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

I've had the luxury - read: no one that I know of who's contracted the coronavirus - to have time and space to think about the anger I've been experiencing. And it's got me thinking differently about our reactions to Star Wars stories. 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 this month's installment of the Patreon Q&A session, I'm answering questions from Patrons of the show that address all corners of the Star Wars experience. One of the questions has to do with Star Wars Celebration Anaheim, and how it may or may not be affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Another question takes us back to International Women's Day, where I mentioned my interest in a female-character-led Star Wars story, and asks me for specifics. And a third question has to do with the impending arrival of a new bundle of joy (congratulations, Bobby!) and how/when to introduce her to 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.***

I have a reputation for being a positive person, and in particular to this podcast, finding the best in what I'm talking about when I'm talking about Star Wars. I also believe there's a distinct line between complaining versus critiquing. So when I approach the mid-season review of Clone Wars season 7, the final season of the show, I feel like I need to establish those two things as a foundation for what I'm going to say on the show today. Because, in point of fact, there's been a lot to enjoy about season 7 of the Clone Wars. It may just be my own preconceived notions here. When I heard that season 7 was coming, and with the talk about how Dave Filoni - and he's said this for many years, mind you - never got to finish Clone Wars, and now he finally gets to give it the finish he wanted, I went into this season thinking that they would be making exceptional and remarkable choices in the story arcs they revealed in this final season. Unfortunately, that's not the experience I've had, and I'll explain my rationale in today's episode. Again, I think there's a lot to enjoy about what they've done so far, and very likely for what they still have to reveal! I also think that, from a narrative choice standpoint, the arcs they chose are puzzling, for me at least. I do want to hear your thoughts as well - whether you agree to any degree, or why you might think I'm off-base about this... Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"Deal No Deal" is the sixth episode from season 7 of the Clone Wars, and the second of the four-part "Ahsoka's Walkabout" story arc, and also the midway point of the final season of the show. Man, that's a lot happening all at once! Today's episode of the show features the Clone Wars Briefing for this episode, where we'll recap the detail, and talk about how in one sense this episode is similar to the first one in the Bad Batch story arc; but taken together along with episode 5, these two episodes (5 and 6) also have something in common with the second and third episodes of the Bad Batch arc. We'll also talk about a scene that mirrors one from Return of the Jedi, and how that scene may be telegraphing the bridge between this story arc and the final one of the season. 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 couple of years ago, I launched a feature on the show called Star Wars POP! The "POP" stands for "Podcasters on Podcasting," so it's "Star Wars Podcasters on Podcasting," but "Star Wars POP!" sounded so much more fun, so I went with that. I did two episodes of that feature - one with Tim McMahon of The Expanded Fandomverse and Less Than 12 Parsecs, and another with Amy Ratcliffe of Lattes With Leia. And I have no idea why I stopped after two of them! It wasn't like it was getting out of hand... (That's a Neimoidian joke for you.) So as of today, I'm rebooting the feature, and I'm pleased to welcome Jay and Dennis from Podcast Stardust to the microphones. There's a standard seven questions I'll be asking them and every other podcast guest for this feature, and I've already got three more recorded so far. But first, Jay and Dennis... 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 fine folks over at Podcast Stardust have embarked upon a series of episodes celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, and for their third installment, they invited me on the show! It was great fun to dig into scenes before and during the Battle of Hoth with Dennis and Jay, the co-hosts of Podcast Stardust, and on today's episode of Star Wars 7x7, I'm sharing an excerpt from that much-longer conversation. The link to the full episode on their website is right here, or just search for Podcast Stardust on your favorite podcast app. And if the spirit moves you, let 'em know you like the show with a rating or 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.***

The Mandalorian ended season one with a lot of storylines to pursue - some more obvious than others, of course. On today's episode of the show, I'll start by exploring the not-so-obvious ones, and then leading into the most obvious ones of all. Along the way, we'll also be exploring the possibility of appearances by other characters not named Ahsoka Tano (since we've kind of gone there already). Yes, Luke Skywalker himself is on this list, but the chances are slim. Better odds? How about Shara Bey - aka, Poe Dameron's mother. Best odds? Bo-Katan Kryze, the last known owner of the Darksaber before we see Moff Gideon with it at the end of season 1. 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 season 2 is due to arrive on Disney+ in October 2020. We were talking yesterday about how Star Wars productions might be affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and we briefly mentioned The Mandalorian as part of that discussion. On today's episode, we'll get Mandalorian specific, and also talk about the directors who will likely be working behind the camera on the new season - and two who won't be. A third one who likely won't be, but wasn't mentioned in the show today, is Deborah Chow. Even though she directed multiple episodes of season 1, she's unlikely to return to season 2 because of her duties as showrunner of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series currently in pre-production. That seemed like an obvious one to me, which is why it didn't come up. The other two, however, are a bit of a different story. