A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

Three years after Luke turned off his targeting computer, Star Wars returns. Indeed, one might even ask "Is The Empire Strikes Back the actual 'start' of what we know as Star Wars?" Maybe! It's here that Star Wars begins to take the shape of a franchise (without any of the bloat yet), Industrial Light & Magic performs even greater special effects miracles, and the story begins to effortlessly blend fairy tale and melodrama. Plus, we get to see the original little green freak in his natural habitat. NEXT TIME: The Back Half of Empire Strikes Back Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized! Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

We return with the back half of a little movie called Star Wars. We can finally talk about some of the most foundational moments in the franchise. The very first lightsaber duel--and its relationship to a little tv show called Obi-Wan Kenobi. The series' three protagonists finally sharing screen time. The Death Star trench run and its relationship to the Force and Technology. But we also get to talk about some of the stuff that gets lost along the way. Like about just how funny Star Wars has always been. How the Empire is already a bit of a send-up of bureaucrat sci-fi baddies. And how whether Lucas knew the particularities of their history or not, Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi show up with enough ambiguity and depth to carry years and years of storytelling to come. Show Notes George Lucas: The Wizard of 'Star Wars' | Rolling Stone REBEL SCANNERS: Preserving Star Wars (with Rob of TEAM NEGATIVE 1) Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Austin Walker Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

A long time ago in a galaxy, far far away... there was a spaceship with a princess and a pair of droids and a malevolence dressed in black. There was a desert world with two suns and a farm boy whose only chance at escaping the planet's gravity was a wizard who lived out in the hills and couple of smugglers looking for a big payday. And there was something grey--aggressively grey--a sphere in the darkness of space, blocking out the stars, lighting up envy green, and insisting on its own place in the orbits of galactic lives. Today we talk about Star Wars. Show Notes Star Wars Version Comparison Luke and Biggs Deleted Scenes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Austin Walker Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

We've come to the end of Matt Stover's (p)re-telling of Revenge of the Sith, and it has raised a lot more questions than it answered (which isn't, necessarily, a bad thing). Questions like: "Why does Anakin say things like that?" and "How do I know that's a baby?" and, maybe most importantly, "Padme who?" NEXT TIME: STAR WARS Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized! Show Notes Four Reasons Yoda Failed as a CEO Common Cyborg Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Austin Walker Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

We return to the final days of the old Republic. But not the Old Republic. That's different, now, that's like... an even older time before all this. Anyway, the Battle of Coruscant has concluded and its heroes, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi can finally come home for a little rest. And a little scheming. And a little paranoia. The Jedi Council members spin their wheels despite having all the clues. Palpatine spins the world around his finger. And Padme, Anakin's Wife (remember this), is also there. Next Time: The Rest of the Book Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Austin Walker Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

This is A More Civilized Age: Three hours of podcast when another team would make an hour and a half. Distractions. Diatribes. Deep dives into the databanks to learn, live on air, factoids about characters who hardly matter. But that's what makes A More Civilized Age A More Civilized Age: All of it might matter. Five years running and it's still asking questions a first year podcast might. And today it is going to learn what it already knew: That Anakin Skywalker is driven by love and fear in equal, but precarious measure. That Obi-Wan Kenobi, the ultimate blueprint of a Jedi, always knows when he's looking at a butt. That R2-D2 and C-3PO are slaves, but like, don't worry about that so much, they're more like friends, right? That Palpatine always has a plan, but always loves to pivot. And that Padme was there, too. And it is proud to be your podcast. Next Time: Chapters 8-14! Show Notes Camile Paglia about Revenge of the Sith It's All Stover, a Matthew Stover Podcast, hosted by Carter Richmond and Ina Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

When I went to post this episode, I went through all the motions necessary to post it as a Patreon bonus before remembering: "Oh no, wait, did we actually watch this chaotic mess for the main feed?" That's how bonkers this 1978 variety show is. So get ready to have your mind evaporated by this neutron bomb of content as we head to the Wookiee Planet on this very special Life Day. Next Time: Matthew Stover's Revenge of the Sith Novelization, Part One: Victory (Chapters 1 - 7) Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized! Show Notes The Star Wars Holiday Special Commercials Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social) Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

With the Ravager in pieces, Telos seemingly saved, and an army of HK-51s unleashed, the Exile and the (remaining) crew of the Ebon Hawk heads to the place where it all began: Malachor V. There, at the end of a multi-level dungeon and a couple of boss fights, the two remaining Sith Lords stand in wait. And in classic KOTOR II fashion, what they have to offer is tantalizing, memorable, and famously unfinished. And that's that for KOTOR II. Thank you for coming on this amazing journey. We can't wait to kick off a new series in the new year... but first... Next Time: THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL Show Notes

After a climactic confrontation on Dantooine, the Exile and the (remaining) crew of the Ebon Hawk return to Telos, chasing after the Handmaiden and Kreia. There, the Handmaiden faces down her sisters, the Exile comes face to face with Atris (if that is still her name), and HK-47 fights his way through a factory of hostility-ending droids. Then, above Telos, war breaks out. Darth Nihlus arrives at the helm of his corpse-of-a-ship, the Ravager, hoping to find a buffet of Jedi to devour. Instead he finds only his old disciple, a pissed off Mandalorian warlord, and a once-exiled Jedi. Show Notes Unseen, Unheard Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social) Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

With three of the missing Jedi Masters found, the Exile, Kreia, and the rest of the Ebon Hawk's ad hoc (ad hawk?) crew finally head towards the ancient Sith world of Korriban. There they find... well, mostly the same planet that Revan and co. left behind a few years ago, albeit a little more decrepit than usual. Then, its back to Dantooine to confront the reconvened Jedi Council and finally get some long promised answers. Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social) Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

The Exile and the crew of the Ebon Hawk return to Dxun at the behest of Jedi Master Kevar, loyal guardian of Onderon's queen. Onderon itself is at war, and like everything else in KOTOR 2, this crisis could spiral out of control and destabilize the wider galaxy if things go bad. And that's why the Exile and co will need to split into two teams, finally kill a bunch of Sith randos, and spend like an hour doing basic algebra and deeply confusing logic puzzles. Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social) Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

With two new party members in tow (and some dark secrets about our old crew newly learned), the Exile heads back to the first of two locales originally visited by Revan and co. during KOTOR 1: Dantooine. The old Jedi Enclave lays in ruins from a Sith attack towards the end of the last war, and the newly emerging government finds itself needing to serve three factions: fearful farmers, bored mercenaries, and sneaky salvagers. And none of them are big fans of Jedi. Also, we meet one of the biggest herbs in the galaxy. Next Time: Return to Onderon Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social) Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

We bring Nar Shaddaa to a close as our Exiles fight their way through a secret criminal HQ before being whisked away to the cloaked ship of the mysterious Exchange leader, Goto. Then, after some real table top dungeon crawl hijinks, we come face to face with the first of our missing Jedi... Next Time: Dantooine, Pt. 1 (We haven't figured out a stopping point yet! We'll announce on Bluesky later this week!) Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social) Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

With their work on Onderon stalled out, the Exile and the Ebon Hawk head to the smuggler's moon, Nar Shadaa in search of Jedi Master Zez-Kai Ell. Instead, they find the densest planet in the game, overflowing with side quests, NPCs that seems to exist just for flavor, and some of the most aggressive dark side options yet. Next time: Finish up Nar Shaddaa! Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social) Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)