Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast

With the premiere of Andor season 2 just a few days away, we're sharing our hopes and predictions for the long-awaited return of Cassian Andor and company. We discuss the show's increasing political relevance, its unconventional release schedule, and our excitement about everything from Rebellion tensions to weird aliens and cool food. We also talk about whether Andor should stay away from the Force, which characters might make cameo appearances, and how we hope to see Cassian evolve in the lead-up to Rogue One. Plus: Eric has a theory he hopes is wrong, and Haley sets herself up for wedding disappointment.

Inspired by one of our favorite TV shows, we're diving into the world of alternate universes and unexplored possibilities. Eric and Grace each pitch several ideas for “what if?” storylines that explore Star Wars's most tantalizing roads not taken. From the end of the Clone Wars to the Sequel Trilogy, these alternate storylines have our imaginations running wild. Plus, with the Andor season 2 teaser trailer fresh on everyone's minds, we take a few minutes to voice our concerns about Andor's marketing strategy.

With Skeleton Crew, Disney told a Star Wars story unlike any other, but still rooted in the themes that make the franchise so successful and endearing. In this episode, we discuss our favorite storylines, analyze the characters at the heart of the series, and consider its depiction of morality, obedience, and bravery. We also share our favorite jokes, speculate about the show's future, and debate the concept of “unclaimsies.”

We're less than five months away from the premiere of Andor season 2, so what's in store for us when the best live-action Star Wars TV show returns? In this episode, Eric, Grace, and Haley try to predict the twists and turns that lie ahead for Cassian Andor, Mon Mothma, Luthen Rael, and the other characters we've come to know and love (or love to hate). We consider how far Mon will go, how Luthen will exit the picture (and what we'll learn about his past), and whether Syril Karn and Dedra Meero are destined to gross us all out. Plus, some theories about Uncle Harlo that you probably aren't expecting.

Would independent journalists have prevented the events of Star Wars from happening? In this episode, we unpack a topic at the precise intersection of our fandom and our professional lives: the role of journalism and media in Star Wars. How do people in the Star Wars galaxy get their  news, and how does news consumption affect their lives? How do three successive galactic governments use HoloNet broadcasts to their advantage? And what does the lack of local news mean for people suffering from apathy or mistreatment on far-flung planets? We also discuss how Star Wars journalists balance morality and objectivity, including the ethical challenges of reporting the news from inside the Empire.

It's a bleak time in Star Wars fandom, as the community processes the news that Disney has canceled The Acolyte following lackluster viewership and relentless online hate from bigoted trolls. What does the cancelation mean for the future of Star Wars storytelling, and what does it say about Disney's corporate philosophy and the larger issues with streaming television today? Politico's Bill Kuchman joins Eric and Grace to discuss the demoralizing cancelation and its broader implications, including what we think of a franchise dominated by The Mandalorian and its spinoffs, how it feels to see an ambitious project get scrapped without a peep from Disney, and how The Acolyte's demise could hurt Disney in the long run. Show notes: Follow Bill Kuchman and read Popculturology

It's rare that we at Hoth Takes are so overwhelmingly critical of a piece of Star Wars media, but The Acolyte's final two episodes definitely earned that treatment. Listen in as we critique Osha's fall to the dark side, the show's moral message, and Vernestra's coverup. We also discuss the Jedi's culpability for the events on Brendok and the Republic's interest in overseeing Jedi business. Plus, we speculate about what Darth Plagueis is up to and how much Vernestra will confess to Yoda. And you'll never guess what big unresolved question Haley wants answered.

Things have taken a turn on The Acolyte, as a ruthless villain reveals himself — in more ways than one. In this episode, we discuss the middle act of The Acolyte, including a stunning fight on a forest planet and a fascinating dark-side seduction on a hidden world. We delve into Qimir's insidious ideology, Mae's messy behavior, and what, exactly, Osha could possibly be thinking. Plus, we're nervous about Sol, and Haley has a food question.

Three episodes in, The Acolyte is taking Star Wars in a bold new direction with fresh characters and a disturbing but thought-provoking premise. Join Eric, Grace, and Haley as we break down the complicated relationships between the main characters, debate the portrayal of an exiled witch coven, and try to predict where the show is heading. Grace is on a social media break, so it's up to Eric and Haley to fill her in on the awful online discourse. And you won't believe how long it takes Haley to bring up her newest space-food obsession.

