Podcasts about geek kay

For the latest episode of Hyperspace Theories, Tricia Barr and B.J. Priester discuss the first three episodes of Star Wars: The Mandalorian, now available on the Disney+ streaming service. The untitled premiere episode, Chapter Two: The Child, and Chapter Three: The Sun collectively form the introductory story arc for the as-yet-unnamed titular character. In addition to the character development of the Mandalorian, we consider his interactions with the Bounty Hunter Guild and his Mandalorian clan, as well as his backstory flashback to the Clone Wars. And no conversation about these episodes would be complete without addressing the small green alien in the room: Baby Yoda. We conclude our discussion by looking ahead to the final five episodes of the first season, in particular anticipating the arrival of Gina Carano’s Cara Dune and Ming Na Wen’s Fennec Shand. Related Links: ‘The Mandalorian’ Director: Baby Yoda ‘Steals the Show’ (New York Times, Nov. 22, 2019) Why ‘The Mandalorian’ episodes are short and arrive on Disney+ once a week (CNBC, Nov. 26, 2019) The Armorer: Unmasking The Mandalorian‘s Mysterious Blacksmith (Vanity Fair, Nov. 22, 2019) The Mandalorian: Deborah Chow Reveals the Inspiration For the Baby Yoda Rescue (Vanity Fair, Nov. 22, 2019) Baby Yoda Has Conquered the World (Vanity Fair, Nov. 26, 2019) Fangirls Going Rogue: Priority Transmission #14: The Mandalorian Interviews: Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni Fangirls Going Rogue: Priority Transmission #15: The Mandalorian Cast Interviews Fangirls Going Rogue: Priority Transmission #16: The Mandalorian Press Conference Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com

Editors at FANgirl Blog, BJ Priester and Tricia Barr, share their reactions to The Rise of Skywalker final trailer.  Social Media Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com  

This month’s episode of Hyperspace Theories takes us from books to fashion to movies, with plenty in between. Six months out from the release of The Rise of Skywalker, Tricia, B.J., and Kay look ahead to what might come next for Star Wars and its fans. We begin, though, in the present: discussing the recently released novel Alphabet Squadron by Alexander Freed. Taking place shortly after the defeat of the Empire, the book is the first in a trilogy telling the story of a group of pilots, each flying a different type of starfighter, who are tasked with tracking down an elite Imperial starfighter wing. We evaluate the book on its own terms, how it works to kick off a trilogy, and its relationship to Freed’s other work. As big fans of the X-Wing novel series in the Expanded Universe (Legends) era – featuring the tales of Rogue Squadron by Mike Stackpole and Wraith Squadron by Aaron Allston – we also consider how Alphabet Squadron compares and contrasts with those beloved stories. (For more, you can check out Kay’s review of the novel, too.) Earlier this month, Tricia and B.J. had the opportunity to attend San Diego Comic-Con as credentialed media for Fangirls Going Rogue, and they share some of their insights and reactions from the convention here on Hyperspace Theories, too. We start with the Her Universe Fashion Show, which Kay was able to follow along thanks to livestreams and social media. The work of the designers was impressive as always! Tricia talks about some of the other geek fashion she covered at the convention, as well. We also talk about the Star Wars panels at SDCC, including the Lucasfilm Publishing panel and a bit of Star Wars comics news, along with several other panels examining the role of women in pop culture and the entertainment industry. One of the SDCC panels Tricia attended gathered a group of experts to discuss how fans and fandoms display their reactions and emotions when long-running stories end. We take this idea as a starting point to look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars, both of which reach highly anticipated endpoints this year. With Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home, the MCU drew to close a ten-year, 22-movie epic storyline and resolved the fates of a number of prominent characters from the series. In December, The Rise of Skywalker will conclude a nine-movie, four-decade Skywalker Saga story told in the Star Wars films. We note the similarities and differences in the two franchises, and consider how the reactions to the end of the MCU’s Phase Three may or may not necessarily transpose to the aftermath of Episode IX. In particular, the Phase 4 slate of new films and Disney+ series announced at SDCC keeps the MCU moving forward at a fast pace, and with great strides in improving the diversity of the talent on screen and behind the scenes at Marvel Studios. By contrast, Lucasfilm currently is scheduled to have a three-year break before the next film and has only two Disney+ series announced for that time period; on the other hand, Star Wars tells stories in animation, books, and comics that continue to advance the same singular storyline in a way that Marvel does not. Although both the MCU and Star Wars will pivot in new directions, we expect to see some significant differences in how the franchises and their fandoms react and adapt going forward. Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com

We have the future, the past, and the present to discuss in this month’s episode of Hyperspace Theories. With Celebration Chicago in the rear-view mirror and December’s movie still half a year away, Kay, Tricia, and B.J. still have plenty of Star Wars to talk about. We begin with the Vanity Fair cover story on The Rise of Skywalker, featuring an article by Lev Grossman and photographs by Annie Leibowitz. As is typical for these pieces, we learned a few new character and planet names, but very little other new information – especially following so closely on the heels of similar interview answers given at Celebration. Likewise, Leibowitz’s composite style provides imagery presumably intended to convey the tone and spirit of the film, but they are traditional behind-the-scenes snapshots or on-set stills. But we did get much better looks at the costumes for Rey and Zorri Bliss, much to Kay’s excitement. Our storytelling segment travels over sixty years back in time on the Star Wars in-universe chronology, to the era when the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic – though the seeds of the Order’s demise already had begun to grow. The novel Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray focuses on the teacher-pupil relationship between Qui-Gon Jinn and a teenage Obi-Wan Kenobi a number of years before The Phantom Menace. She spins a tale of trust and friendship, as well as prophecy, ethical dilemmas, and the political power of governments, leaders, corporations, and the Jedi. One of the new characters is Rael Averross, also an iconoclast to the Jedi Order – but in a quite different manner than Qui-Gon. What they have in common is that both are former apprentices to Dooku, who appears only briefly in flashbacks in Master & Apprentice. The fallen Jedi turned Sith Lord is central figure of the full-cast audiobook Dooku: Jedi Lost by Cavan Scott, released two weeks after Gray’s novel, which also includes Rael and Asajj Ventress from The Clone Wars. Between the two stories, the backstory to Episode I gains a considerable amount of new perspective. This month’s world-building segment takes us to Anaheim, California, where Tricia attended the official grand opening of the Galaxy’s Edge expansion at Disneyland. She shares her reactions to the new land, including the setting, inhabitants, food and drink, and of course the ride Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. She also gives a behind-the-scenes peek at the dedication ceremony and formal opening of the ride, with VIPs in attendance including Star Wars animation guru Dave Filoni and Captain Marvel’s Brie Larson. One prominent new character in Galaxy’s Edge is Resistance spy Vi Moradi, who appears in Delilah Dawson’s novel Phasma and August’s upcoming Black Spire. In the park, Vi is portrayed by cast member Alex Marshall-Brown, who has been sharing her experience on Instagram and Twitter.   Vanity Fair‘s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Links Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, The Ultimate Preview (Lev Grossman) Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Photos: Meet the Characters and Go on Set (Cover Shoot / Photographs by Annie Leibowitz) Everything New Revealed in Vanity Fair’s The Rise of Skywalker Cover Story (Joanna Robinson) Star Wars: The Truth About Kylo Ren and Rey’s Connection (Joanna Robinson) Star Wars: Keri Russell Is the Roguish Zorri Bliss (Joanna Robinson) Star Wars: The Knights of Ren Make Their Long-Awaited Return (Joanna Robinson) Star Wars: Richard E. Grant’s Villainous Character, Revealed (Joanna Robinson) Star Wars: Why Billie Lourd Asked to Share Scenes with Her Late Mother, Carrie Fisher (Joanna Robinson) A Lot of the Final Skywalker Film Has Been Planned “from the Very Beginning” (Joanna Robinson) In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, C-3PO Will Surprise Everybody (Joanna Robinson) Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com

