Aggressive Negotiations: A Star Wars Podcast

Ten Years of The Clone Wars. In April of 2005 at Celebration III, George Lucas told the audience that there would be a new 3D animated series coming that continued the story of The Clone Wars and in August of 2008 fans got their first taste of the series with the theatrical release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations host Matthew Rushing is joined by Nic Anasta...

A Youngling's View of Solo. John is joined by a fan-favorite guest, his eldest youngling, “Saber Goddess”. They discuss her reaction to Solo, from story to characters to where she ranks it on her personal scale. They discover some things about  what made it work as a film so well for so many. Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters    Facebook: https://...

The Jedi and Spirituality. Matt and John delve  into the meaning of spirituality in Star Wars, examining the meaning of it to those in a galaxy far, far away.  Were the Jedi meant to wander the galaxy like Caine from Kung Fu? Was Luke really meant to reestablish a Jedi Order? What did spirituality look like for the thousand generations the Jedi existed before audiences met Obi-Wan in 1977? Matt an...

Yoda, Sequels and Lucas. George Lucas' thoughts about where he would've taken the Star Wars story in the Sequel Trilogy have been revealed, with reactions running the usual gamut. But had Lucas already laid the groundwork?  John and Matt explore what wound up as the final episodes of The Clone Wars, “The Yoda Arc.” They discuss Yoda's journey, what it reveals, and more importantly what it establis...

Solo with Nic Anastassiou. Our ongoing discussions of the terrific Solo: A Star Wars Story continue as we welcome back longtime friend of the show Nic Anastassiou to discuss his reaction to the film, his insights on what made it excel, takeaways about the effects work, why it's had trouble finding an audience, and how it fits in the tradition of Star Wars. Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Gues...

Han's Heart. Solo: A Star Wars Story surprised fans with a new, dynamic female character who had captured Han's heart in youth and provided some insight into the man he was and would become. Matt and John debate whether Qi'ra was Han's one true love, what parts of her he saw in Leia, and possible ways her memory impacted his future relationships.  Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your...

Solo: What's Old is New. In the lead-up to the theatrical release of Solo: A Star Wars Story, John and Matt discussed Brian Daley's Han Solo Trilogy, so now that the movie has been released they dive into the ways the movie referenced Daley's work and also call out the other places it uses canon and non-canon sources to weave it's tale of everyone's favorite scoundrel's origin.  Hosts John Mills a...

Han Solo and the Lost Legacy. In the run-up to the theatrical release of Solo: A Star Wars Story, Matt and John complete their review of Brian Daley's classic Han Solo trilogy with Han Solo and the Lost Legacy. Released in August 1980, they look at the story structure, expectations going in to the third story in an arc, resemblances to other Lucasfilm stories, and...health spas? Hosts John Mills a...

Musical Hope. In the run-up to the theatrical release of Solo: A Star Wars Story, John and Matt return to their retrospective on the Star Wars scores by dusting off the vinyl and spin the 1977 original soundtrack that started it all! With several variant releases through the years, they discuss the score's impact on their own lives, share some personal stories about the work of John Williams, and...

Han Solo's Revenge. Matt and John revisit the second novel in Brian Daley's classic Han Solo series, Han Solo's Revenge. Join them as they explore ways in which Daley's handling and understandong of the character visibly matured, areas that drop hints about future directions onscreen and in the Expanded Universe, and some favorite surprises from a 1979 Star Wars time capsule. Hosts John Mills and...

Favorite Aliens. Usually it is John that surprises Matt with a question but this week the tables have turned, Matt asks what John's favorite alien are in Star Wars. Aliens permeate the saga, from ewoks to Embo, from Teeto to twi'lek, what are the Masters favorite aliens? Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNe...

Han Solo at Stars' End. Matt and John revisit the classic Brian Daley novel that helped shape what Star Wars fans would come to expect from “Expanded Universe” works and their favorite smuggling duo of Han Solo and Chewbacca the Wookiee. Join them as they discuss the work and the lasting impact of Han Solo at Stars' End. Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJedi...

