The Joy of Geek Podcast, Episode 65 - Solo: A Star Wars Story Review and Westworld Season 2 Update

The Joy of Geek Podcast, Episode 65:
Solo: A Star Wars Story Review and Westworld Season 2 Update

On this episode of The Joy of Geek Podcast, we (Rich and Kevin) review the new film Solo: A Star Wars Story, starring Alden Ehrenreich as a young Han Solo, and directed by Ron Howard. The film went through a famously troubled development cycle, including a change in director, last-minute acting lessons and drastic reshoots on its journey to the screen, but does the final product deliver on the promise of a fun, swashbuckling Star Wars adventure?

In our Spoilercast and Review, we look at Solo from all angles - from the performances by Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, and Woody Harrelson, to the quality of the script, to the visual effects, original score, surprise cameos and easter eggs and beyond - and debate its overall success, both as a Han Solo origin story, and as a standalone film. We also discuss the film's abyssmal performance at the box office and offer some theories on why audiences aren't showing up. 

But first, we make a brief stop at Westworld (and The Raj, and Shogun World) to check-in on the show’s second season and decide whether or not the magic of season one is back. Hint: it is. We also discuss what we’ve been reading and watching lately, including: Deadpool 2, American Gods (and Neil Gaiman’s work in general), Howard’s End, XO Manowar and more. And in news, we discuss Lucifer’s cancellation and search for a new home, and celebrate The Expanse’s revival at Amazon.

So join us, as we learn where Han Solo got his name, how he met Chewbacca, and what really happened at that legendary card game...and try hard not to be disappointed. This...is The Joy of Geek!