Hyperspace Theories

Hyperspace Theories

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Hyperspace Theories episodes

  • The Mandalorian: Allies and Enemies

    With Season Two of The Mandalorian premiering at the end of the month, our latest episode of Hyperspace Theories revisits the stories told in Season One. Between the three-episode opening arc and the two-episode conclusion falls a trio of distinct episodes that build and develop a number of important character dynamics. Tricia Barr and B.J. Priester discuss Chapter Four: Sanctuary, Chapter Five: The Gunslinger, and Chapter Six: The Prisoner and what they contribute to The Mandalorian's story progression.

    Many of those developments involve the show's central and titular character. Like the middle of a Campbellian journey, Mando faces tests and trials while encountering allies and enemies. These episodes, for example, reinforce Mando's distaste for droids and his sworn commitment to never remove his helmet around other people. They also show his worldly experience, his tactical combat prowess and creativity, and the code of honor that plays a role in determining which adversaries he defeats but leaves alive – and which ones he kills. And of course, his relationship with his ward, Baby Yoda, advances too, with a little prompting from Cara Dune, Omera, and Pelli Motto, as well as Mando's own burgeoning affection for the child.

    Check back soon for our next episode, also to be released before Season Two begins, when we will discuss the finale episodes of Season One.

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    Related Links

    • Hyperspace Theories: The Mandalorian, Chapters 1-3
    • The Mandalorian Season Two Official Trailer (YouTube)

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    1 hr 49 min
  • The Clone Wars Has Ended

    Teresa Delgado (Fangirls Going Rogue, Star Wars Bookworms) joins Tricia Barr and B.J. Priester of FANgirl Blog to discuss the concluding arc of The Clone Wars.

    1 hr 30 min
  • Ahsoka's Journey With The Martez Sisters

    For this episode of Hyperspace Theories, the show comes full circle. Joining Tricia Barr and B.J. Priester for our continuing discussion of The Clone Wars Season Seven is Megan Crouse, a familiar name to long-time readers of FANgirl Blog – and our guest on the second-ever episode of the podcast. Megan wrote reviews of The Clone Wars episodes during Seasons Four and Five when they originally aired on Cartoon Network, as well as contributing book reviews and other articles. Since then, Megan has gone on to write for StarWars.Com, Star Wars Insider magazine, Den of Geek, and other websites. Welcome back, Megan!

    The focus of our discussion is the second arc of Season Seven, which tells a story of Ahsoka's struggle to redefine her identity relatively soon after her resignation from the Jedi Order at the end of Season Five. Her thinking about herself is influenced by her interaction with the two sisters she meets early in the first episode: Trace and Rafa Martez. As Dave Filoni explained on Clone Wars Download, the sisters represent two possibilities for who Ahsoka could become: the earnest and compassion Trace, or the cynical and selfish Rafa. Over the course of the four episodes, Ahsoka makes her choice – and in the process helps Rafa realize that she can make different choices for herself and her sister, too.

    In addition to discussing Ahsoka and the Martez sisters, we discuss other themes highlighted by this story arc, particularly how the Jedi Order has been morally compromised. We also share thoughts about how this arc relates to other stories from The Clone Wars, including the novel Dark Disciple and the first two episodes of the final Siege of Mandalore arc, which had already aired by the time of recording.

    Related Links:

    • Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015: The Clone Wars Tales Yet Untold
    • Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016: Ahsoka's Untold Tales
    • Star Wars Celebration Orlando 2017: Animated Origins and Unexpected Fates Panel
    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Clone Wars Sneak Peek
    • Clone Wars Download: "Gone With a Trace" (YouTube)
    • Clone Wars Download: "Together Again" (YouTube)

    Contact Information:

    • Hyperspace Theories: Twitter @HyperspacePod
    • Tricia Barr: Twitter @FANgirlcantina; email [email protected]
    • B.J. Priester: Twitter @RedPenofLex; email [email protected]
    • Megan Crouse: Twitter @blogfullofwords

    1 hr 21 min
  • The Mandalorian: Chapters 1 - 3

    For the latest episode of Hyperspace Theories, Tricia Barr and B.J. Priester discuss the first three episodes of Star Wars: The Mandalorian, now available on the Disney+ streaming service. The untitled premiere episode, Chapter Two: The Child, and Chapter Three: The Sun collectively form the introductory story arc for the as-yet-unnamed titular character.

    In addition to the character development of the Mandalorian, we consider his interactions with the Bounty Hunter Guild and his Mandalorian clan, as well as his backstory flashback to the Clone Wars. And no conversation about these episodes would be complete without addressing the small green alien in the room: Baby Yoda.

    We conclude our discussion by looking ahead to the final five episodes of the first season, in particular anticipating the arrival of Gina Carano's Cara Dune and Ming Na Wen's Fennec Shand.

