Hondo Caravan: Welcome To Mandalore?

We’ve got a post a day early for you thanks to the holiday this week and… uhhh… Look, we finally arrived at the first of the Mandalorian episodes.  If you’ve seen the show before, need I say more?  Or actually the same applies if you paid even a little bit of attention to the fandom when these aired.  If neither of these applies to you somehow then…. well, just keep reading.

Lightsaber Lost
If you didn’t immediately start doing your best Obi-Wan “This lightsaber is your life!” Kenobi impression when someone stole Ahsoka’s, I’m pretty sure you were doing it wrong.

Ahsoka is really not good at subtle nor at undercover work.  In all fairness, I do sometimes forget how young she is but on the other hand, she does continue to worry me every time we see her act far too rashly and in anger.  I blame Anakin and knowing what he becomes for all my worry in regards to her.

The storyline of the patient old Master who moves much slower than everyone else and who able to teach the impatient young one something new is a clichéd one but it works for Ahsoka.  It’s a filler episode to be sure but that doesn’t make it bad.  I love that the old master’s cane is his lightsaber.  I’m surprised that Yoda didn’t do that too.  Maybe that’ll be the next retcon.

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Simon Kinberg discusses Rebels

Producer Simon Kinberg sat down with StarWars.com in a video interview to discuss Rebels and Star Wars. In his words, Rebels is going to be a “wholly original tapestry” that’s going to feature different stories and different characters than the films. The goal is to be an entry point for a generation of new fans and a “point of return” for existing fans.

Kinberg also discusses the Inquisitor, noting that a challenge was figuring out how to create a character that can live up to the likes of Darth Vader. Additionally, Kinberg’s favorite film? Empire Strikes Back. Take that however you want.

Review: Star Wars: Legacy #10

Another month, another brand new issue of Star Wars: Legacy!  Issue #10 by Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman hits comic store shelves today, drawing the second arc of the series to a close.

When last we left our heroes, the cavalry, led by Admiral Stalzi and Knight Val, had just arrived to at Dac to answer Jao’s distress call.  Even with Admiral Stalzi’s excellent plan to take advantage of the Mon Cal’s and the Quarren’s ability to breath underwater by flooding parts of the station, it’s hardly an easy battle.  The pirates aren’t about to go down without a fight and Jao is locked in a duel with Darth Luft.  Reinforcements are hardly going to make the fight to retake the station an easy one though.

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Star Wars: Attack Squadrons announced

Yesterday, Star Wars.com announced Star Wars: Attack Squadrons, a multiplayer online game being developed by Disney Interactive and Area 52. All we’ve really got right now is this pre-rendered cinematic and a few screenshots of what might be in-game action. I can’t even find anything on developer Area 52, which appears to be a new studio that’s working with Disney to create the game.

Attack Squadrons is being designed as a free-to-play game boasting three PVP modes and customizable starfighters. I would guess that this means there will be some sort of microtransaction system that players can buy into, but we’ll probably hear about that later. For now, you can sign up for the beta testing program.

Perhaps this is the long awaited spiritual successor to X-wing vs. TIE Fighter. I certainly wouldn’t say no to a game like that which takes advantage of far more available broadband access as compared to the late 90s.

Hondo Caravan: And Now Barriss!

Season Two continues along with episodes filled with not only a bunch of awesomely badass female Jedi (oh and the male Jedi too I guess) but also the return of General Grievous! Okay, let’s be honest: I was mostly just excited about the appearance of one Jedi in particular.  I bet the title gave it away.

Landing at Point Rain
I will never get enough of Master Luminara being 300% above everyone else’s bickering and silliness.

This episode features the return to Geonosis which really makes me wonder about everyone’s mental state.  I don’t say that to be flip because I am genuinely curious.  Many of the clones fighting in this episode were likely part of the first Battle of Geonosis and all of the Jedi except for Ahsoka were also a part of the fight.  A lot of people died that day.  I can’t help but wonder if any of them are experiencing some form of PTSD or if they’re struggling with the memories.

I know, I know.  Shut up, Bria.  This is a kids’ show.

On the other hand, I feel like I get Obi-Wan here as he sighs at Anakin and Ahsoka’s game to see who can destroy the most droids.  I understand that it’s a way to deal with the horrors of war but I also definitely see where Obi-Wan’s sighs are coming from.

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New Essential Characters Guide cancelled?

Spotted by Knights Archive, it appears that the postponed updated Essential Character Guide has been cancelled according to edelweiss.

While no doubt this will kick up a new batch of Expanded Universe/Episode VII related conspiracy theories, it could be possible that this is merely postponed again until some point after Episode VII releases.

Via Club Jade

Hondo Caravan: Not The Children!

The weather outside might be frightful (well, in some parts of the world) so clearly the best way to counter it is to watch some more Clone Wars!  Season Two is off to a solid start as Cad Bane enacts more of his dastardly plans!  Okay, maybe they aren’t all that dastardly or even really his plans but that would’ve stopped me from using the phrase ‘dastardly plans’ which would’ve been a crying shame.

Holocron Heist
Sometimes this show has some really good episode titles.  This is one of them mostly because it sounds so delightfully campy.  It wouldn’t feel out of place as the title for a pulpy detective novel.

The episode itself, however, decidedly does not get off to a good start for Ahsoka.  She really is a good temperamental fit with Anakin.  They both have this stubborn mindset where they are convinced that they know right and can win.  I have a feeling that I’ve commented on this before but I just keep finding more and more reasons to like what a good match they are.  And how Obi-Wan is inevitably left sighing as no one listens to him.

Cad Bane has a really well done character design and aesthetic but I still haven’t warmed to him as a character yet.  Mostly, I’m left just shrugging.  He doesn’t have quite the same charisma as Hondo but then again, who does?

Something that I did really like about this episode though is that it brought things back home again.  We had that to an extent last episode too but this felt different as it was more directly tied into the war effort.  It’s neat to see how things are proceeding at the Jedi Temple while the majority of their members are out fighting for the Republic.

Also, has anyone noticed that one of the hallmarks of this show is the high number of sassy droids?  You had noticed?  I thought I noticed you noticing.

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Rebels includes two female leads

In the latest installment of Star Wars Insider, Rebels executive producer Greg Weisman sat down to discuss what’s in store for the new series. Among the reveals was that the primary cast would be featuring a pair of female leads.

We have two strong female leads in the show among our set of characters and we think they are going to be fan favorites very quickly. That’s always been a personal priority for me in all the work I’ve done, to have a strong and diverse cast of characters, both in terms of gender and race.

(Quote via Club Jade)

Additionally, the official site posted a video interview with Weisman to talk about the new show and answer some questions.