Scavenger's Hoard: A Star Wars Podcast

In this episode, we discuss the season finale of Obi-Wan Kenobi, spanning the lows and the highs. We talk about everything from the epic Vader vs Kenobi fight, through to Beru and Owen defending their home and Reva finding redemption. We also talk about our thoughts on a potential sequel series or a season two, and what we'd like to see next for Kenobi and Reva. Note that after this episode, our plan is to move podcast hosts - we are hoping to move from SoundCloud to Anchor. Make sure to follow us on Twitter @ScavengersHoard for updates on the progress of this. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, we dedicate the discussion to the latest two episodes of 'Obi-Wan Kenobi': episode four, which concerns the rescue of Leia from the Inquisitors' fortress; and episode five, where Obi-Wan and the members of the Path are tracked to Jabiim and various character-related bombshells are dropped. Join us for some back-seat script-writing, Anakin stanning and preliminary Beru excitement. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, we begin by condemning the racist abuse being targeted at 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' actress Moses Ingram. We also share our thoughts on the unfortunate pattern this represents in the fandom's treatment of POC. We then move on to share our spoiler-filled thoughts on episode 3 of 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' - we talk about the amazing performance of Leia actress Vivien Lyra Blair, and the touching dialogue exchanges between her and Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan. We also share our conflicted feelings on how Vader is used in the episode. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, we begin with a news section where we discuss the big reveals from Vanity Fair and Celebration regarding the upcoming Star Wars TV projects - including Andor, Skeleton Crew and The Acolyte. We also discuss Kathleen Kennedy's comments on recasting actors, and the titbits that have been given about the future of Star Wars at the cinema. We then move on to share our thoughts on the first two episodes of the new Disney Plus series ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi' - we go into full spoilers from the start of the discussion (about 50 minutes into the recording), sharing our thoughts on Ewan McGregor's performance, the inclusion of a little Leia Organa and the tortured past of new Moses Ingram's Reva. We hope our listeners enjoy following the show and hearing our thoughts on the new episodes as they're released! Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode's opening, Kirsty recommends the following: - Cinema of Unease: A Personal Journey by Sam Neill, dir. Sam Neill and Judy Rymer And Rachael has these picks: - The Red Shoes, dir. Powell and Pressburger - Sunrise, dir. F. W. Murnau - The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, dir. Isao Takahata - The Northman, dir. Robert Eggers - Benedetta, dir. Paul Verhoeven We then move on to discuss the new poster and trailer for 'Obi-Wan Kenobi', as well as quickly covering the full schedule release for Star Wars Celebration 2022. We then progress to our spotlight discussion, which is focused on John Jackson Miller's 2013 novel 'Kenobi'. We share our thoughts on the book's themes (grief!), characters (Anileen!) and world-building (Tusken culture!), and give it a hearty recommendation. We're very interested to see how it compares with the eventual series. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode's opening, Kirsty recommends the following: - You Must Remember This, a podcast by Karina Longworth - The Batman, dir. Matt Reeves - Russian Doll, season 2 And Rachael has these picks: - The Drop Out - The Most Beautiful Wife, dir. Damiano Damiani - Deep Water, dir. Adrian Lyne - Prayers for the Stolen, dir. Tatiana Huezo - Love of Seven Dolls by Paul Gallico We then move on to discuss the latest Star Wars news, covering the following topics: - Donald Glover talks his Lando series - Star Wars Celebration schedule announcements begin - Star Wars Visions season 2 rumours begin to swirl - Natalie Holt announced as the composer for ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi' We then move on to our spotlight discussion, which is focused on comparing and contrasting the two major sci-fi franchises of 1999 - The Matrix and Star Wars. We begin our discussion in that year, considering what makes the two properties similar and different, and exploring how both franchises were compared at the time. We discuss all four Matrix films and the Star Wars prequels and sequels in chronological order, considering questions of authorship and artistic control. We hope you enjoy the discussion as much as we enjoyed putting it together! Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