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Yes, a Star Wars podcast might seem like a comparatively frivolous pursuit these days, as the coronavirus pandemic takes an increasing toll on our health and economic welfare. But even now, there are many reasons to keep doing something like this. On today's episode of the show, I'll be starting off by looking at what's going on in the world of Star Wars storytelling, and how it is or isn't being affected by COVID-19. From there, I'm going to get a bit personal, a bit spiritual, and a bit practical with you... ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"Gone With a Trace" is the first episode of the second story arc of Clone Wars season 7 (and fifth episode overall), but it doesn't feel like the start of a story arc. It feels more like a one-off episode. Thinking back to the first of the Bad Batch episodes, at the end of that arc's first episode, we knew that Echo was alive - or, at least, that Rex believed it to be true. That served as an inciting incident for the remaining three episodes of the story arc. This time, Ahsoka has her adventure, but at the end, tells her newly-met underworld friends that she's gonna be movin' on. There's nothing about this adventure or its resolution to suggest what the rest of this arc will be about. As a result, it feels like we're going to see more of an unmoored Ahsoka. Maybe that's what's going to drive her back to the Jedi? Ultimately, we know that's what needs to happen, since we're getting the Siege of Mandalore story arc for the final episodes of season 7, and Ahsoka's a big part of that. So we're left to intuit that maybe this middle arc will serve as the bridge for getting her there ... maybe? Either way, we'll talk more about this on today's Clone Wars Briefing, and add a postscript to the Rosario Dawson news from yesterday, thanks to one of our astute Patrons. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Well, in theory, we were supposed to be talking about the next episode of Clone Wars season 7 today. But then SlashFilm got the Friday Star Wars rumor mill rolling with the scoop that Rosario Dawson would be appearing in season 2 of The Mandalorian ... as Ahsoka Tano. Naturally, the gears all started grinding and other reporters started checking their own sources, and - of all the crazy things - someone reached out to me with some insider knowledge about this situation! So on today's show, we'll talk about it, and we'll spend some time dealing with the idea that Ashley Eckstein may not be playing the character she so successfully brought to life. 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 Last Jedi, we learned about the sacred Jedi texts that Luke Skywalker had collected in his galactic travels, which he kept safe on Ahch-to despite threatening to burn the library down every so often. Well, as we know, Rey took them before Luke ever followed through on his many threats, and - with the help of C-3PO, Beaumont Kin, and her own Force-sensitive intuition - began to learn their secrets. But what have you and I learned about them? Previously, we only knew the names of two of them, thanks to The Last Jedi: Expanded Edition, the novelization by Jason Fry. Now, thanks to The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary, we know a bit more. (And thanks again to DK Publishing for sending me a review copy!) On today's episode, I'll sum up what we know and what we've now learned, plus I'll share a beautiful story about a tribute to a real-life Star Wars fan woven into the story of the sacred Jedi texts. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Months before the release of The Rise of Skywalker, Georgetown physics profession Patrick Johnson joined me on the show to talk about some of the more remarkable images we saw in teasers and trailers for the movie. In specific, we talked about the Sinta Glacier Colony; the Death Star wreckage; and the orbaks running on the Star Destroyer. Now that the movie is out, and now that we have additional information thanks to the Visual Dictionary (and thanks to DK Publishing for gifting me a review copy), I'm using today's episode to revisit those particular physics topics. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Ochi of Bestoon is quite the mystery character in The Rise of Skywalker. He turns out to be the missing link between the mysterious and unreachable Sith fortress at Exegol, and a wayfinder to reach it. We don't learn a heck of a lot about Ochi in the movie, and the Visual Dictionary does tells a bit more - though it tells us nothing in particular about the link between Rey, her parents, Ochi, and Palpatine, and it also leaves one other mystery unanswered. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

We likely see more planets in Revenge of the Sith than in another movie in the Skywalker Saga, thanks to the montage of Jedi deaths shown during the execution (pun intended) of Order 66. But The Rise of Skywalker gives Revenge of the Sith a run for its money, taking us to Ajan Kloss, Mustafar, Exegol, Kijimi, Pasaana, the Sinta Glacier Colony, and Kef Bir - and that's not even including the places we saw when Poe Dameron took the Falcon lightspeed-skipping. On today's episode of the show, thanks to The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary (and thanks to DK Publishing sending me a copy to review!), we're going to learn a lot more about those worlds 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 Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary (thanks DK Publishing for sending me a copy to review) includes a sidebar called "Timeline" in a variety of places throughout the book, and also a very large one at the front of the book which lays out all the events in the Skywalker Saga timeline. What's new this time around - aside from all the new details - is that the time isn't referred to as BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) and ABY (After the Battle of Yavin) in the book. Instead, it's referred to as BSI/ASI, or Before/After the Starkiller Incident from The Force Awakens. On today's episode of the show, I'll gather the important, unique, and remarkable timeline moments into one episode, and covert them into the old school BBY/ABY for ease of reference. I'll probably flag their relationships to Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens as well. 