Podcasts about syril karn

Ask us anything. That's what AMA means.Subscribe to Thank the Maker on YouTubeSupport Thank the Maker on Patreon:patreon.com/thankthemakerpodFind the finest garments and accessories in the galaxy at rsvlts.com"!Share the show in your stories and tag us to receive a unique discount code on your first purchase from RSVLTSDonate to "WHAT CHOICE? - Star Wars Fans For Abortion Access" at gofundme.Get Thank the Maker merch: thankthemakermerch.comFollow TTM on social media: thankthemakerpod.comFollow the hosts on social media:Adam RussellNick GhanbarianWilliam Ryan KeyMike ForesterJason ChiodoAhsoka, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, The Bad Batch, The High Republic, #makesolo2happen, The Mandalorian, Star Wars Visions, Anime, Star Wars Anime, Disney Gallery, Galactic Starcruiser, Halcyon, Chandrila Star Line, Galaxy's Edge, Rogue Squadron, Disney+ Day, Hondo Supply, Armor Party, Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars Celebration, Star Wars Black Series, Temuera Morrison, Black Krrsantan, Tosche Station, Danny Trejo, Fennec Shand, Ming-Na Wen, Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker, Cad Bane, Princess Leia, Vivien Lyra Blair, Carrie Fisher, Tales of the Jedi, Cassian Andor, Bix Caleen, Brasso, Luthen Rael, Mon Mothma, Vel Sartha, Cinta Kaz, Dedra Meero, Syril Karn, Orson Krennic

From Tony Gilroy's Andor, all the way back to George Lucas's 1977 original film, Star Wars has always been political.Subscribe to Thank the Maker on YouTubeSubscribe to Star Wars Explained on YouTubeSupport Thank the Maker on Patreon:patreon.com/thankthemakerpodFind the finest garments and accessories in the galaxy at rsvlts.com"!Share the show in your stories and tag us to receive a unique discount code on your first purchase from RSVLTSDonate to "WHAT CHOICE? - Star Wars Fans For Abortion Access" at gofundme.Get Thank the Maker merch: thankthemakermerch.comFollow TTM on social media: thankthemakerpod.comFollow the hosts on social media:Adam RussellNick GhanbarianWilliam Ryan KeyMike ForesterJason ChiodoAhsoka, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, The Bad Batch, The High Republic, #makesolo2happen, The Mandalorian, Star Wars Visions, Anime, Star Wars Anime, Disney Gallery, Galactic Starcruiser, Halcyon, Chandrila Star Line, Galaxy's Edge, Rogue Squadron, Disney+ Day, Hondo Supply, Armor Party, Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars Celebration, Star Wars Black Series, Temuera Morrison, Black Krrsantan, Tosche Station, Danny Trejo, Fennec Shand, Ming-Na Wen, Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker, Cad Bane, Princess Leia, Vivien Lyra Blair, Carrie Fisher, Tales of the Jedi, Cassian Andor, Bix Caleen, Brasso, Luthen Rael, Mon Mothma, Vel Sartha, Cinta Kaz, Dedra Meero, Syril Karn, Orson Krennic

On today's show, join Colby Mead (The Colby Cast), John Alois (The Hyperion Hub), and me for part one of our discussion of the fifth episode in season two of Andor, “I Have Friends Everywhere.” We discuss the cinematography of the series, character dichotomy, and debate Syril Karn's motivation. Pull up a chair, grab your favorite mug, and have some Coffee With Kenobi.Join the Coffee With Kenobi Family on the Disney Wish!Dan Zehr invites listeners to join him and the CWK community for an unforgettable trip aboard the Disney Wish, from June 16 to 20, 2025. This exciting adventure is in collaboration with our official travel partner, MEI Travel & Mouse Fan Travel. To learn more or to book your spot, visit:CoffeeWithKenobi.com/DisneyWishCoffee With Kenobi's Travel Partner – MEI/Mouse Fan Travel:Book your next adventure to Galaxy's Edge, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and more with Coffee With Kenobi's trusted travel partner, MEI Travel & Mouse Fan Travel. For expert assistance with planning your next trip, visit: CoffeeWithKenobi.com/MouseFanTravelSupport Coffee With Kenobi with the CWK Alliance:Become a member of the CWK Alliance and gain exclusive access to our weekly podcast, CWK Pour-Over, including both audio and video versions! Support the show and enjoy bonus content by signing up here:CoffeeWithKenobi.com/CWKAllianceListen to CWK Pour-Over on Spotify:Keep up with CWK Pour-Over, our weekly show that dives deeper into Star Wars and popular culture! Listen on Spotify and never miss an episode:CoffeeWithKenobi.com/SpotifyWatch CWK on YouTube:Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video content, behind-the-scenes footage, and more Star Wars discussion. Visit:CoffeeWithKenobi.com/YouTubeJoin the CWK Community:Be part of the conversation! Join the CWK Cafe, a place for Star Wars fans to connect, share ideas, and discuss all things Star Wars. Join here: CoffeeWithKenobi.com/CommunityShop CWK Merchandise:Looking for Coffee With Kenobi gear? Check out our shop for shirts, hoodies, stickers, phone cases, and more: CoffeeWithKenobi.com/ShopBook Dan Zehr for Your Event:Do you need an experienced speaker for your event? Book Dan Zehr for conferences, schools, or business events at: DanZMedia.comContact Info for Dan Zehr:Email: danz@coffeewithkenobi.comX (Twitter): @MrZehrInstagram: @danzehrcwkThreads: @danzehrcwkPurchase Dan Zehr's Star Wars Books: Get your hands on the latest Star Wars books by Dan Zehr! Available now.Follow Coffee With Kenobi:X (Twitter): @CoffeeWithKenobiInstagram: @CoffeeWithKenobiThreads: @CoffeeWithKenobiFacebook: Coffee With KenobiYouTube: Coffee With Kenobi YouTube ChannelMusic Credit:"Eye to Eye" by Steve TorokThanks for listening, and have a great week. This is the podcast you're looking for!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-with-kenobi-star-wars-community-conversation--3271982/support.

Who are Tales of the Underworld and the other animated Tales series made for?Subscribe to Thank the Maker on YouTubeSupport Thank the Maker on Patreon:patreon.com/thankthemakerpodFind the finest garments and accessories in the galaxy at rsvlts.com"!Share the show in your stories and tag us to receive a unique discount code on your first purchase from RSVLTSDonate to "WHAT CHOICE? - Star Wars Fans For Abortion Access" at gofundme.Get Thank the Maker merch:thankthemakermerch.comThank The Maker on social media:instagram.com/thankthemakerpodinstagram.com/armorpartyshowFollow the hosts on social media:instagram.com/adamtheskullinstagram.com/nickbaysideinstagram.com/williamryankeyinstagram.com/hondosupplytwitter.com/nickbaysidetwitter.com/williamryankeytwitter.com/hondosupply Ahsoka, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, The Bad Batch, The High Republic, #makesolo2happen, The Mandalorian, Star Wars Visions, Anime, Star Wars Anime, Disney Gallery, Galactic Starcruiser, Halcyon, Chandrila Star Line, Galaxy's Edge, Rogue Squadron, Disney+ Day, Hondo Supply, Armor Party, Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars Celebration, Star Wars Black Series, Temuera Morrison, Black Krrsantan, Tosche Station, Danny Trejo, Fennec Shand, Ming-Na Wen, Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker, Cad Bane, Princess Leia, Vivien Lyra Blair, Carrie Fisher, Tales of the Jedi, Cassian Andor, Bix Caleen, Brasso, Luthen Rael, Mon Mothma, Vel Sartha, Cinta Kaz, Dedra Meero, Syril Karn, Orson Krennic

Kerwin of Father.Son.Galaxy. sits down with Catherine LaSalle for a full breakdown of Andor Season 2. We unpack character arcs, political fallout, and where this leaves Star Wars moving forward.Topics include:– Syril Karn and Dedra Meero's dangerous loyalty– Vel and Cinta: duty, grief, and love– The Empire's atrocity on Ghorman– Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and the limits of diplomacy– Luthen and Kleya: the cost of resistance– Cassian and Bix: what survival looks like in a broken galaxyWe revisit the season's most defining moments—Mon's speech, Luthen's reckoning, Vel's rage, and Bix's choice—and ask the hard question: has Andor changed what we should expect from Star Wars storytelling?This isn't just a recap. It's a sendoff.

What did Star Wars Celebration Japan reveal about what's next?Subscribe to Thank the Maker on YouTubeSupport Thank the Maker on Patreon:patreon.com/thankthemakerpodFind the finest garments and accessories in the galaxy at rsvlts.com"!Share the show in your stories and tag us to receive a unique discount code on your first purchase from RSVLTSDonate to "WHAT CHOICE? - Star Wars Fans For Abortion Access" at gofundme.Get Thank the Maker merch:thankthemakermerch.comThank The Maker on social media:instagram.com/thankthemakerpodinstagram.com/armorpartyshowFollow the hosts on social media:instagram.com/adamtheskullinstagram.com/nickbaysideinstagram.com/williamryankeyinstagram.com/hondosupplytwitter.com/nickbaysidetwitter.com/williamryankeytwitter.com/hondosupply Ahsoka, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, The Bad Batch, The High Republic, #makesolo2happen, The Mandalorian, Star Wars Visions, Anime, Star Wars Anime, Disney Gallery, Galactic Starcruiser, Halcyon, Chandrila Star Line, Galaxy's Edge, Rogue Squadron, Disney+ Day, Hondo Supply, Armor Party, Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars Celebration, Star Wars Black Series, Temuera Morrison, Black Krrsantan, Tosche Station, Danny Trejo, Fennec Shand, Ming-Na Wen, Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker, Cad Bane, Princess Leia, Vivien Lyra Blair, Carrie Fisher, Tales of the Jedi, Cassian Andor, Bix Caleen, Brasso, Luthen Rael, Mon Mothma, Vel Sartha, Cinta Kaz, Dedra Meero, Syril Karn, Orson Krennic

Star Wars Andor: How Fascism Creates Its Own SupportersWhat drives someone to become complicit in fascism? We explore Syril Karn's arc in Star Wars: Andor and what it reveals about how authoritarian systems manipulate their supporters.How does fascism differ from authoritarianism? We examined the central leader cult of personality that defines fascist systems, with Emperor Palpatine as the prime example.What makes Syril believe in "law and order"? His rigid worldview and imperial propaganda blind him to corruption, driving his obsession with Cassian Andor and participation in the Gorman massacre.Why do fascist systems encourage infighting? The Empire deliberately pits officials against each other to prevent anyone from challenging the Emperor's power.Can we sympathize with villains without excusing them? We discussed humanizing Imperial characters while holding them accountable for their violent choices.Other Topics Covered:Syril's parallel to Javert from Les MisérablesHow the Rebellion operates differently than the EmpireThe Emperor's invisible but constant presence in Imperial decisionsWhy redemption arcs should be rare for fascist collaboratorsViolence as the true governing principle under authoritarianismUnderstanding characters like Syril isn't about excusing fascism—it's about recognizing how ordinary people can be drawn into extraordinary evil and the importance of making moral choices when systems encourage us to look away. **************************************************************************This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics, a The Ethical Panda Podcast and part of the TruStory FM Entertainment Podcast Network. Check our our website to find out more about this and our sister podcast Star Wars Generations.We want to hear from you! You can keep up with our latest news, and send us feedback, questions, or comments via social media or email.Email: Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.comFacebook: TheEthicalPandaInstagram: TheEthicalPandaPodcastsTwitter: EthicalPanda77Or you can join jump into the Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics channels on the TruStory FM Discord.Want to get access to even more content while supporting the podcast? Become a member! For $5 a month, or $55 a year you get access to bonus episodes and bonus content at the end of most episodes. Sign up on the podcast's main page. You can even give membership as a gift!You can also support our podcasts through our sponsors:Purchase a lightsaber from Level Up Sabers run by friend of the podcast Neighborhood Master AlanUse Audible for audiobooks. Sign up for a one year membership or gift one through this link.Purchase any media discussed this week through our sponsored links.

