Growing Up Skywalker

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...

On all levels except physical, this episode is just wolves. We delve deeper into Loth-wolf lore in “Kindred” and “Crawler Commandeers” (Rebels S4, 7–8) as we learn they can step across space and time…and drop our intrepid heroes in the path of sinister Imperial plots on Lothal. As the Rebellion’s invasion of Lothal approaches, TIE Defenders may be not be their biggest worry. Send Us Your Thoughts:...

A tension has settled over Lothal. The Empire has locked down the entire planet, and is debuting the new and improved TIE defender. Fortunately, this gives Sabine and Ezra pretty much every chance to shine. In our recap of “The Occupation” and “Flight of the Defender” (Rebels S4, 5–6) we talk about Loth-wolves, environmentalism, and the fever pitch of Imperial atrocities. And (duh) we sing a swan...

It’s iconic vistas time. For the first time in Star Wars chronology, welcome to Yavin 4! Joining back up with the rest of the Phoenix cell on Yavin 4 for the first time, our heroes are once again confronted with doing good versus doing right. When Saw Gerrera shows back up to solve problems his way, we're brought along as well! “In the Name of the Rebellion” (Rebels S4, Ep 3–4) covers a lot of...

While the Phoenix cell was getting obliterated on Atollon last week, war was brewing on Mandalore. Joining Clan Wren and the Protectors is our favorite redhead (besides Anna)—Bo-Katan Kryze!  In "Heroes of Mandalore" (Rebels S4, Ep. 1–2) we talk about Mandalorian warrior culture, the ethics of imperialism, the darksaber, and the importance of family. Also, it's been a long time since...

Welcome to the end of Rebels Season 3.  In the most cinematic Rebels episodes yet, “Zero Hour” (Rebels S3, Ep. 21–22) brings all the elements of Season 3 crashing together. In our recap, we tally up the wins and losses for the Rebellion and the Empire, wonder what people across the galaxy think about it, and talk about the Bendu’s fate. We also pick our favorite Season 3 moments. Between the heroi...

It’s the final countdown…to the duel that took 30 years to finish. This week, we have special guest Tim Beisiegel of the FSF Popcast on the show to talk about the final duel between Maul and Obi-Wan Kenobi. We talked all about THAT DUEL THO, in addition to the prophecy of the Chosen One, the end of Darth Maul’s journey, the significance of these two Force masters to Ezra, and the wider Rebellion....

Welcome to the Rebel Alliance. “Secret Cargo” (Rebels S3, Ep. 18) starts off with a bang and finishes with Mon Mothma—last seen in Andor—calling for each rebel cell to unite. But to get there, the Spectres have to fly through a nebula, chased by Thrawn’s TIE Defender, and barely escape with their lives. Sam cried so much at all of this. We also made some time to laugh this episode. In “Double Agen...

The darksaber saga continues! Following up on the stellar darksaber training montages of last week, "Legacy of Mandalore" (Rebels S3, Ep. 16) brings Sabine and her family into direct conflict—over Satine’s past mistakes and her potential to lead all Mandalorians. Will found family fight blood? We dive deep into Mandalorian culture and the futility of feudal life.  Then we take a turn str...

“Trials of the Darksaber” (Rebels S3, Ep. 15) is, quite simply, one of the tightest-scripted, haunting, and beautiful episodes of Rebels so far. And “Warhead” (Ep. 14) is a delightful buddy cop special feat. Zeb and AP-5. This week, we dive deep into the lore of lightsabers and darksabers. We talk about what it means to wield the Force, rather than just be a part of its flow, and talk about Sabine...

Have you ever wanted to spend half an hour debating the moral calculus of war and the conflicting ethics embodied by Saw Gerrera? Boy are you in the right place! In “Ghosts of Geonosis,” Rebels’ mid-season 3 arc, we do a deep dive into fanaticism, rebellion, and the meta-narrative of a character who has been in just about every single Star Wars series up until now. Saw Gerrera is one of the most p...

Not to dunk on it too badly, but so little of note happened in “The Wynkahthu Job” (Rebels S3, Ep. 9) that we added “Visions and Voices” (Rebels S3, Ep. 11) to our watch this week. Combined, these episodes show that there are two Boomers inside of you—a Hondo and a Maul—and you become the one you feed. We spend quality time on Dathomir getting hassled by Nightsister ghosts, and watch Thrawn tourin...

Do you want to know everything there is to know about Mandalorian internal politics? You’re in luck! In our discussion of “Imperial Supercommandos” (Rebels S3, Ep. 7) we explore Mandalorian clans, the Protectors of Concord Dawn, family loyalty, treason, and responsibility. Star Wars was only mostly samurai-inspired before this! On the flip side, “Iron Squadron” (Rebels S3, Ep.8) gives us…youths. T...

Welcome to a “Best of Thrawn” homage. In “Hera’s Heroes” (Rebels S3, Ep. 5) we talk all about the grandest art appropriator of them all—and how art theft is a theft of self.  In the second installment this week,”The Last Battle,” we get a deeply ominous situation which ends up being DELIGHTFULLY silly. We see the Clone Wars from the other side—from the battles we fought in the past, to what we nee...

Fate in the Star Wars universe: Can you escape it? Does free will exist? All these questions and more come up during “The Holocrons of Fate” (Rebels Season 3, Ep. 3) as our heroes have to contend once again with an angry Maul. We also dance around some of the setup and payoff for the events of the original trilogy in “The Antilles Extraction” (Rebels Season 3, Ep. 4). Wedge Antilles, Boy Wonder an...

And you thought we were anxious during the Rebels S2 finale! After a six-month time skip, everyone has new hair and new vibes. We’re also introduced to two new characters: the Bendu (iconic, btw) and GRAND. ADMIRAL. THRAWN.  We talk about Thrawn’s canon importance, the nature of the Force, and absentee parents. We also question when a healthy relationship is just unbelievable. (C’mon, Hera, yell a...