Caston

Cheese on toast.

Sometimes simple food tastes the best!

more spaces needed like this:

Luthen Rael’s Fondor Haulcraft:
 

 
Luthen Rael vs Cantwell-Class Arrestor Cruiser Scene | Andor - 3 minute video at The Scounder’s Cantina YouTube channel.

The Fondor Haulcraft is The Coolest Ship in Star Wars - a 2 minute video at the Spacedock YouTube channel.

Star Wars Luthen’s Fondor Haulcraft- Angles and Scenes - a 7 minute video at the Dream Fleet YouTube channel.

wookieepedia page: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Luthen_Rael's_Fondor_Haulcraft
 

I find it strange there are still no official toys or models of the Fondor Haulcraft available to buy; no Lego, Hasbro, Haslab, MPC, Bandai, Revell, and so on. 18 months after Andor aired, and there is nothing. Just some unofficial 3D printer designs for fan made models, and some cool looking Lego type MOCs.
 

Carl Weathers Dies: ‘Rocky’ & ‘Predator’ Star Who Appeared In ‘Happy Gilmore’, ‘The Mandalorian’ & More Was 76

https://deadline.com/2024/02/carl-weathers-dead-1235812684/
 

 
'Carl Weathers, who starred as Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky films and appeared in Predator, The Mandalorian, Happy Gilmore, Action Jackson and dozens of other films and TV shows, died today, his family announced. He was 76.

“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers,” his family said in a statement. “He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, February 1st, 2024. … Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend.”’
 

RIP Carl Weathers.

I’d like to still see that original finished cut of ROTS, before George reshot and re-edited it to focus on Anakin. I’ve just started reading The Secret History of Star Wars again and am looking forward to this section in the book.

This short article is worth reading for anyone interested in how ROTS ended up on screen (though the book goes into considerably more detail, IIRC): http://fd.noneinc.com/secrethistoryofstarwarscom/secrethistoryofstarwars.com/theturn.html
 

Maybe we’ll get to see those unused shots on other story arcs and characters in a “50th anniversary box set” or something, along with many other unused shots or deleted scenes for all 11 of the main films?

Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars for me, too. It seemed to be kind of an odd official side project at the time, but over time I found it to be some of the more enjoyable material to come out the PT era.

Sometimes I sort of wish I got more into the whole Clone Wars multimedia project sooner that I did, but given that was replaced and disregarded just a couple of years for the 2008 TCW film & series it was probably for the best. That did put me off investing in any further PT era for years after, especially seeing friends and other fans get screwed over like that.

Yet the 2003 series itself is still up there as something different, fresh and welcome, even 20 years later. Star Wars that is fun and out there. All respect to Genndy Tartakovsky and his team.

I found this thread to be a good resource for information on the Prequels from around the time of release (+ some SE content):

Phil Tippett on the Special Editions: “They’re shit” + £2b for George to direct the Prequels

It has a number of articles written about the Prequels at the time of release, the deals and tie-ins (PepsiCo + many others), the hype and anticipation around TPM, the merchandising, and also some YouTube videos of note about the PT over time.
 

A good read through the Prequel Trilogy section of An Index & Help Thread for Beyond the Original Trilogy also turned up some cool information, sources and discussions.

The Secret History of Star Wars book, and the website for the book also features some great explanatory and revealing Prequel Trilogy content (I really need to re-read the book again). Especially these two TSHoSW articles:

The Beginning: A Look at the Rough Draft of Episode I

The Turn: A History of the Evolution of Anakin’s Downfall
 

Pre-PT era lore | an OT & EU scrapbook resource | additional info & sources welcome is a great reminder that George changed some 20-30 years of previously established Star Wars lore and material for his much changed Prequel Trilogy.

Yes, it is unlikely we’ll ever see anything like “The Star Wars” comic, along the lines of the pre-PT era lore:

I loved that idea!
 

Although talented fans like DarthStarkiller1234 are coming up with some cool interesting outlines and stories for that pre-PT era.

Man, awesome thread. I’ve only skimmed it so far, but am already looking forward to getting into it and reading a number pf the old novels, sourcebooks, and guides again!

