Not really sure where this storyline was going to go but the moons of Iego was... something. Most of the issues in this episode can be chalked up to people being stuck in one place for most of it's runtime on both ends and then when the issue is indeed resolve it just kind of... is. Zero buildup, everything is just miraculously ok. I understand that this show is for kids, and that's something important most people need to understand of course, but at the same time everything comes so naturally here it doesn't feel like there is any stakes here.
Still, it's not all bad. I like how Anakin's emotions get the better of him throughout most of this and Obi-Wan's reassurances to calm him down are what keep him sane, which is a great character beat. And when they do get to the planet of Iego it's a fun premise and idea - one that maybe could have used a whole arc to utilize better rather then have half a episode.
Like the premise of the episode and returning to Naboo is always fun but a lot of this really felt like action for action's sake. And it's good action! Lightsaber stuff and infiltration and bombs are about to go off and a ticking clock? Sign me up for a good time! It's just a shame that's ALL that's here, especially when other episode and hell the movies do this stuff infinitely better with more interesting results. If there was a stronger thematic core I would also be down but it definitely seems muddled - it seems to be wanna focusing on Anakin and Padme's relationship but there isn't enough of it here.
The better stuff is all with Vindi, who is a delightfully evil villain, and the general look of the episode in general. The show continues to be one of the best looking animated shows of it's time and this episode gives more and more stuff to really chew on in that regard. An enjoyable, if unimpressive, episode.
Our first prequel episode of the show, highlighting significant events prior to the events of the film, and it's a doozy. In fact in a lot of ways I like it more then the actual film itself (The Clone Wars film is mostly a slog) mainly due to it's focus on the clones - these are likable, fun characters and Dee Bradley Baker's ability to make them all unique and interesting is impressive voice acting work by any stretch of the imagination.
Plus I love a good mystery episode, and this one offers a fun angle of having the culprit be literally identical looking. This means it's going to come down to personality and motivation which makes it a character study even unintentionally, and this episode manages to really explore the clones' psychology. What does it mean to be a solider? Do the clones have free will? It's a fascinating discussion and while the show would do this better later on this is a good start. Solid episode!
Really love a lot of this one even if it doesn't necessarily stick the landing completely. It's nice to see an episode focus on an individual conflict rather then the grand scale war the rest of the show is usually about, and having it be a morality play is a great way of sticking to Star Wars' usual themes of conflict and the nature of good and evil. Chairman Cho is a delightfully hateable character and his eventual just desserts is extremely satisfying in a way that also highlights the themes of the episode, and the Talz are a great creation even if their design comes wholesale from the original film.
The animation also gets a massive boost this time around. I have no idea if this episode was produced after the rest of the season to fill up time due to the film but it looks pretty stellar all around with some of the best chase scenes so far into the show's run. This kind of animation would eventually become standard for the show but it's good to see it so early on in it's run.
Trauma and abuse brought forth into physical form. Marc Spector isn't so much broken as he is simply been through hell and back, and Steven Grant is his coping mechanism, his way of allowing himself some peace in a world that seems to hate him. Asylum seeks to understand, not to fix; Marc's problems aren't gone by the end of the episode, simply that he has come to terms with his reality and has begun his search for "balance" in a way.
Moon Knight is strong in the same way that WandaVision was in that it takes these grand superhero operatics and seeks to use that as a tool to explore various ideas and the human condition, and while WandaVision is firmly cemented in grief, this show is more concerned with the complicated origins of mental illness. This is probably the darkest the mainline MCU has gotten (this isn't counting the Netflix shows of course) and while there was a fear that it wouldn't work with the rest of the universe it not only fits right in but also manages to carve out it's own identity - it still feels like it's own thing which is an impressive feat considering how entrenched much of the MCU is together. Easily my favourite episode of the show thus far.
Easily my favourite episode so far of the bunch, continuing the show's trek of slowly becoming quite possibly my favourite of the Disney+ shows - that is if it can keep this momentum going into the final act of the show. But as it stands, this is a great piece of supernatural goodness that's very much up my alley in terms of what I wanted to see from the show from the beginning. It's delightfully spooky and the vibes of Tomb Raider are all over this thing in a good way. And the chemistry of Oscar Isaac and May Calamawy really takes off in this episode as well, making a bizarre yet compelling love triangle actually work in the long run.
