Star Wars Re-Watch Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Maul: Shadow Lord – The Dark Revenge and Sinister Schemes

Howdy, spacefarers. I am glad I decided to write this and record an episode when we did. What initially started out as unbridled joy became intense pain.

Darth Maul is not a character. He is a character design. That’s all.

It took me a week to realize this after watching both episodes of Disney’s latest series, Maul: Shadow Lord.

Think back to even before the theatrical release of The Phantom Menace. You had magazine covers with Maul’s face. He looked cool, evil, alien, etc. Then, about one-third of the way through the movie, we are introduced to Darth Maul via Sidious. Zero dialogue. Just menacing looks.

That’s not a character.

Yes, we understand Sidious is ultimately manipulating everything behind the scenes, but how does Maul fit in?

He does not.

So what did George Lucas do with this interesting design? Well, he retconned him, of course—which was completely unnecessary. You could have told the story of Maul’s training by Sidious, and it would have been just as good of a series. You did not need to go back and give him a brother in Savage Opress or a mother in Talzin.

It could have just been about when Sidious found him and trained him, and all of their plans, which would eventually culminate in what we saw in The Phantom Menace. No longer could they hide their machinations from both the Galactic Senate and the Trade Federation. Thus, Sidious orders his apprentice out of the shadows to eliminate the prying eyes of the Jedi or any other interlopers.

When Darth Bane and Darth Zannah went about their plans to dominate the galaxy, the Rule of Two was instituted to limit the number of rivals to ultimate power. In addition, all actions would be concealed several times over through the use of intermediaries, criminal organizations, etc.

All the while, those in power have no idea who is actually pulling the strings.

Anyway, I am still looking forward to the show. I definitely need to review Maul’s story arc in The Clone Wars and Rebels.

Thanks for listening.

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And we're back! Apologies for the long wait between episodes. I have been trying to wrangle cats together so we can continue the podcast.Fortunately, life got in the way. Not in a bad way of course. I recently got married. AJ and his wife had their second baby. Life is good.You know what else is good? Star Wars Visions. Especially this season. For those unfamiliar, Disney took the license and went to the far east. Though I am unfamiliar with the studios they chose, the results speak for themselves.What were produced were completely original story lines and characters with some of the most unique animation styles to come from the island. Yes, volume one is clearly anime from Japan. Volume two includes the likes of the creators of Wallace and Gromit. Volume three marks the return of some of the first studios that were approached. By far, my favorite episode of volume one was the first, "The Duel." The animation pays homage to Akira Kurosawa with the Japanese aesthetic and being animated mostly black and white. Not to mention the rogue Sith's lightsaber drawn from it's scabbard much the way a samurai would. Back then, my criticism for all episodes was that each had some sort of lightsaber gimmick. While it was cool to see Darth Maul ignite his double-bladed lightsaber in 1999 and later Kylo Ren with his cross-guard lightsaber, there has been an explosion of goofy and impractical designs. One only has to watch a few episodes of the much hated Acolyte to see what I am talking about. We hope you liked this episode of visions as much as we did. My brother and I disagreed about one of the characters. What are your thoughts?Thanks for listening, and may the Force be with you.

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Howdy, spacefarers! Apologies for the delay in posting—September got away from me. My goal is to publish at least once a month, but life had other plans. Luckily, I convinced the wonderful Sydney to join me and share her thoughts on the latest addition to the Star Wars Disneyverse!

It's been a while since The Acolyte aired its last episode. By now, you probably know the show was canceled. If I had recorded this earlier, that news might have been a surprise. However, given the backlash, it's not shocking. At the time of writing, the show holds a 4.1 on IMDb, and the fan and critic ratings on Metacritic are split—3.2 from fans and 67 from critics.

Despite the negative press, I urge you to watch The Acolyte and form your own opinion. If you don’t like it, let me know why! That’s more than my co-host, AJ, who hasn’t even watched the show but still decided it sucked. What’s he basing that on? Probably all the controversy surrounding the creator and the show's lukewarm reception. At least give it a chance and see for yourself rather than relying on hearsay.

Rewatching the first episode, I noticed a lot of foreshadowing I missed the first time around. For example, Mae’s black eyes really creeped me out during the second watch. Also, it’s fascinating to see how the creators attempted to expand the Star Wars universe just 100 years before The Phantom Menace.

