Dune: Part One was, in many ways, the antiblockbuster. It’s a movie that began at the end — at the end of a centurieslong secret battle between noble houses we only see glimpses of and amid a sea of change that we can’t even begin to understand. There was no emotional anchor because most of the characters were doomed from the moment we met them and no catharsis because the story wasn’t really over.

It’s an incredibly ballsy way to start a sci-fi franchise, and Dune: Part Two, Denis Villeneuve’s electrifying, stupendously action-packed sequel, is no less bold. But while it would be easy (and cliche) to say that Dune: Part Two delivers on everything the first film built up — and more! — the film is more than the sum of its jaw-dropping spectacle and rousing battle scenes.

Dune: Part Two is a sci-fi epic for the ages: a sweeping tragedy of mythic proportions, a cautionary tale of the perils of zealotry, and maybe most importantly of all, a love story. It’s a towering feat of sci-fi cinema that will put Dune: Part Two in contention for the pantheon of greatest sequels ever.

There’s no better definition of “bittersweet” than a series getting renewed for a final season. While there’s the promise of more adventures to come, the final moments hang over the entire season. For Star Wars animated series The Bad Batch, the final series has a greater legacy than just its three seasons. Because it’s a spinoff of The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch is the end of a narrative that stretches back 15 years.

But despite all the lead-up, The Bad Batch doesn’t get caught in nostalgia. It never loses sight of what made it great: self-contained adventures that build on the unique found-family cast. While there are ties to the greater Star Wars lore, it’s done in a way that’s seamlessly integrated, crafting a series that feels like it’s truly coming to a natural end.