What's it like being in love with a huge Star Wars nerd? To celebrate our fiftieth episode, we're talking about the role that Star Wars plays in our personal lives, and we're joined by three special guests: our partners. From first dates and pandemic TV marathons to naming cars and doing bad impressions, our significant others pull back the curtain on how our love of Star Wars manifests beyond the microphones of Hoth Takes. Plus, we ask our partners about galactic conspiracy theories and their best TV show pitches, and one of them asks a divisive question.

Disney is following Tales of the Jedi with Tales of the Empire, opening up new opportunities for Tales anthologies focused on other corners of the galaxy. Given the recent focus on the dark side, we decided to pitch our best ideas for anthologies about our favorite overlooked villains. But what starts as an episode about a future Tales anthology quickly snowballs into a brainstorming session about much wackier concepts — and eventually, we come up with a Star Wars TV show so perfect that it genuinely annoys us that it will never exist.

With the upcoming Star Wars TV show The Acolyte in the news recently, Eric and Grace sit down to discuss their hopes and expectations for the franchise's first mystery thriller. We talk about the storytelling potential of a wide-open time period, the challenges of humanizing villains without glorifying them, and whether and how Disney will use the show to plant the seeds of the prequels. Plus, inspired by The Acolyte's mature tone, we have a mini-debate about whether there's room in Star Wars for stories that cross two very big lines.

For as long as the stars have been warring, they've also been loving. So why has the Disney era of Star Wars had noticeably fewer romances, including multiple frustrating missed opportunities in the sequel trilogy? To celebrate Valentine's Day, we're diving into the topic of romance in Star Wars. We explore the challenges of writing romantic relationships, the factors that might be discouraging Disney from emphasizing love stories, and how Star Wars has succeeded and failed at romance, from Hera and Kanan's heartwarming bond to Anakin and Padme's toxic codependency to Rose and Finn's weird surprise kiss. Plus, in a conversation that reveals a lot about ourselves, we each pick the Star Wars character we'd most like to marry.

You can tell a lot about a person's Star Wars fandom by what they put on a top-five list. In this episode, Eric, Grace, and Haley share, explain, and defend their five favorite examples of various Star Wars themes, debating the best criteria to use and the most controversial omissions from each other's lists. As we discuss the reasons for certain inclusions and exclusions, we revisit memories from our own journeys with Star Wars, from childhood wonder at a senatorial outfit to adult awe at a special space food. You might be able to predict some of our list-making choices, but we guarantee you're in for a few surprises.

We're wrapping up our discussion of Ahsoka's first season with a look at the secondary characters and B-plots that tied the show together. Did Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati break new ground as villains? How much did Hera even matter to the story? And did the series do a good job of exploring the nuances of New Republic galactic security debates, in which our warrior heroes are often working against democracy? For the most part, Eric, Grace, and Haley weren't impressed, but there's some disagreement about how successfully these characters and storylines were executed. Plus, Haley tells Eric about a wild Ahsoka fan theory that dredges up one of the weirdest things to come out of the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

The Disney+ series Ahsoka debuted to high expectations, but did it do justice to the fan-favorite Star Wars characters that it revisited? For Eric, Grace, and Haley, the answer — at least when it comes to three of the show's most important characters — is no. Join us as we dig into what worked and what didn't with Ahsoka's portrayals of Ahsoka Tano herself, Sabine Wren, and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Eric and Grace disagree about the value of the World Between Worlds sequence, Grace and Haley disagree about the merits of Sabine wanting to be a Jedi, and we're all mad about how Ezra and Sabine's long-awaited reunion played out. Plus: Should Ezra have been more like Yoda? And what if Sabine is a lot like Superman?

There are hot takes, and then there are truly hoth takes. In this episode, Wired security reporter Lily Hay Newman returns to Hoth Takes to defend one of the most controversial Star Wars claims we've ever heard: that The Book of Boba Fett was a good TV show. Lily loved how the show played with different forms of storytelling, and she came away from it with a newfound interest in Boba Fett. But here on Hoth Takes, she has some explaining to do. How does she respond to Eric and Grace's complaints about the Din Djarin and Grogu interludes and the unceremonious slaughter of the Tusken Raiders? What does she have to say about the mod parlor's cheap resurrection trick? And what can she possibly mean by comparing The Book of Boba Fett to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?