Unfortunately, many elements feel familiar, such as the Neimoidians on the cargo ship where Osha, our protagonist, works as a mechanic. Of course, more CGI shots of Coruscant were included—because what Star Wars property would be complete without it? As much as I understand that Coruscant is central to the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Temple, I wish Disney didn’t stick to their 80/20 formula for Star Wars. It means we’re seeing a lot of the same things to keep fans happy.

This “safe” approach has been a critique since The Force Awakens—where a young, poor individual from a desert planet embarks on a journey, hops on the Millennium Falcon, meets Han Solo and Chewbacca, and destroys a giant space station. We’ve seen this before! While there are new characters, there’s still so much unexplored in the Star Wars universe, including planets and biomes that deserve screen time.

Sigh... I guess we should be thankful we’re still getting new Star Wars movies, shows, and content. You don’t always get what you love, but sometimes, you’ve got to love what you get.

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Howdy friends! Another episode in the bag. Of course, my lovely brother was kind enough to grace me with his presence.

This episode was mid. Not terrible, not great. You can definitely see the writers are beginning to drag out some of the plotlines.

Yes, this does help create more mystery. However, it annoyed me more than it intrigued me. You have Osha and Mae. One is trained as a Jedi but doesn't make it. The other is trained by something. Is "The Stranger" (Qimir) a Sith or an Acolyte? What is an Acolyte? Not sure if we're going to find the answer.

This episode is broken up into thirds. Osha and Mae have swapped places. Mae, disguised as Osha, is now with Sol. Osha, disguised as Mae, is taken by Qimir aka "The Stranger" (according to Wookiepedia) and is now on an "unknown planet."

Master Vernestra leaves Coruscant with another cohort of Jedi to find Sol and his team, who were supposed to bring in Mae. All the while, Sol and Mae are onboard the ship with the tracker. Shortly after they take off, Mae has the opportunity to kill Sol, but he eventually discovers her.

He then binds her, and they jump to hyperspace and return to Brendok. At the same time, Master Vernestra arrives at Khofar. She begins to unravel what happened here.

We don't really learn much in this episode. The best parts were with Osha and Qimir. We learn why his armor could temporarily nullify a lightsaber. Other than that, we ended pretty much as we started. I'm distracted, so I'll stop rambling.

-Luca

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Howdy, Spacefarers!

Welcome to another episode of the Star Wars Rewatch Podcast! Today, we're diving into another exciting episode of The Acolyte, and once again, we're mixing up the order. Despite this, the episodes we've covered so far have been some of the best in the series.

Episode Highlights:

• Friends Become Enemies, Enemies Become Friends: This episode is packed with intense action and surprising twists. While the show has its flaws, the action scenes are a definite highlight that keep us entertained.

• Avoiding Spoilers & Reviews: I'm steering clear of other reviews and critiques of The Acolyte until I've seen the entire season. This way, I can share my genuine thoughts without any external influence.

• Dafne Keen's Role: I was thrilled to see Dafne Keen, known for her role as Wolverine's daughter in Logan, in the show! She plays Jecki, who forms an interesting friendship with Osha.

• Spectacular Lightsaber Fights: The lightsaber battles in this episode are top-notch, surpassing even some of the iconic scenes in Ahsoka, including the one featuring Hayden Christensen. The combat choreography is exceptional for a TV show.

I won't give away any more details to avoid spoilers, but the episode's action scenes are definitely worth watching!

Thanks for tuning in!

• Luca

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Howdy, My Fellow Spacefarers!

Thank you for being patient as we work on releasing our episodes. We appreciate our 22 subscribers on YouTube and many more on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast platforms.

Episode Order & Highlights:

We're doing things a little out of order here. Why? Well, there are no rules in podcasting! Also, episode four of The Acolyte has been the best by far.

Series Progress & Personal Insights:

The series is beginning to pick up speed. Yes, we will go back and record episodes for the ones we missed. I've been avoiding other content and media to keep my opinions unbiased.

I've seen some overwhelmingly negative opinions on Reddit, but also some strong counterarguments. The sense of mystery in the show is captivating. It makes you wonder who is telling the truth. Is it the Jedi? Mae? Sol? Qimir? We'll have to watch and see.

