Growing Up Skywalker

Welcome to the darkest timeline. “Narkina 5” (Andor S1, Ep. 8) throws Cassian Andor by the scruff of his neck into the prison-industrial complex. And given how the surveillance state is working for the Empire so far, the rest of the galaxy doesn’t seem to be far behind.

In our recap, we talk about Cassian’s Hero’s Journey, what Saw Gerrera really wants, what drives Dedra Meero, and how Andor is a mirror that reflects back everything in our society that makes us so uncomfortable.

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 Plot Overview

00:14:45 Surveillance State/Prison-Industrial Complex

00:22:42 Saw Gerrera’s Goal

00:34:36 Cassian’s Hero’s Journey

00:42:47 What Drives Dedra Metro?

00:51:12 Bae Watch

01:00:22 End Credits

The Rebellion has made its announcement: It’s in this fight for real. In response, the Empire made several terrible announcements back. Welcome to a totalitarian galaxy.

This week, our recap of “Announcement” (Andor S1, Ep. 7) focuses on the rapid slide of the Empire from an authoritarian state to totalitarianism—and why Luthen is intentionally pushing it that direction even faster. We also dive deep into the Hero’s Journey (Cassian is refusing the call—while Maarva is answering it) and discuss Mon Mothma’s cunning, subversive form of rebellion.

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Timestamps:

00:01:58 Plot Overview

00:18:05 Syril Karn Discussion

00:22:08 Cassian and The Hero’s Journey

00:35:28 The Empire and Totalitarianism  

00:49:34 Mon Mothma Discussion

00:54:41 Bae Watch

01:01:51 End Credits

The train heist in Solo walked so the Aldhani heist in Andor could run. And that just scratches the surface of why “The Eye” (Andor S1, Ep. 6) is phenomenal television.

In our recap, we talk about the aftermath of the grand plan to secure $80 million credits for the Rebellion. We discuss the Empire and its gleeful colonization, military spending siphoning away funding for medical science, Cassian’s moral code, and why Andor is a radical call to action (even for those of us in the year of our Lord 2023).

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 Plot Overview

00:12:09 The Heist and its Aftermath

00:20:46 Cassian’s Morals

00:26:37 The Empire and Colonization 

00:42:32 Medical Science and Military Funding

01:01:40 Bae Watch

01:06:20 End Credits

Andor is a show that loves grassroots revolution. And we love that for Andor.

“The Axe Forgets” takes us deep into the psyches of the people choosing to rebel against the Empire. We have Skeen, from whom the Empire took a childhood (and a brother). And we have Nemik, a true, hotblooded philosopher-rebel. And we have Lieutenant Gorn, who lost his love to Imperial control—and, of course, Cassian, who has a million mysterious reasons to hate the Empire (very few of which have been shown on-screen).

In this week’s recap, we talk about rising up against tyranny, the claustrophobia of group projects, what seeds Star Wars is sowing for its grand, future rebellion—and what it costs you to rebel.

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Timestamps:

00:01:59 Plot Overview

00:13:40 Cassian and the Heist Crew

00:18:30 Grassroots Revolution in Andor

00:31:00 Perrin and Mon Mothma

00:36:08 The Future of Andor’s Rebellion

00:45:11 Bae Watch

00:59:21 End Credits

“Aldhani” (Andor S1, Ep. 4) is an episode cut with surgical precision. 

The four looping subplots of Aldhani draw us through one of the most beautiful and intricate Star Wars episodes we’ve ever seen. The dialogue? Perfection. The scenery? Flawless. The depths of Star Wars lore plumbed? Fathomless. We are BIG FANS.

In our recap, we talk about the 10,000 Easter eggs and pieces of trivia saturating this episode. We also discuss the characters we love…to hate. (Syril Karn is finally booted out of the Number One spot by Mon Mothma’s terrible husband, Perrin.) And we dive deep into Cassian’s Mimban backstory—plus, discuss the many women struggling to negotiate their roles in the galaxy.

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Timestamps:

00:01:30 Plot Overview

00:14:54 Aldhani’s Deep Star Wars Lore

00:31:01 Characters We Love (To Hate)

00:44:58 Cassian’s Mimban Backstory

00:50:24 Bae Watch

00:58:21 End Credits

This is what a reckoning sounds like. 

