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.

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Episode 76: Siege of Mandalore, Part 2
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 76: Siege of Mandalore, Part 2

In our recap of the final episodes of The Clone Wars (7.11–12, “Shattered” and “Victory and Death”) we talk about tragedy, betrayal, and the power move of asking a bunch of mischievous astromech droids to help you throw an entire cruiser into chaos. Most importantly, we talk about seeing Ahsoka fully mature into her powers — and deprogramming herself from being a soldier, so she can become a keeper of the peace.

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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 72: Rewatching The Phantom Menace
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Episode 72: Rewatching The Phantom Menace

A lot has changed since we watched Phantom on the first two episodes of Growing Up Skywalker (and we have, too!).

Our recap centers on the viewers we used to be versus the watchers we are today. We talk about how our perceptions of the main quartet — Anakin, Qui-Gon, Padmé and Shmi — have changed wildly over time. We try to figure out why George Lucas decided to start Star Wars here, and why he decided to frame it around an economic story. We share our favorite Easter eggs, and — most importantly — crown a Queen of Bae Watch.

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Episode 70: The Bad Batch, Part 2
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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.

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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 58: Revenge Arc, Part 2
The Clone Wars Anna Squires The Clone Wars Anna Squires

Episode 58: Revenge Arc, Part 2

Alexa, play “Taps.”

The body count in the second half of the Revenge Arc (The Clone Wars 5.15–16, “Shades of Reason” and “The Lawless”) might not be as high as the Umbara Arc. But as Mandalore descends into civil war and political leaders become cannon fodder, it feels like this is just the start of something bigger.

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