KIDS FIRST! News

Star Wars: The Acolyte is set at the end of the Star Wars franchise’s High Republic era, approximately 100 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). It sees a respected Jedi Master investigating a series of crimes that bring him into contact with a former Padawan learner and reveal sinister forces. This Star Wars series takes viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Arya B. comments, “I really love the TV series Star Wars: The Acolyte because it is an action-packed series with unique and captivating plots that are very different from any of the other Star Wars films or series. Best of all, although it is helpful to have watched the prior Star Wars films, you don’t have to have seen any of them in order to enjoy this series.” See her full review below.   

Star Wars: The Acolyte
By Arya B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

I really love the TV series Star Wars: The Acolyte because it is an action-packed series with unique and captivating plots that are very different from any of the other Star Wars films or series. Best of all, although it is helpful to have watched the prior Star Wars films, you don’t have to have seen any of them in order to enjoy this series.  

This series takes place 100 years before episode 1 of the Star Wars films.  It is a story about a girl named Osha (Amandla Stenberg) who is accused of murdering a Jedi Master named Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss). However, Osha firmly states her innocence because she is apparently loyal to the Jedis. 

The plot is pretty complex. Early in the series, Osha suffers a tragedy as a young girl when her hometown is burned down by her twin sister, Mae (also played by Amandla Stenberg) and everyone, including Mae, is presumed dead, except for Osha, which is suspicious. Afterwards, Osha trains to be a Jedi but ultimately drops out after a few years. Sol (Lee Jung-jae), a Jedi master and Osha’s former teacher, believes that Osha is innocent and attempts to find her and confirm her innocence.  Another Jedi master is murdered while Osha is with Sol so there may be another killer! The show follows Osha and Mae and the audience tries to discover who the killers of the Jedi masters are.

What I really like about the series are the beautiful settings, the costumes, and the musical composition. The settings include areas with beautiful lush landscapes and other areas in a frozen ice land. The costumes are very unique as they are in most Star Wars films and series. For example, when the witch’s ceremony is held in the third episode, the gold costumes of the women are stunning.  The background music is both beautiful and eerie, and always fits the various scenes perfectly.  One of my favorite parts of the show is when the group travels to a remote planet to find one of the Wookie Jedi masters and all of the surprising creatures they see along the way including a massive flying beetle.  My favorite character in the series is Mae because we learn why she set her hometown on fire and begin to understand that not everything is as it initially seems.  

The series’ message is, “We are not defined by what we lose, we are defined by what we survive,” which is a direct quote from one of the supporting characters.  This highlights the point that Osha is not defined by having lost her family, but by having the strength and courage to survive it allows her to persevere in spite of it. Be forewarned that this series contains a lot of violent behavior.  

I give Star Wars: The Acolyte 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The first two episodes of Star Wars: The Acolyte release on Disney + June 4, 2024. The remaining episodes of the eight-episode series release weekly after that. 

Roku Original The Great American Baking Show is the American version of the most beloved baking show on the planet, bringing together passionate, talented bakers from around the country to see who will be named America’s Best Amateur Baker. 

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Eshaan M. comments, “Season 2 of The Great American Baking Show is soon to arrive, in an attempt to capture the magic of its counterpart across the pond…and it succeeds beautifully. The Great American Baking Show is as fluffy and sweet as its bakers’ treats, and it replicates the British show’s format without feeling like a knock-off.” See his full review and interviews below.

The Great American Baking Show: Season 2
By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 18

Watching nine contestants bake in a tent in the British countryside became an international pastime with the release of the Great British Baking Show. Season 2 of The Great American Baking Show is soon to arrive, in an attempt to capture the magic of its counterpart across the pond…and it succeeds beautifully.

The Great American Baking Show is as fluffy and sweet as its bakers’ treats, and it replicates the British show’s format without feeling like a knock-off – though it is a bit corny at times.

The premise of the Great American Baking Show is simple: nine bakers from across the US, who each have expertise in different areas of baking, are assembled and brought to a white tent in the British countryside where they’re tasked with making increasingly difficult items. Each episode deals with one type of baked goods — week one is cake week, for example — and the bakers face three challenges to test their creativity and their mastery of baking in a time crunch and without a formal recipe. Their baked goods are judged by renowned chefs Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, who winnow down the pool of bakers by eliminating one each episode and, in the end, crown one baker as the winner. 

