So we agree, Ahmed Best is the best?
This week, we’re recapping the mythology-filled midpoint of the Mandalorian’s third season, “The Foundling” (Chapter 20). We parse the effects of Mandalorian myth, legend, and custom on the Children of the Watch’s community. We wonder whether Bo-Katan will stay, and where Kelleran Beq went. And we ask the real heavy-hitting questions about having sons and daughters when you belong to a society where no one takes their helmets off.
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Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:03:13 Plot Summary
00:12:46 Mandalorian Mythology and Society
00:37:38 Bo-Katan and the Cult
00:45:02 Ahmed Best is the Best
00:56:12 Bae Watch
01:01:08 Closing Thoughts
It doesn’t get more packed than this plot-filled sandwich.
The Mandalorian’s nineteenth chapter, “The Convert,” takes us through two action-packed plotlines: Bo-Katan and Din Djarin’s acceptance into the Children of the Watch, and Dr. Pershing’s struggle to assimilate into the New Republic.
We dive DEEP into World War Two-era denazification programs as we parse Dr. Pershing’s journey, asking how the New Republic’s approach differed from the Allied Power’s and how AI might have been the ultimate reason for Dr. Pershing’s failure. We also ask a big question about Bo-Katan’s conversion to the Children of the Watch: Was Din Djarin her honeypot?
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
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Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:01:51 Plot Summary
00:09:40 Dr. Pershing and Denazification
00:33:42 Project Necromancer Redux
00:40:50 Is Din Djarin A Honeypot Too?
00:53:28 Bae Watch
01:04:06 Closing Thoughts
How scary could the troglodyte-indested mines underneath a thoroughly bombed wasteland planet really be? With a lot of “But wait, there's more” energy, this week’s episode, “The Mines of Mandalore” (Season 3, Chapter 18) brings the action!
Our conversation dives into the multiple massive lore dumps we receive, and how they open new questions into Bo-Katan’s motivations, what it means to be a Mandalorian, and what the future of Mandalore holds. We also talk through the legacy of horror tropes in Star Wars.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
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Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:03:45 Plot Summary
00:11:24 More Like “The Manda-LORE-ian”
00:26:47 Myths and The Mythosaur
00:42:09 Bae Watch
00:49:35 Closing Thoughts
New quests, who dis?
The Mandalorian’s third series opens with a tempting array of side quests: Spelunking into the Mines of Mandalore, rebuilding IG-11, rejoining the Children of the Watch, and actively parenting Grogu. What will Mando choose?
In our recap of The Mandalorian’s Season 3 premiere, “The Apostate,” we talk through Nevarro’s glow-up, the Mandalorian covert’s new digs, and Bo-Katan’s next move. There are a lot of players this season, and many of them are on a path to redemption.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
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Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:03:31 Plot Summary
00:12:05 The New Children of the Watch
00:16:39 Bo-Katan’s Next Move
00:27:10 Nevarro’s Glow-Up and The Pirates
00:39:08 Actively Parenting Grogu
00:54:03 Bae Watch
01:02:58 Closing Thoughts
The Book of Boba Fett finishes with a bang (and a whimper, if your name is Cad Bane).
In our recap of the series finale, we discuss Boba Fett’s big Mandalorian energy and how he has truly been reborn a Tusken. We talk about war—and what comes next—and chart out the possible ramifications of Grogu’s choice. The vibes? Hopeful. The aesthetics? Impeccable. This is a stellar way to close out a show.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (Visions S3 content is ongoing!)
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:02:50 Plot Summary
00:13:00 Boba Fett and Big Mandalorian Energy
00:28:29 War and What Happens Next
00:47:53 Grogu’s Choice
00:54:42 Vibes and Aesthetics
01:01:11 Bae Watch
01:07:39 Closing Thoughts
Spaghetti Western truly meets space opera in The Book of Boba Fett’s “From The Desert Comes a Stranger” (Season 1, Episode 6).
