Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast

Star Wars meets politics in this episode as Eric and Haley discuss how the Republic government should be rebuilt after the sequel trilogy. How much control should it have over planetary affairs? Should it have an active military? How should law enforcement be handled? What should the government’s relationship with the Jedi be? And speaking of the Jedi, what should they look like in this new era? Haley wants to see some Force civics education, and Eric thinks the Republic needs a House of Representatives. Join us as we wrestle with big questions of galactic political science, some of them pretty familiar to us here on Earth.

The sequel trilogy may be over, but we could still see Rey and the gang in future stories. In this episode, Eric and Grace chat about what they want to see next from Rey, Finn, Poe, and their allies. Plus, Grace pitches her plan for bringing Ben Solo to justice, and we imagine R2-D2 and C-3PO’s married life in their Coruscant condo.

When Grace and Haley learned that Eric had stayed at Disney’s new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser immersive hotel thing, they knew they had to ask him all about it. Join us for a discussion about interactive storytelling, space food, and the moral dilemma of Disney’s premium experiences. Eric shares stories about bantering with the Starcruiser’s top-notch actors, how it feels to be in the middle of a Star Wars adventure, and what it’s like to run into a group of pint-sized First Order sympathizers. Plus, we brainstorm our first reality competition series for the podcast.

Dive down a rabbit hole or two with us as we explore the zaniest Star Wars fan theories of the past few years. Obviously wesa gonna talk about the big bombad theory yousa probably already familiar with — but some of the others might surprise you. We have strong feelings about these theories, so what happens when we disagree? Plus, Grace reveals why she knows so much about Bob Newhart, Haley gets super into image analysis, and Eric risks public condemnation to question the science.

If you thought we disliked the first half of The Book of Boba Fett, wait until you hear what we have to say about the second half. From Boba and Fennec’s wasted potential to the pointless time-sucking flashbacks to the Mandalorian takeover, we’re as merciless as the Pyke Syndicate. Grace is furious about the show’s missed opportunities, Eric is annoyed that apparently anyone can be resurrected these days, and Haley is frustrated by Boba's inexplicable choices. Plus, we pay Amy Sedaris her due, we accentuate the positives, and we have way too much fun imagining a long-lost duo’s happy life on Tatooine.

Let’s talk Sith. In this episode, Haley’s Dispatch colleague David French joins us to discuss the 2006 Star Wars novel Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, the effectiveness of the Rule of Two, and how different stories depict the dark side’s inherently corrupting nature. We explore the cautionary tale of Bane’s descent into evil, consider whether the Rule of Two was necessary to assure the success of Palpatine’s grand plan, and examine the similarities between the dark side and drug addiction.

We’re three chapters into The Book of Boba Fett, and we still know almost nothing about what’s going on. In this episode, we discuss the show’s pacing, tone, and narrative, including a plotline that’s lasted too long, a crime lord who isn’t violent enough, a city that’s too empty, and speeder bikes that are too shiny. We also vent about virtual sets, discuss romantic possibilities, and praise the guest stars and lore references. Plus, Eric makes an embarrassing timeline mistake, Grace pours one out for a very special Hutt, and Haley reveals two completely unsurprising facts about her past.

Let’s face it — the Galactic Senate doesn’t make much sense. For one thing, how do they have enough pods for every senator? And what’s with corporations getting seats? In this episode, we explore why the Senate is so weird and how that weirdness affects the Star Wars galaxy. We look at the strange role of junior representatives, the divide between the Senate and local authorities, and depictions of the legislative process in canon. Plus, we discuss how we would reform the Senate, including whether it would have benefited from a strong party system and more empowered committees. It’s the conversation we were born to have, and we’re as surprised as you are that we waited this long to have it.

What do Loki and That’s So Suite Life of Hannah Montana have in common? Every big franchise has cameos and tie-ins, but only the best franchises balance these bits of connectivity with storytelling that can stand on its own. In this episode, Haley returns from her well-deserved maternity leave to join Eric and Grace for a look back at Star Wars: Visions and a look ahead at The Book of Boba Fett and other upcoming shows. We discuss our favorite Visions episodes and how the show benefits from telling stories about regular people; our hopes for the focus of the Boba Fett series; and our fears about crossover overkill. Plus, Eric complains about Disney’s stinginess and Haley complains about a missing element in Star Wars stories.

Hayden Christensen isn’t just returning to Star Wars in Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series. According to a recent report, he’ll also appear in the Ahsoka Tano series. Hayden’s return is super exciting, but we do have some questions. In this episode, Eric and Grace discuss the best ways for these two series to expand on Anakin Skywalker’s relationships with two of the most important people in his life. We talk about flashbacks and Force ghosts, Clone Wars memories and exchanges of wisdom, and of course, wigs and CGI. Plus, we consider how Disney could really surprise us with Hayden’s roles on these shows.