Standout Moments & Impressions:

The standout moment in this episode is the reveal of the dark warrior with the red lightsaber to the Jedi. What an entrance! It was a definite supervillain introduction, reminiscent of Ian McKellen's Magneto in the X-Men franchise. The character's design, with jagged teeth, is very threatening and adds to the mystery.

I'm looking forward to the next episode and revisiting the previous ones for a deeper dive into hidden details.

Thanks for listening!

Luca

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Special Edition Episode: Sydney's Brilliance

This episode is a special edition inspired by Sydney's idea. That's right, SYDNEY'S BRILLIANCE created this episode! We discuss and vote for our favorite sidekicks, both furry and droid.

Sydney

Howdy, Friends!

It's been a while! Sorry for the delay. Since Ahsoka wrapped, we've been on a bit of a hiatus. The intro above was written by Sydney. I had some other thoughts on how this episode might go down. AJ had a baby, and my brother has been busy, so I've invested in new equipment that will allow them to record episodes remotely. Look forward to those in the future!

In the meantime, Sydney came up with a great idea to discuss her favorite sidekick characters. Of course, I agreed! She wanted to talk about her favorite furry friends, Chewbacca and Wicket.

Since Ahsoka wrapped, I've also been catching up on The Clone Wars and Rebels. I mentioned on the podcast that I hadn't watched them when they were new. While I'm still not the biggest fan of the animation style, it has improved over time, and the stories and characters have become more complex.

I'm now well into season three of Rebels and deeply regret not watching it before Ahsoka. While Ahsoka isn't the main focus, her appearances are standout moments. I'm specifically thinking of the time she rescues Kanan and Ezra from two Inquisitors by herself. Ahsoka is truly a badass.

As a result of watching Rebels, Sydney has become a fan of C1-10P, aka "Chopper." She often mimics Chopper's sounds, which always makes me laugh. When I ask her to repeat them, she refuses. So, we decided to choose between R2-D2 and C1-10P as our favorite droid sidekicks.

We posted a poll on our YouTube community tab and read the results aloud. If you haven't voted yet, please visit the community tab and do so. We also posted another poll for a future episode idea. Check out the community tab for more details!

Thanks for listening!

Luca

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Wow. This Episode Was Tough on Production! Was it fun to sit down and record with my brother? Of course, it was. But was it fun to edit out all the times the video went black during recording? Not at all. Ahsoka Finale & Reflections: Ahsoka is finally over! Some fans are happy, while others are not. I understand both perspectives. Now that I'm in season five of The Clone Wars, I can see the changes in Ahsoka's character development over time. No longer is she the hot-headed apprentice of Anakin Skywalker. She's evolving into a Padawan with her own views on the war and the Jedi Order's role in it. Her changing perspective becomes clear during the four-episode arc on Onderon. Here, the Jedi support a local insurgency instead of committing galactic navy resources to liberate the planet. The show boldly uses the term "terrorism" to describe the rebels' actions. Anakin supports the idea of using terrorism to free Onderon, but Yoda and the Jedi Council reject this approach. Instead, they decide to supply weapons that only target droids, not civilians. Ahsoka feels uneasy and isolated, with no master or mentor to confide in. There's also a hint of romance between her and an ex-Separatist, adding to her internal conflict. These nuanced character developments are missing in Ahsoka. I found a video that criticizes Dave Filoni, and I agree with many of the points made. The series is best appreciated if you've seen The Clone Wars and Rebels, as it isn't accessible to viewers unfamiliar with Ahsoka's story. The video also compares recent Star Wars shows to Andor, noting that Andor stands out because it tells a compelling story even without the Star Wars setting. In contrast, Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett, and Obi-Wan Kenobi rely heavily on established characters and fan service, limiting their storytelling risks. Overall, this episode and Ahsoka as a whole were just okay. What did you think of the show? Did you love it or hate it? In my opinion, the opposite of love isn't hate; it's indifference. After watching seasons one and two of The Mandalorian, I felt indifferent. I didn't watch The Book of Boba Fett until after season three of The Mandalorian, realizing I'd missed important story elements that left me confused. Watch this video about Dave Filoni: YouTube Video Thanks for listening! Luca Connect with Us: Join us on Discord Tweet us @SWRewatchPod on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify Email us at StarWarsRewatchPodcast@gmail.com Visit our website starwarsrewatchpodcast.wordpress.com #StarWars #Ahsoka #TheCloneWars #Rebels #Onderon #AnakinSkywalker #JediOrder #DaveFiloni #StarWarsPodcast #PodcastCommunity #SciFi #TheMandalorian #BobaFett #ObiWanKenobi #Andor #CharacterDevelopment #SWRewatchPod #StarWarsFans #PodcastEpisode #FanService #StarWarsSeries #SciFiFans

