A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

We were pretty high on our return to Rebels last episode, and for good reason. This time the mood continues to improve with the return of some familiar faces. Come on in, grab a cold one, and kick your feet up... because the boys... ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Next time: Rebels 20 & 21 ("Always Two There Are" and "Brothers of the Broken Horn")

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

After months spent bouncing around the galaxy of the Old Republic, we are finally back to the wonders of the... lemme just check my notes... the era of the Empire! That's right, folks, the Emperor, Governor Tarkin, and Darth Vader are at it again, expanding their control over the galaxy and squeezing out any attempt at resistance. And you know what? It's good to be back.

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Next time: Rebels 18 & 19 ("The Lost Commanders" and "Relics of the Old Republic")

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

In only ten episodes, we've traveled from the comfortable military quarters of the Ender Spire to the viewing platform of an ancient alien species' life-devouring shipyard. Finally, it's time to face our destinies: Some of us must overcome the sudden separation from our companions and the limits of our support-focused character builds. Others must commit to doing absolutely cartoonishly evil things to our erstwhile allies.  But all of us have to dig deep... deep into our inventories, and finally use all those mines and grenades that we've been hoovering up over the last 30 hours.

Thanks for joining us during this wonderful diversion into the time of the Old Republic! If you've enjoyed this season, consider supporting the show on Patreon. And make sure to get your questions for our KOTOR Q&A episode ASAP: Send them to amorecivilizedage at gmail dot com!

Next time: Rebels 16 & 17 ("The Siege of Lothal Parts 1 & 2")

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

After last episode's grand "reveal," we're left with only a few goals remaining: one star map, a handful of side quests, and the grand finale. And hey, next up is Korriban, home of the Sith Academy and many of the events we've recently covered in our comic episodes over on our Patreon! Join us as we finally meet a character willing to explain what the Sith believe, delve into a bunch of tombs, meet Carth's son, and try to lord our newly (re)discovered status as [static sound] over the pitiful Sith undergrads.

Next time: All remaining side quests + the end of the game!

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

FINALLY! After months of careful (if fundamentally futile) spoiler avoidance, we can can finally talk about the Big Twist of KOTOR. What's that? It seems as if our duo of new players had already basically figured it out? Well, hold your tongue, because there's knowing "the twist" and then there's really understanding how (and who) exactly did the twisting. 

Next time: Korriban and any pre-finale side content

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Show Notes

Strategy Wiki's KOTOR Guide

RPG Classic's KOTOR Shrine

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Ah, the blue waves of Manaan, home to the galaxy's only supply of a miracle drug, the most litigious culture in the stars, and a delicately simmering cold war. Time to go knock the whole thing off balance.

Next time: THE LEVIATHAN (and any non-Korriban side stuff you wanna catch up on!)

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

From week to week, from planet after planet, one thing has remained true about our journey through the Old Republic: Zaalbar has kept his lips sealed. Sure, he'll make you a grenade. But ask him about what he knows about a place or how he's feeling or, god forbid, what his home is like? Complete. Brick. Wall.

Well that ends today, because we've landed on a little world called Kashyyyk. Time to find out if the saying is true: A Wookie can never really go home again.

Next time: We head to the sea planet of Manaan. Make sure to take care of any non-Korriban multi-planet sidequests before you get the star map!

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

We're back with more KOTOR! And wouldn't you know it, we're also back once again to Tatooine, the planet Star Wars just can't stay away from. What's up with this desert world some 4,000 years before Luke ever farmed a single drop of moisture? Well, would you believe a Hutt is running swoop bike races? Or that there are tensions between the indigenous population of the planet and human colonizers? What if I told you that a giant desert creature was a major threat? Grimy cantina with weirdos in it? All of this sound familiar? Well it better, because we wouldn't have it any other way.

Next time: We finally head to Big Z's homeworld: Kashyyyk

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

The unlikely crew of the Ebon Hawk has ESCAPED Taris and set their sights for Dantooine, where TRUTHS and MYSTERIES await. We've got Jedi temples! We got mysterious ruins! We got beasts upset by a disturbance in the force! We got decades long feuds! We got droids! ....eugh, we certainly have droids, don't we.... 

Last time, we said we'd only do half of Dantooine but right here, we're covering the whole thing, baby!

Next time: ALL of Tatooine! Let's hit these sands!!

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Oh Taris, how we've missed you! Your glittering towers, so cleanly representing the world's heavily stratified racialized class divide. The smell of swoop fuel in the air, the distinctive odor of underworld betrayal. The wildlife! You know, Rakghouls and death droids and the slimiest crime lords this side of Nar Shadaa. Ah, Taris, it's good to be back!

Oh. I've just been handed a note about the fate of Taris.

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Welp. We did it. We went to space. Thanks to your support, a favor from a friend in Disney's gaming department, and our realization that our rainy day fund had finally found a storm worth being spent on, we flew down to Orlando and took in the sights, sounds, tastes, smells and stories of the Galactic Starcruiser. 

This episode, recorded about a week after our visit to the Halcyon, is just one of two episodes we're releasing on our experience. The other will be a combined episode, exclusive for Patrons, that we recorded on Natalie's phone on nights 1 and 2 of the visit, which will drop next Wednesday, along with some photos from our trip! We've now made that post free for all listeners, over here on Patreon. Enjoy! 

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Join us as we continue our journey down into the depths of Taris, a city so bad that it hasn't really gotten that much worse under Sith occupation! Sure, there's a rampant plague of not-zombies spreading through the dark fantasy undercity. And a traitorous swoop racing gang has started killing people in the streets. And, well, I guess there's the matter of the Rancor. 

But somehow, most of that would've happened even without Sith influence. As the wisest Jedi master of our times, bowing his head solemnly, said: "mmm, actually zero difference between good & bad things, there are. imbecile, fucking moron, you are. "

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

An even longer time ago, in a galaxy approximately the same level of far, far away, there was Knights of the Old Republic, a Computer Role-Playing Game based on D&D's D20 system. Natalie and Rob never heard the story of Darth Malak, probably because it is not a story the Jedi would tell you. But Bioware, back in 2003, told everyone this story and along the way invented the kind of RPG the game studio would be known and renowned for across the next two decades. It is unintentionally sad but unsurprising that on the week we start our playthrough of KOTOR, BioWare had another round of layoffs that pushed some of the people who made this game and many others out of a company they did so much to build, and our thoughts and well-wishes are with those folks and we hope we can do their contributions some justice as we play through KOTOR.

As for this episode, we discuss the opening tutorial and the characters we created, as well as the party's initial crash landing on the planet Taris. We cover some of the early missions and people you meet, but stop short of descending to the lower levels.

We haven't picked out a walkthrough we would recommend for folks but DO NOT CONSULT WOOKIEEPEDIA. For some reason every article touching on the contents of this game contains major plot spoilers upfront.

Hey everyone! As promised, we took some time to discuss and consider what we'll be doing for the next chunk of AMCA during the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. And we've reached a determination.

As highly, overwhelmingly requested, we will be playing Knights of the Old Republic. Ali and I get into it a little on this short announcement episode, but we're both very excited for Rob and Natalie to play through this game that was so foundational for us as young Star Wars fans.

