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Return of the Jedi: Part 2
Movies Anna Squires Movies Anna Squires

Return of the Jedi: Part 2

After 160 episodes of Growing Up Skywalker, we finally hit the end of the Original Trilogy. The moment of Anakin's redemption hits really different after seeing his entire story. This week, we had a deep conversation on the nature of the Force, cosmic death, destiny, and redemption. 

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Return of the Jedi: Part 1
Movies Anna Squires Movies Anna Squires

Return of the Jedi: Part 1

The first half of "Return of the Jedi" is a who's who of who dies how on Jabba's sail barge. It also gives us the perfect opportunity to zoom out and discuss Luke's Hero's Journey and his 5 Jedi Trials, the big picture of galactic conflict, Leia’s rebrand to Huttslayer, and teeny-weeny bikinis. Did Anna or did Anna not read an entire doctoral thesis on Women of Star Wars for this episode? Find out!

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The Empire Strikes Back: Part 2
Movies Anna Squires Movies Anna Squires

The Empire Strikes Back: Part 2

Welcome to Cloud City! This week, we’re covering 01:06:33 all the way to the end of “The Empire Strikes Back.” The Original Trilogy flexes its operatic muscles and hits on deep themes of family, loyalty, individuality, and fate.

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The Empire Strikes Back: Part 1
Movies Anna Squires Movies Anna Squires

The Empire Strikes Back: Part 1

This week, join us for 00:00 to 01:06:33—the first half of 1980’s “Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.” On a freezing planet, the Rebellion bides its time. On a swamp and fleeing through an asteroid belt, the Rebels run from enemies and dive into mystery. The first half of Empire Strikes Back sets an atmosphere and cadence that weaves the Original Trilogy magic.

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Episode 108: Rebels: Gathering Forces + Path of the Jedi
Rebels Anna Squires Rebels Anna Squires

Episode 108: Rebels: Gathering Forces + Path of the Jedi

“Gathering Forces” (Rebels Season 1, episode 9) takes Ezra and Kanan back to the moon where Sabine and Hera were almost eaten by dragons—and forces Ezra to confront a deep fear. Then, immediately in the next episode, “Path of the Jedi” (episode 10), he has to confront his EVEN DEEPER fears!!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Episode 53: Ahsoka + Younglings Arc, Part 1 with Raphael, The Geeky Dad, and Arianna, The Multiverse Kid
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 53: Ahsoka + Younglings Arc, Part 1 with Raphael, The Geeky Dad, and Arianna, The Multiverse Kid

In the first half of the Ahsoka + Younglings arc (The Clone Wars 5.6–7, “The Gathering” and “A Test of Strength”) we meet a crew of Jedi younglings who find their very own kyber crystals — just in time to almost lose them to Hondo’s pirate gang. (And they actually DO lose Ahsoka.)

For this week’s recap, we invited an actual youngling to talk about the arc. Raphael, the Geeky Dad, and Arianna, the Multiverse Kid, joined us to talk about lightsabers, Star Wars girls and the challenges we overcome to become better.

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Episode 20: Holocron Arc
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 20: Holocron Arc

Join us for the inaugural Cool Hat Tuesday as we recap the Holocron Arc (The Clone Wars Season 2, Episodes 1-3, “Holocron Heist,” “Cargo of Doom,” and “Children of the Force”), featuring Cad Bane’s most excellent fedora. This arc has everything: Anakin/Obi-Wan banter, child-stealers, countless heists, and even a glorious Kit Fisto cameo.

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Episode 9: Ambush
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 9: Ambush

Our timelines converge (finally) as we catch up to “Ambush,” the pilot episode of The Clone Wars TV series. In other news, Toydarians are morally superior to all of us (Watto excluded) and healthy mentor/mentee relationships are not the Sith’s style. First 100 listeners get a visit from a chaos gremlin.

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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.”

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Episode 3: Attack of the Clones, Part 1
Movies Anna Squires Movies Anna Squires

Episode 3: Attack of the Clones, Part 1

In the first half of Attack of the Clones, Anna finds out she accidentally became a true Star Wars fan, and we discuss the impeccable Kaminoan aesthetics. Also, the Fetts get an honorary award for the healthiest father-son dynamics in Star Wars (for about 20 minutes, that is).

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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.

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