Friends and patrons, we are gathered here today to talk about this four-part comic, released by Dark Horse, in which Luke Skywalker takes Mara Jade to be his wife. The plot really is that simple, and yet, this comic will have you repeatedly asking why or even WHY GOD?? on most every page. From the many baffling and varied head-shapes of well known characters, to the absolutely deluge of extremely jarring boomer jokes about the manifold miseries of heterosexual marriage coming out of the mouths of the galaxy's most notorious wife guys, to the Imperial plot to kidnap Mara's wedding dress in order to blow up Moon Emperor Al Gore' s own Holonet (??), things sure do happen for reasons we don't really understand. So now we're just two hosts, standing in front of their book club, asking: why did you want us to read this one again?

This will be our final episode of the 4th season! We will return shortly with our next selection, chosen by loyal patrons: X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble. Stay tuned!

We are delighted to announce Chris Kempshall, author of The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, has made the tactical error of returning to this podcast. We discuss the real earth history that likely influenced Thrawn as a character and the Caamas Document Crisis, the in-universe public memory of Thrawn vs. what he actually accomplished in the first series, and the strange blurriness of galactic politics . Plus, we hear a bit about his new book Star Wars Star Pilots, which will be coming out this fall and heavily features pod favorite Wedge Antilles. And for those that haven't subscribed yet but are hungry for more Star Wars geopolitical realness (and Earth WWI history), check out Chris's newsletter, The Historian's Holonet. It really is a great read and changed how we thought about both Thrawn and Pellaeon.

Citizens of the New Republic, we have finally made it to the end of this (New York Times Bestselling???) masterpiece. And what did we learn, Palmer? That the Caamas document is real. That Mara Jade is good at sabotage. That Leia's half-decent at piracy. That Pellaeon has an intense admiration for Talon Karrde's...ethics. That both our hosts love these books. What remains a mystery? What is a Jedi? What is the New Republic, and what does the New Republic think the Empire is? Also, where is Ghent?

Star Wars really just teaches you so much about adulthood. Lessons include:

*the bats are usually right about the lake...

*maybe don't take your frustrations out on backseat philosophers or ex-Imperial clones, they're only trying to help...

*if it's gotta be Thrawn, it's gotta be booby traps...

*and if you're about to drown, don't be surprised by the sudden urge to also MARRY, I guess?

Mara Jade, welcome to the war on cars.

Mara stops the Hand of Thrawn from making a huge mistake (and maybe becomes a Jedi?) while Luke takes a nap. Bel Iblis puts the finishing touches on his suicide plan. On Bothawui, Moranda puts a clever plan into motion but forgets her Imperial counterparts might have a death wish of their own. Pellaeon takes a call from an unknown number (possibly the bravest thing anyone has done in this book??) and we hear a familiar voice just out of sight on stage left. And Leia benches Han for the rest of the diplomatic fight.

We race towards the thrilling conclusion of this fine novel, when one thousand carefully placed space dominoes will come tumbling down. For now, after helping to defeat Rei'kas's slavers with the power of friendship (and incredible violence), Karrde and Shada confront the final boss of manic pixie dream bosses: Jorj Car'das after a nap. In his stately pleasure-dome/conversation pit/library to the stars, we learn about his wild ride through various Force-based religions and the non-Caamas document he has that just might save the galaxy after all. Back on Bothawui, Leia and Elegos arrive just in time for the Falcon's reputation as a poorly maintained shitbox to do some heavy diplomatic lifting. Our Imperial friends are digging a business pit, only to be rudely interrupted by the mysterious (and impressively spry) old woman following them around. Ponc Gavrisom regrets ever becoming president. And Threepio makes a computer friend. That last part's not really important plot-wise, but Mr. Threep deserves a break!

Luke Skywalker finally gets a chance to shine as a both a Jedi and a general contractor. Artoo unleashes his murderous side. Mara manages to avoid getting shot a second time. Han proves conclusively that he simply doesn't know metadata exists. Moranda gets drunk in a box. Flim has some fun playing galactic Risk on the big board. And Admiral Pellaeon puts on his favorite boots to make a dramatic entrance.

Did your intrepid hosts yell at eachother for over an hour and half and still only make it through three chapters? Well, yes but...you guys, things are getting good. Kliff and Navette finally start putting their plan in motion on Bothawui, only to spot those New Rep military types up close and personal in their pet shop with some old lady. Unfortunately for the Imperials, one of them is a guy off the goddamn space Wheaties box. While they debate whether or not to kill confirmed hero Wedge Antilles and whoever that short Corellian following him around is, Garm "Dad" Bel Iblis calls to summon them back to like, do actual army stuff. Mara wakes up to find Luke is waiting with a rotisserie chicken and five days of slightly insane thoughts about her life -- including the unnerving idea that maybe the Threateners have been trying to get in touch with her, specifically, this entire time. And we meet a fun new, non-Jedi religion in the Outer Rim, patiently waiting for their messiah to rise again (should be any day now).

"What is a hallway but a series of open-ended storage compartments?" --Karoly, probably.

Gilad Pellaeon breaks into one ivoory desk to steal floppy disks and now he's all, "let's go break my friend out of prison!" Meanwhile, despite his boss' critical feedback, Flim is out here doing an incredible job being fake-Thrawn. He's convincing pirates to give him their super deadly shipyards for free. He's got a Mistryl assassin convinced she should probably get her assassin sisterhood to join the Empire. And (for now) he's convinced Han and Lando that they have a copy of the Camaas Document. Get this man a high ball and keep him alive for a while longer, he earned it.

Speaking of leadership, manic pixie dream boss Talon Karrde thinks he's about to reach the end of his mid-life crisis (though he also thinks the end is death-by-former-employer). Joke's on him: his menty b hasn't even started! For once, C-3PO is the only one out here having a great time. In fairness, that might be because he doesn't know what's going on.

Leia hastily sweeps some fast food wrappers off the dash as she and Pelleaon sit down to negotiate lasting galactic peace in the Falcon. Back on Bastion, the Imperial Triumvirate of Messy B*tches rides again as Han and Lando race against the best spy craft the space 1970s can buy, while Pelleaon casually violates Disra's 4th Amendment rights. Luthen Rael, eat your heart out.