In this week's episode, I take a look at the movies and streaming shows I watched in Winter and Spring 2025. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebook versions of my anthologies at my Payhip store: JUNE25 The coupon code is valid through June 17, 2025. So if you need a new ebook this summer, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates   Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 252 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is May 23rd, 2025, and today we are looking at the movies and streaming shows I watched in Winter and Spring 2025. We missed doing an episode last week for the simple reason that the day before I wanted to record, we had a bad thunderstorm that knocked down large portions of my fence, so my recording time was instead spent on emergency fence repair. However, the situation is under control, so hopefully we'll be back to weekly episodes for the immediate future. And now before we get to our main topics, let's have Coupon of the Week and then a progress update on my current writing projects.   So first up, Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebook version of all my short story anthologies at my Payhip store and that is JUNE25. As always, the coupon code and links will be available in the show notes. This coupon code is valid through June the 17th, 2025, so if you need a new ebook for this summer, we have got you covered.   And now an update on my current writing projects. Ghost in the Corruption is finished. It is publishing right now. In fact, I paused the publishing process to record this and so by the time this episode goes live, hopefully Ghost in the Corruption should be available at all ebook stores. My next main project now that Ghost in the Corruption is done will be Shield of Power and as of this recording I am 15,000 words into it. My secondary projects will be Stealth and Spells Online: Final Quest and I'm 97,000 words into that, so hopefully that will come out very shortly after Shield of Power and I'll also be starting Ghost in the Siege, the final book in the Ghost Armor series as another secondary project and I'm currently zero words into that. So that is where I'm at with my current writing projects.   In audiobook news, Ghost in the Assembly (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) is now out and should be available at all the usual audiobook stores so you can listen to that if you are traveling for the summer. Recording of Shield of Battle (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills) is underway soon. I believe he's starting it this week, so hopefully we will have another audiobook in the Shield War series for you before too much longer. So that's where I'm at with my current writing projects.   00:02:17 Main Topic: Winter/Spring 2025 Movie Roundup   And now let's move on, without any further ado, to our main topic. Summer is almost upon us, which means it's time for my Winter/Spring 2025 Movie Roundup. As usual, the movies and streaming shows are listed in order for my least favorite to my most favorite. The grades are based upon my own thoughts and opinions and are therefore wholly subjective. With all of that said, let's get to the movies and our first entry is MacGruber, which came out in 2010 and in all honesty, this might be objectively the worst movie I have ever seen. The Saturday Night Live MacGruber sketches are a parody of the old MacGyver action show from the ‘80s. And so the movie is essentially the sketch stretched out to make a parody of an ‘80s action movie. It is aggressively dumb and crude. Its only redeeming feature is that the movie knows it's quite stupid and so leans into the stupidity hard. I'll say this in its favor, MacGruber has no pretensions that is a good movie and does not take itself seriously and then runs away hard with that fact. For that he gets a plus, but nothing else. Overall grade: F+   Next up is Down Periscope, which came out in 1996. Now the fundamental question of any movie is the one Russell Crowe shouted at the audience in Gladiator: “Are you not entertained?” Sadly, I was not entertained with Down Periscope. This wanted to be a parody of Cold War era submarine thrillers like The Hunt for Red October, I say wanted because it didn't really succeed. Kelsey Grammer plays Lieutenant Commander Thomas Dodge, an unorthodox US Navy officer who wants command of his own nuclear sub, but he's alienated a few admirals, which is not traditionally a path to career advancement in the military. Dodge gets his chance in a Navy wargame where he has to command a diesel sub against nuclear subs. Sometimes parodies are so good that they become an example of the thing they are parodying (Hot Fuzz and Star Trek: Lower Decks are excellent examples of this phenomenon). The trouble is that the movie takes itself too seriously and just isn't all that funny. A few funny bits, true, but not enough of them. In the end, this was dumb funny but didn't resonate with me the way other dumb funny movies like Dodgeball and Tropic Thunder did. Overall grade: D   Next up is Deadpool and Wolverine, which came out in 2024. Unlike Down Periscope, I was entertained with this movie, though both movies reside on the dumb funny spectrum. Deadpool and Wolverine is basically one long meta in-joke/love letter for the last 30 years of superhero movies. If you've seen enough of those movies, you'll find those movies funny, if occasionally rather tasteless. If you haven't seen enough of those movies, Deadpool and Wolverine will just be incomprehensible. The plot is that Wade Wilson AKA Deadpool gets pulled into some Marvel style multiverse nonsense. To save his universe from destruction, he needs to recruit a Wolverine since in his universe, Wolverine died heroically.   In the process, Deadpool stumbles across the worst Wolverine in the multiverse. Together they have to overcome their mutual dislike and attempt to save Deadpool's universe from destruction at the hands of a rogue branch of the Time Variance Authority. This means the movie can bring in a lot of cameos from past Marvel films. Hugh Jackman's performance really carries the movie on its back. Like I said, this movie is essentially one very long Marvel in-joke. I thought it was funny. I definitely think it can't stand on its own without having seen a sufficient number of the other Marvel movies. Overall grade: C   Our next movie is the Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, which came out in 2024. This is very loosely (with an emphasis on “very”) based on Operation Postmaster during World War II, when British Special Forces seized some Italian ships that had been supplying parts for German U-boats. It was entertaining to watch but it couldn't quite make up its mind tonally if it was a war thriller or a heist movie about Western desperados recruited into a crew. It kind of tried to do both at the same time, which killed the momentum. Like, the first parts of the movie where the protagonists take out a Nazi patrol boat and then free a prisoner from a base were good thriller stuff, but then the plot fused with the heist stuff and really slowed down through the middle forty percent or so. It was also oddly stylized with a lot of spaghetti western-style music that seemed out of place and some stuff just didn't make sense, like at the end after pulling off the mission, the protagonists were all arrested. That just seems bizarre since if anything, Winston Churchill and a lot of the British wartime leadership were enthusiastic about special operations and probably had too much confidence in the effectiveness of covert operations. So I did enjoy watching this, but I can see why it didn't make a lot of money at the box office. Overall Grade: C   Next up is The Gorge, which came out in 2025. This was a peculiar mix of science fiction, romance, and horror. For the romance part, perhaps shooting zombies together is a good idea for a first date. Before I dig into the movie, a brief rant. In one scene, a character is using a chainsaw with no protective gear whatsoever and she's not fighting zombies or anything in a situation where she has to pick up a chainsaw without preparing first. She's trimming branches to pass time. If you're using a chainsaw, at a minimum you want protective eyewear and headphones. Ideally you'd want chainsaw pants as well to reduce the chance of serious injury if you slip and swing the saw into your leg. Since I became a homeowner, I've used a chainsaw a number of times and believe me, you definitely want good eye and ear protection. This has been your public safety announcement for this movie review.   Anyway, loner former sniper Levi is approached by a high ranking intelligence officer giving him a mysterious job. He needs to guard a tower overlooking a mysterious mist-filled gorge for one year. On the other side of the gorge is another tower, guarded by an elite Lithuanian sniper named Drasa. Like Levi, Drasa has a fair bit of emotional damage and they're officially forbidden to communicate. However, they're both lonely and they soon start communicating over the gorge using telescopes and whiteboard messages. Eventually Levi gets emotionally close enough to Drasa to rig a zipline to cross the gorge and speak with her in person.   Unfortunately, it turns out the gorge is full of twisted creatures that storm out and attack and the job of the two snipers is to keep them contained. If Levi and Drasa want to save their lives, they'll need to unravel the dark secret within the gorge. This movie was interesting and I enjoyed watching it, but it falls apart if you think about it too much (or at all). Like the chainsaw thing I ranted about above. The entire movie runs on that sort of logic. That said, I appreciate how the filmmakers were trying something new instead of something like Deadpool and Wolverine. Additionally, this was an Apple+ movie and it's interesting how Apple's approach to streaming is to just make a whole bunch of random stuff that's totally distinct, from Ted Lasso to Mythic Quest to Severance to The Gorge. It's like, “we have more money than most countries, so we're going to make Ted Lasso because we feel like it.” Then again, Apple+ is apparently losing a billion dollars every year, so maybe they'll eventually change their minds about that approach. Overall Grade: B-   Next up is Click, which came out in 2006. Cross It's a Wonderful Life with A Christmas Carol and the comedic style of Adam Sandler and you end up with Click. Basically Sandler plays Michael Newman, a workaholic architect with a demanding boss and increasingly strained relationship with his wife and children due to his workload. In a fit of exasperation with his situation, he goes to Bed Bath and Beyond, where he encounters an eccentric employee named Morty (played entertainingly by Christopher Walken). Morty gives him a remote control that lets him fast forward through time, which Michael then uses to skip the boring and tedious parts of his life, but he overuses the remote and goes too far into the future and sees the disastrous results of his current life choices. Definitely a story used in A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life but effectively told and I was entertained (rather on the crude side, though). Overall Grade: B- Next up is Mr. Deeds, which came out in 2002. This was actually one of Adam Sandler's better movies, in my opinion. It was a remake of the ‘30s movie Mr. Deeds Goes To Town. In this new version, Sandler plays Longfellow Deeds, a popular pizzeria owner in a small New Hampshire town. Unbeknownst to Deeds, his uncle is the owner of a major media mega corporation and when he dies, Deeds is his legal heir. When the company's CEO and chief lawyer arrive at the pizzeria to inform him of this fact, Deeds goes to New York and soon finds himself involved in the CEO's sinister machinations. Yet he happens to rescue an attractive woman from a mugger, but there is more to her than meets the eye. The movie was funny and not as crude, well, not quite as crude as some of Sandler's other stuff. It had good story structure and several great lines, my favorite of which was “he was weak and cowardly and wore far too much cologne.”   Sandler's movies, in a strange way, are often very medieval. Like various medieval fables had a savvy peasant outwitting pompous lords, greedy merchants, and corrupt clergymen. The best Adam Sandler protagonist tends to be a good natured everyman who defeats the modern equivalent of medieval authority figures- evil CEOs, arrogant star athletes, sinister bureaucrats and so forth. Overall Grade: B     Next up is House of David, which came out in 2025 and this is basically the story of King David from the Bible told in the format of an epic fantasy TV series. Like if someone wanted to do an epic fantasy series about Conan the Barbarian, it could follow the same stylistic format as this show. And of course Conan and David followed a similar path from adventurer to king. Anyway, if one were to pick a part of the Bible from which to make a movie or TV series, the story of David would be an excellent choice because David's life was so dramatic that it would hardly require any embellishments in the adaptation. The story is in the Books of First and Second Samuel. King Saul is ruling over the Israelites around 1000 BC or so, but has grown arrogant. Consequently, God instructs the prophet Samuel to inform Saul that the kingdom will be taken away from him and given to another. God then dispatches Samuel to anoint David as the new king of Israel. David is a humble shepherd but then enters Saul's service and undertakes feats of daring, starting with defeating the giant Goliath and leading Saul's troops to victory and battle against Israel's numerous enemies. (The Iron Age Middle East was even less peaceful than it is now.) Eventually, Saul's paranoia and madness gets the best of him and he turns on David, who flees into exile. After Saul and his sons are killed in battle with the Philistines. David returns and becomes the acknowledged king after a short civil war with Saul's surviving sons and followers.   If Saul's fatal flaw was his arrogance of pride, David's seems to have been women. While the story of David and Bathsheba is well known, David nonetheless had eight wives (most of them at the same time) and an unknown but undoubtedly large number of concubines. Naturally David's children from his various wives and concubines did not get along and David was almost deposed due to the conflicts between his children. Unlike Saul and later David's son Solomon, David was willing to repent when a prophet of God informed him of wrongdoing and to be fair to David, monogamy was generally not practiced among Early Iron Age Middle Eastern monarchies and dynastic struggles between brothers from different mothers to seize their father's kingdoms were quite common, but enough historical digression.   Back to the show, which covered David's life up to the death of Goliath. I thought it was quite well done. Good performances, good cinematography, excellent battles, good set design and costuming, and a strong soundtrack. All the actors were good, but I really think the standout performances were Stephen Lang as Samuel, Ali Sulaman is King Saul, Ayelet Zurer as Saul's wife Queen Ahinoam, and Davood Ghadami as David's jerkish (but exasperated and well-intentioned) eldest brother Eliab. Martyn Ford just looks extremely formidable as Goliath. You definitely believe no one in their right mind want to fight this guy.   Making fiction of any kind based on sacred religious texts is often tricky because no matter what you do, someone's going to get mad at you. The show has an extensive disclaimer at the beginning of each episode saying that it is fiction inspired by the Bible. That said, House of David doesn't really alter or deviate from the Biblical account, though it expands upon some things for the sake of storytelling. Queen Ahinoam is only mentioned once in the Bible as the wife of Saul, but she has an expanded role in the show and is shown as the one who essentially introduces Saul to the Witch of Endor. Goliath also gets backstory as one of the “Anakim,” a race of giants that lived in Canaan in ancient times, which is something that is only mentioned in passing in the Old Testament. Overall, I enjoyed the show and I hope it gets a second season.   What's interesting, from a larger perspective, is to see how the wheel of history keeps turning. In the 1950s and the 1960s, Biblical epics were a major film genre. The 10 Commandments and Ben Hur with Charlton Heston are probably the ones best remembered today. Eventually, the genre just sort of ran out of gas, much the way superhero movies were in vogue for about 20 years and began running out of steam around 2023 or so. Like, I enjoyed Thunderbolts (which we're going to talk about in a little bit), but it's not going to make a billion dollars the way Marvel stuff often did in the 2010s. The wheel just keeps turning and perhaps has come back around to the popularity of Biblical epics once more. Overall Grade: A   Next up is Chef, which came out in 2014. I actually saw this back in 2021, but I watched it again recently to refresh my memory and here are my thoughts. I quite liked it. It's about a chef named Carl Casper, who's increasingly unhappy with his work after he gets fired over a Twitter war with a writer who criticized his cooking. Carl is out of options and so he starts a food truck and has to both rediscover his love of cooking and reconnect with his ex-wife and 10-year-old son. In Storytelling: How to Write a Novel (my book about writing), I talked about different kinds of conflict. Carl's conflict is an excellent example of an entirely internal conflict. The critic is an external enemy, but he's basically the inciting incident.   Carl's real enemy is his own internal conflict about art versus commerce and a strained relationship with his son. I recommend the movie. It was rated R for bad language, but there's no nudity or explicit sexual content and honestly, if you've ever worked in a restaurant kitchen or a warehouse, you've heard much worse in terms of language. The movie also has an extremely valuable lesson: stay off social media when you're angry. Overall Grade: A     Next up is Thunderbolts, which came out in 2025 and I thought this was pretty good, both very dark and yet with quite a lot of humor to balance the darkness. Former assassin Yelena Belova has been working as a mercenary for the sinister director of the CIA, Valentina de Fontaine (now there's a villain name if there ever was one). Yelena has grown disillusioned with her life and career and is suffering from increasing depression since she never really dealt with the death of her sister. Valentina promises her one last job, only for Yelena to realize that Valentina decided to dispose of all her freelance contractors at once, which includes US Agent and Ghost (previously seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Antman and the Wasp). In the process of escaping Valentina's trap, Yelena stumbles across a mysterious man who identifies himself as Bob, who has no memory of how he got there, but shows increasingly unusual abilities. Yelena wants to deal with Valentina's betrayal, but it turns out one of Valentina's science projects has gotten out of control and is threatening the world. The movie was well constructed enough that it didn't rely too heavily on previous Marvel continuity. It was there, but you probably wouldn't be lost without it. It almost feels like Marvel looked at the stuff they did the last couple of years and said, okay, a lot of this didn't work, but makes great raw material for new things. It helped that the central conflict was in the end, very human and about the characters, not stopping a generic villain from getting a generic doomsday device. Overall Grade: A   Next up is The Hound of the Baskervilles, which came out in 1988. This is a movie length episode of The Return of Sherlock Holmes television series, which had Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes and Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson. The plot deals with Sir Henry Baskerville, the American heir to an English manor set in the Windswept moors of Dartmoor. Apparently there's an ancestral curse laid over the Baskerville estate that manifests in the form of a spectral hound. Local rumors hold that the previous holder of the manor, Sir Charles Baskerville, was killed by the ghostly hound and many of the local people fear it. The local physician, Dr. Mortimer, is so worried about the hound that he comes to Sherlock Holmes for help. Holmes, of course, is skeptical of any supernatural explanation and soon becomes worried that an extremely subtle and sinister murderer is stalking Sir Henry.   Jeremy Brett's version of Holmes is, in my opinion, the best portrayal of the character and Edward Hardwicke's version of Watson is a calm, reliable man of action who sensibly takes a very large revolver with him when going into danger. Definitely worth watching, Overall grade: A   Next up is Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which came out in 2024. The 2020s have been a downer of a decade in many ways, but on the plus side, between Super Mario Brothers and Sonic the Hedgehog, people have finally figured out how to make good video game movies, so we've got that going for us. Sonic 3 was an excellent kids movie, as were the first two in the trilogy. In this one Sonic is living with Knuckles and Tails under the care of their human friends Tom and Maddy, but then a dark secret emerges. The government has been keeping a Superpowered hedgehog named Shadow in stasis and Shadow has broken out. It's up to Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails to save the day.   Meanwhile, Dr. Robotnik is in a funk after his defeat at Sonic's hands in the last movie, but then his long lost grandfather, Gerald Robotnik returns seeking the younger Dr. Robotnik's help in his own sinister plans. Keanu Reeves was great as Shadow (think John Wick if he was a superpowered space hedgehog in a kid's movie). Jim Carrey famously said he would retire from acting unless a golden script came along and apparently that golden script was playing Dr. Ivo Robotnik and his evil grandfather Gerald. To be fair, both the Robotniks were hilarious.   It is amusing that Sonic only exists because in the 1990s, Sega wanted a flagship video game character that won't get them sued by either Nintendo or Disney. It is also amusing that the overall message of the Sonic movies seems to be not to trust the government. Overall Grade: A   Next up is Paddington in Peru, which came out in 2024. This is also an excellent kids' movie. In this installment, Paddington has settled into London with the Brown family and officially become a UK citizen. However, he receives a letter from Peru that his Aunt Lucy has mysteriously disappeared into the jungle. Distraught, Paddington and the Browns set off for Peru at once. Adventures ensue involving mysterious lost treasure, a crazy boat captain, and an order of singing nuns who might not quite be what they appear. Anyway, it's a good kids' movie. I think Paddington 2 was only slightly better because Hugh Grant as the chief villain, crazy actor Phoenix Buchanan, was one of those lightning in the bottle things like Heath Ledger as the Joker in the Dark Knight. Overall Grade: A   Now for the two best things I saw in Winter/Spring 2025. The first of them is Andor Season Two, which came out in 2025. Star Wars kind of has an age range the way Marvel stuff does now. What do I mean by that? In the Marvel comics and some of the TV series like Jessica Jones, they get into some really dark and heavy stuff, very mature themes. The MCU movies can have some darkness to them, but not as much because they're aiming at sort of escapist adventures for the general audience. Then there are kid shows like Spidey and Friends that a relative of mine just loved when he was three. You wouldn't at all feel comfortable showing a 3-year-old Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but Spidey and Friends is just fine.   Star Wars now kind of has that age range to its stuff and there's nothing wrong with that. Sometimes you want to see a dark meditation upon human nature. Sometimes you need something kid friendly to occupy the kids you're babysitting and sometimes you just want to relax and watch Mando and Baby Yoda mow down some space pirates or something. All that said, Andor Season Two is some of the darkest and the best stuff that Star Wars has ever done. It successfully shifts genres from Escapist Pulp Space Fantasy to a gritty Political/Espionage Thriller. We in the audience know that the emperor is a Sith Lord who can use Evil Space Magic and wants to make himself immortal, but that fact is totally irrelevant to the characters. Even though some of the characters are high ranking in their respective organizations, this is essentially a “ground's eye” view of the Rebellion and life under the Empire.   In some ways, this is like Star Wars' version of Wolf Hall (which we're going to talk about shortly), in that we know how it ends already, but the dramatic tension comes from the harrowing emotional journey the characters undertake on the way to their inevitable destinations. Cassian Andor is now working for the nascent Rebellion under the direction of ruthless spymaster Luthen Rael. Mon Mothma is in the Imperial Senate, covertly funneling money to the Rebellion and realizing just how much the Rebellion will require of her before the end. Syril Karn, the ineffective corporate cop from Season One, has fallen in love with the ruthless secret police supervisor Dedra Meero, but he's unaware that Director Krennic has ordered Meero to manufacture a false flag incident on the planet Gorman so the planet can be strip-mined for resources to build the Death Star and Dedra has decided to use Syril to help accomplish it. All the actors do amazing jobs with their roles. Seriously, this series as actors really should get at least one Emmy. Speaking of Director Krennic, Ben Mendelson returns as Orson Krennic, who is one of my favorite least favorite characters, if you get my drift. Krennic is the oily, treacherous middle manager we've all had to deal with or work for at some point in our lives, and Mendelson plays him excellently. He's a great villain, the sort who is ruthless to his underlings and thinks he can manipulate his superiors right up until Darth Vader starts telekinetically choking him. By contrast, the villain Major Partagaz (played by Anton Lesser) is the middle manager we wish we all had - stern but entirely fair, reasonable, and prizes efficiency and good work while despising office drama. Unfortunately, he works for the Empire's secret police, so all those good qualities are in the service of evil and therefore come to naught. Finally, Episode Eight is one of the most astonishing episodes of TV I've ever seen. It successfully captures the horror of an episode of mass violence and simultaneously has several character arcs reach their tumultuous climax and manages to be shockingly graphic without showing in a lot of actual blood. Andor was originally supposed to be five seasons, but then Peak Streaming collapsed, and so the remaining four seasons were compressed down to one. I think that was actually to the show's benefit because it generates some amazing tension and there's not a wasted moment. Overall Grade: A+   Now for the second of my two favorite things I saw, and that would be Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, which came out in 2024, but I actually saw it in 2025. This is a dramatization of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall novels about the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, who is King Henry VIII's chief lieutenant during the key years of the English Reformation. The first series came out in 2015, but the nine year gap between this and between the second series and the first series actually works quite well since Thomas Cromwell looks like he ages nine years in a single year (which may be what actually happened given how stressful working for someone like Henry VIII must have been). Anyway, in The Mirror and the Light, Cromwell has successfully arranged the downfall and execution of Anne Boleyn, Henry's previous queen. Though Cromwell is haunted by his actions, Henry still needs a queen to give him a male heir, so he marries Jane Seymour. Cromwell must navigate the deadly politics of the Tudor Court while trying to push his Protestant views of religion, serve his capricious master Henry, fend off rivals for the King's favor, and keep his own head attached to his shoulders in the process. Since Cromwell's mental state is deteriorating due to guilt over Anne's death and the downfall of his former master Cardinal Wolsey and Henry's a fickle and dangerous master at the best of times, this is an enterprise that is doomed to fail. Of course, if you're at all familiar with the history of Henry's reign and the English reformation, you know that Cromwell's story does not have a happy ending. Rather, Wolf Hall is a tragedy about a talented man who didn't walk away from his power until it was too late and he was trapped. Anyway, in my opinion, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light was just excellent. All the performances were superb. Mark Rylance is great as Cromwell and has some excellent “WTF/I'm SO screwed” expressions as Cromwell's situation grows worse and worse. Bernard Hill played the Duke of Norfolk in the first series, but sadly died before Series Two, so Timothy Spall steps in and he does an excellent job of channeling Hill's portrayal of the Duke as an ambitious, crude-humored thug.   Damien Lewis is amazing as Henry VIII and his performance captures Henry's mixture of charisma, extreme vindictiveness, and astonishing self-absorption. The real Henry was known for being extremely charming even to the end of his life, but the charm was mixed with a volcanic temper that worsened as Henry aged and may have been exacerbated by a severe head injury. Lewis's performance can shift from that charm to the deadly fury in a heartbeat. The show rather cleverly portrays Henry's growing obesity and deteriorating health by having Lewis wear a lot of big puffy coats and limp with an impressively regal walking stick.   Overall, I would say this and Andor were the best thing I saw in Winter/Spring 2025. I wouldn't say that Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light is an accurate historical reputation. In real life, Cromwell was rather more thuggish and grasping (though far more competent than his rivals and his master) and of necessity the plot simplifies historical events, but it's just a superb historical drama. Overall Grade: A+ As a final note, I should say that of all the 2024 and 2025 movies mentioned here, the only one that actually saw in the theater was Thunderbolts, and I hadn't actually planned to see it in theaters, but a family member unexpectedly bought tickets for it, so I went along. Which I suppose is the movie industry's biggest problem right now. The home viewing experience is often vastly superior to going to the theater. The theater has the big screen and snacks, but at home you can have a pretty nice setup and you can pause whatever you want, go to the bathroom, and you can get snacks for much more cheaply. That's just much more comfortable than the movie theater.   Additionally, going to the theater has the same serious problem as booking a flight in that you're an enclosed space with complete strangers for several hours, which means you're potentially in a trust fall with idiots. All it takes is one person behaving badly or trying to bring their fake service dog to ruin or even cancel a flight, and the theater experience has much of the same problem, especially since the standards for acceptable public behavior have dropped so much from a combination of widespread smartphone adoption and COVID. The difference between the movie industry and the airline industry is that if you absolutely have to get from New York to Los Angeles in a single day, you have no choice but to book a flight and hope for the best. But if you want to see a movie and are willing to exercise some patience, you just have to wait a few months for it to turn up on streaming. I'm not sure how the movie industry can battle that, but sadly, it is much easier to identify problems than to solve them.   So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe, stay healthy, and see you all next week.