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 "Bad Batch" story arc is complete! It was the first story arc from season 7 of the Clone Wars, and based on story reels that had been previously released. On today's episode of the show, I'm reviewing the story arc overall, recapping some of the notable differences between the original and final versions of the episodes, and exploring the "what might have been" with another Bad Batch story arc that was previously in development. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"Unfinished Business" is episode 4 from season 7 of the Clone Wars, and finishes the first story arc of the season in epic fashion. I mentioned this on the episode, but among the differences between the story reel version and this final version is the opening narration. You can watch the episode to hear the final, and compare it to this, the original: War rages on! With ARC trooper Echo rescued from the Techno Union, the Republic returns its attention to the battle for Anaxes, where without Echo's strategic intel, Admiral Trench and the Separatists have lost the upper hand. But the question remains: can Echo's newfound ability to access Separatist computers help the Republic regain control of their vital shipyards? As you'll see, this original version doesn't start to cast doubt in where Echo's loyalties now lie, but the final version for Disney+ sets up that possibility. On this episode, we'll talk about how things get wrapped up, and flag other differences between the story reel version and the final version. We'll also talk about three particular scenes of note in this episode: 1) in which Mace Windu does one of the most Jedi-like things we've ever seen him do; 2) in which Anakin, without witnesses, is shown leaning in to his darker impulses; and 3) the epilogue of the episode, which is entirely different from the story reel version and packs an emotional wallop that's played just right. 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 Thursday, Disney made statements related to the coronavirus pandemic, announcing the temporary closures of Disneyland in California, Walt Disney World in Florida, and Disneyland Paris Resort. Based on the announcements, it sounds like the Downtown Disney locations in Florida and California will remain open for the time being. It also reads like the hotels in Florida will remain open but the ones in California will close - either way, please reach out directly to them if you have travel arrangements that could be affected during the month of March, which is how long the closures will last, at least for now. As for Disney Cruise lines, they will be suspending new departures starting March 14, and through the end of the month. In a very welcome note, cast members will continue to be paid during the closures, which is a wonderful and humane thing to do. Meanwhile, on behalf of everyone here at Star Wars 7x7, please be safe, and take care of yourselves, your loved ones, and your community. If you're looking for information you can trust about the coronavirus, I highly recommend the Coronavirus Research Center at Johns Hopkins University (https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/) as a source for updates, answers to questions, and emergency preparedness. There's a lot of information out there - some of it confusing, some of it contradictory, and some of it unhelpful at best and dangerous at worst. I'm finding that the more I read from JHU, the better situated I am to handle what's happening, and what's coming.

Thanks to DK Publishing for sending me a copy of The Rise of Skywalker Visual Dictionary to review and share with you! In fact, as with The Galactic Guide we discussed previously, I've also got an extra copy of this book to give away, which I'll be doing next month. In the meantime, today's episode focuses on a review of the book, as well as some of the details author Pablo Hidalgo has taken with inspiration from the story of The Rise of Skywalker and blended in to the backgrounds of the stories for both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi - further enriching the experience of those movies as well. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

ere was the headline that we haven't gotten to talk about yet: Star Wars: Rogue One Prequel Actor Diego Luna Says Lucasfilm Doesn't Trust Him And here's the problem with it. 90% or more of people who see that headline are not going to click through to read the article. That's not a criticism, that's just web statistics. So 90%+ of the thousands of people who see that are going to think to themselves, "WTF, Lucasfilm? Diego's a nice guy! There's more problems at Lucasfilm! And Disney!" And $*&%#$(*&$*(&%()&#$% and so on and so forth. There are already enough strident and conflicting voices opining about Star Wars right now. We don't need media outlets to through gas on the fire to create fake controversies in order to get clicks. And yes, it's fake. It's blandly misleading at best, and intentionally inflammatory at worst. On today's episode of the show, I'm going to share the basis of that headline with you - the appearance of Diego Luna on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. You can hear it exactly the way Luna tells it, and when you do, you'll see the latest example of exactly why we don't need people trying to start trouble where none exists. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Max von Sydow kicked off the Sequel Trilogy with the gravitas and ease that comes with such an incredibly prolific filmography. He passed away on Sunday, and today, we're looking back at his storied career.

