Star Wars: Mark of Balance

After almost 3 years, Andor has finally returned. Tony Gilroy picks up right where he left off, continuing to prove that he is a master of build up and pay off with a mehtodical 3-episode arc leading to a tragic finale. Hear my thoughts on the incredible set/costume design, wordlbuilding, and character work, as well as 2 criticisms I have, one involving Cassian, and the other involving THAT scene. Hope you Enjoy!Subscribe on Youtube: Star Wars Mark of BalanceFollow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

2024 marked a definitive turning point in the Star Wars fandom with casual, and even die hard fans leaving in droves due to consistant low quality projects and a lack of direction at Disney and Lucasfilm. I discuss why this years failures were the biggest ever across TV, video games, and movies and why they far outshined the release of good projects like Skeleton Crew and Bad Batch's final season. Enjoy!Subscribe on Youtube: Star Wars Mark of BalanceFollow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Skeleton Crew delivers an explosive finale with solid action, good performances, and great themes with a another standout episode for the musical score. However, the finale had a lot of bark and no bite from our villains and some character arcs felt underdeveloped. Hear all my thoughts on the first season of Skeleton Crew as well the future for the show. Enjoy!Subscribe to my Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@starwarsmarkofbalanceFollow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Skeleton Crew's penultimate episode keeps up the momentum with Jod's dark turn being solidifed and we finally return to At Attin. The musical score is the best its been for the series with standout moments being punctuated by great tracks. I talk about my negatives surrounding the conveniences and the concerns I have going into the finale. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalanceSubscribe on Youtube: Star Wars: Mark of Balance

Skeleton Crew delivers another solid character focused episode with spotlight moments for KB and Jod as we head into the penultimate episode next week. Hear my thoughts on the worldbuilding, the new character dynamics, the importance of the idea of "a Jedi", and so much more. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

In the holiday spirit, Skeleton Crew dropped its 5th episode on Christmas Eve, and it was another solid present. We get our most radical tonal shift in the show with a satisfying twist. The sense of adventure and discovery is still front and center with great comedic moments. The episode does suffer from more conveniences but I get into why they are more easily forgiven with this show. Hear all these thoughts and more. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance.

Skeleton Crew Episode 4 is another enjoyable episode directed by the Daniel's coming off their big Oscar win for "Everything Everywhere All At Once". Hear my thoughts on the great character moments, the environmental storytelling, plot conveniences that will hopefully be justified by the end of the series, some theories for the next couple epsisodes, and so much more, Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Jude Law. Thats it. Thats the review. Skeleton Crew Episode 3 takes it up a notch from the premiere episodes and delivers great comedic moments, more fascinating mysteries, and exciting chase sequences. Jude Law's character of Jod steals the show. Hear all my thoughts on these topics and more. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The newest live-action Star Wars show has premiered, does Disney continue to skid or does the series breath new life into the universe? Hear my thoughts on the all child cast, the immersion breaking moments, my theories for the kid's mysterious homeworld, and so much more. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The time has come... Hear me discuss my all time favorite arcs in Clone Wars. There are givens but maybe a dark horse or two? Ill give ya a hint, these 6 arcs all involve Clones, Ahsoka, and Manadalore. Wait thats pretty much the whole show... Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

We have entered the Top 10 (kinda). Hear me discuss this group of arcs that just miss out on the Top 6 but are still top tier Star Wars stories. This episode includes early season nostalgia filled arcs with great world building, as well as late season, mind-bending arcs. Maybe Mandalore, maybe Mortis, maybe Yoda? Listen to find out. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

