Author Archives: Sam

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Cancelling Prodigy sucks 😭 it is so good but I don’t know what ratings are like vs. cost and things get cancelled. I am bummed because it is so GOOD! But shows get cancelled, it happens, it is what it is.

Where I am about to murder something is the whole “yanking season 1 from P+ and shopping it and season 2 elsewhere” 🤬

The only reason I have P+ is because it is supposed to be the home of everything Star Trek. I think Netflix still has the older shows. Amazon Prime has Picard. It is just Disco, SNW – and used to be Prodigy – that P+ boasted. Plus al the future Trek content. A one-stop shop with everything past and future… except no.

I literally this month just paid for another year and I am pissed about that. Cancelling Prodigy is stupid IMO as it’s amazing, but stuff gets cancelled. Where I draw the line, and where I wish I could cancel and tell them why because they are fuckers, is over yanking it and shopping it elsewhere. I mean I know you can’t trust streaming services. They are always removing stuff. It’s why anything I want to watch again I get on DVD. I guess I am unpleasantly surprised because P+ doesn’t have a huge amount of content. Trek is kinda one of the biggest draws I suspect, and so I figured if anything was safe… more fool me there.

But of course even if I could cancel (which I can’t), I wouldn’t, because SNW season 2 is airing weekly and Disco season 5 is coming soon. I know, I know the answer is 🏴‍☠️ but the last link I clicked on that somebody gave me was blocked in this country by the internet watchdog. Scared the crap out of me. I have put into google but it downloads at some kb/s as the site throttles it to that, takes all night and often corrupts or drops so isn’t successful. I am old enough to remember torrenting on dial-up and that worked better than what I have tried in recent times.

I was pissed as hell when they yanked Disco season 4 from Netflix 2 days before it was supposed to start airing, in preference to holding onto it for months waiting for the UK P+ launch. They have always been bastards but it just frustrates the hell out of me. I really do wish I could tell them where to stick it. Perhaps if enough of us did that, they might learn (or pigs might fly 🙄) but the point is moot as the fuckers have already had my sub money /sigh. Gah!

Thoughts on 2.02 (SNW)

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Pure Trek. Reminded me a little bit of that TNG episode where Data was in court and Picard defended him as an individual.

The speech Neera gave about how legal wasn’t always right gave me chills. What I liked the most though was for all it was calling the Federation out, saying that they had become what they wanted to destroy (kinda) in being the persecutors and making the prejudice law, it was also so hopeful.

It really was the essence of what makes Trek great. The institution is flawed but the people believe in the principle, and they try – oh how they try. They hope that the future will be better and are working to make it so.

I don’t disagree at all with how Picard pointed out the Federation/StarFleets failings and mistakes. Where I took particular issue (especially in season 3) was how the characters didn’t fight against that. Didn’t take up positions and debate amongst themselves. It was just A ok that the Federation had done wrong, because they are the Federation/the good guys and therefore everything is automatically right /sarcasm.

But this in SNW was just spot on. I suppose the only thing they could have done was give a little more emphasis to the prejudice. The Vulcan dude was mostly silent and Batel was obviously conflicted, and so was April. Although that was interesting in of itself with Batel “just following orders” and April “well I don’t like those augments but I like Una” which is a bit like knowing someone who is homophobic but because they like you decide to give you specifically a pass like that then makes it ok that they hate a part of you (it doesn’t, it still hurts).

I think this is one of the most classic Trek episodes in ages. SNW has done it again.

@purlturtle

A bit sad that they opened up all these big questions about laws potentially being not ethical, and then didn’t take that anywhere – but then that might have been a bit much for 42 minutes

I don’t know it seemed quite on brand to want to treat it as a “special case” rather than acknowledge that it’s a systematic issue. Refusing to confront there’s a problem and pushing it on down the line is kinda how things work

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I wish I was better at painting. I feel like it takes me waaaaay longer than it should. So I am a) knackered and b) it limits what projects I can do/number of them even more than my chronic health issues do.

But anyway I have done most of the painting I am doing for Jacen Syndulla week. Quite why my brain latched onto doing this so impulsively I am not sure but it’s a whole thing.

