Star Wars, Geek Culture, and Power Converters
This review provided by our friend Raul.
With what started as a harmless Facebook “Share” from my sister not so long ago for a holiday not that far away, I was gifted my very own Star Wars Death Star Waffle Maker[1]. As it was a early Christmas present, and given the permission to use it as soon as it arrived, I armed myself with my trusty box of Jiffy baking mix (which, in my opinion, makes excellent waffles and hotcakes) I did what any self-respecting gay does on a Sunday: Brunch.
Ever since the first trailer dropped back in November 2014, certain factions of Star Wars fans have been quite insistent with their thoughts on precisely who can and cannot be stormtroopers and even who could even be in the various militaries that we have seen. Now that The Force Awakens is out, the First Order would like to have a few words with those loud voices. Let’s take a look at their very eloquent letters.
Dear Everyone Insisting That Stormtroopers Must Be Clones,
Suck it.
Signed,
General Hux whose army of stolen, indoctrinated children is way better than clones
Dear Everyone Insisting That Stormtroopers Can’t Be Black,
Suck it.
Signed,
FN-2187, AKA Finn
Dear Everyone Insisting that Stormtroopers Can’t Be Female,
Suck it.
Signed,
Captain Phasma and the Trooper with a Distinctly Female Voice
Dear Literally Anyone Insisting that the Bad Guys Must Be All White Guys,
No seriously. Suck it.
Signed,
The First Order
Before the Awakening is a successor to the young reader Journey to the Force Awakens trilogy of books. Illustrated by Phil Noto (who also illustrated The Weapon of a Jedi, Moving Target, and Smuggler’s Run) and written by Greg Rucka (who also wrote Smuggler’s Run and Shattered Empire), the novel explains what Finn, Rey, and Poe were up to prior to the events of The Force Awakens. It’s divided into three sections, one for each character, and elaborates on their backstories and provides some insight into where each of them are at the start of the film.
(Slight spoilers for The Force Awakens ahead.)
When you first buy a ticket for the Star Wars marathon that leads up to The Force Awakens, you’re probably on an adrenaline high and thinking how incredibly awesome it will be and how you can’t wait for December. And then you realize that you’ve just agreed to sit in a movie theatre with a hundred other nerds for 21 hours. Twenty. One. Hours.
Uh-oh.
12:20 AM: Your alarm goes off and you roll out of bed, somehow putting on the clothes you laid out the night before. You’ve had about 3.5 hours of sleep but it’s going to have to do.
12:50 AM: You arrive at the theatre, armed with your supplies for the day. The pillow is useful. The blanket remains shoved in the bag and your ‘I Survived the Battle of Jakku’ sweatshirt is quickly ditched because it is hot as hell already.
1:00 AM: The Phantom Menace starts! You roll your eyes as people start mocking trade negotiations.
1:02 AM: You down your first frappachino of the day.
Somewhere between 1:10 and 3:10 AM: You’re stupidly happy because you forgot how much you love TPM. People make Jar Jar jokes but that’s nothing new because you’ve been on the Internet. Padmé Amidala is the Queen of the Galaxy and holy crap, that freaking Duel of the Fates! You also roll your eyes and glare at the people who laugh when Anakin is sad as he leaves his mom and contemplate punching the guy next to you for being a dick. It’s okay though. They won’t drag you down!
3:12 AM: The credits roll and you make a desperate dash for the bathroom but then realize that there was no need because for once, the line for the ladies room is the short one. This is going to be good.
3:18 AM: You try and offer the folks running this thing a smile and a kind word and let them know that you appreciate that they are doing everything they can to fix the air issue since you’ve just witnessed them have the same conversation 10 times in a row with everyone complaining, Continue reading
Brian from EUCantina and Jay from Eleven-ThirtyEight join us this week to do only one thing: review The Force Awakens. We dispense with the usual format and dive straight in to discuss the characters, plot, music, and more.
Tosche Station Radio is the official podcast of Tosche-Station.net and a part of Majestic Giraffe Productions. If you like what you hear, please leave a review on the iTunes Music Store. We can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
Nanci and Brian are the co-founders and writers of Tosche-Station.net. You can find Nanci on Twitter with the handle @Nancipants and you can find Brian with @LaneWinree.
