Fran Ruiz

Fran Ruiz

Fran Ruiz is our resident Star Wars guy. His hunger for movies and TV series is only matched by his love for video games. He got a BA of English Studies, focusing on English Literature, from the University of Malaga, in Spain, as well as a Master's Degree in English Studies, Multilingual and Intercultural Communication. On top of writing features and other longform articles for Space.com since 2021, he is a frequent collaborator of VG247 and other gaming sites. He also serves as associate editor over at Star Wars News Net and its sister site, Movie News Net.

Latest articles by Fran Ruiz

Image from the Marvel T.V. show Loki, season 2 episode 6. Close up of a man with dark slicked back hair who looks sad but determinedly into the distance. He is wearing a dark jacket, light shirt and black tie.

'Loki' season 2 episode 6 review: Finding a glorious purpose

By Fran Ruiz published

The sixth and final episode of Loki season 2 wraps up a fantastic character arc and literally gives the Marvel Cinematic Universe a second chance.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from The Marvels (2023) movie. All The Marvels all standing together looking upwards in the same direction. From left to right: Ms. Marvel (teen with long dark hair wearing a red, white and blue supersuit), Captain Marvel (long blonde hair wearing a blue and red supersuit with a giant gold star-like emblem on the front) and Monica Rambeau (dark tightly curled hair down to her shoulders and wearing a black and white supersuit with a smaller silver teardrop-shaped emblem on her chest).

'The Marvels' review: A chaotic cosmic headache

By Fran Ruiz published

Marvel Studios' latest movie, The Marvels, exhibits all the symptoms of a rusty creative process. Despite some sparse bursts of charm, it lacks quality control.

Space Movies & Shows
a man in a suit looks up, forlorn

'Loki' season 2 episode 5 review: An unexpected solution

By Fran Ruiz published

The fifth episode of Loki season 2 charts a surprising path forward that might rewrite the God of Mischief's role in the larger Multiverse Saga.

Space Movies & Shows
Image from the Marvel T.V. show Loki, season 2 episode 4. In front of a wooden desk are two men wearing suits. The man on the left has dark slicked back hair. The man on the right has thick dark hair, round, gold glasses and is holding opening an orange notebook on the desk. Behind the desk we can see the side of another man who is wearing black glasses and a jumpsuit.

Loki season 2 episode 4 review: Fixing the system

By Fran Ruiz published

The fourth episode of Loki season 2 subverts expectations and sends the show (and maybe the entire MCU) into the unknown again.

Space Movies & Shows
Image from the Marvel T.V. show Loki, season 2 episode 3. Here we see a close up of a man with round gold glasses, a black moustache and black hair. He has a stern expression on his face.

Loki season 2 episode 3 review: Timely but not elegant

By Fran Ruiz published

The third episode of Loki season 2 brings back major players, teases the creation of the Time Variance Authority and is a bit convoluted.

Space Movies & Shows
Image from the Marvel T.V. show Loki, season 2 episode 2. Two men sitting at a table, each enjoying a slice of pie.

'Loki' season 2 episode 2 review: Time to flex the acting muscles

By Fran Ruiz published

The second episode of Loki season 2 puts the plot on pause for the majority of the runtime and gives the stellar cast plenty of space to play around.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the space game Starfield. On the left there is a small spaceship with 6 boosters approaching a planet to the right.

'Starfield' is an inspiring odyssey that could rekindle mainstream interest in space exploration

By Fran Ruiz published

Bethesda's latest open-world video game 'Starfield' takes us for a fantastic ride among the stars and plants seeds of curiosity and belief in science.

Space Games & Toys
images from Loki season 2

'Loki' season 2 episode 1 review: A new hope for Marvel in the TV realm

By Fran Ruiz published

Loki returns with a season premiere full of exposition and set-ups that still manages to make us care and remind us of the great times.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the Star Wars T.V. series Ahsoka (season 1, episode 8). Thrawn plotting his next move.

'Ahsoka' season 1 episode 8 review: A finale that sticks the landing without flourish

By Fran Ruiz published

The final episode of Ahsoka's first season doesn't take a whole lot of risks and leaves many doors open, but it's the conclusion you were looking for.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the adult animated superhero T.V. show Invincible. Here we see 17-year-old superhero Invincible. He has short black hair slicked back. He has opaque lens over his eyes. He is wearing a skin-tight yellow suit with blue/green shoulders and dark gray arms. He is bleeding from the nose and it is dripping onto his clothes. In the background is a tree-lined field with 5 knocked out monsters.

Everything we know about Invincible season 2: release date, plot, cast & more

By Fran Ruiz published

Season 2 of Robert Kirkman's hit animated superhero show Invincible hits Prime Video soon. Here's everything you need to know about it.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the movie Dune: Part 2. Paul Atreides is standing in the foreground, his cloak billowing out behind him in the wind. Far off in the distance. In between there is a large, floating shiny sphere.

Everything we know about Dune: Part 2

By Fran Ruiz last updated

Paul Atreides' journey continues on the big screen next year in Dune: Part 2. Here's everything we know about Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic so far.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the Star Wars T.V. series Ahsoka (season 1, episode 7). Ezra and Sabine face an enemy.

