Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast

Andor won critical acclaim for its gritty and nuanced portrayal of rebellion in Star Wars, but what makes its depiction of insurgency so special? In this episode, The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer joins Eric, Grace, and Haley to discuss how faith and revenge motivate rebellion throughout Star Wars, how Luthen’s approach to insurrection sets him apart, how class shapes the goals and decisions of Andor’s rebel and Imperial characters, and what the show says about the role of radical revolutionary violence. Plus, we compare Andor to Star Wars Rebels, Adam makes the case that Andor wants us to think Luthen is a fugitive Jedi, and we discuss a curious theory about two droids being one.

Andor season 1 ended with a triumphant run of episodes, and we’re here to break down all the greatness, from the cutthroat political maneuvering to the epic brawls, riots, and space battles to whatever’s going on with Dedra Meero and Syril Karn. Eric fanboys over Mon Mothma, Grace talks about familial love putting Cassian over the edge, and Haley discusses the genius of making Dedra sympathetic and relatable before showing her dark side. We also talk Andy Serkis, Ferrix funerals, Luthen’s all-around bossness, and Nemik’s manifesto. Plus: Hats off to Syril and Sergeant Mosk for having the best villain bromance in all of Star Wars.

Eight episodes into Andor, we keep finding more things to love. Join us as we discuss the Disney+ series’ surprisingly stark treatment of the surveillance state, police brutality, and the prison-industrial complex, tackling issues that Star Wars has either ignored or relegated to the background. We also cover Diego Luna’s extraordinarily expressive face, the many layers of Mon Mothma, the intimate portrayal of Imperial oppression, and the villains we almost want to root for. This series is so good that even Grace’s mom is loving it. Enough said.

We’re one-third of the way through Andor’s first season, and so far, things are looking incredibly good. In this episode, Eric and Grace break down how Andor is hitting all the right notes, from its grounded setting and its darker tone to its nuanced portrayals of heroes, villains, and everyday people. We talk about Mon Mothma’s unexpected vulnerability, the office politics of the Imperial Security Bureau, and Andor’s unflinching depictions of surveillance, migration, and insurgency. Plus, we explore the series’ smart integration of Easter eggs and celebrate production-design choices large and small.

Podracing: to paraphrase Qui-Gon, it’s very fast, very dangerous, and very possibly the best sequence in The Phantom Menace. In this episode, Daily Beast congressional reporter Sam Brodey joins us to discuss the podrace sequence’s uniquely excellent world-building, the racers’ bizarre backstories, and the high-octane competition’s best sound effects and strangest moments. Plus, we celebrate Fode and Beed, pitch ideas for a podracing mini-series on Disney+, and mourn Ratts Tyrell — gone but not forgotten.

How will the new Disney+ series Andor balance its ambition to be a political thriller about insurgency and migration with its imperative to serve a mass audience and respect Star Wars’ kid-friendly roots? In this episode, Eric, Grace, and Haley discuss their hopes and expectations for Andor, including a spotlight on Mon Mothma, an exploration of Imperial loyalism, and a focus on more grounded heroes. Plus, we digest a revelation about Mon’s past, ponder Tony Gilroy’s promise of journalist representation, cheer for Andor’s escape from the Volume, and consider whether the show is destined to be another battlefront in the culture war.

We’re mixing things up in this episode of Hoth Takes and turning the reins over to a special guest: Washington Post health-care reporter Dan Diamond. Dan, a self-admitted Star Wars novice, asks us a series of pressing questions about the galaxy far, far away, from how people get their news to why stormtroopers can’t hit anything. We also discuss the role of Star Wars in the real world, including why there’s so much anger in fandom and whether someday, far off in the future, Star Wars will become an actual religion. Plus, we try to convince a skeptical Dan of the majesty of Cad Bane (and his hat).

Now that we’ve had plenty of time to digest the second half of Obi-Wan Kenobi, we’re diving into how everything went down and whether the series lived up to its potential. From Obi-Wan and Anakin flashbacks to Reva’s secret agenda, find out what we thought worked and what disappointed us. Plus, Haley gives us a new way to think about the finale’s Star Wars Rebels ripoff (perhaps “homage” is a better term?), and we pour one out for Tera Sinube.

Who’s your favorite Jedi? In this episode, Eric and Haley make their cases for two very different characters — one young and irreverent, one experienced and solemn. What can Ezra Bridger teach us about the Jedi quest for selflessness amid the temptations of family, home, and power? And how much was Mace Windu to blame for the success of Darth Sidious’ plan to corrupt Anakin Skywalker? From Loth-wolves to Sith holocrons to dangerous lightsaber fighting styles, the stories of Ezra and Mace are full of complex, fascinating dilemmas about Jedi identity and purpose, and in this episode, we dive into how they tackle those challenges. Plus: What might be next for Ezra? And if Mace is somehow still alive, what should be next for him?

He’s one of the most popular characters in all of Star Wars, immortalized in countless action figures and endless fan art. But what makes Darth Vader so cool and interesting? Why can’t fans ever get enough stories about him? With Vader back in the spotlight thanks to the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, Eric and Grace explore Anakin Skywalker’s journey from selfish downfall to selfless redemption and discuss the Star Wars stories that best capture his dark essence. We talk about how Ezra Bridger and Ahsoka Tano see Vader very differently in a pivotal Star Wars Rebels episode, how Vader’s team-up with Grand Admiral Thrawn reveals a different side of the Dark Lord, and how he’s endlessly fascinating in the original trilogy thanks to his enigmatic presence and subordinate role.