(There were some technical issues during the recording session that meant we lost the first 10 minutes of the podcast, and had to rely on backups for the rest of the recording - apologies for any dip in audio quality!) In this episode's opening, Kirsty recommends the following: - Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark by Cassandra Peterson - Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood - Death Becomes Her, dir. Robert Zemeckis And Rachael has these picks: - The Godfather Part II, dir. Francis Ford Coppola - Maya and the Three on Netflix (from the creator of The Book of Life) - Power of the Dog (novel) by Thomas Savage - The Witch, dir. Robert Eggers Around 13 minutes in, we begin our discussion of the Oscars, breaking down some of the main categories and sharing our thoughts on the highs and lows of the night. At 48 minutes in, we move on to discuss the recent developments concerning the Obi-Wan Kenobi show - we have a chat about the first trailer, as well as the EW piece that provided our first stills and some nice nostalgic reminiscences from Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode's opening, Kirsty recommends the following: - From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy by Scott Meslow - Blood, Sweat and Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max Fury Road by Kyle Buchanan - Good Time, dir. Safdie Brothers And Rachael has these picks: - Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi - BBC News (Slava Ukraini!) We then have a brief discussion about the Galactic Starcruiser (aka the Star Wars Hotel), discussing a few reviews and reactions that have come out from our fellow podcasters and critics. The bulk of the show is then given over to discussion of the Legends novel The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton. We discuss the introduction of the Night Sisters and Dathomor, the characterisation of leads Leia, Han and Luke, and the wide array of new characters that are introduced: from Prince Isolder to Tenneniel. While neither of us are convinced the book is ‘good', as such, we greatly enjoyed the experience of reading it. We hope you have fun with our discussion! Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode's opening, Kirsty recommends the following: - Dune and Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Kimi - I Want You Back - Down With Love And Rachael has these picks: - The Story of Adele H. - Sound of the Mountain - Black Book (2006) - Light Over the Water by Janina David Around the 28-minute mark, we move on to the Star Wars topics! We cover the following news topics: - Obi-Wan poster released/confirmed to debut on 25 May - Mystery Star Wars series filming in June - John Williams to contribute to score of Obi-Wan Kenobi - Nicholas Britell to score ‘Andor' - The canon story of Han and Leia's honeymoon is to be revealed in a new novel by Beth Revis At 51 minutes in, we move on to discuss the season finale of ‘The Book of Boba Fett' - In The Name of Honour. We discuss what we liked, including some of our favourite dynamics from the episode, as well as reflecting on the season as a whole and what we wish the show could have done differently. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode's opening, Kirsty recommends the following: - This is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection (2019) - The Last of Sheila (1973) - Assembly by Natasha Brown - Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke And Rachael has these picks: - The Cremator (1969) - Mass (2021) - Ballad of a Soldier (1959) Around the 21-minute mark, we move on to the Star Wars topics! We start off with a spoiler-y discussion of The Fallen Star by Claudia Gray, the final novel of phase one of the High Republic publishing initiative. We share what we liked and what we felt could have been improved, going on a little mini rant about one Marchion Ro. Then, around 36 minutes in, we change gears to discuss the latest two episodes of The Book of Boba Fett - Episode 5: Return of the Mandalorian and Episode 6: From the Desert Comes a Stranger. We really enjoyed much of episode 5, but are more mixed on the choices made for episode 6, particularly the ethical implications of its furthering of the deep-fake technology. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode's opening, Kirsty recommends the following: - The Brontes: Wild Genius on the Moors: The Story of a Literary Family by Juliet Barker - The Ghost and Mrs Muir (1947) - The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) - Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe (1980) And Rachael has these picks: - Swing Kids (2018) - Yellowjackets (2021) - Stath Lets Flats (2018) - Nightmare Alley (2021) Around the 30-minute mark, we move on to the main attraction - our thoughts on the latest two episodes of The Book of Boba Fett! We gush over the general fabulousness of Garsa Fwip, as well as discussing some of our highlights and frustrations with the show so far. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

