Growing Up Skywalker

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...

Welcome to Cloud City! This week, we’re covering 01:06:33 all the way to the end of “The Empire Strikes Back.” The Original Trilogy flexes its operatic muscles and hits on deep themes of family, loyalty, individuality, and fate. The second half of “The Empire Strikes Back” is massively influential and changes the entire course of Star Wars. But how did it change the course of our history? Join us...

The Rebellion struck..and The Empire Strikes Back. This week, join us for 00:00 to 01:06:33—the first half of 1980’s “Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.” On a freezing planet, the Rebellion bides its time. On a swamp and fleeing through an asteroid belt, the Rebels run from enemies and dive into mystery. The first half of Empire Strikes Back sets an atmosphere and cadence that weaves the Original...

We’re carrying the wisdom of 150+ episodes of Growing Up Skywalker into our viewing of the second half of 1977’s “Star Wars: A New Hope.” Turns out, we’re super jaded about Luke and Han shooting down a measly 4 TIE fighters—but Leia’s sass will never get old. This week, we’re diving into Star Wars archetypes, tropes, and sacred plotlines. We’re also doing deep dives into Leia, Han, Luke, Obi-Wan,...

Hello there! Welcome from a new point of view. After more than three years watching Star Wars in universe chronology, we hit the grandaddy of it all: 1977’s “Star Wars: A New Hope.” Watching this film with the context of everything that has come before it makes for an absolutely extraordinary viewing experience. Join us for 00:00 to 01:05:49—right when the Millenium Falcon is tractor beamed into t...

Rogue One's second half starts with a crash and gets wilder from there. From 56:17 on, we string together heroic space battles, Vietnam war techniques, and Star Wars’ classically atrocious file-sharing practices. We do, indeed, both cry about X-wings. But now, the real question. Does this Growing Up Skywalker experiment work? Is the strict internal chronology the way to watch Star Wars? Join u...

Welcome to the magnificent, galaxy-sweeping, planet-shattering Rogue One (Part One). From its first scenes, "Rogue One" carries weight. This week, we watched until 56:17, when Cassian’s crew lands on Eadu, and talk through the thematic ties between Andor and Rogue One, the film’s critical reception, and deep dives into our main characters: Cassian, Jyn, and the one and only Saw Gerrera....

Well, that's it. Rebels is done. What a ride! From the epic action to the thrilling post-war coda, this episode encapsulated the true meaning of rebellion. We cried (a lot). "Family Reunion - And Farewell"  (Season 4, Episode 15) pulls together everything the Rebels needed to pull off the biggest mission they've ever undertaken—the polestar of the whole series—the liberation of L...

This is the final countdown…before the end of Rebels!! Everything comes together in these episodes: Ahsoka, Ezra, Palpatine, the past, the future, and the necessity of sacrifice. In "A World Between Worlds" (Season 4, Episode 13), we get the answer to Ahsoka’s fate from waaaaaay back in Season 3. (SHE LIVES!!!) As Ezra is forced into a devastating choice, the Phoenix cell is left with bu...

Welcome to our most mystical, magical episode of Rebels (and Growing Up Skywalker…and probably Star Wars) ever. “Dume” and “Wolves and a Door” (Rebels S4, 11–12) bring back the mysteries of the Mortis Arc and take us deep into the heart of Force magic. We guess about the connection between Kanan and the Loth-wolf Dume, and question what Palpatine wants from a gateway that allows someone to bend sp...

X-wings and Major Plot Development, here we come. The rebel assault in "Rebel Assault" (Rebels S4, 9) goes off with a bang, but then goes down in flames. With our heroes on the run or worse, the Loth-wolves have important information to share with Kanan. However, "Jedi Night"(Rebels S4,10) breaks the mold about what a star wars episode is, and we are left dealing with devastati...