How do you tell a story of change without alienating fans who like things the way they are? Disney has faced this dilemma multiple times since buying Star Wars, and the results haven't always been impressive. From Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi to Ahsoka Tano in her new Disney+ series, storytellers have struggled to depict characters growing and changing while maintaining the core traits that made those characters so popular. In this episode, New Republic staff writer Matt Ford joins Eric and Grace to talk about how Disney should tell bold new stories without trampling on fan expectations. We compare Luke and Yoda's journeys into exile, contrast Andor with The Book of Boba Fett, and debate the necessity of the big canon reboot. Plus, Matt explains why J.J. Abrams seemed like a natural choice to thread the needle of evolving beloved characters in the sequel trilogy — until it all went wrong.

We're just about a month away from the premiere of Ahsoka, the live-action series that will continue the story of Star Wars Rebels, give Grand Admiral Thrawn his long-awaited live-action debut, and set up a cinematic Mando-Verse crossover in a battle for the fate of the New Republic. But here at Hoth Takes, we might be more nervous than excited about Ahsoka. In this episode, Eric, Grace, and Haley discuss their hopes, fears, and expectations for the series, from how characters will be portrayed to how the story will unfold. Grace is worried about montrals and lekku, Haley wants to return to a mystical realm, and Eric is eager to see Thrawn and Ezra Bridger spend some quality time together. We also discuss what Sabine Wren and Hera Syndulla are up to, how important Ahsoka Tano will be in her own show, and the unavoidable pitfalls of live-action adaptations of animated series.

Disney is closing the Galactic Starcruiser, its immersive Star Wars hotel in Orlando, Florida, and here at the Hoth Takes podcast, we have some great ideas for what should replace it. But as you'll hear, only one of us focused on practical suggestions. The others…well, their ideas have to be heard to be believed. In this episode, we're talking Resistance missions in kitchens, hotels based on the galaxy's most dangerous planets, time-traveling political hitjobs, and a Star Wars twist on an iconic culinary adventure. We get equal parts wacky and depraved as we pitch Disney's Imagineers on the most ambitious, legally irresponsible Star Wars theme-park attractions you'll ever encounter.

Now that The Mandalorian season 3 is over, let's look back at its story arcs, character choices, and major themes and consider how successful it was. For Eric and Grace, the short answer is: not very successful. In this episode, they discuss Din and Grogu's bond, Bo-Katan's path to victory, New Republic and Imperial Remnant world-building, Moff Gideon's return, and some of the season's lighter moments. Eric comes up with an ingenious use for an AI image-generation tool, Grace defends a light-hearted detour from the main story, and the two of them disagree about a politics-heavy episode.

Disney made some big announcements about the future of Star Wars at the recent Celebration convention in London. This time on Hoth Takes, we share our hopes, fears, predictions, and questions about each of the upcoming projects. How will fans react to Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order? Can Dave Filoni save his Mando-Verse crossover movie from Marvel-like synergy fatigue? How weird and mystical will the “dawn of the Jedi” movie get? Plus, we're fascinated by the reported vibe of The Acolyte, Haley is already scared for the children of Skeleton Crew, and Grace is worried about some not-so-subtle hints in the Ahsoka trailer.

How should the New Republic rebuild after the events of the sequel trilogy? In this episode, we debate issues like galactic representation, collective security, and planetary rights as we try to design the ideal structure for the new government. Does the New Republic need a big military? Should it go back to rotating its capital planet? How should it interface with the new Jedi Order? There are disagreements aplenty in this episode of Hoth Takes. Plus, Grace questions the very need for a galactic government, and Haley asks a provocative question about Force knowledge.

The success of Andor has created a new benchmark for quality Star Wars storytelling. But what lessons can Disney actually learn from Andor? What does its popularity tell us about the kinds of Star Wars stories that can succeed? And what does its success imply about the strengths and weaknesses of Disney's existing Star Wars strategy? In this episode, we explore the perils of open-ended television series, the pitfalls of Disney's risk aversion, and the challenges posed by cameos and synergy. Plus, we discuss how dark Star Wars can get, how to balance iconic Star Wars trappings with new settings and points of view, and how Disney can branch out into new genres and formats.

Recent Star Wars projects like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor have shown us the strengths and weaknesses of the Imperial surveillance state. But how effective are the Empire's cameras, databases, and scanners, and how well do storytellers justify the failure of this technology to snare our heroes and stamp out the Rebellion? In this episode, Wired security reporter Lily Hay Newman joins Eric and Grace to discuss the depiction of surveillance in Star Wars. We discuss how the franchise has to adhere to its roots in the technological imagination of the 1970s, how the scale of the galaxy and the complexity of the Imperial bureaucracy might undermine an effective panopticon, and how mod parlors and other tricks can defeat surveillance. Plus, Grace and Eric offer some creative explanations for why Imperial security cameras aren't constantly alerting Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker's location.