I basically just need to sort out the shading/do some detailing and it’s done. I just hope I don’t mess it up. That’s part of the reason I have quit for the day (it’s mostly because I am knackered), but I am hoping if I look at it tomorrow fresh I will be better able to fix it, than I am now.

I just want to have made something that doesn’t suck for once.

Thoughts on 2.01 (SNW)

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Ok I did a complete rewatch just last month and I don’t really recall much reference to Chapel and M’Benga’s war records? But clearly they did some major serving if they carry a Hulk serum with them everywhere. Like whoah!

Spock going rogue will never not be funny đŸ˜ I bet Pike will be so proud. And I laughed myself sick over that trailer line of “I want the ship to go now” because still funny.

Really not liking the romance they are pushing between Spock and Chapel. Isn’t Spock still engaged? Not cool.

I didn’t really like how April didn’t acknowledge that if Spock hadn’t gone rogue they would have another war. He was just like “you went against orders and nearly started a war” when there definitely would have been one if they weren’t there. I suppose it was implied as he let him off, and also I guess the brass never like to admit they were wrong, but ugh I wish they would.

I think I always say Ortegas needs more screentime but they so do. I like that they seem to be making their operations partner a regular. I don’t think she has a name though?

Has Chief Jay replaced Chief Kyle? I hope not, I liked him. But I doubt we will have both.

New Chief Engineer Pelia is certainly… interesting. Being like “oh you are going rogue, sounds fun” is so Nikola Tesla school of immortality. Because why not? It’s interesting đŸ¤Ł I thought I had missed something as I didn’t recognise the species of “Lanthanite” but apparently it’s brand new.

The article I googled said it was “buck wild that apparently people discovered some point in the 2100’s that aliens had been living among them and have known all this time” (paraphrased) and I was a bit like dude, this is not new information. I watched Picard Season 2 and Guinan was running her bar in 2024. A Romulan watcher (Tallinn) was around. Probably lots of aliens. Would it have been a shock to learn? Ehh maybe. It’s pre-Federation/StarFleet probably and they didn’t develop the Prime Directive until after Archer’s time and them infiltrating less advanced worlds would have given them an understanding of the opposite POV. So I don’t know đŸ¤ˇâ€â™‚️

But yeah I’m not bothered by that revelation as like I said Guinan was on earth in 2024 so it’s not a big leap other aliens could have been too.

I’m still stuck on M’Benga and Chapel going all warrior hulk to be honest. That is my main ??? takeaway this week.

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A couple of days ago I saw a screenshot of Sabine from the Ahsoka trailer. She wasn’t in armour, just a plain shirt and jeans. I posted about how I didn’t vibe with that outfit, that it was too bland for her. That it didn’t speak to her personality in my opinion. So I decided to have a stab at coming up with an alternative.

So about the outfit!

  • The symbols on the t-shirt came from the jacket from a different scene in the trailer.
  • The engraving on the belt buckle is the Mythosaur, symbol of Mandolore.
  • Obviously the Phoenix on the back of the vest is Sabine’s emblem for the squadron.
  • I thought she should have a lot of pockets for her art stuff (spray cans, brushes etc.) so there’s the vest and then the cargo trousers. Utilitarian and comfortable.
  • She strikes me as someone very practical and badass. Hence the combat boots even when ‘off-duty’ but jazzed up with purple laces for her personality. Same with the fingerless gloves.
  • Her armour had some patterns. Mostly geometric and a lot of just colour splashes. So I tried to replicate that by giving the t-shirt like a spray effect so it’s mostly red with some purple at the top (echoing her hair).
  • For the trousers I took inspiration from images of “graffiti style” trousers. I tried to imagine what artwork Sabine would pick and so there’s the Loth Cat, symbol of the Jedi, Republic and New Republic. A representation of her favourite handheld explosive, some paint splatters, a geometric lightning bolt like she put on Ezra’s stormtrooper helmet and then a little doodle of Hera just because.

Drawn in Procreate, with thanks to PoseMuse for the shortcut.

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I love it when past!Me gets Me a present.

A while back I got access to 21Draw. They do this ridiculous thing where it’s basically always on sale so they pretend it costs way more than it does. But anyway that has like 30+ video courses on it and half a dozen were using Procreate which I have never done much with.