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Thursday night, after our first showing of The Force Awakens, we traveled to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the big Opening Night after party. All showings at Disney Springs between 7-8 pm were included in the event, which meant DHS was as empty as I’ve ever seen it. We walked on to every ride, and it was so nice to be able to move throughout the park. Not every attraction was open, only the front part of the park, including Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n Rollercoaster, featuring Star Wars music!
Brian and I arrived at Disney Springs around 8 am for check in. After waiting a little less than an hour, we picked up our credentials and headed off to run errands and relax at home. We went back to Disney Springs in the afternoon, ate lunch and recorded a podcast at Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar, and then went back to line up. We waited another hour before finally getting inside the theatre around 4 pm and settling in for the next three hours.
Before the movie, they played a short video welcoming us to the event and explaining all the cool things we’d be able to do at DHS. I was really impressed with the event organization, and the credentials we were given. We also found out we’d get free photo downloads!
Once freaking out over TFA, we made a beeline to the park, arriving a little after 10 pm, and made another beeline to Star Tours. We took a detour once I saw that BB-8 had a photo op!
We walked on to Star Tours and had the entire shuttle to ourselves. Then we immediately went back on again. After that we went over to Tower of Terror (another walk on), and did Rock ‘n Rollercoaster. I don’t usually go on that ride, but since it was re-themed just for the event, I had to give it a try. It made me sick, but it was totally worth it. I hope they re-theme the ride permanently!
After that we got a late night snack (Darth Vader waffles and chicken) before getting in place for the premiere of the Galactic Spectacular fireworks. After a brief presentation with Phasma (YAY!), the fireworks started. They were similar to the fireworks from last year’s Star Wars Weekends, but with a few added TFA cues, and they were absolutely brilliant. I got emotional and may have teared up.
We went over to Launch Bay, took a few more photo ops, and by then it was close to 2 am and we were ready to crash. Not to mention being kicked out of the park.
It was such a great event, and I would gladly pay more money for another one after Episode VIII.
After more than three years, the wait is finally over. We have seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Many of us more than once. What did we think? Were our hopes met? Even better, were they surpassed? Who cried? Who laughed? Who fainted?
Our raw, emotional reactions to the movie we never thought would happen are under the cut.
(Spoilers, of course.)
Some fun bonus audio! Nanci and Brian took 20 minutes before The Force Awakens on Thursday to share some final thoughts on the long road to the film’s release. Recorded live at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar at Disney Springs on the Walt Disney World Resort
Aaaaand we’re back with one more review of the ever awesome Kanan by Greg Weisman and Pepe Larraz! You know how these reviews go. Continue reading
Another week of me making sad faces because this comic does NOT pick up from that awesome Vader Down cliffhanger but I shall quickly change that sad face into one of glee because this issue of Darth Vader by Kieron Gillen and Leinil Yu has EVERYTHING. It has a brand new royal court! It has the Murder Bots! It has Vader getting to be badass and ruthlessly efficient! Truly, this is New York’s hottest club.
Vader travels to Shu-torun, a planet both rich in ore and noble court traditions in order to emphasize the power of the Empire. His guide and escort upon reaching the planet is the youngest princess, Trios, who stands to inherit no major position upon her father’s death. Meanwhile, the Murder Bots are sneaking around trying to complete their own mission, which will, unsurprisingly, probably end with blood.
I can truly say without reservation that I loved this issue. According to Gillen’s social media, this Annual serves as a lead in of sorts for the next story arc after Vader Down concludes which is, in itself, intriguing. Plus, it’s hard to turn down an issue in which Vader gets to just destroy people who stand against him. But what I really really loved about this was the royal court and traditions of Shu-torun. What’s not to love about a court where formal wear involves glowing things on your fingertips? I love that we’re getting to see not only more new planets but also new planets that have monarchies.
Princess Trios is an interesting character. As Vader himself notes, she’s “admirable” and the issue certainly sets her up to have a future role in the Star Wars galaxy along with an intriguing dynamic with Vader.
Oh? And that gift that Vader brings to the Royals of Shu-torun? Stone. Cold. Cruel.
Vader Annual gets a hell yeah! on my scale of enthusiasm along with a strong recommendation that you read it.