The Great American Baking Show Season 2 is, by leaps and bounds, superior to the most recent seasons of its British counterpart (and its first season, which had a tough run). That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have issues, but it’s almost at the level of the first few seasons of the Great British Baking Show. The bakers are judged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, both of whom lean into the characters they’ve carved out for themselves in the British version. Paul is the exacting master baker whose handshakes seem to be worth more than the lottery (and whose striking good looks are a source of near-constant discussion among the ladies). And Prue is the endearing British dame, providing periodic, measured compliments and pearl-clutching comments about calories. The show’s hosts, comedian Zach Cherry and actress Ellie Kemper, have, essentially, one job: pull silly, cheesy stunts, motivate the bakers and mug for the camera while mournfully calling out time checks.

In the first few episodes, they seem a bit awkward together, with some of their jokes working and others falling flat, but they soon find their beat. I did miss seeing Noel Fielding in the tent, but I will say that Cherry and Kemper’s chats with the bakers are fun and help the show move along. The contestants are a sweet, supremely talented, but somewhat unremarkable batch, likely due to the editing which, as in last season, doesn’t allow viewers to understand the bakers’ back-stories very well. There are other rough moments in the editing of this show, like some jerky cutaways, shaky footage of bakers running from place to place and clearly artificial, over-the-top reactions to the technical bake judging.

Also to be noted, the items on this list were present in the first season of the American show too, so perhaps it’s an artistic choice. The actual content of the show is pleasant, though. The British version of the show has seen its challenges grow more and more wild over time, and the Great American Baking Show follows suit. I also think it was a smart move to make the show more “American” so that both viewers and bakers would have an easier time relating to the show.

And, my final note — I love how wholesome the energy in the tent is throughout the show. Even in the midst of heated competition, the bakers smile and encourage each other. It appears that the kindest cross-section of America got its own TV show, which is nice to see in this age of discord and infighting. 

The Great American Baking Show promotes healthy competition, exploration, creativity and the enjoyment of simple joys in life like food. 

Great American Baking Show: Season 2 gets 5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It will be available on The Roku Channel beginning May 24, 2024. 

Home Sweet Rome! is a coming-of-age comedy series about Lucy, a 13-year-old girl who moves from California to Rome with her father, an archaeologist, and stepmother, an Italian popstar. Lucy must adjust to her new city, school, and life with her famous stepmother, while also dealing with the challenges of being a 13-year-old girl and her best friend, Kyla, who is 6,000 miles away. The series features original music, relatable mishaps, heartwarming connections, and stunning Italian vistas.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Avalon N. comments, “Home Sweet Rome! is an incredible TV series with some very important messages as Lucy adjusts to living in Rome when she is forced to move away from her home and her best friend. A lot of teens and tweens have experienced similar events in their lives and this show can help them feel less alone.” Ari P. adds, “Home Sweet Rome! is a fun coming-of-age comedy series set in Italy’s capital, with breathtaking views, funny scenes, and heartwarming moments.” See their full reviews below.

Home Sweet Rome!
By Avalon N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

Home Sweet Rome! is an incredible TV series with some very important messages. It ties together a lot of different components that make the series unique.

The plot of this series is that of 13-year-old Lucy (Kensington Tallman) moves from the US to Rome because her father (Darrin Rose) marries an Italian popstar, Francesca (Eleonora Facchini). The series follows her life as she learns to live and go to school in Rome without knowing any Italian. Along the way she meets many good people and learns to appreciate the life she’s been given

There are many incredible parts of this series. One of the main ones is how very relatable it is to teens and tweens alike. Lucy is forced to move away from her home and her best friend, Kyla (Ava Ro). Her dad marries new woman and she doesn’t want to forget her mom. A lot of teens and tweens have experienced similar events in their lives and this show can help them feel less alone.

