Star Wars: Mark of Balance

2023 is shaping up to be one of the most promising years of Star Wars with a full slate of highly anticipated live action and animated TV series like Mando S3, Ahsoka, Bad Batch S2 and Visions S2, as well as, the sequel to one the best Star Wars games ever made. We can also expect lots of news surrounding future projects, like The Acolyte and hopefully a goddamn movie... High Republic Phase II is...

Another year of Star Wars down and we had some very high highs, and some very low lows. I breakdown my Top 5 Blunders and my Top 5 Favorite Moments from Star Wars in 2022. Always gotta have a balance here on the pod. I cover everything from tv shows to books to video games. From Andor to Book of Boba Fett to Lego Star Wars to Obi Wan Kenobi to Tales of the Jedi to High Republic Phase II, its all h...

The Jedi Survivor Gameplay Reveal Trailer is here and it did not disappoint, highlighting new gameplay mechanics, characters, and potential story beats. There are also some noteable characters missing from the trailer which was very interesting... Hear my thoughts on where I think the sequel needs to improve over the first game, namely in combat choice and performance as well as hopes for the game...

One of my most anticipated Star Wars series of the year after attending the exclusive panel at Star Wars Celebration, Tales of the Jedi, the anthology series of shorts that follow Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku, has arrived. Expectations were high with Ahsoka returning in animated form and Count Dooku finally getting some screen time during his time as a Jedi. What the series delivers is an enjoyable...

And there you have it, the best most consistent season of Star Wars television that we've ever gotten. Every deatil, every decision, ever character mattered and it culminated with a perfect full circle ending to season 1. Hear all my thoughts on Maarva's speech and how it alligns with Luthen's ideas, Nemiks manifesto, Cassian's transition into the full fledged hero of this story and of course, the...

Hear my thoughts on how the penultimate episode to Season 1 of Andor delivers the most emotional episode so far. The main theme of "Daughter of Ferrix" is loss and the score throughout reflects it beautifully, relying on scaled back versions of character motifs weve heard throughout the season. The acting continues to be top notch with heartbreaking scenes from Cassian and Mon Mothma, while Luthen...

One way out! One Way out! One Way out! Prison escape, to family drama, to Shakespearean monologues? Andor is operating at a high level right now. Listen to my breakdown of Kino's epic speech, my queen Mon Mothma's HEARTBREAKING scene, and Luthen's somber but beautifully written monologue. I also talk about my appreciation of Cassian's subtle leadership style. Enjoy! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars...

When you meet someone and they say their favorite Star Wars movie is Return of the Jedi and that they are getting an Aruebesh tattoo, you get them on your Star Wars podcast. "Star Wars Story" interviews return with my friend Ashley coming on to talk all things Star Wars, from her love of Kylo Ren, to her flirtacious interaction with THE Hayden Christensen, to her time at Galaxy's Edge, and so much...

One of the best shows on TV, period. Andor continues to masterfully craft compelling characters, from the main staples like Cassian and Mon Mothma, to characters we met just last week with Andy Serkis' "Kino". Themes of institutionalization, fanaticism, and sacrifice are woven throughout this episode in chilling ways. Listen to my breakdown of these characters and themes from this weeks episode. G...

Another week, another great episode of Andor. Hear my thoughts on the ingenious, practical, and brutal prison Andor has found himself in on Narkina 5. We also continue to get more intrigue around Luthen's character as he grapples with his decisions and his inability to rally different Rebel factions, none more than Saw Gerrara's. Deedra's net begins to close as all the methodical storytelling up t...

Episode 7 of Andor, "The Announcement" is how to write a bridge episode. Even in the falling action of one of the most tense Star Wars episodes of TV, the stakes continue to build. The chess pieces are starting to move and the galaxy is beginning to change. Mon Mothma takes home MVP this week with a scene I think we will be talking about for a while. Hear about this and the rest of my thoughts on...