Ali and I have basically plotted out the season, but we want to make sure that our estimation on episode/gameplay-segment length is right. So, for now: Episode 1 will cover from character creation through the upper level of Taris. Side content is fine to do, but don't go delving into the Lower City or Undercity quite yet!

Thanks for your support during this transition. We're hyped to continue chatting to each other and you about Star Wars in the coming months!

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

In case you haven't heard via our Patreon or various social feeds: AMCA is about to PIVOT. SAG-AFTRA recently released new guidelines for podcasters. Though Rebels is not a guild production, it is hosted on Disney+ and tied closely to the ongoing promotion of Ahsoka.

As such, we've been figuring out how to best continue the podcast without crossing the picket lines or promoting struck material, which we feel covering Rebels does.

To help us unpack some of the background of these strikes, we invited Adam Conover to come through this week. We dig into Hollywood labor history, the internal politics of the entertainment industry unions, and the ways that the modern influencer economy fit into all of this. It's a great conversation, and we get into some details we've never heard anywhere else. 

We also end the show by talking through... and potentially deciding... what comes next for A More Civilized Age

Finally, we've hit our first big Rebels milestone: the finale of season 1. With Gall Trayvis revealed to be an Imperial operative, the crew of the Ghost takes his supposed mission (getting the word out about how people should fight back) into their own hands. The result: A series of episodes that cements the first season of Rebels as better than we could've anticipated. We get answers to lingering questions. We get a well earned farewell to few characters and a (re-)introduction to a trio of new ones. And we get some of the coolest showdowns we've seen yet.       

Next Time: Rebels 16 & 17 ("The Siege of Lothal" Parts 1 & 2)

Show Notes

Call to Action Concept Art Gallery

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

The first season of Rebels has come around the turn of the midseason and is headed directly towards a dramatic conclusion. But before it gets there, we have some business to take care of. First of all, Ezra's gonna need to get a lightsaber. Second, we gotta get to the bottom of this "senator-in-exile" business. And of course, it wouldn't be a Filoni-helmed Star Wars product without a few special guest cameos. And hey, somehow, we're not even that mad about them.

Next Time: Rebels 13 - 15 ("Call to Action," "Rebel Resolve," and "Fire Across the Galaxy")

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

For the last few months, we've been getting to know the crew of the Ghost. But how much have we learned about them really? Sure, we know that Zeb's people suffered occupation and (apparently) genocide, or that Hera is able to make hard decisions for the greater good. But give it some thought: What do we really know about these folks? What's Sabine situation, besides paint and high explosives? How much training did Kanan really get? How did Ezra come to be everyone's favorite force sensitive street rat?

Well, it's time to start getting answers, beginning with that last question. Today, we learn about Ezra's past and parentage. Or at least we watch a story about those things. Somehow, we still don't actually know what happened to them. Maybe that'll be stage 3 of getting to know the crew.

Next Time: Rebels 10 - 12 ("Path of the Jedi," "Idiot's Array," and "Vision of Hope") 

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

With this pair of episodes, it seems accurate to say we've truly entered Rebels proper. Not because some production technique has finally hit its stride, or because we've reached some grand revelation, or seen a major swing in character development. Instead, it's because these are just two totally familiar, stock procedural episode formats: "Kid goes undercover" and "two people argue and bond in the wilderness." And good news: They're pretty good episodes! Not quite season finale level material or anything, but solid, fun, and well executed. And hey: space waffles!

Next Time: Rebels 08 & 09 (Empire Day and Gathering Forces)

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Dedicated television watchers know that you can only learn so much from a show's pilot episode. Performances might not be dialed all the way in yet. The show's style of composition, blocking, editing, and other cinematic elements is still under construction. Hell, even the tone and attitude might be up in the air.

But by episode 5, all that wet cement has started to set into a more final shape. And it is exactly here, at episode 5 of Rebels, that we learn just how hard this show is going to go...

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

We did it! We made it through the Clone Wars Legacy materials, past Solo (for some reason), and into the heart of the show that is going to take over our lives for the next year plus—or at least until Andor season 2 starts. Today we kick off Star Wars: Rebels, meeting the crew in a series of four, hijinks-laden shorts and then moving on to the two part intro that sets Ezra Bridger on a journey to... well, that's the thing, we have no idea where his journey will take him! Isn't that exciting? 

Please let folks know that this might be a good point to hop on board the AMCA train, get yourselves ready for the bevy of upcoming Star Wars material that is seemingly picking up where Rebels leaves off.

Also, give special thanks to Ricardo Contreras, who handled the edit for this episode, and will hopefully be sticking with production duties going forward! They absolutely crushed it!

Next Time: Star Wars Rebels 03-05 ("Droids in Distress," "Fighter Flight," and "The Old Masters")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Breakdown of how we're tackling the season:

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Here we are. Our final diversion before we finally arrive at Rebels. And what a diversion it is. A couple of really good heists. A couple of great performances. Solid props and sets. An incredibly paced, 60 minute film. I'm sorry. Huh? You're telling me... you're saying that's not even half the movie? It what? It botches a droid liberation arc? They do what with the droid freedom fighter's still living mind? Who shows up???? Oh, right. That one we knew already.

Next Time: Star Wars Rebels Shorts ("The Machine in the Ghost, "Art Attack," "Entanglement," "Property of Ezra Bridger") and Episodes 01-02 ("Spark of Rebellion")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

60 episodes. Minus like, a dozen Andor eps. Plus a bunch of Patreon bonus Q&As. That's how long it's taken us to get through the original run of Clone Wars, plus the Legacy materials released soon after the end of its 6th season—culminating with today's episode on the Asajj Ventress/Quinlan Vos romantic adventure Dark Disciple. It's truly all come down to this...

Which means, of course, that we spend nearly the entire first hour of this episode talking instead about Star Wars Celebration 2023, or at least the bits of it that had happened by the time we recorded early on Saturday.

Next Time (for some reason): Solo: A Star Wars Story

Show Notes

Ronto Wrap

Asajj Ventress Ball Gown Concept Art

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Before we complete our journey out of the Clone Wars and into Rebels, we have a few final stops to make. First, we find out what ever happened to Darth Maul after the events of the Shadow Collective Arc. Then we get an absolute banger in the unfinished story reel version of The Crystal Crisis of Utapau, an arc too good to have been left in this state indefinitely. 

Just one more stop to go before we get to Rebels. Right? That's right, right? There's definitely no big, stupid curveball on its way to derail us from our goal? There's no way that we'll stumble into something else we just "absolutely" need to see before we get to Rebels, that is at deep odds with how we've gone about this project so far, right? We'd never do that. Never.

Next Time: Star Wars: Dark Disciple

Show Notes

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Legacy

Ahsoka's Decision - Deleted Clone Wars Scene Remake [4K]

Come to the end of Clone Wars' original run, we have.  

No. No I won't do it. You can't make me write in Yoda. Yoda doesn't even write in Yoda, I bet. 

Lie, Yoda does n-

No. No I'm not going to have a big, Gollum-like argument with myself either. This arc already did that and it wasn't good then, so why would it be now? 