Another fantastic thing about this show is the location. It is set in Rome! And, it was filmed entirely on location in Rome rather than in a studio with green screens, which makes it very authentic. The cast and crew flew to Rome about four months to film the show and shot all of it in and in front of actual buildings all around the city. Another interesting thing to note is that, other than a few background actors, most of the tourists in the background of outdoor shots are real tourists just enjoying their vacations.

The message of this series is to always be true and genuine to yourself because that’s ultimately the most important thing.

I give Home Sweet Rome! 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. You can watch this series on Max starting May 16, 2024.

Home Sweet Rome!
By Ari P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

Welcome to Rome! Home Sweet Rome! is a fun coming-of-age comedy series set in Italy’s capital, with breathtaking views, funny scenes, and heartwarming moments. 

This show takes place in Rome, where 13-year-old Lucy (Kensington Tallman) moves to after her dad Will (Darrin Rose) marries Italian popstar Francesa Fortuna (Eleonora Facchini). As Lucy tries to find her place in her new school, she embarrasses herself a lot, which leads to her struggling to make new friends, other than a boy named Nico (Christian Monaldi), and her long-distance best friend Kyla (Ava Ro). And while Lucy goes through this tough change, Francesca and Will try to help her through it, as they both know what it’s like to face life-changing events. 

The scenery in this show is absolutely incredible — all of it, from the fountains, to the bridges, to even the interior of Lucy’s apartment. One example is when Lucy and her dad are talking by the hotdog stand, and in the background, there is an amazing view of the city. Another part I adore is the choice in fashion. The clothes are stunning, especially with their unique patterns, color combinations, and style. I love how the fashion choices for Francesca’s character match her so well, since they show that she is a popstar, but also has an incredible taste in clothing, in general.

My favorite characters are Kyla and Francesca. I love Kyla, because of how supportive she is of Lucy and how she always knows what to say when Lucy is upset. For example, when Lucy is upset and crying, Kyla sings a song they created together and tells her to talk to her dad. I also love Francesca because although she is a famous singer in Italy, she shows that she cares about Lucy and wants her to live the best life she can. An example of this is when Lucy wants to make her late mom’s famous mac-and-cheese for Thanksgiving, and Francesca decides to take Lucy to the market to try and find the necessary ingredients. 

The message of this show is it is always important to be close with your family and friends. When Lucy goes through the normal ups and downs of moving to a new place, she learns that she has people around her that love and care for her, and will always help her when she needs it the most. 

I give Home Sweet Rome! 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. This series will be released on Max and other streaming platforms on May 16, 2024. 

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire is a six-episode journey into the fearsome Galactic Empire through the eyes of two warriors on divergent paths, set during different eras. After losing everything, young Morgan Elsbeth navigates the expanding Imperial world toward a path of vengeance, while former Jedi Barriss Offee does what she must to survive a rapidly changing galaxy. The choices they make will define their destinies.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Daniel S. comments, “Star Wars: Tales of the Empire is perfect for lifelong fans, but also an entertaining watch for new viewers. Its stunning animation and characters make it an amazing entry into the Star Wars franchise. The animation style is in the vein of Star Wars’ beloved animated series The Clone Wars, and is absolutely stunning.” See his full review below.

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire
By Daniel S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire is an enjoyable series that I loved with its great animation and captivating characters.

The animated series consists of six short episodes andis split into two parallel stories – the first three episodes follow Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) who we were introduced to in 2023’s Ashoka, and these episodes act as a sort of prequel for the Ashoka character. We witness Morgan’s rise to power through vengeance, following the destruction of her home as a child. The last three episodes follow Barriss Offee (Meredith Salenger), a recurring character from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. These episodes show Barriss navigating an ever changing galaxy, and includes stories from throughout her life.

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire is perfect for lifelong fans, but also an entertaining watch for new viewers. Its stunning animation and characters make it an amazing entry into the Star Wars franchise. The animation style is in the vein of Star Wars’ beloved animated series The Clone Wars, and is absolutely stunning. We are introduced to many characters, some familiar to fans, and some brand new;  every character design is unique and lifelike. The episodes travel to many different planets in the Star Wars galaxy and the landscapes are distinct and beautiful. Absolutely everything in this series, snow, wind, or fire, are all so detailed and stylistic. Some of the most stunning animation in this series comes in the form of action. Tales of the Empire perfectly depicts the essence of the lightsaber in animation, and they have captured the same thrill of lightsaber combat that is so prominent in the live action films. 