My Clone Wars Arc Rankings continue with spots #18 - 13 (again apologies for the odd ranking numbers). In this episode I may talk about Cad Bane, or maybe Maul, who knows! Come find out. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Who doesn't love a podcast episode solely focused on Clone Wars? In this spiritual successor to my "Top 20 Clone Wars Episodes" list, hear me discuss my rankings of all 26 Clone Wars arcs from worst to best, starting with 26-19. I know 26-19 is a weird amount but just roll with it. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Lego Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy is a 4-episode series that finds the known Star Wars galaxy all mixed up. The story follows Sig as he tries to put the galaxy back the way it was with the help of Jedi Bob and some unexpected allies. However, his alternate reality Sith brother Darth Dev, stands in his way. Hear my thoughts on how Rebuild the Galaxy uses this creative premise and Lego's signature humor to tell a hilarious yet heartfelt story that is a love letter to Star Wars. Enjoy!Follow on Intagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Star Wars Outlaws, the new third-person action adventure open-world video game has released and the reception has been... not great. There was lots of controvery surrounding this game prior to launch namely, predatory pricing practices and the most important, being forced to play as a WOMAN (shocking I know). But I'm here to cut through all that and give it to you straight. Hear my first impressions after 10 hours with the game, from combat, to exploration, to performance, the reputation system, and so much more. Hope this helps you decide if the game is worth the purchase or not. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Predictable. Convenient. Incoherent. Contradictory. Anti-Star Wars. All the staples are on full display for The Acolyte's Finale. The show is consistent, I will give it that. Hear my thoughts on the baffling resolution of the series as well as my thoughts on the problematic Anti-Star Wars message that it sends, embracing your dark side is a good thing when justified. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The penultimate episode of The Acolyte titled "Choice" finally reveals what happened 16 years ago between the Jedi and the Coven... and unsurpringly, "the mystery" is not so mysterious. This episode contains all the staples of The Acolyte, inconsistent and rushed character work, a shallow attempt at painting the Jedi as "bad", and conveniences laced throughout. Hear all my thoughts on these topics and more, Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The Acolyte Episode 6 "Teach/Corrupt" picks up after last weeks massacre with another convenience filled episode. Qimir provides some well-needed intrigue and fills the role of an over-promising dark side user but the show has to be careful not to justify the dark side. Hear me discuss the continued poor writing in the series from the intentional vagueness to pad out the "mystery", to the convenience of technical failures on the ship, as well as the broader implications of Qimir's potential philosophy. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The Acolyte Episode 5 "Night" features some of the best live action lightsaber fights weve seen from Disney Star Wars. However, action cannot save a series that continually has lazy, covienence-filled writing choices, bad characterizations, and a mystery that isn't so mysterious. Hear my thoughts and examples on all of these points and more, enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The Acolyte Episode 4 "Day" is another poorly written episode filled with baffling character choices, dialogue that fails from both a technical and "Jedi-like" standpoint, and a pace that is intentionally drawn out to end on a cliffhanger while also skipping over crucial character moments. Hear my thoughts on all this, as well as my predictions for where this story may being going, Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Episode 3 of The Acolyte titled "Destiny" has been a highly anticipated episode of the series due to controversy surrounding the potential "canon-breaking" implications of the episode. Does the episode break canon? No, but it has the potential to go against one of the core tenants of Lucas' Star Wars. The episode fails moreso from the continued pacing issues, clunky dialogue, and lack of subtly in the writing. The Mother character is the best part of the episode. Here all these thoughts and more, Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

My most anticipated Star Wars show is finally here with our first glimpse at the High Republic era in the visual medium. This was a solid start, but not a great one. Even with a much higher production value, great fight choreography, and an interesting mystery, pacing issues and clunky dialogue still persist in these Disney Plus shows. Worldbuilding for the High Republic era also feels lacking. Hear all these thoguhts and more, Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

In a galaxy full of pivotal moments, the "What If" concept has always been a talking point for Star Wars fans. Join myself and a frequent guest on the pod, one of my best friends, Cole Devlin, as we bounce our best "What If" scenarios off eachother. What if Mace killed Palpatine? What if Qui Gon Lived? What if Luke killed Palpatine? This is just an appetizer... Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The second season of Lucasfilm Animation's series of shorts is here with Tales of the Empire, the follow up to Tales of the Jedi. The six shorts follow Morgan Elsbeth and Barriss Offee, an unlikely selection but one I was interested in. Unfortunately, while these episodes display stellar animation, music, and compelling themes, the 3-part structure of Tales and a lackluster end to Morgan's story hold this series back. Hear all my thoughts and analysis in this episode, Enjoy!Follow on Instgram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The Bad Batch's story has finally come to close. It has been an inconsistent road but the Mark of Balance podcast has been their week-to-week ever since the premiere back on May 4th, 2021, only 4 months after this podcast begun. Does the finale have Bad Batch's typical weaknesses? Who survives? How does it set up the future of Star Wars animation? Hear all my thoughts, the good and the bad, from this overall satisfying finale. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

