Episode 77: Tales of the Jedi (Dooku’s Tale)
Tales of the Jedi Anna Squires Tales of the Jedi Anna Squires

Episode 77: Tales of the Jedi (Dooku’s Tale)

This week, we talked about Dooku’s Tale: Chapters 2, 3 and 4 (“Justice,” “Choices,” and “The Sith Lord”). We go chapter-by-chapter, discussing Dooku’s genuine love for Qui-Gon, the trauma of being a young person having to watch out for the adults in your life, Master Yaddle’s absolutely beautiful soul, the Star Wars smoothie-blend of history and culture, and the (missing) checks and balances in the Jedi Order.

Read More
Episode 75: Revenge of the Sith, Part 2
Movies Anna Squires Movies Anna Squires

Episode 75: Revenge of the Sith, Part 2

We finish Revenge of the Sith — the sweeping conclusion to the Prequel Era — with big feelings on Order 66 and the end of the Jedi Order, big love for beloved characters, and big thoughts on the cyclical story of Star Wars.

Read More
Episode 74: Revenge of the Sith, Part 1
Movies Anna Squires Movies Anna Squires

Episode 74: Revenge of the Sith, Part 1

This week, we’re army-crawling to the finish line of the Prequel Era. In our recap of Revenge of the Sith (Part One), we talk about the gorgeous visuals, tight plotting, absolutely delightful banter and compelling themes of Star Wars’ final prequel film.

Read More
Episode 73: Rewatching Attack of the Clones
Movies Anna Squires Movies Anna Squires

Episode 73: Rewatching Attack of the Clones

Begun, the Clone War has!

This week, we’re rewatching Attack of the Clones in all of its magnificent sprawl. We talk all about the rewards of a second watch-through after seeing the Clone Wars TV show, the huge differences in production between The Phantom Menace and Attack, the weirdness between Anakin and Obi-Wan, and the iconic Yoda/Dooku duel. We have lots of thoughts about Padme and Anakin — and you already know we talk about Padme’s outfits.

Read More
Episode 70: The Bad Batch, Part 2
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 70: The Bad Batch, Part 2

The second half of the Bad Batch arc isn’t nearly as much fun as the first. Echo has to regain the trust of everyone around him (and find trust in himself). Rex has to carry his guilt over leaving a man behind. And Anakin has to face the fact that he no longer considers himself a Jedi.

So, this arc is less fun, but no less worthy. We laugh a LOT about Wat Tambor, Mace Windu and the TechnoUnion being full of nerds.

Read More
Episode 66: Yoda’s Journey
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 66: Yoda’s Journey

Season 6 of The Clone Wars ends not with a bang, but with a sigh of surrender — and hope for a different kind of victory.

In the Yoda’s Journey Arc (TCW 6.11–13, “Voices,” “Destiny,” and “Sacrifice”) we follow Yoda from Coruscant to Dagobah, to the heart of the universe, and then finally to Moraband, the ancient homeworld of the Sith. His quest takes him through every step of the Hero’s Journey in pursuit of “the great gift:” the secret of creating consciousness after death. And he discovers the truth about the Jedi’s hopes of winning the Clone War.

Read More
Episode 65: “The Lost One”
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 65: “The Lost One”

In which the Jedi Council remembers they never bothered to have a funeral for Sifo-Dyas. (We jest.) “The Lost One” (The Clone Wars 6.10) is a dense and beautiful foreshadowing for the events of Revenge of the Sith. It also gives us a seven-layer tiramisu of MYSTERIES.

Read More
Episode 64: The Disappeared Arc
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 64: The Disappeared Arc

In the glorious Disappeared Arc of the Clone Wars (The Clone Wars 6.8–9, “The Disappeared, Part One” and “The Disappeared, Part Two”), Jar Jar gets to be a love interest…the hero of the galaxy…and the one who gets the girl. Oh, Mace Windu is there, too.

Read More
Episode 29: Young Boba vs. Mace Windu
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 29: Young Boba vs. Mace Windu

Boba serves up vengeance just the way he likes it in the final arc of season two of The Clone Wars: spicy-hot and full of explosives. In our recap of The Clone Wars season 2, episode 20-22 (“Death Trap,” “R2 Come Home” and “Lethal Trackdown,”), we talk about wolves in sheep’s clothing, the intimacy of being known, generational debts, whether or not Aurra Sing is a good mom and all about the EDM scene in downtown Coruscant. Also, Plo’s Bros.

Read More
Episode 22: Zillo Beast Arc
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 22: Zillo Beast Arc

Unleash your inner Reptar, because we’re meeting the Zillo Beast — and we’re talking animal rights, empathy, and all things Mace Windu. Everything’s fun and games until Anakin and Mace Windu wake a literal dragon in episodes 18-19 of The Clone Wars Season 2 (“The Zillo Beast” and “The Zillo Beast Strikes Back”). Palpatine is shady AF, Dr. Boll is too good at her job, and Mace Windu stars in his very own sexy PETA ad.

Read More
Episode 18: Ryloth Arc
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 18: Ryloth Arc

Life imitates art (or art imitates life??) in the Ryloth Arc (The Clone Wars Season 1, episodes 19–21, “Storm Over Ryloth,” “Innocents of Ryloth,” and “Liberty on Ryloth”), where a war-torn country is ravaged by hostile non-governmental actors. Yikes. On a brighter note, Sam and Anna discuss the Peak Dad-akin energy in this arc, clone snugs, what women really want, and Mace Motherf****** Windu.

Read More
Episode 10: The Malevolence Arc
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 10: The Malevolence Arc

In a triple-header recap of The Clone Wars Season 1, Episodes 2-4, (“Rising Malevolence,” “Shadow of Malevolence,” and “Destroy Malevolence”) General Grievous pimps his ride, Sam talks about WWII naval warfare (somehow it’s relevant) and you’ll never look at can openers the same way again. Come for Ahsoka’s backseat driving, stay for the giant space manta rays.

Read More
Episode 6: The Clone Wars Movie, Part 1
Movies Anna Squires Movies Anna Squires

Episode 6: The Clone Wars Movie, Part 1

Introducing Snips! In the first half of the feature-length Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie, we do our best to keep up with the lightning-fast plot changes. Obi-Wan commits war crimes, Anakin deals with an intern crisis and we (reluctantly) explore sex ed for Hutts.

Read More
Episode 4: Attack of the Clones, Part 2
Movies Anna Squires Movies Anna Squires

Episode 4: Attack of the Clones, Part 2

In the second half of Attack of the Clones, we sing an ode to Mace Windu and rank Padme’s best outfits. Also, we throw in a casual conversation about the meaning of death (to Force users, that is). Quoth Anakin to C3PO: “Get in, loser, we’re going to Geonosis.”

Read More
Episode 2: The Phantom Menace, Part 2
Movies Anna Squires Movies Anna Squires

Episode 2: The Phantom Menace, Part 2

In the second full-length episode of Growing Up Skywalker, we talk about the thrilling conclusion to The Phantom Menace (not actually inspired by #WakandaForever) and how a 16-part plan cooked up by a 14-year-old actually works.

Read More