On Episode 44 of Hyperspace Theories, Tricia, B.J. and Kay discuss Star Wars Celebration in Chicago and share our reactions to, and favorite moments from, the convention. The convention was definitely a busy one: we didn’t even have time to record the episode live at the con, but hopefully the clearer audio quality is a worthwhile tradeoff. We begin, of course, with the Episode IX panel that kicked off the convention on Friday morning, April 12. In addition to the panel itself, we give our initial impression of the movie’s title, The Rise of Skywalker, and the teaser trailer unveiled at the conclusion of the panel – including a surprise appearance by the Emperor’s Ian McDiarmid on the Celebration stage. We then talk about a wide range of other experiences from the convention. Panels discussed include The Clone Wars, The Mandalorian, Galaxy’s Edge, and Claudia Gray’s writer workshop. Other topics include merchandise, cosplay, the fan-organized Ahsoka Lives picture, and the fun of socializing with friends from all over the country and around the world. We also offer some constructive criticism on several of the logistical problems that arose before and during the convention, in the hope that these issues can be resolved for Celebration Anaheim in 2020. We conclude the show with our favorite moments from the convention. For each of us, these were more personally important than anything else – but that’s what conventions like Celebration are really all about.   FANgirl Coverage of Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: Episode IX Panel Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: Bringing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Life at Disney Parks Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Clone Wars Sneak Peek Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Mandalorian Panel Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Phantom Menace 20th Anniversary Panel Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Music of The Phantom Menace With David Collins Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: Logistical Problems and Areas for Improvement Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Franchise Talking Points Fangirls Going Rogue: Basking In Celebration Afterglow Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: Marvel Comics Presents: Star Wars Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Meaning of Community: My First Star Wars Celebration Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Freemaker Adventures and Star Wars: All-Stars Panel Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: Star Wars Resistance Season Two Sneak Peek Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com

Disney loves making live-action versions of its cartoon library, but how many of them are actually good? Geek Kay and Christian Nielsen join Michael May to talk about the phenomenon and also figure out how they'd approach remaking Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Hercules, The Three Caballeros, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Hyperspace Theories visits The Dark Side in this month’s episode. That’s right, Tricia Barr has a new Star Wars book, which just released in French and Spanish language editions. Before we talk about the book, though, Tricia, B.J., and Kay share our reactions to the latest announcements about the live-action television series for the Disney+ streaming service set to launch next year. Diego Luna returns to play Cassian Andor is a series set prior to the events of Rogue One. Considering Cassian has been in the fight since he was six years old, there’s a lot of story potential in his backstory. In addition, Lucasfilm announced the principal cast for The Mandalorian, including Pedro Pascal in the titular role and a variety of other familiar faces. Each episode, our meta segment is based on the theme of how to speculate wisely about upcoming Star Wars tales. Sometimes that means knowing when to be careful not to draw any big storytelling inferences from material that doesn’t warrant it. This month, that idea definitely applies to a tweet from director – and trusted advisor to J.J. Abrams – Ava DuVernay, who tweeted a photograph of her friend Victoria Mahoney, second unit director on Episode IX, in her office at Pinewood Studios. On the wall behind Mahoney is a “mood board” of imagery, most of which has no direct connection to Star Wars – although the picture of Mahoney in a pink fluffy coat and Vader helmet is certainly the centerpiece. The inspiration on the mood board ranges from Patty Shepard in the spaghetti western The Man Called Noon (1973) to a book of portraits by painter Kehinde Wiley. Though it may not tell us any details about Episode IX, the tweet does give us a stronger sense of Mahoney’s visual eye and the talent she brings to the film. Our storytelling segment features Tricia sharing her thoughts about writing The Dark Side, a new title from Hachette Heroes. Written from an in-universe perspective, the book examines the dark side of the Force through the lens of the characters who wield it, including the Sith, fallen Jedi, the Nightsisters of Dathomir, and the Empire’s Inquisitors. In addition to movie characters like Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, and Count Dooku, the book also addresses characters featured in animation and other stories, such as Asajj Ventress, Mother Talzin, the Seventh Sister, and the extended story of Maul, formerly Darth. Although an English edition has not yet been announced, the French (ISBN 978-2017003809) and Spanish (ISBN 978-8416857418) editions are on sale now. Our world-building segment spins off from the news of the Cassian Andor television series. We consider how the Star Wars franchise over time has involved a balance between open-ended stories with no inherent conclusion and closed-ended tales constrained, at least to some extent, by known endpoints. The Mandalorian and Episode IX are examples of the former, while the Cassian series and The Queen’s Shadow fall into the latter, and some stories, such as Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars Resistance, have elements of both. In the first six to seven years of the Disney era, the franchise has leaned heavily on backstory and closed-ended stories. While this makes sense to steer clear of the Sequel Trilogy during its development, we consider the implications for the franchise and the fandom that choice has created.   Related Links: Cassian Andor Live-Action Series Announced (starwars.com) Stephen Schiff hired as showrunner for Cassian series (Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter) Pedro Pascal Revealed as The Mandalorian (starwars.com) Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com