My meagre contribution:

From Pages 24-26 of the “Star Wars: The Essential Chronology” book (2000 edition), by Kevin J. Anderson and Daniel Wallace:

^ wookieepedia page https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/The_Essential_Chronology_(real-world_book)
 

The book is from 2000, and while it does contain events from The Phantom Menace, it obviously doesn’t contain the timelines, events and characters from the other two PT films.

The screenshot above also mentions Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Garm Bel Iblis of Corellia; the third Rebellion co-founder (the three main revolutionary groups coming together to work as one; the 3 signatories of Alliance to Restore The Republic), and Garm somehow being a character I often forget about.
 

A fan theory on Garm Bel Iblis maybe appearing in Andor’s 2nd season (and that we may have already seen him in the 1st season of Andor?):

www.inverse.com/entertainment/andor-luthen-fate
 

wookieepedia page for Garm Bel Iblis: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Garm_Bel_Iblis/Legends

Diego Luna Says the Second Season of ‘Andor’ is Almost Done Shooting on the Emmys Red Carpet

a 2 minute video at the Variety YouTube channel, taken from Diego being at the Emmys last night.
 

Andor didn’t win in the 8 Emmy nominations it received, but it was really pleasing to see a Star Wars series battle it out with some highest quality TV shows around.

I’m still a little surprised the actors didn’t get more recognition in the way nominations: Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgard, Andy Serkis, Genevieve O’Reilly, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller and others were all up there in terms of quality with any of the others shows nominated. Maybe for Season 2? I hope so.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Returns with New Episodes - at the official Star Wars website

 
‘Six new episodes of the preschool-age animated series are coming to our galaxy, arriving February 14 on Disney+ and Disney Junior. The new episodes complete the Emmy-winning first season, which introduced High Republic-era Jedi younglings Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and the adorable Nubs to fans.’

More information and a trailer are in the article linked above.

This is aimed at pre-schoolers and young children, but it certainly is something to put on when the grandkids come visiting to keep them occupied. Surprisingly, the first batch of episodes did hold their attention, so I hope these new episodes do likewise.

Plus, a nice way to get them into Star Wars at an early age!

https://originaltrilogy.com/user/hillgibson/id/82615 - exam spam

Going on the disappointing quality of the recent Mandoverse content, I think I’ll be giving this a miss. Maybe wait until it is on Disney+

I do hope they find a strong script, with an engaging one-off story, like how season one of Mando was.

David Soul, one half of TV’s ‘Starsky & Hutch,’ dies at 80

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-01-05/david-soul-dead-starsky-hutch-actor-80
 

 
That’s a shame, I remember him mainly from in Starsky & Hutch, and also Magnum Force.

A good singer too. Silver Lady is a cracking tune.

Anjohan said:

In the words of Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy during these dark times in Star Wars:

I’m not a trained film maker, just an activist and we’re in 2024, and it is time we had a woman come and shape the story of Star Wars and I enjoy making men feel uncomfortable, and I enjoy that power.

Boy, it sounds like she’s about to make quite the impact on Star Wars!

Just a little fact check.

The “I enjoy making men feel uncomfortable” part of your sentence is from 2015, from the “Women In The World” Summit.
 

The relevant part of the video with Sharmeen can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP0Tcu577I0

^ It is a 2 minute video from the “Women In The World” YouTube channel.
 

I am not going to type the entire conversation out, but this is her reply to the question asked by host Jon Stewart:

“I enjoy making men uncomfortable. It is important to be able to look into the eyes of a man and say ‘I am here and recognize that, recognize that I am working here to bring something that makes you uncomfortable and it should make you uncomfortable because you need to change your attitude… it’s only when you’re uncomfortable… when you have to have difficult conversations, that you will perhaps look at yourself in the mirror and not like the reflection. And then say maybe there is something wrong with the way I think or maybe there’s something wrong with the way that I am addressing this issue.”

^ The conversation was about her 2012 Oscar winning documentary Saving Face (IMDB link). Saving Face covers the subject of the under-reporting and underplaying of acid violence against women due to cultural and structural inequalities towards women from Pakistani men.

There were over 100 acid attacks in Pakistan in 2012. Although the number was estimated to be much higher as acid attacks were often underreported for fear of not being taken seriously, reprisals, and many victims could not afford medical treatment.
 

