The Mandalorian

After the fall of the Galactic Empire, a Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal)– a member of a perpetually-armored warrior tribe – is contracted by bounty hunting guild member Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) to retrieve a valuable asset for a mysterious Empire-affiliated client (Werner Herzog). The Mandalorian locates the asset, which proves to be a child from the same race as Yoda, but upon witnessing its Force powers, refuses to turn it over thereby becoming a wanted man.

Set in the Star Wars universe, The Mandalorian is less a Star Wars TV series and more of a Star Wars-adjacent tale, and for that we should be thankful. Writer/director Jon Favreau previously struck gold with another lesser-known (at the time) armored antihero with 2008’s Iron Man, and The Mandalorian’s first season offers similarly well-crafted action.

By sidestepping established characters, Favreau frees himself from burdensome expectations while still providing enough recognizable elements – the Force, stormtroopers, and, tangentially, The Mandalorian himself (the films’ revered bounty hunter Boba Fett, though a different character, was implied to be part of the tribe) to appeal to Star Wars fans. Similarly, because the title character is anonymous for most of the first season, Pascal is free to leave his own mark. That mark ends up being a fairly convincing Clint Eastwood Man With No Name homage as Mando (which, coincidentally, sounds a lot like Manco) is a supremely capable gunfighter with a dubious moral compass, a checkered past, and an unexpected conscience. This parallel helps cement The Mandalorian as, portions of Westworld aside, televisions best space western since Firefly.

It helps that nothing about the show feels cheap or half-hearted. The settings look universe-appropriate, Ludwig Gornasson’s score (including a killer opening theme) fits the show’s mood, and the action sequences are exhilarating and competently choreographed. There is also a considerable amount of talent both behind (Rick Famuyima, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Taika Waititi have all directed episodes) and in front of (Ming-Na Wen as an infamous assassin, Nick Nolte as a helpful moisture farmer, Giancarlo Esposito as a menacing villain, Favreau as a fellow Mandalorian, and, memorably Waititi voicing a Terminator-like droid) the camera. However, the puppeteers responsible for the asset and lesser-known Emily Swallow as the Mandalorian’s Armorer/keeper of tribal lore nearly upstage them all.

If there is one grievance to be found here, it is that the pacing and stakes are inconsistent. The beginning and end of the season are brimming with urgency as The Mandalorian first locates the asset and later attempts to confront his pursuers. In between, however, the show takes on a more self-contained, episodic quality. Even still, these outings are not filler as they allow for character development and hints of backstory to emerge.

In light of the divisiveness of Disney-era Star Wars films, it is easy to become cynical about any attempt to further milk the franchise, but The Mandalorian is polished and compelling enough to stand on its own two armored feet.

Tasty 100

Located at 3793 Samet Drive in High Point, Tasty 100 offers Chinese cuisine for lunch (Monday through Saturday) and dinner (seven days a week). Online ordering, a wine list, and a Chinese-language menu are available.

I tried Tasty 100 years ago when it was Full Kee (the original owners changed the name when they reacquired the establishment this year) and was none too impressed. However, in need of a Christmas Day Chinese option, I decided to give it another try. Overall, it was a better experience albeit not an entirely satisfying one.

Tasty 100 remains clean, classy, and spacious, and the menu is still deep and varied. Though takeout staples such as egg rolls, fried rice, and lo mein are accounted for, Tasty 100 also offers higher-end delicacies such as Peking duck and steamed sea bass.

The restaurant was nearly empty when my wife and I stopped in for lunch, but owner George Yu said he was expecting a dinner rush. We opted for a steamed dumpling starter, eggplant beef, and Singapore noodles. I had tried two of the three dishes here previously and was curious to see if the execution had improved.

While still uneven, the food was better than I remembered. The dumplings were still thick and doughy and should go on my “avoid” list if I come back here. However, the enticingly fragrant Singapore noodles tasted as good as they looked this time thanks to better seasoning. The eggplant was a bit chewier than it should have been though its accompanying sauce was flavorful, and the meal as a whole showed enough promise to encourage a return.

One factor working against that is the price. Tasty 100 remains a poor value. Though portion sizes are respectable, the $13 and $16 respectively paid for our entrees seemed like a reach.

Sticker shock aside, Tasty 100 is still one of the better Chinese dining options that High Point has to offer, but that says more about High Point than anything else. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for something more than Americanized takeout fare and don't want to drive to Greensboro, it’s worth a visit.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

After assuming command of the First Order, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) faces a threat to his power in the form of the still-alive Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), who pledges him an empire to command if he eliminates Rey (Daisy Ridley), the Jedi-in-training with whom he shares a psychic bond. Though encouraged by Resistance leader General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), Rey continues to experience self-doubt. Meanwhile, her friends Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega) learn of a mole in the First Order. Together, they seek to ferret out Palpatine while trying to stay one step ahead of Ren’s forces.