Thanks to Darth Real Life, it’s been a while since our last episode. Hyperspace Theories returns with a conversation about the exciting new developments in Star Wars television. First, though, we briefly discuss some of the other recent Star Wars news. Episode IX has begun filming, and several new cast members were announced. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy’s contract has been extended through 2021, though Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed a slowdown in the pace of Star Wars movie production following Episode IX. There may be fewer films in the works for the moment, but Star Wars television is surging ahead. Our meta segment considers the announcement of The Mandalorian, a live-action series for the upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service from Disney. The show’s creator, executive producer, and writer is Jon Favreau, whose extensive body of work includes Iron Man and Iron Man 2 for Marvel, the live-action Jungle Book and The Lion King for Disney, his own project Chef, and directing episodes of Revolution and The Orville for television. He also has a history with Star Wars, voicing Mandalorian Death Watch leader Pre Viszla on The Clone Wars. Another figure from that series, Dave Filoni, has a prominent part in The Mandalorian: he is an executive producer and will direct its first episode. We speculate about the influences Favreau and Filoni will bring to the live-action show, and how its release on the streaming service might affect the tone and content of its episodes. We also share our thoughts on the other episodic directors announced for the project: Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok). Like Lucasfilm, our storytelling segment revisits The Clone Wars after the news from the summer that twelve more episodes are in production. We speculate about which remaining untold story arcs might appears in these new episodes, based on information previously revealed at Star Wars Celebration panels and some arcs already produced in other formats, such as Dark Disciple and Son of Dathomir. Based on the trailer, the long-awaited “Siege of Mandalore” story appears to be included, which will create connections with existing arcs of The Clone Wars, Revenge of the Sith, the Ahsoka novel, and Star Wars Rebels. We also share in the fandom’s excitement to see more stories from The Clone Wars and the return of the fan-favorite voice cast. For our world-building segment we analyze the premiere episodes of Star Wars Resistance, the new animated series airing on the Disney Channel. We start with the galaxy-level world-building in the series, including the New Republic, the Resistance, and the First Order at a point in time six months before The Force Awakens. We then turn to the Colossus, the fuel depot and its residents that serve as the location for the first season, and discuss how the characters and their story arcs are constructed with that environment in mind. (Note: if you have not yet seen the show, this part of our discussion includes major spoilers for the opening episode, “The Recruit,” and some references to the following episodes, “The Triple Dark” and “Fuel for the Fire,” which are available for early viewing through DisneyNOW, Hulu, and other providers.) Direct Download | Libsyn embed Related Links Star Wars: Episode IX Cast Announced (StarWars.com) 'Star Wars' Chief Kathleen Kennedy's Lucasfilm Deal Extended for Three Years (Exclusive) (The Hollywood Reporter) Bob Iger Talks Disney's Streaming Service, 'Roseanne,' James Gunn and a Coming 'Star Wars' "Slowdown" (The Hollywood Reporter) The Mandalorian First Image, Directors Revealed (StarWars.com) SDCC 2018: Star Wars: The Clone Wars to Return with New Episodes (StarWars.com) The Clone Wars Saved trailer (YouTube) Star Wars Celebration Anaheim [2015]: The Clone Wars Tales Yet Untold Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016: Ahsoka’s Untold Tales Star Wars Celebration Orlando 2017: Animated Origins and Unexpected Fates Panel How the Star Wars Resistance cartoon threads the needle of Disney’s movie trilogy (Polygon) Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com

There’s much to discuss on this month’s episode of Hyperspace Theories. Tricia, B.J., and Kay begin with a quick look at the recent Star Wars news since our last episode, including reports of Keri Russell and Billy Dee Williams joining the cast of Episode IX, updates to the Lucasfilm corporate website, and the delay of Indiana Jones 5. For the meta segment, we revisit a foundational topic in Star Wars – the Force – from the perspective of the third storytelling trio in The Last Jedi: Rey, Luke, and Kylo Ren. In addition to those characters, the movie and other recent Star Wars tales reveal more insight into the nature of the light side and dark side, and the role of the Jedi Order as an institution in serving, sometimes unsuccessfully, the principle of balance in the Force. We also share our thoughts on some points raised in discussions among online Star Wars fandom on these topics. The storytelling segment centers on the Hero’s Journey for Han in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Unlike the other films of the Disney era, Solo draws upon the classical monomyth framework described by Joseph Campbell, rather than the modern cinematic model developed by Christopher Vogler. This has interesting implications for the structure of the story as well as the portrayals of the main characters. Our world-building segment focuses on an article from Tom & Lorenzo analyzing Rey’s costumes in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Their insights include the symbolism of the colors and clothing styles, as well as interconnections with costumes in previous Star Wars movies for Luke, Han, and Leia.   Related Links The Hero’s Journey for Han in SOLO (FANgirl Blog) Redefining The Hero: The Referential Star Wars Costumes of Rey in “The Force Awakens” & “The Last Jedi” (Tom & Lorenzo) Redefining the Hero: The Extrapolated Costume Design of “Wonder Woman” (Tom & Lorenzo) Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com

With the home-video release already reaching our personal screens, Tricia Barr, B.J. Priester, and Kay Serna continue our analysis of The Last Jedi. First, though, we make a brief detour for a “Spoilers Beware” segment to share our reactions to the series finale episodes of Star Wars Rebels and the teaser trailer for Solo: A Star War Story, both of which aired since the three of us recorded together. We begin our discussion on The Last Jedi with the “Expanded Edition” story contained in the novelization of the film by Jason Fry. We consider how the novelization adds to the story of the movie, including new scenes and character points-of-view. We also examine the ways in which the book avoids elaborating or clarifying on story points where the film is best left to speak for itself, or where fan speculation and opinion is better kept unrestricted. For the world-building segment we discuss the impact of Snoke’s death on the First Order and the progress of the story going forward into Episode IX. Both Kylo Ren and Hux are portrayed as characters with significant disadvantages in leading such a large entity, including their inexperience and personal traits. This is potentially a weakness the Resistance could exploit, but the instability in the First Order also could make its leaders very dangerous. In our storytelling segment, we analyze another character triangle envisioned by Rian Johnson in writing the script, as noted on page 111 of The Art of The Last Jedi by Phil Szostak. This month we consider the triangle centered on Poe Dameron, and how his interactions with General Leia Organa and Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo shape his path from hotshot flyboy to Resistance leader.   Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com

The Last Jedi provides no shortage of topics for discussion, and this month’s episode of Hyperspace Theories provides the first opportunity for Tricia Barr, B.J. Priester, and Kay to dig deep into the story told in the movie and the storytelling decisions behind it. First, though, we kick off with a brief Spoilers Beware segment to share our first reactions to the mid-season trailer for Star Wars Rebels. The trailer previews the final seven episodes of the animated series, which concludes its four-season run with two episodes on Monday, February 19, two more on February 26, and a three-episode Rebels “movie” finale on March 6. Our meta segment about how to speculate wisely often delves into topics such as the storytellers who are creating Star Wars and the sources that inspire them. This time, we have the opportunity to lift the veil after the fact and examine the creative process behind The Last Jedi after the fact. The lens for our discussion is the book The Art of The Last Jedi by Phil Szostak, published the same day as the movie’s release with a foreword by Rian Johnson. The book is filled with a wide variety of intriguing concept art from the film’s production, and its prose provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Johnson’s story came together. The world-building segment considers the balance that every new Star Wars movie must strike in the new era of annual film releases: the balance between tapping into the power of fans’ nostalgia for the Star Wars stories already told and the need to tell a story that stands on its own within the franchise. Although conventional wisdom suggests that The Force Awakens leaned too heavily on nostalgia and the story structure of A New Hope while The Last Jedi took more risks and broke new ground, we use Episode VIII’s dramatic under-performing at the Chinese box office as an angle to discuss the ways The Last Jedi, and particularly its use of Luke Skywalker, may have relied too much on nostalgia and the expense of the new characters. Our storytelling segment returns to another idea drawn from The Art of The Last Jedi. In the book, Rian Johnson explains that the character dynamics in the film are structured around three “triangles” of characters, with a principal hero (Rey, Finn, or Poe) at the apex of each. In this episode we discuss Finn’s triangle, in which his character development takes places between the contrasting influences of Rose and DJ in urging him to face and choose his destiny.   Related Links Star Wars Rebels Season Four mid-season trailer (YouTube) Why Disney's 'Last Jedi' Mind Trick Isn't Working in China (The Hollywood Reporter) Fangirls Going Rogue 54 Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com