This week, we dive deep into Luke Skywalker’s attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order and the Pyke Syndicate’s attempt to bring about a swift victory in their war on Tatooine.
We think about Cad Bane’s reasons for buying in with the Pykes, Mando’s decision to leave the Child where he is, and the fork in the road Luke presents to Grogu. This episode is, at its heart, all about choices.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (Visions S3 content is ongoing!)
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:03:27 Plot Summary
00:11:00 Luke’s Jedi Academy
00:36:58 The War with the Pykes
00:45:26 Cad Bane Tho
00:56:22 Bae Watch
01:07:00 Closing Thoughts
Is this Book of Boba Fett episode…also the best episode of The Mandalorian??
In “The Return of the Mandalorian” (Season 1, Episode 5), we get exactly zero Boba Fett—which is a surprisingly low number, given the whole clone thing, but we digress. We do, however, revel in Din Djarin’s return to the small screen, Peli Moto’s utter hamminess, and the deep lore of the Children of the Watch.
This episode blends the comic book pulp of The Book of Boba Fett and the sleek composure of The Mandalorian for an 11/10 feast for the senses. And yeah, we cried about the N-1. (In a good way).
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (Visions S3 content begins this week.)
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:04:04 Plot Summary
00:14:15 The Mandalorian, But Boba Fett-ified
00:18:57 Artistry, Scope, and Scale
00:23:11 The Darksaber, Doctrine, And That Lore Dump
00:41:18 The N-1!!!
00:54:29 Bae Watch
01:05:29 Closing Thoughts
As The Book of Boba Fett hits its midpoint in “The Gathering Storm” (Season 1, Episode 4), we take a critical look at its structure and debate whether this story would have been stronger told chronologically.
We also sing the praises of its practical effects, talk through body modification culture in Star Wars, and discuss the horrifying effectiveness of Fennec Shand.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (Visions S3 content is coming soon.)
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:04:46 Plot Summary
00:11:44 Practical Effects
00:16:57 The Odd Structure of This Episode
00:44:07 Body Modifications In Star Wars
00:52:31 Bae Watch
01:01:30 Closing Thoughts
How about that speeder chase?
If you’re all about vengeance, style, and speeder scooter gangs, "The Streets of Most Espa" is the episode for you. The Book of Boba Fett’s third episode takes on the fun topics of colonization, organized crime, and violence—and makes them thrilling, stylish, harrowing, and even somewhat silly.
In our deep dive, we cover the post-World War II mod culture of Great Britain, Black Krrsantan’s outrageously scary presene, and the different ruling styles of Boba Fett, Bib Fortuna, and Jabba the Hutt. We're in the thick of The Book of Boba Fett now, and excited to see how it plays out!
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (Visions S3 content is coming soon.)
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:03:24 Plot Summary
00:10:32 So About Those Bikes
00:27:35 Boba, Bib, and Jabba as Daimyo
00:41:18 Black Krrsantan
00:49:03 Bae Watch
00:57:18 Closing Thoughts
Is “The Tribes of Tatooine” the best live-action Star Wars episode yet?
If not—it’s pretty dang close. The Book of Boba Fett’s second episode delivers a transcendent work of art that dives into the colonization of the Tusken people, ritual and rebirth, and the optics of power in Mos Espa and across the Dune Sea.
In our deep dive, we parse the language of power spoken by the Hutts, the Pykes, and Boba Fett. We dig into Tusken cultural heritage and parallels between the Hutts and real-world crime syndicates. And we trace the comic-book-and-board-game-spanning lore of Black Krrsantan.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
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Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:02:11 Plot Summary
00:11:38 The Optics of Power
00:26:05 The Tuskens and Colonization
00:33:09 The Hutts and The Mafia
00:40:50 Black Krrsantan
00:49:02 Bae Watch
01:00:35 Closing Thoughts
The comic book vibes are strong with this one.
