When they began to yoke the period between Episode II and Episode III to haul great sleds of merchandise to retail, I exhibited a wry smirk. They had discovered a way to make money from the not movie they hadn't made. Now, the corridor that runs the gap of those films is where I have the greatest emotional investment. I'm aware that PC Gamer gave Republic Commando a 62%, but I think it's because they don't know which numbers correlate to what amounts. I am prepared to say that I await further communiques from Delta Squad, in whatever way seems best to the Lucasfilm Empire. The filthy parts of the Star Wars universe, the implied things - spice runs, smuggler networks, crime families - have always been my delight. Republic Commando suggests a possible way forward in this vein: the gritty war flick.

Picture it executed as a pulp serial, "filmed" in close, and intimate. I don't know if you recall the program Tour Of Duty, but if you need a model there it is. I believe that a science-fiction story executed in this fashion would be irresistible even to a mainstream audience. It's not that those people don't like sci-fi, it's that sci-fi as it manifests itself in television programs is people talking about grand shit in the future equivalent of a cafe. I don't know if it's television budgets or what, but I'd imagine that people sitting at a space table is pretty cheap. There is a lot of room for an action-oriented war serial with characters who aren't immortal and more occasional intrusions of the supernatural elements of the Star Wars universe.