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.
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?
00:02:11 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
If you could live, but only without your heart’s desire, would you still choose life?
Asajj does in “Tales of the Underworld,” and the shroud of her love affair with Quinlan Vos from Dark Disciple (2015) hangs heavy over her tale. But it’s also full of surprising tenderness, self-determination, and a willingness to start new. More than any of the Tales, Asajj’s story feels like a fully realized work of art.
We track Asajj’s journey through the Star Wars timeline, compare her with her foils—Anakin and Ahsoka—and sing our praises of her decision to honor her lost love by dedicating herself to his work. (We may or may not have a shed a tear about Asajj’s new family, too.)
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?
00:02:51 Plot Summary
00:15:59 Connections to Dark Disciple
00:25:57 Asajj and Quinlan’s Romance
00:41:20 Fighting Inquisitors and Asajj’s Jedi Parallels
00:54:21 Bae Watch
01:01:19 Closing Thoughts
Cad Bane is bound to a life of blood and money. (And blood money.) Will it be his only legacy?
Deeply out of chronological order, we’re venturing five or six decades before the Battle of Yavin to watch Cad Bane grow up in “Tale of the Underworld.”
We examine how, and why, Star Wars chose to tell a police drama, a spaghetti Western, and a Mafia crime ascendancy in the same story. We parse the fantasy of the “good cop,” wonder about Cad and Niro’s legacy, and discuss the critical reception of this very lovely piece of animation.
(Thanks for your patience while we re-recorded this entire episode!)
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?
00:03:23 Plot Summary
00:11:42 Telling a Police Story in Star Wars
00:31:08 Cad and Niro’s Legacy
00:47:15 Critical Reception
00:58:07 Bae Watch
01:03:45 Closing Thoughts
It’s the end of an era. And so many lives.
This week, we trace the ways that Andor knits itself together into the wider tapestry of Star Wars, specifically by tying itself to Rogue One. We question whether the Rebels’ sacrifices are cheapened by Luke Skywalker’s heroism in Episode IV, define heroism through two key characters—Bix and Nemik—and investigate the reasons why Rebel High Command…is like that.
We also name our favorite aspects of Andor, and crown it the ultimate Star Wars 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! We’ve got a Rogue One recap and a book club (Claudia Gray’s Star Wars: The Lost Stars) coming your way.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Who Are We?
00:02:07 Plot Summary
00:11:13 Initial Reactions
00:24:02 Luke and the Next Generation of Rebels
00:31:09 Heroism and Anti-Heroism
00:45:14 Alliance High Command
00:55:44 Favorite Parts of Andor
01:01:32 Bae Watch
01:09:23 Closing Thoughts
We feel pretty confident that most sane Andor viewers skipped right from “Who Else Knows?” (S2, E11) into the finale. Turns out, there’s still a LOT to discuss in the penultimate episode of Andor ever.
We spent significant time this week digging into ISB hierarchies, and how the rise and fall of ambitious Imperials has hollowed out the Empire’s institutions. We dissect ISB politics and competency through lenses of race and gender. We also paint parallels between Luthen Rael and French revolutionary Charles de Gaulle, and delight in Rebel downtime.
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?
00:03:23 Plot Summary
00:11:27 Ambition, Competency, And Is The ISB Crumbling From Within?
00:43:44 Luthen as Charles de Gaulle?
00:59:51 Bae Watch
01:08:28 Closing Thoughts
And the death count grows.
This week, in “Make It Stop” (Andor S2 E10), everyone is either leveling up, going rogue—or shuffling off this mortal coil. As we get booted another year forward in time, we talk through Lonni’s growth into a true spymaster and Dedra’s grief curdling even deeper into fanaticism. Then, looking deeper into the past, we examine Luthen and Kleya’s father/daughter relationship and parse why Luthen felt compelled to begin the Rebellion.
In a fun turn, we also get to theorycraft about medical tech in Star Wars. (Spoiler alert: It exists!)
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?
00:02:31 Plot Summary
00:12:01 Lonni and Dedra, Another Year Later
00:23:06 Kleya and Luthen
00:45:06 Medical Tech in Star Wars
00:55:23 Bae Watch
01:05:40 Closing Thoughts