• According to an independent estimate, between 1994 and 2018 some 9,340 people fell victim to acid attacks in Pakistan.
• 80% of known acid attack victims are female and almost 70% are under 18 years of age.
• Giving birth to daughters instead of sons, not bringing enough dowry to their in-laws’ houses, rejecting marriage proposals, the denial of sex in marriage, and the sexual rejection of men and boys when outside of marriage, financial and property disputes, family disputes, are some of the main reasons given for acid attacks.
• Victims of acid attacks are often reluctant to report the attack due to: reprisals, stigma and shame from their own family, lack of convictions rates against richer families and caste system (quoms).
 

According to the Acid Survivors Trust International, 80% of acid attack victims are women, making it part of gender-based violence. Although men are also targeted by attackers, the issue affects women disproportionately and is more likely to occur in societies with pronounced gender inequality. This practice perpetuates gender inequality and reflects the poor position of women in the Pakistani society, who are at serious risk of attacks at any moment, not only from strangers but often also from their own husbands and family members.

The rights of women, as a minority group, are frequently overlooked in an attempt to shield the ones responsible for the violation of their rights. Women are frequently being denied their human rights in many different practices that are still occurring in the Pakistani society, like honour killings and forced marriages. Perpetrators are still rarely captured and women in poor families are especially vulnerable. More than 90% of the reported cases are not settled because of the perpetrators’ wealth. Rich individuals are more easily able to evade the legal system and the police charges, with the police reluctant to challenge their social status. There are instances where the perpetrator of acid attack is also a police officer (see sources below).

Similarly to other countries in South Asia, Pakistani households have a strong preference for sons. Parent fertility remains incomplete until and unless the desired number of boys are born. Son preference prevails in rural areas, due to male inheritance of agricultural land, and males being seen as better suited to work the land. Boys are often given better access to resources, healthcare, and education. Prenatal sex-selection is more common among the upper classes who have access to medical care and technology, while abuse after birth (infanticide and abandonment) is more common among the lower classes. Girls who are unwanted are often forced into early marriage. Son preference has effect on the status of Pakistani women. Women bearing at least one son have higher say in household decision-making. According to Pakistani surveys and statistics, Pakistan has witnessed 40 million abortion of female children in the past 50 years.
 

 
• https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/acid-attacks-pakistans-worst-social-epidemic
• https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2021/11/01/growing-acid-attacks-in-pakistan
• https://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/186967/ismail_faria.pdf?sequence=3 (masters thesis, from the Åbo Akademi University, Finland)
• www.humanrights.asia/resources/journals-magazines/eia/vol-4-no-1-february-2010/http-www-humanrights-asia-resources-journals-magazines-eia-eiav4a1-3-acid-attacks-a-serious-concern-in-pakistan
• https://www.actionaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/acid_attacks_form_of_vawg_against_women_and_girls.pdf
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_infanticide_in_Pakistan (Female infanticide in Pakistan)
• https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2016/06/16/profile-sharmeen-obaid-chinoy

persistent little fuckers!

https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Jadi-Master-Capsa-Langkah-langkah-Handal-buat-Memahami-Game-yang-Menantang/id/113590
https://originaltrilogy.com/user/hanajijang/id/82450

Which Star Wars Original trilogy character are you?

 
Quiz introduction: Are you heroic like Luke Skywalker or sinister like Darth Vader? Are you as confident as Han Solo or as Selfless as Ben-Kenobi? Take this Star Wars quiz to find out…!

There are 14 questions in total, and it took me around 3 minutes to complete. A bit of daft OT based fun,
 

https://uquiz.com/quiz/Ef53xS/which-star-wars-original-trilogy-character-are-you

I am apparently like Yada. So this quiz may not be very accurate! Or based on age. lol

https://originaltrilogy.com/user/djilou/id/82235 - 2 big posts of spam
https://originaltrilogy.com/user/RebaBarkerr/id/81687 - faucet spam

Happy New Year!

MinchD36 said:

Exar Kun being a Sith using a blue lightsaber is very similar to how Anakin after falling to the dark side in Episode 3 used his blue lightsaber to destroy the Jedi Darth Maul lightsaber was inspired in Exar Kun lightsaber so there is a possibility that Lucas took the character of Ulic Qel Droma as a base or inspiration for Anakin Skywalker in the Prequels

The same here. A few other characters and plot points taken from, or maybe based on, the early EU as well.

