Growing Up Skywalker

Guess who’s back, back again? The Right Honorable Rush Clovis — except he’s wrong, and dishonorable, and wrecking not just Anakin and Padmé’s marriage but also the GALAXY’S ENTIRE BANKING SYSTEM. In our recap of the Rush Clovis Arc (The Clone Wars 6.5–7, "An Old Friend", "The Rise of Clovis,” and "Crisis at the Heart”) we talk about why the Clone Wars chose to tell another economic story, and figure out why it’s so compelling. We talk about Padmé and Anakin’s terrible marriage, whether or not Rush Clovis is redeemable, and why Palpatine is the GOAT master planner. It’s all set against the gorgeous Swiss chalet backdrop of Scipio, feat. Embo, his dog, and an absolutely fantastic snowboard chase scene. Next week, we get a palate cleanser in the form of a JAR-JAR ARC! We’re watching “The Disappeared” parts one and two (The Clone Wars 6.8–9). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

In which we discuss how Fives revealed the entire Sith ascension plan to some of the most powerful people in the galaxy…….and they didn’t listen. The end of the Conspiracy Arc (The Clone Wars 6.3–4, “Fugitive” and “Orders”) shows us how the truth dies: in a dark office, with Chancellor Palpatine gaslight/gatekeep/girlbossing you for all you’re worth. In this arc, we follow Fives’ desperate scramble to reveal the conspiracy of the clones’ inhibitor chips. We see the Sith’s plan to discredit him — by framing him for an assassination attempt against the Chancellor — and discuss how the Kaminoans are complicit in about 10,000,000 different ways. It's all part of Palpatine's plan to execute Order 66. Sam promises that there is more to this story, which is great, because this arc is HEARTBREAKING. Next week, we’re starting the Rush Clovis Arc! (Yes, folks, he’s back!) We’ll recap The Clone Wars 6.5–7, "An Old Friend", "The Rise of Clovis,” and "Crisis at the Heart." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

The first episodes of Season 6 of The Clone Wars (6.1–2, “The Unknown” and “Conspiracy”) tell us exactly why the Clone Wars exist. And that’s just the BEGINNING. In our recap, we talk about how Anna forgot Order 66 happened (but alas, social media exists). We deliver a treatise on why Fives is The Best, how this episode is a storytelling Russian nesting doll, and what the inhibitor chips really steal from the clones. Justice for Season 6, these episodes are gorgeous. Next week, we’re finishing the Conspiracy Arc with 6.2–3, “Fugitive” and “Orders.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Cue the tears. In the long-awaited (first) finale of The Clone Wars (5.19–20), enemies turn to friends…friends turn to enemies…and we cry a LOT. In our recap of the end of Season 5, we ask so many questions. Why does Ahsoka choose to leave the Jedi Order? What are Barriss’s motivations? Where was Luminara in all of this? Did Anakin suddenly become relatable? And most importantly — what have the Clone Wars done to the Jedi Order? We also want to send a huge and heartfelt thanks to all of our listeners who have stuck with us for 60 episodes. What an accomplishment!! Don’t worry — we’re nowhere near done. Next week, we’re starting Season 6 of The Clone Wars: “The Unknown” and “Conspiracy” (6.1–2). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Fire up your righteous indignation. We’re recapping the Jedi Temple Bombing Arc (The Clone Wars 5.17–18) and seeing Ahsoka framed for murder. The Clone Wars is continuing to snap the pieces together to make a bridge between Episodes 2 and 3. In our recap, we talk about how the clones who once trusted and deferred to Ahsoka so quickly turn against her; the Jedi’s nosediving reputation; Jedi funerals; and why the darkness of the Clone Wars feels so prescient today. Next week, we finish the Jedi Temple Bombing Arc and the final episodes of Season 5: The Clone Wars 5.19–20, “To Catch a Jedi” and “The Wrong Jedi.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Alexa, play “Taps.” The body count in the second half of the Revenge Arc might not be as high as the Umbara Arc. But as Mandalore descends into civil war and political leaders become cannon fodder, it feels like this is just the start of something bigger. In our recap of The Clone Wars 5.15–16, “Shades of Reason” and “The Lawless,” we dissect both spectacular darksaber duels blow-by-blow. We talk about Duchess Satine’s isolation as she tries to live out her ideal of pacifism. (Also, how it’s a direct contrast to Bo-Katan’s warlike alliances.) We even talk about all the Mandalorian artwork we see — moar Cubism! — and how it’s a form of propaganda that helps keep Mandalorian society together. Next week, we start the final arc of Season 5: the Jedi Temple Bombing arc, part one (5.17–18, “Sabotage” and “The Jedi Who Knew Too Much”). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Buckle in, kiddos: It’s time for REVENGE. In the first half of the Revenge Arc (The Clone Wars 5.1 + 5.14, “Revival” and “Eminence”) Maul and Savage almost manage to take over Hondo Ohnaka’s pirate crew, but then very nearly become fishsticks floating in space. Then they effortlessly raise an army of terrifying criminals and set out to help Death Watch take over Mandalore — maybe. In our recap, we talk about Maul’s plan to eviscerate not just Obi-Wan, but also his legacy. We cover Palpatine’s plan within plans, quote half of Maul’s lines and all of Hondo’s, and discuss Pre Vizsla and the noble trope of the buttmonkey. The drama is ratcheting up, and next week, we’re finishing the Revenge Arc with Season 5.15–16, “Shades of Reason” and “The Lawless.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