But it's the last 10 minutes where Moon Knight finally reveals it's trump card, and suddenly the entire series is flipped on it's head in a damn good way. Answers are likely coming sooner or later, but as somebody who intimately familiar with the Jeff Lemire run from 2016 I can safely say that the show is heading into really dark, uncharted territory if they manage to pull this off. The cinematography change here too, from the shakier, grittier parts of the "real world" to the more clean and sophisticated style of the new one really puts into perspective how things have changed for Marc and Steven, and the final reveal is both wonderfully odd and genuinely hilarious. Fantastic stuff!
Unsure if this is my favourite episode (Episode 2 is hard to beat) but I love me some good treasure hunting. Marvel has pitched Moon Knight multiple times as Indiana Jones meets superheroes meets psychological thriller and this episode makes good on that promise while also keeping it's story focused on the internal struggles of Marc and Steven. In a nice change of pace, Marc is at the center of most of this and while Steven is still the heart of the series you get a lot of great character stuff for Marc here, particularly in regards to his relationship with Layla.
Egyptian mythology in general has always been some of my cup of tea so seeing the show dive headfirst into it as much as it can is pretty great, particularly in the council scene which is just great stuff. The ending with Khonshu and the stars is one of the most visually stunning sequences on the show so far and while the implications of it have yet to be fully revealed, it does set the stage for some fun tomb raiding - which, might I add, is the reason why I was so excited for this show to begin with. Fantastic stuff once again!
Love the ideas on display here, even if they are a bit preachy. But I think it's important to recognize the target audience of Star Wars in this case, as most Star Wars is not aimed at adults like myself but kids and young teens who may need to hear this message for the first time. And while Star Wars would have more nuanced discussions on the nature of war going forward, Defenders of the Peace is a good start as it showcases a critique of centrism in times of conflict while also showing how war affects civilians, first and foremost.
Lok Durd is a fun villain as well. George Takei is always a blast to have on screen and his presence is very much welcomed here, and he's clearly having a ball playing this kind of slimey, irredeemable villain. The actual action here is strong as well as the show is clearly starting to get into a groove in regards to it's choreography and cinematography. And the final moments of the episode are enough to actually make you reflect on the implications which is, frankly, more that can be said about most things. Great stuff!
Jedi Crash starts with a bang and never loses momentum. While the show and prior episodes have flirted with different tones, characters, and pace, the best episodes have tended to be the ones with a "go, go, go" attitude towards the stakes and scale. And with Anakin out of the picture, much of this episode is carried by Ahsoka and Aayla, whose dynamic allows for Ahsoka to continue her development. So far she remains one of the more interesting parts of the show and I like the tough lesson she has to learn about warfare here.
The Lurmens are a great creation as well. Outside of being a really cool looking species with a fun gimmick of rolling around like a wheel (which is very similar to Droidekas, now that I really think about it), it poses an interesting moral question about the war in general - is it necessary to get involved in warfare and is staying neutral even an option? With the arc unfinished, this answer clearly hasn't been fully answered but with a strong setup, the episode leaves you wanting more, even if it's clearly only half of a story.
Still absolutely in love with this one. Marvel Studios' overall output on Disney+ so far as been exceptional but Moon Knight so far is up there with Loki as some of their best work. Most of this is due to how creative it's camerawork is and how it tries to find the duality in nearly every shot. Steven's, and by extension Marc's, own struggles with DID throughout these two episodes is one of a battle of control while also a need to understand; everybody believes him to be broken and battered but he isn't, this is just who he, or they, are.
Plus it's just a damn good time. Even at it's worst Marvel is one of the better blockbuster studios right now which has been made abundantly clear, and beyond the great character work and stellar cinematography there is also a really great balance of tone here. It's just silly enough to recognize that Moon Knight is, on the record, a somewhat goofy idea premise for a character while also genuinely looking at him and taking him seriously. It's a great mix of the more modern, psychological takes of the character but also embracing the goofiness of the 80s in full force.
Not nearly as good as the first part of the arc but ultimately gets the job done. Hondo Ohnaka is still a riot here but unfournately he's underplayed in favour of his second-in-command Turk who isn't nearly as interesting and now saddled with a betrayal arc that doesn't really go anywhere prior to his grisly end. Jar Jar Binks is also bizarrely underplayed here, this time with a different actor too, which is noticeable and lacks Ahmed Best's committed performance as the character. Because of that, a lot of this episode feels elongated when it didn't need to be, taking way too long to get going.
