Growing Up Skywalker

Callbacks to Rebels and The Clone Wars abound in The Mandalorian’s season 1 finale, but in the end, this show has always known what it’s really about. In our recap of “Redemption” (The Mandalorian Season 1, Chapter 8), we wrestle with questions of honor, if it matters, and why it’s so important to try. We also cover the chain of ownership of darksaber (and question why Lando doesn’t have it??), th...

Maarva Andor's words about reckonings loom over our discussion today. As authoritarianism creeps over the United States, we’re finding parallels to the Imperial Era everywhere. In “The Reckoning” (The Mandalorian, Chapter 7), we explore the governance (and lack thereof) of the New Republic, the rise of fascism in a post-Endor era, and what the Empire looks like in ABY 9. We also pay an homage...

Mando’s in his freelance era. (Spoiler alert: It’s not going that great??) In “The Prisoner,” (The Mandalorian, Chapter 6), we take a good long look at prison, punishment, and justice in the New Republic Era. We talk through the DELIGHTFUL cameos of this episode—Matt Lanter, Dave Filoni, Deborah Chow, Rick Famuyiwa, and more—and ask ourselves…Does Mando have a plan? Want more Growing Up Skywalker?...

He’s a rich boy, and he’s gone too far… This week, we’re talking about honor, traitors, quests, rich newbies, and elite assassins in The Mandalorian, Chapter 5, “The Gunslinger.” Is Toro Calican an inexperienced newbie, or a seasoned killer? What’s Fennec Shand been up to since we saw her in the Bad Batch? And is the Mandalorian a paragon of honor, or a morally ambiguous cowboy?  One thing is clea...

After an unexpected hiatus (sorry!! Loth-flu is catching!!) we’re just in time for “Sanctuary,” (The Mandalorian, Chapter 4)...and the introduction of the tough and tender Carasynthia Dune. This week, we dive behind the camera to explore the female gaze in The Mandalorian and how it stems from the first female directors of a live-action Star Wars project. We dig into Cara Dune’s backstory, the cla...

The Spaghetti Western spirit is strong in The Mandalorian, Chapter 3: “The Sin.” This week, we dive deep into the Mandalorian’s crisis of ethics, starting with the Bounty Hunter Guild Code and ending with his loyalty to the Mandalorian Creed. We also dig into thoughts on currency, value, and compensation; showdowns on the street; and whether or not we got an Embo cameo. Want more Growing Up Skywal...

In which all Mando wants is to get off-planet without being besieged by rogues and scavengers. This week, in our recap of The Mandalorian’s Chapter 2, “The Child,” we talk through the Mandalorian’s stylish, distinct, comic book-esque visual language and the rights of Mudhorns to, you know, peacefully exist. We also talk about the Mandalorian’s code of ethics—which is in flux—and what it must feel...

Three and a half years ago, Growing Up Skywalker began a non-toxic, chronological weekly watchthrough of all of Star Wars—with the goal of getting to The Mandalorian. And we’re here! We’re finally here! On the show this week, we’re recapping the premiere of the shot heard ’round the world in the form of the first Star Wars live-action TV show, “The Mandalorian.” We talk through justice in the Era...

We often talk about how every Star Wars character’s story forms a tile in the mosaic of the galaxy, and Barriss Offee’s tale is no exception. In our final “catch-up” episode to get back into chronological order, we’re covering Tales of the Empire: Barriss’s Tale (S1, Ep. 4–6, “Devoted,” “Realization,” and “The Way Out”). We dive into themes of redemption, the parallels between Barriss, Obi-Wan, an...

It’s the end of an era…a Bad one. In the Bad Batch finale ("The Cavalry has Arrived," S3 Ep.15), heroic and monstrous intervention combine to conclude this dark and beautiful chapter of Star Wars. This episode showcases what the Bad Batch is capable of even when outnumbered, bruised, battered, and ambushed.  With our heroes hanging up their blasters, it's time for a new generation to take the figh...

Surprise! We’re throwing a fastball—this week, we’re covering all three of the episodes leading up to the Bad Batch finale.  Over this week’s episodes (“Juggernaut,” “Into The Breach,” and “Flash Strike,” S3 Ep. 12–14), the Batch calls in essentially every favor they have left. A Monster truck-style tank battle, a tautly executed stealth mission, and a rush through the jungle of Wayland leave our...

At first blush, these episodes are beautiful, but surface level. On closer inspection, they turn into a surprisingly moving—and compelling—statement on anti-fascist work. This week, we talk through the work happening at the Mount Tantiss facility, the long fascist history of medical experimentation, and how community is the answer to oppression…until even community may not be enough. (That’s when...

