I might not have seen a lot of TV & Film content across this last year, sticking mostly to my cores, but there’s been a few things that I’ve been excited to see. The lure of an anniversary also brought me back to a particular series I’d dropped quite a number of years ago. There’s also a few things released this year I haven’t got around to yet, so can’t be including them here.
As has been normal for these last few years, there has been a lot of Star Wars TV series released across this year on Disney+. A brilliant second season for The Bad Batch, which had some amazing highs with its mid-season and end-of-season episodes. An interesting third outing for The Mandalorian saw a lot more focus on the culture of the Mandalorians. The rebuilding of what they lost to the Empire.
Ahsoka finally brought the answers to those threads left by the end of Rebels. This series felt just like an extension of Rebels in a new era, and in live-action. The characters felt true to themselves, with some nice new additions to the galaxy. And can’t forget the second season of Visions. Some absolute great animation styles, and some great stories told by various studios across the world. I’d also watched the first season for the first time, which was similarly great even with its focus to just one style of animation.
As for my other core franchises, Sonic has seen the middle third of his multiverse-jumping Netflix series released, and it was just a great as the first. Though I haven’t seen it, Pokémon Horizons seems to have got off to a great start. What I can talk about is Concierge, the lovely stop-motion animated mini-series on Netflix. It is simply lovely, charming, and absolutely adorable! It just recently released, so get on with watching it if you haven’t.
If this is the last year for a while we’re getting on-screen Power Rangers content, then I can safely say it has been a great finale. Once and Always, the anniversary special, provided a great story of earning your powers through selflessness. It was lovely seeing the original suits and various members of the Mighty Morphin team on-screen again. Cosmic Fury continued the story of the Dino Fury Rangers, offering some fun episodes with this single, continuous arc that featured a fully powered Lord Zedd conquering galaxies.
It has been a great year to be a Miraculous fan. Not only with that awesome fifth season, but also the movie. A musical adventure, the movie of Ladybug and Cat Noir tells an alternate version of events from the series. From first gaining their powers to stopping Hawk Moth, this story has a great theme of dealing with the grief from a loss. Though Marinette is still the main character, the focus on the Agreste family is what sells that theme.
As for season five of the series, it also had quite a bit of focus on the Agreste family. It obviously handles things differently to the movie, with all the build up from the previous four seasons finally seeing a great payoff in the battle against Hawk Moth’s final form – Monarch. The romance between Marinette and Adrien also takes a primary focus during this season, which feeds into that great payoff at the end of it.
Let’sa talk about the Mario Movie! I admit to being apprehensive about it, but it was a lovely adventure through the Mushroom Kingdom. Some fun takes on the characters and some great interactions between them. It’s also full of references from across the series, which are just a joy to recognise. This first outing within the Nintendo-verse from Illumination played it safe, but I don’t mind that. It was a success, and Nintendo knows it. These franchises they hold are likely to be opened for big screen appearances across these next few years.
Having dropped off from Doctor Who somewhere during Matt Smith’s run, the 60th anniversary specials tempted me back in. All three adventures with the return of David Tennant’s Doctor and Donna Noble have been simply wonderful. The stories were all so fun, with that great chemistry between the Doctor and his companion driving those stories forward. New things are introduced to the lore, meaning they aren’t just nostalgia-fests.
And the one very weird thing introduced is bi-generation. Now there’s two Doctors with their own TARDIS in the world. The new Doctor of Ncuti Gatwa had a small part to play in that last special, but his personality could already be seen from it. Then comes the Christmas special, where he’s able to fully let that personality shine. And what an episode to start his tenure as the Doctor with. Just a riot of fun and a rather lovely tale.
I have a feeling 2024 will have a lot more for me in the world of TV & Film. Not only from catching up with those things I have yet to see, but also the already confirmed slate of releases which includes Kung Fu Panda 4 and The Garfield Movie. And the next batch of Star Wars content, of course. All of that will be talked about in the look ahead to 2024 article that will come at the start of the new year.
Images Taken From:
Welcome to Pokémon Resort | Pokémon Concierge | Netflix Anime
Miraculous S5.03 | Disney+