How has Tony Gilroy's Andor series changed the past and future of Star Wars?Subscribe to Thank the Maker on YouTubeSupport Thank the Maker on Patreon:patreon.com/thankthemakerpodFind the finest garments and accessories in the galaxy at rsvlts.com"!Donate to "WHAT CHOICE? - Star Wars Fans For Abortion Access" at gofundme.Get Thank the Maker merch:thankthemakermerch.comThank The Maker on social media:instagram.com/thankthemakerpodinstagram.com/armorpartyshowFollow the hosts on social media:instagram.com/adamtheskullinstagram.com/nickbaysideinstagram.com/williamryankeyinstagram.com/hondosupplytwitter.com/nickbaysidetwitter.com/williamryankeytwitter.com/hondosupply Ahsoka, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, The Bad Batch, The High Republic, #makesolo2happen, The Mandalorian, Star Wars Visions, Anime, Star Wars Anime, Disney Gallery, Galactic Starcruiser, Halcyon, Chandrila Star Line, Galaxy's Edge, Rogue Squadron, Disney+ Day, Hondo Supply, Armor Party, Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars Celebration, Star Wars Black Series, Temuera Morrison, Black Krrsantan, Tosche Station, Danny Trejo, Fennec Shand, Ming-Na Wen, Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker, Cad Bane, Princess Leia, Vivien Lyra Blair, Carrie Fisher, Tales of the Jedi, Cassian Andor, Bix Caleen, Brasso, Luthen Rael, Mon Mothma, Vel Sartha, Cinta Kaz, Dedra Meero, Syril Karn, Orson Krennic