The real highlight here are with Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Dooku, forced to work together to escape and their chemistry is shockingly great. Having the heroes and villains team up is a time honored cliche of storytelling but this one makes it work without removing Dooku's threat and malice as well. It's a strong dynamic that ends well too, even if the road getting there was a bit bumpier then I could have wanted.
Great setup here. Having a solo Anakin and Obi-Wan story is really great, especially as Ahsoka is out of the picture for the moment, and this allows for the banter to be the focus here. The comraderie and friendship these two have together is frequently one of the strongest things about this show and while they are mostly, admittedly, stuck in a cave for most of this their interactions keep things light, fun, and interesting. Their eventual final scene together here works as one of the best moments of the first season as well, showcasing their resourcefulness and intelligence while also landing a stellar comedic beat in the process.
Dooku's side of the story isn't as interesting, but it does setup the next episode very well and introduces a personal favourite character of mine in Hondo Ohnaka, the cunning yet strangely honorable pirate. He's much funnier then expected in his first ever appearance and much of this has to do with Jim Cummings incredible vocal performance as the character, who is just killing it here. Plus it helps that he's not an idiot here - his capture of Dooku and eventual ransom request is actually very well thought out, which makes him a genuine threat going forward.
Who is General Grievous? This is a question that is never fully answered outside of Expanded Universe material (both in Legends and Canon) and while Lair of Grievous doesn't give us full answers it dangles them enticingly in front of us. While Kit Fisto and Nahdar Vebb are our focus characters here, Grievous is the lead of the episode, the one with the arc and being tested by his master. Seeing how he operates is both fascinating and strangely compelling, and his philosophy into hunting Jedi is explored as more of an instinctual need to hunt rather then something he does cause he's told. This is a sport to him, a game to him.
And the horror elements of this episode are what really drive this one into "top tier" status for me. From the way the characters are getting picked off one by one to the foreboding, oppressive atmosphere, this is a strong, strong episode in that regard and features some of the best animation of the series to date. Most of the dark stuff is implied, but it works so much better then just showing it, and seeing Fisto get out with barely his life does a better showcase of Grievous abilities then anything else.
Ahsoka Tano is an interesting character to gage what people really want in Star Wars. On the one hand, it's episodes like this where some people give up with her, and think her overconfidence, her brash and impulsive attitude, and her overall disregard for protocol makes her unlikable and impossible to relate to. And then there is people like me, who see this and go "oh, so THAT'S what they are doing with the character" and love her all the more for it. Ahsoka fails in this episode and it comes back to bite her in the ass as Ventress infiltrates the ship. The Clone Wars has flirted with darkness before like in the Malevolence arc and Rookies and here it's in full force once again.
Killer lightsaber fights here too. The show has mostly gotten by without them or has had small skirmishes here and there but this is the first one to really be a full on setpiece and it's fantastic! The nature of animation gives it a creativity not seen in the movies and Ventress is a great opponent here. The ending is also wonderfully, and beautifully, twisted. I wish the twist with Argyus wasn't as telegraphed, but James Marsters is clearly having a ball here so it picks up the slack. Great stuff.
I don't hate Jar Jar Binks as much as the rest of the Star Wars fandom seems to, as I understand his place in the grand scheme of the story and why he was created in the first place. And while The Phantom Menace isn't my favourite film by any stretch of the imagination, there is an earnest sincerity to how it portrays him, something that this episode sorely lacks. Ahmed Best is back and does a great job here, but there is a cynical attitude towards him that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It's like the writers were forced at gunpoint to write an episode about him and it's really bizarre.
Still it's saved by a strong setup. Padme and Nute Gunray's rivalry goes all the way back to the beginning of the prequels so having that be the anchor point is a good tie in, Onaconda has a solid if short arc, and Rodia is very pretty to look at. Overall the episode mostly works as a forgettable, if somewhat enjoyable, diversion into the better episodes of the arc but it's a shame everything is rooted in this cynicism.
