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

Over the course of the next few weekends, we're going to take a look at all of the "Age of Resistance" comics from Marvel, to see what they might reveal to us (or tease us about!) when it comes to The Rise of Skywalker's release in December. On today's show, we're going to learn about General Hux's 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.***

Yesterday we talked about the state of the Resistance in the novel Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Black Spire. We talked a bit about the First Order, too, because it's hard to talk about one without talking about the other! Today, we'll talk more about the First Order as they appear in the novel, and clarify a timeline question about Black Spire in relation to A Crash of Fate. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Black Spire isn't part of the Journey to The Rise of Skywalker publishing initiative, and even if it were, they wouldn't want to reveal a heck of a lot about what might be coming in Episode IX. That said, there are things we can learn about the state of the Resistance in this period between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, and that's what we're going to dig into today. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Like the gentle push that starts the dominos falling, the details about when the events of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Black Spire take place tell us not only about its place in the Sequel Era timeline, but also shed light on a significant section of the time in between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

There's a lot to recommend "Black Spire," the new novel by "Phasma" author Delilah S. Dawson. The strengths of character and character interaction in the latter book are on full display here as well, headlined by the spectacular Vi Moradi and the returning Cardinal. The push of Vi outside her comfort zone by Leia makes for some compelling storytelling, with a bit of a foundational challenge. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

For all the talk about the "Skywalker Saga" coming to an end, when you consider the very first Star Wars movie - which wasn't referred to as "A New Hope" until years later - Luke Skywalker isn't the new hope, and the Jedi aren't either. So, what's the real hope? And how is hope expressed by different characters in the movie? This and more in the first of a ten-part weekly series related to my upcoming book and TEDx talk, "Hyperspacing Hope." 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 blink-and-you'll-miss-it Star Destroyer clue, the "Siege Breaker," the dual-phase lightsaber, and what John Williams had to say about Poe Dameron - all of these little snippets of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker news are interesting, but not substantial enough for an episode by themselves. So it's potpourri time! Or, put another way, it's time for a news and notes roundup. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Entertainment Weekly's Fall TV Preview came out, and as predicted, The Mandalorian is prominently featured! On today's show, I'm covering the highlights of the new reveals from the issue - and talking about one item that (to my ears, at least) doesn't seem quite 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.***

A couple hundred episodes ago (#1435, to be exact), we talked about the potential meaning of the then-newly-announced working title for Episode IX, "trIXie." (With the stylized capital IX, of course. Clever.) Here we are, a little more than a year later, and we know more about The Rise of Skywalker than we did back then. So let's re-examine the theory about that title's link to a 1973 George Romero horror movie, and see whether it holds new meaning... Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Previous production names for Star Wars movies had hidden meanings. Now that we know more about The Rise of Skywalker, does its production name "Carbonado Industries" tell us something more about the movie? Examining two character possibilities today, as well as the incredible, coincidental, geological connection between "carbonado" and Star Wars. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Much is being made about the appearance of an evil-looking Rey in the D23 footage from The Rise of Skywalker - including the ring she's wearing. What's the deal with that ring, anyway? Is it actually meaningful in some dark side way? Or is there possibly a more mundane, even heartwarming answer to the mystery? Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

September is going to be a slow month compared to the final three months of 2019, but there's still a lot to look forward to in the world of Star Wars! On today's episode, I'm detailing the things we know, and the things we can expect to see, before the calendar turns to October. 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 Grysk could be the next big bad for the Star Wars universe, capable of turning what we know about the GFFA on its head! Today, let's add what we've learned about them from Thrawn: Treason to what we already know - which will wind up connecting them to the Sequel Era and even to Supreme Leader Snoke himself. 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 Chiss want with the Galactic Empire? What does Palpatine want with the Chiss? What do the events of Thrawn: Treason have to do with the Sequel Era, and why is it a good thing (from a certain point of view) that Thrawn got spirited away by the purgill at the end of Star Wars Rebels? Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Wonder what happened to Grand Admiral Thrawn when he checked out of Star Wars Rebels for a while in the middle of that final season? The answer is in Thrawn: Treason, and on today's show, I'm sharing my non-spoiler-ish review of the book, its pleasures, its frustrations, and the future opportunities it presents. 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's been a while, so let's do a Star Wars potpourri episode! Here are little bits of news that don't support their own episode by themselves, but together, these news bits about The Mandalorian, The Rise of Skywalker, and Galactic Starcruiser are all worth your attention. 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 barely knew anything about Giancarlo Esposito's character in The Mandalorian before the D23 Expo last weekend. Now, thanks to interviews with SyFy Wire, ET Canada, and Extra Butter, we know a lot more! Check out snippets of those interviews today, and let's talk about what he reveals about Moff Gideon. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

