Star Wars 7x7: A Daily Bite-Sized Dose of Star Wars Joy

Ahsoka saying it would be better to let Grogu's powers fade than to train him is emblematic of the chronic problem the Jedi had in helping anyone in their order deal productively with fear. And I think this is a big piece of the flaw in the Jedi Order that led to its downfall - and we really haven't talked much about that aspect at all. On today's show, we're going to talk about love and fear, about the Jedi's non-attachment approach to life, how Anakin's notion about the Jedi being "encouraged to love" wasn't just a line to seduce Padme, and how - rather than helping anyone in their order address fears in a healthy way, presumed that anyone filled with fear was a risk, instead of someone in need, someone who could learn to master their fears in a healthy way. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

The casting for season 2 of The Mandalorian is bigger than last season, in terms of actors and characters. But are these big names just going to be one-and-done? Today, we'll discuss... Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

From movies to live-action TV, books to comics, video games to VR, and everything in between! Here's your Star Wars storytelling preview for December 2020. Punch it! We don't cover all the categories this month, because there's not notable news in all of them, but for the refresher, here's what they are... Movies Live-action TV Animation Books Audiobooks Comics Virtual Reality Video Games Experiential (Events/Conventions/Parks) Merchandise ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Today, we acknowledge the Star Wars contributions of David Prowse, who struck terror into Rebel hearts as the man in the Darth Vader suit throughout the Original Trilogy. He passed away at the age of 85 on November 28th. Read the statement from Lucasfilm, including a reflection from George Lucas, at https://www.starwars.com/news/david-prowse.

Today, the second half of my latest conversation with Nick Martorelli, executive producer for the PRH Audio adaptation of From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Punch it! What follows is the full list of questions I had for him, and I think we got to all of them, though not necessarily in this order: Aside from the source material and the stories themselves (naturally), how was the process of doing this audiobook different from the previous From a Certain Point of View audiobook? How does the preparation for an audiobook of short stories differ from the preparation that goes into a novel? How has the current public health situation changed your production process? Can you talk a bit about the casting process, as far as how and where it fits into the whole project process? Some folks, like January LaVoy and Marc Thompson, are well known to Star Wars audiences, and have "strong suits," as it were, based on their previous Star Wars narration experience. How do you balance your casting decisions between leaning into those strengths versus applying their talents in fresh ways? Dion Graham is an experienced narrator doing a Star Wars project for the first time, and the similarly experienced Soneela Nankani is doing her second, after Lando's Luck. (Emily is comparatively new, too, of course, but with more recent appearances.) Can you talk a bit about the considerations for bringing in narrators who may well be unknown to a Star Wars audience? Jon Hamm is, of course, an accomplished actor, but doesn't do a lot of audiobook narration – this is only his fourth PRH Audio credit, and half of those are Star-Wars related. What does he bring to the table for you, from your own experienced perspective? I'd love to learn about the process of adapting Older's "STET!" for an audiobook, because it's so unique on the page. Do you have personal favorites among the stories in the collection? Or any stories that affected the way you think about Empire as a whole? And here are the links mentioned at the end of the conversation! Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickmartorelli PRH Audio: https://penguinrandomhouseaudio.com ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Today, the first half of my conversation with Nick Martorelli, the executive producer for Penguin Random House Audio's version of The Empire Strikes Back's 40th anniversary short story celebration. Punch it! What follows is the full list of questions I had for him, and I think we got to all of them, though not necessarily in this order: Aside from the source material and the stories themselves (naturally), how was the process of doing this audiobook different from the previous From a Certain Point of View audiobook? How does the preparation for an audiobook of short stories differ from the preparation that goes into a novel? How has the current public health situation changed your production process? Can you talk a bit about the casting process, as far as how and where it fits into the whole project process? Some folks, like January LaVoy and Marc Thompson, are well known to Star Wars audiences, and have "strong suits," as it were, based on their previous Star Wars narration experience. How do you balance your casting decisions between leaning into those strengths versus applying their talents in fresh ways? Dion Graham is an experienced narrator doing a Star Wars project for the first time, and the similarly experienced Soneela Nankani is doing her second, after Lando's Luck. (Emily is comparatively new, too, of course, but with more recent appearances.) Can you talk a bit about the considerations for bringing in narrators who may well be unknown to a Star Wars audience? Jon Hamm is, of course, an accomplished actor, but doesn't do a lot of audiobook narration – this is only his fourth PRH Audio credit, and half of those are Star-Wars related. What does he bring to the table for you, from your own experienced perspective? I'd love to learn about the process of adapting Older's "STET!" for an audiobook, because it's so unique on the page. Do you have personal favorites among the stories in the collection? Or any stories that affected the way you think about Empire as a whole? And here are the links mentioned at the end of the conversation! Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickmartorelli PRH Audio: https://penguinrandomhouseaudio.com ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

