The Evolution of Bryce Dallas Howard in Star Wars

If you aren’t familiar yet with the work of budding director Bryce Dallas Howard in the Star Wars mythos, it’s about time that you familiarize yourself with it. Following in the footsteps of her legendary director-father Ron Howard, Bryce has added directing to her already well-known acting resume. To say that she is doing well would be a complete understatement. Let’s take a look at what she’s done so far for the Star Wars Universe.

The Mandalorian: Santuary

Her first crack at Star Wars was in Episode 4 of ‘The Mandalorian’ entitled ‘Sanctuary’. Here we see Mando (Pedro Pascal) combine forces with Cara Dune (Gina Carano) to save a small village from a group of raiders reinforced by the presence of an AT-ST (All Terrain Scout Transport). Of course, the AT-ST was modified by the raiders, but that still meant that Mando would have his hands full trying to save the village with this overpowering advantage. Here, Bryce was given the responsibility of introducing one of the best characters of the series in Cara Dune. At this point, ‘The Mandalorian’ was still growing its fandom as a space western. ‘Sanctuary’ did show Bryce Dallas Howard as more than capable of providing the background of Cara Dune, and adding to the already vast Star Wars bevy of characters.

The Mandalorian: The Heiress

With one episode under her belt, Bryce Dallas Howard proceeded with an even bigger episode in ‘The Mandalorian’. Episode 11 entitled, ‘The Heiress’ not only did she get to introduce Bo-Katan Kryze to her live action debut, bu she also gets to incorporate actress Katee Sackhoff into the Star Wars stable of actors. For those who aren’t familiar with Bo-Katan (seriously, why aren’t you?), she is the fan favorite animated characte that first appeared in ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’. As for Katee Sackhoff, people who are fans of the rebooted sci-fi series ‘Batllestar Galactica’ in the early 2000s will recognize that name. Katee is science fiction royalty now with Bo-Katan under her belt of acting roles aside from Starbuck from ‘Battlestar Galactica’. This was one of the best episodes of season two of ‘The Mandalorian’, and she has shown that she is very much capable of grander storytelling.

The Book of Boba Fett: Return of the Mandalorian

So, when ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ was announced over a year ago with Bryce Dallas Howard being identified as one of the directors for the series, I wasn’t surprised, and was expecting great things from her. She didn’t disappoint. ‘Return of the Mandalorian’ directed by Bryce Dallas Howard is the best episode in ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ to date. She masterfully incorporates elements of previous lore with newer elements which effectively draws in more people to this already massive Star Wars fandom. She truly is following the lead of forerunners Jon Favreau, and Dave Filioni. And what is that exactly? Geeking out with past lore to creat even geekier lore to the delight of many Star Wars fans.

In her own little trilogy (see what I did there?), Bryce has shown that she understands fully what it takes to handle a Star Wars property. She didn’t have to throw away all that came before to create something new. She used the longtime lore as a foundation to build something truly great: stories that welcome fans of any generation with utmost respect of what came before.

There was a time when some creators would argue that you can’t please past and new fans of Star Wars. That it was time to move on from the old. Bryce Dallas Howard has followed in the footsteps of Favreau, and Filioni in disproving that assertion. You CAN create something new WITH the old. More power to you, Bryce. Here’s hoping you can create your own Star Wars movie or your own Star Wars series someday. This is they way.

Wonder Woman 1984: A Spoilerless Review

There are no shortcuts to success. That is the message that the film conveys at the onset, and it permeates throughout the film. Though this sequel proceeds, albeit a few decades in time after its predecessor, Wonder Woman 1984 has its own voice, and it takes Diana on a voyage of self-reconciliation amidst the backdrop of man’s world that she is now completely immersed. Joining Gal Gadot in her journey as Wonder Woman are actors Pedro Pascal who plays Maxwell Lord, a self-professed businessman on the cusp of greatness, and Kristen Wiig who portrays Barbara Minerva, and later Cheetah. Both Maxwell Lord and Cheetah are well-known characters in DC comic book lore. Maxwell Lord and Cheetah, though they play the parts of antagonists to Wonder Woman, help Diana reconcile some inner pains experienced in the first Wonder Woman movie. Reprising his role as Steve Trevor, Chris Pine provides ample fuel to the outcome of Diana’s self-reconciliation. However, Steve’s ‘resurrection’ comes in a manner not even hinted on in the promotional trailers.

If you are a DC comic book reader, you might get surprised with the film’s depiction of Maxwell Lord and Cheetah. The story of Wonder Woman 1984 takes liberties to both characters’ origins and even with their powers to come up with a unique pair of antagonists for Diana in this movie. The names might be the same, but the story of the characters are quite different from what fans are familiar with in the comic books. As to Steve Trevor’s return, there is a bit of wishful thinking involved here which lies at the core of Maxwell Lord’s, and even Barbara Minerva’s motivations. This leads to a most unanticipated twist in the story that creates the mayhem, and at the same time the crux for the movie’s resolution.

As the story progresses, we get to see Diana get what she wants to resolve her relationship with Steve. Similarly, we get to see Maxwell Lord and Barbara get their heart’s desire as well in the film. Or do they? This goes back to the very beginning of the story when Diana is made to understand that there are no shortcuts to success…which also includes her own happiness. Diana realizes this painfully, as she comes to a decision on how to resolve the return of Steve Trevor, and her love for him. Fortunately, Diana gets back to form in due time to vanquish the threat of Maxwell Lord, and Cheetah in a most unexpected way.

In the end, even with Diana’s resolute drive to once again save humanity from the pitfalls it has created, she cannot do it alone, and it is humanity itself who saves itself in its hour of need with Wonder Woman’s urging. The result is a realization by humanity that they can be the solution to the problems that they themselves created. It took a Wonder Woman for people to realize that, and follow Diana’s own sacrifice to save the day.

All in all, Wonder Woman 1984 is unlike the first film in form and substance. Viewers will appreciate it more if they focus what it provides rather than what it does not. Wonder Woman 1984 gives us a timely reminder that there are no shortcuts to success, and that we can be our own heroes in our own lives if we are willing to make the right choice.