Growing Up Skywalker

Cue the tears. In the long-awaited (first) finale of The Clone Wars (5.19–20), enemies turn to friends…friends turn to enemies…and we cry a LOT.

In our recap of the end of Season 5, we ask so many questions. Why does Ahsoka choose to leave the Jedi Order? What are Barriss’s motivations? Where was Luminara in all of this? Did Anakin suddenly become relatable? And most importantly — what have the Clone Wars done to the Jedi Order?

We also want to send a huge and heartfelt thanks to all of our listeners who have stuck with us for 60 episodes. What an accomplishment!! Don’t worry — we’re nowhere near done. Next week, we’re starting Season 6 of The Clone Wars: “The Unknown” and “Conspiracy” (6.1–2).

Fire up your righteous indignation. We’re recapping the Jedi Temple Bombing Arc (The Clone Wars 5.17–18) and seeing Ahsoka framed for murder.

The Clone Wars is continuing to snap the pieces together to make a bridge between Episodes 2 and 3. In our recap, we talk about how the clones who once trusted and deferred to Ahsoka so quickly turn against her; the Jedi’s nosediving reputation; Jedi funerals; and why the darkness of the Clone Wars feels so prescient today.

Next week, we finish the Jedi Temple Bombing Arc and the final episodes of Season 5: The Clone Wars 5.19–20, “To Catch a Jedi” and “The Wrong Jedi.”

Alexa, play “Taps.”

The body count in the second half of the Revenge Arc 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.

In our recap of The Clone Wars 5.15–16, “Shades of Reason” and “The Lawless,” we dissect both spectacular darksaber duels blow-by-blow. We talk about Duchess Satine’s isolation as she tries to live out her ideal of pacifism. (Also, how it’s a direct contrast to Bo-Katan’s warlike alliances.) We even talk about all the Mandalorian artwork we see — moar Cubism! — and how it’s a form of propaganda that helps keep Mandalorian society together.

Next week, we start the final arc of Season 5: the Jedi Temple Bombing arc, part one (5.17–18, “Sabotage” and “The Jedi Who Knew Too Much”).

Buckle in, kiddos: It’s time for REVENGE.

In the first half of the Revenge Arc (The Clone Wars 5.1 + 5.14, “Revival” and “Eminence”) Maul and Savage almost manage to take over Hondo Ohnaka’s pirate crew, but then very nearly become fishsticks floating in space. Then they effortlessly raise an army of terrifying criminals and set out to help Death Watch take over Mandalore — maybe.

In our recap, we talk about Maul’s plan to eviscerate not just Obi-Wan, but also his legacy. We cover Palpatine’s plan within plans, quote half of Maul’s lines and all of Hondo’s, and discuss Pre Vizsla and the noble trope of the buttmonkey.

The drama is ratcheting up, and next week, we’re finishing the Revenge Arc with Season 5.15–16, “Shades of Reason” and “The Lawless.”

What do you get when you cross a clone, a bad case of amnesia, and 10,000 canisters of Rhydonium? The second half of the D-Squad Arc, that’s what you get.

This week, we’re recapping The Clone Wars 5.12–13, “Missing in Action” and “Point of No Return”, a.k.a. two episodes that debuted at the top of Anna’s Cry-O-Meter. We meet Gregor, a MIA clone commando who has to embark on a hero’s journey to reclaim his destiny. The D-Squad holds the lives of thousands in their little droid spanners, and Meebur Gascon continues to be the worst.

This arc is about heroism, sacrifice, and never judging a book by its cover, and it is SO GOOD.

Next week, we’re taking a breather (literally, we can’t breathe, we have COVID). Then we’ll be back in your earbuds with the Maul Arc! And we’ll be joined by special guests from Wookieepedia.

The lack of a reliable file-sharing system in Star Wars comes into play once again in the D-Squad Arc (The Clone Wars 5.10–11, "Secret Weapons" and "A Sunny Day in the Void").

It turns out that this critically-panned series of episodes is a fascinating meditation on inequality, oppression, meritocracy, the military-industrial complex, and why WAC units are indeed so wack.

In our recap this week, we continue our conversation on droid rights and admit to all kinds of meatbag foibles (we’re just not suited to long marches across the desert, okay!!)

Next week, we’re finishing the D-Squad arc (The Clone Wars 5.12–13, “Missing in Action” and “Point of No Return”) so we can finally get to the Maul arc of Season 5!

Hondo Ohnaka has a no-good, very bad day during the second half of the Ahsoka + Younglings arc (The Clone Wars 5.8–9, “Bound for Rescue” and “A Necessary Bond”).

Our dashing crew of younglings have to infiltrate a traveling carnival to rescue Ahsoka from Hondo Ohnaka’s base — which Grievous promptly overruns. In our recap, we talk about all the ways Hondo Ohnaka would disappoint us if he was our uncle, the advice we would give to younglings, lightsaber fighting styles, and why this crew of baby Jedi is so dang lovable.

Buckle up, because next week we’re covering the first half of the D-Squad arc! (The Clone Wars 5.10–11, “Secret Weapons” and “A Sunny Day in the Void”.)

Hold onto your lightsabers, because Hondo Ohnaka is coming for them.

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.) But don’t worry. Petro, Katooni, Ganodi, Zatt, Byph and Gungi are up to the challenge!

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. If you like baby Wookiee Jedi, this is the arc for you!

Next week, we’re tumbling (literally) into the second half of the arc, “Bound for Rescue” and “A Necessary Bond” (The Clone Wars 5.8–9).

They never said revolution would be easy. In the final half of the Onderon Arc (The Clone Wars 5.4–5, “The Soft War” and “Tipping Points”) we see that Onderon’s rebels are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to throw off Separatist rule.

In our recap, we talk about the rightful king, Dendup, and why he’s the worst. (Steela Gerrera 4 Queen of Onderon.) We figure out how you can successfully make a gambit for neutrality between the Republic and Separatists — another reason why Dendup is the worst. And we talk about Ahsoka’s radicalizing moment, where she sees the Jedi Council do so little to stop the wasting of lives for a good cause.

Don’t worry. There are laughs, too, because HONDO OHNAKA is there and he’s doing the most.

Next week, we’re beginning the wholesome goodness of the Ahsoka and Younglings arc (The Clone Wars 5.6–7, “The Gathering” and “A Test of Strength”).

Hot on the heels of our arc about brotherhood, we have another sibling story — and this time, it’s about Saw and Steela Gerrera.

Our recap of the first half of the Onderon Arc (The Clone Wars 5.2–3, “A War on Two Fronts” and “Front Runners”) throws us into a rebellion of Anakin’s making. There is a fantastic training montage, a sort of meh love triangle between Ahsoka, Steela and Lux, and a delightful heist that brings the rebellion to new heights. We talk about overachieving daughters and proxy wars of history. Most importantly, we celebrate Anakin giving extremely good dad-vice to Ahsoka. Snips and Skyguy 4ever.

Next week, we’re finishing off the Onderon Arc with 5.4–5, “The Soft War” and “Tipping Points.”