Yesterday was International Women's Day, and I got to thinking. Yes, it was a big deal that the character of Princess Leia debuted in 1997. And yes, they made Padme Amidala a strong character in the prequels. But I think: A) It's fair to say that the Original Trilogy is very much about Luke more than anyone else B) The Prequel Trilogy is very much about Anakin more than anyone else C) You could successfully make a case that the OT is more concerned with Han's character arc than Leia's D) You could successfully make the case that the PT is more concerned with Obi-Wan's character arc than Padme's Now, there may have been great strides made for leading female characters in the old Expanded Universe (I hope so!), but the fact of the matter is, most people experience Star Wars through movies and television. And it looks as though Lucasfilm didn't set out to tell a Star Wars story in film or TV with a significant female character until the Clone Wars in 2008 - more than three decades after the debut of A New Hope. I'm going to be talking about this on today's episode, speaking in support of more leading female characters, and a female-led Star Wars movie for the 2022 date. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Thanks again to DK Publishing for sending me a review copy of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Galactic Guide to check out and share with you! On Friday, we covered a bunch of new things you can learn from the book about the heroes the final movie in the Skywalker Saga. On today's episode, I'm switching the focus to the bad guys, starting with what seems to be a startling omission at first. But upon reflection, you can imagine this must be because of a big secret they wanted to be sure to keep... And we'll also go over a couple of quick bits of trivia about Kef Bir, Kijimi, and that smooth-talking scoundrel Lando Calrissian. 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 the Wings of Keeradaks" is the third episode of the final season, season 7 of the Clone Wars. It's also the third in a four-part story arc, and as much as I hate to say it, it's the weakest one so far - so much so that it's almost unnecessary. That's not to say the episode is without merit. There are exciting action sequences, a bit of Wrecker comedy, and a moment at the end that's heavy with emotion. But as we'll discuss on today's Clone Wars Briefing, there's nothing about this episode that advances the story of this final season. They got to Echo in the last episode. We knew they'd get him off planet after that. Did we learn anything new in the process, or add depth or complexity to the storyline? Unfortunately, no. There were some missed opportunities that could have made this episode more necessary - at least one of which was hinted at in the original story-reel version of this episode. We'll talk about that, and about other changes to the episode from the story reels to the final Disney+ version. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

DK Publishing was kind enough to send me a review copy of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Galactic Guide when it was released. On today's episode, I'm sharing as many fast facts as possible that I learned about the backstory of The Rise of Skywalker from this book, as well as some fun facts about the book itself - including places where it shares information that ties into other Star Wars media, including animation, novels, and comics. Today's episode focuses on what we learn about the good guys and their circumstances, and we'll be talking about the bad guys soon enough, as well as an upcoming giveaway! It's a full-color, 96-page book that's almost like a mini Visual Dictionary, for younger readers. DK refers to it as "illustrated with action-packed images from the movie, accompanied by fun, easy-to-read text." And that's exactly right. Matt Jones does great, energetic, and breezy work with the writing Also, in place of cross-sections, they have fun features like little quizzes. Turns out I'm most like General Leia Organa as far as heroes go, and my ideal vacation spot would be Kef Bir! Time to pack my bags... 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 what Lucasfilm said at the top of their official press release/announcement for the mystery formerly known as Project Luminous - now revealed as Star Wars: The High Republic: This period on the Star Wars timeline will not overlap any of the filmed features or series currently planned for production, giving creators and partners a vast amount of room to tell Star Wars stories with new adventures and original characters. Okay, yeah, okay, but... what's "currently planned for production"? Mandalorian Season 2, the Cassian Andor series, and the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. That's it, as far as we know. There still hasn't been any announcement about what's in the works for the dates on Disney's release calendar - December 2022, December 2024, and December 2026. And everything in the rumor mill has been vague, categorized as "in talks" (no contract signed and not in development), or in the very early stages of development (see: Kevin Feige). So, that official statement doesn't exactly preclude The High Republic from making the jump out of publishing, does it? And wait, there's more! On today's episode, I'll be picking out quotes from a variety of people that seem to point at the possibility of The High Republic serving as a testing ground that could - *could* - evolve into live-action stories. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"Wookiee Hunt" is the 22nd and final episode from season 3 of the Clone Wars, and it features an instance of stunt casting! The Trandoshans have captured a Wookiee to hunt, and it's none other than Chewbacca. This is his first in-universe appearance, from a timeline perspective, and he'd have to be around 180 years old at this point. He gets to showcase both his brains and brawn on this episode, and for our Clone Wars Briefing, we'll get into all those details - including a very funny assist with a Jedi mind trick, and one of the most touching scenes with Anakin and Ahsoka to date. Plus, how Chewie is mentioned in the credits, and what it means for his performance in the episode. