Aggressive Negotiations: A Star Wars Podcast

Metamorphosis. John and Matt jump into the jump scares with The Bad Batch Season 2 episode “Metamorphosis” as Star Wars resurrects a Clone Wars beastie with a horror-action movie and a bold, new villain enters the scene to set the stage for an arc that will take us through to Season 3. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters    Facebook: https://www.face...

The Crossing & Retrieval. John and Matt discuss how the Star Wars galaxy has changed in the aftermath of #TheCloneWars as they look at #TheBadBatch Season 2 arc “The Crossing/Retrieval” — Syd’s abandonment, processing grief, and the burden of carrying on are all examined against a backdrop of beautiful animation and subtle references in this gripping duology. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushin...

The Clone Conspiracy & Truth and Consequences. Join Matt and John as they delve into Darth Sidious’ devilish plans-within-plans as he snatches villainous victory from righteous defeat in the two part #StarWars #TheBadBatch Season 2 arc “The Clone Conspiracy/Truth and Consequences.” What does the arc reveal about Omega’s true nature, and what does it say about the mundane ways evil can win? All...

Tribe. Journey back to Kashyyyk with John and Matt during their StarWars: The Bad Batch Season 2 rewatch with a discussion about “Tribe,” an episode where the squad assists the Wookiee Jedi Gungi get back to his people’s home now that the Jedi have fallen. Warning: Creepy Kashyykian wildlife and Trandoshan slavers await. Only the bravest should apply. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us yo...

Entombed. Discover lost treasure with John and Matt during their Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 rewatch with a discussion about “Entombed,” an episode that highlights Wanda Sykes’ character “Phee Genoa,” and layers on references to other classic films from Studio Ghibli to Indiana Jones and The Lord of the Rings. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMaster...

Faster. Racing comes to the forefront once more as Matt and John continue their Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 rewatch with a discussion about “Faster,” the infamous episode centered on a wild “riot racing” circuit. Is this a one-and-done episode, or an important character step that leads to later payoff? Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebo...

The Solitary Clone. Join Matt and John as they discuss the stunning 3rd episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2: “The Solitary Clone,,” an examination of the spiritual malaise of Clone Force 99’s defector Crosshair as he teams with Clone Commander Cody to put down an insurrection on an independent planet. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Face...

Ruins of War. Join John and Matt as they continue their rewatch and discussion of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 with “Ruins of War,” with Clone Force 99’s escape from Serenno with a new perspective on the destruction of the Clone Wars and the evils of the Galactic Empire. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheN...

Spoils of War. Join Matt and John as they begin their rewatch and discussion on Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 with “The Spoils of War,” featuring Clone Force 99’s attempt to heist of Count Dock’s riches on Serenno from under the nose of the Galactic Empire. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email...

Star Wars Potpurri. Sometimes there’s just too much fun to be had diving down a Dagobah rabbit hole. Join John and Matt for a dish of Star Wars potpourri - an intoxicating melange of spicy discussion about a galaxy far, far away! Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: http://www.thenerdparty.com/co...

The Threat Within. The Jedi Masters’ first show of 2024 is a robust discussion of Jude Watson’s “The Threat Within,” the last regular book in the Jedi Apprentice series for Star Wars. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: http://www.thenerdparty.com/contact Subscribe in Apple Podcasts Make sure yo...

A Jedi Carol. Scrooge got a visit from 3 spirits…why not 3 Force Ghosts for Luke Skywalker? A visit to Rey from those that went before to set her on the right path? Are Force Ghosts naturally a part of that fine Dickens tradition? John and Matt explore the possibilities with, “A Jedi Carol." Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.f...

Imperial Broadcast System. The Dead Speak! …but how did they hear it? John and Matt discuss what possible mechanisms could have existed for people to hear Palatine’s mysterious message between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: http://www.thenerdparty.co...

Star Wars Holiday Special 2. John and Matt debate whether the Star Wars Holiday Special deserves a big-budget streaming reboot, or if the time has passed on holiday specials overall, and it’s time to accept that there’s no place for it in Star Wars - or any franchise - anymore. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Th...

Star Wars Celebrations. Did the Empire allow holiday celebrations, or was everything turned toward the greater glory of the Emperor and Lord Vader? John and Matt explore this question, along with the deeper implications of a society without joy and how it might have led to the Galactic Empire’s quick demise. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebo...

Thanksgungan 2023. The season of thanks has arrived as John Mills and Matthew Rushing celebrate all the things in Star Wars we are thankful for this year! We'd be honored if you would join us. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: http://www.thenerdparty.com/contact Subscribe in Apple Podcasts Mak...

Urgent Incoming Transmission. It is the time of the season when we talk about what we are thankful for over the last year in Star Wars! Tell us what you are thankful for as we get ready for another Thanksgungan! Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: http://www.thenerdparty.com/contact Subscribe in...

Weird Star Wars. Has the Ahsoka series given live action Star Wars the license to get weird again? The themes, story devices and world building elements have kicked open the door for larger audiences to experience Star Wars the way the animated series have for years now: Wild and unrestrained by science fiction’s obsession with rationalization. Matt and John discuss why this is a good thing overal...

What Makes a Master? Anakin Skywalker never attained the rank of Jedi Master. John and Matt discuss what the full criteria might have been, beyond being named to the Jedi Council. How many pathways were open to a Jedi seeking advancement, and how was it determined? They look at every angle and source, from old EU to current canon. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter:...

The Maul Principle. Sometimes in Star Wars storytelling, the Force is a fickle mistress when it comes to deciding who lives and dies, and it’s led to some controversy in recent years with characters surviving a specific type of wound that killed the venerable Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Matt and John ask, though, if there was a bigger precedent there all along set by a certain handsome villain… Host...

Don’t Give in to Hate! Is Star Wars trapped in a doom loop of trying to appeal equally to fans, non-fans, and Internet trolls who just can’t let it go? John and Matt grab the third rail and ask themselves, why do some people keep watching if they just hate it all? John and Matt try to figure it out. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https...

The Force of Physical Media. Disney announced that streaming-only series are now getting 4K releases on physical media - what does this mean for Star Wars fans, Star Wars as a brand, and the future of collecting? John and Matt dive into it all! Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: http://www.then...

The Baby Yoda Effect. Has Star Wars become trapped by the fans’ desire for a big, showy surprise to kick off each show? John and Matt discuss this big question. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: http://www.thenerdparty.com/contact Subscribe in Apple Podcasts Make sure you follow us on X @TheJe...

More Galaxies, Farther Away. The new Star Wars series Ahsoka spurs a new question: how expansive is the Star Wars universe after all? Is it a tale of a Galaxy Far, Far Away or is it a tale of multiple galaxies and endless new possibilities? John and Matt discuss what opening that door might do for the future of Star Wars. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJedi...

Animation Domination. 15 years after the debut of the animated movie Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano is getting her own live-action series. Matt and John take a deep-dive look at the Star Wars animation’s lasting impact as it continued and expanded the storytelling tradition of a Galaxy Far, Far Away…. Host John Mills and Matthew Rushing Send us your feedback! Twitter: @TheJediMasters Faceb...