For me, Bad Batch has been on crusie control for Episodes 12-14 leading into the series finale this week, which has been disappointing. Hear my thoughts on these 3 episodes and why I feel they have not delivered as much as they should have at this point in the show, as well as my prediction on what new project this show could potentially be setting up. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Disney remembered that are in fact releasing projects this year and decided to drop 2 new trailers this week for Star Wars Tales of the Empire, a shorts series, and Star Wars Outlaws, a third-person open world action adventure game. Both were great, especially the surprising reveal of who we will be following in Tales of the Empire in Morgan Elsbeth and Barris Offee. The animation also looked chefs kiss. Outlaws continues to promise a lot and this trailer really drove home how vast this game has potential to be, but will Ubisoft deliver? Hear all my thoughts, predictions and more, Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Bad Batch delivers another 2-pack of episodes in its final season with "Identity Crisis" and "Point of No Return". "Indentity Crisis" delivers one of the best episodes of the series with its grim tone and fantastic atmospheric storytelling. Emri's character has been a highlight of the season and I can't wait to see what she does next. "Point of No Return" sees us back on Pabu as the Empire closes in on Omega. This episode was solid but felt like it pulled its punch a bit when it came to stakes. Hear all my thoughts and analysis on these two episodes. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Bad Batch has its first real miss of the season with "Harbinger". Asajj Ventress somehow returns and begins to test Omega to see if she is force sensitive. Ventress' return completely undercuts her arc that was completed in the book Dark Disciple. We will see what they have planned for her but I disagree with this decision to bring her back whole-heartedly. Aside from this, the episode feels oddly paced and the direction of the story towards Omega being force sensitive feels off. Hear all my thoughts on these topics and more. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Acolyte. First Trailer. High Republic. Jedi. Sith. Thoughts. Theories. That Is All.Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The Bad Batch hit us with a solid 2-pack of episodes this week that find the crew linking up with Captain Rex as the Empire continues to pursue Omega. Hear me discuss why I felt something was missing from these episodes, whether it was a lack of sharp dialogue or moments not hitting as hard as they should. I also get into my theories on who the assassin clone could be, Senator Chuchi's fate by the end of the season, and Hunter's brewing jealousy of Crosshair. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Crosshair rejoins the Bad Batch for the first time since Season 1 and tensions are high between he and Hunter. In the meantime, the crew needs to travel back to a familiar outpost to gain more intel on Mount Tantis in an effort to save the remaining clone prisoners. Yes, this episode had monster-of-the-week elements which I wasnt thrilled about, but the heart of this episode was the family dynamic, so I will let it slide. Hear my thoughts/analysis on this and many more aspects from this weeks Bad Batch. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Omega and Crosshair crash land after escaping Mt. Tantus and have to find a way off world. If you were expecting a monster of the week episode with that premise, I was in the same boat, but luckily, Episode 4 delivers a solid adventure with an emotional ending that took me by surprise. Hear my quick thoughts and analysis of this week's Bad Batch. Enjoy!Follow on Intsagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The final season of The Bad Batch has arrived. Coming off a great Season 2, I had high expectations for Season 3 and luckily, it kicks off with a solid 3-episode permiere. Hear me discuss the implications of Project Necromancer on the broader Star Wars galaxy, Omega's role, the atmospheric score by Kevin Kiner, and much more. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Well that was... sudden? Hear my thoughts on the rather anti-climatic announcement of the "Mandalorian and Grogu" (please just be a working title) movie that is seeminly slated to be the next Star Wars movie release. Why wasnt this announced at Celebration? Was this in response to the Rey movie "controversy"? What does this mean for Mando Season 4? Who knows but hope you enjoy this episode!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_makrofbalance