In any case. This is it: The end of Season 6. For millions of fans, it served as a finale for The Clone Wars for six years. A deep dive about some basics of the force. A return of a voice long thought lost. A bunch of new force lore that we did not need. And, of course, an attempt to make everything just a little too tidy.  Could it really end any other way?

Next Time: Star Wars: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir Issues 1-4 and Crystal Crisis on Utapau 

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

After a brief hiatus due to health, travel, and a half dozen other delays, we are back to the Clone Wars. And what a return it is. We begin on the world of Bardotta, where a culture of force sensitives (and Jedi haters) are led by a queen with the best taste in men we've seen so far in this series. Then, finally (well...), we (sort of) learn the (tentative) truth about a mystery we've long been driven to understand.

NEXT TIME: Episodes 119 - 121 ("Voices," "Destiny," and "Sacrifice) 

Show Notes

Deaths: Peteen, Silman, Lom Pyke (and his probably some of his boys)

Today on AMCA, we're teeing up something special for those of you who love it when we go wild creating our own AUs and OCs! 

About six months ago, Ali and Austin of AMCA joined the rest of the cast of our sister podcast, Friends at the Table, to do a two day charity marathon raising money for the National Network of Abortion Funds. As part of that effort, we set a bunch of stretch goals, including the promise that we'd play a Star Wars TTRPG one shot over here on AMCA. 

Today we make good on that promise, thanks to Jess Levine, who has come through to help facilitate an Andor-era session of her game Going Rogue, which "weave[s] narratives about troubled martyrs mired in messy, ethically gray conflicts who must face the possibility of making the ultimate sacrifice." We use the system to tell the story of an unlikely band of rebels sent into the outer rim to... well, you'll see. 

Also! For the rest of the month, you can pick up Jess' Going Rogue 2E along with Riley Rethal's Galactic 2E (the game which Going Rogue most directly builds off of) in a special bundle for just 18 bucks! 

NEXT TIME (for real): Episodes 116 - 118 ("The Disappeared, Part I," "The Disappeared, Part II," "The Lost One")

Show Notes

Character Sheets and Play Materials!

Have there been better arcs of Clone Wars? Absolutely. Have there been arcs that more cleverly dissect the hypocrisy of the Jedi or Anakin's fall to the dark side? Undoubtedly. Are there better duels, dogfights, and tests of will? Of course.

But has there ever been a Clone Wars arc as toxic as this one? Oh, no my friends, in that regard we have absolutely peaked.

NEXT TIME: Episodes 116 - 118 ("The Disappeared, Part I," "The Disappeared, Part II," "The Lost One")

Show Notes

Major Deaths (RIP to a real one): Teckla Minnau

Normal, Expected Deaths (Sad imo): Commander Thorn, Bec Lawise

Additional Deaths (It is what it is): Rush Clovis

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Happy New Year! As everyone moves into the new year, we're moving both backwards and forwards at the same time. With the Autumn of Andor (mostly) behind us, we return to our ongoing Clone Wars rewatch. But we also move forward into a new season, picking up with Anakin Skywalker feeling a little more dour than usual as he leads a tired clone force in a circular battle against a foe he thought was long since vanquished.

The already troubled situation slips into crisis when... well, you should really watch these episodes and/or listen to us dissect them to get the whole picture. Just know: Today, we finally answer one of the longest running mysteries of the franchise. 

NEXT TIME: Episodes 113 - 115 ("An Old Friend," "The Rise of Clovis," "Crisis at the Heart")

Show Notes

Deaths: Jedi Master Tiplar, Commander Droid Kraken, Tup (CT-5385), Fives (CT-27-5555) 😔 😔 😔

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

In our final episode of the year, we're joined by Kirk Hamilton of Strong Songs, Triple Click, and the Kotaku review of Destiny 2 fame. (No, really, it's one of my all time favorite reviews. Go read it!)

Over on Strong Songs, Kirk recently dove headfirst into Nicholas Britell's excellent Andor score. Today, he's joining us to talk through music's place in the show and in Star Wars in general. Join us as we unpack the differences between Britell, John Williams, and the other musicians who've worked in the franchise. And don't worry, we sneak in one more theory about Cass' sister for good measure!

Show Notes

"Evolution of the Star Wars Main Theme" by Star Wars Audio Comics on YouTube (Used around minute 20)

Brad & Will Made a Tech Pod

"When Music is Torture" by an interview with Lilly E. Hirsch by Maggie Wang

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

As promised, the Autumn of Andor continues! Today, we've got the first of three guest-filled episodes coming to you this December. We are joined by Adam Serwer, author of The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump's America, staff writer at The Atlantic, and life long Star Wars fan.

We share and contextualize our final feelings on Andor, explore the tensions and consonances between the Lucas, Filoni, and Gilroy visions of the franchise, and (if you are very patient) try to unravel whatever the hell was up with that Karn/Mosk hat swap.

NEXT TIME: TBD, but expect us to either pick up either our headphones or our character sheets.

Show Notes

"Star Wars Gets Political" by Adam Serwer

"Tony Gilroy, forgive me for this post" - BB-8 on Andor & the Hero's Journey 

Brasso's Actor posting Killing in the Name

The Great Game, the Atlantic's World Cup Newsletter

Finally, an important communique from the inimitable poet, sociologist, and comic book author Eve Ewing, as hand delivered by Adam Serwer:

p.s. Eve, you are ABSOLUTELY welcome to come thru!

Surprise! Thanks to a very kind mystery contact with their own very kind mystery contacts inside of Lucasfilm (and/or Disney Plus), we were given last minute screener access to the Andor finale. And you better believe we hustled to watch it, prep our notes, and deliver the longest episode of our Andor season and one of the longest episodes we've ever recorded.

Come for our emotional reactions to the return of voices we'd thought we'd heard the last of. Stay for our dive into 2000s-era anarchist philosophy. And then rate us five stars for all the time we dedicate to talking about our very favorite absolutely rotten relationships.

ALSO: As a special bonus for our Patrons, we recorded our own live reactions when we group watched this episode together. Go to patreon.com/civilized, support us at the $5 level, and you can hear each of our exuberant pop offs, our surprised gasps, our wavering voices, and our howls for the most rancid of love stories.  

NEXT TIME: No episode on the 30th (this is that episode), and potentially no episode on the 7th. But we have a bunch of great stuff queued up for December, so look forward to it!

Show Notes

The Coming Insurrection by the Invisible Committee

We are Everywhere: The Irresistible Rise of Global Anticapitalism

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

As Cassian and Melshi put distance between themselves and Narkina 5, the rest of the galaxy spins just thus, aligning such that many of our principal players will wind up together on Ferrix. And those that won't, well, they're busy uh... talking about Trad Chandrillan customs, so, you know, equally as exciting. 

Like many of you, we have spent the last ten episodes on the edge of our seats, eager to know what comes next. But with today's episode, written by Tony Gilory and directed by Benjamin Caron, we are a step past eager. We are desperate. Join us in desperation.

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

NEXT TIME: Andor Episode 12 (TWELVE. THE SEASON ONE FINALE. AHHHHHH)

 Show Notes

Shout outs to Chase for this one.

