I appreciate it as closure and assurance that Jesse got a real chance at a new start. The final scene with Jane is my favorite part of the movie for that reason.

If it turns out the only reason given for Lalo going to Jimmy's and Kim's place is him seeing the cockroach and thinking of Jimmy (he referred to Jimmy as la cucaracha back in season 5) it wouldn't be too haphazard if that's what you're pointing at. And I'm sure we'll find out what sprang into Lalo's mind when he saw the cockroach skitter past. If it's just the timing - both of them showing up at the same time then sure I can see your point, but I didn't mind it. Coincidences are real and if they're used sparingly not immersion breaking.

In this case it's a classic example of not being able to account for every possibility and mistake. Kim did not tell Jimmy that Lalo lived, with terrible consequences. If Jimmy knew he would have likely contacted Mike who would have told Jimmy to lay low for now, pausing the plan for sure. Or at least they wouldn't have stayed at their place where both Lalo and Howard knew where to find them.

I am guessing Lalo wants Jimmy to help out with something about getting into the laundry place, or something with that whole plot. But knowing this show it could be a total curveball what he's planning. I always enjoy seeing the weird schemes these writers come up with.

the reveal that Chuck had Jimmy's confession on tape; that was like a normal ep cliffhanger, or a mid-season one at best, if you ask me.

For example, when the twins attacked Hank I think I held my breath for 5 minutes straight. I have never been more afraid for someone in a TV show. And that was due to seasons worth of slow character build.

The same goes for Howard. I felt genuinely bad to see him die, and that was a result of him being one of the main characters for so long.

*An obvious Covid allegory really isn't a super interesting episode concept to begin with, and the idea of people bashing their heads through glass to get closer to the light like fucking moths is very silly.

**Episode 4 more than makes up for it though! Bringing back the Gorn is a cool idea, the PTSD narrative works well, and the build up of tension is very well done. Even though I wanted to see the Gorn appear on screen, I respect the hell out of them for not actually doing it.

Howards murder

And it nailed it imo. Howard's murder took me by surprise completely. Even at the point that Lalo was attaching the silencer to the gun I had no clue what was coming. Also loved Howard's monologue about how Jimmy and Kim are soulless too. In hindsight tho I somewhat regret getting to the cliffhanger now as opposed to waiting until early July when the first ep of the back half of the season drops; I'm v much curious as to how this scenario gets resolved. Not sure whether to spoiler this bit too but I may as well since I'm alrady here - I'm desperate to know how Kim's arc gets resolved too, since obviously she isn't in BB; and doesn't Saul make some references to an ex-wife in BB too?

That being said, if we continue to see more of this lead Inquisitor character, I think she's gonna drag the series down a lot. She continues the Star Wars tradition of having whiny and insufferably immature villians that are just cringy to watch, after Kylo Ren and Hayden Christensen Anakin Skywalker. Except this Inquisitor has an added layer of smugness. Speaking of Hayden Christensen, I'm looking forward to seeing how he handles playing Darth Vader again after 20 years. I certainly hope that he's learned how to deliver lines in a non-wooden fashion in that time period. Then again, while he hamstrung the prequels with his horrid acting, he did do "I don't like sand". That's worth commending just for the memes.

I really enjoy how broken and traumatized Obi-Wan is in the first episode, and even in the second one, as he's nearly forgotten how to use the Force and even carries a blaster - a weapon that he was previously depicted as disliking heavily. They nailed it with how much he's affected by the humiliation and loss of the Jedi, and the loss of Anakin more than anything. He really believes that Anakin is gone, but that cliffhanger at the end where he learns that he still exists, just as Vader... yeah, the next episode's gonna be interesting.

when El hit the girl with a roller skate and got arrested for it, no one among her friends actually stepped in and explained that she was being bullied which triggered her to do it. Heck, there were more than 50 people who saw how she was bullied and humiliated in the middle of the skating rink.

And then Joyce flies off to Alaska to pay ransom to free Hopper. She leaves her stoner kid to look over her other kids. Yup, that's what a responsible adult does in
that situation. And where the hell does she get $40,000 dollars in a span of 2 days? I may have missed it but did they suddenly get rich after the events of season 3?

The chase scenes with young Leia. The way she outran two adults in a straight line and they got caught in the forest environment. It was like a comedy sketch. Also Obi-Wan teleported down from that roof...

...that does seem a little weird. The second one wouldn't be weird if Obi-Wan hadn't al but forgotten how to use the Force, as he could be down there in no time at all with Force-assisted parkour. About the bounty hunters: I didn't expect to see Flea as their leader!

Chase on Alderaan: 0/10, only cringe, totally unnecessary, kinda like the power rangers on Bobba.

Τhird Sister: 4/10 - Not only the permanent tantrum mode is annoying, it doesn't suit a force user just like it didn't suit Kylo.

Alderaan: 7/10 (10/10 for the natural photography, 4/10 for the digital stuff that reminded me of the prequels in a bad way or some generic sci-fi series.)

Grand Inquisitor: 9/10 (prolly just a flesh wound)

Senator Organa: 9/10 (not a ten because there was something off with the de-aging/de-fattening that was distracting in some stellar scenes.)

Haja: 9/10. Genuine laugh moments, a splash of Han Solo.

Leia 10/10. Kudos to the kid! Did not remind me of any of the other SW kids (like Anaking, Omega, Ezra, etc). She was a a young, stubborn and sassy Leia, with a Forceful mind. When she said she was sorry when Obi was talking about her mother, that got me.

Lola 10/10, continuing the flawless streak of droids.

But even if all of the above were a -10:

Εwan 11/10 - PERFECT.

The moment he said "Anakin", as in the first time in ten years it crossed his mind to reach out for him with the Force - and the cut/"msg received", made every hair on my body to stand.

I think my biggest complaint when I exited the Phantom Menace premiere (and I had a lot) was that my favorite character was killed. I can't wait for the reunion.

I've hated on the prequels and sequels plenty generally. The TV shows, despite their respective issues (so what) are making me the happiest I've been with Star Wars since 1997 when I was caught by surprise with this. Great time for SW.

Three adults getting outrun by a child!

that roof fight scene. The Third Sister saw the laser fight from afar and started making her way to Obi Wan's location. And then Young Leia falls, Obi Wan breaks her fall and manages to go down from the roof to the back alley where Leia went down and yet the Third Sister still hadn't made it to where Obi Wan was. She is damn slow!

Erica vs Vecna, that was something, lol.

I'd seen a scene in the trailers with a character being gifted the 2nd edition book, but the story is set in 1986, so unless they do some timey wimey wibbly wibbly stuff, I guess I must have dreamed that. Also both me and my girlfriend thought we had actually seen Hopper in Russia in the post-credit scene... Mandela effect, I guess!

If I recall correctly, Joyce mentioned there being a trust fund that Hopper set up for 11 / Jane. I think he might have discussed it with the Russian guard, which is why they have the exact amount he requests.

Why didn't the parents/cops take one of the other non tire-stabbed cars to easily catch up to the kids? Seems like an obvious oversight that shouldn't have been there.