The Mandalorian, Chapter 13: “The Jedi”
The Mandalorian Anna Squires The Mandalorian Anna Squires

The Mandalorian, Chapter 13: “The Jedi”

The Mandalorian’s thirteenth chapter, “The Jedi,” picks up Morgan Elsbeth’s story right where it left off in Tales of the Empire. Ahsoka’s tale, though, is another story. We rehash the wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff of Ahsoka’s journey, and discover just how alone she’s been since The Clone Wars.

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Tales of the Empire: Morgan’s Tale
Tales Anna Squires Tales Anna Squires

Tales of the Empire: Morgan’s Tale

We thread our discussion of “The Path of Fear,” “The Path of Anger,” and “The Path of Hate” with analysis of the anti-hero’s journey, Morgan’s motivations to join the Empire, and Thrawn’s desire to see order created out of chaos. We also shake our fist at Star Wars for always killing off their witches, and sing our praises for the baddest Grand Admiral of them all.

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The Mandalorian, Chapter 11: “The Heiress”
The Mandalorian Anna Squires The Mandalorian Anna Squires

The Mandalorian, Chapter 11: “The Heiress”

In this week’s episode, “The Heiress” (The Mandalorian, Chapter 11) we tell the entire bloody tale of Mandalorian history: Tracing the Darksaber’s path through Mandalorian society, tracing Bo-Katan’s journey from radical to royal, and asking how Din Djarin ended up in a religious extremist splinter cell.

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The Mandalorian Season 2 Premiere: “The Marshal”
The Mandalorian Anna Squires The Mandalorian Anna Squires

The Mandalorian Season 2 Premiere: “The Marshal”

In our recap of Chapter 9, “The Marshal,” we gather a basket full of Easter eggs—and identify how they serve the plot, not just the vibes, of this dragon versus cowboys mashup. We weigh the influence of both Camelot-era fantasy and spaghetti Westerns, discuss perceptions from a first-time viewer, and wonder what (if any) Season 1 criticisms the show may be reacting to in its Season 2 premiere.

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Tales of the Underworld: Cad’s Tale
Tales of the Underworld, Tales Anna Squires Tales of the Underworld, Tales Anna Squires

Tales of the Underworld: Cad’s Tale

Deeply out of chronological order, we’re venturing five or six decades before the Battle of Yavin to watch Cad Bane grow up in “Tale of the Underworld.” We examine how, and why, Star Wars chose to tell a police drama, a spaghetti Western, and a Mafia crime ascendancy in the same story. We parse the fantasy of the “good cop,” wonder about Cad and Niro’s legacy, and discuss the critical reception of this very lovely piece of animation.

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Andor Season 2 Finale: “Jedha, Kyber, Erso” (Season 2, Episode 12)
Andor Anna Squires Andor Anna Squires

Andor Season 2 Finale: “Jedha, Kyber, Erso” (Season 2, Episode 12)

It’s the end of an era. And so many lives.

This week, in the Andor Season 2 finale, “Jedha, Kyber, Erso” (Season 2, Episode 12), we trace the ways that Andor knits itself together into the wider tapestry of Star Wars, specifically by tying itself to Rogue One. We question whether the Rebels’ sacrifices are cheapened by Luke Skywalker’s heroism in Episode IV, define heroism through two key characters—Bix and Nemik—and investigate the reasons why Rebel High Command…is like that.

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Andor: “Make It Stop” (Season 2, Episode 10)
Andor Anna Squires Andor Anna Squires

Andor: “Make It Stop” (Season 2, Episode 10)

This week, in “Make It Stop” (Andor S2 E10), everything is either leveling up, going rogue—or shuffling off this mortal coil. As we get booted another year forward in time, we talk through Lonni’s growth into a true spymaster and Dedra’s grief curdling even deeper into fanaticism. Then, looking deeper into the past, we examine Luthen and Kleya’s father/daughter relationship and parse why Luthen felt compelled to begin the Rebellion.

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Andor: “Who Are You?” (Season 2, Episode 8)
Andor Anna Squires Andor Anna Squires

Andor: “Who Are You?” (Season 2, Episode 8)

Our hearts are heavy this week as we compare the Empire’s actions on Ghorman to real-world parallels. This week, as we recap Andor’s “Who Are You?” (S2, E8), we draw connections to the Gleiwitz incident that kicked off WWII, student massacres in Tiananmen Square, and sniper deaths in Syria—plus the Los Angeles protests and Minnesota political assassinations. It has not been a fun week, y’all!!!!

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Andor: “Messenger” (Season 2, Episode 7)
Andor Anna Squires Andor Anna Squires

Andor: “Messenger” (Season 2, Episode 7)

In Andor’s “Messenger” (S2, E7) we parse the schism between the Rebellion proper and…whatever Luthen is up to. Relationships are at the core of this episode, and we dig into Bix and Cassian’s healthy, established love; Dedra and Syril’s anemic but weirdly passionate love affair; and Vel’s grieving process. We also watch Cassian fight to remain a free agent, even as the Rebellion grows steadily more organized. Also, does Bix have a job??

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Andor: “What a Festive Evening” (Season 2, Episode 6)
Andor Anna Squires Andor Anna Squires

Andor: “What a Festive Evening” (Season 2, Episode 6)

In our recap of “What A Festive Evening” (S2, E6), we dive into relationships in the Rebellion. Should our Rebels be giving them up for the cause, or clinging to what makes them feel human? We dive deep into engineering ethics and why Dr. Gorst definitely should have suffered more. And we parse whether a show with such a high death toll can still be faulted for Burying Its Gays.

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