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

If you rewind the clock by two years, it was today, November 14th, that Ali, Rob, Natalie, and I got in the same group DM and made a decision: Let's do a Clone Wars podcast.

Today, our 50th episode releases, and let me tell you: On that day, we could not BEGIN to imagine how much we would be feasting.

Today's episode of Andor is a tight, focused 43 minute exploration of revolutionary sacrifice in its many forms. And while I could not call this nearly three hour long episode of our show anything close to "tight," I do think it's one of our best yet. So please, tell a friend, review the show on your podcast platform of choice, and (if you're in a place where you can) go ahead and give us some support on our Patreon.

Here's to 50 more episodes of yelling about Jedi hypocrisy, theorizing about crybaby fascists, sometimes, complaining about mid-tier fandom, coming up with our own outlandish AUs, and (every once in a while) offering deep analysis.

NEXT TIME: Andor Episode 11

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

There are many things about Andor that, push come to shove, I think we could have predicted. Self-sufficient (if selfish) rogue slowly warms to a rebellion? Sure. Imperial bureaucracy tightens its snare around the revolutionary and the uninvolved alike? Definitely. Coruscanti political drama? Probably, hell, they had that in Clone Wars.

But there are scenes in this week's Andor that never in one hundred years would we have imagined to have shown up. Here? In Star Wars? No. Couldn't be. Disney wouldn't let it happen. 

And yet... here we are. 

NEXT TIME: Andor Episode 10

Show Notes

#Keero Fancam by Patrick Willems

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

If you made fun of us for going long on a previous Andor episode, well the joke is on you, because you should've waited for this week. In what can only be described as (minute-for-minute and pound-for-pound) our MOST five star runtime episode yet, we delve into all manner of bleak material. There's prison labor. There's a bitter-yet-functional marriage. There's a snare slowly tightening around a rebellion so nascent that even two of its most important leaders can't come to terms about working together. And there's a little terrible man who is, one bad day at a time, learning that the world doesn't work in the the facile, cartoonish way he dreamt it did.

NEXT TIME: Andor Episode 09

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

After a nail-biting heist, what could follow for Andor? Unsurprisingly, a talky episode all about the Empire's response to the fledgling rebellion, filled with juicy details about galactic policy decisions, intelligence agency maneuvering, and a bunch of difficult emotional conversations. And, of course... Space Miami.

NEXT TIME: Andor Episode 08

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Wow, what a season. From the opening at the rainy PreMor leisure district to the climactic conclusion in highlands of Aldh-

What's that?  You're saying this is only the halfway point of the series? The halfway point of the first season of the series? 

No, that can't be right. You're saying that after this—perhaps the best pound-for-pound filmmaking we've covered on the podcast—we get... more? 

Wow. A better world really is possible.

NEXT TIME: Andor Episode 07

Show Notes

Heads up that next episode may come a day late, as we're dealing with scheduling difficulties and dental recovery!

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

We finished last episode with two desires: To sit in on an absolutely terrible dinner evening and to watch the beginning of a high intensity heist. We got neither, and instead have received a feast unlike any we could've hoped for.

From Coruscant to Aldhani, we trace four stories about families bickering. A mother dressing up insults in the language of care. A father leaning back and watching in glee as his daughter tears into her mother. Brothers-in-arms at each other's throats. It's drama time, baby. The action can wait.

NEXT TIME: Andor Episode 06

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Three episodes can trick you. It's enough that you think: Okay, I have the gist of the show. I understand what's going on here. I get the moves the filmmakers like to make, I understand tone and theme. I get what the actors have at their disposal. But three episodes is nothing. Sometimes a showrunner handles the introductory arc themself, only to step back afterwards. Budgets dip. The relationship between actors, directors, and others on set can sour. Three episodes can trick you.

But Andor first three episodes didn't trick us.

Join us this week for our dive into the fourth episode of the series, where we dig into all of our favorite topics, including cultural deterritorialization, the penchant intelligence agencies have for falling into paranoia, and, of course, extremely shitty husbands.

NEXT TIME: Andor Episode 05

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

A More Civilized Age has never been a show with a plan so much as a set of interests. We’ve never even really known what is coming in the primary topic for our show, The Clone Wars, and that’s allowed us to have some incredible experiences and, we hope, some fun surprises to share with you that compensates for the fact that we can’t analyze this with a complete knowledge of the text.

That also meant that we never really had a plan for “what happens after we watch The Clone Wars?” That was a conversation for the future. We’d wrap up our project and then think about whether or not there were any other shows that we felt so passionately about that we’d want to widen the scope of AMCA.

But it turns out that if you spend two years working on a Star Wars podcast the future might just become the present and force the issue before you are ready.

As you might have gleaned when we watched the trailer, Andor had all the hallmarks of a show that would speak to the things we were most interested in when it came to Star Wars. And indeed, from the minute the first episodes came out, it was clear we needed to drop everything and let our own excitement be our guide.

So: For the next couple months, we’re going to leave Ahsoka on the steps of the Jedi Temple at the end of Season 5 and spend some time with Andor.

Now, we have a plan for the rest of the Clone Wars and we’d already started work on Season 6 when we made this turn, so we’re not scrapping the heart of what AMCA has been about. But for the next couple months, we’re going to be hitting the latest episode of Andor every week and continuing with our monthly Q and As.

We hope you're as excited about these next few months of AMCA as we are. It’s fair to say that the post-Disney, post-Abrams era of Star Wars has been very hit or miss, but if nothing else it feels like Andor already feels like a show that has paid attention to and is ready to spark more of the most interesting conversations you can have about Star Wars and its fictional history. Will it stick the landing? Your guess is as good as ours, but we’re excited to take the ride with you.

-Rob Zacny

NEXT TIME: Andor Episode 04

Show Notes

Huge shout outs to @XEECEEVEVO for the new art! Go check out their visual novel about murder and mystery in a 15th century convent, Misericorde!  

Tony Gilroy on the Screenwriting of 'Andor'

‘What’s the Bodega Look Like on Coruscant?’: Tony Gilroy on Making ‘Andor’ – and Fighting Off a ‘Michael Clayton’ TV Series

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Do you remember when, in one of last arc's Filoni Zones, Dave said something like "...it's the best fight that we've ever done... until next episode's." Well, that might be true for in a broader sense for this arc, too. Somehow, after the low lows of the middle of this season, we've hit an absolute golden pair of arcs to close it out. This week's material isn't perfect—the mystery has an unfortunate Scooby Doo quality, for one—but it's damn close. 

And remember what Star Wars Dot Com said: [REDACTED] is 100% right.

NEXT TIME: Episodes 109 - 113 ("The Unkown," "Conspiracy," "Fugitive," and "Orders")

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

We've had some hard times here, haven't we gang? Aspirin defending bounty hunters. Bogan fruit. Juggling Jar-Jar. Lux Bonteri, heartthrob and super soldier. Younglings. Droids in voids. 

Well. You know what? For the string of episodes we're kicking off today, it was worth it. All of it. 

If you haven't watched the last few arcs, take our recommendation and go watch this one before listening. You owe it to yourself. Then come back and get ready for what might be the most high energy 3+ hours we've ever had on the show. So far, anyway...