I had fond memories of this, probably due to the legends and rumours around it. There were a few other fan-lore stores that had some solid concepts and ideas, and some read quite well, although that could be looking through some rose tinted glasses.

I wonder how much that guy made who sold all those copies of FOTR at the conventions and stalls?

My take is:

It would require an Andor-level series, a Gilroy-level series, to rescue the mess that has been both writing and the portrayal of New Republic.

In the Mandoverse series and films to come; the New Republic will continue to be shown as dumb or 2D as they have been portrayed so far, and also for the next 20-25 years, right until the events of TFA. A “convenience thing” for the writers. An easy “get-out”, perhaps; the ST portrayed the NR Govt as inept, then they too can also lazily write the NR as being unapt in the here and now, and not have to concern themselves too much about canon, or building up to events in the ST.

Unfortunately, it appears so. What a waste for 30 years of storytelling opportunities in the Star Wars Universe. As well as being a completely underwhelming and baffling journey’s end for the OT-era heroes.

The Sequels:

The ST films chose to basically ignore the setting of the galaxy in the New Republic; instead opting for proxies, such as First Order and Resistance, without much explanation. We are introduced to the NR Govt in the same scene in which it is destroyed. A few planets in the Hosnian system are destroyed with a handful of ships in orbit. It is inferred the entire New Republic government and entire navy were destroyed in this one attack.

From a world-building, setting, stakes, and logical point of view, I found it underwhelming, devoid of logic, and problematic. Even more that we never learn any more about the effects and fallout from this in the other two films of the Sequel Trilogy.

The Mandoverse (so far; so spoilers for season 3 of The Mandalorian and season 1 of Ashoka):

First season Mandalorian gets a pass. Mentions of the NR were limited, yet logical. There were some mentions of a cautious distrust for the New Republic, a feeling they were inept or not interested by events in the Outer Rim, which is fine given the smaller-scope stories told in season one.

Then The Mandalorian attempted to start telling bigger stories in seasons two and three, with more scope and connectivity to the galaxy overall. Also as setup for other new series such as BOBF and Ahsoka, as well as the never-made Rangers Of The New Republic series. And a newly announced Dave Filoni film, likely now the “culmination of the climactic story event” that was announced by Lucasfilm back in 2020. Edit: And now with Jon Favreau’s Mandalorian & Grogu film being announced, in 2024.

Yet for me, the writing, portrayal, and execution of this onscreen leaves so much to be desired, it is almost insulting, to the point of being close to laughable. There are just some examples:

• The NR ship captain doesn’t radio HQ when people claiming to be “Jedi” want to board his prison transport ship. He does not hail the Jedi, nor talk to the Jedi on a screen, just letting them aboard with no other checks or basic precautions. So he lets them on, despite not believing them to be Jedi, and even goes to personally meet them in the hangar bay. That another prisoner recently was freed from a NR transport ship (who also has links with the prisoner his ship is carrying) does not deter him. Also, no one seems to tell Luke about these lightsaber wielding force-wielding dark jedi?

• The NR Govt using “mind-flayers”; despite not modifying them so they cannot be used for more nefarious means, as they have been previously under Imperial rule. Instead you can simply turn the dial up to maximum and leave them to be operated by Elia Kane, a member of Gideon’s former command staff, who just happens to be still around, until she is finally left alone with Pershing. There is no follow up to what happens despite the NR Govt officials knowing she was the last person to see Pershing before his mind was fried. There are seemingly no machine logs, records, or CCTV, or any follow up to this incident.

• Elia Kane, again. This time she happens to be working in an office for NR Govt bureaucrat Colonel Tuttle, presumably so she can intercept anyone like X-Wing pilot Carson Teva, or anyone else requesting NR help, against Gideon or other Imperial forces. In among the exposition dump, Tuttle sides with Kane over Teva, though not for reasons of logic, but simply that the plot demands it, and it is easier to simply write the NR as being inept. Despite the increased and open Imperial, Gideon and pirate presence around Navarro, it is stated the NR Govt don’t have the resources to help.