As the much-anticipated final film in the 42-year-old Skywalker Saga, Star Wars Episode IX had the unenviable task of appealing to fans while still finding enough novelty to justify its existence. Its predecessor, The Last Jedi, did plenty of the latter arguably at the expense of the former. The Rise of Skywalker, in contrast, appears an overcorrection: a give-them-what-they-want retreat into familiarity that still manages to entertain even if it doesn’t inspire.

First, the good: the film does many of the “Star Wars things” fairly well. Lightsaber duels, starfighter assaults, and planets with extreme climates are all accounted for. J.J. Abrams may lack the aesthetic flair of Rian Johnson or the imagination of George Lucas, but he is still a competent action director. Fast-paced and fluid, The Rise of Skywalker feels shorter than its 142-minute run-time.

While the film’s writing is, once again, a mixed bag, there are some compelling performances to be found here. Ridley shows impressive range as Rey discovers the full extent of her origins and seizes control of her fate. Driver, who spent most of the previous two films alternating between creepy monotones and rage tantrums, finally has the room to do more with Kylo’s characterization. Poe and Finn do a great job of amusingly trolling and chiding each other (though the former’s inspirational speeches continue to sound wooden and forced). Since Fisher died in 2016, Leia’s appearance is achieved through unused footage from The Force Awakens. Those fearing an awkward Livia Soprano-like hack job needn’t worry: it’s tastefully done, all things considered.

Unfortunately, not all of the old guard – or the new – receive such respectful treatment. McDiarmid’s Palpatine is full of the same wonderfully hammy menace fans have come to expect, but a returning Billy Dee Williams is given very little to work with. He’s less roguish Lando and more generic elder statesman. Resistance mechanic Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) and First Order General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) both see their screen time reduced and their presences diminished from previous outings. Meanwhile, new characters are introduced and shoehorned into their former roles without much development of their own. First Order General Pryde (Richard Grant) is clearly meant to evoke Grand Moff Tarkin and is implied to be a loyalist holdover from the Empire, but he’s forgettably one-note, and neither Poe’s former criminal associate Zorii (Keri Russell) nor Resistance ally Jannah (Naomi Ackie), an ex-Stormtrooper just like Finn, fare much better.

A greater letdown, however, is the extent to which The Rise of Skywalker relies on contrivance. Several characters presumed dead turn up alive under the flimsiest of pretexts. Locations and visual elements from the original trilogy suddenly take on new significance to justify their reappearance. Because the film risks so little and hews so closely to what has been done before, it never is able to deliver the level of pathos that a grand finale demands.

Though it plays it safe to an annoying degree, The Rise of Skywalker will probably see its reputation improve with age. After all, Return of the Jedi was similarly scorned at one point, and there are hardly any Ewoks this time. Original and daring it is not, The Rise of Skywalker nevertheless provides brisk, breezily satisfying entertainment and uplift.

Lubrano's Pizza & Italian Restaurant

Located at 2431 Eastchester Drive in High Point, Lubrano’s offers pizza and Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Food specials change regularly, and lunch specials are available on weekdays. Delivery and online ordering are supported.

Housed toward the end of a somewhat dodgy plaza, Lubrano’s looks like the classic, hasn’t changed in thirty years, good for a slice neighborhood pizza joint, the kind of place the locals swear makes the best ______ but first-timers think looks like a dump. There may be shades of truth in this description, but it does not fully do Lubrano’s justice. Get past the dated aesthetics, and you’ll find a higher-than-expected caliber of red sauce fare.

My wife and I stopped by around 12:30 on a Saturday to find Lubrano’s mostly empty. The lone server on duty was new to the job, but he handled himself well. Lubrano’s menu offers pizzas (regular and Sicilian), calzones, and strombolis as well as some promising-sounding chicken dishes, but we were craving pasta. Thus came an order of a fried calamari starter followed by a shared (no split plate charge) Merone’s combination (lasagna, eggplant, and manicotti with sauce and cheese).

The food came out quickly, and there were more hits than misses. The calamari was nicely breaded and neither tough nor greasy albeit fairly bland. A few squeezes of lemon, however, made a big difference. The entrée came with a side salad that was very basic and mostly greens. Complimentary bread, on the other hand, was a lot better: fresh, hot, and seemingly homemade. The tomato sauce (basil notes and no cloying sweetness) and manicotti filling were similarly above average. One thing that wasn’t well above average was the price: our app was $9 and our entrée was $15, and neither portion was small.

Lubrano’s may be a takeout rather than a dine-in option in the future, but no matter what the form, a return is in our future.

Dot & Pearl's Coffee & Pastries at The Market

Located at 141 West Lexington Avenue in High Point, The Market sells locally made soaps, kitchenware, décor, furniture, and home goods. Its middle room, Dot & Pearls, offers coffee drinks, cookies, cakes, and classic candies. Custom cakes and cake slice gift cards are available.

