Growing Up Skywalker

Our hearts are heavy this week as we compare the Empire’s actions on Ghorman to real-world parallels. This week, as we recap Andor’s “Who Are You?” (S2, E8), we draw connections to the Gleiwitz incident that kicked off WWII, student massacres in Tiananmen Square, and sniper deaths in Syria—plus the Los Angeles protests and Minnesota political assassinations. It has not been a fun week, y’all!!!! W...

The girls are fighting!! And by the girls, we mean the Rebellion and Luthen (probably). In Andor’s “Messenger” (S2, E7) we parse the schism between the Rebellion proper and…whatever Luthen is up to. Relationships are at the core of this episode, and we dig into Bix and Cassian’s healthy, established love; Dedra and Syril’s anemic but weirdly passionate love affair; and Vel’s grieving process. We a...

It was the best of times, it was the bloodiest of times. And for some, it was a very festive evening.  In our recap of “What A Festive Evening” (S2, E6), we dive into relationships in the Rebellion. Should our Rebels be giving them up for the cause, or clinging to what makes them feel human? We dive deep into engineering ethics and why Dr. Gorst definitely should have suffered more. And we parse w...

Wake up babe, new Saw Gerrera backstory just dropped. This week, we’re asking what makes a Rebel cell the “real deal.” Is it Saw Gerrera’s Cave Angels, who have all the fire—but lack direction? Is it the Ghorman Front, who want the Empire gone, but haven’t looked past their front doorstep? And do Luthen, Kleya, and Cassian count, when they keep raising the barrier to entry to the Rebellion? We’re...

If you’re looking for liminal spaces, 1 million French WWII parallels, and honeypots for days, this episode is for you. In “Ever Been To Ghorman?” (Andor S2, E4), we meditate on resource extraction and the Ghormans’ supremely reasonable political demands. We also dive deep into the history of the Maquis—the French resistance group fighting Nazis during WWII—and feel very, very worried about Bix. ...

The harvest has come in, and we’re tallying one less Rebel in its count. In the final installment of Andor’s first triptych, “Harvest” (S2, E3), we’re counting the cost of freedom. Mon sells her daughter to the Rebellion, Vel catches a glimpse of a lover who never spares the time…and one of our faves gives their life to the cause.  In a happier light, we also revel in Chandrilan wedding rites and...

Andor’s second season is a different beast—and an absolute feast of real-world parallels. In “Sagrona Teema,” (Andor S2, E2), the differences between Andor’s seasons become clear: Season 2 is faster, more mysterious, and altogether more oblique. But the parallels to life in 2025 have become even more clear. In our recap this week, we draw the lines connecting Andor to ICE deportations, leftist inf...

Fast, pointed, and irresistibly astute: Andor’s Season 2 premiere, “One Year Later,” isn’t holding any punches. In our recap this week, we discuss Andor’s magical ability to pull on both historic and modern-day threads. The super-secret Imperial summit, for instance, calls back to the World War II Wannsee Conference and its “Final Solution of the Jewish Question.” But it’s also a dead ringer for c...

With one mysterious smile, Jod’s story ends—for now—and we sweep into Skeleton Crew’s storybook ending. The real question is what happens next. This week, we talk through all the implications of Skeleton Crew’s final moments. What will happen to At Attin? And all of its meticulously trained employees? What does this mean for Jod? And the New Republic? We’re also getting HYPED (!!!) for Andor Seaso...

Is Jod falling to the Dark Side? Or is he just full of so, so many red flags? Find out in Skeleton Crew’s “We’re Gonna Be In So Much Trouble” (S1, E7). This week, we talk through what we know about Jod’s arc—from lost boy to pirate captain to potential Dark Side Force user. We discuss Star Wars’ treatment of fallen Force users and question whether Jod still has a chance at redemption. And we take...

“Zero Friends Again” was such a delightful exemplar of both Skeleton Crew and Star Wars that we spent about 15 minutes singing Bryce Dallas Howard’s praises. Then we get into the REALLY good stuff: the shapes and structures of Star Wars stories, disability in Star Wars, and community-building. (Mega points to our kiddos for building community amongst themselves, and zero points for Jod Na Nawood’s...

Not even Star Wars is immune to gentrification, huh?  In the most delightful Skeleton Crew episode so far (S1, E5, “You Have A Lot To Learn About Pirates”), our faves navigate the mud baths and grottos of the spa planet Lanupa. (It’s the former hideout of ferocious pirate Tak Rennod.) The spa offers a wealth of opportunities for our characters to dress up, let off steam, escape death traps, and fi...

What exactly went wrong on At Achrann? We have some theories… In this week’s episode, our recap of “Can’t Say I Remember No At Attin” (Skeleton Crew S1, E4) opens up a conversation that starts with the Kardashev Scale, bounces through the hypocrisy of child soldiers, and brings us around to exploring the deeper mysteries of At Attin. We also talk through the importance of great societal works, clu...

Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning. That’s how you find At Attin, right? This week, we’re recapping Skeleton Crew’s second and third installments, “Way, Way Out Past The Barrier” and “Very Interesting, As An Astrogation Problem.” They’re DEEPLY Peter Pan-coded and full of classic Star Wars homages.  Even more importantly, they’re full of mystery (and some really excellent gr...

This could be a real adventure—and a real vibe shift for Growing Up Skywalker. Hot off the heels of our coverage of The Mandalorian’s first season, we’re diving into a brighter side of the galaxy in Skeleton Crew. In our recap of the premiere, “This Could Be a Real Adventure,” we discuss the mysteries of At Attin, the tyranny of suburbs, and the glorification of busyness. We also cover the critica...

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...