Things we love about Bad Batch Season 3: The deepening love between Crosshair and Omega. Things that make us laugh: Schmonsters on schmonsters on schmonsters.  This week’s episodes (“Bad Territory” and “The Harbinger,” S3, Ep. 8–9) mark the return of two scene-stealers: Fennec Shand and Asajj Ventress. These women of many talents shine with Bad Batch’s upgraded visuals (seriously, we’ve never seen...

This week, it’s clones all the way down. “Infiltration” and “Extraction” (The Bad Batch Season 3, Ep. 6–7) finally give us a glimpse of Rex’s work over the past three seasons of The Bad Batch: Building a clone resistance force. It only takes one shadow trooper to tear it all down. This week, we’re diving deep into the world of clones, TK troopers, inhibitor chips, brainwashing, and Imperial contro...

We may be stewing in the oppressive soup of the Galactic Empire again—but at least we get a family reunion out of it. “A Different Approach” and “The Return” (The Bad Batch Season 3, Ep. 4–5) ask Crosshair, at gunpoint, if he’s willing to accept the new Bad Batch. (Spoiler alert: He is, and everybody cries.) These episodes brilliantly weave together threads of Bad Batch yore, giving everybody seco...

The cavalry has arrived! Well…the cavalry that’s left. The Bad Batch Season 3 premiere (S3, Ep. 1–3, "Confined," "Paths Unknown," and "Shadows of Tantiss”) is a confident, thrilling, beautiful arc that thrusts us back under the Empire’s boot. In our discussion this week, we covered our first impressions of this gripping first installment, the disturbing implications of Project Necromancer, and the...

In The Acolyte’s season finale, a convergence around a vergence leads each of our faves back to Brendok for a final showdown. In “The Acolyte” (The Acolyte S1, Ep. 8), we see circles closing, mirrors breaking, and themes resolving…and not always for the better. Our discussion centers on justice and whether it was achieved. We also break down that gorgeous final lightsaber duel, talk through the Tr...

The long awaited episode mirror to "Destiny" (The Acolyte S1, E3) has arrived in the form of “Choice” (The Acolyte S1, E6). But this week, it casts the events on Brendok in a whole new light. “Choice” poses questions about fallibility, destiny, doubt, and desire. We also talk through the tragedy of the Brendok coven, cops covering up crimes, and how Qimir / The Stranger might be part of the Acolyt...

Our recap of “Teach / Corrupt” (The Acolyte S1, E6) focuses on mirrors, desire, and the faces we present to the world. We talk through the responsibilities teachers have to their pupils and discuss which of Star Wars’ teachers merit the title of “good.” We also talk through the temptations presented by the Sith, Qimir / The Stranger’s many masks, and the ones Sol might be wearing, too. Timestamps:...

Surprise! Just like Mae and Osha, we’ve got a two-for-one special this week: We’re recapping both “Day” and “Night” (The Acolyte S1, episodes 4–5). We dive deep into the twisting forest of Khofar this week. Our discussion covers the secrets of the Sith-like Stranger, the hypocrisies of the Jedi, and the razor line between light and dark. We also recap these episodes’ spectacular saber fights and h...

Witches. Get. Stitches. We’re in flashback mode this episode as we hearken back to the Clone Wars’ Nightsisters, and bring back the same conversation we had during their extermination—about the persecution of powerful women. This episode spirals us through a million possible theories of what happened The Night of the Fire. What do we really know about the Jedi on Brendok? Whose jurisdiction applie...

“The Acolyte” is a cop procedural, right?? That’s our working thesis this week as we recap episode two, “Revenge / Justice,” which opens on a locked-room murder scene, and introduces fascinating new allies and enemies.  This week, we dive deep into Mae’s revenge and Torbin’s justice—maybe. The Acolyte continues to twist our perceptions of what’s real and who’s responsible, and just when we think w...

In a perfect galaxy, where our in-universe chronology could stretch uninterrupted, this would be our very first podcast episode. So…welcome to Growing Up Skywalker! We’re typewritering back in time to watch “The Acolyte” (2024). The season premiere, “Lost / Found,” invites us to ask about the elitism of the Jedi, the seeds of fascism, and the good twin/bad twin paradigm. We also talk about this ep...

Freed from the tiny little raccoon hands of the Ewoks, our heroes immediately split up and start really moving the needle on the main plot of the Original Trilogy. Buckle in losers, we've got a redemption arc, a Death Star to destroy, and heroic (carnivorous) teddy bears! After 160 episodes of Growing Up Skywalker, we finally hit the end of the Original 3. The moment of Anakin's redemption...

The first half of "Return of the Jedi" is a who's who of who dies how on Jabba's sail barge. It also gives us the perfect opportunity to zoom out and discuss Luke's Hero's Journey and his 5 Jedi Trials, the big picture of galactic conflict, Leia's rebrand to Huttslayer, and teeny-weeny bikinis. Did Anna or did Anna not read an entire doctoral thesis on Women of Star W...