It's the new year, and we have a new format! Going forward, our plan is to begin each episode by highlighting a few pieces of non-Star Wars media we'd particularly like to put on people's radars - including books, films and TV shows. In this episode's opening, Kirsty recommends the following: - The Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mallory O'Meara - Baby Face (1933), dir. Alfred E. Green - Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), dir. Tim Burton And Rachael has these picks: - Beauty and the Beast (aka The Virgin and the Monster) (1978), dir. Juraj Herz - Boiling Point (2021), dir. Philip Barantini - Wuthering Heights (1988), dir. Yoshishige Yoshida We also have a quick chat about The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, which we have now both read and enjoyed! Around the 30-minute mark, we move on to the main attraction - our thoughts on the first two episodes of The Book of Boba Fett (Stranger in a Strange Land and The Tribes of Tatooine)! We talk about our feelings going into the show, and what we thought about the opening episodes. Tune in to hear us discuss everything from Twi'lek men becoming alarmingly hot to the show's handling of the Tuskens and how Temuera Morrison's Māori heritage appears to have informed the storytelling. We hope you enjoy our return and our new format! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the changes, and we'd welcome any recommendations you might have. You can send your thoughts to us at scavengershoard@gmail.com Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty begin by covering the following news: - Amandla Stenberg reported to play the lead role in upcoming Disney Plus series ‘The Acolyte' - Kari Skogland will replace Patty Jenkins as director of ‘CLEOPATRA', so Jenkins can focus on ‘Wonder Woman 3' and ‘Rogue Squadron' - ‘Rangers of the New Republic' seemingly cancelled We then move on to a detailed spotlight discussion on Matthew Stover's highly regarded novelisation of Revenge of the Sith, where we place particular attention on the novel's treatment of the three leads: Anakin, Obi-Wan and Padme. We dig deep into the book's use of themes and metaphor, as well as taking plenty of opportunities to admire Stover's clever prose and unparalleled command of irony. This episode rounds out our series on the prequel novelisations, so we hope you enjoyed them! This is our last episode of the year, so we wish all our listeners a very happy and joyful holiday season. We'll be back for a very different kind of book - The Book of Boba Fett - in the new year. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

After a brief chat about the Disney Plus special on Boba Fett (Under the Helmet), Rachael and Kirsty begin by covering the following news: - Natasha Liu Bordizzo has been cast as Sabine Wren in the Ahsoka show - Kathleen Kennedy renews her Lucasfilm contract for another three years - Patty Jenkins' ‘Rogue Squadron' officially delayed; rumours circulate of the dreaded ‘creative differences' We then continue our series on the Star Wars film novelisations - this time, we cover R. A. Salvatore's classic novelisation of ‘Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones'. We talk about Salvatore's infamous history in Star Wars lore as the man who wrote Chewbacca's demise before diving into an extensive discussion on the Episode II novelisation proper, particularly focusing on its treatment of the Anidala romance and the ways in which it enriches the inner lives of the film's female characters. If you have thoughts to share on any of the prequel novelisations, please do email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com - we'll be discussing the novelisation of ‘Revenge of the Sith' next time. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty begin by covering the following news: - First trailer for the Book of Boba Fett revealed - Matt Smith sheds light on his involvement in ‘The Rise of Skywalker' - Mysterious Star Wars film rumoured to begin shooting next year for 2023 release (the discussion was recorded before the news came out that Rogue Squadron has been officially postponed, so is a little out of date!) - The Village Bride submitted for consideration at the 2022 Oscars We then return to our series on the Star Wars film novelisations - this time, we cover Terry Brooks' classic novelisation of ‘Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace'. We explain some of the background to the novel before delving into our thoughts, sharing overall opinions before digging a bit deeper into the book's characterisation of the film's heroes. If you have thoughts to share on any of the prequel novelisations, please do email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com - we'll be discussing the novelisations of ‘Attack of the Clones' and ‘Revenge of the Sith' in subsequent weeks, Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty begin with a quick and mostly non-spoilery review of Denis Villeneuve's ‘Dune' (aka the other big space movie). We both share our initial impressions, and our hopes for the much hoped for sequel. We then cover the following news: - Hayden Christensen reported to return in the ‘Ahsoka' series - A new poster teases the climax of Phase I of the High Republic We then move on to our final discussion (for now!) on 'Star Wars: Visions', delving into the last three episodes: The Elder, Lop & Ochō and Akakiri. We really enjoyed the show, particularly these episodes, and are really hoping for more Star Wars stories that are similarly inspired. We also bring things back around to a curiously similar project, The Animatrix, touching on points of difference and similarity between the two projects. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty cover the following news: - Key new Star Wars novels, including 'Shadow of the Sith', announced - Chloe Zhao potentially hints at being interested in a Star Wars project - 'Secrets of the Sith' delves into the mind of the Emperor - Giancarlo Esposito takes a strong stand against anti-vaxxers We then move into a quick discussion of the new Disney Plus special 'LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales', paying particular attention to its treatment of Ben Solo and his 'Lost Boys'-inspired joy ride with the Knights of Ren. Finally, we round off the episode by returning to the awesome 'Star Wars: Visions' and sharing our thoughts on the three middle chapters - The Village Bride, The Ninth Jedi and T0-B1. We hope you enjoy hearing our thoughts - if you want to share your thoughts on 'Star Wars: Visions', please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty cover the following news: - Marcia Lucas shares her less than glowing review of the sequel trilogy - Ludwig Göransson set to score Disney+'s ‘The Book of Boba Fett' - Rumoured Boba Fett episode titles/interconnection with The Mandalorian - High Republic wave three covers released We then move on to the new animated anthology series 'Star Wars: Visions', which we're happy to report we both loved! We share our general thoughts on the show before moving into a deeper discussion of the first three shorts: The Duel, Tatooine Rhapsody and The Twins. Check back next time as we continue our journey with 'Star Wars: Visions'! Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty cover the following news: - The documentary 'Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian - Making of the Season 2 Finale' - The first trailer to the Disney Plus special 'Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales' - The remake of the 'Knights of the Old Republic' video game for the PS5 - Thandiwe Newton speaks out on her character's unfortunate departure from 'Solo' We then round off the show with a discussion of the new Star Wars audio drama 'Tempest Runner', discussing how it fits into the wider mythos of the High Republic and our latest discoveries regarding the correct pronunciation of Marchion Ro. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty cover the following news: - J.W. Rinzler passes away - Taika Waititi turns his attention to his Star Wars film - New Star Wars Lego special coming - Terrifying Tales We then cover the final three episodes of The Bad Batch, discussing our thoughts on how the season concluded and our feelings about the show as a whole. We then dedicate the bulk of the episode to a spoiler-filled discussion of Cavan Scott's new High Republic novel ‘The Rising Storm' - we cover our thoughts on Jedi sexy-times, frustrated desires and proto-Force bonds; consider how Marchion Ro compares to Kylo Ren; and place our bets on the identity of ‘The Fallen Star' of the next High Republic novel. If you want to share your thoughts on ‘The Rising Storm' or the High Republic more generally, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty cover the following news: - Patty Jenkins provides an update on her 'Rogue Squadron' movie - A Ronin synopsis is revealed - A making-of documentary on the season 2 finale of The Mandalorian gets announced We also provide our quick thoughts on the latest three episodes of 'The Bad Batch'. Finally, we round off the episode with a brief detour where we discuss the Marvel shows 'Wandavision' and 'Loki' - how they surprised us, what we enjoyed about them and the lessons we'd like Star Wars to learn from the storytelling approaches being adopted for Marvel at Disney Plus. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty cover the following news: - Leslye Headland discusses her personal approach to Star Wars - Leslye shares the influence of 'The Phantom Menace' on her new show 'The Acolyte' - Animated anthology 'Star Wars: Visions' gets previewed at the Anime Expo - Matthew Robinson comes aboard as screenwriter for Patty Jenkins' 'Rogue Squadron' We then segue into our spotlight discussion on the second film in the Ewok duology - 'Battle for Endor'. We discuss the origins of the film before pondering its numerous mysteries, repeatedly coming back to the villains' strange obsession with THE POWAH. We also explore the ethics of murdering a fictional five-year-old's family to facilitate a Heidi remake. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty begin by running through the episodes of 'The Bad Batch' that have been shown since their last episode (we'll be revisiting the show in depth once the season is over). We then begin a new podcasting saga exploring the EWOK DUOLOGY (yes, that is the correct parlance). Join us for a deep dive into the Caravan of Courage, taking you from George Lucas being a good dad (™) to Campbellian narrative influences and the changing face of Mace and Cindel's dad. We also explore the deeper ideology underlining the film, touching upon the unsettling implications of Ewoks sacrificing their lives to help restore the American Nuclear Family to wholeness. (Just for the avoidance of doubt, the above is an accurate representation of the podcast's contents.) Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty begin by discussing some recent news: - J.J. Abrams' comments on it potentially being helpful to plan a story ahead of time (while also not really saying this directly) - Emilia Clarke showing enthusiasm for Qi'Ra's return to Star Wars in the comic books With the news done, we quickly run through the episodes of 'The Bad Batch' that have been shown since our last episode (we'll be revisiting the show in depth once the season is over). We then conclude our series exploring prequel fandom by taking a look at the Revenge of the Sith era of online fandom - we discuss the surprisingly sensible theorising, the joyful creativity of the Star Wars dot com Blogs platform and the exquisite angst shared on LiveJournal with respect to the inevitable tragedy of Anidala. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty continue their exploration of prequel-era online fandom - this time, taking a look at Attack of the Clones (this discussion starts around 24 mins in). We start off with a general spoiler-y discussion of the first three episodes of 'The Bad Batch' - we just share our overall impressions for now, as we plan to have a more detailed discussion about the show once it has wrapped up. Drawing from ancient internet forums, charmingly archaic fansites and listeners’ memories, we attempt to get a grasp on what the Star Wars fan landscape looked like in the period surrounding the release of Attack of the Clones. We discuss everything from Super Shadow's spoiler grift to the various facets of Anidala fandom - from the fun fansites to the Anakin antis (it's like poetry, it rhymes). We’ll be continuing our series on prequel fandom in future episodes! If you have memories you’d like to share about Revenge of the Sith, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty dip their toes into the vast ocean that is the online fandom surrounding The Phantom Menace. Drawing from ancient internet forums, charmingly archaic fansites and listeners’ memories, we attempt to get a grasp on what the Star Wars fan landscape looked like in the period surrounding the release of The Phantom Menace. We discuss the wild (and not so wild) theories, the reactions and the fan sub cultures that sprung up, from the Darth Maul aficionados to the devotees of Queen Amidala and her handmaidens. We’ll be continuing our series on prequel fandom in future episodes! If you have memories you’d like to share, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this special episode, Rachael and Kirsty are joined by Liam - friend of the show and host of the Paradise Cine podcast! We band together to discuss the prequel era, discussing each film in turn with a focus on our memories of its release and our impressions of it at the time. We also read out contributions from our listeners, which we're very grateful for! Thank you so much to everyone who sent an email in. We'll be continuing the prequel discussion next time, so if you have any memories of the release of the films or the fandom surrounding them we'd love to hear from you at scavengershoard@gmail.com You can hear more from Liam and the Paradise Cine podcast here: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yYTEwZjkwOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss some big Star Wars news and take a deep dive into the High Republic era with ‘Light of the Jedi’. We discuss the following news: - Obi-Wan Kenobi series to begin Production, cast revealed - New Star Wars Visions tie-in novel, ‘Ronin’, announced on Twitter - New Cavan Scott audio drama - Tempest Runner - revealed We then move into a spoiler-filled discussion of Charles Soule’s ‘Light of the Jedi’, sharing our thoughts on various aspects of the book - from the intricate world-building through to the tantalizing hints of a forbidden romance. Join us to hear our thoughts, and do email in your reviews to scavengershoard@gmail.com Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty revisit 'Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker' - and our complex feelings about it! We run through the build up to the film, covering everything from J.J. Abrams coming aboard when Colin Trevorrow was unceremoniously booted off the project to the persistent mystery of Matt Smith's involvement. We run through the astonishingly detailed spoilers that emerged about TROS months prior to its release, breaking down some of the more interesting differences between the leaked version of the story and what ended up in cinemas. With the pre-release period wrapped up, we then move into a discussion of our feelings about it - how we felt at the time, and how we feel about now with the distance of time. While our criticisms haven't changed substantially, we remain hopefully that Episode IX doesn't represent the final chapter for the heroes of the sequel trilogy. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty travel back to December 2017 and the release of 'The Last Jedi' - we discuss the initial (glowing!) critics reviews before progressing to a conversation focused on our own experiences. How did we feel about the film when it was first released? Have subsequent developments altered our feelings about The Last Jedi at all? Listen, find out and please do share your own memories of the film's release with us on Twitter (we're @scavengershoard)! Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty start off by discussing Gina Carano's long-overdue firing from The Mandalorian and Star Wars altogether. With Gina Carano in the rear-view mirror, we revisit Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi - aka the movie that exceeded our wildest expectations! We run through the build up to the film, discussing the theories that built up based on The Force Awakens before covering various developments that occurred in the run-up to The Last Jedi's release. We end the discussion early due to technical difficulties, but will be back soon to share our current feelings on The Last Jedi upon revisiting the film recently. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty revisit Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens - aka the movie that kick-started this podcast! We run through the build up to the film, discussing the theories that built up around casting rumours and the spoiler culture that rapidly accelerated across 2014/15. We then progress to discuss our personal feelings about the film upon its release, before reflecting on how those feelings have developed in the years since. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss their feelings about the season finale of The Mandalorian - 'Chapter 16: The Rescue'. We discuss the highlights and share our criticisms, as well as getting hyped for the thrilling reveal of the upcoming Boba Fett spin-off. We wish all our listeners happy holidays, and the very best for the new year - we'll be back in 2021! Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss the astonishingly extensive announcement of Lucasfilm's upcoming slate of projects. We run through the projects from least to most anticipated (bear with us!), sharing our hopes and fears for them as we go. We're still processing all the news, but suffice to say there's plenty to be excited about! We then spend the tail end of the episode discussing 'Chapter 15: The Believer', which sees Din receive meaty personal development through the means of that most delightful thing - an unmasking sequence. We discuss the rich writing and cinematic homages on offer in the episode, as well as relishing some great supporting turns from the cast. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss the following news: - Events and product releases announced to mark the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm - High Republic series rumoured to be in development. We then spend the bulk of the episode discussing 'Chapter 14: The Tragedy', which sees Mando and Grogu join forces with the dream team that is Boba Fett and Fennec Shand. We discuss our highlights and criticisms, touching on everything from some conspicuous blue butterflies to the question of how many Death Troopers it takes to steal a baby. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss the following news: - Giancarlo Esposito's new interview on Moff Gideon's future appearances in The Mandalorian. We then spend the bulk of the episode discussing 'Chapter 13: The Jedi', which features the return of Ahsoka Tano. We discuss our complex feelings about the episode, including how Ahsoka translates to live action, Baby Yoda's new name, and our concerns and hopes for the future of the show. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss the following news: - Alan Dean Foster being denied royalties by Disney - Daisy Ridley comments on Rey’s ending - John Boyega speaks out about his Star Wars experience/the possibility of his return We then segue into a discussion of the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special, which (with some reservations) we found rather delightful. Listen along as we take animated Lego minifigures far too seriously, wrestle with complicated TROS-related feelings and appreciate Palpatine's comically evil machinations. We round off the episode with our discussion of The Mandalorian Chapter 12: The Siege. We share our highlights (baby Yoda goes to school!) while also getting serious about our hopes and fears for the future direction of the show. Do you think it's straying too far from a winning formula, or are you enjoying the increasing links to the grander Star Wars mythology? Listen to our discussion, and let us know what you think. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In the absence of any significant Star Wars news, we focus on the latest episode of 'The Mandalorian' - Chapter 11: The Heiress. We share our joy over the happy resolution of Frog Lady's story, our fondness for alien pirate accents and our concern for the welfare of Imperial pilots with fanatical supervisors. There's also the small matter of Bo-Katan Kryze's first live-action appearance to discuss. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss the following news: - First full trailer released for the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special - John Boyega shares insights into his frank conversation with Disney about his experience of working on Star Wars We then move into the main discussion, which focuses on the latest episode of 'The Mandalorian' - Chapter 10: The Passenger. We discuss the character progression of The Mandalorian himself, the delightful new baby Yoda content and the fantastic new heroine known only as 'Frog Lady'. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss the following news: - John Boyega indicates he may be interested in returning to Star Wars - Intriguing reveals in Pablo Hidalgo's new book 'Fascinating Facts' (WINKIEEEEEE) - Excerpt from ESB-themed short story 'A Good Kiss' revealed ahead of the release of anniversary anthology. We then move into the main discussion, which focuses on the season two premiere of 'The Mandalorian'. We run through our highlights and critiques, with the discussion spanning everything from the peculiar rituals of Mandalorian culture to Rachael's surprising passion for banthas. At the start of the Mandalorian discussion, we direct people to a fundraiser organised on behalf of the Transgender Law Center. Please do support this fundraiser if you can! https://www.gofundme.com/f/trans-rights-are-human-rights-this-is-the-way Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss the following news: - New High Republic info from NYCC - New details on From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back - Kelly Marie Tran says she’s open to the possibility of returning as Rose Tico - Ewan McGregor teases new details of the Obi-Wan series We then move into the main topic, which is an in-depth discussion of James Kahn’s impressive novelisation of Return of the Jedi. We discuss the background to the novelisation, and the various ways in which it enhances and even improves upon the film. We read some of our favourite passages, finding ourselves befuddled by Vader’s weirdly puritanical hang-ups and impressed by the new depth leant to characters such as Luke and Leia. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss the following news: - The first trailer for the second season of 'The Mandalorian' - 'The Mandalorian' wins big at the Emmys We then move into the main topic, which is an extended discussion of the Doctor Aphra audio drama written by Sarah Kuhn. We discuss our feelings about the format, the characterisations and the emotional aspects of the story. You might also hear us provide Lucasfilm with some suggestions for future territory that audio dramas could cover... Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss the following news: - John Boyega's GQ interview (we touch on this only briefly, as we are planning a full episode focused on the issues John raises) - The Mandalorian season 2 gets previewed by EW - Daisy Ridley reveals the behind-the-scenes turmoil surrounding the question of Rey's parentage. We then move into the main topic, which is an extended tribute to Rey. Specifically, we pay homage to the first female protagonist of a Star Wars film by sharing emails sent in by our listeners - we had a fantastic response to our request for contributions, and were incredibly touched by the messages our listeners sent in. We read out all the emails in full, and then add our own comments and reflections. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for us or want to share your own thoughts on Rey, please email us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

After a hiatus of a few months, Rachael and Kirsty return with a new episode! We start out by explaining our absence and offering a few recommendations of what we've been listening to while we've been away. We then enter into a news section where we catch up on what we have missed, covering: - Disney+’s ‘Star Wars’ Spinoff Series ‘Rogue One’ Sets Adria Arjona To Co-Star With Diego Luna - The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special to premiere on Disney+ - Next Star Wars theatrical films pushed back a year - Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy on Baby Yoda, ‘The Mandalorian’ and the Future of ‘Star Wars’ We then (around an hour in) segue into a detailed discussion of the novelisation of 'The Empire Strikes Back', which inspires some passionate opinions on both sides of the spectrum. Stick around to hear us talk about progress in the depiction of women, nostalgia for Alan Dean Foster's prose and some ruminations on the peculiar limitations of the novelisation format.