The two characters at the forefront of Tales of the Empire, Morgan and Barriss, are both wonderfully nuanced and fascinating. The series juggles complex themes, which make the characters and their stories very rich and grounded. Morgan Elsbeth is a character forged through tragedy and is on a path of vengeance. She needs to choose whether she will rise above, or be corrupted by the very evil that took everything from her. Barriss Offee is a former jedi, who is forced to traverse a world of conflicting good and evil, and ultimately choose her side. The characters are surprisingly multilayered and interesting.

The biggest constraint in Tales of the Empire’s short format is its limited runtime, which means that the pacing is way too fast. Each episode spans just over ten minutes and the story moves along so quickly that we are unable to get a clear picture of the characters. The episodes have to hurry to their resolution so some scenes feel rushed, which lessens the emotional impact of the stories. Additionally, each episode features a different point in the character’s life, so we feel like we are missing so much in the gaps between stories. Granted, the stories are very entertaining, but the lightning fast pace doesn’t allow enough time to fully grasp them.

I give Star Wars: Tales of the Empire 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 through 18, plus adults. It is available on Disney Plus now.

Soleil Le Claire, a girl who lives for horror, accidentally breaks a spell on the Tree of Life and unleashes an ancient evil. The spirit of Marie Laveau, the voodoo queen of New Orleans, puts her and four other kids in charge of saving the city from Belial, an ancient demon who feeds on fear. Luckily, they’re not alone, as each kid gets a special gift from the voodoo spirits called Loa. Eventually they learn their town’s biggest secret: Vampires, rougarous, ghosts, monsters and demons are real and have secretly lived among humans for decades. The Krewe will have to hone their powers, figure out what Belial’s up to and keep the peace between creatures as they go head-to-head with local legends from the underworld.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Nyara A. comments, “This suspenseful series depicts the beautifully animated journey of a group of teens fighting monsters and just being teenagers. The crafting of the monsters and the music work together harmoniously to frighten not only the characters but the viewers as well.” See her full review and Ari S.’s cast interview below.

Fright Krewe Season 2
By Nyara A., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

The suspenseful 10 episode series Fright Krewe Season 2 depicts the beautifully animated journey of a group of teens fighting monsters and just being teenagers. Their passionate acting combined with the evocative animation brings the characters to life. The crafting of the monsters and the music work together in harmony to frighten not only the characters but the viewers as well.

The story follows a group of misfit teenage friends, named the Krewe, who secretly fight the evil that threatens their world. Soleil (Sydney Mikayla), the protagonist and leader of the Krewe, is at the center of the nightmare that threatens the city of New Orleans. Belial (Jacques Colimon), the antagonist, summons monster after monster to combat the Krewe. Each Krewe member has special power that they must hone in order to save themselves, their city, and all those who are possessed by the evil spirits that threaten them. Will Soleil and her friends successfully ward off the demons, or will they fall into the possession of wickedness?

Sydney Mikayla’s portrayal of Soleil’s courage is beautifully balanced with her portrayal of Soleil’s love of all things horror.  Another key member of the Krewe, Missy, is played by Grace Lu whose vocal style conveys power and empathy at the same time. Terrance Little Gardenheigh, who plays Pat, and his co-stars create a wonderful ensemble to bring life to the rest of the Krewe. They speak just as teenagers would, making the Krewe easy to root for. The film mixes a modern realistic character animation style with a more classical animated background style, resulting in a unique look that viewers are drawn to. The monsters are otherworldly and inhuman, making them creepy enough for the audience to feel the fear behind the screen. The classical music and sound effects add an element of suspense during the climax of each episode when the Krewe fights the evil monsters.

This film’s message centers around community and friendship, emphasizing the need to maintain our relationships through the hardships of life. There are consequences to our actions, and we must put friendship and love before all else that may tempt us. Note there is some graphic violence in the film and scary creatures.

Fright Krewe Season 2 gets 4 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases on Hulu and Peacock March 29, 2024.