Joe reviews and recaps Star Wars: Andor for Justin! 00:00 Introduction 01:08 Cassian is an Everyman 05:56 The Rebels/ Alliance 09:15 Luthen Rael 13:17 Mon Mothma's Rescue 18:18 Mon Mothma 25:09 Bail Organa 26:55 That One Force User 28:42 Dedra Meero 31:34 Luthen's Ending 35:43 Intensity 38:30 The Ghorman Massascre 47:37 Syril Karn 53:02 Bix 57:00 Andor Legacy 1:02:21 A Lived-in Universe WEBSITE: https://www.thoughtplane.ca/ JUSTIN'S SOCIAL MEDIA https://www.instagram.com/jchurchtpm/ Recorded by Joseph Morin and Justin Church Edited by Joseph Morin Close Up cover art by Justin Church #andorseason2 #andor #disneyplus #starwarsandor #closeup #reviews

"After all of this. What a bitter ending." - Kleya MarkiLet's wrap up the emotional series finale of Andor season 2 with Nick and Mike!Subscribe to Thank the Maker on YouTubeSupport Thank the Maker on Patreon:patreon.com/thankthemakerpodFind the finest garments and accessories in the galaxy at rsvlts.com"!Donate to "WHAT CHOICE? - Star Wars Fans For Abortion Access" at gofundme.Get Thank the Maker merch:thankthemakermerch.comThank The Maker on social media:instagram.com/thankthemakerpodinstagram.com/armorpartyshowFollow the hosts on social media:instagram.com/adamtheskullinstagram.com/nickbaysideinstagram.com/williamryankeyinstagram.com/hondosupplytwitter.com/nickbaysidetwitter.com/williamryankeytwitter.com/hondosupply Ahsoka, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, The Bad Batch, The High Republic, #makesolo2happen, The Mandalorian, Star Wars Visions, Anime, Star Wars Anime, Disney Gallery, Galactic Starcruiser, Halcyon, Chandrila Star Line, Galaxy's Edge, Rogue Squadron, Disney+ Day, Hondo Supply, Armor Party, Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars Celebration, Star Wars Black Series, Temuera Morrison, Black Krrsantan, Tosche Station, Danny Trejo, Fennec Shand, Ming-Na Wen, Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker, Cad Bane, Princess Leia, Vivien Lyra Blair, Carrie Fisher, Tales of the Jedi, Cassian Andor, Bix Caleen, Brasso, Luthen Rael, Mon Mothma, Vel Sartha, Cinta Kaz, Dedra Meero, Syril Karn, Orson Krennic

Welcome back to our Andor recaps, here on For The Republic: A Love Letter to Star Wars Animation! This week, join Andrew (@StarlightAndrew) & Donovan (@DonovanMeade) as they discuss the 3rd arc of Andor Season 2! After a season's worth of build-up, we finally witness the Ghorman Massacre, and it's immediate aftermath. We talk about the biggest moments from the episodes - including Cassian's encounter with a Force healer on Yavin IV, his greater role in the Rebellion, and how his future with Bix changes, Syril Karn's uncovering of the truth behind the Empire's role on Ghorman, and his realization of what he contributed to before he comes face-to-face with the root of his problems, Wilmon's greater role with Luthen's rebels, Mon Mothma's incredible speech against the Empire following the Massacre, and her subsequent escape from Coruscant with Cassian, the "birth" of K-2SO, and so much more! Chilling, heartbreaking, profound, dark, and deeply meaningful in today's world, these were some of the best Star Wars stories ever told.Episodes Discussed: "Messenger" (S2E7), "Who Are You?" (S2E8), "Welcome to the Rebellion" (S2E9)Vote in this week's JEDI ARCHIVES poll!-https://x.com/fortherepubpod/status/1923014373347402154?s=46
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Katharina und Tobi arbeiten die intensiven Ereignisse von Folgen 7-9 der zweiten Andor-Staffel auf: Von Giggeln über Ghorman zur Gravitas. Und natürlich müssen wir das alles erstmal sacken lassen. Wir sprechen über die Tragik des Syril Karn, über unflätige Ausdrucksweisen, Cassians Rolle als „Bote“ – und das alles dieses Mal nach Schauplätzen sortiert: Von Yavin […]

Met de derde Andor-trilogie van seizoen twee bereikt het verhaal een nieuw hoogtepunt. Een jaar na de overval op Ghorman voert het Keizerrijk harde repressie door, met checkpoints en avondklokken. Terwijl Mon Mothma diplomatie zoekt, bereidt het verzet zich voor op Yavin 4. Cassian Andor en Bix Caleen leven in de jungle, maar Cassian worstelt met zijn rol als leider. Na een geheime opdracht van Luthen Rael om Meero uit te schakelen, breekt op Ghorman een bloedige opstand uit. Meero ontsnapt, maar Syril Karn beseft dat hij slechts een pion is. Mon Mothma bereidt haar laatste, riskante toespraak voor, terwijl ze ontdekt dat haar vertrouweling voor Luthen werkt. Dankzij Cassian en Luthen wordt haar ontsnapping voorbereid. Ondertussen maakt Bix een pijnlijk offer, en de rebellen herprogrammeren een KX-droid. We duiken diep op de gebeurtenissen in...Niets meer missen? Volg de Star Wars Podcast op Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X (voorheen Twitter), TikTok, Twitch, Youtube en abonneer via Spotify, Apple Podcast of je andere favoriete podcast app om geen aflevering te missen!

The guys dismantle the Ghorman massacre including the tragic end of Syril Karn.They discuss the intertwining of football and Star Wars, the setup of the Gorman conflict, the rising tension among the resistance, and Cyril's realization of the truth behind the events. The episode culminates in chaos at the plaza, leading to a reflection on the aftermath and the Empire's control over the situation.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Andor Episode 802:03 The Setup and Tension in Gorman06:05 The Rising Conflict and Resistance10:02 Cyril's Realization and Confrontation13:57 The Chaos of the Plaza17:59 The Aftermath and ReflectionRemember to listen to previous episodes on:https://open.spotify.com/show/4fQxQJhjbIxlC4K65PuEBi?si=218473cfeab14d1d

Continuamos con la segunda temporada de Andor: Una historia de Star Wars protagonizada por Diego Luna, presentando su tercer arco de tres capítulos. Volvemos con Cassian Andor, Bix, Mon Mothma , Syril Karn y el resto de la banda andoriana en la Fosa del Rancor. Hablaremos de una manera general de los tres episodios: Capítulo 7 El Mensajero, Capítulo 8 ¿Quien eres? y Capítulo 9 Bienvenida a la Rebelión. Disertaremos sobre las conexiones (y desconexiones) con el canon de la serie y la propia saga así como al Universo Expandido. Comentaremos todos los guiños, curiosidades y referencias de estos capítulos. También hablaremos de lo que nos ha parecido este tercer arco argumental, lo que esperamos de los últimos capítulos finales de la semana que viene y cómo van a conectar con Rogue One: Una Historia de Star Wars. Montado y editado por Paco Villa, grabado en la noche del 09/05/2025. Agradecimiento especial a Javi Alonso que prestó su voz para la intro de este programa. Para esta ocasión nos juntamos un equipo fosero formado por: Chema Mansilla, Benjamín Bruña, Ferran Lloret, Josemi y Paco Villa. Un podcast hecho por fans y para fans. Que lo disfrutéis. No dejéis de soñar con galaxias lejanas y que la Fuerza os acompañe siempre. #DalePacoto ♥ #StarWars #Podcast #LaFosaDelRancor Canal Youtube de Javi Alonso: https://www.youtube.com/@javieralonso-locutoryactor477 No olvidéis seguirnos a través de nuestras RRSS: Twitter: @lafosadelrancor Facebook: Fosa del Rancor Instagram: @lafosadelrancor Twitch: LaFosaDelRancor Youtube: La Fosa del Rancor TV www.lafosadelrancor.com

The Empire commits the Ghorman Massacre, Mon Mothma makes a fateful speech, and Cassian Andor finds a new sidekick in the most recent batch of episodes from season two of Andor.    We are covering “Messenger,” “Who Are You?” and “Welcome to the Rebellion” in this episode.   In this fully armed and operational episode of Podcast Stardust, we discuss: Our non-spoiler thoughts on these three episodes of Andor, The Ghorman Massacre, Cassian Andor's mission to Ghorman, Syril Karn's realization as to what the Empire was actually up to on Ghorman and his reaction, Dedra Meero's response to Syril Karn, The Rebellion setting up their headquarters on Yavin 4, Mon Mothma's speech in response to the Ghorman Massacre, The “birth” of K-2SO, and more. For more discussion of season two of Andor, check out episode 881.   Thanks for joining us for another episode! Subscribe to Podcast Stardust for all your Star Wars news, reviews, and discussion wherever you get your podcasts. And please leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts.   Find Jay and her cosplay adventures on J.Snips Cosplay on Instagram.   Join us for real time discussion on the RetroZap Discord Server here: RetroZap Discord.   Follow us on social media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube. T-shirts, hoodies, stickers, masks, and posters are available on TeePublic. Find all episodes on RetroZap.com.