It's becoming a broken record to say that "Marvel makes damn great stuff" but Moon Knight is yet another strong entry in their catalogue if this first episode is anything to go by. And unlike the prior shows, it presents a new interesting challenge for the MCU in it's relatively standalone status. This is the first of their shows to be about a wholly new character unconnected to any prior entry even tangentially, and because of that there is a chance for them to do something really different and new here. Of course, they are more then up to the challenge as Moon Knight's pilot is downright excellent in setting up the world view of our lead character. Most of this is due to Oscar Isaac's wonderful performance as he balances the camp, somewhat over the top aspects of the premise with the more serious and genuine portrayal of DID with ease.
But the real treat comes in how it's presented on screen. Mirrors and reflections are everywhere, and the fractured mental state of our hero is clearly the main focus here over big action sequences. In fact, while there are action scenes here, they are brief and quick, and cut out with very little time to process what the hell just happened. The brutality is mostly implied here compared to out right shown (do not expect Marvel Netflix levels of violence here, those hoping for that will be disappointed) but it still manages to be on the much darker end of the MCU as it should be. Pretty much excellent across the board and a fantastic start.
Stronger then the prior part of this arc, mainly for it's sheer propulsion in getting things done. Unlike the prior episode which felt like multiple storylines in one, this zeroes in on a single location for most of it and it's much better paced for that. Ahsoka and Grievous' lightsaber duel in particular feels well earned and a ton of fun, having elements of slasher horror in the second half as Ahsoka desperately tries to escape him. You really are starting to feel the terror of this guy and having him basically only defeated by Ahsoka cause she ran away makes him a significant threat. And Anakin's devotion to R2 is endearing here, and helps foreshadow Luke's eventual same devotion to R2 in the original trilogy.
Some problems still remain though. The music still isn't great which is a shame cause Kevin Kiner is usually fantastic, and the animation is still very rough. Plus, the entire affair ends in such a way that you ask "what exactly was the purpose of this" which is never really a good sign for an arc. R3's entire presence feels haphazard in these two episodes honestly, and feels more like a way for Anakin's devotion to R2 to stick out rather then a genuine source of tension.
Not good! You can clearly tell this was made super early in the show's development cycle, from the weaker animation then normal to the strange directorial choices, as well as the really electronic, guitar heavy music that doesn't fit the rest of the show. It's clearly trying to experiment with a bunch of different ideas but it doesn't fully work, particularly narratively as it feels incomplete a lot of the time. The basic premise is simple enough (R2 is missing!) but the episodic nature of the episode doesn't help when itself is already part of an episodic arc.
The biggest strike against this episode though is the fact that characters feel almost like different people here. Anakin is much more along the lines of his early Episode 2 characterization which doesn't work, Ahsoka is naive to a fault, and Obi-Wan feels too overbearing. In a lot of ways this feels like that it's an episode from a younger skewing version of the show that never made it to air, and while it's not the worst thing ever it's certainly a below average episode of the show.
The first truly stellar episode of the show, Rookies is the kind of bold, radical episode that it's pretty shocking it aired so early in this show's run. It's a risky move to have an entire episode dedicated to basically the grunts of the universe but it pays off wonderfully, particularly in retrospect. The unique personalities of the clones really shine through in this episode and their likability make the eventual demise of several of them hit all the harder. The sacrifice at the end of the episode here is pretty intense for a show airing at it's timeslot and the lack of punches pulled is impressive to say the least.
It also helps that the oppressive tone of this episode, with the commando droids being a bigger threat and the entire outside of the moon out to kill them, makes this a tense watch. The lack of movie characters also means anybody here is fair game, and the causalities of war are shown in full force here. This is just stellar stuff and one of the best episodes of the early show.
Pretty much a blast from start to finish thanks to fantastic setups, payoffs, and some really great dialogue throughout with the main cast. As dry as some of the prequel era can get due to it's heavy dosage of tragedy and politics, episodes like these remind you "Oh yeah, this is still Star Wars" and becomes a rollicking good time that doesn't take itself too seriously. Anakin and Obi-Wan have some fun banter here that calls back to other moments in the series, Padme's chemistry with Anakin feels more palpable and realistic, and even the droids get some good gags, with a "jumping the cliff" moment in particular that's very funny.
Plus it helps that the lightsaber stuff we get here is a treat. The benefits of animation allow the entire affair to be more visually creative then live action and create more interesting scenarios, and this takes full advantage of that. From the initial dogfights to the jumping around on the ship to the final confrontations it's a delight to witness, even if it doesn't have much in the way of thematic substance. Stellar stuff!