The wait is over, and The Last Jedi has arrived! Even having seen the movie only a few times each, we already have so much to analyze and discuss from Episode VIII. Before we delve into any of that, though, we share our initial reactions to the movie. Tricia Barr, B.J. Priester, and Kay Serna are joined by Looking For Leia producer and director Annalise Ophelian to break down our rollercoasters of emotion from experiencing The Last Jedi. Naturally, this episode carries a massive SPOILER WARNING, as we do not hesitate to get into the biggest and most surprising moments in the movie. We begin by considering whether the talking points, trailers, and other promotion for The Last Jedi provided fans with accurate guidance on what the movie ultimately would unfold. We then talk about the themes and influences that first caught our attention in watching the film. From the big picture we transition to our reactions to the arcs for the principal characters, including Rey and Kylo Ren, Rose and Finn, Poe and Holdo, Leia, and Luke. We conclude by picking our favorite moments from The Last Jedi. Needless to say, this movie will provide topics for discussion on the podcast for many months to come.   Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com Annalise: Twitter @LookingForLeia or @Dr_Ophelian

This month’s episode of Hyperspace Theories marks our final show of speculation before the release of The Last Jedi, which no doubt will bring months of analysis – and future speculation – to the Star Wars fandom galaxy. Excitement and anticipation abounds!   Before turning to the imminent Episode VIII, though, Tricia, B.J., and Kay first consider the recent announcement that Lucasfilm has hired Rian Johnson to develop more Star Wars films. “In shepherding this new trilogy, which is separate from the episodic Skywalker saga,” the press release said, “Johnson will introduce new characters from a corner of the galaxy that Star Wars lore has never before explored.” We share our thoughts on the possibilities offered by this new direction in Star Wars movies, as well as how they may relate to the other films in development at Lucasfilm. In addition, the announcement clarified Johnson’s role in the trilogy of films as “the first of which he is also set to write and direct.” We express our hope that the remaining two movies will provide opportunities for more diversity in the screenwriting and directing positions in the Star Wars franchise, especially in light of the commercial and critical success of Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman and Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok. Promotion for The Last Jedi has been in full swing, with more hints about the direction of the story and characters. We break down our thoughts on the international trailer, which takes a more story-driven approach than last month’s U.S. trailer, as well as additional footage seen in various television advertisements for the movie and the cover story on The Last Jedi in the Thanksgiving week issue of Entertainment Weekly. Tricia shares her insights from the media preview of the newest version of the Star Tours ride at Walt Disney World, which includes the battle sequence on Crait as well as several characters from the movie. While a variety of new glimpses from the film have emerged, we conclude that most of the story’s key developments and secrets remain hidden. Fortunately, it’s time for The Last Jedi speculation to end. It seems clear that the nature of the Force, the light side and the dark side, and the role of the Jedi in the galaxy will be significant themes in The Last Jedi. With that in mind, our worldbuilding segment considers some of the recent lore and themes about the Force revealed in other materials, including Star Wars Rebels. Finally, the storytelling segment evaluates a prominent trend in recent Star Wars publishing: the use of in-universe storytelling as a mechanism to tell fun Star Wars tales without pinning down specific facts or events as any form of objective truth. Delilah Dawson’s novel Phasma, for example, has a frame story with an unreliable narrator, leaving open the possibility that any part of the story could be incorrect or misunderstood by its participants. Similarly, The Legends of Luke Skywalker by Ken Liu uses a frame story – deckhands on a ship sharing the tall tales they have been told about Luke – as a mechanism to deliver some fantastical adventures for the Jedi Knight. At the same time, each tale in the book illustrates a core aspect of what makes Luke an heroic figure in the galaxy, showing that even the most outrageously improbable legends still have a grain of truth at their core. The anthology From A Certain Point of View also contains a number of short stories that likely don’t hold up as having actually happened, at least the way they’re told in the book, but nevertheless contain key themes and morals to the story that fit right in with the Star Wars galaxy.   Related Links The Last Jedi international trailer (YouTube) “Directing The Last Jedi” (YouTube) The Last Jedi television ad: “Awake” (YouTube) The Last Jedi television ad (15 seconds) (YouTube) The Last Jedi television ad: “Heroes” (YouTube) The Last Jedi television ad: “Kylo Failed You” (YouTube) The Superweirdo Behind “Thor: Ragnarok” (New York Times feature on Taika Waititi) The Rise of Rose: How A Badass Nerd Became The New “Star Wars” Lead (Buzzfeed) The Last Jedi: Venture into the Star Wars galaxy with four new EW covers (Entertainment Weekly) 14 new Star Wars: The Last Jedi images from a galaxy far, far away (Entertainment Weekly) Kylo Ren vs. Rey: In The Last Jedi, the danger is becoming allies instead of enemies (Entertainment Weekly) Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com

The theatrical trailer for The Last Jedi is here! The evening after its premiere, Tricia Barr, B.J. Priester, and Kay recorded a special episode of Hyperspace Theories with our reactions and analysis. We consider the visuals, dialogue, and music in the trailer, as well as connections to the previously released teaser and behind-the-scene reel. Although the trailer is strong at conveying tone and themes and light on story details, we also incorporate some (spoiler-free/rumor-free) informed speculation about what might happen in The Last Jedi.   Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com

Tricia Barr, BJ Priester and Kay from FANgirl Blog discuss changes in directors on Episode IX, Star Wars animation and Leia: Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray. The Star Wars movie news keeps coming, and we delve into it on this month’s episode of Hyperspace Theories. We begin with one of the recent photos from the Untitled Han Solo movie shared on social media by director Ron Howard. Does the image and its caption – “Spicey?” – hint at the appearance of the long-notorious spice mines as well as the legendary Kessel Run in the film? The big developments since our last episode, though, involved Episode IX: Colin Trevorrow is no longer involved in the movie as either writer or director, and J.J. Abrams is returning to Star Wars to direct and co-write the second sequel to The Force Awakens. Tricia, B.J., and Kay discuss our reactions to and analysis of the news, including the official announcements from Lucasfilm as well as the reports in the Hollywood industry trades. While the removal of Trevorrow from the project is a positive change, the sources of the conflict that led to his departure were very much predictable at the time he was hired; the upheaval in the production process at this point, about four months prior to the intended start of principal photography, was preventable if a sounder hire had been made in the first instance. Fortunately, after the box office and fandom success of The Force Awakens Abrams had enough influence and credibility with the Disney brass to insist on pushing back Episode IX’s release date to December 2019, giving him at least six additional months to work on the script. Abrams has essentially the same amount of time to work on Episode IX’s screenplay as for The Force Awakens – but this time with considerably less work needed on the world-building and character arcs compared to kicking off the trilogy. Overall, though, we’re certainly far more optimistic about Episode IX with Abrams at the helm than we were a few weeks ago. We also share areas of concern with Abrams’ leadership of Episode IX. On The Force Awakens, Abrams often worked in seclusion at Bad Robot in Santa Monica, in contrast to Rian Johnson’s work in residence at Lucasfilm while writing and completing The Last Jedi. With the Story Group and other members of the creative brain trust at Lucasfilm having accomplished some great successes in interconnectivity and long-term payoffs over the course of stories released since 2015, it would be a shame if Abrams’ return also meant a recurrence of the lack of communication that led to key creative executives at Lucasfilm being unaware of major storytelling decisions made while finalizing The Force Awakens until the film’s release. Similarly, Abram’s co-writer on The Force Awakens was the esteemed Lawrence Kasdan; his writing partner on Episode IX is Chris Terrio, who won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Argo but also wrote the screenplays for Batman v Superman and Justice League, which like Rogue One ended up undergoing substantial revision, if not re-envisioning, during reshoots. Finally, while Abrams is certainly a known quantity and trusted creator to Lucasfilm, it is disappointing to see yet again that two middle-aged white men have been handed the keys a Star Wars film – and this time, one that has to provide satisfying, empowering, and worthy conclusions to the Sequel Trilogy character arcs of Rey and Leia. For all the upheaval in the production processes on the Star Wars films over the last few years, though, lots of great Star Wars stories are being told outside the movies. In this month’s episode we discuss the second season of LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures, the first eight Force of Destiny animated shorts, and the young-adult novel Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray. We have high praise for each of them, although as longtime Star Wars books fandom participants, each of us was particularly excited to finally see the kind of official young Leia book we’ve always thought the character deserved. As part of the Journey to The Last Jedi publishing program, Gray’s novel also contains some intriguing hints for Episode VIII, including some that are overt and others that left us wondering – and speculating. Related Links Episode IX Developments: Colin Trevorrow Out More Episode IX Developments: The Return of J.J. Abrams Hyperspace Theories Episode 30: Director’s Cut: The Trouble With Trevorrow Hyperspace Theories Episode 4: J. Abrams Beyond the Mystery Box J.’s post How J.J. Abrams Could Redeem Padmé in Episode IX Kay’s review of Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com