Terzo arco narrativo per la seconda stagione di Andor.Viene analizzata la trama, gli sviluppi dei personaggi come Mon Mothma, Cassian Andor, Syril Karn e Bix, e l'impatto emotivo e narrativo degli episodi, in particolare il massacro di Ghorman.E' sempre più evidente quanto questo prodotto sia maturo e ci siano temi che riflettono il nostro presente e il recente passato.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmpiRa2010 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/empiratvFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/empirafanclubInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/empirastarwarsfanclub/

In this bonus episode of Decoding TV, David and Patrick Willems discuss the next three episodes of Andor Season 2:Ep 7 - MessengerEp 8 - Who Are You?Ep 9 - Welcome to the Rebellion?This batch probably has some of the most intense action in Star Wars ever put to film. We also got some actual Star Wars references to things like the Force and other iconography. What did we think of Syril Karn's arc this season? How did we feel about Mon Mothma's big moment? Have stormtroopers and droids ever looked more terrifying? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil" - Mon MothmaLet's dive in to the incredible third chapter of Andor season 2 with returning podcast co-founder, William Ryan KeySubscribe to Thank the Maker on YouTubeSupport Thank the Maker on Patreon:patreon.com/thankthemakerpodFind the finest garments and accessories in the galaxy at rsvlts.com"!Donate to "WHAT CHOICE? - Star Wars Fans For Abortion Access" at gofundme.Get Thank the Maker merch:thankthemakermerch.comThank The Maker on social media:instagram.com/thankthemakerpodinstagram.com/armorpartyshowFollow the hosts on social media:instagram.com/adamtheskullinstagram.com/nickbaysideinstagram.com/williamryankeyinstagram.com/hondosupplytwitter.com/nickbaysidetwitter.com/williamryankeytwitter.com/hondosupply Ahsoka, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, The Bad Batch, The High Republic, #makesolo2happen, The Mandalorian, Star Wars Visions, Anime, Star Wars Anime, Disney Gallery, Galactic Starcruiser, Halcyon, Chandrila Star Line, Galaxy's Edge, Rogue Squadron, Disney+ Day, Hondo Supply, Armor Party, Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars Celebration, Star Wars Black Series, Temuera Morrison, Black Krrsantan, Tosche Station, Danny Trejo, Fennec Shand, Ming-Na Wen, Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker, Cad Bane, Princess Leia, Vivien Lyra Blair, Carrie Fisher, Tales of the Jedi, Cassian Andor, Bix Caleen, Brasso, Luthen Rael, Mon Mothma, Vel Sartha, Cinta Kaz, Dedra Meero, Syril Karn, Orson Krennic

Long live the rebellion! Cassian, Bix, Luthen, Mon Mothna, and all of our favorite rebels from Season 1 are back for Andor Season 2, streaming every Tuesday on Disney+. Join Damon Gray and TJ Zwarych of Agents of Fandom to break down Andor Season Two episodes 7, 8, and 9. (00:00:00) Intro(00:02:00) Whatcha Watchin? - Cobra Kai, Star Wars: Outlaws, Thunderbolts*(00:06:00) Andor Season 2 Review(00:07:30) Andor Season 2 Episode 7-9 Spoiler-Free Reactions(00:12:00) Is 2025 the Best Year of Television Ever?(00:19:00) Andor Season 2 Episode 7 Recap & Breakdown(00:25:00) Parallels Between Andor and Reality(00:33:00) Syril Karn's Arc in Andor Season 2(00:41:00) Is Bix Force Sensitive? (00:48:00) Andor Season 2 Episode 8 Recap & Breakdown (00:50:00) The Ghorman Massacre(00:57:00) Syril Karn vs. Cassian Andor Fight(01:12:00) Andor Season 2 Episode 9 Recap & Breakdown(01:20:00) Mon Mothma's Speech in Andor Season 2(01:30:00) Bix Leaves Cassian in Andor Season 2 Episode 9(01:41:00) Andor Season 2 Finale TheoriesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/agents-of-fandom--5479222/support.

In this powerful episode of Challenge Accepted, Frank is joined by Jonathan to dissect the political, emotional, and action-packed core of Andor Season 2 Episodes 7–9. Together, they explore the tragic Ghorman Massacre, Mon Mothma's pivotal speech, the expanding spy network, and Cassian's next chapter. With deep analysis and personal insight, they reflect on how these episodes tie together classic Star Wars themes with real-world parallels—delivering some of the most compelling moments in modern Star Wars storytelling. Timestamps and Topics: 00:00 - Introduction and Jonathan returns 00:40 - The political horror of the Ghorman Massacre 02:00 - Set design of the plaza and video game comparisons 04:10 - Cassian's injury and introduction of the force healer 05:45 - Is the Force conscious? Free will and balance discussion 08:25 - Bix's emotional exit and its impact on Cassian 10:10 - Mon Mothma's political maneuvering and Bail Organa's sacrifice 11:40 - Syril's arc and tragic loyalty to the Empire 13:00 - Dedra's descent into darkness 15:30 - Cassian's confrontation with Syril 17:00 - Aftermath of the massacre and the consequences 18:45 - The bellboy's subtle help and hidden rebellion 20:00 - Ghorman's massacre as political propaganda 22:00 - Cassian's escape and rise of K-2SO 24:30 - Episode 9: Mon Mothma's speech and the spark of rebellion 26:00 - Rebels connection and broader context of the speech 29:00 - Rewatching the original trilogy with new context 30:45 - Hopes for a prequel about Luthen and Saw Gerrera 32:00 - Mon Mothma meeting Cassian for the first time 34:00 - Predictions for the upcoming Andor finale episodes Key Takeaways: The Ghorman Massacre is a tragic turning point, echoing real-world atrocities and highlighting the manipulative power of propaganda. The set design and realism in Andor immerse viewers in a grounded, lived-in Star Wars galaxy. The subtle introduction of Force healing adds depth without relying on Jedi tropes. Syril Karn remains a tragic figure—loyal to an empire that exploits him, destined to become a symbol of moral ambiguity. Cassian's trajectory continues toward heroism, setting up his Rogue One partnership with K-2SO. Mon Mothma's speech might feel underwhelming alone, but it serves as a crucial rallying cry across the Rebellion. This trio of episodes shows Andor at its most emotionally and politically complex—combining action, tragedy, and momentum. Quotes: “You have lived rent free in that man's mind for years. You don't even know his face.” – Frank “The Force isn't just about lightsabers and super jumps. It's an energy that pushes back when imbalance grows.” – Jonathan “Star Wars is at its best when it's echoing real-world horrors—this arc proves that.” – Frank “Her speech wasn't to sway the Empire. It was a signal to every rebel cell: it's time.” – Frank Call to Action: Love these deep dives into Andor? Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with a fellow Star Wars fan! Use the hashtag #ChallengeAcceptedPodcast to join the conversation. Links and Resources:

Danny and Kevin return to a galaxy far, far away to discuss the first three episodes of Andor Season 2. All our favorites are back: Cassian, Bix, Brasso, Goober, Skulltutis, Therngo, Mon Mothma, Zorpaz, Dedra, Qyburn, Luthen, Copbot, Forest Whitaker, and of course, Syril Karn. Can a Star War ever truly be for grown-ups? Who knows and, if it's entertaining, who cares? May the 4th be with you. Follow us on Instagram and email us at coffeeanddeathsticks@gmail.com

Een jaar na hun ontsnapping uit Mina-Rau, vechten Cassian Andor en Bix Caleen in de schaduwen van Coruscant voor Luthen Rael. Terwijl Bix wordt achtervolgd door haar verleden, woedt de strijd om de ziel van Ghorman. Senator Mon Mothma balanceert op het slappe koord van de Senaat, terwijl Syril Karn, in dienst van het Keizerrijk, heimelijk infiltreert in het verzet. In de straten van Palmo smeedt hij een gevaarlijk bondgenootschap met Carro Rylanz. Op D'Qar ontdekt Wilmon Paak de duistere waarheid achter Saw Gerrera's strijd. Verraders worden ontmaskerd, offers worden gebracht, en een tragische overval ontketent chaos. In het hart van het conflict herrijst de vonk van opstand, de galaxy balanceert op het randje van revolutie...Niets meer missen? Volg de Star Wars Podcast op Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X (voorheen Twitter), TikTok, Twitch, Youtube en abonneer via Spotify, Apple Podcast of je andere favoriete podcast app om geen aflevering te missen!

The political and revolutionary climate intensifies on Ghorman and Cassian Andor is sent to assess the situation in the latest arc of episodes from season two of Andor.   We are covering “Ever Been to Ghorman,” “I Have Friends Everywhere,” and “What a Festive Evening” in this episode.   In this fully armed and operational episode of Podcast Stardust, we discuss (not in this order): Cassian and Bix hiding out on Coruscant, Cassian Andor's mission to Ghorman and his evolution as a spy, What is happening on Ghorman and the organization of the Ghorman Front, Syril Karn's role as a spy for Dedra Meero on Ghorman, Luthen Rael's meetings with Bix and Lonni, Kleya's attempt to retrieve a bug that risks discovery and exposure for Kleya and Luthen, Mon Mothma's reduced role in this arc of episodes, Wilmon's delivery of a fule pipeline diverter to Saw Gerrera, and Vel and Cinta's mission to Ghorman. For more discussion of season two of Andor, check out episode 879.    Thanks for joining us for another episode! Subscribe to Podcast Stardust for all your Star Wars news, reviews, and discussion wherever you get your podcasts. And please leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts.   Find Jay and her cosplay adventures on J.Snips Cosplay on Instagram.   Join us for real time discussion on the RetroZap Discord Server here: RetroZap Discord. Follow us on social media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube. T-shirts, hoodies, stickers, masks, and posters are available on TeePublic. Find all episodes on RetroZap.com.

It's Star Wars. Calibrate your enthusiasm.Subscribe to Thank the Maker on YouTubeSupport Thank the Maker on Patreon:patreon.com/thankthemakerpodFind the finest garments and accessories in the galaxy at rsvlts.com"!Donate to "WHAT CHOICE? - Star Wars Fans For Abortion Access" at gofundme.Get Thank the Maker merch:thankthemakermerch.comThank The Maker on social media:instagram.com/thankthemakerpodinstagram.com/armorpartyshowFollow the hosts on social media:instagram.com/adamtheskullinstagram.com/nickbaysideinstagram.com/williamryankeyinstagram.com/hondosupplytwitter.com/nickbaysidetwitter.com/williamryankeytwitter.com/hondosupply Ahsoka, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, The Bad Batch, The High Republic, #makesolo2happen, The Mandalorian, Star Wars Visions, Anime, Star Wars Anime, Disney Gallery, Galactic Starcruiser, Halcyon, Chandrila Star Line, Galaxy's Edge, Rogue Squadron, Disney+ Day, Hondo Supply, Armor Party, Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars Celebration, Star Wars Black Series, Temuera Morrison, Black Krrsantan, Tosche Station, Danny Trejo, Fennec Shand, Ming-Na Wen, Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker, Cad Bane, Princess Leia, Vivien Lyra Blair, Carrie Fisher, Tales of the Jedi, Cassian Andor, Bix Caleen, Brasso, Luthen Rael, Mon Mothma, Vel Sartha, Cinta Kaz, Dedra Meero, Syril Karn, Orson Krennic

Long live the rebellion! Cassian, Bix, Luthen, Mon Mothna, and all of our favorite rebels from Season 1 are back for Andor Season 2, streaming every Tuesday on Disney+. Join Damon Gray and Carlos Freytes of Agents of Fandom and Jamie Jirak of the Phase Hero and Love in the Time of Hydra podcasts to break down Andor Season Two episodes 4, 5, and 6.(00:00) Intro(03:52) Whatcha Watching?(08:20) Andor Episode 4 Thoughts & Reactions(17:47) Andor Episode 5 Thoughts & Reactions(31:05) Andor Episode 6 Thoughts & Reactions(48:50) Andor Season 2 General Thoughts(51:40) What's Going On At Agents of FandomCheck out our interview with Syril Karn and Dedra Meero actors Kyle Soller and Denise Gough: https://youtu.be/ZGH3eFoaWvM?si=rLzG_q62uEZlipZvOur interview with Mon Mothma and Luthen Rael at the Andor Season 2 Red Carpet in Toronto is now streaming: https://youtu.be/JfJsC7ofZWI?si=GZXuOPFnkY62WaIq #Andor #AndorSeason2 #StarWars #AgentsofFandom #PhaseHero #LoveIntheTimeOfHydra

Syril Karn: Loyal Imperial… or Time Bomb Ready to Explode?In this reaction, recap, and breakdown of Andor Season 2 Arc 2 (Episodes 4–6), we dive deep into the rising tension, fractured relationships, and shifting agendas threatening both the Empire and the Rebellion — all through the lens of Star Wars' most unpredictable character: Syril Karn.As deception spreads on both sides of the war, Syril is being lied to, used, and kept in the dark. But he's not alone — everyone is reaching their breaking point.We cover:

Season 2 is finally here!! This week we're covering the first 3 episode arc of the Disney+ Series... ANDOR!Set one year after the end of Season 1, we find ourselves in 4 BBY. Cassian has taken on a dangerous mission while the other refugees of Ferrix hide among the workers of Mina-Rau.The Empire is ever advancing as Director Orson Krennic puts forth a new mission for Dedra Meero in the Emperor's quest for power, while Syril Karn continues to work his way up through the ranks on Coruscant.On Chandrila, Senator Mon Mothma navigates tradition with the wedding of her daughter, but more players are at work than we know!Originally aired April 27, 2025.