There are still a few more things we haven't talked about, related to The Rise of Skywalker, that were revealed at the D23 Expo. From the jet trooper to the Friday footage to the subtle timeline reveal, I've got all the last little details on today's show. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

They did it! Lucasfilm released the D23 Expo footage from The Rise of Skywalker, and on today's show, I'm breaking down all the details for you. 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 final day of the D23 Expo featured a sneak peek into the future of Disney Parks. For Star Wars, that meant new information about the Galactic Starcruiser (psst - don't call it a "hotel"). On today's show, five fast facts about the two-night immersive experience, and how it ties into Galaxy's Edge. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Lucasfilm released a "sizzle reel" for The Rise of Skywalker at the D23 Expo during the panel dedicated to the upcoming Disney movie slate. And by all accounts, the footage did not disappoint - rather, it shocked, as it ended with a moment seeming to depict Rey having fallen to the Dark Side. What does it mean??? 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 an eventful day at D23 Expo! Day 1 featured the debut of The Mandalorian teaser (discussed on a separate bonus episode), a month for Clone Wars Season 7, an update on the Cassian Andor series, and a Vader Immortal: Episode 2 panel (more on that soon). But the biggest news? The confirmation of an Obi-Wan Kenobi series for Disney+. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Finally! An official teaser for The Mandalorian was released at the D23 Expo on Friday. Here, a breakdown of the footage, including notes about what's shown here that was previously show in the secret footage played for attendees at Star Wars Celebration Chicago. Also, one note about a final scene that seems to be getting missed in other coverage so far... Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

D23 Expo kicks off today, but there's already news coming out of the biennial event - namely, Mandalorian costumes on display, the concept of the immersive hotel coming to Orlando's Galaxy's Edge in the future, selective livestream details, 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.***

Ahead of the news that a trailer for The Mandalorian will be debuting at this weekend's D23 Expo, a potentially controversial question - is Pedro Pascal's title character actually from the planet Mandalore? It may seem strange, but when you consider that the most famous character in the franchise to wear Mandalorian armor wasn't actually Mandalorian himself, it's suddenly not so strange... Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Yesterday, we talked about the former Rebel "leaders" hinted at by the references to Corellia and Ryloth in the publisher's summary for Resistance Reborn. Who else might be able to come out of the woodwork and help the Resistance? Today, a look at former members of the Alliance who might still be alive - and two groups with a strong Rebel allegiance that would likely make fans VERY happy if they appeared in the novel - or especially in The Rise of Skywalker. 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 publisher's summary for Resistance Reborn by Rebecca Roanhorse has been released, and it says "the Resistance must journey throughout the galaxy, seeking out more leaders—including those who, in days gone by, helped a nascent rebellion topple an empire." Today, five characters whose involvement is strongly implied by the rest of that publisher's summary. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

John Williams' brother Don Williams was interviewed at the Academy of Scoring Arts about the progress of the score for The Rise of Skywalker. Here's his update, and what it means about the runtime of the film (and how SlashFilm got it wrong in their 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.***

Rian Johnson was interviewed again about Star Wars in the wake of his "Knives Out" promotional rounds, and though he didn't reveal anything new, per se, what he said flags something very important about the future of Star Wars. Also: Benioff and Weiss' Netflix deal, and how it may affect their Star Wars 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.***

A while back, it was an Obi-Wan Kenobi that was rumored to be in development. Now, we have reports claiming that Ewan McGregor is in talks to star in an Obi-Wan Kenobi series for Disney+. Let's break down the details of these rumors, and how they relate to the upcoming D23 Expo and the future of Disney+ and its Star Wars storytelling. 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 new excerpt from Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Black Spire by Delilah S. Dawson takes place during the events of The Force Awakens. And what's revealed in that excerpt seems to put all the pieces in place for fitting the events of the novel Phasma into the canon timeline. 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 season 2 trailer for Star Wars Resistance has dropped, and with it some shocking news - this will be the final season! I'm breaking down the highlights from the trailer and the announcement that came with it, including upcoming guest stars, timeframes, 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.***

The Star Wars podcasting community lost a beautifully bright and supportive light this week. Steve Kirk, host of the San Diego Sabers Radio Podcast and a driving force behind the San Diego Sabers Lightsaber Training Group, has passed away. Today's show is in honor of Steve, and also features the one-question interview I did with him at Star Wars Celebration Chicago earlier this year. Please check out the San Diego Sabers lightsaber combat training group at https://www.sandiegosabers.net/, and learn more about the newly formed non-profit Saber Martial Arts Foundation at https://sabermartialarts.com/, dedicated to developing and promoting Saber Martial Arts. Already, there are six fully-operational schools under the SMA Foundation's banner, and may there be many more in the years to come.