Andor won critical acclaim for its gritty and nuanced portrayal of rebellion in Star Wars, but what makes its depiction of insurgency so special? In this episode, The Atlantic's Adam Serwer joins Eric, Grace, and Haley to discuss how faith and revenge motivate rebellion throughout Star Wars, how Luthen's approach to insurrection sets him apart, how class shapes the goals and decisions of Andor's rebel and Imperial characters, and what the show says about the role of radical revolutionary violence. Plus, we compare Andor to Star Wars Rebels, Adam makes the case that Andor wants us to think Luthen is a fugitive Jedi, and we discuss a curious theory about two droids being one.

Andor season 1 ended with a triumphant run of episodes, and we're here to break down all the greatness, from the cutthroat political maneuvering to the epic brawls, riots, and space battles to whatever's going on with Dedra Meero and Syril Karn. Eric fanboys over Mon Mothma, Grace talks about familial love putting Cassian over the edge, and Haley discusses the genius of making Dedra sympathetic and relatable before showing her dark side. We also talk Andy Serkis, Ferrix funerals, Luthen's all-around bossness, and Nemik's manifesto. Plus: Hats off to Syril and Sergeant Mosk for having the best villain bromance in all of Star Wars.

Eight episodes into Andor, we keep finding more things to love. Join us as we discuss the Disney+ series' surprisingly stark treatment of the surveillance state, police brutality, and the prison-industrial complex, tackling issues that Star Wars has either ignored or relegated to the background. We also cover Diego Luna's extraordinarily expressive face, the many layers of Mon Mothma, the intimate portrayal of Imperial oppression, and the villains we almost want to root for. This series is so good that even Grace's mom is loving it. Enough said.

We're one-third of the way through Andor's first season, and so far, things are looking incredibly good. In this episode, Eric and Grace break down how Andor is hitting all the right notes, from its grounded setting and its darker tone to its nuanced portrayals of heroes, villains, and everyday people. We talk about Mon Mothma's unexpected vulnerability, the office politics of the Imperial Security Bureau, and Andor's unflinching depictions of surveillance, migration, and insurgency. Plus, we explore the series' smart integration of Easter eggs and celebrate production-design choices large and small.

Podracing: to paraphrase Qui-Gon, it's very fast, very dangerous, and very possibly the best sequence in The Phantom Menace. In this episode, Daily Beast congressional reporter Sam Brodey joins us to discuss the podrace sequence's uniquely excellent world-building, the racers' bizarre backstories, and the high-octane competition's best sound effects and strangest moments. Plus, we celebrate Fode and Beed, pitch ideas for a podracing mini-series on Disney+, and mourn Ratts Tyrell — gone but not forgotten.

How will the new Disney+ series Andor balance its ambition to be a political thriller about insurgency and migration with its imperative to serve a mass audience and respect Star Wars' kid-friendly roots? In this episode, Eric, Grace, and Haley discuss their hopes and expectations for Andor, including a spotlight on Mon Mothma, an exploration of Imperial loyalism, and a focus on more grounded heroes. Plus, we digest a revelation about Mon's past, ponder Tony Gilroy's promise of journalist representation, cheer for Andor's escape from the Volume, and consider whether the show is destined to be another battlefront in the culture war.

We're mixing things up in this episode of Hoth Takes and turning the reins over to a special guest: Washington Post health-care reporter Dan Diamond. Dan, a self-admitted Star Wars novice, asks us a series of pressing questions about the galaxy far, far away, from how people get their news to why stormtroopers can't hit anything. We also discuss the role of Star Wars in the real world, including why there's so much anger in fandom and whether someday, far off in the future, Star Wars will become an actual religion. Plus, we try to convince a skeptical Dan of the majesty of Cad Bane (and his hat).

Now that we've had plenty of time to digest the second half of Obi-Wan Kenobi, we're diving into how everything went down and whether the series lived up to its potential. From Obi-Wan and Anakin flashbacks to Reva's secret agenda, find out what we thought worked and what disappointed us. Plus, Haley gives us a new way to think about the finale's Star Wars Rebels ripoff (perhaps “homage” is a better term?), and we pour one out for Tera Sinube.