This establishment is nothing if not unique. The Market proper features shelf upon shelf of local knick-knacks, many of which are surprisingly affordable. Getting around the aisles (such as they are) can be interesting during a busy time, but the place oozes retro charm. The same visual appeal extends to Dot & Pearl’s, as the bakery has a number of delectable-looking cakes, cookies, and truffles (all homemade) on display. The one thing that you will not find displayed here (or, if I overlooked it, displayed clearly) is a menu/price list. That and the layout (there was more of a huddle around the display cases than an orderly queue) made ordering a bit chaotic though the staff remained perfectly pleasant.

For our first visit, my wife and I picked up a coffee drink and a cake slice apiece. Dot & Pearl’s sells FosterHobbs beans, which generally bodes well for the quality of their coffee offerings. However, the iced vanilla latte that I ordered barely had any vanilla flavoring. The cakes fared better though neither can compete with Amoroso’s offerings. The lemon berry cake had a good balance between tart and sweet, yet it was dry.  The hot chocolate cake, on the other hand, was satisfyingly gooey and chocolatey although it bore little flavor resemblance to its namesake drink.

I wouldn’t write off Dot & Pearl’s entirely, and the cake selection is commendable, but greater consistency can be found elsewhere.

The Institute

In the woods of Maine, researchers and staff at the secret Institute subject children who have been abducted for their telekinetic or telepathic potential to experiments designed to unlock their abilities. Luke Ellis, a twelve-year-old genius from Minnesota, is among the abductees. Though frightened and bullied by cruel orderlies and indifferent doctors, he bonds with fellow captive Kalisha and wins over staffer Maureen while trying to furtively learn as much as he can about his situation.

Stephen King has been writing so prolifically for so long that he’s achieved symbiosis with some of the creators that he has influenced. He famously covered telekinesis in Carrie and (less famously) took on a gifted child trying to outmaneuver a sinister organization in Firestarter, traces of both of which can be found in the Duffer Brothers’ Stranger Things. The Institute, in turn, has elements that will be quite recognizable to fans of the Netflix hit, right down to the helpful cop with the checkered past (though Tim is both blander and less grumpy than Hopper). Unlike his previous acts of self-plagiarism, however, The Institute does not read like a pale imitation. Timely and taut, it does the classic Stephen King things (fire-forged friendships, strong sense of place, tragic deaths, etc.) well while avoiding the author’s more self-indulgent tendencies.

As a protagonist, Luke is an interesting choice. He isn’t particularly gifted among the gifted (at first), and this lack of dazzle allows for him to act as a quasi-audience surrogate. But he is damn smart and tenacious, both of which give him a fighting chance despite the enormity of The Institute’s operations. He’s contrasted with the worldlier Sha, the more rebellious Nicky, and the younger though more powerful Avery, the latter of which he becomes fiercely protective of. The attention paid to character reminds us that these are kids, not experimentation fodder, which makes the Institute seem all the more heinous. And yet, for all the organization’s terrible (and terrifying) methods and nebulous reach, King floats the possibility that they may be acting out of a sincere belief in a noble purpose.

In recent years, King’s work has sometimes suffered from a clumsy, heavy-handed treatment of theme (see Sleeping Beauties). The Institute, which was not written with detention camps in mind, still reads very much as a critique of U.S. border policy without ideologically bludgeoning its audience. King also avoids another recurring pitfall: unduly emphasizing a supernatural element that is ill-explained. Here, the mechanics and purpose of the Institute’s test are held back to sustain interest and tension, but when the time is right, we are told as much as we need to know to make sense of the proceedings. King has written plenty of doorstoppers, but The Institute reads as if none of its 500-plus pages are wasted.

Suspenseful and engaging with well-conceived characters, The Institute will appeal to King fans, Stranger Things fans, or anyone who simply wants to be on edge for a few hours.

Cakes by B's Blue House Bakery

Located at 113 East Main Street in Jamestown, Blue House Bakery offers coffee drinks, baked goods, and ice cream. Offerings rotate regularly, and made-to-order custom cakes are available.

Blessed with a personal touch and lacking the boisterous atmosphere of many a java den, this azure establishment beside Potent Potables may be the most inviting coffeeshop/bakery in the area. The owner, Bridgid, is both a kind person and a skilled baker: I’ve tried mini-pies, cupcakes, cookies, and more, and most have been hits. The Apple Delight, an apple streusel/cinnamon roll mashup, is especially good when warm. The selection of coffee drinks is small, but the weekly specials (which recently included a gingerbread white mocha) are usually promising. The ambiance also helps to set Blue House apart. Not only is the building deceptively spacious, but its rooms are quiet, comfortable, and homey.

Admittedly, the location and the dearth of competition score Blue House some points by default, but even if it were located in Greensboro instead of Jamestown, it would be a winning choice for a coffee or a baked good.