I didn’t like it nearly as much as #3, which sure looks to be the high point in the series for me and what I hoped for with this show. I didn’t think it was as bad as some did and no doubt will as they log in and post. That said, I see and largely agree with some of the criticisms. They just don’t bother me as much. I do agree that the little nods to the OT are unnecessary. To me, this felt like a smaller episode. Maybe because it was one of the shortest, just 38 minutes.

While it felt smaller in story, I did feel a bit of stress at times and that was unexpected and welcomed. It needs more of that and not from battles and action. This time it was from all the scenes with Indira Varma. I think she is outstanding in the series and feels like she (her character and her talent) would work well in a film.

As for effects that did stand out as TV-level; The ship coming in to land on that ocean platform looked very CGI. Again, not enough to bother me, but it was noticeable compared to some other shots in this episode and others. Overall I think most of the shots of ships as they are in space or approaching\leaving planets has been top notch. I’m also very glad most of them have been free of the weirdly unnecessary 360 spin that Lucas and now Disney love to have every ship make as they land somewhere. Lucas was huge on twirling and spinning of things. Disney has carried that over a bit so I’m always pleasantly surprised when they don’t do it, e.g., quarry saber duel or ships landing in the direction they were traveling.

Tiny nit-pick; The tracking device has been done. Come up with another way.