Season 2 is finally here!! This week we're covering the first 3 episode arc of the Disney+ Series... ANDOR!Set one year after the end of Season 1, we find ourselves in 4 BBY. Cassian has taken on a dangerous mission while the other refugees of Ferrix hide among the workers of Mina-Rau.The Empire is ever advancing as Director Orson Krennic puts forth a new mission for Dedra Meero in the Emperor's quest for power, while Syril Karn continues to work his way up through the ranks on Coruscant.On Chandrila, Senator Mon Mothma navigates tradition with the wedding of her daughter, but more players are at work than we know!Originally aired April 27, 2025.

Season 2 is finally here!! This week we're covering the first 3 episode arc of the Disney+ Series... ANDOR!Set one year after the end of Season 1, we find ourselves in 4 BBY. Cassian has taken on a dangerous mission while the other refugees of Ferrix hide among the workers of Mina-Rau.The Empire is ever advancing as Director Orson Krennic puts forth a new mission for Dedra Meero in the Emperor's quest for power, while Syril Karn continues to work his way up through the ranks on Coruscant.On Chandrila, Senator Mon Mothma navigates tradition with the wedding of her daughter, but more players are at work than we know!Originally aired April 27, 2025.

Cassian Andor steals a new TIE Fighter, Mon Mothma struggles with the reality of the Rebellion during her daughter's wedding, and Luthen Rael does what must be done in the first three episodes of Andor season two.   We are covering “One Year Later,” “Sagrona Teema,” and “Harvest” in this episode.   In the fully armed and operational episode of Podcast Stardust, we discuss: Cassian Andor's mission to steal a prototype TIE Avenger, Cassian's interaction with the Maya-Pei brigade on Yavin IV, Bix Calleen, Wilmon, and Brasso's attempts to evade the Empire on Minu-Rau, Mon Mothma's struggles to relate to her daughter as her wedding approaches, handle her friend Tay Kolma, and juggle her responsibilities with the Rebellion, Director Krennic's plans to strip the planet Ghorman of its resources, and Dedra Meero and Syril Karn's relationship and work on Coruscant. Thanks for joining us for another episode! Subscribe to Podcast Stardust for all your Star Wars news, reviews, and discussion wherever you get your podcasts. And please leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts.   Find Jay and her cosplay adventures on J.Snips Cosplay on Instagram.   Join us for real time discussion on the RetroZap Discord Server here: RetroZap Discord. Follow us on social media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube. T-shirts, hoodies, stickers, masks, and posters are available on TeePublic. Find all episodes on RetroZap.com.

Andor is terug! De bekroonde Star Wars-serie keert terug met de langverwachte première van seizoen twee op Disney Plus! Het is daarom tijd om op de eerste drie afleveringen in te gaan. Te midden van de dreigende opmars van het Keizerrijk waagt Cassian Andor zich aan een levensgevaarlijke missie. Hij steelt een experimentele TIE Avenger en ontsnapt naar een afgelegen junglemaan, waar hij midden in een hevige strijd belandt tussen gestrande strijders. Maar ver van het geweld proberen Bix, Brasso en Wilmon Paak een rustig bestaan te leiden op het landbouwplaneet Mina-Rautot het Keizerrijk hen op het spoor komt na de bloedige opstand op Ferrix. Op Chandrila balanceert Senator Mon Mothma op een messcherpe grens tussen publieke schijn en geheime rebellie, terwijl haar dochter trouwt in een huwelijk doordrenkt van politieke spanning. En op Coruscant bereiden Dedra Meero en Syril Karn zich voor op een nieuwe missie naar het door het Keizerrijk bedreigde Ghorman. De sterren dimmen. Het verzet ontwaakt. Het lot van de melkweg ligt in handen van de dappere weinigen die durven te strijden voor vrijheid.Niets meer missen? Volg de Star Wars Podcast op Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X (voorheen Twitter), TikTok, Twitch, Youtube en abonneer via Spotify, Apple Podcast of je andere favoriete podcast app om geen aflevering te missen!

Long live the rebellion! Cassian, Bix, Luthen, Mon Mothna, and all of our favorite rebels from Season 1 are back for Andor Season 2, streaming every Tuesday on Disney+. Join Damon Gray, Sean Mott, and Rachel Leishman of Agents of Fandom to break down the first three episodes of Andor season two.Check out our interview with Syril Karn and Dedra Meero actors Kyle Soller and Denise Gough: https://youtu.be/ZGH3eFoaWvM?si=rLzG_q62uEZlipZvOur interview with Mon Mothma and Luthen Rael at the Andor Season 2 Red Carpet in Toronto is now streaming: https://youtu.be/JfJsC7ofZWI?si=GZXuOPFnkY62WaIq(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:45) Whatcha Watching?(00:12:00) Episode 1-3 Reactions(00:18:50) Yavin 4 Storyline(00:30:30) Coruscant Storyline(00:40:00) Mina Rau Storyline(00:51:00) Chandrila#Andor #AndorSeason2 #AndorSeasonTwo #StarWars #Disney #DisneyPlus #CassianAndor #Bix #MonMothma #Luthen #StarWarsPodcast #AndorPodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/agents-of-fandom--5479222/support.

Cassian Andor and Bix Caleen and Brasso and Luthen Rael and Mon Mothma and Vel Sartha and Cinta Kaz and Dedra Meero and Syril Karn and Orson Krennic oh my!Subscribe to Thank the Maker on YouTubeSupport Thank the Maker on Patreon:patreon.com/thankthemakerpodFind the finest garments and accessories in the galaxy at rsvlts.com"!Donate to "WHAT CHOICE? - Star Wars Fans For Abortion Access" at gofundme.Get Thank the Maker merch:thankthemakermerch.comThank The Maker on social media:instagram.com/thankthemakerpodinstagram.com/armorpartyshowFollow the hosts on social media:instagram.com/adamtheskullinstagram.com/nickbaysideinstagram.com/williamryankeyinstagram.com/hondosupplytwitter.com/nickbaysidetwitter.com/williamryankeytwitter.com/hondosupply Ahsoka, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, The Bad Batch, The High Republic, #makesolo2happen, The Mandalorian, Star Wars Visions, Anime, Star Wars Anime, Disney Gallery, Galactic Starcruiser, Halcyon, Chandrila Star Line, Galaxy's Edge, Rogue Squadron, Disney+ Day, Hondo Supply, Armor Party, Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars Celebration, Star Wars Black Series, Temuera Morrison, Black Krrsantan, Tosche Station, Danny Trejo, Fennec Shand, Ming-Na Wen, Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker, Cad Bane, Princess Leia, Vivien Lyra Blair, Carrie Fisher, Tales of the Jedi,

Laser Focus travels to a galaxy far, far away! Kyle Anderson welcomes Nerdist Editor-in-Chief Rotem Rusak for a spoiler-filled discussion of Andor season 2 episodes 1-3 and catch up with Cassian, Luthen, Mon Mothma, that worm Syril Karn, and the rest of the ragtag rebels. And if you'd like to watch, you can find a video version of this podcast at YouTube.com/Nerdist

  We break down and review the first 3 ANDOR Season 2 episodes, with a special focus on the “Dinner Party from Hell!” with Dedra Meero, Syril Karn, and his mom the emotionally abusive Eedy. Actors Denise Gough (Dedra) and Kyle Soller (Syril) coined “Dinner Party from Hell” at Star Wars Celebration Japan, and there is no better description. This truly relatable “meet the in-laws” dinner speaks to the entire series, as ANDOR is full of relatable moments juxtaposed with galaxy-altering events. Mon Mothma consoles her daughter while Luthen Rael ruthlessly protects information vital to the upstart Rebels. B2 plays tag with kids while Cassian inadvertently finds a new base for the burgeoning Rebellion.   Episodes we break down:   E1: One Year Later E2: Sagrona Teema E3: Harvest   Today in Star Wars History 4/21/1980   The Empire Strikes Back Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by John Williams, was released. Before the film's release the album had already sold three million copies. The soundtrack spends eighteen weeks on Billboard's 200 list and peaks at #4 on the week of July 12th.       SPONSORS   Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.   SUPPORT THE SHOW   Find out how you can become a part of the Skywalking Force and unlock bonus content.   CONTACT US   Instagram: http://instagram.com/skywalkingpod   Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkywalkingPod   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skywalkingthroughneverland   Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook.   If you dug this episode, click over to iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube and leave us a review!   Never Land on Alderaan!

  We break down and review the first 3 ANDOR Season 2 episodes, with a special focus on the “Dinner Party from Hell!” with Dedra Meero, Syril Karn, and his mom the emotionally abusive Eedy. Actors Denise Gough (Dedra) and Kyle Soller (Syril) coined “Dinner Party from Hell” at Star Wars Celebration Japan, and there is no better description. This truly relatable “meet the in-laws” dinner speaks to the entire series, as ANDOR is full of relatable moments juxtaposed with galaxy-altering events. Mon Mothma consoles her daughter while Luthen Rael ruthlessly protects information vital to the upstart Rebels. B2 plays tag with kids while Cassian inadvertently finds a new base for the burgeoning Rebellion.   Episodes we break down:   E1: One Year Later E2: Sagrona Teema E3: Harvest   Today in Star Wars History 4/21/1980   The Empire Strikes Back Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by John Williams, was released. Before the film's release the album had already sold three million copies. The soundtrack spends eighteen weeks on Billboard's 200 list and peaks at #4 on the week of July 12th.       SPONSORS   Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.   SUPPORT THE SHOW   Find out how you can become a part of the Skywalking Force and unlock bonus content.   CONTACT US   Instagram: http://instagram.com/skywalkingpod   Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkywalkingPod   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skywalkingthroughneverland   Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook.   If you dug this episode, click over to iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube and leave us a review!   Never Land on Alderaan!

ANDOR Season 2 is just around the corner! But where did we leave off with Cassian and friends in Season 1? After all, it was 3 years ago. What really happened between ISB agent Dedra Meero and Imperial wanna-be Syril Karn? How was Maarva Andor weaponized?    If you don't remember, we are here to remind and prepare you for this new season that premieres on Disney+ on April 22nd. There is lots to go over especially how ANDOR crosses over with STAR WARS REBELS. We also look back at our roundtable interviews with Production Designer Luke Hull and Costume Designer Michael Wilkinson to see how their creations will add to the storytelling of ANDOR Season 2.    Today in Star Wars History 4/15/1963   Happy 63rd Birthday to Tom Kane! Tom Kane voiced hundreds of animated characters in dozens of series. To Star Wars fans he is Yoda and Admiral Yularen in The Clone Wars and did the opening newsreel narration for each episode. He also voiced Admiral Ackbar in The Last Jedi and Star Tours.    Unfortunately Tom Kane had to retire from voice acting in 2020 after a stroke.     SPONSORS   Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.   SUPPORT THE SHOW   Find out how you can become a part of the Skywalking Force and unlock bonus content.   CONTACT US   Instagram: http://instagram.com/skywalkingpod   Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkywalkingPod   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skywalkingthroughneverland   Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook.   If you dug this episode, click over to iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube and leave us a review!   Never Land on Alderaan!