Henry Gilroy: The Zygerrian Slaver Arc. John and Matt gleefully welcome back writer and co-producer from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, Henry Gilroy! They talk to Henry about his work writing the Zygerrian Slavers arc from the Clone Wars comic series and later adapting it to a three-episode arc from The Clone Wars television series. Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us you...

The Last Jedi Extras. Star Wars fans enjoy extras, and have clamored for more behind-the-scenes material consistently. With The Last Jedi, Disney & Lucasfilm have delivered a cornucopia of extras to make any fan content. Matt and John examine and discuss the extras delivered on The Last Jedi's home release. Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters    Fac...

Droid That Meets the Eye. Those who grew up with Star Wars also remember another fun franchise: The Transformers. The prequel era introduced us to transforming robots in the Star Wars galaxy, but what if they took the next step and became more than meets the eye? John and Matt imagine what that would be like. Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters    F...

Palpatine: False Angel. Few screen villains have entranced and delighted fans as much as the Star Wars saga's Sheev Palpatine. Matt and John explore the new perceptions of him shared through Star Wars Rebels, and discuss what it means for interpretations of the saga as a whole. Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters    Facebook: https://www.facebook.co...

Space Married. Star Wars fans were first introduced to Hera and Kanan via John Jackson Miller's book, "A New Dawn" and their story picked up in the fall of 2014 as the newest animated series was released. Fans immediately picked up on the chemistry between the characters and the hashtag #SpaceMarried was born. This week John and Matt talk about this relationship, it's implication for the Star Wars...

Henry Gilroy: Star Wars Rebels. Henry Gilroy has been an important creative force in the Star Wars galaxy for decades, and has been involved in the creation of some of its most beloved work, including Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Matt and John welcome him to Aggressive Negotiations and discuss his starting points in the industry, his experiences, and his legacy. Hosts John Mills...

The Last Temptation of Vader. Marvel recently launched a new Darth Vader comic, examining the earliest development points of his first mission as a Sith Lord. Emperor Palpatine sends out his new apprentice to win a new lightsaber through battle, and the audience gets to see the final moment of Vader's full turn to evil...and so much more. Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback!...

Give Anakin a Hand. John and Matt explore an important question to the Star Wars galaxy, as they try to figure out why a galaxy of clones can't give Anakin a real hand again. Do the midichlorians figure in? Is it a question of bureaucratic nonsense? They ponder these questions, and more. Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters    Facebook: https://www.f...

Book Club: The Mark of the Crown. Matt and John return to their Star Wars book club to discuss Jedi Apprentice: The Mark of the Crown by Jude Watson. They discuss the perfect characterizations, the authentic feel, and echoes of what came in The Clone Wars series. Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty...

The Mortis Arc. Star Wars: The Clone Wars explored and expanded on the core principles and philosophies from perspectives fans didn't anticipate. A shining example of this storytelling urge is the Mortis arc from Season 3.  To celebrate their official “100th Issue,” Matt and John offer a special commentary track for the entire Mortis arc, with act breaks and discussions between each episode. Hosts...

Replicants v. Clones. Star Wars changed the cinematic landscape, but a few short years afterward, Blade Runner made an impact and introduced the world to “Replicants.” John and Matt discuss what place Replicants could have had in the Star Wars saga, whether there's still a place for them, and how clones stack up as a similar concept. Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twit...

A Youngling's Take: The Last Jedi. In the endless debate about Star Wars: The Last Jedi, it's important to hear from the younglings. Aggressive Negotiations welcomes back special guest “Saber Goddess,” last heard giving her thoughts on The Force Awakens and its novelization. She comes back to share her thoughts on Episode VIII, Porgs, Luke, Captain Phasma's return, Snoke, and Canto Bight, among ot...

What Good is Redemption? The Star Wars saga has a history of defying expectation. One of the primary, and most indelible, reversals of expectation was the redemptive arc of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader. Matt and John discuss the meaning of that redemption and what place it occupies as the sequel trilogy continues to develop. Hosts John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twi...