Star Wars: Resistance - Episode 16 - "The New Trooper"

Star Wars: Resistance - Episode 16 - "The New Trooper" written by Paul Giacoppo, directed by Steward Lee
     This was a really good episode and we finally find out what the First Order wants with the Colossus. Seems to me the stormtroopers do know the actual mission and perhaps even understand the lengths they must go to for ensuring the mission goes through without a hitch. Not helping the case of the stormtroopers in all this is the fact that they all seem totally okay with a "mental wipe and reprogram" or "brain scrape" of fellow troopers. When these things are mentioned in regards to their own, they don't seem phased one bit. No concern for others or even any self-preservation. They seem to wholly and blindly be focused on the success of the First Order. I guess this makes sense in line with what we know about Finn and his cohort of troopers before he defected. It was all about the kill and mission success with zero compassion for fellow troopers.
     Synopsis: A stormtrooper catches Kel and Eila without identification and in a heroic move, they knock him out cold. The two kids then seek out Kaz's help to deal with the knocked out trooper. Kaz decides to go undercover and do some spying, telling Tam and Neeku that he's just making sure the trooper didn't log his encounter with the kids. Hijinks ensue and Kaz is a terrible trooper!! (Haha--no surprise there...) We then learn why the First Order has such a huge interest in the platform...
     We are shown more clearly at the beginning of the episode that Tam is super First Order-positive, saying she feels much safer under their protection. Turns out her grandfather used to work in an Imperial factory and she takes offense to people saying anything against the Empire and its predecessor because of it. Neeku agrees with her sentiment except also says, "in a threatened by the military kind of way." (Which he says super deadpan in his wonderful, literal way.) But Yeager makes clear to the two that the Empire "exploited the vulnerable" to get its way, clearly having no love for the First Order. Tam's angry reaction to him is understandable, especially with her family history, but I'm surprised she doesn't mind all the identification checks and subsequent arrests occurring more and more frequently around the Colossus. I guess loyalty to her family's history trumps her need for autonomy. Maybe this is how the Empire got a hold of so many worlds...
     Despite Tam and Neeku's approval of the First Order occupation, it appears there are many on the platform who are solidly against it. An uprising occurs in the market place and the vendors start throwing fruits at First Order troopers (see above). It was so cool to see people outwardly and obviously fight back against this terrorizing group!!...for what little good it did them. I'll be curious to see if the outrage gets worse...or if everybody just ends up in jail...
     There's a great night shot where you hear the sound of ion engines in the sky as TIE fighters fly above the Colossus, signaling the same kind of occupation we became so familiar with in Rebels.
     To end, I'll present you with one of the best interactions of the episode: Kaz to Neeku - "I could kiss you." Neeku to Kaz - "Hmmm. I am sorry Kaz, but I do not feel the same way about you." So literal and so wonderful! Neeku doesn't even think about that meaning Kaz likes guys and that being an issue. He just takes it very literally and seems kinda sad that he doesn't "feel the same way."
     So a lot was revealed and everything is coming into much better focus. I'm seriously excited about where this is going from here!!

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