Watching in chronological order (like we do), The Mandalorian’s Season 2 finale leads straight into The Book of Boba Fett’s premiere, “Stranger in a Strange Land.” It’s not as pulpy or epic as Robert Rodriguez’s previous Boba Fett-centric episode (“The Tragedy”), but some shots—like Boba Fett’s fist punching through the sands of Tatooine—are straight out of a comic book panel.
We talk through Boba Fett’s interpretation of Daimyo and compare it to previous crime bosses, like Maul and Dryden Vos. We also discuss the state of crime in the galaxy and Ming Na Wen’s slinky approach to Fennec Shand.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:02:57 Plot Summary
00:9:25 Boba Fett as Daimyo
00:21:21 Criminal Syndicates Across the Galaxy
00:27:42 Comic Book Pulpiness
00:45:43 Bae Watch
00:52:28 Closing Thoughts
The Season 2 finale of The Mandalorian (Chapter 16, “The Rescue”) sweeps to a stunning conclusion. Prepare to weep.
This week, we celebrate THAT cameo—and the way this episode works for both new and veteran fans. We sing praises to the all-gal attack squadron that takes Moff Gideon’s light cruiser, discuss Imperial calcification in the wake of the Death Star(s) being destroyed, and look forward to continuing the Mandalorian’s tale.
Next week, we’ll do just that, in The Book of Boba Fett, Chapter 1: “Stranger in a Strange Land.”
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:02:47 Plot Summary
00:13:26 LUKE SKYWALKER EVERYBODY
00:34:10 Everybody Else
00:44:28 Imperial Calcification
00:49:16 Bae Watch
00:56:29 Closing Thoughts
What line would you cross, and why? In this week’s episode, “The Believer” (The Mandalorian, Chapter 15), we go deep into that question—plumbing the depths of honor, extremism, and vengeance.
Like a Clone Wars or Rebels episode brought to life, this episode is an utter treat and absolutely kicked up a notch in preparation for the finale. “Pulpy” and “iconic” are words that come to mind as Mando gets the gang together and Bill Burr blows the roof off of a really good script.
Next week, we finish Season 2 of The Mandalorian and finally put The Book of Boba Fett in our crosshairs.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:03:50 Plot Summary
00:14:14 Migs Mayfeld and Operation Cinder
00:25:43 First Impressions
00:32:31 Zealotry, Morals, and Honor
00:48:50 Justice
00:54:15 Bae Watch
00:58:16 Closing Thoughts
The tragedies of “The Tragedy” (The Mandalorian Chapter 14) are as follows:
This week, we’re covering themes of honor, promises, life debts, and what we owe each other. We also talk about cool Force hotspots/seeing stones, and the tension between the remaining Jedi and the New Republic. But mostly we fangirl over Boba Fett.
PS: We recorded this episode prior to the reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel to the air, but we stand by our divestment from Disney Plus and our unwavering commitment to the First Amendment.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:04:29 Plot Summary
00:11:14 Honor, Life Debts, and What is Owed
00:24:02 BOBA FETT THO
00:36:53 Seeing Stones, The Jedi, and the New Republic
00:50:58 Bae Watch
00:59:26 Closing Thoughts
The Mandalorian’s thirteenth chapter, “The Jedi,” picks up Morgan Elsbeth’s story right where it left off in Tales of the Empire. Ahsoka’s tale, though, is another story.
This week, we rehash the wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff of Ahsoka’s journey, and discover just how alone she’s been since The Clone Wars. We sing Rosario Dawson’s praises, develop a hearty suspicion that Grand Admiral Thrawn and the Imperial remnants are up to no good, and land on the critical difference between Morgan Elsbeth, former Nightsister, and Ahsoka Tano, former Jedi.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:03:45 Plot Summary
00:13:22 What Has Ahsoka Been Up To?
00:32:30 Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka
00:42:40 What Is Morgan Elsbeth Up To?
01:01:02 Bae Watch
01:05:33 Closing Thoughts
In “Tales of the Empire: Morgan’s Tale,” we wind through the paths of fear, anger, and finally hatred to tell a tale of witches, genocide, ambition, and revenge. But we definitely haven’t reached the end of the path yet, because Moran Elsbeth’s great destiny is still definitely a mystery???