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"Padawan Lost" is episode 21 from season 3 of the Clone Wars series, and it's the first of a two-part story arc. Why are we talking about this episode today, you might ask? Well, it's the only remaining story arc that we haven't covered here on the show from season 3, and since it also happens that its featured player - Ahsoka Tano - figures prominently in the upcoming second and third story arcs of season 7, I thought it might be fun to look back at her earlier days, and finish off the season 3 Clone Wars Briefings at the same time. So we'll talk about this episode, which requires you to invent your own reasoning for why a Trandoshan is randomly skulking around a Separatist base on Felucia, and demonstrates the growing emotional attachment Anakin feels for his Padawan. She's kidnapped without a trace, brought to a Trandoshan moon where she's hunted for sport (and for a youth's rite of passage, which goes very badly for said youth). This episode also got me thinking about the animation in season 7; how it compares to season 3; what people were saying about the Clone Wars animation at the start of the show; how far we've come since then; and a little wistfulness over what could have been if Star Wars Resistance had a chance to run for more seasons. 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 Rise of Skywalker has been in theaters for more than 70 days now, but for all intents and purposes, the run is complete. Last weekend, it was only playing on about 400 screens domestically, and on the Friday (2/28), it took in an estimated $84,000. At this rate, it's pretty safe to say that these final weeks at the box office won't even have much of a rounding effect on the totals... So on this, the last Jedi Business episode for the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga, I'll share where the numbers stand domestically and worldwide; where it ranked in 2019 and all-time; how it compared to Rogue One at the box office (its nearest Star Wars competitor by box office); and the one possible jump in ranking it could still make. I'll also talk about what's next for Star Wars movies, and how the recent Project Luminous publishing announcement relates (if at all) to the future of Star Wars on the big screen. 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 March 2020! On today's episode of the show, I'll be running down all the major events - that we know about so far - in Star Wars storytelling for the month. From The Rise of Skywalker's foray into your home in various formats, to the latest hints at the second story arc of Clone Wars Season 7, and much more, we'll explore all of it here. 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 Distant Echo," episode 2 from season 7 of the Clone Wars, is also the second of a four-part story arc, and picks up not long after where we left off in the previous episode. Rex and the Bad Batch have returned to base, and the Jedi Council has the discoveries of the previous mission under consideration. The gang, along with Anakin, are awaiting the final go-ahead to leave for Skako Minor, but Anakin has a thing... You know, a *thing*... Which leads to us learning that Anakin uses Rex's quarters to make calls to Padme on the regular. Which means that Rex knows something. And Obi-Wan suspects it, telling Anakin that he hopes Ani said hi to Padme for him. Ani doesn't take the bait, but it does seem like his relationship with her is becoming an open secret, at some level. But, on to the business at hand. Anakin, Rex, and the Bad Batch head to Skako Minor, and on today's episode, we'll sum up the mission, get to the big reveal, and also talk about some of the differences between the story reel version and the final finished episode. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"Citadel Rescue," episode 20 from season 3 of the Clone Wars series, is the final episode in a three-part story arc that also happens to serve as a prequel of sorts to the first story arc of the new season 7 of the Clone Wars. The fate of Echo - who was caught in an explosion at the end of the previous episode, "Counterattack" - is not mentioned at all in "Citadel Rescue," so we're left to believe that he was killed in action. But there will be other casualties during "Citadel Rescue," including more clones, more of Even Piell's command crew, and most surprising of all, Even Piell himself. The battlefield funeral scene, for me, was one of the most emotional moments I've encountered in the Clone Wars so far. In fact, this episode touched on a full range of emotions, and felt longer than it actually was - in a good way! They packed so much into it, it's hard to believe it all happened in twenty-odd minutes. I'll be going over the important details in today's episode, including a crucial exchange at the end between Tarkin and Anakin, and then Obi-Wan and Anakin, that lays out yet another stone in Anakin's path to the dark side of the Force. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"Counterattack" is episode 19 from season 3 of the Clone Wars, and the second of a three-part story arc. And *this* is the episode where clone trooper Echo gets caught in an explosion - an event which has major ramifications for the first story arc of the new season 7 of the Clone Wars. All we see of Echo is him getting thrown by the blast as their escape shuttle is destroyed, and he's at the foot of the ramp when it happens. As our heroes retreat off the landing platform, there's ominous music and a pan down to Echo's helmet, which came off as a result of the explosion. As for his body? Well, we don't see it again in this episode. I'm hinting around the spoiler alert for episode 1 for season 7 at this point, but I won't add any more until we talk about the final episode in the arc. On today's episode, though, we'll run down all the major details of this one, and - in a side note - talk about the Indiana Jones 5 news, with Steven Spielberg deciding not to direct the movie after all. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Yes, Bob Iger has been thinking about his retirement for a while. He's been asked to stay by Disney for much longer than his initial contract limits were, and had signed multiple extensions. On the other hand, it does seem odd that on a random Tuesday afternoon at the end of February, Disney makes the announcement that Iger is stepping down as CEO effective immediately, and will be replaced by Bob Chapek. Chapek most recently served as chairman of Parks, Experiences, and Products - which means the creation of Galaxy's Edge happened under his watch. The unusual timing necessitated a hastily arranged call with Wall Street investors - one of whom sounded like he was calling in from a bar! - to ask what everyone wanted to know: Why now? And what does this mean for the future of Disney? On today's episode, I'm sharing Iger's answers to these questions, and introducing you to Chapek. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