'Ahsoka' season 1 episode 7 review: Fast-paced action in the vein of Rebels ahead of the big finale

By Fran Ruiz published

The seventh episode of Ahsoka sets up a race against time for the season finale and mostly plays out like a classic Star Wars Rebels episode.

Space Movies & Shows
Press image for the video game Homeworld 3. Here we see a whole fleet of different spaceships in formation, from one large spaceship filling the top half of the image, and then 4 medium -sized spaceships and then lots of smaller scout-like spaceships.

Everything we know about Homeworld 3: Release date, platforms, gameplay, trailers

By Fran Ruiz published

It won't be long before we can finally return to the legendary Homeworld universe. Here's everything we know about Homeworld 3 ahead of its 2024 launch.

Space Games & Toys
three robed figures kneel in the center of a series of spires arranged in a circle

'Ahsoka' season 1 episode 6 review: Myths and legends

By Fran Ruiz published

The sixth episode of Ahsoka expands the "Star Wars" universe with new bits of mythology and iconography that support long-awaited returns.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the Star Wars T.V. series Ahsoka, season 1, episode 5. Ahsoka faces her master.

'Ahsoka' season 1 episode 5 review: The trip down memory lane fans were waiting for

By Fran Ruiz published

The fifth episode of Ahsoka evades cheap fan service and focuses on a meaningful, nostalgic journey of our heroine.

Space Movies & Shows
Screenshot from the animated T.V. show Star Wars Rebels. Here we see Ezra Bridger (male, short dark hair, thick eyebrows) holding a green lightsaber just in front of his head in a defensive position. He has 2 scratches on his cheek.

Who is Ezra Bridger?

By Fran Ruiz published

As the Star Wars: Ahsoka series on Disney Plus continues, you might be wondering why Ezra Bridger is such a big deal. Meet the lost Padawan.

Space Movies & Shows
Screenshot from the Marvel T.V. show Loki. Here we see several character walking around his head in an abstract design.

Everything we know about Loki season 2: release date, plot, cast & more

By Fran Ruiz last updated

Get ready for more mischief! Here’s what we know about Loki season 2 so far.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the Star Wars T.V. series Ahsoka, season 1, episode 4. Baylan Skoll awaits his opponent.

'Ahsoka' season 1 episode 4 review: Fateful encounters and a return

By Fran Ruiz published

The fourth episode of Ahsoka is an excellent midpoint chapter packed with gorgeous duels and leads into an unpredictable second half of the season.

Space Movies & Shows
XCOM Enemy Unknown - Best alien invasion games

Best alien invasion games of all time

By Fran Ruiz published

Do we stand a better chance against alien invaders in the realm of video games? These are the best alien invasion games of all time.

Space Games & Toys
Still from the Star Wars T.V. series Ahsoka, season 1, episode 3.

Ahsoka season 1 episode 3 review: Democratizing the Force

By Fran Ruiz published

The third episode of Ahsoka reminds us of George Lucas' stance on the Jedi Order and the Force without sacrificing the sense of adventure and wonder.

Space Movies & Shows
Artwork for the Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora video game. Here we see a Na'vi (tall, slender, blue humanoid) with dark hair in a braid, green cat-like eyes, and a white smudge across their forehead. They are riding on winged green, reptilian creature.

Everything we know about Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

By Fran Ruiz published

While we wait for Avatar 3 to arrive in 2025, James Cameron and Ubisoft plan to keep us busy with the open-world video game Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

Space Movies & Shows
The Marvels all standing together. From left to right: Ms. Marvel (teen, long dark hair, glowing fist raised in attack position), Captain Marvel (long blonde hair, looking directly ahead with a steely gaze) and Monica Rambeau (Dark tightly curled hair, hand held up palm forwards with fingers outstretched).

Everything we know about The Marvels: Release date, plot, & more

By Fran Ruiz last updated

The Marvels marks the return of Carol Danvers to the MCU's forefront alongside Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau. Here's what you need to know.

Space Movies & Shows
Image showing the Jedi/the light side on right left in blue and the Sith/the dark side on the right in red.

Star Wars timeline: From the dawn of the Jedi to the New Jedi Order

By Fran Ruiz published

Star Wars is going far and wide in the coming years across all forms of media with an updated Star Wars timeline that includes new eras. Here's our summary.

Space Movies & Shows
Still from the Star Wars T.V. Show Star Wars The Mandalorian. Here we see Sabine Wren with dark purple short hair and brown eyes. She is wearing special Mandalorian armor and is holding her helmet in the crook of her arm.

Who is Sabine Wren?

By Fran Ruiz published

There's a new Mandalorian warrior in town and her name is Sabine Wren. Learn more about her role in Star Wars Rebels, the Ahsoka series, and more.

Space Movies & Shows
Hera Syndulla is a green-skinned Twi'lek with two head tails (known as lekku) protruding from the top left and right of her head. She is wearing a brown leather cap, goggles, and a brown leather aviator jacket with a fluffy collar. Here she is piloting a spaceship.

Who is Hera Syndulla?

By Fran Ruiz published

Among the many familiar faces from Star Wars Rebels returning in the Ahsoka series, there's a famous Twi'lek captain. Meet Hera Syndulla.

Space Movies & Shows
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