On this month’s episode of Hyperspace Theories, Tricia, B.J., and Kay delve into the Star Wars news revealed at Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim. We begin with our reactions to the Behind the Scenes reel for The Last Jedi shown during the Star Wars segment of the Live Action Movies panel, then break down our highlights and favorite moments from the video. As usual, we also speculate about what the reel might reveal about the film, its story, and the character arcs. Next we turn to the teaser posters revealed online shortly after the panel presentation ended. The color red is certainly a noticeable theme in the art, along with the obscured faces. After talking about The Last Jedi, we talk about the other big Star Wars news from D23: the Disney Parks announcements of the official name for “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” at Disneyland and Hollywood Studios, as well as a luxury resort hotel in Florida. Star Wars entertainment will be part of our real world sooner than we think. The Battlefront II videogame and Star Wars fiction publishing also were included in the D23 presentations. Finally, since our last episode the new director for the untitled Han Solo movie, Ron Howard, was officially announced by Lucasfilm. We share our thoughts on Howard as a director and his role in bringing the movie to its culmination. Related Links: Star Wars: The Last Jedi Behind the Scenes on YouTube Star Wars: The Last Jedi teaser posters via @starwars on Twitter: set one and set two Gallery of panel presentation images via Star Wars on Facebook GMA clips: Rian Johnson on Luke, Leia, the movie’s title, Benicio Del Toro’s DJ, ; Daisy Ridley on gray themes; Gwendoline Christie on Phasma Variety clips: Rian Johnson; Benicio Del Toro; Laura Dern; Daisy Ridley; John Boyega; Gwendoline Christie; Kelly Marie Tran Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge announcement at Disney Parks Blog Star Wars luxury resort hotel immersive experience at Disney Parks Blog Star Wars Battlefront II: Behind the Story on YouTube kid performing shouting Hux on Rian Johnson’s Instagram Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com

Carlin, Jeff and Pax welcome to "Hole Time" Kay from Hyperspace Theories and Fangirlblog.com. After establishing that she is the first returning Rabbit Hole guest since the first returning Rabbit Hole guest, the crew jumps back into Wikipedia trying to get from The Thin Man (Film) to Street Hawk. And prepare for a first in Rabbit Hole history.

Carlin, Jeff and Pax welcome to "Hole Time" Kay from Hyperspace Theories and Fangirlblog.com. After establishing that she is the first returning Rabbit Hole guest since the first returning Rabbit Hole guest, the crew jumps back into Wikipedia trying to get from The Thin Man (Film) to Street Hawk. And prepare for a first in Rabbit Hole history.

In celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Nerd Lunch Podcast, CT and Pax visit Dragon Con in Atlanta. They are under the impression they are to be hosting a live Nerd Lunch panel as a means of celebrating five years, but things don't go how they expect. Along the way they meet Evan Hanson and Geek Kay. Celebrate five years of Nerd Lunch with this very special episode.

In celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Nerd Lunch Podcast, CT and Pax visit Dragon Con in Atlanta. They are under the impression they are to be hosting a live Nerd Lunch panel as a means of celebrating five years, but things don't go how they expect. Along the way they meet Evan Hanson and Geek Kay. Celebrate five years of Nerd Lunch with this very special episode.

Jeff Somogyi returns for a new episode of Down the Rabbit Hole. This time, we set our course for Wookieepedia instead of Wikipedia and our Star Wars panel of Geek Kay and Michael May tag along. Can we get from the page for Jessa Vandangante to Pilk Mukmuk in the span of our show? There's only one way to find out!

Jeff Somogyi returns for a new episode of Down the Rabbit Hole. This time, we set our course for Wookieepedia instead of Wikipedia and our Star Wars panel of Geek Kay and Michael May tag along. Can we get from the page for Jessa Vandangante to Pilk Mukmuk in the span of our show? There's only one way to find out!

Jeff Somogyi returns for a new episode of Down the Rabbit Hole. This time, we set our course for Wookieepedia instead of Wikipedia and our Star Wars panel of Geek Kay and Michael May tag along. Can we get from the page for Jessa Vandangante to Pilk Mukmuk in the span of our show? There's only one way to find out!

This month on Hyperspace Theories, we discuss how the music of Star Wars enhances the storytelling in The Force Awakens. Joining Tricia, B.J., and Kay for the episode is Sarah Woloski, who co-hosts Fangirls Going Rogue with Tricia and Teresa and Skywalking Through Neverland with her husband Richard. All four of us have instrumental musical backgrounds, and we share how our experiences learning and performing music have shaped our appreciation of the music of Star Wars. In previous episodes, we’ve used the meta segment – where we talk about how to speculate wisely – to analyze the impacts of some of the foundational figures in Star Wars storytelling, including George Lucas, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and more. This month, we add maestro John Williams to the list. Of course, his amazing career spans dozens of famous movies and numerous famous musicals themes – Jaws,Indiana Jones, Superman, E.T., and Jurassic Park, to name only a few – but just as Star Wars is in a class by itself in cinema history, so too is Williams’ iconic Star Wars music. As much as anyone, Williams has added to the language of Star Wars storytelling with the themes, melodies, motifs, and other musical details weaved throughout the Star Wars films. From the powerful tones of the “Main Theme,” “Imperial March,” and “Duel of the Fates” to lyrical refrains like “Han Solo and the Princess,” “Yoda’s Theme,” and the “Force Theme,” the music adds considerable depth and emotional weight to the story. In the worldbuilding segment, we consider how the soundtrack of The Force Awakens elaborates upon the characters and storytelling in the movie. Williams has described his use of deliberate musical connections to the previous films in some respects, while also shaping new music for other places in the film. Among the tracks we discuss are “The Scavenger” and “Rey’s Theme” for the new heroine, Kylo Ren’s motif for the new villain, “Torn Apart” for the fateful showdown, “March of the Resistance” and “Scherzo for X-wings” for the new heroes fighting back against the First Order, and “The Journey Home” and “The Jedi Steps” that bring the movie to a close. With so much to say about Williams and his music, we’ll resume with our other usual segments in the next episode. Stay tuned for more analysis of The Force Awakens and the future of Star Wars storytelling. You can also listen to Hyperspace Theories at Libsyn or download the show there. Or subscribe on iTunes. If you listen, please rate us and write a review as a simple offer of gratitude. Hyperspace Theories is now available on Stitcher, as well. Related Links: The Force Awakens soundtrack listing Soundtrack files released by released by Disney for awards consideration Lucasfilm video (Feb. 22, 2016) with John Williams about the music of The Force Awakens New Yorker article “Listening to Star Wars” by Alex Ross fan version of “The Imperial March” in a major key Contact Information: Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email Tricia@fangirlblog.com B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email Lex@fangirlblog.com Kay: Twitter @Geek_Kay; email Kay@fangirlblog.com Sarah Woloski: Twitter @JediTink  