Remember when Emperor Palpatine was introduced, and we all speculated about what his deal was, and he turned out to be a doddering old man who liked trolling Luke and could somehow shoot lightning out of his fingertips? Today, with 129 days left until The Rise of Skywalker, a consideration of the joys of speculation - and an invitation to do so without attachment to the outcome. 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 wake of my previous episode about the possibility of a Rey/Ben love connection, I'm digging into why romance matters - and crucially so - to Star Wars storytelling. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

At one point, Resistance spy Vi Moradi is depicted with tight curly hair cut short. At another, she's depicted with straighter, longer hair that's tinted blue toward the ends. Does the change in hairstyle tell us anything about how to place Galaxy's Edge, A Crash of Fate, and the upcoming Black Spire in the canon timeline? Or is that actually someone other than Vi Moradi in one of those 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.***

What's so special about Batuu, anyway? Well, because of its location and because of certain events in recent-ish galactic history, the region around Batuu is of significant strategic importance to both the Resistance and the First Order. Today, I'm exploring a few of the reasons why, flagging a couple more planets that have similar value, and discussing one theory about The Rise of Skywalker's events that I haven't seen discussed elsewhere 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.***

We learn more about the mysterious Dok-Ondar (of the Den of Antiquities) and Oga Garra (of Oga's Cantina) in A Crash of Fate. We also learn about their interactions with the Resistance and the First Order, which is what I'm covering on today's (mild spoilers) 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.***

A Crash of Fate takes place after the events of The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, but how long after? And where is it on the timeline in comparison to the Galaxy's Edge theme park experience? Those questions answered, as well as First Order and Resistance details on today's light-spoilers 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.***

During the Disney's Q3 FY19 Earnings Results call for investors, Galaxy's Edge got the most attention of any Star Wars property. However, Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger says he's seen all of season one of The Mandalorian, and he made some comments that bear on the future of Star Wars Resistance. 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 informal "Journey to Galaxy's Edge" publishing initiative includes Zoraida Cordova's "A Crash of Fate," which dives deeper into the world of Black Spire Outpost and delivers an emotionally satisfying (and logically believable) love story for the speedy timeframe in which the action takes place. 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'm back in the studio after a week's vacation! Thankfully, there wasn't a heck of a lot of new news while I was gone - most of it involved updates to the slate of programming at the D23 Expo later this month. In short: less (and more) from The Mandalorian, more from Vader Immortal, and a teensy bit more from The Rise of Skywalker, 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.***

Supreme Leader Snoke said that when Kylo Ren killed Rey, Kylo's training would be complete, and that he would have fulfilled his destiny. Obviously, that's not what happened. But what does that mean for Kylo's training? Since he killed his master (a classic Sith tradition), is his training complete anyway? Considering the possibilities on 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.***

Jedi training has gotten a bit sketchy since Darth Sidious overthrew the Galactic Republic and wiped out the Jedi Order. On today's episode, I'm talking about where Rey will be with her training at the start of The Rise of Skywalker, bringing to bear some of the history of Jedi training from the prequel and original trilogies, what we know from the sequel movies and other sources already, and a bit of speculation based on the teaser trailer. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

One of the most hotly-debated topics over the course of the sequel movies is the prospect of romance - and specifically, who might end up with whom. Today, I'm taking a look at whether Rey and Ben Solo will wind up together by the end of The Rise of Skywalker, including a consideration of what the previous trilogies and even fairy tales may tell us about the possibilities. 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 August! There are three big events on the calendar this month that you won't want to miss ... or at least, won't want to miss hearing about. I've got the scoop for you on those three events in today's episode, and a note about one other one that we've had in the past, but we're unlikely to get this time around. 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 of the summer rewind episodes this week, I'm re-sharing an interview I did with Anthony Breznican at Star Wars Celebration Orlando in 2017, where I asked everyone I interviewed what their favorite Star Wars memory was. His answer was one of my favorites... 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 this, the second of three summer rewind episodes (which is also the second of a two-part interview), Anthony Breznican - former senior writer for Entertainment Weekly - shares his experience as host at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim, gives insight into the inner workings of Celebrations, and much, 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.***

In honor of Anthony Breznican's tenure as senior staff writer for Entertainment Weekly, which came to an end earlier this year, here's the first of three interview episodes with him, where we start off by talking about the planning that goes into Star Wars cover stories, and it gallops off into unexpected directions from there... Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***

Charlie Hall and a team of folks for Polygon did an extensive array of articles about Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, including the most complete guide to Dok Ondar's Den of Antiquities published to date. Unfortunately, he wasn't available for a real-time interview, but he very generously answered questions via email. On today's show, Scorekeeper Declan joins me to create the full interview effect. Punch it! ***I'm listener supported! Join the community at http://Patreon.com/sw7x7 to get access to bonus episodes and other insider rewards.***