A Complicated Profession: "Star Wars" on TV

This week on A Complicated Profession, we’re doing an easy job taking out an Imperial base. Easy! What could go wrong? Host Dan Moren is joined by Antony Johnston to discuss threading the needle of deep fandom and telling a great, accessible story; gorgeous production design; and leaving plot threads dangling. <p>Host Dan Moren with Antony Johnston.</p>

What do you expect when you get your ship fixed on a fishing planet? A lot of netting. This week on A Complicated Profession, Dan Moren is joined by podcast pal Erika Ensign to discuss the balancing act of everything from fan service to lore to making sure your main character doesn’t always look like a galoot. <p>Host Dan Moren with Erika Ensign.</p>

The only profession more complicated than being a bounty hunter? Being a taxi service. This week, on A Complicated Profession, host Dan Moren is joined by podcaster and developer James Thomson to discuss children being jerks, standalone storytelling, and why you should never touch anything in a creepy ice cave. <p>Host Dan Moren with James Thomson.</p>

A Complicated Profession is back to cover season 2 of The Mandalorian, and host Dan Moren welcomes podcaster and author Helene Wecker to discuss the evolution of our protagonist from season one, having your tropes and eating them too, and whether there are more than six things in the Star Wars universe. <p>Host Dan Moren with Helene Wecker.</p>

The first season of The Mandalorian comes to a close this week, so Dan Moren and very special guest Kat Benesh to discuss a significant unmasking, drawing parallels with the past, and what we might see when season two debuts next fall. <p>Host Dan Moren with K Benesh.</p>

We regroup on this week’s episode of A Complicated Profession, as host Dan Moren recruits trustworthy allies Guy English and John Moltz to discuss lazy biker scouts, Chekhov’s bassinet, and Baby Yoda’s moral code. <p>Host Dan Moren with Guy English and John Moltz.</p>

It’s double trouble on A Complicated Profession this week, as host Dan Moren is joined by special guests Jane and Evan Ritt, to discuss the offscreen life of our protagonist, warring codes of morality, and unfortunate high school flashbacks. <p>Host Dan Moren with Jane Ritt and Evan Ritt.</p>

This week, on A Complicated Profession, host Dan Moren is joined by special guest Tony Sindelar to discuss the most recent episode of The Mandalorian, including how much fan service is just the right amount, droid-related head-canon, and the premature(?) fate of an anticipated character. <p>Host Dan Moren with Tony Sindelar.</p>

A Complicated Profession returns with Chapter 4 of The Mandalorian. Host Dan Moren is joined by special guest Kathy Campbell to discuss a compelling new ally for Mando, reinforcing the essential nature of our characters, and homages to a favorite Western trope. <p>Host Dan Moren with Kathy Campbell.</p>

We’re back for the third episode of A Complicated Profession and your host Dan Moren is joined by special guest and network head honcho Jason Snell to discuss chapter 3 of The Mandalorian. Our discussion covers the many possible interpretations of sin, what exactly happened to the Empire, and how this show paves the way for future Star Wars series. <p>Host Dan Moren with Jason Snell.</p>

In the second episode of A Complicated Profession, Dan Moren is joined by Aleen Simms to discuss the second chapter of The Mandalorian, including how an episode can succeed without using a lot of dialogue, ants at picnics, the unpredictability of characters that live in the gray areas, and whether or not the Mandalorian should take off his helmet. <p>Host Dan Moren with Aleen Simms.</p>

In the inaugural episode of A Complicated Profession, host Dan Moren is joined by fellow Star Wars aficionado John Siracusa to discuss the debut of The Mandalorian, the first live-action Star Wars series. We talk about the heritage of Star Wars on TV, Werner Herzog as Werner Herzog, and exactly what kind of show this is. <p>Host Dan Moren with John Siracusa.</p>