to what we already know.

Everything Feels Small

Going off of the second point, part of why I want to see the Star Wars anthology films branch out is because as it stands right now, the galaxy feels small. It's a problem that began with The Empire Strikes Back, and a problem that has become worse.

While the Darth Vader reveal in Empire is one or the history books, it did have the unintentional side effect of shrinking the Star Wars universe. When Leia was revealed as Luke's twin sister in Return of the Jedi, it began to seem like everyone in the Star Wars universe was connected.

That's part of why the revelation of Rey's lineage was so refreshing. Not everyone in this universe needs to be part of the same family. Luke started off as a moisture farmer, and grew to become one of the most legendary figures in the galaxy. (Well, before he was revealed to be the son of the chosen one, but what can you do.)

There are thousands of these 'non-important' characters all throughout the galaxy. Sure, not everyone will be fighting off against Darth Vader or Kylo Ren, but in some way, every character makes a difference. There are so many storylines that aren't connected to the Rebel vs Empire story, and those are stories that deserve to be told.

Less is More

One of the running theories as to why Solo bombed was simply because of Star Wars fatigue. Solo came out only five months after The Last Jedi. Was that too soon for a Star Wars movie? The 'more is more' approached has so far worked for Marvel, which is currently at three movies a year. So why hasn't the same worked for Star Wars?

Maybe it has to do with how the two franchises have operated in the past. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, obviously, has its roots in comics, which by nature of the medium, are long-running stories, with monthly releases in most cases. Star Wars, on the other hand, has no history with a yearly release.

Ever since the release of A New Hope, Star Wars has always felt like an event. There's always been at least two years between the release of films. When The Force Awakens came out, we hadn't seen a proper Star Wars release since 2005. It was a big deal. Now, with a new Star Wars movie coming out every calendar year, the series has begun to lose its luster a bit.

I think we all knew that once Disney acquired the franchise, we would be seeing yearly releases. Many lamented that, as it would possibly take away part of what made the franchise special. Now, I am never one to complain about more Star Wars, but maybe the general public isn't as interested in the series as we (or Disney) thinks they are?

Not Dead Yet

 With Solo's failure at the box office and The Last Jedi's divisiveness within the fanbase (despite being critically acclaimed), some are wondering what the future of the franchise is. Some are already claiming its death, but don't be mistaken, one failure does not a failure make.

While every film post-Disney has had some form of behind-the-scenes trouble, every film released prior to Solo has made more than $1 billion at the box office. Despite the uncertain nature of the oft-rumored Obi-Wan and Boba Fett films, we still have more big-screen stories on the way. The first of the Rian Johnson-helmed trilogy could be out in 2020. A series from the Game of Thrones creators is still on-track. And that's just the films.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will be debuting at Disney Parks next year. Television series, both animated and live-action, are in development. The comics and novels are still going strong. Electronic Arts is still holding on to that Star Wars video game license (for now). 

The film side of things may be slowing down a bit, but don't be mistaken. Star Wars isn't dead. It'll still be around, for a long, long time. Lucasfilm and Disney may just need to reassess their approach.

What do you think of the future of the Star Wars franchise? Let me know, and be sure to follow me on Twitter @aidansimonds to see more!

HOW TO REALLY 'MAKE RIVERDALE GREAT AGAIN'

Riverdale's sophomore outing will soon come to a close. After an almost perfect first season, round two was a bit bumpy. While there were some highs (I still maintain that Chapter Twenty is the series' finest episode), there were also some lows (fascist Archie??).

With Riverdale season three presumably premiering this fall, this presents a perfect opportunity to course-correct. Riverdale still has the potential to reach the absolute highs of season 1. Let's look at some ways it can rebound from what many see as a sophomore slump.

Warning: Some spoilers for Riverdale Seasons One and Two follow

Focus on Riverdale As a Whole

What really makes the world of Archie Comics stand out is the ensemble that makes up the town of Riverdale. It's similar to Springfield in The Simpsons. A town that feels like its own world, made up of a variety of unique and memorable characters.

It's something Riverdale was pretty good about in Season One. Sure, some main characters didn't get their due (like Josie...), but Riverdale, both the town and show, felt like a fleshed-out world. Characters like Valerie and Ethel weren't completely fleshed-out, but they had fairly well-rounded storylines. Kevin was pretty much a main character, appearing in almost every episode.

Josie doesn't even feel like a main character at this point.

Season Two really regressed in that regard. The show almost exclusively shined its spotlight on the core four. It makes sense in some regard. Archie, Betty, Jughead, and Veronica are the main characters of the comics. But it also shined a light on the supporting characters in Riverdale, too. 

