So Pretentious... a podcast

Mandolorian Chapter 15: “The Believer”

Summary: 
With the help of Marshall Cara Dune, Mando recruits ex-imperial sharpshooter Migs Mayfeld to help them locate Moff Gideon's Imperial Cruiser carrying the kidnapped Grogu. Written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa, who also helmed Season 1's The Prisoner with Bill Burr's previous time out as Mayfeld, we're given backstory to Mayfeld and his philosophy as an ex-Imp.
Pull up a seat, pump up your helmet's headset, and join Helder and Edward as they travel with the crew to help save Grogu.

Twitter:
@heldermira
@edwardodell

Notes:

• Written/Directed by Rick Famuyiwa. 
• Homage to William Friedkin's "Sorcerer"
• Return of Mayfeld (Bill Burr)
• First episode without Grogu
• Boba Fett body shaming (RUDE)
• Disney+ announcing new shows: 
• The bs rumor mill from the fall that Pedro Pascal wanted out because not enough time out of helmet?

Episode 10 - Normalcy in Un-Normal Times

This episode features special guest Dr. Viana Turcios-Cotto. She shares self-care and mental health strategies to help you get through the holiday season and beyond. This time of year is difficult for so many of us so let’s get through it together. 

Article of Interest

Is Your Therapist Qualified to Treat People of Color? By Monica T. Williams, Ph.D.

Shout Out

Robert

Sleeping On

Helder: Who Needs Sleep? (documentary)

Viana: 1. The Last OG and sleep (Yes, sleep. She is right!)

Vivian: Black and Brown people in sci-fi/horror novels (Ex. Tananarive Due)

Dr. Viana Turcios-Cotto can be found at VianaWellness.com. 

Resources - 
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255

Social media

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• LivelyVivian
• HelderMira

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Mandolorian Chapter 14: “The Tragedy”

Summary:  
We’re setting down on Tython, where Mando and Grogu have an appointment at the Seeing Stone, and an unexpected meet up with Slave One and Boba Fett!  Expectations are naturally high, with Robert Rodriguez in the director’s chair for an action-packed 33 minutes. Helder and Edward break it all down with the usual attention to detail.

Twitter:
@heldermira
@edwardodell

Notes:
 
 This episode marks the formal return of New Zealander Temuera Morrison in a speaking role as Boba Fett.  It's not long before he name checks his dad, trades up from his cloak and barbed staff and emerges in his original armor with moves that are both classic callbacks and “fresh and funny” killshots. 

Of particular interest:  Morrison played opposite Marlon Brando in the ill-fated production of The Island Of Dr. Moreau. The original, uncredited director Richard Stanley was infamously fired and replaced by John Frankenheimer, but this didn’t stop Stanley from sneaking back onto the set, as covered in the documentary Lost Soul.

Boba’s return happily includes a classic ship from the original series: the problematically named Slave One.  Here’s some notes on the original concept art:

A PopSugar (sigh, yes, we know) article on the origin and etymology of “Dank ferrik”:

Katy O’Brian (you may know her from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) is the Imperial Officer serving directly under Moff Gideon, and her Twitter is pretty cool:

A collection of…interesting tweets about the episode

https://twitter.com/VyceVictus/status/1335043446193655808?s=20

https://twitter.com/Mericam49/status/1334899722163793922?s=20

We’re finally getting to Corvus! Helder and Ed recap and break down the elements in the latest episode of The Mandalorian.  

Chapter 13, “The Jedi” delivers on the long-awaited entrance into the series of former-Jedi Ahsoka Tano in her first official live-action incarnation, here played by Rosario Dawson. This episode also features some major pivot points, mostly centering on the origin and identity of The Child.  Dave Filoni as back in the director’s chair and is also the credited writer.  

Twitter handles:

Show: @sopretentious2

Helder: @heldermira

Ed: @edwardodell

Show Notes:

Helder went in to some detail discussing this episode’s cinematographer: Barry Baz Idoine.  Fans may know his prior work as Second Unit director for Rogue One, but his credits include a lot of recent prestige television, such as True Detective and Westworld.