• After Ahsoka and Hera’s fight vs some Imperial loyalists at the NR Shipyards in Episode 2; Hera questions: “How can they still be loyal to the Empire?” Ahsoka bafflingly replies: “It’s not loyalty. It’s greed.” What?! The Imperial loyalists literally (and stupidly) shouted “For the Empire!” before attacking Ahsoka and Hera in a shootout. Not only as a “warning” of “hey, I’m going to shoot you on behalf of the Empire”, instead of having a far better chance of, y’know, just shooting them. There is no other indicator onscreen of “greed” being a factor to these Imperial loyalists.

• Hera takes her 10 year old kid away from the New Republic fleet and into a battle zone on The Ghost. Isn’t that a war crime? Something Senator Xiono should probably mention at her court-martial, but for some inexplicable reason he doesn’t address this.

• The conversation between Mon Mothma and Hera, with Mon letting Ahsoka know she is going to be court-martialled (or how it should have occurred; it is a little lengthy, so click on the “Expand” button to see more):

Mon Mothma: “Do you have Morgan Elsbeth?”

Hera (instead): Nearly, we just missed them. If your Senators hadn’t delayed us last time, we’d have like caught them in time, and both Morgan Elsbeth and the Dark Jedi would likely be in our custody.

Mon Mothma: “Do you have evidence of Imperial Remnant?”

Hera: Yes. The two Dark Jedi that boarded a New Republic ship, killed many of the crew and freed the prisoner Morgan Elsbeth (who previously gave up information about Thrawn to Ahsoka) have just been missed; but we know they are using a high powered Hyperspace Ring to apparently go find Thrawn. The same Hyperspace Ring whose engine parts were supplied by Imperial Remnant or those loyal to the Empire (and announce themselves as such: “For the Empire!”), and the place where an Inquisitor and Imperial HK droid fought Ahsoka just afterwards. And whose location we found out about from the memory cell of a HK droid sent by those Dark Jedi. Our ships’ sensors have readouts of that Hyperspace Ring and we also have testimony of the New Republic pilots. Probably other logs and records as well. In 5 minutes: Ahsoka is going to follow the two Dark Jedi and Morgan to the next galaxy over, using these Hyperspace traveling “Star Whales”. The same “Star Whales” we know that took Thrawn and Ezra disappeared years ago during The Battle of Lothal; a well known Rebel engagement vs the Empire, and mention of these “Star Whales” can also found in the Jedi Archives. Luke may be interested in this y’know; Thrawn, Imperial Remnant, Dark Jedi, missing Jedi, Force-attuned “Star Whales” with long history of hyperspace abilities. Why am I answering these insipid questions to you? Have you been hit on the head or taking some stupid pills since Andor? Why are you acting like this? Oh, you’re now an ancillary character in a Filoni series. Filoni, of course. Got it.

Mon Mothma: “You and Ahsoka Tano are to return to Coruscant with the Fleet. The Senate oversight Committee is going to determine whether your command should be germanely suspended. You are going to need her testimony to help you. And yes, I too wish the scenes with the New Republic were written not as an afterthought with little substance, weight, or realism, and lacking in awareness of the past events. (Has anyone seen Tony Gilroy? Or even competent writers? Just asking for a friend)."

• At the actual court-martial of Hera (it is a little lengthy, so click on the “Expand” button to see more):

Senator Xiono: “An incident [on Seatos]? Yes. But this report reads like a child’s fairy tale. Jedi, False Jedi, star maps, star whales, distant galaxies. Honestly, are we to believe any of it?”

(Yet we have seen holo-recordings of Rebel ship boarded by the Dark Jedi showing the fight. What about autopsies of New Republic officers killed by the Dark Jedis’ lightsabers? Ahsoka is a Jedi - does he not believe in Ahsoka or Luke? Perhaps he should go ask Luke for his opinion? Star maps and star whales: they were present when Thrawn disappeared at the Battle of Lothal, and have been seen again taking Ahsoka to the place where Thrawn and Ezra ended up (and see other reason above ‘given’ by Hera). What is like “a child’s fairy tale” about this again? Other than the writing for New Republic Government scenes? Holograms, logs and records of these events occurring from New Republic itself is not good enough to count as evidence of existence? And more to the point, not brought up by any other member of the Senate Council at this court-martial, or at previous hearings and meetings.)