Show Notes

Mandalorian Murals

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Close your eyes and imagine this: A Clone Wars arc about the intricacies of droid personhood and cultural hierarchy, partially taking place in an existentialist void, and crossing paths with a story about an amnesiac Clone who's escaped the war just to find himself another harsh master. Oh, and the best explosion in the series to date. Now open your eyes and face the cold hard reality: This is one of the worst arcs we've seen yet.

Hope yet lives, though. Why? Because we've made it through 100 episodes of the show. Oh, and because in the time since recording this episode, we've all watched the next arc. And wow is the group chat buzzing...

NEXT TIME: Episodes 102 - 104 (""Eminence," "Shades of Reason," and "The Lawless"")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Astromech Deaths: M5-BZ

Clone Deaths: Gregor (but probably not, thanks Dave)

Star Wars The Clone Wars Season Five: A Sunny Day In The Void Featurette

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

For nearly two years now, we've had a number of questions about what it means to be a so-called Youngling in the Jedi Order. What's it like to be separated from your family and culture? How are they taught to live a life without attachment, yet one still devoted to service? How are classes structured? How's the food in the cafeteria? 

Well, finally we get an arc all about Younglings. Only we don't get many answers, because no matter how much the crew behind Clone Wars says that lightsabers aren't all that important, they nevertheless can't seem to stop making episodes about them. Well, them and Hondo Ohnaka... 

NEXT TIME: Episodes 98 - 101 ("Secret Weapons," "A Sunny Day in the Void," "Missing in Action," and "Point of No Return")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

After some time away, we're back to our old tricks. And hey, so are the Jedi, if by "up to their old tricks" we mean "refusing to help people in need because they prioritize an abstract code over lives." Watch as Anakin invents the Rebellion and the CIA in the same fell swoop. Cheer as a future revolutionary makes his (admittedly mixed) first appearance. Shrug as Ahsoka and Lux Bonteri continue to vaguely orbit one another. Clone Wars is back baby!

NEXT TIME: Episodes 94 - 97 ("The Gathering, "A Test of Strength," "Bound for Rescue," "A Necessary Bond")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Rebel Deaths: Dono, Hutch, Steela Gerrera

Shitty King Deaths: Sanjay Rash

Kish (Saw's Voice Actor) - I Rhyme the World in 80 Days

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

A quick note: This ep contains very minor spoilers for Season 5 Episode 7.

As we said in the last few episodes, because of travel and other delays, we're not quite ready to jump into Season 5 headfirst yet. But tonight, we saw an opportunity to keep the feed moving, and we took that opportunity by the horns.

Noted Star Wars fan Keith J. Carberry (of Run Button and Friends at the Table) joins Austin to talk about his ongoing crusade on Wookiepedia. And hey, before we begin, close your eyes and answer a simple question: In the Legends continuity, what's the name of the gem that a Jedi or Sith puts into their Lightsaber?

While we have your attention, two quick announcements you may have missed. First: We just released a special bonus for backers over on our Patreon! If you've ever wanted to see us play Fantasy Flight Game's OUTER RIM together IN PERSON, well, here's your chance. 

Second: Our sister show, the aforementioned Friends at the Table, is doing a two day fundraising stream for the National Network of Abortion Funds. We'd really appreciate it if you tuned in and supported this cause that means so much to all of us. It'll be on Sunday the 3rd and Monday the 4th from 12PM - 8PM EST. Details are here, and you can watch live on Twitch.

Thanks as always!

Featuring Austin Walker (@austin_walker) and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

With today's episode, we bring The Clone Wars Season 4 to an end and kick Season 5 off with, if not a bang, then at least the death of a somewhat major Jedi. Our Favorite Zabrak, Savage Opress (ugh) is back! And this time, he's got a brother turned partner in crime turned abusive boss.

While these eps do have some low lows, they also have a few extremely high highs: A diner, a warehouse worker who steals our heart, an Obi-Wan/Ventress flirt-a-thon, and... finally... at least some of our hearts melting for a fan favorite character we have really hated up until now.

NEXT TIME: Episodes 91- 94 ("A War on Two Fronts," "Front Runners," "The Soft War," and "Tipping Points")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Deaths: Morley the Disney Snake, Too-Loyal Pirate Sabo, Jedi Master Adi Gallia

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

As we head into the final arcs of Season 4, we finally reunite with long lost Sith(-leaning) assassin, Asajj Ventress. How's she been? Well, you know how things go. Lose your job and your social circle and you start looking for a new place. Make some new friends. Find a new mentor. Maybe reconnect with your hometown. Great ideas. Unless, of course, you're a walking target.

NEXT TIME: Episodes 87-89 ("Brothers," "Revenge," and "Survival")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Deaths: All of the Nightsisters!!!!!!!!!!!

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Everything is going swimmingly for Moralo Eval's dastardly plan. Along with certified killers Cad Bane and Rako Hardeen (shh), he's escaped Coruscant, evaded his Jedi pursuers, and arrived on Count Dooku's homeworld of Serenno. Now it's time for the real plan to begin: Everybody get into the box!

What? Did you not imagine that the remainder of this arc hinged on a callback to a 1997 indie horror premise? Well don't worry, it doesn't. It was all a fifth dimensional chess ploy anyway. All according to plan. 

NEXT TIME: Episodes 85 & 86 ("Massacre" & "Bounty")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Bounty Hunter Deaths: Bulduga, Onca, Kiera Swan, Sinrich, Jakoli, Mantu, Sixtat

The Cube Trailer

Cad Bane Fancam

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

As The Clone Wars begins to lean into heftier, multi-episode arcs, we're hit with the first one we've been forced to break up due to scheduling and length issues. Which means that, yes, we will get to half of an arc about Obi-Wan going to undercover a la John Travolta in Face Off. But first we need to tackle the stand alone return of Pre Vizsla, Deathwatch, and... Lux Bonteri.

NEXT TIME: Episodes 83 & 84 ("The Box" and "Crisis on Naboo")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Deaths: Tryla, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Faked)

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

We've made it to the heart of Season 4. Well, in the specific figurative sense meaning "the middle," not the other figurative sense meaning "the thematic core, emblematic of the whole." At least we hope not, since this trio of eps walks right up to a bunch of very interesting ideas and whiffs on basically all of them. This is, seriously, an arc about slavery that barely lets Anakin address his feelings on the practice, and spares literally no time for broader conversation around Clones- or Droids-as-slaves, and finds the time to do Ahsoka (whose people are the ones enslaved in these episodes) dirty too! Ah well. At least we'll always have the uncomfortable sexual tension of the Zygerrian Slave Queen's Bedchambers.   

NEXT TIME: Episodes 80 - 82 ("Friend in Need," "Deception," "Friends and Enemies")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Deaths: Some slavers, idk, fuck em

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Finally we have escaped the desert that was the beginning of Season 4, and we arrive at what is one of the best arcs of the show to date. The Republic sees the seceded world of Umbara as a strategic stepping stone to the Mid Rim, but for the clones assigned under the ruthless (and seemingly inept) Jedi General Pong Krell, it's a more like one big gravestone.  Join us as we gleefully talk about clone feelings, Jedi indifference, our headcanon bonus episodes, and, admittedly, the arc's small handful of missteps and missed opportunities.