Wookiepedia Episode Page

Artwork of Ralph Mcquarrie

Mcquarrie’s “A New Hope” concept art

Concept Art and Stills for The Mandalorian Chapter 13 - The Jedi

Morgan Elsbeth, played by Diana Lee Inosanto. Trained in Jeet Kune Do and Eskrima, and her father, the martial artist Dan Inosanto, was Bruce Lee’s student and training partner.

And last, but most certainly not least, RIP to the original Darth Vader, David Prowse.
(Farkle Alzheimers and COVID)

Two friends talking about the intersections of popular culture, society, and the world. And yes, there are spoilers. 

Episode 9: The Watchmen Episode Part 2

We continue with our discussion the Watchmen HBO adaptation/continuation of the graphic novel. Adapted by Damon Lindelhof, we discuss the show's origin and fan service to the series that influenced it. 

The episode features special guest, Edward O’Dell.

Shout out: La Marca Prosecco

What Are You Sleeping On

Helder: The Leftovers (as selected by Ed

Vivian: , television show

Ed: Fireball: , documentary 

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Email us:

SoPretentiousPodcast [at] gmail.com 

The Fourth Chapter in the spin off of the So Pretentious... extended universe, "This Way is So Pretentious" recaps and reviews Chapter 12 of "The Mandalorian":  The Seige.

Mandalorians Helder and Edward do a deep dive into the latest episode that finds Lone Mando and Child taking their wrecked Razor Crest back to Nevarro to repair while sipping tea with old friends, Greef Carga and Cara Dune. Wacky mayhem ensues.

Grab yourselves a bowl of stew, a shot of Spotchka, sit back and travel with us to a galaxy far, far away.

So Pretentious

Two friends talking about the intersections of popular culture, society, and the world. And yes, there are spoilers. 

Episode 8: The Watchmen Episode Part 1

We discuss the origins of The Watchmen graphic novel. Its characters and cultural significance as well as its continued relevance. We also discuss the Zack Synder film adaptation which we had plenty of...uh...thoughts about. The television series was mentioned a bit, but we will focus more on that in part 2. The episode features special guest, Edward O’Dell.

Shout out: La Marca Prosecco

What Are You Sleeping On

Helder: Willie documentary 

Vivian: Hoarders, television show

Ed: Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds, documentary 

Follow us:

Instagram: SoPretentiousPod

Twitter: SoPretentious2

Email us:

[email protected] 

The Third Chapter in the spin off of the So Pretentious... extended universe, "This Way is So Pretentious" recaps and reviews Chapter 11 of "The Mandalorian":  The Heiress. Mandalorians Helder and Edward do a deep dive into The Nite Owls, Death Watch, the Watch, The Children of the Watch, Timex Watches. We try to redeem The Child's voracious appetite for destruction while addressing the tadpoles in the room. And there's a slight trip down into Clone Wars territory, as is relevant to this chapter and upcoming chapters.

This is the way.

The Second Chapter in the spin off of the So Pretentious... extended universe, "This Way is So Pretentious" recaps and reviews Chapter 10 of "The Mandalorian",  The Passenger. Helder and Edward do a deep dive into an ice planet with Lone Mando and Child and their Uber fare, Frog Lady and her precious cargo of caviar, while trying to hide from New Republic X-Wing patrol pilots auditioning for the galaxy's updated "COPS". 

So Pretentious

Two friends talking about the intersections of popular culture, society, and the world. And yes, there are spoilers. 

Episode 7: 

It is tough out there and we discuss some ways that you can take care of yourself. Please do what you can to make yourself a priority even if it is just for a few minutes. 

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare," Audra Lorde, A Burst of Light" and Other Essays.

We discuss (partial list):

• The origins of self-care and its definition
• Therapy
• Being the primary caregiver of a sick family member or friend
• Books
  • You Are a Bad Ass by Jen Sincero
  • Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
  • Calvin and Hobbes
  • Daredevil by Frank Miller
• Doomscrolling
•  TV recommendations
  • Cheers
  • Damages (Season 1-3)
  • Bored to Death
  • The Good Place
• Puzzles and LEGO sets
• Day One journal app
• Evernote
• Music specifically I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor and the Cake cover 
• Parks (Central and Bushnell Parks)