Hera: “Morgan Elsbeth was leading a coordinated effort by the Imperial Remnant.”

Senator Xiono: “Objection. “Imperial Remnant” Such a sensational term. There is no proof of any coordination between the scattered and dwindling numbers of Imperial forces.”

Captain Teva: “What about the droid attack on the wookiees? What about the conflict on Mandalore?”

Senator Xiono: “Exactly my point. Gideon was a warlord acting on his own. There is no proof of a greater conspiracy and thus no immediate threat to this Republic.”

(2 important prisoners freed from Republic custody with proven links to Imperial Remnant. Gideon has links with Elsbeth. Secret bases built on Mandalore, high tech Mandalorian suits of armour, cloning, force ability experiments etc. NR Shipyards building powerful hyperdrive rings by Empire loyalists being used by Elsbeth to bring Thrawn back. All the work of one wanted and escaped Imperial Warlord operating outside his prior ‘allocated space’. Really?)

Hera: “If Thrawn returns, that will change quickly.”

Senator Xiono: [Scoffs] “If.”

Hera: “I don’t know what frightens me more, the possibility of what might happen, or your unwillingness to see it.”

Senator Xiono: “I’ll tell you what I see. I see a General who abuses her authority for personal gain, and I will not stand for it. I motion that General Syndulla be court-martialled for disobeying a direct order.”

Enter Deus Ex 3PO with Leia cover reasons.

 

Ahsoka keeps getting away with filler - an 18 minute YouuTbe video from Actuall Andrew (ignore the title, the first 5 minutes focuses on some of the New Republic issues mentioned above, and a few logic issues throughout this episode of Ahsoka)

• At the end of Ahsoka, Ezra makes it back to Republic space in a TIE Fighter and onto Hera’s ship. He then disembarks from the TIE and walks into the docking bay in full stormtrooper uniform, including still wearing the helmet. Ezra doesn’t know about what happened days ago on board the ship with Baylon and Shin pretending to be Jedi to board a NR ship. Yet everyone on Hera’s NR ship should be aware of it. And ready to blast that stormtrooper repeatedly as soon as his hand made any sudden movements. But no, the scene is written purely for dramatic effect and nothing else.

In conclusion: It feels like they are going out of their way to make the New Republic, and certain legacy characters seem incompetent, and doing so with very little nuance. That the writers don’t know how to write politics, and so the characters then come across as flat moustache-twirling villains or inept bureaucrats, with the plot operating on a level of briskly getting from point A to B without wanting too many questions asked. Such little effort or quality is put in, that the New Republic repeatedly comes off as feeling two-dimensional and inept, something that the viewer then doesn’t really care about, or is invested in.

Showrunners and writers should know better ignore their own history and continuity to keep the current story moving. Or for convenience. In addition, the New Republic are written as continuing to scrap their fleet and also the Imperial fleet, despite stating they are already stretched thin and have little resources to spare, on several occasions. Logic is not a forte, here.

Andor proved that the more political or bureaucratic scenes and plotlines can be done well, be illustrative and engaging, even to the point of wanting to see more. An entire cast of intriguing characters (even the “background” or “ancilliary” folks) have or are a part of integrated and compelling story arcs, all executed in a logical, believable, and absorbing manner. So why not approach the New Republic in a similar rich, deep, and layered fashion too?

^ not forgetting those characters that made up Table 5 at Narkina 5: Jemboc, Xaul, Taga, Ham, and Ulaf. One Way Out!

It feels good to write out all of that. Cathartic, even. Sorry if it is too long, drones on, or is repetitive in places.

A loose timeline for the New Republic era:
 

 
^ from www.reddit.com/r/StarWars/comments/12jomih/where_the_mandalorian_stands_in_relation_to_the

(All credit to the very talented u/mikev431. I just added the 2 new series and reposted the image on here)

 
The fight for peace and freedom vs oppression, fascism, and tyranny never ends. Even after the climatic events of Return Of The Jedi in the Original Trilogy! However, it would have been rewarding to have seen some actual peace and prosperity, even for a short time, for all those who fought so hard for it; the beloved characters in the Original Trilogy, in Rebels, Rogue One, Andor, and Solo. Not to forget all those characters in the many great games, comics and books featuring in that time.