Who's your favorite Jedi? In this episode, Eric and Haley make their cases for two very different characters — one young and irreverent, one experienced and solemn. What can Ezra Bridger teach us about the Jedi quest for selflessness amid the temptations of family, home, and power? And how much was Mace Windu to blame for the success of Darth Sidious' plan to corrupt Anakin Skywalker? From Loth-wolves to Sith holocrons to dangerous lightsaber fighting styles, the stories of Ezra and Mace are full of complex, fascinating dilemmas about Jedi identity and purpose, and in this episode, we dive into how they tackle those challenges. Plus: What might be next for Ezra? And if Mace is somehow still alive, what should be next for him?

He's one of the most popular characters in all of Star Wars, immortalized in countless action figures and endless fan art. But what makes Darth Vader so cool and interesting? Why can't fans ever get enough stories about him? With Vader back in the spotlight thanks to the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, Eric and Grace explore Anakin Skywalker's journey from selfish downfall to selfless redemption and discuss the Star Wars stories that best capture his dark essence. We talk about how Ezra Bridger and Ahsoka Tano see Vader very differently in a pivotal Star Wars Rebels episode, how Vader's team-up with Grand Admiral Thrawn reveals a different side of the Dark Lord, and how he's endlessly fascinating in the original trilogy thanks to his enigmatic presence and subordinate role.

We're halfway through the new Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, and here at the Hoth Takes podcast, Young Leia is giving us life. But while there's a lot to love in these first three episodes — Ewan McGregor's performance, the depiction of Darth Vader, and everything Leia — we still have some questions. Haley is surprised that Obi-Wan hasn't gotten up to much in the ten years after Revenge of the Sith, Grace doesn't think the show has justified its existence yet, and Eric is concerned about a major canon contradiction. Plus, Inquisitors are so extra, that space trucker just wants some order, and Eric tries to explain the deep-cut Easter egg that most people probably missed.

Star Wars meets politics in this episode as Eric and Haley discuss how the Republic government should be rebuilt after the sequel trilogy. How much control should it have over planetary affairs? Should it have an active military? How should law enforcement be handled? What should the government's relationship with the Jedi be? And speaking of the Jedi, what should they look like in this new era? Haley wants to see some Force civics education, and Eric thinks the Republic needs a House of Representatives. Join us as we wrestle with big questions of galactic political science, some of them pretty familiar to us here on Earth.

The sequel trilogy may be over, but we could still see Rey and the gang in future stories. In this episode, Eric and Grace chat about what they want to see next from Rey, Finn, Poe, and their allies. Plus, Grace pitches her plan for bringing Ben Solo to justice, and we imagine R2-D2 and C-3PO's married life in their Coruscant condo.

When Grace and Haley learned that Eric had stayed at Disney's new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser immersive hotel thing, they knew they had to ask him all about it. Join us for a discussion about interactive storytelling, space food, and the moral dilemma of Disney's premium experiences. Eric shares stories about bantering with the Starcruiser's top-notch actors, how it feels to be in the middle of a Star Wars adventure, and what it's like to run into a group of pint-sized First Order sympathizers. Plus, we brainstorm our first reality competition series for the podcast.

Dive down a rabbit hole or two with us as we explore the zaniest Star Wars fan theories of the past few years. Obviously wesa gonna talk about the big bombad theory yousa probably already familiar with — but some of the others might surprise you. We have strong feelings about these theories, so what happens when we disagree? Plus, Grace reveals why she knows so much about Bob Newhart, Haley gets super into image analysis, and Eric risks public condemnation to question the science.

If you thought we disliked the first half of The Book of Boba Fett, wait until you hear what we have to say about the second half. From Boba and Fennec's wasted potential to the pointless time-sucking flashbacks to the Mandalorian takeover, we're as merciless as the Pyke Syndicate. Grace is furious about the show's missed opportunities, Eric is annoyed that apparently anyone can be resurrected these days, and Haley is frustrated by Boba's inexplicable choices. Plus, we pay Amy Sedaris her due, we accentuate the positives, and we have way too much fun imagining a long-lost duo's happy life on Tatooine.

Let's talk Sith. In this episode, Haley's Dispatch colleague David French joins us to discuss the 2006 Star Wars novel Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, the effectiveness of the Rule of Two, and how different stories depict the dark side's inherently corrupting nature. We explore the cautionary tale of Bane's descent into evil, consider whether the Rule of Two was necessary to assure the success of Palpatine's grand plan, and examine the similarities between the dark side and drug addiction.