Josie got some pretty good moments in Season Two, but if it weren't for the fact that she was on all the promo, you'd have no idea she was a main character. Kevin, who was actually upgraded to a series main on Season Two, somehow got even less to do, even with an expanded season. (More on that later...) The Pussycats regressed into background characters. Cheryl, who was Season One's most fascinating character, got seriously (and tragically) sidelined for most of the second season.

The murder of Midge Klump, one of the most important characters from comics, did not have the impact it was surely meant to. She was pretty much a background character in any episode she appeared in, never getting any more than a few lines.

With news that Vanessa Morgan and Charles Melton, who play Toni and Reggie, respectively, will be upgraded to series regulars in Season Three, this brings even more concern. While I'm hopeful that this means Toni and Reggie will receive more development and storylines, I wish this show would give more focus on the main characters the show has now. 

Tighter Storytelling

Part of what made Season One so great was that there never truly was any downtime. The thirteen episode season really forced the righters to cut all of that fat in terms of solving the mystery of Jason Blossom's murder. I was skeptical of Season Two being almost double that length, but I had faith in the writers. And I still maintain that the first half of the second season is generally great. But the middle of the season just feels like the writers stalling while waiting for the Black Hood to return.

I had hopes that the expanded season would allow more character-focused storylines, like Chapter Six in Season One. Chapter Sixteen did go for that, having a Kevin-centric episode. Besides that, however, 

'Tales From the Darkside' may be the series' high point.

Is the solution to shorten Riverdale Season Three back to thirteen episodes? Not necessarily. A length like eighteen episodes would strike a good balance, and we see many network shows are starting to adopt shorter lengths. If we must have a twenty-two episode season, I think it's still possible to maintain Riverdale's greatness.

The big issue with Riverdale Season Two wasn't really it's length, but the storytelling. Should we get another twenty-two episode season, I believe having the season comprised of separate, defined arcs, would be the best course of action. Naturally, plot elements should be expected to carry through the whole season, but this would prevent the season from feeling like it's just treading water. And it really felt like the show was treading water in the middle of Season Two.

Bring Back the Fun

The first season was just fun. A pulpy, noire-esque mystery sprinkled within a teen drama show. It had a campy, self-aware tone. The teenagers are far from realistic, but you still had the sense that these were teenagers who were, at their core, good people. Before the second season aired, many on the show were talking about how the show would be going "darker". I was worried, but was sure the show's campy tone would still shine through.

And it did in certain instances (again, going back to Chapter Twenty). Chapter Thirty-One, the musical episode, was a great reminder of what the show once was. But as the season went on, it just kept getting darker and darker. More and more violent. I genuinely think last weeks installment, Chapter Thirty-Four, was a fantastic episode for the series. It was an intense, frantic episode of television. But there was still something missing. 

I almost wonder if the show would've been better off if it had not coupled off the core four so quickly.

Riverdale was described by many prior to its premiere as a "dark and gritty" adaptation of the Archie world. But it truly wasn't. Sure, there was murder and teacher-student relationships, but it never got too dark. A more apt description would be a "modern" adaptation of Archie. Underneath all of the mystery, it was still a relatively lighthearted show that generally held true to the mythos of the Archie Comics world. 

Season Two stripped a lot of that away. Riverdale, both the town and show, became a violent, overall hateful place. What happened to the show where the characters could grab a booth at Pop's, get a milkshake, and escape the world around them for a bit? I get the desire to explore new genres every season. The first half of Season Two had a great horror movie tone. And putting your characters in more turmoil is almost inevitable in long-form storytelling. But it feels as if Riverdale lost its sense of identity in its sophomore outing. )

Let's Go Supernatural Already

Look. We all know Riverdale is going to go supernatural at some point. While I don't expect it to go full Afterlife with Archie for at least a couple more years, the seeds have already been planted. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is coming later this year (on Netflix, but still). They may not directly cross over (I still fully expect it to happen), but unless told otherwise, these two shows exist in the same universe.

I don't expect Riverdale to be a series about magic and such. But we've already established that something supernatural is going on over in Greendale. I don't expect it to fully bleed over to Riverdale (again, for now at least), but something has had to make its way across Sweetwater River. 

By that I mean that the Blossom family totally has magic running through it. Cheryl's totally a witch.

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I don't think Riverdale is bad now. But it just hasn't reached the heights of its superb first season. I am worried that it won't be able to recapture that magic, but I'm hopeful too. Riverdale has become one of The CW's most popular shows, so it's probably going to be here for at least a few more years. So hopefully the writers can learn from the growing pains of Season Two and fully rebound when it returns for another year.

