A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

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)

11 Aug 20212h 37min

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"

28 Juli 20213h 16min

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)

14 Juli 20212h 45min

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)

30 Juni 20212h 35min

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)

16 Juni 20211h 50min

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)

3 Juni 20212h 35min

“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)

19 Maj 20212h 10min

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)

5 Maj 20211h 44min