With that impetus I tried Procreate again but really did not get on with how the pencil felt against the screen. There was no grip and it was just not a good experience in comparison to my graphics tablet. I went googling and discovered PenTips but they are expensive so I just gave up. Especially as I am trying to transition away from digital. But then! PenTips were bringing out Version 2 and discounted their originals to practically nothing so I got a set (there are 5 in the box).

When they arrived I attached the tip to the pencil and promptly did nothing. (In my defence this year has been A LOT)

Well I have been doing a… bit more than a sketch but less than a painting, and apart from the fact that it seems to tank the iPad battery in just a couple of hours it’s been quite relaxing. I can see myself using it a lot more as it’s so quick. I don’t have to get out materials or set the graphics tablet up/turn the PC on etc. it’s literally just sit down and go.

The PenTip makes the experience so much better. It’s not tip-tapping and slipping on the screen anymore.

So yeah thanks past!Me.

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Ok I am cheating and using PoseMuse as a quick reference for basically a T-pose set to do an “alternate outfit” sketch for Sabine.

I have the basic sketch. I need to clean up the line work and colour it. I am so damn slow with this. Unsure whether to blame that I am using Procreate which I don’t do all that often, or just my general lack of skill.

But now I have started so I guess I will do this thing.

I have so many art projects on my list at the moment due to the various prompt months. But I can’t shake the feeling that I am still doing it wrong. That I need to forget drawing what I care about and go back to basics or I will never properly learn. I am so damn impatient /sigh.

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When I watched Obi-Wan Kenobi infiltrate the Fortress Inquisitor place I kept pointing “oh I have been there”. As it really was an accurate reproduction of the Fortress as seen in Fallen Order.

Now I get the timeline and that the Kenobi show happens around the same time as Jedi Survivor. So I guess Cal was kind of busy.

BUT

It bugged the hell out of me when the Hidden Path said they had no intel on the place. Jedi Master Cere was also there with Cal – you know one of the leaders of the Hidden Path. Cal is a fairly famous Jedi on the loose (his face is on a wanted poster on Coruscant billboards!) and I just struggle to believe the word of flooding the place, of beating Vader (as they stole the holocron and escaped with their lives) wasn’t at least told in whispers like a campfire story. To show that the Empire could lose.

Maybe they aren’t ready to cross the games over into live action. But honestly to have them so closely linked. Somebody must have studied the hell out of the Fallen Order map. I recognised a plant – a plant! – that I had swum past when I was looking in all corners to make sure I didn’t miss any chests.

Also no shields on the place? Even though five years earlier Cal busted in and flooded a bunch? Talk about not learning from mistakes if one stray blaster bolt still shatters windows…

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Bail Organa is… I have always appreciated the hell out of him. In his position of privilege it would have been easy to do nothing but without him the rebellion would have had no ships, no resources.

He was the one that went to the Jedi temple to help when it was burning. He saved Yoda. He loved Leia and raised her to be the strong, incredible leader and good person that she was.

(Side note: how incredible was Leia at 10 years old to hold out against an Inquisitor in interrogation? Scared, with the promise of going home, but just like her father taught her, Leia wouldn’t take the easy path and sacrifice others. She wouldn’t talk and I am impressed.)

I don’t know if Bail in the senate made any difference during the Empire years but I certainly remember how much he tried during the Clone Wars. He always tried to do what was best.

I’m watching Kenobi and like so much of this show is a gut punch which is why I am so behind on it. But Bail Organa just got me again with that holo message. He is obviously devastated. He thinks he got Obi-Wan killed and that his daughter is dead. But his first thought is that Luke will be in danger.

Bail isn’t a Jedi. He’s not a soldier. But “Owen will need help” and so Bail is going to go to Tattooine. Mourning his daughter he’ll risk everything for another child of Anakin Skywalker and his old friend Padme.

He always tries to do what is right and I am just in awe of that. What a guy.

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I really can’t draw but I also feel like I should metaphorically speaking “put my money where my mouth is” re: Sabine’s outfit. If I think something else would have been better I should try and show that.

I do have ideas 🙃

If only I wasn’t so damn tired /sigh