Aggressive Negotiations: A Star Wars Podcast

Attack of the Surprises. Matt and John revisit Attack of the Clones and share what they thought were the most surprising moments in Star Wars Episode II. From Fetts to finales, genre influences to Dooku, find out what caught the Masters off guard in 2002. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: http...

Time and Space in Star Wars. John and Matt celebrate another turning of the Galactic Core for Jedi Master Rushing, as they explore what time, space, and experience mean for a galaxy far, far away. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: http://www.thenerdparty.com/contact Subscribe in Apple Podcasts...

Last Jedi Score. Matt and John complete their journey through the Star Wars scores with the last stop on the journey to The Rise of Skywalker: John Williams’ score for The Last Jedi. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: http://www.thenerdparty.com/contact Subscribe in Apple Podcasts Make sure you...

#Bendemption John and Matt address a hot topic that's fueling a lot of speculation about the plot of Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. They debate the odds of the possible redemption of Ben Solo/Kylo Ren, known online as #Bendemption, what it means to the larger story, and whether it's as satisfying an ending as Star Wars fans might hope. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us you...

Galactic Rock. Matt and John explore the soundscape of a galaxy far, far away as established not by the stellar scores and use of leitmotif, but by the in-universe music of Jabba's palace, podracing arenas, Takodana castles, and Zeb's chill time. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: http://www.th...

Book Club: The Fight for Truth. John and Matt return to the Jedi Book Club to revisit Jude Watson's Jedi Apprentice: Book 9: The Fight for Truth. They discover the enduring lessons, the shift in regard for the Jedi way across different eras, and what the work says about Star Wars stories speaking to universal themes across generations. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twi...

Holo Transmissions. Matt and John fulfill a long-standing promise to talk about some communications they've received from across the galaxy, spurring some interesting discussions about Star Wars questions and observations having to do with Rey, lineage, Skywalkers, titles, and a few surprising twists and turns. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Fac...

The Phantom Menace Commentary. To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of The Phantom Menace, Matt and John returned to the the first Episode in a nine-part family saga to bring you a commentary track for Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Nothing was the same after we saw the beginning of it all, with a movie that challenged and expanded everything we thought we knew about the Star Wars galaxy....

The Jedi Council. John and Matt discuss the world-building, and perception-shifting, appearance of The Jedi Council in Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It was one of the things that changed everything about Star Wars twenty years ago, and they discuss their first thoughts, the characters that resonated from the first moment, and the story arcs since that have proven what a rich story Geor...

Paul Duncan: The Star Wars Archives 1977-1983. This year on May the 4th, the unofficial/official Star Wars Day, Matthew Rushing was able to talk to Paul Duncan, author of The Star Wars Archives. We discussed the way the book came about, finding the key to telling this story and about the book. This is truly an episode not to miss! Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter:...

Galaxy's Eats. Matt and John discuss the note about what drinks are going to be served at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. This spurs a fun discussion on the eating habits of a galaxy far, far away, the challenges of galactic food culture, and what Yoda's preferred drink was...among a few other fun notes. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https:...

Celebrating Celebration. John interviews Matt about his time at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago. Hear first-hand about the most exciting moments on the panels, the emotional vibe of an amazing crowd, and the impact of all the first-hand exclusives. They discuss the most resonant moments, the most magical memories, and the feelings that need to be carried out through fandom. Host John Mills and Ma...

New Republic's End. John and Matt explore an interconnected point between the original Star Wars episodes and the sequel trilogy thus far: the role of Papatine's machinations in bringing about the fall of the New Republic. Starting with a single exchange among the Imperial military on the Death Star, they expound what may have been Palpatine's one true master stroke to ensure everything fell with...

The Sound of an Awakening. Matt and John continue their methodical examination of the Star Wars scores, as they arrive at the sequel trilogy to discuss John Williams' work for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. They discuss triumphant returns, discordant orchestrations, and the genesis of new and memorable themes. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Faceb...

Mother of the Force. John and Matt discuss one of the more mysterious and intriguing figures from the prequel era, Shmi Skywalker. Who was this humble woman? How did she retain such a strong, nurturing outlook in the midst of a slave's life? Why was she the perfect vessel to bring the Chosen One into the galaxy? They examine these questions, and posit others about the Mother of the Force. Host Joh...

A Pod and a Prayer. Matt and John take a close look at podracing, from the fun and silly to the serious considerations of how you'd regulate such a dangerous sport in a galaxy far, far away. Along the way, they uncover on some surprising considerations and unexpected complexities born from George Lucas' desire to have a visionary space race. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedbac...

Rogue One Wars. John and Matt continue their journey to Episode IX as they look back at Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the second movie released by Lucasfilm after Disney's acquisition. In one of their most spirited debates in a while, they discuss what did work and what didn't, which characters were their favorites, what moments resonate, and why this Star Wars movie garners such strong reactions....

#RebelsRemembered. Matt and John reminisce about Star Wars: Rebels a year after it left the air, sharing what they saw as the show's impact, its strengths, and ways it challenged the larger Star Wars audience. Join them as they celebrate a show that was replete with turning points among the various projects launched in the Disney era, and what it could mean for future efforts. Host John Mills and...

Force Vision Casting. John and Matt look into the future, and discuss what they see as the best path forward for Star Wars as a franchise. They share their thoughts on what types of themes and time periods Star Wars could explore once freed of the Skywalkers, in the wake of Disney executive Alan Horn's recent comments. They debate whether there should be more, or less, content to satisfy the fans...

Book Club: The Day of Reckoning. Matt and John return to the Jedi book club this week with Book 8 in Jude Watson's classic Jedi Apprentice series, The Day of Reckoning. This book brings to a close the first major arc with Xanatos, Qui-Gon's fallen first student, but also touches on themes and ideas Lucas would return to throughout the prequels and the Clone Wars series. Matt and John discuss the b...

Star Wars Monster Mash. One of the defining characteristics of Star Wars has been its enthusiastic use of monsters, an echo of the movies and books that defined Lucas' own formation as a film fan, and the artists who helped bring the galaxy to life. John and Matt take a look at those iconic beasties and share their thoughts on personal favorites. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your fe...

Stover's Revenge. As a special topic for the 150th episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Matt and John revisit the gold standard for film novelizations, Matthew Stover's Revenge of the Sith novelization. They discuss what makes it work so well, reminisce about special memories they have of their first time reading it, and analyze how Stover took something magical and made it wonderful in its own rig...

A Certain Point of View. Star Wars fans and authors have spent a great deal of time examining a single line of dialogue from Return of the Jedi, wherein Obi-Wan's spirit shares with Luke that “many of the truths we cling to, depend greatly on our own point of view.” John and Matt look at the meaning behind those words, and whether too much has been made of them over the years, or if they've found...

Phantom Menace Surprises. 20 years ago, Star Wars thundered back onscreen! The Phantom Menace expanded the mythos of a galaxy far, far away....but it wasn't quite what people expected. Matt and John revisit the surprising exploits of Jar Jar Binks, Qui-Gon Jinn, Padme Amidala, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and all the rest, to discuss how Star Wars in 1999 challenged their perceptions, and the perceptions of fa...

Reawakening the Force. 2019 features what will likely be our final Star Wars “Saga” film, Episode IX: As Yet Untitled. John and Matt revisit the film that restarted it all, The Force Awakens. They discuss how their relationships to the film have changed over time, and what factors shifted their perceptions. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Faceboo...