The Eye opens and we get to see some of the most tension filled Star Wars to date. My sister Jen joins the podcast (on her birthday) to discuss our thoughts on Episode 6 of Andor. We deep dive into character motivations, themes, the unbelieveable visuals, the score, and what this ending means for the Star Wars galaxy. Andor continues to impress and is solidifying itself as one of the best shows on...

My favorite thing about Star Wars is it's themes, the main reason I have this podcast. So you can imagine how much I appreciate the 5th episode of Andor "The Axe Forgets". The entire episode revolves around theme and it is engrianed into every scene and every character, even the antagonists. The best part is it comes full circle by the end. Hear my analysis of this theme and all my other thoughts...

Andor Episode 4 is the best written episode of live-action TV that Disney+ has put out. It continues to prioritize its characters and deliver stunning visual storytelling. I went back and rewatched several scenes from this episode immediately after due to smart dialogue, tension building, and top-notch acting. The establishment of realism is still at the forefront with locations having deep histor...

Andor's 3-episode series premiere takes us to a brand new place in Star Wars, and succeeds in almost every aspect. But how does it succeed? By establishing realism in Star Wars like never before, namely through actions having consequences, and those actions being carried out by flawed people, through the use of vices by those flawed people including sex/alcohol/language, utilizing practical sets a...

The wait is over. The dramatic and emotional finale to our Kenobi series rewrite. If you didnt feel satisfied with the series, this is for you. If you loved the series, this is for you. These 3 episodes serve up brand new lightsaber faces offs between Reva and Kenobi as well as Reva and the Grand Inquisitor and of course our take on the "Rematch of the Century" between Vader and Obi Wan. Tarla con...

SHEEESH. The full length Andor trailer has dropped and it is the best one Star Wars has released in years. Hear my thoughts on everything from the cinematography, to the feeling of scale, and of course my predictions for the show. Will this show be the bounce back for Star Wars TV? Hope you enjoy! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

How would you change the Obi Wan series if you were in the writers room? This question motivated my sister (screenwriter) and I to write our own version of the Obi Wan show. We kept the same 6-episode structure, the same characters, and the same main plot points, but we changed the pathways to get to those big moments. This was for fun and is in no way trying to put down the writers of the show. T...

12 Guests (!!!) join the show to give their thoughts and opinions on the Obi Wan series. From the good to the bad, all opinions were valid. This show ignited a lot of division online and with this episode, I wanted to highlight that we are all Star Wars fans regardless of our thoughts on a piece of media. I hope you enjoy and thanks for listening! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The Obi Wan Finale brings us the "rematch of the century" and helps to redeem the show for me overall. Reva's arc continues to rely on messy writing but the main ideas are good. Hear the rest of my thoughts on Leia, Palpatines return, and THAT Rebels scene. Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Thats what weve been waiting for! Episode 5 gets Kenobi back on track but the flaws that have plagued the series remain. Hear my thoughts on the highs and lows of this explosive episode and my predictions for the finale. Follow and interact with me on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Episode 4 is here and we are already halfway through Kenobi! I discuss my thoughts about the shortcomings of the show and what I am still enjoying about it so far. Hope you enjoy! Follow my Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Kenobi is finally here and we are already halfway through the series! Has it lived up to the years of hype and a decade of expectations so far? I discuss all my favorite parts of the first 3 episodes, as well as the aspects of the show I am on the fence about, and my predictions for the future. Should be a fun ride, hope you enjoy! Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Lego Star Wars the Skywalker Saga video game is finally here, but is it the ultimate celebration of Star Wars Lego games? I discuss why story mission consistency and selection hold back the game from being one of the best Star Wars video games ever made. Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

On this episode I am joined by a long time Star Wars friend and co-star of my early acting days from high school and the best assistent I ever had, Dylan Kelly! Dylan and I cover A LOT and he brings his film industry perspective throughout the episode. We discuss everything from Clone Wars, to our feelings about the sequels, the movie magic behind the early films, future Star Wars projects, his in...