What do you get when you cross a clone, a bad case of amnesia, and 10,000 canisters of Rhydonium? The second half of the D-Squad Arc, that’s what you get. This week, we’re recapping The Clone Wars 5.12–13, “Missing in Action” and “Point of No Return”, a.k.a. two episodes that debuted at the top of Anna’s Cry-O-Meter. We meet Gregor, a MIA clone commando who has to embark on a hero’s journey to reclaim his destiny. The D-Squad holds the lives of thousands in their little droid spanners, and Meebur Gascon continues to be the worst. This arc is about heroism, sacrifice, and never judging a book by its cover, and it is SO GOOD. Next week, we’re taking a breather (literally, we can’t breathe, we have COVID). Then we’ll be back in your earbuds with the Maul Arc! And we’ll be joined by special guests from Wookieepedia. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

The lack of a reliable file-sharing system in Star Wars comes into play once again in the D-Squad Arc (The Clone Wars 5.10–11, "Secret Weapons" and "A Sunny Day in the Void"). It turns out that this critically-panned series of episodes is a fascinating meditation on inequality, oppression, meritocracy, the military-industrial complex, and why WAC units are indeed so wack. In our recap this week, we continue our conversation on droid rights and admit to all kinds of meatbag foibles (we’re just not suited to long marches across the desert, okay!!) Next week, we’re finishing the D-Squad arc (The Clone Wars 5.12–13, “Missing in Action” and “Point of No Return”) so we can finally get to the Maul arc of Season 5! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Hondo Ohnaka has a no-good, very bad day during the second half of the Ahsoka + Younglings arc (The Clone Wars 5.8–9, “Bound for Rescue” and “A Necessary Bond”). Our dashing crew of younglings have to infiltrate a traveling carnival to rescue Ahsoka from Hondo Ohnaka’s base — which Grievous promptly overruns. In our recap, we talk about all the ways Hondo Ohnaka would disappoint us if he was our uncle, the advice we would give to younglings, lightsaber fighting styles, and why this crew of baby Jedi is so dang lovable. Buckle up, because next week we’re covering the first half of the D-Squad arc! (The Clone Wars 5.10–11, “Secret Weapons” and “A Sunny Day in the Void”.) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Hold onto your lightsabers, because Hondo Ohnaka is coming for them. In the first half of the Ahsoka + Younglings arc (The Clone Wars 5.6–7, “The Gathering” and “A Test of Strength”) we meet a crew of Jedi younglings who find their very own kyber crystals — just in time to almost lose them to Hondo’s pirate gang. (And they actually DO lose Ahsoka.) But don’t worry. Petro, Katooni, Ganodi, Zatt, Byph and Gungi are up to the challenge! For this week’s recap, we invited an actual youngling to talk about the arc. Raphael, the Geeky Dad, and Arianna, the Multiverse Kid, joined us to talk about lightsabers, Star Wars girls and the challenges we overcome to become better. If you like baby Wookiee Jedi, this is the arc for you! Next week, we’re tumbling (literally) into the second half of the arc, “Bound for Rescue” and “A Necessary Bond” (The Clone Wars 5.8–9). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