It begins! The Project Luminous kickoff event was held last night, and the contributions of all five authors (so far) have been revealed: Charles Soule: the adult novel, Light of the Jedi Claudia Gray: the YA novel, Into the Dark Justina Ireland: the middle grade novel, A Test of Courage Cavan Scott: the Marvel series, The High Republic Daniel José Older: the IDW series, The High Republic Adventures The massive publishing initiative will take place during the High Republic, an era 200 years prior to the events of the Skywalker Saga. I'll go over all the major details Lucasfilm shared at the event last night, including some behind-the-scenes information you'll find VERY intriguing... 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 Bad Batch," episode 1 from season 7 of the Clone Wars, features Captain Rex making a shocking discovery by the end of the episode. To understand the history behind that discovery, we have to go back in time a bit - to a story arc that began with episode 18 from season 3, "The Citadel." It's the first of three episodes that deals with the capture of Even Piell, a Jedi with knowledge of a secret hyperspace lane called the Nexus Route, which connects both Separatist and Republic homeworlds. That means it has some very serious military potential, and the Separatists want to get that information out of him in any way possible. On the other hand, the Jedi want to get Piell back before he breaks. That will require them breaking into The Citadel, a prison designed specifically to hold Jedi, and from which no one has ever escaped. It turns out that this was the last Clone Wars Briefing I had done, prior to the recent series to prep for season 7. So this episode is also a bit of a blast from the past, since it features content from nearly 1,000 episodes ago! And we'll talk about the mission, about R2-D2's rank promotion, the first appearance of a famous OT villain, 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.***

First it was Taika Waititi in January. Now, in February, J.D. Dillard is in the spotlight, being rumored as in early development talks for a Star Wars movie along with writer Matt Owens. Lucasfilm, of course, hasn't said a word about this. The Hollywood Reporter broke the story, and Variety and Deadline Hollywood followed up with their own confirmations. But I should be clear that those "confirmations" are only confirmations that they're hearing the same rumors THR is reporting. That doesn't mean the story is true - yet - it's just that different people's sources are saying similar things. So we'll talk about all the details out there so far, and tell you a little bit about Dillard's background from a profile in Fast Company last year. 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 Bad Batch" is episode 1 from season 7 of the Clone Wars - yes, it's finally here! And in a development that shouldn't come as a surprise, there are a couple of differences between the version previously presented as story reels/unfinished animation, and the final version that debuted on Disney+ yesterday. The main differences are in the setup - a different fortune cookie, a variation on the explanation for why the Republic is losing the fight on Anaxes, a different origin for the mission idea, and a new scene with Rex and Cody in the barracks. And that's within the first few minutes of the episode! The rest more or less falls in line with what we already know, and in this full-spoiler Clone Wars Briefing, I'll walk you through it all. We'll also talk about the significance of Rex's theory for their losses, the big ending reveal, and who inspired the naming of Clone Force 99. 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's the day! First announced at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2018, Clone Wars Season 7 is finally here, with the first episode dropping on Disney+ earlier today. And tomorrow, we'll have the official Clone Wars Briefing for the episode, "The Bad Batch." For today, however: We know that the Bad Batch story arc is going to kick off the season, and it's a fair bet that the Siege of Mandalore story arc will end the season. But what will happen in those middle episodes? Well, we know that Ahsoka is going to be back in touch with the Jedi Order, but here's the thing - she needs a reason to get back in touch with them. So, why would she? Well, the answers may already be out there... I'm taking a look back at some footage from the trailer for the new season, combined with some recent interview comments from Dave Filoni, and the epic "Ahsoka's Untold Tales" panel from Star Wars Celebration London in 2016 - in particular, the "Ahsoka's Walkabout" and "Return to the Jedi" arcs - to consider what that might mean for episodes 5-8 of the new season. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"Sacrifice" is episode 13 from season 6 of the Clone Wars - what we thought would be the last episode ever, until fan campaigns, the advent of Disney+, and the desire of Dave Filoni to finish what he started all combined to result in the season 7 that debuts tomorrow. For now, though, we're focused on resolving the final story arc from season 6, which features Yoda flying to Moraband, the Sith homeworld. There, he will face his final tests in order for the Force Priestesses to believe that Yoda may be trained in the means of maintaining his identity after death, and being able to commune with the living as a Force ghost. Well, the Force Priestesses pull out all the stops on these final tests, but the very last one subjects Yoda - and unwittingly, I might add - to the machinations of Darth Sidious and Count Dooku, both of whom realize that Yoda is on Moraband, and act to take advantage of the situation and destroy him. We'll talk about all of this on today's episode, as well as the "other path" of which Yoda speaks to Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and a different read on the "There is another Skywalker" line that appears in this episode. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"Destiny" is season 6, episode 12 from the Clone Wars, the third part of a four-episode story are, and the penultimate episode of the Clone Wars - at least, until season 7 debuts on Friday. From what we know about season 7 so far, it doesn't initially seem like this final season 6 story arc will affect the events of season 7 very much. And we know two of the three story arcs so far - the Bad Batch arc, and the Siege of Mandalore arc. What the third one is, is still a mystery at this point. Meanwhile, speaking of mysteries, "Destiny" dives deeply into the mysteries of the Living Force and the Cosmic Force, as Yoda travels to one of the purported wellsprings of life to learn how to preserve his identity after death. There, he encounters the five Force Priestesses - Confusion, Anger, Sadness, Joy, and Serenity. (Makes you wonder if the Pixar movie Inside Out took any inspiration from this!) And even though they argue about whether to train Yoda, the fact remains that his destiny is already set, and he is supposed to teach someone who will eventually save the universe from a great imbalance. You could argue that this is a reference to Luke Skywalker, and you could also argue that Yoda did it twice with him. Which I will, in fact, argue in this episode, as well as break down the details you need to know before the finale. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"Voices" is episode 11 from season 6 of the Clone Wars, and aside from the Clone Wars Briefing that takes place on this show, we could be doing a whole separate episode about the nature of the Force - this episode reveals things that even the Jedi didn't know about it, and that deeply enhance our own understanding of it. But there's also more pressing matters to consider, like the fact that the leader of the Separatists is the same person who is responsible for the creation of a clone army for the Republic. Yoda meditates deeply and here's the voice of a long-gone Jedi: Qui-Gon Jinn, voiced (pun intended) in a triumphant return by Liam Neeson. And the ghost of Jinn blows out candles and levitates Yoda himself to prove he's legit. But Yoda's concerned that it's just a voice in his head or - more darkly considered by Ki-Adi-Mundi - that he's come under the sway of the dark side of the Force in some unknown fashion. And group meditation, sensory deprivation, and bed rest do nothing to help matters. So Yoda instead follows the voice of Qui-Gon's instructions to go to Dagobah, alone, to find out just WTF (what the Force) is going on. We'll talk about all of that in today's episode... 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 urge to start this post with the big line from Yoda at the end of "The Lost One" is almost too much to bear. This episode of the show is a full spoiler Clone Wars Briefing for episode 10 from season 6, which also begins the final story arc of "The Lost Missions" episodes. So you'll hear me say it on the show, and revel in the magnitude of it for a time as well. But I'll keep it out of here, just in case. What you need to know in the run-up to it: The episode kicks off with the Jedi receiving a distress signal from a ship long missing. Why did it suddenly start broadcasting now, more than a decade after its disappearance? That's never answered, but what Plo Koon discovers at the source sets a terrible chain of events in motion. The ship contains the lightsaber of Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas - yes, that Sifo-Dyas, the one who ordered the creation of the clone army. Well, the thought was that Sifo-Dyas had died while helping warring tribes on Felucia negotiate a truce. But the rest of his file was sealed by the Office of the Supreme Chancellor. Is this a plot by Palpatine? Well, no, but he certainly managed to take advantage of a sticky political situation involving the Pyke Syndicate ... I'll dig into all the details you need to know on today's episode, including the shocking discovery Obi-Wan and Anakin make on the Pyke home planet, and how that leads to the even more shocking conclusion with Yoda and the Jedi Council at the end of the episode. 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 Disappeared, Part 2" is season 6, episode 9 of the Clone Wars series, and this briefing is going to go quickly. That's because most of the plot was set up in Part 1 of this two-part story arc, and Part 2 is all about how Jar Jar and Mace are going to pull off the rescue of Queen Julia. The only big new deal of the episode is the detail behind the prophecy about chaos and destruction coming to the galaxy if the Frangawl cult pulls off their shenanigans. We'll talk about that new news, and we'll also talk about the new preview video released for season 7 of the Clone Wars, featuring the Bad Batch - clones with "desirable mutations." It turns out that, along with titles for the first two episodes of season 7, that we've already heard a lot more about the first story arc of season 7 than we may have guessed. 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 Disappeared, Part 1" is season six, episode 8 of the Clone Wars, and the first of a two-parter. And it's remarkable for a strange juxtaposition. On the one hand, the story is about the fact that various spiritual leaders on the neutral planet Bardotta have mysteriously disappeared. And it turns out this is a particular set of Force-sensitive mystics called the Dagoyan Masters. As Yoda notes, they're not warriors - their connection with the Force is about intuition, knowledge, and the harmonies of the universe. But they think the Jedi are kidnappers, and so relations between the two groups aren't so hot. So it turns out that another group of Bardottan mystics - the Frangawl cult - is kidnapping the Dagoayn Masters to sacrifice to an ancient demon, Malmourral. And their cult temple is built, surprise surprise, deep below the Dagoyan Masters temple. (Why do cultures keep doing this? It seems like the worst idea every time.) But meanwhile, Queen Julia of Bardotta requests help from the Republic, but will only accept one emissary - Jar Jar Binks, who is triumphantly voiced by Ahmed Best. Why Binks, you might ask? Because apparently he and Queen Julia have a thing going on. (Mace Windu, after finally reconnecting with Jar Jar on Bardotta - "Where were you last night?" With the clear implication that Jar Jar and Queen Julia were ... well, perhaps it's best left to the imagination. Or not. We'll talk about *most* of this on today's episode, plus a surprising fact about the writer of this two-part episode. Punch it!