We celebrate awesome news on Episode 29 of Fangirls Going Rogue. Episode VIII has begun filming, we have a new website design thanks to FANgirl’s Geek Kay, and The Force Awakens crossed the $2 billion mark! And that is just a start. Slowly #WheresRey is becoming #HeresRey as Rey-centric merchandise hits shelves. Keep tweeting your finds to @FGGoingRogue. We love to see them! How exciting is it to see Kathleen Kennedy dubbed “The Most Powerful Woman in Hollywood” by Vanity Fair? Tricia Barr, Teresa Delgado, and Sarah Woloski talk about this and more in our latest news segment that feels more like a pajama party. Then it is on to a fun and insightful interview with author Jason Fry, who has written a ton of Star Wars books, including Rey’s Survival Guide and The Force Awakens: Incredible Cross-Sections. We ask about his Star Wars Rebels tie-in Servants of the Empire book series and his Jupiter Pirates series. Jason explains the challenges of age labels on books, and why adults will enjoy his books for kids. You can find more thoughts from Jason on his Tumblr page. Honoring his work on the Star Wars galactic map, Jason joins this month’s character discussion, featuring our passengers of choice on a trip to a planet that inspires our adventures. Related links: NEW Fangirls Going Rogue t-shirts available! Galactic Fashion, a monthly podcast dedicated to Star Wars fashion. FANgirl Blog’s Daisy Ridley Roundup: February 10, 2016 Amy Ratcliffe’s Nerdist interview with David Acord and Matthew Wood Claudia Gray’s Star Wars: Bloodline Cover Reveal and Excerpt Star Wars in Kid’s Choice Awards (via Club Jade) General Hux's cat Millicent on Nerdist Disney Vault Talk’s Rebel Yell: Princess of the Concord Lasat Hyperspace Theories: Rey’s Hero’s Journey in The Force Awakens Star War Insider #163 Geek Out Loud: Movie Special Skywalking Through Neverland 109: Journey to Skellig Michael Skywalking Through Neverland 110: Skywalking To Valentine’s Day Radio Free Tatooine: Shadow Quarry Ways to Support the Show Social Media Fangirls Going Rogue: @FGGoingRogue Jason Fry: @jasoncfry Tricia: @fangirlcantina Teresa: @icecoldpenguin Sarah: @JediTink Sandra: @geekchic9 Facebook: Fangirls Going Rogue Instagram: @FGGoingRogue Tumblr: fangirlsgoingrogue.tumblr.com Instagram: @FGGoingRogue Voicemail: 331-21 Ewoks or 331-213-9657 Email: contact@fangirlsgoingrogue.com (or use our Contact page) If you enjoyed the show, leave us a review on your favorite podcatcher and share the episode with friends. Until next time: Yub! Yub!

After last month’s episode sharing our initial reactions to The Force Awakens, this month’s episode begins our analysis and discussion of the new movie, as well as the lessons about storytelling and speculation that can be learned from it. Needless to say, we’ll have plenty more discussion of the movie to come in future episodes. Before turning to The Force Awakens, though, we start off the show with a different topic for our meta segment on how to speculate wisely – the Star Wars Rebels midseason trailer for the back half of Season Two. We consider some elements of the trailer that make connections to The Force Awakens to increase interest in Rebels, such as the Jedi crossguard lightsaber, a Jedi temple site, and the appearance of Princess Leia. We also discuss the trailer’s links to prior Star Wars lore, such as a Sith holocron, Twi’lek freedom fighters and Mandalorian warriors from The Clone Wars, and the “Old Master” Ezra encounters. Another feature of note was the social media message shared by showrunner Dave Filoni prior to the trailer’s release, advising fans about its spoiler-heavy content. For the world-building segment, longtime fan of the Empire, Jay Shah, joins us to talk about the First Order in The Force Awakens. In some ways the First Order operates as a direct descendant of the Empire, but in other ways it differs significantly. Some of these distinctions, Jay points out, have significant moral implications for whether fans would feel willing to root for the First Order in the way they may have done previously for the Empire. In addition to the politics and military statuses of the galaxy, we share our views on the individuals who lead the First Order, including Supreme Leader Snoke, Kylo Ren, and General Hux. The storytelling segment focuses on the use of the Original Trilogy’s legacy heroes in The Force Awakens and the hints at their post-Return of the Jedi backstory revealed in the movie. A key touchstone for our discussion is Devin Faraci’s article at Birth Movies Death on the portrayal of Han Solo in the film. Faraci analyzes Han’s character arc in The Force Awakens as a regression to his early Original Trilogy persona rather than progression forward, and maintains that alternative characterizations and backstories for Han could have kept his role in the movie essentially the same in relation to the new generation heroes while making his characterization stronger and more believable to the audience. Our discussion of the legacy Big Three agrees in large measure with the kinds of concerns Faraci raises, and we discuss similar dilemmas with the portrayals of Leia and Luke in the movie, as well as Han. Our plot bunny giveaway draws upon one of the great open questions after The Force Awakens: how missing scenes might be used to reveal or further hint at Rey’s heritage. You can also listen to Hyperspace Theories at Libsyn or download the show there. Or subscribe on iTunes.   Hyperspace Theories is on Twitter @HyperspacePod! Tricia is @FANgirlcantina on Twitter, as well as posting at FANgirl Zone on Facebook and on Tumblr. Kay tweets @Geek_Kay. B.J. tweets @RedPenofLex. Jay Shah tweets @admiraljello.