ANDOR Season 2 is just around the corner! But where did we leave off with Cassian and friends in Season 1? After all, it was 3 years ago. What really happened between ISB agent Dedra Meero and Imperial wanna-be Syril Karn? How was Maarva Andor weaponized?    If you don't remember, we are here to remind and prepare you for this new season that premieres on Disney+ on April 22nd. There is lots to go over especially how ANDOR crosses over with STAR WARS REBELS. We also look back at our roundtable interviews with Production Designer Luke Hull and Costume Designer Michael Wilkinson to see how their creations will add to the storytelling of ANDOR Season 2.    Today in Star Wars History 4/15/1963   Happy 63rd Birthday to Tom Kane! Tom Kane voiced hundreds of animated characters in dozens of series. To Star Wars fans he is Yoda and Admiral Yularen in The Clone Wars and did the opening newsreel narration for each episode. He also voiced Admiral Ackbar in The Last Jedi and Star Tours.    Unfortunately Tom Kane had to retire from voice acting in 2020 after a stroke.     SPONSORS   Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.   SUPPORT THE SHOW   Find out how you can become a part of the Skywalking Force and unlock bonus content.   CONTACT US   Instagram: http://instagram.com/skywalkingpod   Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkywalkingPod   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skywalkingthroughneverland   Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook.   If you dug this episode, click over to iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube and leave us a review!   Never Land on Alderaan!

Catching Up:• Peter shares a laid-back spring break filled with Avowed, a vasectomy, and home recovery. He praises the game's gray morality and engaging writing.• Eden talks about buying a Boox Palma (a minimalist e-reader) to curb phone addiction, reading five books in a week, and recommends the Practice Perfect romance series by Carson Tate.Tech Dalliances:• Both hosts talk about recent tech indulgences.• Eden raves about the Boox Palma as a life-improving gadget for focused reading.• Peter details his journey with the Ayn Odin 2 Portal, a handheld Android gaming device. His dream of retro emulation quickly becomes a nightmare of BIOS files and sideloading drama.• The takeaway? Sometimes it's better to just play your modern Steam backlog.Comics Corner:• Eden shares thoughts on DC's new Absolute line and its reimaginings of classic characters:• Absolute Wonder Woman is a standout.• Absolute Batman explores a working-class Bruce Wayne.• Absolute Martian Manhunter earns high praise for reinventing a character Eden never cared about.• A rant about Hush 2 and a Harley Quinn scratch-and-sniff fart fetish comic provides comic book industry absurdity.Main Topic -- Andor Episodes 1-3:Peter's First Watch:• Came in skeptical due to Star Wars burnout.• Found episode one a bit slow, episode two better, and episode three "hooked" him.• Admits it's the most he's enjoyed Star Wars since Return of the Jedi--possibly ever.Themes and Analysis:• Andor is a serious, adult take on Star Wars, unafraid to depict the empire as a metaphor for real-world fascism and police brutality.• The show avoids nostalgic gimmicks and "wink-wink" references in favor of grounded storytelling and rich characterization.Setting Praise:• Ferix, Cassian's home, is a fully realized working-class world with its own culture, social code, and resistance instincts.• The show's commitment to practical sets over digital environments makes it visually compelling.Character Deep Dives:• Cassian Andor's backstory reveals a lifetime of loss and injustice, priming him for future rebellion.• Marva's complex relationship with Cassian is explored through strong performances and layered writing.• Syril Karn is identified as a perfect example of authoritarian overreach--ambitious, small-minded, and terrifyingly familiar.Visual & Directorial Highlights:• Directed by Toby Haynes, the series is praised for its cinematography, lighting, and gripping action sequences.• The bell ringer, glove wall, and "droid that is stairs" moments are noted as the kind of world-building Star Wars does best.Looking Ahead:• Eden hints that the upcoming arcs in Andor get even better.• Season 2 will follow a similar structure: four arcs of three episodes, each set a year apart leading up to Rogue One.Closing Thoughts:• Peter is intrigued and excited to continue.• The hosts tease more Andor discussions ahead and wrap up with their usual mix of sarcasm, cultural critique, and sincere enthusiasm.

Episodes 7-12 Breakdown, Characters, and Season 2 Theories Star Wars fans, this one's for you! In this episode of SuperHero Homies, we wrap up Andor Season 1 with an in-depth review of Episodes 7-12. From Cassian's transformation into a true rebel to Luthen's masterful scheming and Mon Mothma's political intrigue, we break down every major moment in this gripping Star Wars series. We analyze the complex character arcs, intense storytelling, and how Andor elevates the galaxy far, far away with its prestige TV approach. Was the Narkina 5 prison arc the best part of the season? How does Syril Karn fit into the bigger picture? And what does the post-credits scene mean for Season 2? We theorize on what's next for Cassian, the Rebellion, and the growing threat of the Empire. With a mix of thoughtful discussion and lighthearted fun, we celebrate one of the best Star Wars stories in years! If you love Andor, Star Wars, and top-tier sci-fi storytelling, this is the podcast for you.

We are bathing in the brilliance of Tony Gilroy's Andor as we continue our 8 episode Escape Hatch limited series with Andor Season 1 Episodes 4-6, The Eye. We go deep into the introductions of (somehow?!) relatable fascist Deedra Meero, Syril Karn's overbearing mother, Mon Mothma's shitty husband, and of course the most incredible heist in TV history, pulled off by a team that includes the wildly talented actor Ebon Moss Bacharach, giving maybe the best Star Wars acting performance (next to Skellan obvs) of the century. GOD THIS SHOW IS GOOD.Chapters Introduction (00:00:00) The Eye Roundtable (00:08:46) Notes and Links Check out Escape Hatch Merch! Our all new collection of swag is available now and every order includes a free Cameo style shoutout from Haitch or Jason. Browse our collection now. Join the Escape Hatch Discord Server! Hang out with Haitch, Jason, and other friends of the pod. Check out the invite here. Escape Hatch is a TAPEDECK Podcasts Jawn! Escape Hatch is a member of TAPEDECK Podcasts, alongside: 70mm (a podcast for film lovers), Bat & Spider (low rent horror and exploitation films), The Letterboxd Show (Official Podcast from Letterboxd), Cinenauts (exploring the Criterion Collection), Lost Light (Transformers, wrestling, and more), and Will Run For (obsessed with running). Check these pods out!. See the movies we've watched and are going to watch on Letterboxd Escape Hatch's Breaking Dune News Twitter list Rate and review the podcast to help others discover it, and let us know what you think of the show at letters@escapehatchpod.com or leave us a voicemail at +1-415-534-5211. Follow @escapehatchpod on Twitter and Instagram. Music by Scott Fritz and Who'z the Boss Music. Cover art by ctcher. Edited and produced by Haitch. Escape Hatch is a production of Haitch Industries.

Get ready for Andor Season 2 with our 1st of a 6 part special series on Andor! On this introductory episode the Generation Skywalker crew are joined by Barry Gingell, Graphic Designer from Andor Season 1 & 2 (AKA Anto Kreegyr from Season 1).  This episode takes us back to when the Andor TV show was first announced and covers the sizzles and trailers which came after. Barry gives fascinating insights into what it feels like to be immersed in the galaxy far far away as part of the crew. Dan cover's some accolades and awards, and Peter looks into the musical score of Nicholas Britell. Jez sets a rather unique icebreaker at the beginning which reveals that Stu is a little bit scared of Syril Karn's mother 'Eedy' (aren't we all?) however he'd also like to go for a drink and possibly sing Karaoke with her. Laced with magical reminders of Season 1, this is the podcast you need in your life.

In the second episode of Season 20 of Star Wars: In a Galaxy, Eli, and Jacob watch and discuss the second episode of Andor: A Star Wars Story, "That Would Be Me". Among their discussion: – Cassian and his role as a force in the story – Fest and canonicity, yet again (for previous discussion, see CAD Cassian Andor) – The production of live-action Star Wars shows in the recent past. – Accomplished actors Stellan Skarsgård and Fiona Shaw come in as mentor figures (and also what we know them from outside of Star Wars) – Slight confusions with flashback timelines. – ...Syril Karn's just pathetic. The next episode of Star Wars: In a Galaxy will release on December 27, 2024. Follow us on BlueSky, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter: @InaGalaxyPod/@inagalaxypod.bsky.app Follow our spinoff trivia show on Twitter: @inagalaxytrivia Follow Eli everywhere: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/_ochifan327⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple and Spotify! It really helps! You can email us at swinagalaxy@gmail.com

In the first episode of Season 20 of Star Wars: In a Galaxy, Eli, and Jacob watch and discuss the first episode of Andor: A Star Wars Story, "Kassa". Among their discussion: – Cassian Andor or Kassa, and his struggles. – Eli's storied past with Andor. – How this series is tonally different from other Star Wars. – Pacing and structuring variations – Morlana One, and what went down. – Institutional racism and its effects on the story. – The character of Syril Karn. – An indigenous perspective in Star Wars. The next episode of Star Wars: In a Galaxy will release on December 13, 2024. Tune in for our (slightly premature) 5 year anniversary livestream at 2 PM PST / 5 PM EST on December 22 here: https://youtube.com/live/g8_LBvNQ1ag Follow us on BlueSky, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter: @InaGalaxyPod/@inagalaxypod.bsky.app Follow our spinoff trivia show on Twitter: @inagalaxytrivia Follow Eli everywhere: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/_ochifan327⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple and Spotify! It really helps! You can email us at swinagalaxy@gmail.com

