Growing Up Skywalker

In The Acolyte’s season finale, a convergence around a vergence leads each of our faves back to Brendok for a final showdown. In “The Acolyte” (The Acolyte S1, Ep. 8), we see circles closing, mirrors breaking, and themes resolving…and not always for the better.

Our discussion centers on justice and whether it was achieved. We also break down that gorgeous final lightsaber duel, talk through the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise, and speculate wildly on who’s apprenticing whom, and how long it’ll last.

One thing is for sure—this show is begging for an Osha/Qimir messaround via a Season 2. And we want it too!!

Next week, we’re moving into the next phase of our catch-up round: The Bad Batch Season 3. We're throwing another fastball and watching the first three episodes of the new season: "Confined," "Paths Unknown," and "Shadows of Tantiss."

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:02:52 Plot Overview

00:13:03 Mirrors, Circles, and Themes

00:35:48 The Duel, Sol, and Qimir

00:51:10 Character Arcs: Qimir, Osha, and Mae

01:07:40 Bae Watch

01:15:00 Closing Thoughts

The long awaited episode mirror to "Destiny" (The Acolyte S1, E3) has arrived in the form of “Choice” (The Acolyte S1, E6). But this week, it casts the events on Brendok in a whole new light.

“Choice” poses questions about fallibility, destiny, doubt, and desire. We also talk through the tragedy of the Brendok coven, cops covering up crimes, and how Qimir / The Stranger might be part of the Acolyte’s mysteries.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Plot Overview

00:13:37 The Fallibility of the Jedi

00:38:13 The Tragedy of the Coven

00:45:40 Thoughts on Doubt and Desire

00:58:30 Bae Watch

01:07:02 Closing Thoughts

Our recap of “Teach / Corrupt” (The Acolyte S1, E6) focuses on mirrors, desire, and the faces we present to the world.

We talk through the responsibilities teachers have to their pupils and discuss which of Star Wars’ teachers merit the title of “good.” We also talk through the temptations presented by the Sith, Qimir / The Stranger’s many masks, and the ones Sol might be wearing, too.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Plot Overview

00:09:46 Vernestra Roh Discussion

00:14:46 The Jedi and The Stranger Discussion

00:21:28 Desire, Corruption, and Teaching Young Ones

00:38:15 The Many Faces of Qimir

00:53:46 Bae Watch

01:02:04 Closing Thoughts

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! 

Want more nerdy content? Check out Sam’s articles on Couch Soup!

Surprise! Just like Mae and Osha, we’ve got a two-for-one special this week: We’re recapping both “Day” and “Night” (The Acolyte S1, episodes 4–5).

We dive deep into the twisting forest of Khofar this week. Our discussion covers the secrets of the Sith-like Stranger, the hypocrisies of the Jedi, and the razor line between light and dark.

We also recap these episodes’ spectacular saber fights and how they’re stylized—with far more finesse than flash and bang. And of course, we sing praises to our favorite Padawan, Jecki. Sadly, Bae Watch is looking more like Death Watch this week.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Plot Overview

00:14:09 The Sith, the Jedi, and the Stranger

00:43:39 Characters: Basil, Yord, Jecki, Sol

00:54:40 Bae Watch

01:03:44 Closing Thoughts

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! 

Want more nerdy content? Check out Sam’s articles on Couch Soup!

Witches. Get. Stitches. We’re in flashback mode this episode as we hearken back to the Clone Wars’ Nightsisters, and bring back the same conversation we had during their extermination—about the persecution of powerful women.

This episode spirals us through a million possible theories of what happened The Night of the Fire. What do we really know about the Jedi on Brendok? Whose jurisdiction applies? Would you rather be groomed into a cult leader or a child soldier? And what can we surmise about this coven of dark witches? Most importantly, Mae and Osha’s story continues to be a whodunit mystery, and the story of “Destiny” opens far more doors than it closes. 

We'd just like the Brendok coven to know we’ve been fans since Dathomir…please don't turn us into newts!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:02:14 Plot Overview

00:11:19 That Fire Tho??

00:19:16 Nightsisters, Witch Hunts, and the Persecution of Powerful Women

00:37:35 The Whodunit Mystery of Mae

00:52:21 Bae Watch

00:59:06 Closing Thoughts

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! 

Want more nerdy content? Check out Sam’s articles on Couch Soup!

