Ole_Tom_Fiddle

I'm 37 and watching this for the first time in 2025 with my family and we enjoyed it thoroughly. It's delightful and warm. It also creates genuine fear and tension through the various hardships and obstacles the family faces. The vulnerability in those moments is palpable. It's refreshingly simple and sweet and a relic of storytelling that I don't think we'll get again.

This episode continues the story threads set up in Episode 1, largely focused on building tension and setting the stage for what's coming. There's not much in the way of payoff or action here-definitely a necessary but quiet chapter.

I still find myself rooting for Dedra. It feels like she's on a trajectory toward full-on villainy, bound to commit something awful... but part of me wonders if she might surprise us and pull away from the Empire. Syril, at this point, feels like more of an interesting accessory than a driving force.

Bix's subplot gets a bit more compelling with the Empire literally knocking at her door. There's tension, for sure-but something about her arc still isn't fully landing for me.

Genevieve O'Reilly has a standout moment in this one, continuing to make Mon Mothma an intensely conflicted and layered character. It's fascinating watching her burn her personal life for the cause, much like Luthen before her.

I'd rate this one Blue Milk-solid and essential setup, but not particularly memorable on its own.

What a return. The opening moments had me locked in-goosebumps from the first synth tones of the theme. Visually striking, tonally intense, and immediately immersive, this episode doesn't waste time easing you back in. It drops you right into the fire and trusts you to keep up.

There's a real heartbeat to this show-deep, pulsing music, grounded performances, and characters that feel complex and raw. The writing gives space for empathy and humanity, even in moments of tension or conflict. A few scenes didn't land quite as well for me, but overall it's clear this episode is setting up something big.

This wasn't fireworks-it was a slow, deliberate spark. 7/10 and very excited for what's coming next.