They never said revolution would be easy. In the final half of the Onderon Arc (The Clone Wars 5.4–5, “The Soft War” and “Tipping Points”) we see that Onderon’s rebels are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to throw off Separatist rule. In our recap, we talk about the rightful king, Dendup, and why he’s the worst. (Steela Gerrera 4 Queen of Onderon.) We figure out how you can successfully make a gambit for neutrality between the Republic and Separatists — another reason why Dendup is the worst. And we talk about Ahsoka’s radicalizing moment, where she sees the Jedi Council do so little to stop the wasting of lives for a good cause. Don’t worry. There are laughs, too, because HONDO OHNAKA is there and he’s doing the most. Next week, we’re beginning the wholesome goodness of the Ahsoka and Younglings arc (The Clone Wars 5.6–7, “The Gathering” and “A Test of Strength”). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Hot on the heels of our arc about brotherhood, we have another sibling story — and this time, it’s about Saw and Steela Gerrera. Our recap of the first half of the Onderon Arc (The Clone Wars 5.2–3, “A War on Two Fronts” and “Front Runners”) throws us into a rebellion of Anakin’s making. There is a fantastic training montage, a sort of meh love triangle between Ahsoka, Steela and Lux, and a delightful heist that brings the rebellion to new heights. We talk about overachieving daughters and proxy wars of history. Most importantly, we celebrate Anakin giving extremely good dad-vice to Ahsoka. Snips and Skyguy 4ever. Next week, we’re finishing off the Onderon Arc with 5.4–5, “The Soft War” and “Tipping Points.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

We have so much to celebrate this episode! The Asajj + Maul Arc, Part 2 marks the end of Season Four of the Clone Wars…our 50th episode…our one-year anniversary as a podcast…and May the 4th (Be With You). We’re so excited to have Tim Beisiegel of Funny Science Fiction Podcast and Pop Culture Addicts on the show with us. Tim has been a champion of Growing Up Skywalker from the beginning, and it was a delight to hear him talk about some of his favorite Clone Wars episodes! If you like lightsabers, this is the arc for you! In our recap of “Brothers” and “Revenge” (The Clone Wars 4.21–22) we talk about Mother Talzin’s band of terrifying children, Sam Witwer’s theory of the void inside all Sith, the symmetry of Anakin and Darth Maul’s journeys, and Obi-Wan’s imposter syndrome. Join us next week to begin Season Five of The Clone Wars, but watch out — due to chronological timelines, we’re not watching the first episode of the season yet! We’ll be recapping 5.2–3, “A War on Two Fronts” and “Front Runners,” the first half of the Onderon Arc. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Buckle in, kiddos, because we’re headed to Dathomir. In the first half of the Asajj and Maul arc, Asajj renounces her ties to the Sith and pledges herself to the Nightsisters. Cue Dooku losing his dang mind. We talk about loyalty, betrayal, witchy covens, catharsis, and Asajj’s four life-altering transformations: slave to Jedi, Jedi to Sith, Sith to Nightsister, and Nightsister to outcast. Somehow we also touch on the meaning of life??? Our follow-up discussion to this episode, “You Say ‘Witch’ Like it’s a Bad Thing,” is available exclusively to Patreon subscribers. And we have exciting news! Next week is not only May the 4th (Be With You), but also the show’s one-year anniversary and our 50th episode. We’re inviting special guest Tim Beisiegel from Funny Science Fiction Podcast onto the show to celebrate! Join us next week to finish out Season Four of The Clone Wars with the end of the Asajj and Maul arc: “Brothers” and “Revenge” (The Clone Wars 4.21–22). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message