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss the following news: - New projects officially announced from Taika Waititi/Krysty Wilson-Cairns and Leslye Headland - Temuera Morrison returns to 'Star Wars' universe to play Boba Fett. We then move on to an extended discussion of the novelisation of the original Star Wars/A New Hope, written by Scavenger's Hoard fave Alan Dean Foster. We go into everything you could want us to cover - from how the novelisation came to be, to its intriguing world-building and questionable depictions of the female of the species in the GFFA. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. Email your Rey stories to us at scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss the following: - Russian Doll creator working on a new Star Wars series - Doctor Aphra audio drama in the works - New casting announced for Cassian Andor live-action series. We then segue into an in-depth discussion of Reylo across the sequel trilogy, with a particular emphasis on Deborah Lutz’s excellent book ‘The Dangerous Lover: Gothic Villains, Byronism, and the Nineteenth-Century Seduction Narrative’. We explore how the dynamic between Rey and Kylo Ren/Ben Solo evolved across The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, in particular emphasising how the character of Ben Solo fulfils the tragic destiny of a certain type of Byronic hero. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for Rachael and Kirsty, please email them to scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty discuss the following: - New writer announced for the Obi-Wan TV series - Character descriptions are released for Project Luminous/the High Republic (we can't decide what to call it yet) - The editors of the J.J. Abrams' sequel trilogy films speak about The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker and the treacherous waters of fan discourse. We then segue into an in-depth discussion of the amazing limited-run comic, 'The Rise of Kylo Ren', by Charles Soule and Will Sliney. We run through our thoughts on the series before discussing it issue by issue, drawing out our favourite themes, character moments and intersections with the films. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for Rachael and Kirsty, please email them to scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty 'finish what they started' in Star Wars: Resistance, discussing the second half of the final season and reflecting on the show as a whole. They run through their highlights as well as their criticisms, before finishing on a high by running through the very best episodes of the show. At the start of the show we give shoutouts to charities we'd like to support in these frightening times. Rachael's charity is the St George's Coronavirus Appeal, which is intended to go towards medical supplies and pastoral support for frontline staff: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/thankyouappeal Kirsty's cause is Northwest Harvest, a hunger relief agency supporting food banks, meal programs and high-needs schools across Washington State. Their work has never been more important than it is right now: https://www.northwestharvest.org/donate Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for Rachael and Kirsty, please email them to scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty aim to maintain something like normality in strange times - we start off the show by briefly discussing the newly released 'Roll Out' and 'Galaxy of Adventures' shorts, before taking a deep dive into the behind-the-scenes documentary 'The Skywalker Legacy'. We talk about the best insights and most entertaining b-roll, as well as revisiting some of our central issues with 'The Rise of Skywalker'. Finally, we finish off the show with a listener questions concerning Star Wars' track record when it comes to romance (specifically LGBTQ relationships). Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for Rachael and Kirsty, please email them to scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty are joined by composer and friend of the show Christy Carew for a discussion of John Williams' score for 'The Rise of Skywalker'. We talk through our highlights from the score, with Christy bringing in her deep insights to break down how Williams made the music so emotionally impactful. You can find the catalogue of the musical themes of Star Wars mentioned in the show here: https://franklehman.com/starwars/ And you can find Christy on Tumblr here: https://enjoyallneednothing-blog.tumblr.com/ Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for Rachael and Kirsty, please email them to scavengershoard@gmail.com

In this episode, Rachael and Kirsty cover the following: - Project Luminous is revealed as the High Republic - New Star Wars film in development - Bob Iger replaced with another Bob We then round off the show with a few listener questions. Many thanks to Christy Carew for the Scavenger's Hoard theme, and Nemling for our artwork. If you have any questions for Rachael and Kirsty, please email them to scavengershoard@gmail.com