The worst-kept secret is out of the bag with "The Jedi," Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian (or episode 5 from season 2, if you prefer). And this episode also opens another huge door... Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Before we get to the second half of the second season of The Mandalorian (Ahsoka, anyone?), we dig into the two big reveals from Chapter 12: The Siege. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

On a day where gratitude is the thing, I share my gratefulness to Andy and Josh for inviting me onto their Holochronicles Podcast earlier this week to talk about The Mandalorian and Mando Monday... Punch it! This episode features an excerpt of that conversation, and you can catch the whole thing right here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W53utxszX6M ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

The Mandalorian season 2 requires a lot less set up than season 1 did, and the creative team is using that time to maximum effect. Here's our mid-season review... Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Sure, Lucasfilm is releasing a lot of fun, funky, and fascinating merchandise on these "Mando Mondays" following each episode of The Mandalorian, but are we learning anything more about the show as a result? Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

In the second half of my conversation with Cole Horton, co-author of The Star Wars Book, we're diving into sections of the book and the joys of bringing in details from across a range of media. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

A three-time guest this year, Cole Horton returns to the podcast to discuss his latest contribution to the galaxy far, far away in The Star Wars Book. From DK Publishing (thanks for the review copy!), this new Star Wars reference book is not your typical DK offering - instead of the short summaries and factoid captions, this one features long-form essays that allowed Horton (along with co-authors Pablo Hidalgo and Dan Zehr) to really dig into their topics and explore deeper themes across Star Wars storytelling. Today, I'm sharing the first half of my conversation with Cole. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Mando returns to a renewed Nevarro, and what should be a simple clean-up job uncovers a deep, dark hole where Moff Gideon's true desires reside. "The Siege" is Chapter 12 of The Mandalorian, and this is our official briefing... Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"The Heiress," Chapter 11 of The Mandalorian, introduces more complexity to the history of Mandalore in the past 12 years, packs big reveals, and continues a monster trend. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

42 years later, a new Star Wars Holiday Special arrives - a LEGO one! On today's show, a non-spoiler review, and a note about the important treatment of one sequel-era character. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Today, I'm bringing back the second half of my Star Wars Holiday Special 40th Anniversary interview with Hollywood comedy writer extraordinaire and co-writer on the Special. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Happy Life Day! In honor of the occasion, I'm bringing back the 40th anniversary interview I did with Bruce Vilanch, one of the writers of the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Here's part two of my two-part interview with author Preeti Chhibber, and today we're going to be talking about her wonderfully inspirational "Star Wars: A Jedi You Will Be." Punch it! Follow her exploits on Twitter at https://twitter.com/runwithskizzers, and check out her website at https://t.co/wocPTXOF8m?amp=1! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Today, the first of a two-part conversation with Preeti Chhibber! In this half of the conversation, we'll be talking about Anakin and Padme in her Clone-Wars-inspired story "Hostage Crisis" from Stores of Light and Dark. Punch it! Follow her exploits on Twitter at https://twitter.com/runwithskizzers, and check out her website at https://t.co/wocPTXOF8m?amp=1. ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