    Related Links:

    • 'The Mandalorian' Director: Baby Yoda 'Steals the Show' (New York Times, Nov. 22, 2019)
    • Why 'The Mandalorian' episodes are short and arrive on Disney+ once a week (CNBC, Nov. 26, 2019)
    • The Armorer: Unmasking The Mandalorian's Mysterious Blacksmith (Vanity Fair, Nov. 22, 2019)
    • The Mandalorian: Deborah Chow Reveals the Inspiration For the Baby Yoda Rescue (Vanity Fair, Nov. 22, 2019)
    • Baby Yoda Has Conquered the World (Vanity Fair, Nov. 26, 2019)
    • Fangirls Going Rogue: Priority Transmission #14: The Mandalorian Interviews: Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni
    • Fangirls Going Rogue: Priority Transmission #15: The Mandalorian Cast Interviews
    • Fangirls Going Rogue: Priority Transmission #16: The Mandalorian Press Conference

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    1 hr 6 min
  • Star Wars ABCs: From Alphabet Squadron to SDCC

    This month's episode of Hyperspace Theories takes us from books to fashion to movies, with plenty in between. Six months out from the release of The Rise of Skywalker, Tricia, B.J., and Kay look ahead to what might come next for Star Wars and its fans.

    We begin, though, in the present: discussing the recently released novel Alphabet Squadron by Alexander Freed. Taking place shortly after the defeat of the Empire, the book is the first in a trilogy telling the story of a group of pilots, each flying a different type of starfighter, who are tasked with tracking down an elite Imperial starfighter wing. We evaluate the book on its own terms, how it works to kick off a trilogy, and its relationship to Freed's other work. As big fans of the X-Wing novel series in the Expanded Universe (Legends) era – featuring the tales of Rogue Squadron by Mike Stackpole and Wraith Squadron by Aaron Allston – we also consider how Alphabet Squadron compares and contrasts with those beloved stories. (For more, you can check out Kay's review of the novel, too.)

    Earlier this month, Tricia and B.J. had the opportunity to attend San Diego Comic-Con as credentialed media for Fangirls Going Rogue, and they share some of their insights and reactions from the convention here on Hyperspace Theories, too. We start with the Her Universe Fashion Show, which Kay was able to follow along thanks to livestreams and social media. The work of the designers was impressive as always! Tricia talks about some of the other geek fashion she covered at the convention, as well. We also talk about the Star Wars panels at SDCC, including the Lucasfilm Publishing panel and a bit of Star Wars comics news, along with several other panels examining the role of women in pop culture and the entertainment industry.

    One of the SDCC panels Tricia attended gathered a group of experts to discuss how fans and fandoms display their reactions and emotions when long-running stories end. We take this idea as a starting point to look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars, both of which reach highly anticipated endpoints this year. With Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home, the MCU drew to close a ten-year, 22-movie epic storyline and resolved the fates of a number of prominent characters from the series. In December, The Rise of Skywalker will conclude a nine-movie, four-decade Skywalker Saga story told in the Star Wars films. We note the similarities and differences in the two franchises, and consider how the reactions to the end of the MCU's Phase Three may or may not necessarily transpose to the aftermath of Episode IX. In particular, the Phase 4 slate of new films and Disney+ series announced at SDCC keeps the MCU moving forward at a fast pace, and with great strides in improving the diversity of the talent on screen and behind the scenes at Marvel Studios. By contrast, Lucasfilm currently is scheduled to have a three-year break before the next film and has only two Disney+ series announced for that time period; on the other hand, Star Wars tells stories in animation, books, and comics that continue to advance the same singular storyline in a way that Marvel does not. Although both the MCU and Star Wars will pivot in new directions, we expect to see some significant differences in how the franchises and their fandoms react and adapt going forward.

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    1 hr 51 min
  • 45: To The Galaxy's Edge

    We have the future, the past, and the present to discuss in this month's episode of Hyperspace Theories. With Celebration Chicago in the rear-view mirror and December's movie still half a year away, Kay, Tricia, and B.J. still have plenty of Star Wars to talk about.

    We begin with the Vanity Fair cover story on The Rise of Skywalker, featuring an article by Lev Grossman and photographs by Annie Leibowitz. As is typical for these pieces, we learned a few new character and planet names, but very little other new information – especially following so closely on the heels of similar interview answers given at Celebration. Likewise, Leibowitz's composite style provides imagery presumably intended to convey the tone and spirit of the film, but they are traditional behind-the-scenes snapshots or on-set stills. But we did get much better looks at the costumes for Rey and Zorri Bliss, much to Kay's excitement.