In this week’s episode, we recap “Reckoning” (Andor S1, Ep. 2). Cassian and Luthen heist their way through Ferrix, Syril Karn cements his status as a wet noodle, and Space Timm receives his comeuppance for being a snitch—plus, after tying up the Kenari plotline, we’re ready to hurtle into the unknown.

We talk about Andor’s stance on police brutality, religion in Star Wars, and “rescuing” children from the wilderness. We also talk about Andor’s love of mirroring and plot parallels, and how beautifully they tie into one another.

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Timestamps:

00:02:27 Plot Overview

00:12:21 Police Brutality and the Doctrine of Fear

00:31:13 Maarva and the Kenari Plot

00:45:00 Religion in Andor?

00:52:02 Bae Watch

00:58:29 End Credits

Star Wars goes domestic in “That Would Be Me,” the second episode of Andor. (Incidentally, so did we: The Growing Up Skywalker team is officially getting married!)

“That Would Be Me” gives us sneak peeks into what life is like for regular people on Ferrix. We see booty calls, money problems, crappy work schedules, and messy houses. It’s a big vibe shift and a perfect contrast to the deeply unsettling realization this episode gives us about Kenari—specifically, why there is a group of children Lord of the Flies-ing through the jungle. 

We also talk about Andor’s stane on police brutality, Syril Karn stepping into his destiny, and why Bix is out of Space Timm’s league. 

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Timestamps:

00:03:05 Plot Overview

00:11:22 Life on Ferrix Discussion

00:26:04 Linus Mosk and Police Brutality Discussion

00:34:10 Syril Karn Is Stepping Into His Destiny

00:39:41 Kenari Discussion

00:48:21 Bae Watch

00:53:26 End Credits

Welcome to a new side of the galaxy—a very dark one.

The Season 1 premiere of Andor (“Kassa”) is the grittiest Star Wars we’ve seen so far. Planets are ruled by corporations, sentient beings are for sale on the street, and people are just eking out a living however they can. Also, everyone in the show is already 100% fed up with Cassian Andor, which is…pretty great.

In our recap, we talk about Cassian’s role as a Star Wars rogue and draw parallels between other beloved intergalactic grifters—Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, and Hondo Ohnaka. We also dive deep into class systems in Star Wars and make our guesses about how the Kenari plotline will play out. 

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 Plot Overview

00:10:56 Cassian Andor Discussion

00:19:40 Exploitation and Class Discussion

00:35:00 Kenari and Star Wars “Village Stories”

00:46:50 Critical Reception 

00:50:17 Bae Watch

00:58:15 End Credits

The Spectres are out of the frying pan and into the fire—a fire that’s spreading across the galaxy.

Our recap of the Rebels Season 1 finale centers on metamorphosis, rebellion, how a Padawan becomes a Jedi Knight, Kanan’s incredible dad energy, and what it will take for a galaxy to rise up against the Empire. We also cover the breadcrumb trail that leads to Fulcrum’s identity, and our thoughts on Season 1 as a tight, intentional, eyes-on-the-prize piece of media. (It was a bop.)

Also, the people have spoken! Next week, we’ll begin our foray into Andor, which also takes place in BBY 5, beginning with the Andor pilot, “Kassa.”

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Timestamps:

00:01:47 Plot Overview

00:11:00 Clues and Bookends in Season 1

00:18:38 Kanan Discussion 

00:28:58 Fulcrum Discussion 

00:36:39 Rebelling Against the Empire Discussion

00:48:02 Rebels S1 Thoughts

00:54:17 Bae Watch

00:59:10 End Credits

Calling all Tarkin stans—Rebels S1 is the man’s time to shine.

This week, we covered the two episodes leading up to the Season 1 finale: “Call to Action” and “Rebel Resolve” (episodes 13–14). And Grand Moff Tarkin is displeased with EVERYBODY’S job performance.

In our recap, we cover Tarkin’s job description, the strategic importance of the Outer Rim using a pizza analogy, and everything we know about Fulcrum so far (very little). We also talk about Hera’s allegiance to the rebel cause over love, raising rebel children, and Ezra’s message of hope for the galaxy.

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Join us next week for the REBELS S1 FINALE—and then for our foray into ANDOR!

Timestamps:

00:02:37 Plot Overview

00:12:20 Information We Have in 2023 vs. 2014

00:15:09 Tarkin Discussion 

00:35:21 Hera, Fulcrum, and Rising Rebel Kids 

00:49:27 Bae Watch

00:55:47 End Credits