Lacks the prior episode's moody atmosphere and solid emotional core but has some thrilling action and great animation beats to pull it through. So far, even at it's weakest, the show is easily stronger then the prequel films that came before it and even it's own pilot film, able to balance it's variety of elements while keeping it's own identity in the grand scheme. I'm also coming to really appreciate the clones as characters here, particularly with their own nicknames and personalities. They all feel like distinct people, and lots of praise needs to be given to Dee Bradley Baker for his incredible vocal performances here in making sure that happens.
As for actual point of the episode, which is a continued exploration of how both sides treat their men, it's pretty on the nose but so is most of Star Wars so that's not necessarily a problem. I think Anakin is a bit too rash this episode compared to prior ones continuity wise, as it seems like the story needs him to be more reckless to learn a lesson, but I like his eventual decision and I appreciate his consistently solid chemistry with Ahsoka. Good stuff here!
One of my favourite things about Star Wars is how it can range from pure kid friendly fantasy to dark, horrific depictions of war , sometimes within scenes. Rising Malevolence is a perfect example of this, and after a more kid friendly episode like the last one, this episode heads straight into dark territory with a struggle to survive against impossible odds. General Grievous was always a difficult character to place in Revenge of the Sith as he had been around for a while in-universe but his short screentime is more there as a brief obstacle. Here though we get to see just why he's the leader of the Separatist army as his forces rip through Plo Koon and his men. I wish we got a bit more of it as after his initial assault he's mostly just yelling orders but for those first 5-6 minutes, the dark reds of the cinematography and his assault are thrilling stuff.
And yeah, let's talk about Plo Koon. He's the beating heart of this episode, one of the better non-lead Jedi the show has to offer thanks his personality and design being so unique in the context of the rest of the Council. His compassion for the clones really shows the difference between both sides of the conflict, and while Anakin and Ahsoka get great moments here, particularly Ahsoka with bond with Koon, it ends up being him and his undying loyalty to his men that is a highlight. Great stuff overall!
As the first official episode of the show after the movie, Ambush had some things to prove narratively. The movie wasn't exactly the best in terms of representing the quality of the show, and as the first real mainstream Star Wars show, it also needed show that this series could be done in an episodic format while also retaining the level of quality the movies have in terms of their visual design. And while the prequels were a dark time for the series in terms of reception, as a first episode this is a solid start. The decision to start with Yoda as opposed to the leads of the show is a good choice as it reveals the audience very clearly that this will be an anthology series first and foremost, and to expect episodes focused on other characters then our leads constantly.
And it's fun! Yoda is the best he's been in a while here, both mixing the powerful warrior version in the prequels with the goofy, fun loving wise mentor from the original trilogy in a great blend. The droids are very silly and funny, much more then in the films, and while having our villains stand around for an entire episode doesn't exactly make for the most compelling storytelling, this is still a good time overall. A solid start, if a bit predictable and on the more obvious side.
Abducting Murphy's Law hones in on the idea of miscommunication. Whether that be miscommunication between friends, between strangers, or even people from other places, there is something universal about the idea that a simple misunderstanding about words can completely shift one's tone about the other person. We see both positive and negative resolutions in this episode, and both are portrayed wonderfully as the show finally gets going with it's long built alien storyline. Milo's abduction turns out to be mostly harmless, with the aliens needing him for something that isn't negative to him, though the initial misunderstanding is very funny leads to some quality gag work. Doof, Melissa, and Zack's own storyline is equally as great, and I love the angle of the Milo robot being a jerk and that being the thing to tip them off.
On the more negative side though is Dakota and Cavendish, whose storyline comes to a head as they split ways over, you guessed it, miscommunication. Normally Dan and Swampy like to wrap things up in an episode as a way to keep the status quo but also develop character (they did this masterfully in P&F) but in MML they've been keen on sticking with long term plot developments and this is no exception. Their splitting, at least right now, is permanent and forever changes the status quo and dynamics at play here. Where does it go? Who knows now, but this episode is proof that they still got it. Excellent.
Always have a soft spot for episodes that play with different style and this is no exception. Milo is barely actually in this outside of the dream sequences each of the characters has conjured up about them, and because of that the show is able to play with the idea of perception and how Milo's action ripple across the entire cast. Each character's unique perspective offers something new into Milo but also themselves, and that's great writing, with the highlight being Bradley's cynical approach to Milo's existence born out of jealously rather then genuine malice.