Maybe that would have served as a more effective and compelling story? Before we see the eventual disagreements, vested interests, and cracks appear in the New Republic. The various factions working to undermine the NR at every move, patiently building up their own forces, readying themselves to making an eventual play for power? The warlords, pirates and profiteers, organised crime, weapons manufacturers, the Imperial Remnant, the First Order, and any Dark Side force-wielders out there.
 

The New Republic had the daunting task of not only creating a new system of government to replace the oppressive tyrannical Empire, but to also unite the galaxy, keep the peace, and win over the sceptics. All without the thousands of Jedi to help maintain peace and justice, as they did for a thousand generations in the Old Republic. The NR would clearly struggle. We now know they always have, and will. Right up until the First Order easily takes back power with a single shot from Starkiller Base.

All of the above should make for some reasoned, logical and compelling storytelling. Established factions and antagonists given room and time for intrigue, excitement, danger, new characters and stories. Not too dissimilar from the early EU. And yet, for some of us, the onscreen depiction of this New Republic has felt “off”, lacking, poorly and lazily written; with some truly head-scratching decisions that defy logic or credibility. To the point it seems the NR will continue to be written and depicted as being dumb & inept throughout their tenure, up to the events of TFA. Even legacy characters, notably Hera and Mon Mothma, appear to be almost different personas than portrayed in the pre-OT/OT era. Whereas others are conspicuous by their absence.
 

How do you view the writing and portrayal of the New Republic era?

A compelling story? Solid enough? Mixed? Disappointed? Struggling to care? Insulted by the portrayal of the NR? The writers’ repeating the ‘quick and easy way’ of depicting the New Republic as being almost 2D and inept, or making baffling and nonsensical decisions to simply ‘handwave away’ any plot issues… just to move the current plot forward more easily & quickly?

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Does Not Hold Up (Part 1) : a 2 hour YouTube video from Sheev Talks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwWUgh9lbb8
 

The video not only talks about The Clone Wars, but also touches on Lucas and Filoni, the underwhelming Prequels, fans claiming that the animated material improves the PT, fan perceptions in general, characterisations in TCW and other animated stories vs characterisations in the films. Plus many characters not really evolving over the series’ run. It also features several arcs from the TCW series, some very popular stories with fans, and why they may not hold up, and the number of logic issues within.

There are also a number of ideas to try and improve the series, and ask questions why certain characters and events a feature in TCW so fleetingly or are not given the opportunity to shine.
 

Yep. 2 hours. I know. Although the video is balanced, it isn’t your average toxic YouTube video or hate filled FDM $$$ venture. It highlights the positives of TCW where relevant, there are many insights and overall they are well thought out and argued, even if you personally may not agree with some of them.

Sheev Talks states this video took around a year to complete. Going on the insights, research, and the depth covered in the video, with the length too, I believe him!

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Still Doesn’t Hold Up (Part 2) : 2 hour and 48 minute YouTube video from Sheev Talks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_fAJe_a3JY

He is also the guy who did this significantly shorter video below on Dave Filoni, and along with a few others recently did a highly satisfying takedown on Star Wars Theory’s claims:
 

The Problem With Dave Filoni : a 25 minute YouTube video from Sheev Talks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWouW4U10j0

“Dave Filoni is a personal hero of mine, having written some of my favorite stories of all time, but that doesn’t mean he’s without his faults. Before you immediately dismiss me and go back to worshipping the ground he walks on, I ask that you hear me out.”

Ahsoka and the Crimes of Dave Filoni : a 67 minute YouTube video from Working Jellyfish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgtjgKR95wo

“Well … this is awkward, but not unexpected. Join me on a deep dive of the Ahsoka series as we explore the crimes of Dave Filoni. Get ready for some salty criticism.”

(I don’t agree with his issues with TLJ or the so called issues with “feminist agendas”, though when the focus is on Filoni and Ahsoka it does hit the discerning and perceptive spot. To me, anyway.)

Just a handful of “deep dive” long form videos highlighting a number of the issues with some of Dave Filoni’s work.