NEXT TIME: Episodes 77 - 79 ("Kidnapped," "Slaves of the Republic," "Escape from Kadavo")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Deaths: Oz, Ringo, Hardcase, Waxer, Pong Krell, more unnamed clones than we can count

Walter Murch - 'Clone Wars' and learning Maya

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Alicia Acampora

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

You know. It happens, right? We've all had a few bad misses in a row, haven't we? And I know what you're thinking, "hey, are you talking about the quality of the show or the misadventures of C-3PO and R2-D2?" And obviously the answer is both. The good news is that we have a lot of fun talking through our issues with these episodes. And we think (or at least we hope) that the coming arc is going to turn things around.

NEXT TIME: Episodes 73 - 74 ("Darkness on Umbara" and "The General")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Alicia Acampora

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

The fourth season of Clone Wars is here, and unfortunately, it kicks off with a bubbling whimper. On the watery world of Mon Cala, the already fraught relationship between its two key cultures is in crisis when the planet's king dies. Now, his son, a child with no skill in command, leadership, or much of anything, is due to inherit the throne despite the anti-monarchist protestations of many of his subjects. Where do the Jedi fit into this? Well, they're on Mon Cala to protect the monarchy of course. 

NEXT TIME: Episodes 70 - 72 ("Shadow Warrior," "Mercy Mission," and "Nomad Droids)

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Ahsokaverse AU by @Letoscrawls

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Alicia Acampora

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

We have finally, actually come to the end of Clone Wars' third season, and we've been met with a pair of enjoyable, if straight forward, episodes. As has been a running theme throughout the season, today's journey focuses on Ahsoka's growing sense of independence and reliability, casting her as the protector of a group of lost Jedi younglings who've been caught up in a real Most Dangerous Game situation. And I know what you're wondering: Are some of these Younglings 57 years old? Yes. Okay, well, does Ahsoka moralize to them in the same ineffectual ways that the Jedi always do? Also yes. 

NEXT TIME: Episodes 67 - 69 ("Water War," "Gungan Attack," and "Prisoners")

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

Show Notes

Trandoshan Kills: Morgo, Vadoo, Katt Mol, Lika, Khalifa

Trandoshan Deaths: Dar, Clutch, Goron, Lagon, Gilas, Ratter, Lo-Taren, Socheck, Garnac

Trandoshan K/D Ratio: 0.555

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Alicia Acampora

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Phew, we've finally made it to the big Season 3 finale arc. Nearly all of our main characters are here, facing down the very Citadel we first heard about in the season opener--and some snarky commentary from a future Star Wars villain. How will- Huh? What's that? You're saying this isn't the end of the season? There's two more episodes following this? Sure buddy. Sure. Whatever you say. But don't be surprised when we divert from the main topic of this episode multiple times to dig into end-of-season retrospective thoughts and hopes for the future anyway. We gotta hit those five star runtimes somehow.

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

NEXT TIME: Episodes 65 - 66 ("Padawan Lost" and "Wookie Hunt")

Show Notes

Major Deaths: Charger, Longshot, Echo, Even Piell, Osi Sobeck, OOM-10 AND HIS BUDS ;_; o7 

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Alicia Acampora

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Here it is, finally, the episode the Jedi Council didn't want you to hear! After a bout of illness and other scheduling hurdles (you might notice Austin isn't recording with this usual mic - sorry!), we have finally sat down to talk through the Mortis arc.

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

NEXT TIME: Episodes 62 - 64 ("The Citadel," "Counter Attack," & "Citadel Rescue")

Show Notes

Major Deaths: The Daugther? The Son?? The Father???? Is any of this real?????????

The Son Talks to Darth Revan and Bane

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Alicia Acampora

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Week after week, we return to the same conversation: What if, instead of focusing only on known characters and therefore being boxed in by the events of the Prequel Trilogy, Clone Wars could spread its wings and spend time developing new characters with yet unwritten endings. Finally, with the arrival of a character really, genuinely named Savage, our prayers are answered, even if the monkey's paw does curl...

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

NEXT TIME: Episodes 59 - 61 ("Overlords," "Altar of Mortis," & "Ghosts of Mortis")

Show Notes

Shout outs to Mat Jones, @pillowfort on Twitter, for producing this episode!

Fallen Clones: "Trauma"

Fallen Zabrak: Feral, many unnamed others

Fallen Jedi: Halsey, Knox

Fallen Kings: Katuunko

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Mat Jones (@pillowfort)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

There is an energy today. Can you feel it? Can you anticipate the shouting? The laughter? The grinding of teeth? The discussion of interest rates, privatization of public goods and services, and the strategic neoliberal moving of goal posts? All of this, plus Star Wars continues to dip its toe into antisemitic caricature, and our last real confrontation with Clone Wars' chopped up timeline. Oh, and I guess Anakin says some fashy stuff too. It's a big one. Enjoy?  

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

NEXT TIME: Episodes 56 - 58 ("Nightsisters," "Monster," "Witches in the Mist")

Show Notes

Clone Deaths: Innumerable off screen, which no one cares about

Senator Deaths: None yet, except for the ones that already happened in the episode that follows these, which also released a year prior.

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

If you only knew where this series of episodes began, you might expect quite a different podcast than what we deliver to you today. What begins as an arc about the power (and limit) of prophecy quickly turns into something else. Sure, we get to debate the limits of Padme's boilerplate political rhetoric for a bit, but before long there's a the return of an old antagonist. The only question is, who hates this guy more: us or the people who came up with him in the first place.

You can support the show and gain access to a monthly Q&A cast by going to patreon.com/civilized

NEXT TIME: Episodes 54 - 55 ("Heroes on Both Sides" and "The Pursuit of Peace")

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

I will not lie to you, friends. On paper, this is a hell of an arc. A return to Mandalore, now starving because of Separatist pressure and Republic failure? Duchess Satine and Senator Amidala as confidants and heroines? Ahsoka, sent to ferret out a secretive black market? How could anyone possibly be left unsatisfied?  Well... 

NEXT TIME: Episodes 51 - 53 ("Assassin," "Evil Plans," and "Hunt for Ziro")

Show Notes

Clone Deaths: None, for once? Tummy Aches: Many.

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Sometimes on this show, we (Natalie especially) will talk about the "morsels" of world building that are delivered to us. Deep inside an episode about an evil Hutt lord or a lost lightsaber, maybe there's a brief mention of some aspect of the socio-political reality of the Star Wars world. And, things being what they are, we have found ourselves content with these morsels. But today? Today we feast. Neither of these episodes is a stone cold classic, don't get us wrong. But both shine lights into the realities of the Trade Federation, the Separatist movement, and the entropic nature of the Republic's internal situation. So, do you like blockades? Are you hungry for embargoes? You wanna hear a bureaucrat spin a tale of broken neutrality so outlandish that it'll make your head spin? Then buckle up, baby, because it's time for a war in the shipping lanes.

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Keeli

Fallen Jedi: Ima-Gun Di (*groan*)

Dinner in the Sky

Greedo Attacks First - Episode 1 Deleted Scene

We return from hiatus to find a pair of episodes built to answer some of our most potent and long running questions about the clones and their war: How are they trained? ? What's their relationship to Kamino? How soon can they start getting sick haircuts? Where's the Jango Juice kept?