The Force has awakened. In the December episode of Hyperspace Theories, Tricia Barr, B.J. Priester, and Kay from the popular Star Wars critical discussion site FANgirl Blog share their initial reactions to Episode VII. We discuss the characters, plot, and more after multiple viewings of the film, with minimal additional information from opening-weekend creator interviews or the opening-day book releases. We also address the storytelling decisions to withhold certain key information from the audience in the first movie of the new trilogy, as well as the trailers and other marketing containing imagery and dialogue that do not appear in the final film. This episode contains discussion of all of the major spoilers from The Force Awakens from the opening minutes of the show, so steer clear if you haven't yet seen the movie. You can also subscribe on iTunes. If you listen, please rate us and write a review as a simple offer of gratitude. Hyperspace Theories is on Twitter @HyperspacePod! Tricia Barr is @FANgirlcantina on Twitter, as well as posting at FANgirl Zone on Facebook and on Tumblr. Email: tricia@fangirlblog.com Kay tweets @Geek_Kay. Email: Kay@fangirlblog.com B.J. tweets @RedPenofLex. Email lex@fangirlblog.com  

Johnamarie Macias from The Wookiee Gunner joins Tricia Barr, B.J. Priester, and Geek Kay for a wide-ranging discussion on storytelling in Star Wars. We continue our exploration of the individuals influencing the future of Star Wars storytelling with Diana Williams, a member of Lucasfilm’s Story Group. In October, Johna attended “A Conversation With Diana Williams” at the New York Film Festival, in which Williams talked about her upbringing, her path into the entertainment industry, and her perspective on transmedia storytelling and other technological changes altering the ways people can tell stories. At Lucasfilm, Williams is the Story Group’s lead on videogames, including the recently released Star Wars Battlefront, which offers a wide variety of gender and ethnicity combinations for players to use. She is vocal on Twitter about her criticisms of Hollywood for its problems with diversity, inclusion, and representation, and she no doubt speaks her mind within Lucasfilm’s creative team, as well. Thank you to Johna for sharing her report and reactions to Williams’ presentation. For our world-building segment, we discuss Claudia Gray’s novel Lost Stars, released in September as part of the Journey to The Force Awakens. Like the three regular hosts, Johna also is a big fan of the book. We praised Gray’s effectiveness at designing the two cultures on the planet Jelucan, the valley kindred and the second-wavers, to create the personality traits in the lead characters, Ciena Ree and Thane Kyrell, which ultimately motivate the choices they make as the Empire and Rebellion clash over the course of the story. The early season two episodes of Star Wars Rebels are featured in our storytelling segment. Johna is keeping spoiler-free for The Force Awakens, so Tricia, B.J., and Kay conclude the show with a Spoilers Beware segment examining the new information and clues revealed in the marketing for the movie since our last show. Next month The Force Awakens arrives! Look for a reaction show from Hyperspace Theories soon after opening weekend.   Related Links J.J. Abrams interview with Wired, and quoted in EW Lawrence Kasdan interview with Wired George Lucas interviews with Vanity Fair and CBS News Daisy Ridley cover story in Elle Hyperspace Theories is on Twitter @HyperspacePod! Tricia is @FANgirlcantina on Twitter, as well as posting at FANgirl Zone on Facebook and on Tumblr. Kay tweets @Geek_Kay. B.J. tweets @RedPenofLex. Johna on Twitter @bluejaigeyes

In the October episode of Hyperspace Theories, Tricia Barr, B.J. Priester, and Geek Kay of Fangirl Blog share our reactions to the newly released full-length theatrical trailer for The Force Awakens. We also connect the images, dialogue, and music in the trailer to our earlier episodes and speculations about the movie. You can also listen to Hyperspace Theories at Libsyn or download the show there. Or subscribe on iTunes. embed Related Links: The Force Awakens trailer on YouTube preview commercials for Monday Night Football (YouTube): characters highlighted, Rey sees TIE flyover, Poe and Finn, and BB-8, isolated musical score from trailer (via Skywalking Through Neverland) analysis of trailer music by Ali Arikan at Slate report on trailer music composition by Peter Sciretta at /Film Daisy Ridley's trailer reaction video on Instagram John Boyega's trailer reaction video on Facebook Full of Sith trailer reaction special, with the "Seven Samurai" of Star Wars podcasting results of starwars.com poll on fans' favorite Star Wars movie fan theory on origin of Kylo Ren's name on YouTube Tricia's article on Han Solo for Star Wars Insider #158 highlighted at starwars.com Hyperspace Theories is on Twitter @HyperspacePod! Tricia is @FANgirlcantina on Twitter, as well as posting at FANgirl Zone on Facebook and on Tumblr. Kay tweets @Geek_Kay. B.J. is @RedPenofLex on Twitter. Buying tickets to see The Force Awakens through our Fandango link and help support FANgirl Blog.

Spoilers, speculation and storytelling serve as the foundation for this episode. From Cover Girl makeup to leaked Russian images, Tricia Barr, BJ Priester and Geek Kay of FANgirl Blog break down recent spoilers for The Force Awakens. (Want to skip the major spoilers then jump from the Spoiler Intro to the 30 minute mark.) The Meta segment looks at the potential influence of Hayao Miyizaki after Dave Filoni revealed last year it was a foundation suggested by Kathleen Kennedy. We've already seen Miyazaki's influence in The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. How to resources affect storytelling? The Hyperspace Calculations segment mulls lightsabers, kyber crystals and the reasons Rey might be on Jakku.  Then there is that matter of the MacGuffin in The Force Awakens...  

Geek Kay from FANgirl Blog and Hyperspace Theories podcast joins Teresa Delgado and Tricia Barr to discuss the blockbuster Jurassic World.

Michael May and Geek Kay drop back by Nerd Lunch Studios for our second Star Wars drilldown, this time on 1980's Empire Strikes Back.  We talk about when we watched it first, some of our favorite characters and scenes, and who did Yoda mean was their "other hope"?

Michael May and Geek Kay drop back by Nerd Lunch Studios for our second Star Wars drilldown, this time on 1980's Empire Strikes Back. We talk about when we watched it first, some of our favorite characters and scenes, and who did Yoda mean was their "other hope"?

This week we are joined by Geek Kay and Michael May to talk all about the first Star Wars movie.  We discuss the first time we watched it, our favorite characters and all of our favorite scenes.  We even discuss things we don't like and all the changes made for the Special Editions and later for the Blu-Ray.

This week we are joined by Geek Kay and Michael May to talk all about the first Star Wars movie. We discuss the first time we watched it, our favorite characters and all of our favorite scenes. We even discuss things we don't like and all the changes made for the Special Editions and later for the Blu-Ray.

Nerd Lunch invaded the Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) and while there, they met up with several Fourth Chair guests who have been on the show. Questions were asked, projects were promoted, laughs were had. Thanks to the following guests on this show: Michael May Geek Kay Todd from JunkFed Elliott Serrano Andrew Bloom Sean Kelly Jen Usellis Mackay Christopher Rathjen Stacey Rader Christian Nielsen Michael DiGiovanni Also, read more about Dan Cooney's Tommy Gun Dolls Kickstarter project.

BJ Priester rounded up Geek Kay and Tricia Barr to recap Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Star Wars Celebration Anaheim. The fans have awoken!

