Talking Star Wars

In our continuing series of character spotlights highlighting interesting characters from the Star Wars Universe and analyzing both their in-universe traits and how they function as a character in the greater narrative, this episode dives into the half-life of General Grievous, supreme military commander of the armed forces of the Confederacy of Independent Systems during The Clone Wars. A Kaleesh warlord who had replaced most of his body with droid parts and cybernetics, Grievous twirls his metaphorical mustache from his Clone Wars inception to his defeat at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

This episode mentions content from, and may contain spoilers for: Episodes 1 through 9, The Clone Wars, Clone Wars (Legends microseries), Age of the Republic: Villains, Tales of the Empire, Dark Legends, Doctor Aphra, The Aftermath Trilogy, Poe Dameron (comic), Darth Vader (2015 comic), and The Last Shot.

Thank you for listening to Talking Star Wars with Connor and Alex!

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In this episode, our hosts take a look at the most recent visual media series released in the Star Wars Universe: The Acolyte. Connor and Alex provide an overview and investigation of the plot of the series, from the Rashomon-style episodes portraying the events on Brendok, to the way noir mystery influences the first several episodes, to the beautifully choreographed fight scenes spread throughout the season. Further, the hosts dive into the key themes of the series: the increasingly dogmatic depiction of Jedi in the leadup to the era of The Clone Wars, the seductive lure of the Dark Side, and the way the best of intentions can still lead to the worst of outcomes. Listen now to hear a breakdown of the first season of The Acolyte.

This episode mentions content from, and may contain spoilers for: Episodes 1 through 9, The Acolyte, The High Republic (Phases 1 to 3), The Clone Wars, Ahsoka, Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith (2017 comic), Fallen Order, Jedi Survivor, The Mandalorian, and Kenobi.

Thank you for listening to Talking Star Wars with Connor and Alex!

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This episode continues the series’ ongoing look at mythical and exotic materials in the Star Wars Universe, after exploring the role of kyber crystals last week, but expanding on the use and cultural significance of both beskar (used primarily in the forging of Mandalorian armor) and cortosis (notoriously one of the only materials in the Star Wars setting that can deactivate and counteract a Jedi’s lightsaber). The hosts both review and discuss the depiction of each of these minerals in the Star Wars universe and draw parallels to other materials in other fiction, such as Moria’s mithril. Listen now to learn more!

This episode mentions content from, and may contain spoilers for: Episodes 1 through 9, The Mandalorian, The Clone Wars, Rebels, Tales of the Empire, Ahsoka, Thrawn: Alliances, The Acolyte, Knights of the Old Republic (legends), and The High Republic (phases 1 and 2).

Thank you for listening to Talking Star Wars with Connor and Alex!

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This episode of the first of a two-part series on exotic and mythic materials of Star Wars, this installment investigates the depiction and role played by kyber crystals play in the galaxy far far away. First, the hosts explore the works that explain and show the role of kyber crystals in Star Wars, from the lightsabers of Jedi and Sith to their (mis)use as the primary component of the Death Star’s superlaser. Additionally, this episode compares and contrasts the kyber crystal with the role of other mystical, rare, and ‘magical’ materials and items in other media. Listen today, and join us for the next episode diving in to beskar and cortosis!

This episode mentions content from, and may contain spoilers for: Episodes 1 through 9, The Clones Wars, Rebels, Catalyst, Rogue One, Star Wars (2020 comic run), Andor, Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith (2017 comic run), Fallen Order, Jedi Survivor, Star Wars: Dark Legends, Darth Vader (2020 comic run), Visions Season 2, Shadow of the Sith, and The High Republic (phase 2, minor mention).

Thank you for listening to Talking Star Wars with Connor and Alex!

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This episode explores the dark mirror to the Jedi’s ability to return as Force Ghosts by examining how the Sith can attempt to prolong their lives by binding their souls to objects as well as by binding the souls of others as servants. From the ancient mask of Exim Panshard that can possess its wearer, to the desperate remnant of The Grand Inquisitor lingering on long after his death, listen now to hear an exploration of all the ways the Sith use this darkest of arts.

This episode mentions content from, and may contain spoilers for: Episodes 1 through 9, The Bad Batch, The Mandalorian, Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith (2017 comic), Shadow of the Sith, Star Wars: Dark Legends, The Acolyte, Visions (Season 1), Ahsoka, Star Wars (2020 comic), Rebels (Season 1), and Darth Vader (2020 comic), The Clone Wars, and Knights of the Old Republic (Legends).

Thank you for listening to Talking Star Wars with Connor and Alex!