What? Don't say you didn't miss us. 

NEXT TIME: Episodes 47 - 48 ("Supply Lines" and "Sphere of Influence")

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Havoc, Colt, and 99

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Finally, we've come to the end of The Clone Wars Season 2. And, appropriate for a season subtitled "Rise of the Bounty Hunters," we do so with a trio of episodes about future fan favorite hunter Boba Fett (co-starring Aurra Sing and Bossk, two other fan favorite mercs). It's an imperfect arc in many ways, but it succeeds in at least one important metric: getting us to talk for too damned long about them.

In any case, some news before you get to the episode: We'll be taking a break for our next scheduled episode and returning on October 6th, with our normal monthly Patreon episode going live on September 29th (so get your questions in to [email protected]).

NEXT TIME: Episodes 45 - 46 ("Clone Cadets" and "Arc Troopers"

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: CT-411 a.k.a. "Ponds"

A two episode Godzilla and King Kong inspired arc? Certainly that couldn't leave us with enough material to go for more than 70, 80 minutes tops. Talk about the monster design, the War on Terror allegory, maybe even sneak in a conversation about the ongoing pacing and structure of the series? In an out, righ- 

I'm being handed a piece of paper. It says "they went for two hours."

Ah. Well, nevertheless.

NEXT TIME: Episodes 42 - 44 ( "Death Trap," "R2 Come Home," and "Lethal Trackdown")

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Hawkeye, Kosmos,

Fallen Comrades: THE MOTHERFUCKIN ZILLO BEAST

After last episode's cohesive and sumptuous Mandalore Arc, today's follow up was going to have a high bar to clear. And, unfortunately, all three of today's episodes come up short. That's not to say there's nothing of note here: the opening "Senate Murders" gives us some back room politicking and a little extra insight into senatorial processes, but it raises more questions than it answers. The other two episodes of the bunch have their charms too--especially if you're a sucker for tense submarine duels or stylized bounty hunter designs. But all in all, it's just as Rob says in today's intro: They cannot all be winners. Thankfully, that won't stop us from having our own brand of incredibly punchy fun with what they offer us anyway.

NEXT TIME: Episodes 40 & 41 ( "The Zillo Beast" & "The Zillo Beast Strikes Back")

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: None??? Fallen Senators: Onaconda Farr, Mee Deechi Fallen Bounty Hunters: Rumi Paramita Fallen Cool As Hell Separatist Officers: No one, because we believe Trench lived somehow.

Tera Sinube vs Tan Divo Epic Rap Battle (Oh my god, I'm just realizing that this is just clips edited over a Bob Ross vs Pablo Picasso battle oh no.)

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

As far back as the Clone Wars movie, when Obi-Wan Kenobi first bantered with Asajj Ventress, we knew that the bearded Jedi Master had a romantic side. Today, we see that part of him in full bloom--and perhaps in full wither--as he reconnects with the Duchess Satine Kryze. To say there are fireworks is an understatement. We've got a whole damned powder keg here. There's bickering. There's flirting. There's face touching. And at the heart of it, there's a debate about pacifism, sovereignty, and duty.

Oh, and some Mandalorians show up too.

NEXT TIME: Episodes 37-39 ("Senate Murders," "Cat and Mouse," "Bounty Hunters")

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Redeye, Mixer

"Concordian Mando'a in TCW"

Let's not beat around the bush: We have three episodes today, but one of them towers over the others. It's great to see our favorite Separatist general in "Grievous Intrigue" and it's fun to meet a new, Columbo-esque Jedi elder in "Lightsaber Lost," but over a year ago, it was "The Deserter" that confirmed just how fun doing a Clone Wars podcast might be. And boy, were we ever right. 

NEXT TIME: Episodes 34 - 36 ("The Mandalore Plot," "Voyage of Temptation," "Duchess of Mandalore")

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Too many to count. Special honors for "Front Door"

"Grievous Intrigue" Featurette

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

There are many reasons to be excited for this trio of episodes. There's the way the arc slides effortlessly from genre to genre, all while maintaining an overall sense of narrative continuity. There's the way that the lighting and effects work in these episodes show how far the production team have come since season one. There's the further development of characters like Luminara Unduli and Barris Offee, quickly becoming some of our favorites. But maybe more than anything, there is for the first time a long dark hallway, the baleful hum of brass, and a man walking slowly towards his future...   

NEXT TIME: Episodes 31 - 33 (Grievous Intrigue, The Deserter, Lightsaber Lost)

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Buzz, Gearshift, Trap, OM-5 (Honorary)

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Today we begin our first multi-part arc, starting with the series' first attempt at a cloak-and-dagger romantic thriller, "Senate Spy" (an episode which unfortunately lives up to neither "cloak-and-dagger" nor "romantic thriller.") Then, we head to Geonosis for the war film inspired "Landing at Point Rain," where clones die by the dropship-load, Geonosians face the wrath of Republic flamethrowers, and Jedi once again serve less as generals and more as ego-driven quarterbacks. 

NEXT TIME: Episodes 28 - 30 (Weapons Factory, Legacy of Terror, and Brain Invaders)

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Innumerable (but unnamed)

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Nope, you're not wrong. That guy in the hat? He is extremely cool. And extremely evil. We've finally reached one of Clone Wars great, break out original characters: Cad Bane. He's here to remind us that villains can be extremely competent, Jedi can be entirely too confident, and plot arcs absolutely coherent. 

Yup. It's a good day to be a Civilian. Well... except for the audio issues.

NEXT TIME: Episodes 26 & 27 (Senate Spy & Landing at Point Rain)

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Todo 360 (Honorary)

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

“Another armed occupation is not a free Ryloth. How long before I am fighting you, master Jedi?” -Cham Syndulla

On and above the Twi'lek homeworld of Ryloth, battles rage between Separatist and Republic forces. This three part, anthology-style arc gives us different perspectives on the conflict, and that's true in more ways than one. These episodes offer us both our most paternalistic, simple minded vision of racial harmony yet and our first de facto "radical" figure. Oh, and no, before you write in: They are not French.

Next time: Episodes 22-25 (S1E22-S2E3), Hostage Crisis + Magic of the Holocron Arc

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Slammer, Tucker, Axe

Barthes on the cover of Paris Match

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

After the highs and lows of Revenge of the Sith, it felt like we were due to even back out with some mid-tier content. And hey, good news, the Blue Shadow Virus is nothing if not mid. One one hand, it spends some solid time characterizing nearly every one of our leads. On the other, its combination of mad scientist stock villain, half-developed Bermuda Triangle planet, and bio-terror plot just don't mesh together into anything especially elevated or memorable. But with just one more arc to go in the season, and with some clear signs that the production team is perfecting their technical processes, it does feel like maybe we're nearing the light at the end of the tunnel of mediocrity...

Next Time: The Ryloth Arc (The Clone Wars: Episodes 19-21)

Show Notes

Not a clone, but still: RIP to Taquito. 

Padme Holding Knives:

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

With what can only be described as "season finale energy," today we detour from our Clone Wars journey in order to (re)visit the final film in George Lucas' much derided Prequel Trilogy: Revenge of the Sith. 