    Our storytelling segment travels over sixty years back in time on the Star Wars in-universe chronology, to the era when the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic – though the seeds of the Order's demise already had begun to grow. The novel Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray focuses on the teacher-pupil relationship between Qui-Gon Jinn and a teenage Obi-Wan Kenobi a number of years before The Phantom Menace. She spins a tale of trust and friendship, as well as prophecy, ethical dilemmas, and the political power of governments, leaders, corporations, and the Jedi. One of the new characters is Rael Averross, also an iconoclast to the Jedi Order – but in a quite different manner than Qui-Gon. What they have in common is that both are former apprentices to Dooku, who appears only briefly in flashbacks in Master & Apprentice. The fallen Jedi turned Sith Lord is central figure of the full-cast audiobook Dooku: Jedi Lost by Cavan Scott, released two weeks after Gray's novel, which also includes Rael and Asajj Ventress from The Clone Wars. Between the two stories, the backstory to Episode I gains a considerable amount of new perspective.

    This month's world-building segment takes us to Anaheim, California, where Tricia attended the official grand opening of the Galaxy's Edge expansion at Disneyland. She shares her reactions to the new land, including the setting, inhabitants, food and drink, and of course the ride Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run. She also gives a behind-the-scenes peek at the dedication ceremony and formal opening of the ride, with VIPs in attendance including Star Wars animation guru Dave Filoni and Captain Marvel's Brie Larson. One prominent new character in Galaxy's Edge is Resistance spy Vi Moradi, who appears in Delilah Dawson's novel Phasma and August's upcoming Black Spire. In the park, Vi is portrayed by cast member Alex Marshall-Brown, who has been sharing her experience on Instagram and Twitter.

    Vanity Fair's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Links

    • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, The Ultimate Preview (Lev Grossman)
    • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Photos: Meet the Characters and Go on Set (Cover Shoot / Photographs by Annie Leibowitz)
    • Everything New Revealed in Vanity Fair's The Rise of Skywalker Cover Story (Joanna Robinson)
    • Star Wars: The Truth About Kylo Ren and Rey's Connection (Joanna Robinson)
    • Star Wars: Keri Russell Is the Roguish Zorri Bliss (Joanna Robinson)
    • Star Wars: The Knights of Ren Make Their Long-Awaited Return (Joanna Robinson)
    • Star Wars: Richard E. Grant's Villainous Character, Revealed (Joanna Robinson)
    • Star Wars: Why Billie Lourd Asked to Share Scenes with Her Late Mother, Carrie Fisher (Joanna Robinson)
    • A Lot of the Final Skywalker Film Has Been Planned "from the Very Beginning" (Joanna Robinson)
    • In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, C-3PO Will Surprise Everybody (Joanna Robinson)

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    1 hr 51 min
  • Star Wars Celebration Chicago Wrap

    On Episode 44 of Hyperspace Theories, Tricia, B.J. and Kay discuss Star Wars Celebration in Chicago and share our reactions to, and favorite moments from, the convention. The convention was definitely a busy one: we didn't even have time to record the episode live at the con, but hopefully the clearer audio quality is a worthwhile tradeoff.

    We begin, of course, with the Episode IX panel that kicked off the convention on Friday morning, April 12. In addition to the panel itself, we give our initial impression of the movie's title, The Rise of Skywalker, and the teaser trailer unveiled at the conclusion of the panel – including a surprise appearance by the Emperor's Ian McDiarmid on the Celebration stage.

    We then talk about a wide range of other experiences from the convention. Panels discussed include The Clone Wars, The Mandalorian, Galaxy's Edge, and Claudia Gray's writer workshop. Other topics include merchandise, cosplay, the fan-organized Ahsoka Lives picture, and the fun of socializing with friends from all over the country and around the world. We also offer some constructive criticism on several of the logistical problems that arose before and during the convention, in the hope that these issues can be resolved for Celebration Anaheim in 2020.

    We conclude the show with our favorite moments from the convention. For each of us, these were more personally important than anything else – but that's what conventions like Celebration are really all about.

    FANgirl Coverage of Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019:

    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: Episode IX Panel
    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: Bringing Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge to Life at Disney Parks
    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Clone Wars Sneak Peek
    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Mandalorian Panel
    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Phantom Menace 20th Anniversary Panel
    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Music of The Phantom Menace With David Collins
    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: Logistical Problems and Areas for Improvement
    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Franchise Talking Points
    • Fangirls Going Rogue: Basking In Celebration Afterglow
    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: Marvel Comics Presents: Star Wars
    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Meaning of Community: My First Star Wars Celebration
    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: The Freemaker Adventures and Star Wars: All-Stars Panel
    • Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019: Star Wars Resistance Season Two Sneak Peek

    Contact Information:

    1 hr 34 min

About Hyperspace Theories

From the publisher's feed

On Hyperspace Theories the team from FANgirl Blog discuss elements that impact Star Wars storytelling. Each month hosts Tricia Barr, BJ Priester and Kay Serna take a deep dive into creative individuals who impact the franchise, from George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy to William Shakespeare and Hayao Miyazaki, then break down storytelling from worldbuilding to character development.