Growing Up Skywalker

Darth Maul. The Shadow. Shadow Lord. And after a while…just Maul. He’s got names for days and a story that spans galactic history. Who is he? What does he want? And what’s his story?

In preparation for Maul: Shadow Lord, we watched every single movie and TV show Maul appears in, in chronological order, and bring you our thoughts on his arc. Themes of revenge and rebirth sweep across his epic journey. 

Maul’s tale is a dark, spare, and thrilling way to cover Star Wars’ greatest hits. Join us!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:03:20 Highlights of the Darth Maul Story

00:08:06 Revenge

00:15:13 Rebirth

00:20:29 Thrawn vs. Maul

00:41:07 New Ground to Cover

00:48:38 Bae Watch

00:55:36 Closing Thoughts

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

It’s Thrawn versus the New Republic. Who will triumph?

We don’t find out in Ahsoka’s Season 1 Finale, that’s for sure. “The Jedi, The Witch, and The Warlord” is more concerned with rematches, sacrifices, callbacks, and deep lore—not hard and fast answers. Instead, we discuss the Mortis gods, ronin Jedi, and Morgan Elsbeth’s great tragedy.

Next week, we’re departing from our usual programming to bring you a Maul Retrospective advance of “Maul—Shadow Lord.” And then we’re going on our long-delayed honeymoon, so you won’t hear from us for a few weeks.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:02:03 Plot Summary

00:11:29 Ronin Jedi

00:21:42 Baylan and the Mortis Gods

00:33:41 Thrawn vs. New Republic

00:47:05 Morgan Elsbeth’s Tragedy

00:55:54 Bae Watch

01:02:09 Closing Thoughts

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

Hera’s in the hotseat and the wolves are closing in during Ahsoka’s seventh episode, “Dreams and Madness.” But who has the upper hand, really?

This week, we talk through the opposing forces on Peridea and how they are represented by Nature vs. Industrialism. Tragically, Thrawn appears capable of straddling both sides.

We also cover the conflicts at the heart of “Ahsoka.” From the Baylan-Shin relationship to Ahsoka's Force call to Sabine, there is a lot to inspect. But as the sweeping vistas and stunning fights rise to a climax, so too do we, and we’re chomping at the bit for the finale next week!

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?

00:01:46 Plot Summary

00:08:38 Nature vs. Industrialism

00:16:51 Baylan and Shin, Parted Forever?

00:35:38 Ahsoka’s Lightsaber Form

00:47:39 Hera and Xiono

00:56:34 Bae Watch

01:00:42 Closing Thoughts

Well, we have arrived. Peridea, perdition, madness, dreams. Nightsisters. And blue guys. And the prodigal son himself, Ezra Bridger.

In a galaxy "Far Far Away" (coincidentally, this is also the title of Ahsoka’s sixth episode), we have an opportunity to parse the cultishness of Thrawn’s remaining forces, who have wound themselves with Nightsister ribbons and become reborn as Night Troopers. We dissect Baylan Skoll’s grand plan to end the galactic order, talk through Ezra’s return, and sing the praises of Ahsoka—a love letter for deep fans.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (Visions S3 content is ongoing!)

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:02:54 Plot Summary

00:10:02 Night Troopers and the Cult of Thrawn

00:19:48 Baylan Skoll’s Grand Plan

00:29:40 Ezra!!

00:54:06 Ahsoka Is For The Fans

00:58:50 Bae Watch

01:07:36 Closing Thoughts

The trick to falling off a cliff while losing a fight? Face your past, greet your long-dead master, and become the person you were always meant to be.

Our discussion of Ahsoka’s fifth installment, “Shadow Warrior,” centers on the Jedi Trials, the Hero’s Journey, and Ahsoka’s profound self-growth. Her rebirth into Ahsoka the White and a dreamy purrgil Force connection scene make this one of the most majestic chapters in her journey so far—and there’s still plenty more to come.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (Visions S3 content is ongoing!)

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:02:01 Plot Summary

00:06:26 Ahsoka’s Pacing

00:09:23 Ahsoka’s Jedi Trials

00:32:00 Ahsoka’s Hero’s Journey

00:43:24 Jacen Syndulla, Baby Force User At Large

00:56:54 Bae Watch

01:05:28 Closing Thoughts

“Stick together,” says local long-suffering robot. Spoiler alert—they did not stick together. 

In Ahsoka’s fourth episode, “Fallen Jedi,” a cascade of escalating duels marks the most impactful episode of the series so far. And when the unprepared (Ahsoka, Sabine) meet the prepared (Baylan, Morgan, Shin), things go bad VERY quickly.

This week, we discuss the motivations of our Antagonists, as well as the spiritual implications of the live-action debut of the World Between Worlds. And the specter of the Spectres also plays a major role, diving into Sabine's personal tragedies and how she came to be who she is.

With a heck of a cliffhanger and more questions than answers, we are quickly approaching the climax of Ahsoka Season 1!

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (Visions S3 content is ongoing!)

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:03:45 Plot Summary

00:11:00 Huyang and the Duels

00:23:00 Motivations for the Baddies

00:36:07 The World Between Worlds

00:46:28 Sabine and Family

00:59:54 Bae Watch

01:07:00 Closing Thoughts

What a banger! What a bop! Ahsoka’s third episode, “Time to Fly,” isn’t just a visual and auditory delight—it also reframes what it means to be Force-sensitive.

In our discussion, we parse the ways that Force sensitivity has been treated across Star Wars, from the “anyone could be a Jedi!” spirit of the original trilogy to the introduction of midichlorians. With this episode, Star Wars seems to strike a subtle balance between the two that opens up new realms of possibility.

We also talk about Hera being a woman in the workforce, Sabine’s lineage of unconventional Jedi masters, and PURRGIL! <3

New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (Visions S3 content is ongoing!)

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:01:52 Plot Summary

00:07:08 Force Aptitude vs. Disciple and Training

00:16:45 Unconventional Jedi Masters

00:42:25 Hera’s Cabinet Confrontation and Women in Leadership

00:54:12 Bae Watch

01:00:47 Closing Thoughts

Double double…We’ve got two master/apprentice pairs mixing up all kinds of mischief in Ahsoka’s second installment, “Toil and Trouble.”

As a show, Ahsoka is not catering to newbies. And this episode, we’re diving into the deep lore of Darths (Revan, Traya, and Sion) and galaxies (the Star Wars galaxy, and one that is yet to be named).

We’re also spending a LOT of time on this show’s fascinating baddies. Thrawn lingers over the galaxy, calling out over space and time, even as Ahsoka is drawn back into the life of the Spectres, and Sabine faces up to her own shortcomings.

New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (Visions S3 content is ongoing!)

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:03:36 Plot Summary

00:10:50 Deep Lore of Darths and Galaxies

00:24:56 The Baddies

00:43:27 Ahsoka, Sabine, and the Spectres

00:55:20 Bae Watch

01:02:24 Closing Thoughts

Not all villains are this impeccably dressed. But Ahsoka introduces some incredibly dapper baddies.

In “Part One: Master and Apprentice,” we catch up with General Syndulla (busy AF), Sabine Wren (lost and traumatized), and Ahsoka Tano (just too competent for her own good). 

But EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, we meet Baylan Skoll, Shin Hati, and a slightly snarkier Morgan Elsbeth. They look great. And they symbolize the threat of rising fascism across the galaxy.

Ahsoka’s Season 1 premiere reintroduces us to the Spectres—no longer the happy family of Rebels—and plants the seeds for a galaxy-hopping, world-between-worlds-spanning story. We’re just happy to be here. And hoping Zeb shows up sometime soon.

New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (Visions S3 content is ongoing!)

We did it! We finished The Mandalorian! Not just the finale, but the first and second epilogue too!

The action-packed conclusion to The Mandalorian brought laughs, drama, and really closed the loop on the themes of the whole series. We compare two big bads of the empire, Moff Gideon and Grand Admiral Thrawn; and worry about how we still don't know where Big Blue is (or what nefariousness he's up to). We also talk about the future of Mandalore as defined by its past and by its potential.

Next week, our Ahsoka coverage begins with Ahsoka Part 1: Master and Apprentice.

New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (Visions S3 content is ongoing!)

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:02:33 Plot Summary

00:10:43 The Rise and Fall of Moff Gideon

00:27:24 Leading Into Ahsoka Season 1

00:35:06 How Will Mandalore Move Forward?

00:51:54 Bae Watch

01:00:41 Closing Thoughts