We're three chapters into The Book of Boba Fett, and we still know almost nothing about what's going on. In this episode, we discuss the show's pacing, tone, and narrative, including a plotline that's lasted too long, a crime lord who isn't violent enough, a city that's too empty, and speeder bikes that are too shiny. We also vent about virtual sets, discuss romantic possibilities, and praise the guest stars and lore references. Plus, Eric makes an embarrassing timeline mistake, Grace pours one out for a very special Hutt, and Haley reveals two completely unsurprising facts about her past.

Let's face it — the Galactic Senate doesn't make much sense. For one thing, how do they have enough pods for every senator? And what's with corporations getting seats? In this episode, we explore why the Senate is so weird and how that weirdness affects the Star Wars galaxy. We look at the strange role of junior representatives, the divide between the Senate and local authorities, and depictions of the legislative process in canon. Plus, we discuss how we would reform the Senate, including whether it would have benefited from a strong party system and more empowered committees. It's the conversation we were born to have, and we're as surprised as you are that we waited this long to have it.

What do Loki and That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana have in common? Every big franchise has cameos and tie-ins, but only the best franchises balance these bits of connectivity with storytelling that can stand on its own. In this episode, Haley returns from her well-deserved maternity leave to join Eric and Grace for a look back at Star Wars: Visions and a look ahead at The Book of Boba Fett and other upcoming shows. We discuss our favorite Visions episodes and how the show benefits from telling stories about regular people; our hopes for the focus of the Boba Fett series; and our fears about crossover overkill. Plus, Eric complains about Disney's stinginess and Haley complains about a missing element in Star Wars stories.

Hayden Christensen isn't just returning to Star Wars in Disney+'s Obi-Wan Kenobi series. According to a recent report, he'll also appear in the Ahsoka Tano series. Hayden's return is super exciting, but we do have some questions. In this episode, Eric and Grace discuss the best ways for these two series to expand on Anakin Skywalker's relationships with two of the most important people in his life. We talk about flashbacks and Force ghosts, Clone Wars memories and exchanges of wisdom, and of course, wigs and CGI. Plus, we consider how Disney could really surprise us with Hayden's roles on these shows.

Droids: They're everywhere in Star Wars, quietly helping to make the galaxy run, but we rarely think about their needs and wants — or their rights. In this episode, Eric and Grace discuss thorny issues of droid sentience, explore the moral questions posed by restraining bolts, and review how our heroes treat their robotic friends throughout the saga. Plus, we examine the role that battle droids play in the story and the ethical dilemmas that they present.

Should Jedi have been allowed to marry? What dangers did romantic relationships really pose to the stability of the Order and the success of its mission? Could the Jedi of the prequel trilogy have learned a thing or two from their counterparts two hundred years prior? In this episode, Eric and Grace discuss the nuances of the Jedi's prohibition against attachments. Love can make people better versions of themselves, but fixation on a loved one can distract a Jedi from their higher purpose. Masters and apprentices form strong bonds that help them work better together, but an overprotective master can make mistakes. Join us as we try to navigate all of these pitfalls and imagine policies that could have saved the Jedi Order.

How did the Jedi Order go astray? At what point did its fatal flaws develop, and how did Darth Sidious' machinations accelerate that corruption? In this episode, Eric and Grace explore the Jedi's tragic decline and fall, from their restrictive dogmas to their sudden militarization during the Clone Wars. We discuss the effects of the Jedi being so close to the Republic (including whether they really had any other choice), whether the Jedi could have played a better role in the war, and whether Yoda should have listened to Qui-Gon about staying focused on the here and now.

We're wrapping up our series on the original trilogy with an episode about the delightful but imperfect Return of the Jedi. Does the movie wrap things up too perfectly? Is it more akin to A New Hope or The Empire Strikes Back? Did Darth Vader deserve redemption? Eric and Grace explore all of these questions. Plus, we compare Luke and Anakin's responses to dark side temptations, discuss Leia and Han's questionable storylines, and agree that the Ewoks rule and Salacious B. Crumb is a king.

It's all about family in this episode as we try to discuss The Empire Strikes Back without repeating what everyone has said for the past 40 years. With Haley out on maternity leave, Eric and Grace discuss the underappreciated nuances of Darth Vader's iconic paternity reveal and Luke's seemingly hereditary impulsiveness and insecurity. Plus, Grace explains why she's Team Lando, and we look at the missed opportunity of Leia's Force-sensitivity. We would be honored if you would join us.