Minutes after the STAR WARS CELEBRATION ended, an assembly of Skywalkers gathered to discuss the best moments of the convention.   This episode is packed with THE FORCE AWAKENS Trailer reactions (tears), Star Wars Celebration thoughts (and tears), Star Wars Rebels Season 2 Red Carpet Interviews (more tears), and even a word or two from Mary Franklin, Star Wars Celebration organizer-supreme!   Special thanks to our Debriefing Panel: Alan Sanborn, Robert (Bald Solo) Bapst, Tricia Barr, Geek Kay, Dave Skale, Joey Pittman, Matthew Clifton, Kevin Raidernerd Reitzel, David and Luann Manderville, Ryan Stampfli, Fernando Perez, Patty Hammond and Jeff Long.   And remember…NeverLand On Alderaan! Skywalking Through Neverland T-Shirts now available on TeePublic! Check them out HERE. Shopping AWESOME new Star Wars on HerUniverse?  Click here! Contact us: tweet! tweet! @SkywalkingPod Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook. Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube

Minutes after the STAR WARS CELEBRATION ended, an assembly of Skywalkers gathered to discuss the best moments of the convention.   This episode is packed with THE FORCE AWAKENS Trailer reactions (tears), Star Wars Celebration thoughts (and tears), Star Wars Rebels Season 2 Red Carpet Interviews (more tears), and even a word or two from Mary Franklin, Star Wars Celebration organizer-supreme!   Special thanks to our Debriefing Panel: Alan Sanborn, Robert (Bald Solo) Bapst, Tricia Barr, Geek Kay, Dave Skale, Joey Pittman, Matthew Clifton, Kevin Raidernerd Reitzel, David and Luann Manderville, Ryan Stampfli, Fernando Perez, Patty Hammond and Jeff Long.   And remember…NeverLand On Alderaan! Skywalking Through Neverland T-Shirts now available on TeePublic! Check them out HERE. Shopping AWESOME new Star Wars on HerUniverse?  Click here! Contact us: tweet! tweet! @SkywalkingPod Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook. Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube

Season 1 of Star Wars Rebels has opened up an infinite number of possibilities for the future. Join Tricia Barr, Geek Kay and BJ Priester of FANgirl, to consider the future for your favorite Rebels Hera, Kanan, Ezra, Sabine, Zeb and Chopper.

CT and Pax welcome back fan-favorite Fourth Chair guest William Bruce West back to the show. The trio discussion television series finales. What makes a great finale? What are some of the best? What are some of the worst? Plus, we complete our musical intro hat trick thanks to the amazing efforts of frequent Fourth Chair guest Geek Kay.

CT and Pax welcome back fan-favorite Fourth Chair guest William Bruce West back to the show. The trio discussion television series finales. What makes a great finale? What are some of the best? What are some of the worst? Plus, we complete our musical intro hat trick thanks to the amazing efforts of frequent Fourth Chair guest Geek Kay.

On this episode of Fangirl Chat Teresa is joined by the boys of Bad Wolf Radio, Aaron Goins & Adam Farmer. However, she could not talk Dr.Who with the boys by herself so she brought in the Fangirl Whovian herself, Geek Kay. They chat all about how Dr. Who became so big in the states, how potential new fans can get into Dr. Who and even how to help Teresa get past her Dr. Who fears. All this and more on this episode. Come and jump in our Tardis and let's time travel.

In 2015, Star Wars will be bigger, better, and even more worthy of #fangirlflails! To keep up with the fandom happenings, co-hosts Teresa Delgado and Tricia Barr turned to one of their podcasting friends, Sarah Woloski from Skywalking Through Neverland, to help cover this amazing era of the franchise. Lucasfilm’s Senior Editor Jen Heddle’s piece on Marvel’s return to Star Wars comics got us excited for this week’s Star Wars #1 release. Teresa shares her initial thoughts after reading the issue. This weekend, Sarah will be running in the first Star Wars runDisney Star Wars Half-Marathon at Disneyland. At the end of the month, Tricia attends the grand opening of the Rebel, Jedi, Princess, Queen: Star Wars and the Power of Costume Smithsonian touring exhibit in Seattle, where Anthony Daniels is scheduled to appear. After Sarah shares her passion for Star Wars and its music, the fangirls discuss Vanessa Marshall’s comments in her EW.com interview on whether Kanan and Hera are space-married. Feel free to share your thoughts on Fangirls Going Rogue’sFacebook page or Twitter. With the help of our amazing listeners, Luke Skywalker was chosen for this episode’s character discussion. The discussion isn’t over when the show ends. Drop us a voicemail at 331-213-8657 and tell us what movie has your favorite version of Luke in it. After the podcast, check out the latest episode of Fangirl Chat, where Tricia and Geek Kay talk to Star Wars author and fangirl extraordinaire Tish Pahl about the history of fandom and convention tales with legends like Timothy Zahn, Michael Stackpole, and Aaron Allston. Fangirls Going Rogue: @FGGoingRogue Tricia: @fangirlcantina Teresa: @icecoldpenguin Sarah: @JediTink Email: contact@fangirlsgoingrogue.com  Facebook: Fangirls Going Rogue Tumblr: fangirlsgoingrogue.tumblr.com Instagram: @FGGoingRogue Voicemail: 331-21 Ewoks or 331-213-9657 Please go like Fangirls Going Rogue on iTunes and leave a positive review, and in your review mention how much you like the show.

In this episode Tricia Barr, B.J. Priester and Geek Kay try to peek inside the Mystery Box of The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams. They take a look back at his career - its successes and failures - to predict what he will bring to Star Wars. The teaser trailer and the name reveal provide an opportunity to discuss naming characters and ponder what names like Poe, Kylo Ren, Finn, Rey and BB-8 might mean. The storytelling segment considers the stories in movie theaters and television that may influence how the protagonist's or protgonists' arc may flow through the Sequel Trilogy. The closing plot bunny giveaway is holiday themed.

In this episode, Tricia Barr, B.J. Priester and Geek Kay explore the career of Kathleen Kennedy and what she brings to Lucasfilm. The Force Awakens inspires an infinite number of possibilities considering the philosophies of the storytellers and the storyverse. For the storytelling segment, Tricia, B.J. and Kay look to other succesful heroic stories made recently that suggest how the Hero's Journey will be modernized. The plot bunny giveaway this month is inspired by the Episode VII title.

The fandom has awakened with the first The Force Awakens teaser trailer dropping online and in theaters. Tricia Barr, B.J. Priester and Geek Kay share our initial reactions!

Steve and Teresa are joined by Geek_Kay from Fangirl Blog to discuss the fourth episode proper of season one of Star Wars Rebels – Breaking Ranks. Ezra infiltrates the Empire posing as a cadet training to become a stormtrooper in order to acquire coordinates for a shipment that Hera and Kanan are on a mission to stop. Listen as Teresa […]

Steve and Teresa are joined by Geek_Kay from Fangirl Blog to discuss the fourth episode proper of season one of Star Wars Rebels – Breaking Ranks. Ezra infiltrates the Empire posing as a cadet training to become a stormtrooper in order to acquire coordinates for a shipment that Hera and Kanan are on a mission to stop. Listen as Teresa […]

Megan Crouse joins Tricia Barr, B.J. Priester and Geek Kay of FANgirl Blog to discuss the legacy of George Lucas on Star Wars. The speculation segment considers context and how one picture can be interpreted many different ways. The potential effect of Star Wars Rebels is explored before plot bunnies inspired by the show are shared with listeners.