I also really like how the art and tone shifts depending on the character. There isn't a set standard here on how it all perceives itself which is really cool, and I particularly appreciate how the ending commits to the bit of leaving the actual cause of Murphy's Law still up for debate. Another stellar episode.
What a stellar concept! Bottle episodes tend to be some of the strongest episodes of Dan and Swampy's endeavors, mainly cause it forces them as writers to think outside of the box as well as put them in a situation where they can only use certain narrative devices. As such, they also tend to be some of the more reflexive, meta, and funnier episodes as well, and Freefall is probably one of the best ones they've done in that regard. From the fact it's literally 11 minutes of falling to the way it continually ups itself, this is top tier Milo Murphy's Law in action.
Really, really love the Cavendish and Dakota section of the episode as well. It's a strong moment for the two of them and we also get to see subtle hints about Cavendish as a character slowly becoming more and more disillusioned with his current state of being. The seeds of conflict are sown, now to watch them flourish. Fantastic episode!
Mixed, uneven, and weirdly structured, the first season of The Book of Boba Fett is certainly ambitious but fails to deliver on it's promises of a darker, grittier look into the seedy underbelly of the Star Wars universe. Instead, it seems more content on table setting for other, future shows and cameo appearances that don't serve the overall story and seem to only exist to please hardcore fans and fuel reactions online. There is a cynical part of me who truly hates the direction that Star Wars seems to be taking in recent years and this might be the pinnacle of that in it's sheer audacity to sideline two leads of colour in favour of randos from across the franchise.
Still, there is stuff to like here to save it from being completely bad. Temura Morrison is a compelling lead, and Ming-na Wen steals every scene she's in. The decision to frame the early episodes and eventually the finale as a character study on Boba Fett as a criminal, bounty hunter, and eventual redeemed leader is a smart one, and in it's strongest moments it's a moving portrait of redemption in action. A second season could save the show as a whole, but as it stands this is a mess.
Well how about that? I was expecting this finale to be a lot worse then it was honestly considering how much of a mess the show has become over the past six episodes, but this finale, "In The Name of Honor", is actually quite, hell even very good. It doesn't necessarily make up for the missteps of the series as a whole but as a season ender it does a great job at wrapping up all of the major arcs and storylines in satisfying ways. Seeing the town of Mos Espa come together to fight off the Pykes was a great way of tying the themes of the show together as well, and while it wasn't a huge scale battle the stakes FELT big which is mostly props to the writing.
And while Din and Grogu do threaten to overshadow here as their moments are very good, Boba Fett is still the focus here and his final confrontation with Cad Bane might actually make the whole series. Bane is a fascinating character for how he relates to Boba's overall story in the franchise and seeing that culminate here was sublime. The action was great too, if a bit cheesy, but I like my Star Wars cheesy anyways so that's a non-issue in my books.
Ironically, this might have the opposite weakness from the last episode. While that one was extremely well constructed and written, it was also somewhat lacking in the laughs department (even if it did have the great dialogue to expected with this show). This one, on the other hand, is extremely funny and has a multitude of standout jokes, but it's structure is oddly disjointed for Dan and Swampy - a rarity with them as their narrative skills are always strong enough to pull through. It's not enough to be a sinking ship or even that big of a problem, but the two stories here don't really match up together and the two of them feel like separate episodes combined into one.
Still, as the stories go, they are really great. Milo's story is a fun insight into the Murphy family and their traditions in dealing with the law while also having a funny running gag with a killer cyborg bear, while Doof's side plot is shenanigans, yes, but funny shenanigans nonetheless and even has one of the funniest meta gags in the series. Good stuff!
This episode is super close to being a 10/10 but doesn't quite get there for me - it's premise is really solid (the simpler the ideas with this show, the stronger it usually ends up being), I like the cause-and-effect style story, and there is a lot of creativity here. I just wish it was slightly funnier - it's still funny, but the episode takes a more laidback approach which I don't know if that was the right call for something as ripe for slapstick as this.
Still, the dialogue is still aces. I love Cavendish and Dakota too much to pass up, Elliot might have some of the best material he's ever gotten here, and Dioggie of all characters gets some very great reactions here thanks to a female dog vying for his affections. If this was a slightly funnier time I would easily give this the gold star treatment, but it's still a really strong episode and one of the better constructed ones of the season.