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In this episode, the hosts explore the ability of certain Jedi, starting with Obi-Wan Kenobi and extending through Luke Skywalker and Yoda, to retain their consciousness and personality after death to provide counsel, advice, and input into the world as ghosts or apparitions that live within the Living Force. The episode explores the agency the Force Ghosts display, their powers and limitations, and the origins of this power: potentially an entirely new ability granted to Qui-Gon Jinn and Yoda prior to the fall of the Jedi Order and extending to the current present day in Star Wars canon.

Join us next week for the dark mirror to this topic as we discuss Sith soul binding!

This episode mentions content from, and may contain spoilers for: Episodes 1 through 9, The Clone Wars, Kenobi, Ahsoka, Shadow of the Sith, The Force Unleashed (Legends), Lego Star Wars, and Doctor Aphra.

Thank you for listening to Talking Star Wars with Connor and Alex!

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This episode provides an overview of the seven primary lightsaber forms used by Jedi, Sith, and other lightsaber-wielders in the Star Wars universe. The hosts explain each lightsaber style, the exemplars of each, and delve into what each style means as a vehicle of visual and character storytelling. Connor and Alex also discuss the concept of lightsaber forms and styles as a whole to see if they are an overcomplicated piece of lore, or if they add to the richness of the setting and its sense of lived history.

This episode mentions content from, and may contain spoilers for: Episodes 1 through 9, The Clone Wars, Rebels, Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor, Tales of the Jedi, Ahoska, The Mandalorian, The Force Unleashed (Legends), The High Republic (Phase 1), The Acolyte, and Visions (season 1).

Thank you for listening to Talking Star Wars with Connor and Alex!

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In this episode, our hosts explore the character of Supreme Leader Snoke - dark side adept, failed strandcast of Palpatine, and master to Kylo Ren - and how the compelling concept of a non-Sith force user could have been further expanded on. Connor and Alex explore other potential directions Snoke’s character could have been taken: having more clones of Snoke that emerged after his first death, strengthening or removing his connection to Palpatine, or giving him a backstory stretching back to the days of the Jedi Order.

This episode mentions content from, and may contain spoilers for: Episodes 1 through 9, The Rise of Kylo Ren (comic), Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, The Mandalorian, The Bad Batch, and Darth Vader (2015 comic).

Thank you for listening to Talking Star Wars with Connor and Alex!

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This episode delves into the expanding lore of one of the cornerstone events in Star Wars lore: that of Order 66, where the Grand Army of the Republic turned on the Jedi Order in the closing days of The Clone Wars and leading into the Rise of the Empire. The hosts first explore the Rashomon-like collection of media that depicts the events of Order 66, and then examine Order 66 itself as a lynchpin event in the lore itself - where all future stories can be divided into “Before Order 66” and “After Order 66.” This episode also delves into the nature of an evolving event in a shared canon, where new facets are revealed and can server as either an expansion upon, or a soft recon of (depending on your view) previous media that depicted the same occasion. 

This episode mentions content from, and may contain spoilers for: Episodes 1 through 9, Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2005, Legends), Kanan Jarrus (comic), Fallen Order, The Bad Batch Season 1, The Mandalorian, Kenobi, Tales of the Jedi, The Clone Wars, Rebels, Tales of the Empire, The Rise of the Red Blade, Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith (2017 comic), The Alphabet Squadron trilogy, Andor, and Dooku: Jedi Lost.

Thank you for listening to Talking Star Wars with Connor and Alex!

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In this episode, the hosts continue their ongoing series on the various sentient aliens of Star Wars - analyzing their depiction, discussing their unique traits, and mentioning the most notable members of each alien species that appear in canon media. Discussed today include the Toydarians, Dugs, Devaronians, Evereni, Zygerrians, Dowutin, Gen’Dai, Ugnaughts, Besalisk, and Gamorreans. This episode also explores the ways that alien cultures gain nuance as more members of each species are depicted, and how each member of an alien race does not need to, nor should, serve as a stand-in for the entire species.

This episode mentions content from, and may contain spoilers for: Episodes 1 through 9, The Clone Wars, From a Certain Point of View (Empire Strikes Back & Return of the Jedi), The Mandalorian, Rebels, The High Republic: Eye of the Storm, Tempest Runner, The Bad Batch, Light of the Jedi, Fallen Order, Jedi Survivor, Clone Wars (Legends), Bounty Hunters, Padawan, and The Book of Boba Fett.

Thank you for listening to Talking Star Wars with Connor and Alex!

Check us out on Reddit here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalkingStarWars/