Lets talk all things Star Wars

[HeartBlade]

So I thought I'd a Star Wars best of "2023." Note this content didn't come out in 2023, but I did read them for the first time this past year.

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Right out of the gate. The three Republic - Clone Wars omnibuses were amazing. I loved Quinlan Vos's arc. And the lead up to Episode III was insane. I found myself getting excited for a film that had released 18 years ago.

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The highlights of the Omnibus were Jedi: Mace Windu. A very nuanced look at the Jedi's role in the war. And the debate of whether or not they are doing the right thing. And as an bonus, George quoted this comic in Episode III.

Then there's the Jabiim arc. It's the Clone Wars at its finest (or worse, depending on the point of view.) It's brutal, and bloody. And it's does a lot to mature Anakin. It's also sets up some rather important story arc with Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ventress.

And finally there's the Obsession arc. Which concludes not only Durge's story. Concludes Obi-Wan's and Ventress's very antagonistic relationship.

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Continuing on with comics. Tales of the Jedi is a fantastic story about the first Jedi vs Sith war. And the art style, feels so ancient, and yet, still is Star Wars. I can't to read volume 3.
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Shifting to books for a moment. This year I finally finished The Thrawn Trilogy. And it did not disappoint. I loved everything about it. Clone Luuke(which I was fully thought I would hate) Mara, Talon Karrde, Garm Bel Iblis, and of course Thrawn. I was practically chewing my nails, as he always figuring out our hero's plans.

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Going back to comics. There is Dark Empire. Okay I've never been crazy about Palpatine's return in either continuity. But this is a good story. And the art is crazy and trippy. But Dark Empire II or Empire's End don't quite make the list.

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And finally there is Legacy. I always been hesitant about this series. The Sith (particularly Talon) seemed to me to be eye rolling levels of ridiculous. And Cade Skywalker...ugh. But boy was I surprised at how much I enjoyed the comic. And Cade's character arc, while frustrating at times and long, has a good solid conclusion.

In 2024 I hope to get into Volume 3 of Tales of the Jedi. Wrap my re-read of Triple Zero. And start into the MedStar duology.

Second Dark Empire. In also not a fan of the Palpatine creates clones that he transfers his soul into (which is probably something Disney lifted from EU into the ST) but I do like the concept of Luke being tempted to the Dark side not for power but to learn why his father was. I also think it makes Luke a more “comprehensive” jedi as a result, having learned from masters of both the light and the dark side so has a full understanding of the force without being tempted to the dark side, hence why he becomes the true successor of the one compared to his father. Its something I thought they might do with Ben before they decided to have him die as well (another wasted opportunity).

 

[pengbuzz]

They never miss a beat to insert the Dave Filoni was mentored by George Lucas. Like somehow we are vicariously seeing George's vision.... We're not.

And Anakin was mentored by Obi-Wan; look how he turned out!

Just because ya mentored someone doesn't mean they're a clone of you.

 

[Wakeem]

And start into the MedStar duology.

After reading the MedStar books you probably won't like what they did to Barriss in the Clone Wars cartoon. I know I didn't.

 

[Halliwax]

Second Dark Empire. In also not a fan of the Palpatine creates clones that he transfers his soul into (which is probably something Disney lifted from EU into the ST) but I do like the concept of Luke being tempted to the Dark side not for power but to learn why his father was. I also think it makes Luke a more “comprehensive” jedi as a result, having learned from masters of both the light and the dark side so has a full understanding of the force without being tempted to the dark side, hence why he becomes the true successor of the one compared to his father. Its something I thought they might do with Ben before they decided to have him die as well (another wasted opportunity).

I always liked that clone body swapping idea, well because that’s what I grew up with and that’s how I always thought the ST should be

From the beginning I figured snoke was grooming kylo so he could body swap with him

Boy was I wrong..

 

[Wakeem]

I remember telling someone who wasn't really into Star Wars before the Prequels came out, that the Emperor's essence went into a clone when Darth Vader threw him down the reactor shaft in Return of the Jedi. He didn't like that idea as he thought it would ruin Darth Vader's redemption.

Still, I thought since the Emperor was around during the Clone Wars, it would make sense to use the clones. I believe a story in the Visionaries comic either had the Emperor using a clone or Sith powers to change his appearance. That the dark side was eating away at him. And I think he always looked like the Emperor and not normal or the explanation with the reflected lightning from Mace Windu's lightsaber.

I thought there was going to be a good twist to the hidden in plain sight thing in Phantom Menace with the Emperor around all those Jedi at the end. That it wasn't really him but a relative or a clone. Even Jedi children were there and no one sensed anything. The Prequel movies made the Jedi look almost incompetent. The books, comics, and at times TV show tried to fix it.

 

[Joek3rr]

I remember telling someone who wasn't really into Star Wars before the Prequels came out, that the Emperor's essence went into a clone when Darth Vader threw him down the reactor shaft in Return of the Jedi. He didn't like that idea as he thought it would ruin Darth Vader's redemption.