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

In this week's episode, we consider how the Nintendo Switch does the simple things well, and examine how writers can likewise do the simple things well to write excellent books. TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 223 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is October the 18th, 2024 and today we are discussing five lessons for writers from the Nintendo Switch, of all things. Don't worry, the analogy will make sense later in the show. Before we get into that, let's have an update on my current writing projects. I am pleased to report that Ghost in the Tombs is completely done and is currently publishing on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, Smashwords, and my Payhip store. The links are already live on some of those stores. This episode should go out on the same day as my newsletter, so by the time this episode goes out, the book should be available at all ebook stores. If you are subscribed to my newsletter, you will also get a free ebook copy of the short story Ghost Tablet. So that is one of the many excellent reasons it is a good idea to subscribe to my newsletter. You can find the details how to do that on my website right at the top. My next main project now that Ghost in the Tombs is out will be Cloak of Illusion, the 12th Cloak Mage book. I am 31,000 words into that. I'm hoping to have that out before the end of November, if all goes well. After that, I am 11,000 words into Orc Hoard and hopefully that will be out in December, if all goes well. As I mentioned earlier, the audiobook of Shield of Darkness is out, as excellently narrated by Brad Wills. You can get that at Audible, Apple, Google Play, and all the usual audiobook stores. We are also working on Shield of Conquest right now, and that is being recorded as we speak. Hollis McCarthy is also recording Cloak of Spears and that should hopefully be out before the end of the year, if all goes well. This week, we're not doing Question of the Week because all my time was going to finishing Ghost in the Tombs, but we will be doing another Question of the Week next week, so watch for that on my website and social media. 00:01:54 Main Topic: 5 Lessons Writers Can Learn from the Switch Now let's go to our main topic for the week, five lessons that writers can learn from the Nintendo Switch. So what can writers learn from the Nintendo Switch? A common complaint I sometimes see among newer writers is that all the stories have been told already, and that there are no truly original stories. Why try writing a mystery novel? Haven't they all been told? Why try writing a romance novel? How many different ways are there for a woman to meet a man and fall in love? Why attempt to write an epic fantasy when there's already Lord of the Rings and Mistborn and Shannara? Haven't all the stories already been told? That is a fair question, but it misunderstands the nature of stories. It's as profound a misunderstanding as saying that just because you've eaten one cheeseburger in your life, there is no need to ever have another or saying that since Pizza Hut makes pizzas, there is no need for anyone else to ever open a pizza restaurant or even to sell frozen pizzas. To dispel this misapprehension, let us turn to the Nintendo Switch. It is not unfair to say that the Switch is one of the most popular game consoles in the world and is likely Nintendo's second best-selling device of all time. The Switch is also significantly less powerful than its chief competitors, the various Xbox and PlayStation models offered by Microsoft and Sony. For that matter, the Switch has only received moderate updates in the seven years it has been on the market. Its internal components are basically those of a decent smartphone from 2017, yet despite that, the Switch has significantly outsold both the Xbox and the PlayStation over the last seven years. It was a remarkable reversal of fortune for Nintendo. The Switch's predecessor, the Wii U, did so badly that the CEO of Nintendo at the time took a 50% pay cut to help avoid layoffs. One thinks American CEOs could stand to learn from this example, but that's a different topic. So to go from that to the best-selling console of the last seven years is quite a swing of fate's pendulum. So let us then ask the obvious question: why did the Switch do better than its competitors, especially when it was so relatively underpowered compared to them in terms of hardware? The answer is simple. The Switch did the basics, but it did the basics exceptionally well and doing the basic simple things exceptionally well is often much harder than people imagine. The Switch doesn't have a lot of the more advanced features from the PC, Xbox, and PlayStation ecosystems, but it doesn't really need them. The Switch is easily portable. It has a strong library of first-party titles. The loading speed isn't great, but it's adequate. It has Switch Online for all the old Nintendo classics. You can play it handheld or docked. It's popular enough that developers want to bring their games to the console whenever possible, including some that some that were very technically difficult, like Skyrim or The Witcher 3. All that sounds simple, but it's much harder to do than it sounds, and the basics done well are always a good thing, regardless of the field. In fact, that is traditionally part of Nintendo's design philosophy. Nintendo has a thing they call “withered technology” (another translation from the Japanese would be “lateral thinking with seasoned technology”), which means rather than trying to use cutting edge technology, they use tried and true older technology and think about developing unique experiences with it. In other words, they used well established basic technology to build the Switch (which wasn't exactly cutting edge even in 2017) and then just tried to use that established technology well. So how does this apply to storytelling and writing? This is, after all, a writing podcast and not a video game podcast (even if I do talk about video games a fair bit). The same approach taken to writing can work out quite well. Don't try to be excessively fancy or flashy. Focus on the simple things and do them as well as you can, and that will probably work out better than trying to be flashy or creative in a way that only ends up being off putting to the reader. So when it comes to writing fiction, what are the simple things that you can do well? What is the “lateral thinking with seasoned technology” you can employ with writing a novel? I think there are five lessons we can take here. #1: Understand the genre you are writing in and try to hit the appropriate tropes for that genre. A lot of writers when they are first starting out try to do too much, like a fantasy author tries to write a 12 volume epic fantasy series as their first writing attempt, or someone tries to fuse a bunch of genres and write a book that is simultaneously romance, a magical realism coming of age story, and somehow also a memoir. If you can't clearly state the genre of your book, you're going to have a hard time selling it. You might also have a hard time even finishing it. What do I mean by the appropriate tropes for the genre? That's just a way of saying that the storytelling conventions that readers come to expect in specific genres. For example, in a happily ever after clean romance, the readers will expect no explicit scenes and that the heroine and the love interest will end up together by the end of the book. Romance tends to have a lot of very specific subgenres, but the rule holds for many other genres as well. Epic fantasy readers typically expect a quest, some journeying, and a band of arguing adventures. Mystery readers expect a mystery with an actual solution at the end. Thriller readers look forward to some well executed fight scenes in a secret government building. Some writers dislike the idea of writing to genre tropes but think of it this way: If you go to an Italian restaurant and order spaghetti carbonara, but the waiter instead brings out a steak burrito bowl with a side of French toast sticks and maple syrup, you're going to be disappointed. Are there people who would enjoy a lunch of a burrito bowl and French toast sticks? Almost certainly, but you ordered spaghetti carbonara. The vast majority of people who go to an Italian restaurant are going to expect Italian food. The same thing applies to genres. If you buy a mystery book, you will expect a mystery novel and not an experimental cross genre thing. If you dislike writing to genre tropes, remember that readers only dislike tropes written to genre conventions if it's done badly, but if you do it well, they appreciate it and that could be one of the simple things that you focus on doing well. #2: A protagonist with relatable problems. Another important basic in genre fiction is the protagonist with problems that the reader can find compelling. There's an endless tedious discussion about whether or not the protagonist should be likable or not, and frankly, it often degenerates into the standard Internet discussion about gender politics, whether or not a female protagonist has to be likable when a male one does not. But in my opinion, that discussion completely misses the point. What makes a character relatable, or more accurately sympathetic to the reader, is the character experiencing a conflict or some sort of emotional pain that allows the reader to sympathize with them. Whether their character is likable is less important than sympathy. Let's take two examples from recent television, specifically Disney properties. The characters of Syril Karn and Dedra Meero from the Star Wars show Andor are unlikable but sympathetic characters, while Jennifer Walters from She Hulk is both unlikable and unsympathetic. The difference between them is instructive for writers. Syril Karn and Dedra Meero are both essentially unlikable villains. Karn is a wannabe mall cop with puffed up delusions of his own importance and Meero is working for the Empire's sinister secret police as a mid-level officer. Yet Karn's circumstances make him emotionally sympathetic. He is stuck in a dead-end job and living with his cruel mother. Meero is trying to do the best job she can in the secret police and is fighting against her obstinate and clueless colleagues within a cumbersome bureaucracy, something many office workers can sympathize with. Indeed, it's clever how the show sets her up as a strong woman making headway in the male dominated secret police, only to yank away the sympathy when she brutally tortures one of the show's protagonists. By contrast, Jennifer Walters is both unlikable and unsympathetic. She's a rich lawyer who has rich lawyer problems, which is generally not sympathetic to most people. Indeed, she strongly establishes herself as unlikable in the first episode when she lectures Bruce Banner (who in past movies tried to kill himself in despair, was hunted by the US government, held as an enslaved gladiator for two years, brutally beaten by Thanos, and fried his right arm with the Infinity Gauntlet) about how much harder her life has been than his, which is objectively not true. As we mentioned with Karn and Meero, it's very possible for unlikable characters to be sympathetic, but Jennifer Walters is so unsympathetic that the best episodes of She Hulk were the ones where she becomes the unsympathetic comedy protagonist like David Brent from the UK Office or Basil Fawlty from Fawlty Towers and she suffers the comedic results of her own bad decisions. What's really compelling is when you have a likeable character who has a sympathetic problem. As an added bonus, it's usually easier to write a likeable character with a sympathetic problem. Striking the balance between an unlikable character with a sympathetic problem is often a challenge for even experienced writers. But if the reader likes your protagonist and the protagonist's problem inspires emotional sympathy in the reader, then that's half the battle. What is the other half of the battle lesson? #3: A strong conflict. I've said on the podcast many times before that conflict is central to storytelling. If you have a sympathetic protagonist who has a serious conflict, you've got yourself the potential for a strong book. Another way of saying conflict is “the problem the protagonist must solve, face, overcome.” If the protagonist doesn't have a problem, he or she might as well sit at home playing well, Nintendo Switch. Fortunately, it is easy to think of a suitable conflict for your story, because in Real Life, the potential causes of conflict are sadly infinite, and you can easily apply that to fiction. Like if you write epic fantasy, you could have the conflict be the quest to stop the Dark Lord, or if you write sci-fi, it could be defeating the invasion of the space bugs. Mysteries have a conflict built in for the genre. Solving the crime, finding a missing person, etc. Thrillers tend to be all about violent conflict, but conflicts don't have to be violent or even high stakes to be emotionally significant. It could be a conflict with a rival at work, or not even involve a person at all, like trying to survive the aftermath of a natural disaster. It boils down to that the protagonist must have a conflict and the protagonist must take some sort of action to resolve that conflict. Stories where this doesn't happen tend to become boring quite quickly. #4: A satisfactory ending. The ending is really, really important. You know how a joke isn't funny if it doesn't have a good punchline? A story with a bad ending, unfortunately, almost always turns out to be a bad story that leaves an unpleasant taste in a reader's mouth. What makes for a good ending? The story's central conflict has to be resolved in a satisfactory way, in a way that generates emotional catharsis. In fantasy, the quest needs to be achieved. In science fiction, the space bugs need to be defeated. In mystery, the killer has to be caught or the mystery resolved in a satisfactory way. In romance, the heroine needs to end up with her love interest. Bad endings are ones that don't resolve the conflict or resolve the conflict in a way that feels like cheating to the reader. This can include the protagonist solving the conflict through no effort or struggle or a Deus Ex Machina style ending where the conflict is solved simply because the author wants to hurry up and finish the book. Granted, this doesn't mean that a good ending is a happy one. The Lord of the Rings had a famously bittersweet ending. Sauron is defeated and the One Ring destroyed, but the Elves leave Middle Earth forever, and Frodo is too wounded to return to his homeland, instead choosing to accompany the Elves into the West. There are many other examples. The mystery could have the detective solving the crime, but at the cost of his career and his marriage. The protagonist of a military science fiction story could win the battle but be the only surviving member of his squad. The ending must resolve the conflict in an emotionally satisfying manner that doesn't leave the reader feeling cheated. #5: The fifth simple thing you can do: write clear prose. Writing clear prose that unambiguously conveys your meaning is one of the vital basics for storytelling, and this is harder than it seems. An anecdote from this topic about this topic: back in 2023, Wired magazine ran a hit piece on fantasy author Brandon Sanderson about his Kickstarter. One of the criticisms in the article was that Sanderson's books were written at a sixth-grade level, which is debatable, but that's not the point. The point is the writer of the article and many other people have the profound misapprehension that simple, clearly written prose is somehow easier to write than more dense or complex prose. It's really not, and this fact is easily proven. Think about how many people you know in real life who struggle to communicate through written communications such as emails or text messages. Think how many times you've gotten an e-mail from a manager or client only to have no idea what the person in question is trying to ask for, or even say. Or how much family drama can be created by a badly written text message or social media post that is easily misunderstood. In all of these examples, people failed to communicate effectively through written prose and would have benefited from the ability to write simple, clear, not easily misunderstood prose. Therefore, developing the ability to write clear, transparent prose that precisely conveys your meaning is a useful skill for anyone, not just fiction writers. It just happens to be especially useful for writers of fiction. When writing fiction, it is probably best to remain as clear and concise as possible. So in conclusion, these are the five simple things you can do well to have a good book: #1: Understand the genre #2: Have a protagonist with a sympathetic problem #3: A strong conflict #4: A satisfactory ending #5: As clear of prose as possible All relatively simple things, but if you do them well, I think you are well on the way to writing a good book. So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes of the podcast on https://thepulpwritershow.com, often with transcripts. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave your review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.

“Aldhani” (Andor S1, Ep. 4) is an episode cut with surgical precision.  The four looping subplots of Aldhani draw us through one of the most beautiful and intricate Star Wars episodes we've ever seen. The dialogue? Perfection. The scenery? Flawless. The depths of Star Wars lore plumbed? Fathomless. We are BIG FANS. In our recap, we talk about the 10,000 Easter eggs and pieces of trivia saturating this episode. We also discuss the characters we love…to hate. (Syril Karn is finally booted out of the Number One spot by Mon Mothma's terrible husband, Perrin.) And we dive deep into Cassian's Mimban backstory—plus, discuss the many women struggling to negotiate their roles in the galaxy. Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! Timestamps: 00:01:30 Plot Overview 00:14:54 Aldhani's Deep Star Wars Lore 00:31:01 Characters We Love (To Hate) 00:44:58 Cassian's Mimban Backstory 00:50:24 Bae Watch 00:58:21 End Credits --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message