January 3rd, 2021. 112 Episodes. 195 Intagram Posts. 1000's of Views/Downloads.Couple days late but wanted to put out a quick message thanking you all again for your support over these past 3 years and to reflect on 2023 as a podcast host/content creator. Hope you enjoy!Follow on Intagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The year 2024 promises to be an exciting one for Star Wars fans. For the first time, all major releases will feature new or non-legacy characters. In TV, these titles include The Acolyte, Skeleton Crew, and the final season of Bad Batch. Additionally, Star Wars' first modern open-world video game, Outlaws, is slated to be released later in the year. I discuss the latest information on all the projects (which isn't much), along with what I am most excited for and where I am cautiously optimistic. Happy New Year and hope you enjoy!Follow on Instgram: @star_wars_markofbalance

It's that time of the year to look back on all the Star Wars content that was released in 2023! I discuss my Top 5 Best and Worst moments of the year ranging from TV shows to book releases, to video games, to movie announcements. This was another year of ups and downs, full of outstanding Star Wars moments, as well as head scratching quality drops and disappointments. Here's to hoping I eventually won't have to do a "Top 5 Worst Moments" list in the future.Hope you enjoy and Happy Holidays!Follow on Intsagram: @star_wars_markofbalnce

Star Wars has a long history of delivering excellent stories in the animated medium. With the start of the final phase of the High Republic book series and Bad Batch set to end in 2024, everyone is eager to see what the next project from Star Wars animation will be. For me, that project should be an animated show adapting the High Republic storyline. I discuss why animation, from a story, budget, and creative perspective, is the best choice to tell this story to a broader audience. I love the High Republic for its themes of hope and sacrifice, as well as its exploration of a completely new era in Star Wars. More fans should experience this story, and I believe an animated show is the only way to do it justice. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Tier List content?! Yaaaa I went to the dark side... But I've earned this, let me enjoy my lazy content! On a serious note, I really enjoyed doing this and respect the Tier List formula. With the recent conclusion of Ahsoka bringing the total number of canon Star Wars TV shows to 11(!), I thought it was a great time to give them the tier list treatment. I equally hope you enjoy my list and disagree with it. Let the debates began. Follow on Intagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

This week I welcome a college club baseball teammate of mine, Jimmy Bascone to tell his Star Wars Story! He discusses his hilarious first Star Wars memory seeing Revenge of the Sith in the movie theater with his mom, his love for animated Star Wars, and some of his favorite characters like Count Dooku and Qui Gon. We also discuss our mutual love of Andor and our excitment for James Mangold's upcoming Star Wars film. We end with his Star Wars movie rankings which was one of the most unique that we have had on the show... Hope you enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

As an advocate for animation as a storytelling medium, the switch from animation to live-action for the Ahsoka series had me a bit disappointed. After sitting with the finale for a couple weeks, I cannot shake the feeling that what we were delivered was not the best possible telling of this particular story, and I think that comes down to one crucial factor, the change in mediums. Listen to me discuss why I think this series suffers from being in live-action and why I think the decision was made for all the wrong reasons. Why cant the future of Star Wars be in animation? Hope you enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

12 Guests. 1 Episode. Happy to bring back the "Roundtable" series where I interview friends and Mark of Balance community members to hear their takes on the latest Star Wars show or movie (if we ever get one again). The guests include veterans of the show as well as some new comers. We even had someone who attended the mid-season theatrical release of Part V!Interacting with you guys is always some of my favorite content to do because its refreshing and reminds me that we all love Star Wars in similar but also widely different ways. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The Ahsoka Finale has arrived, crazy to say after so many years of anticipation, but how did it turn out? Overall, this was a safe finale with some great conceptual ideas that did not reach their full potential due to convenient or underdeveloped writing choices that have weighed down the past 2 weeks of the show. I discuss Thrawn's questionable tactics, Sabine and Ahsoka's sweet but half-baked reconnection, my excitement for zombie/horror elements that look to be a staple of future Star Wars projects, and the intriguing (and somewhat underwhelming) conclusion to Shin and Baylan's story. While Dave Filoni presented a lot of great things this season, I feel he was limited based on episode count and budget and wasn't able to convey everything he wanted. Here's to hoping for a more complete continuation to this story in a Season 2 or future movie. Enjoy!Follow on Intsgram: @star_wars_markofbalance