“The Acolyte” is a cop procedural, right?? That’s our working thesis this week as we recap episode two, “Revenge / Justice,” which opens on a locked-room murder scene, and introduces fascinating new allies and enemies. 

This week, we dive deep into Mae’s revenge and Torbin’s justice—maybe. The Acolyte continues to twist our perceptions of what’s real and who’s responsible, and just when we think we have the means, motive, and opportunity, new wrinkles are revealed.

Join us for Law & Order: Outer Rim!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We Tho

00:02:00 Plot Overview

00:10:07 Mae’s Revenge, Torbin’s Justice?

00:35:07 Character Discussions: Osha, Sol, Yord, and Qimir 

00:44:57 Bae Watch

00:50:48 Closing Thoughts

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! 

Want more nerdy content? Check out Sam’s articles on Couch Soup!

In a perfect galaxy, where our in-universe chronology could stretch uninterrupted, this would be our very first podcast episode. So…welcome to Growing Up Skywalker!

We’re typewritering back in time to watch “The Acolyte” (2024). The season premiere, “Lost / Found,” invites us to ask about the elitism of the Jedi, the seeds of fascism, and the good twin/bad twin paradigm. We also talk about this episode’s beautiful pacing and masterful manipulation of reality, perception, and time.

If you’re looking for a non-toxic space to love on The Acolyte, Growing Up Skywalker is your home. Join us!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We Tho

00:03:17 Plot Overview

00:12:16 First Impressions

00:25:43 The Jedi, Diversity, Elitism, Fascism, Etc.

00:40:10 Thoughts on Twins

00:48:46 Controversy Over The Acolyte

00:57:19 Bae Watch

01:03:31 Closing Thoughts

Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! 

Want more nerdy content? Check out Sam’s articles on Couch Soup!

Freed from the tiny little raccoon hands of the Ewoks, our heroes immediately split up and start really moving the needle on the main plot of the Original Trilogy. Buckle in losers, we've got a redemption arc, a Death Star to destroy, and heroic (carnivorous) teddy bears!

After 160 episodes of Growing Up Skywalker, we finally hit the end of the Original 3. 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. 

Next week, we're not headed into the Mandalorian Era. Instead, we're catching up on everything preceding the Original Trilogy that we missed along the way: The Acolyte and Bad Batch Season 3. Join us soon for The Acolyte, Episode 1: Lost / Found!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We Tho

00:02:17 Plot Overview

00:15:02 Deep Dive Into Vader, Luke, and The Chosen One Prophecy

00:36:09 Aftershocks of the Empire

00:47:48 What’s Next?

00:59:23 Bae Watch

01:06:14 Closing Thoughts

Send Us Your Thoughts: Now is the time! Tell your friends! Post on your social! We're in our Original Trilogy Era! What is your experience with it? Do you want to be interviewed, or share what Star Wars means to you? Make your voice heard on social media or drop us a line at [email protected].

Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! 

Want more nerdy content? Check out Sam’s articles on Couch Soup!

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 to decide how she felt about Leia and Jabba? Find out!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We Tho

00:01:53 Plot Overview

00:14:04 Big Picture and Hero’s Journey Discussions

00:27:09 Luke’s Jedi Trials

00:48:41 Leia and Jabba

01:00:20 Bae Watch

01:08:30 Closing Thoughts

Send Us Your Thoughts: Now is the time! Tell your friends! Post on your social! We're in our Original Trilogy Era! What is your experience with it? Do you want to be interviewed, or share what Star Wars means to you? Make your voice heard on social media or drop us a line at [email protected].

Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! 

Want more nerdy content? Check out Sam’s articles on Couch Soup!

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.

The second half of “The Empire Strikes Back” is massively influential and changes the entire course of Star Wars. But how did it change the course of our history? Join us and find out!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We Tho

00:04:44 Plot Overview

00:18:19 Legacy and Critical Reception of Empire Strikes Back

00:27:29 Characters: Vader, Luke, Leia, Lando, and Han

01:00:36 Bae Watch

01:11:38 Closing Thoughts

Send Us Your Thoughts: Now is the time! Tell your friends! Post on your social! We're in our Original Trilogy Era! What is your experience with it? Do you want to be interviewed, or share what Star Wars means to you? Make your voice heard on social media or drop us a line at [email protected].

Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! 

Want more nerdy content? Check out Sam’s articles on Couch Soup!