Do we debate at length where the final blame for Anakin's downfall lies? Yes. Do we dream up ways that things could have gone differently? Absolutely. Do we find ways to talk ourselves into circles? Oh, without a doubt.

Join us for this four and a half our dive into Revenge of the Sith. If you (and we) can make it through this, then the rest of Clone Wars will be nothing.

(Also, if you enjoy this, reminder that you can support the show and listen to a monthly Q&A by going to patreon.com/civilized. Oh and be sure to check the show notes on the site to get all the Important Secondary Material we'll reference throughout this pod.)

Next time: Clone Wars Episode 17-18 (The Blue Shadow Virus Arc)

Show Notes

Sheev's Gamer Chair (With Cat Ears)

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Content warnings: Discussion of sex and drug use.

It should've been a simple episode. Two stand alone stories, each filled to the brim with the sort of political world building and philosophical question raising content that we thrive on. And, for what it's worth, we roll right into all of that. But then, perhaps because the tracks had been greased a little too well, perhaps because of hubris, or perhaps because of the ever-present will of the force, we go way off the rails. 

And frankly, we were due.

Next time: Revenge of the Sith

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

If there is one leading question this podcast has raised so far, it's "What role do the Jedi really serve in the Galactic Republic?" It's fair to say that we've been pretty critical of this ancient order of religious space cops, and fortunately, the writers of Clone Wars have decided to bring our skeptical perspective into the show directly. Someone who can speak truth to power. Someone who can confront the hypocrit-

Sorry, sorry. One second. I'm being handed a note.  

Ah! Well. Nevertheless,

Next time: Episodes 15-16

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Flash (not FLESH as we thought), Lucky, and Cameron

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

"Maybe there's a lesson to be learned here..." -Obi-Wan Kenobi

What are some things you'd love to see in a Clone Wars arc? Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Count Dooku forced to work together? Check. The introduction of a new, series regular space pirate? Yup. A lot of people getting absolutely roasted? Absolutely. This week's episode pairing has all the ingredients to be a delicious dish.

And yet...

Next time: Episodes 13-14

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Mack

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

"This is a mission of peace. I put my faith in diplomacy. We can't solve all of our problems by throwing troops at them." -Padmé Amidala

Before we get into the episode today, big news: We've launched our Patreon! Just go over to patreon.com/civilized (lol) to support us and gain access to our monthly Q&A podcast. We're keeping it super simple for now. A single tier, a single reward. We don't want to bury ourselves in work. But we also have some ideas for how we'd want to expand this down the road, and we'd love to hear ideas from you too, so let us know!

Given the extra work of launching the Patreon this week, we'd love to say that this week's episode is a light one. And on paper, it should be. These episodes cover three distinct stories, with marginal narrative overlap, each tackling a different genre and theme.  Unfortunately for us and our runtime, even the worst of these episodes (the Jar Jar vehicle "Bombad Jedi") has enough to chew on for damn near fort minutes. And if that was the case for the comic relief episode, then what could we have expected from our conversation about the one-two punch of "Cloak of Darkness," perhaps our best episode yet, and "Lair of Grievous," which gives us a small taste for the Separatist Supreme Commander's backstory that we've been so thirsty for?  

Next time: Episodes 11-12

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Green Leader, Bel, Niner, Commander Fil

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

"I have a bad feeling about this." - Commander Cody, Rookies "I have a bad feeling about this." - Anakin Skywalker, Downfall of a Droid "I have a bad feeling about this." - Captain Rex: Duel of the Droids

This week, we've finally hit a truly solid episode in our first Clone-focused romp, "Rookies," which raises questions not only about Clone individuality but also the Republic's handle on... everything. We also delve into Droid personhood (and beef) in a two parter that separates Anakin from true series protagonist, R2-D2. It's a story that has one real lesson: Do not fuck with R2-D2.  

Next time: Episodes 8-10

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Cutup, Hevy, O'Niner, Droidbait, Nub, CT-327 ("sentry")

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

“My lady, are you sure the information from Chancellor Palpatine is… reliable?” - C-3P0

After weeks of build up, we've finally made it to the Clone Wars series proper. Join us as we take our first dive into questions of Clone individuality, meet the polarizing Separatist commander General Grievous, and return to the eternal question: How does no one find out about Padme and Anakin when they're barely hiding their relationship.

Next Time: Episodes 05 - 07

Show Notes

Fallen Clones: Matchstick and Tag 

How Tall is General Grievous?

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

"You'll have to do better than that, my darling." - Obi-Wan Kenobi

Finally, we have arrived to the Clone Wars. At least, sort of. Today, we tackle 2008's The Clone Wars, a prelude meant to introduce the audience to the then-upcoming TV series. Join us as we meet overeager Padawan Ahsoka Tano, ambitious Sith apprentice Asajj Ventress, and a pair of Hutts who've left us with... mixed feelings. 

Next Time: Episodes 1-4 of The Clone Wars.

Show Notes

Star Wars The Clone Wars: Producer Catherine Winder Interview

Clone Wars proved a galactic task for production team

Early designs that would lead to Ventress

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Later this month, the crew here at A More Civilized Age will be launching a humble Patreon, with a monthly Q&A podcast as a bonus to our supporters. But since that Patreon isn't up yet, and because wanted to give folks a taste of what's to come, we wanted to do a free bonus episode for y'all this week. So, enjoy, and thank you all for sending in your questions!

If YOU would like your questions considered for a future episode, you can send it to [email protected]! And as a final reminder, we'll be back next week with The Clone Wars (2008). See you then!

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

"We need a system where the politicians sit down and discuss the problem, agree what’s in the best interest of all the people, and then do it.” “That’s exactly what we do. The trouble is that people don’t always agree.” “Well then they should be be made to.”

The Phantom Menace  raised questions. Perhaps, you hoped, Attack of the Clones might answer them. Unfortunately, Episode II itself only offers a litany of new lines of inquiry. 

How many nations are part of the Galactic Republic? Why does Padme ever give Anakin the time of day? Who the hell is Sifo-Dyas? Why don't the Jedi ever seem to help people? Why, oh why, do we spend so long in this terrible droid factory? And has anyone ever apologized to Frank Oz?

Join us as we breach the horizon of these questions and more. Begun, the Clone War has.

Show Notes

The Attempted Assassination of Padme TikTok

From Puppets to Pixels: Digital Characters in Episode II

The Art of Pre-Visualization of Episode II

The Sound Design of Episode II

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

anakin's trick

"It's like poetry. They rhyme."

What ever happened to the glory days of the Galactic Republic? Did it all fall apart because of the masterful manipulations of a dark lord of the Sith? Or may there have been some cracks in the foundation already? 

Join Rob Zacny, Alicia Acampora, Natalie Watson, and Austin Walker as they try to answer those questions, kicking off their journey into the Clone Wars by first revisiting Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace. 

Show Notes

The Beginning: Making Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace 

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Austin Walker

Cover art by Xeecee (@xeeceevevo)

Hey everyone! This is just a brief placeholder episode meant to seed the feed over on the various podcast services. Stay tuned for our first full ep on December 23rd!