What did you think of this season of Riverdale? Did you like it more than I did? What're you're hopes for Season Three? Let me know, and be sure to follow me on Twitter @aidansimonds.

SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY REVIEW

Jump Up, Super Star

Sometimes, a game affects you so much that you need to talk about it, no matter how long ago it came out. That's a game like Super Mario Odyssey, a game that reaches new heights for the series. As a lifelong Mario fan, few games brought such joy as Odyssey did. A tribute to the series' past while also pushing it forward, Odyssey is for sure a masterpiece of a game.

A Brand New Journey

Super Mario Odyssey isn't treading any new ground in regards to its story. It's the classic "Bowser Kidnaps the Princess" tale told since the NES days. This time, however, Bowser's goal is to straight-up marry Peach. Gotta give the guy props for ambition, I guess. Bowser's wedding planing takes him all over the world(?) to various kingdoms to get the necessary ingredients for the perfect ceremony. Thus, Mario must follow.

This, ahem, Odyssey takes Mario to some of the most diverse locales he's ever been too, save for the Super Mario Galaxy series. There's the usual Forests, Deserts, and Snow worlds, but there's also locales never before seen in a Mario game. From the the Tim Burton-inspired Cap Kingdom to the NYC-inspired Metro Kingdom, each level had its own distinct art style and gameplay. It helped that each kingdom had its own unique inhabitants as well. Each kingdom truly felt like it's own distinct place, and with each kingdom being its own sandbox, the kingdoms naturally lent themselves to exploration.

This game takes Mario to locales he's never been to before.

Speaking of which, exploration is the name of the game in Super Mario Odyssey. Where most games would punish you for going off the unbeaten path, Odyssey wants you to do so. More than likely, you'll be rewarded with your curiosity with a Power Moon. Go ahead, explore, and don't worry about dying. The only consequence for losing all of your health is having a meager ten coins taken away. I won't spoil it too much, but in one of the kingdoms, instead of falling off the edge leading to a game over, it actually takes you to a brand new area.

Oh Cappy, My Cappy

Exploration would be pointless if the gameplay weren't great. Don't worry about that, though. This is a Mario game through and through, which means the gold standard of platforming. This isn't surprising. The one constant throughout the whole Mario series has been tight platforming. Each 3D Mario platformer since Super Mario 64 has added a new feature integral to the game, and Odyssey introduces Cappy.

Cappy is your companion this time around.

Cappy, who takes the form of Mario's iconic hat, gives you the ability of possession. Possession adds a whole new dimension to the gameplay. You can possess any creature in the kingdom, as long as it's not wearing a hat. And the possession is the key to progress in these kingdoms. In a kingdom full of water and don't want to worry about running out of breath? Possess a Cheep Cheep and swim away. Have a wall blocking your way that's conspicuously breakable? A Chain Chomp can be flung in its direction to knock it down. Have a cheese wall blocking your way? There's probably a Hammer Bro nearby, who have the ability to break through them. (Yes, this is an actual scenario in the game.)

While possession is Cappy's main function, he does have other, more minor uses. He can be thrown to find some out of the way coins, which can prove very useful. Other uses include killing smaller enemies that can't be possessed, and also being used as a platform to give some extra height. Cappy's a great addition to the series, but I don't necessarily want Odyssey's unique feature to be copied. (Maybe the next Smash Bros. game can have Mario utilize Cappy instead of F.L.U.D.D.?)

Never A Dull Moment

Super Mario Odyssey simply has SO MUCH to do. You can't go around the corner without finding a moon. Some may say that the game is too easy. Odyssey is not a hard game at all. Playing through the campaign was not a difficult task. The true challenge is going outside of the main story. Finding Power Moons can range from a puzzle to mind-staggeringly easy. And that's the beauty of this game.

As I said earlier, Super Mario Odyssey rewards you for exploring, for going off the beaten path. For doing something as simple as jumping rope, or ground pounding an area of the group that is sparkling. It wants you to explore and experiment, and most of the time, it will reward you. I can see some complaining about how many moons there are, and how downright simple it is to get some, but I see that as a strength. 

Odyssey is a celebration of the series' history, and includes the return of some old friends.

Super Mario Odyssey is one of those special games. A defining game of a generation. In a year where Nintendo had already released Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey stands on that same level. A celebration of the series' entire history, Odyssey looks forward by keeping an eye in the past. Long after the story is played through, Odyssey has so much more to offer. A no-brainer for Switch owners, Super Mario Odyssey is a game that will be remembered.