I was hoping I wouldnt have to do an episode like this but unfortunately Ahsoka Part VII drops the ball in the writing and story department, opting for story conveniences and rushed moments over substance. The penultimate episode fails to keep the momentum that the middle of the season had wonderfully set up. Senator Xiono continues his warpath to demote Hera but ends up coming off as a plot device instead of an actual character.Thrawn's plotting is done well enough but some questionable moves and lack of explanations handicap his first live action battle. Ezra and Sabine continue their "complicated" conversation with no additional emotional payoff or insights. Baylon and Shin abruptly seperate, diminishing one of the best dynamics of the show. And Ahsoka is there. Not even my Queen Mon Mothma's appearance could save the day... Hear all these thoughts and more, enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The Boys are Back in Town! Long time ago, in a galaxy far far away... Its time the characters of Star Wars experienced what we do everytime we sit down to watch Star Wars. This weeks Ahsoka takes us to a whole new galaxy for the first time in the visual medium which is crazy to say as I type it. The sense of other worldliness is palpable throughout this episode which is full of Nightsister intrigue, undead armies (?), and the return of the golden-voiced Admiral himself, Thrawn. Lars steals the show as Thrawn employing his magnetic voice and speach pattern that made him so enthralling in Rebels. But Thrawn isnt the only one to return, we also get Ezra, pretty easily I might say? Baylan's plan continues to unfold as Shin looks on him with new eyes. Here all these thoughts and more, enjoy!Follow on: @star_wars_markofbalance

"Shadow Warrior" embodies everything makes Star Wars great, a story of self-reflection, music that amplifies moments and tells a story of its own, and concludes with an undeniable feeling of hope. Dave has once again crafted an episode of Star Wars that will go down in history. 15 years of storytelling for Ahsoka's character culminates into a beautiful story of self-discovery and rebirth all guided by her Master, Anakin Skywalker. In typical Dave Filoni fashion, the episode could have many meanings and interpretations, and this is just mine, I hope you enjoy it, and I look forward to hearing yours.Follow on Intagram: @star_wars_markofbalacne

Well that was a lot to process... "Fallen Jedi" delivers the best episode of Ahsoka yet with Ray Stevenson stealing the show as Baylon Skoll. We get some major hints into the inciting incident of Sabine and Ahsoka's tenuous past, a host of great lightsaber battles, and a dark side-esque decision from Sabine. And I think thats it right, nothing else notable happened? OH YA, Hayden Christensan is back as Anakin Skywalker to greet Ahsoka in... the World Between Worlds?! Next weeks gonna be fun. Hear my thoughts on all this and more, enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

Ahsoka is back with another solid episode that leans into the space combat feel of the Original Trilogy. While the combat is the main chunk of the episode, Filoni begins to plant the seeds for a question that I think is going to be the backbone of Sabine's story, can anyone wield the force? Hera also steals the show with her calling out the hypocrisy of the New Republic senators in her quest to stop another war. This scene may or may not include MY QUEEN Mon Mothma, who returns to grace us with her precense. Hear my thoughts on all this and more as well as my predictions moving forward. Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

The day is finally here, the continuation of the Rebels cliffhanger from all the way back in 2018, a day some of us never thought would come. Was the pressure on this project too much? NOPE, not for Dave Filoni. These premiere episodes showcase why he is the apprentice of the maker himself, George Lucas. Filoni delivers the most Star Wars feeling live-action show we have to date right out of the gate. Hear my thoughts on why the pacing, music, and sense of adventure perfectly encapsolate the feeling of Star Wars, my impressions of the live action counterparts of Ahsoka, Sabine, and Hera, and my predictions on where the story might go. Shin and Sabine are also my new queens, insane goth girl energy. I talk about so much more but this can only be so long, enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalance

I have finally done it. I have rewatched Solo for the first time since seeing it in theaters in 2018 and I have come to one concusion, it is coleslaw... Hear my in-depth comparison of this popular side and the spin-off origin story film about Han Solo. (I did enjoy it more this time around but play along)Enjoy!Follow on Instagram: @star_wars_markofbalanceI