Still, I thought since the Emperor was around during the Clone Wars, it would make sense to use the clones. I believe a story in the Visionaries comic either had the Emperor using a clone or Sith powers to change his appearance. That the dark side was eating away at him. And I think he always looked like the Emperor and not normal or the explanation with the reflected lightning from Mace Windu's lightsaber.

I thought there was going to be a good twist to the hidden in plain sight thing in Phantom Menace with the Emperor around all those Jedi at the end. That it wasn't really him but a relative or a clone. Even Jedi children were there and no one sensed anything. The Prequel movies made the Jedi look almost incompetent. The books, comics, and at times TV show tried to fix it.

As I recall in the Dark Empire Handbook they suggest that Palpatine swapped clones between ESB and ROTJ. As an explanation for why his appearance changes between films.

 

[batguy]

As I recall in the Dark Empire Handbook they suggest that Palpatine swapped clones between ESB and ROTJ. As an explanation for why his appearance changes between films.

Interesting.

Either way, that mofo needs to be dead at the end of ROTJ. No asterisks.

If he comes back later (and I'm not in favor of it) then it needs to be some kind of cloned-from-a-tissue-sample deal. Something that doesn't undermine the principle that Vader killed him. And something that the good guys didn't have a practical chance of preventing.

 

[blewis17]

Interesting.

Either way, that mofo needs to be dead at the end of ROTJ. No asterisks.

If he comes back later (and I'm not in favor of it) then it needs to be some kind of cloned-from-a-tissue-sample deal. Something that doesn't undermine the principle that Vader killed him. And something that the good guys didn't have a practical chance of preventing.

Look, the minute you try to being common sense into this...

 

[blewis17]

Note that Sir Alec wrote to a friend, circa 1975:

 

[Joek3rr]

Interesting.

Either way, that mofo needs to be dead at the end of ROTJ. No asterisks.

If he comes back later (and I'm not in favor of it) then it needs to be some kind of cloned-from-a-tissue-sample deal. Something that doesn't undermine the principle that Vader killed him. And something that the good guys didn't have a practical chance of preventing.

Well in both continuities he comes back via cloning.

 

[Psab keel]

 

[Halliwax]

I didn’t see the slave 1 video yet, I watch the other one

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

Interesting.

Either way, that mofo needs to be dead at the end of ROTJ. No asterisks.

If he comes back later (and I'm not in favor of it) then it needs to be some kind of cloned-from-a-tissue-sample deal. Something that doesn't undermine the principle that Vader killed him. And something that the good guys didn't have a practical chance of preventing.

Supposedly the power the Sith use to transfer their self to another body is the antithesis of the Jedi power that Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon use to go into the Force at death. I wasn't a big fan of that in Dark Empire, but that made more sense than the Sequels.

These were both very cool videos! I love the story Lorne Peterson told about going to the bank. I also love that he said he loves talking about this stuff, because if I ever had the chance to talk to any of those guys, I'd feel like they were tired of answering the same questions for 46 years!

 

[Psab keel]

I enjoyed both of those videos too and it's amazing that after all these years there's still new things to learn from the making of those iconic films. I'm guessing there will be more video interviews to come with Adam talking with other ILM veterans, and I look forward to seeing them all.

 

[JediMichael]

Random Star Wars post here...and I'd imagine this has been talked about, but I've never seen it myself, but was showing my brother, and he never noticed.
So in the original Star Wars during the trench run, right after Red Leader is killed, it cuts to Tarkin for like a second. Its quick and missable, but one of his long gray hairs is sticking out on the right side.
I need to see if any other shot has that.
Heres a YouTube screen shot, zoomed way it.

And the clip at about 2:53.

 

[Halliwax]

lol… good eye

 

[blewis17]

Random Star Wars post here...and I'd imagine this has been talked about, but I've never seen it myself, but was showing my brother, and he never noticed.
So in the original Star Wars during the trench run, right after Red Leader is killed, it cuts to Tarkin for like a second. Its quick and missable, but one of his long gray hairs is sticking out on the right side.
I need to see if any other shot has that.
Heres a YouTube screen shot, zoomed way it.
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And the clip at about 2:53.

He was under a lot of stress at the moment.

 

[JediMichael]

He was under a lot of stress at the moment.

But he also didn't want to evacuate, as this WAS his moment of triumph.

 

[Treadwell]

Lots of static electricity generated when charging up the super laser!

 

[Captain Dunsel]

They never miss a beat to insert the Dave Filoni was mentored by George Lucas. Like somehow we are vicariously seeing George's vision.... We're not.

Also what's with that crap line about fans having to wait years for new stories? Sure after ROTJ it was kinda bare. But from 1991 untill 2014, the EU was giving fans actually new stories (not remixed, bastardized old ones) every year.

You know, when you really objectively think about the Star Wars Saga, a lot of subsequent lower tier storytelling rests on the shoulders of The Empire Strikes Back.

The saga really has been running on the remaining fumes of a tank that was last filled in 1980 and subsequent stories that never were the equal of that one film. Pretty amazing.