"Crisis at the Heart" is the seventh episode from season six of the Clone Wars, and concludes the Banking Clan/Clovis story arc. Honestly, this is a plot following the formula of The Phantom Menace, in its way. Instead of the taxation of trade routes driving the action, this time we're talking about the interest on bank loans driving the action! Specifically, Count Dooku has the leverage to entrap Clovis, just as Darth Sidious intended. Clovis wants to remain impartial in the Separatist/Republic conflict, but Dooku has the goods on Clovis. Where did Clovis get the information that caused the Banking Clan's Core Five to get arrested, which resulted in Clovis' own elevation to run the banks? Why, from the Separatists! That won't make him look good in the eyes of the Republic. And neither will raising interest rates on loans to the Republic, which Clovis does, or else Dooku will stop paying interest on Separatist loans and collapse the banks. I suppose it's the Republic's own fault for agreeing to variable rate loan terms, but I digress. It may seem like it's all about numbers, but that's until the Separatists arrive with an invasion fleet, triggering a military response from the Republic, and then it's all about the action! We'll break it down in this Clone Wars Briefing, as well as the final showdown between Anakin and Clovis. 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 Rise of Clovis" is episode 6 from season 6 of the Clone Wars, and (according to Wookieepedia), was once part of a larger story arc that included "A Friend in Need," which ultimately was split off and became episode 14 from season 4 of the show. Which fits it into the four-episode story arc structure business about which we've talked previously on the show... So Palpatine is at his manipulative worst in this episode, and I mean that in a good way (from a storytelling standpoint). He positions Padme to continue working with Clovis, and he HAS to be able to tell how mad that makes Anakin. Certainly Yoda picks up on it, and Clovis does, too. Yoda even shares his concerns with Obi-Wan, who comes to talk to his Padawan about clouded judgment, about romantic attachments, and even about Obi-Wan's feelings for the Duchess Satine of Mandalore. We'll talk about all of this on the show today, as well as how "The Rise of Clovis" got me thinking about "The Rise of Skywalker," and what that title actually means... Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"An Old Friend" is the fifth episode from season six of the Clone Wars, and starts a three-episode story arc that's cut from the mold of The Phantom Menace in terms of its setup. Here's the opening narration: As the war between the Republic and the Separatists intensifies, many are driven from their home planets, and it is up to Senator Amidala to secure aid for them. All eyes turn to the Banking Clan and the planet Scipio. In an effort to remain independent from the Republic and the Separatists, all operations are divided, and money transactions are performed in a neutral zone surrounding the main vault. For operations to continue, there must be no war on Scipio. However, worry about the stability of the Banking Clan is brewing within the Republic as the wellspring of money may be in jeopardy.... Taxation of trade routes? Neutral zone banking transactions? Wow! But things get very personal, very fast, when Padme comes face-to-face with the Banking Clan's top negotiator - Rush Clovis, a known Separatist collaborator, and someone who didn't do much of anything to try and save her when she'd been poisoned during their last encounter. To complicate matters, there's a bounty hunter named Embo on Scipio, and while at first it seems like he's after Padme, later he appears to be shooting at Clovis. That's because Clovis claims to know that the Banking Clan is about to be bankrupt, and needs help exposing them. We'll talk about all of this in today's Clone Wars Briefing, and also about story-arc structure in these final episodes. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

"Orders" is episode 4 from season 6 of the Clone Wars series, and the final episode of the season-opening story arc. Unfortunately - for our characters, that is - it ends about as badly as you would expect it to, if you've already seen Revenge of the Sith. Fives has been brought to Coruscant to present his discoveries to Chancellor Palpatine himself, but before that happens, Kaminoan collaborator Nala Se injects Fives with an unknown substance. Surprise surprise, when Fives is left alone in a room with Palpatine and his guard, Fives goes nuts and tries to kill everyone. Shaak Ti saves Palpatine and Fives goes on the run, and from there, well, let's just say that this Clone Wars Briefing is a full-spoiler show, and leave it at that. We'll talk about the rest today, and also thrown in a wee book review for R2-D2 Is Lost! Thanks to Disney Lucasfilm Press for sending me a review copy - it's out wherever you buy books as of today, and it's a fun ride for your younger readers. There are plenty of references to Return of the Jedi, a story that covers a lot of ground in a short amount of time, and also features Artoo throwing shade at Threepio, which is always good fun. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***