In our last discussion about the book version of "From a Certain Point of View," the short story collection celebrating The Empire Strikes Back, we're going to look at a couple of threads we haven't covered yet... Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Perhaps because the action gets so personal in the final act of The Empire Strikes Back, the stories in "From a Certain Point of View" short story collection related to that final act - while still interesting - are also more hit-and-miss in terms of their emotional impact. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Today, a sampling of the highlights from the second act of The Empire Strikes Back, as depicted through perspectives both popular and unusual, in the "From a Certain Point of View" short story collection. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Hoth, the search for it, the battle there, and the escape from it, are the focus of the first dozen or so tales for the The Empire Strikes Back edition of the "From a Certain Point of View" short story collection. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

The story of The Empire Strikes Back, as told by bit players, creatures, a Force ghost, and more! Here's our non-spoiler review of the latest "From a Certain Point of View" short story collection. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Today, the second half of my interview with Daniel Wallace, author/co-author of more than 50 books - many of them Star Wars one! - including last month's Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection. Punch it! To see what Daniel will be getting up to in the future, check him out on Twitter: https://twitter.com/danwallaceMSP ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

He's back, and for "real" this time! Last month, I featured an email interview with author Daniel Wallace (most recently, Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection). Today, the first of a two-part real-time conversation. Punch it! To see what Daniel will be getting up to in the future, check him out on Twitter: https://twitter.com/danwallaceMSP ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Less Easter eggs, more egg-related scenes by turns comedic and horrifying, permeate "The Passenger," Chapter 10 of The Mandalorian (or, season 2, episode 2). On today's episode of the show, we'll break down all the subtle details for you, including the tribute to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, to Star Wars Rebels, the Alien franchise, and much more. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda will appear in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, and if you ever needed something fun to take your mind off of things in the world, this will be it. On today's episode of the show, we'll also talk about the logline for Chapter 10 of The Mandalorian (out today!), a real-world Mustafar, and how the new LEGO show coming November 17th could fill the void you may have felt at the end of the Skywalker Saga. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Ron Howard was recently asked about the prospects for a sequel to Solo: A Star Wars Story. While he was definitive in his answer, there's still an aspect or two that are worth discussing further... Punch it! And particular credit goes to Star Wars News Net and their Resistance Broadcast podcast for starting and driving the #MakeSolo2Happen movement! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

On the one hand, The Mandalorian season 2 premiere was highly enjoyable. On the other hand, did they have to build on *that* story, or would they have been better off building a new one? On today's episode of the show, I'm taking some time to meditate on the value of mystery and unclosed story loops in Star Wars storytelling - even as I find it enjoyable to close some of them! - and how Star Wars, in its reflexive approach to define everything, may leave little room for our own wonder and imagination to play. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Merch from Mando Mondays can reveal details about The Mandalorian - including the relative importance of a character to the future of the show. Today, an analysis... Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

What's coming in Star Wars storytelling in November 2020? The Mandalorian captures the headlines, of course, and the very first High Republic story debuts, "beyond" books and comics. Punch it! We don't cover all the categories, because there's not notable news in all of them, but for the refresher, here's what they are... Movies Live Action TV Animation Books Audiobooks Comics Virtual Reality Video Games Experiential (Events/Conventions/Parks) Merchandise ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

The Mandalorian Chapter 9, "The Marshal," has so many little winks and nods to all corners of Star Wars storytelling - and to some familiar non-Star-Wars movie tropes, too. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

The wait is over! Mando season 2 debuted yesterday, and in addition to closing the loop on a 5-year-old and a 37-year-old story, we also found out the Mandalorian's plan for finding the Jedi. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

To help you avoid spoilers for the first episode of season 2 of The Mandalorian, it's a safe zone episode today! We're catching up on the news about a Willow series coming to Disney+, which matters particularly to Star Wars fans because Dave Filoni considers Willow to be part of a larger "Lucasverse" with very subtle connections to Star Wars... Punch it! Here's the official press release about it: https://www.lucasfilm.com/news/jon-m-chu-to-direct-lucasfilms-willow-series-for-disney/ And here's the behind-the-scenes blog post I mentioned on today's show: https://www.lucasfilm.com/news/forget-all-you-know-behind-the-story-and-creation-of-willow/ ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