We thread our discussion of “The Path of Fear,” “The Path of Anger,” and “The Path of Hate” with analysis of the anti-hero’s journey, Morgan’s motivations to join the Empire, and Thrawn’s desire to see order created out of chaos. We also shake our fist at Star Wars for always killing off their witches, and sing our praises for the baddest Grand Admiral of them all.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:02:07 Plot Summary
00:10:50 Witches, Genocide, and Force Magic
00:19:47 Tie Defenders on Corvus??
00:25:32 Thrawn, Rukh, and Morgan
00:37:53 The Anti-Hero’s Journey
00:53:10 Bae Watch
01:03:02 Closing Thoughts
Is it a siege, or more of an infiltration? Regardless, The Mandalorian’s Chapter 12, “The Siege,” brings us back to Nevarro—and a plotline we thought we’d seen the end of.
This week, we’re diving back into Project Necromancer and all of its implications. We talk through the twin difficulties of transferring both consciousness and Force affinity, question who is directing Dr. Pershing’s efforts, and ask what the ultimate goal might be. We also give a performance review of Cara Dune as the Marshall, and spin theories on how Rangers of the New Republic might have gone.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:02:45 Plot Summary
00:11:08 Influences on This Episode
00:13:23 M-Counts, Cloning, and the Force
00:35:16 Cara Dune as Marshal—or Ranger?
01:01:24 Bae Watch
01:06:06 Closing Thoughts
We met the Marshall, we escorted the Passenger, and now we’re encountering…the Heiress. (It’s Bo-Katan, baybee!)
In this week’s episode, we tell the entire bloody tale of Mandalorian history: Tracing the Darksaber’s path through Mandalorian society, tracing Bo-Katan’s journey from radical to royal, and asking how Din Djarin ended up in a religious extremist splinter cell.
We also dig into the (alarmingly well-organized!!) Imperial remnants who keep popping up around the galaxy.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:02:00 Plot Summary
00:10:52 Tracing Bo-Katan’s and Mando’s Stories
00:40:13 Imperial Remnants Consolidating
00:55:10 Bae Watch
01:04:30 Closing Thoughts
Anna’s been dreading having to recap this episode for 4 ½ years. But it turns out it actually has some lovely themes of parenthood and what we’ll do for love??
In our recap of “The Passenger” (The Mandalorian, Chapter 10) we watch as Mando walks ten thousand miles in the desert heat and wades through at least one million ice spiders—and has to learn that real parents maybe, possibly, generally try not to put their children through this kind of trauma.
We talk through the excellent cameos of this episode (looking at you, Filoni) and parse the fabulous space chase.
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:03:44 Plot Summary
00:13:39 Themes and Parenthood
00:41:12 Details and Cameos
00:46:45 Bae Watch
00:55:34 Closing Thoughts
With twists, turns, and one of the largest monsters ever seen in Star Wars, The Mandalorian’s second season starts with a cannonball.
In our recap of Chapter 9, “The Marshal,” we gather a basket full of Easter eggs—and identify how they serve the plot, not just the vibes, of this dragon versus cowboys mashup.
We weigh the influence of both Camelot-era fantasy and spaghetti Westerns, discuss perceptions from a first-time viewer, and wonder what (if any) Season 1 criticisms the show may be reacting to in its Season 2 premiere.
With the shattering roar of the krayt dragon seared in our memories, let's suit up like the heroes of old, and celebrate the next few months of The Mandalorian!
New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.
Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! This week, we’re releasing a bonus episode about slaying our personal—and societal—dragons.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:03:51 Plot Summary
00:13:23 Easter Eggs and Why They Serve The Plot
00:27:11 Perceptions From a First-Time Viewer
00:32:46 Criticisms This Premiere May Have Been Reacting To
00:44:52 Fantasy and Medieval Elements
01:01:23 Bae Watch
01:09:40 Closing Thoughts