Wow. This Episode Was Tough on Production! Was it fun to sit down and record with my brother? Of course, it was. But was it fun to edit out all the times the video went black during recording? Not at all. Ahsoka Finale & Reflections: Ahsoka is finally over! Some fans are happy, while others are not. I understand both perspectives. Now that I'm in season five of The Clone Wars, I can see the changes in Ahsoka's character development over time. No longer is she the hot-headed apprentice of Anakin Skywalker. She's evolving into a Padawan with her own views on the war and the Jedi Order's role in it. Her changing perspective becomes clear during the four-episode arc on Onderon. Here, the Jedi support a local insurgency instead of committing galactic navy resources to liberate the planet. The show boldly uses the term "terrorism" to describe the rebels' actions. Anakin supports the idea of using terrorism to free Onderon, but Yoda and the Jedi Council reject this approach. Instead, they decide to supply weapons that only target droids, not civilians. Ahsoka feels uneasy and isolated, with no master or mentor to confide in. There's also a hint of romance between her and an ex-Separatist, adding to her internal conflict. These nuanced character developments are missing in Ahsoka. I found a video that criticizes Dave Filoni, and I agree with many of the points made. The series is best appreciated if you've seen The Clone Wars and Rebels, as it isn't accessible to viewers unfamiliar with Ahsoka's story. The video also compares recent Star Wars shows to Andor, noting that Andor stands out because it tells a compelling story even without the Star Wars setting. In contrast, Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett, and Obi-Wan Kenobi rely heavily on established characters and fan service, limiting their storytelling risks. Overall, this episode and Ahsoka as a whole were just okay. What did you think of the show? Did you love it or hate it? In my opinion, the opposite of love isn't hate; it's indifference. After watching seasons one and two of The Mandalorian, I felt indifferent. I didn't watch The Book of Boba Fett until after season three of The Mandalorian, realizing I'd missed important story elements that left me confused. Watch this video about Dave Filoni: YouTube Video Thanks for listening! Luca Connect with Us: Join us on Discord Tweet us @SWRewatchPod on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify Email us at StarWarsRewatchPodcast@gmail.com Visit our website starwarsrewatchpodcast.wordpress.com #StarWars #Ahsoka #TheCloneWars #Rebels #Onderon #AnakinSkywalker #JediOrder #DaveFiloni #StarWarsPodcast #PodcastCommunity #SciFi #TheMandalorian #BobaFett #ObiWanKenobi #Andor #CharacterDevelopment #SWRewatchPod #StarWarsFans #PodcastEpisode #FanService #StarWarsSeries #SciFiFans

Howdy, Spacefarers! Good to hear from you again. We have returned for the final two episodes of Ahsoka. My brother Mike has joined us once again. In this episode, we explore whether Ahsoka's bold gambit to travel the galaxy in the belly of a star whale pays off. We also learn how Ezra has been faring since being stranded with his arch-enemy, Grand Admiral Thrawn, and a violent group of bandits for several years. Do our heroes manage to reunite and band together to foil Thrawn's plans? Find out in this episode of the podcast! Thank you for listening! Luca Connect with Us: Join us on Discord Tweet us @SWRewatchPod on Twitter Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify Email us at StarWarsRewatchPodcast@gmail.com Visit our website starwarsrewatchpodcast.wordpress.com #StarWars #Ahsoka #EzraBridger #GrandAdmiralThrawn #StarWhale #StarWarsPodcast #PodcastCommunity #SciFi #StarWarsFans #SWRewatchPod #FinalEpisodes #Thrawn #Rebels #PodcastEpisode #SciFiFans #PodcastLife #StarWarsRewatch #GalacticAdventure