It's nice to know that the writers and filmmakers for The Mandalorian are making connections with other realms of Star Wars storytelling, including Rogue One and The Clone Wars... On our last deeper dive into the first season of The Mandalorian, we're considering episode #8, Redemption. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Nevarro - the planet from which Greef Karga runs the Bounty Hunter's Guild in The Mandalorian - has been a bit of a puzzle. Season 1's "The Reckoning" puts some pieces together. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

The first of the new/regular Mando Mondays events happened, and while toys and merch aren't the focus of our show, what they reveal about characters and story falls right in our wheelhouse. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Word continues to spread about Mando's troubles with Guild, and though "The Prisoner" - season 1, episode 6 - doesn't advance the tale, it gives us insight into Din Djarin's backstory, and how he's changed over the years. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

The Gunslinger, episode 5 from season 1 of The Mandalorian, has the least amount of season-overarching information to it, but the one piece it does have is kind of surprising. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

In our continuing deeper dive into the episodes from season 1 of The Mandalorian, we're discussing "Sanctuary," episode 4. Which means discussing the Mandalorian's poor babysitting skills, the concept of "filler" episodes and whether this one should have that label, the passage of time in the episode, a couple of still unanswered questions, and more. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

What do the Bondsmen's Guild, the Mandalorian covert, and the Empire remnant know about each other in The Mandalorian? We examine the details and damage today, as we dig deeper into "The Sin," episode 3 from season 1 of The Mandalorian. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

As we approach the season 2 premiere of The Mandalorian, we're looking back at all the episodes of season 1 with the benefit of hindsight. Today, what we learned about Din Djarin's character - including his similarity to Luke Skywalker in the Original Trilogy - in episode 2, The Child. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

As we count down to season 2 of The Mandalorian, we're examining season 1 episodes in light of the full season, to glean new insights and flag unanswered questions. On today's episode, we'll talk about The Mandalorian's rules of engagement with adversaries; his feelings about the Empire; what Chapter 1 suggests about the current status of Mandalore five years after the fall of the Empire; and much more. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

What does the evolution of religion and government in our own world potentially tell us about how the Jedi of the High Republic era become the Jedi of the Clone Wars era? On today's episode of the show, I'm following up on a topic we brushed across yesterday, thanks to the interview with Daniel Wallace, author of Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection. That reignited something I've been wanting to pursue for a while, about how religion gave way to government as the dominant force (no pun intended) in people's lives and on the world stage. I think there's a potential parallel between that evolution in our own lives and in the way that it could play out in the galaxy far, far away. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

So, here's the deal again with Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection: Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection is a comprehensive visual guide exploring the iconic and legendary lightsabers found within the Star Wars galaxy, featuring fan-favorite hilts from the Skywalker saga, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, comics, novels, & video games. And here's the official bio for its author, Daniel Wallace: Daniel Wallace is the author or coauthor of more than fifty books, including The Jedi Path, Ghostbusters: The Ultimate Visual History, The World According to Spider-Man, Warcraft: Behind the Dark Portal, and The New York Times best-selling Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Characters. His specialty is exploring the underpinnings of popular fictional universes. I'm so grateful to Daniel Wallace and Insight Editions for making this interview possible! Today, we're going to talk more about his approach to the book, about the High Republic lightsaber included in book, and about his own particular lightsaber preferences. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Today, the first half of my email interview with Daniel Wallace, author/co-author of more than 50 books, including his latest for Lucasfilm, Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Disney just announced a big reorganization, with changes to how content is created and distributed. But what does this mean for Star Wars in general - and season 3 of The Mandalorian in specific? Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

On today's episode, I'll go over what little we know about Baby Yoda ("The Child") so far, relate it to what we knew from Legends about the actual Yoda's early life, and project it into Baby Yoda's future. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***