Sideburns of BoShek

AHSOKA Is Half Over And So Far It’s… - a 13 minute YouTube video from Jeremy Jahns (for Episodes 1-4).

I don’t usually like the delivery style, but he does mention some good points in this video; especially the inconstant use and appearances of “Force Ghosts” in Star Wars, the reliance of memberberries. That the animated versions of characters seem more lively and interesting than the live action series. Maps again. Some problems with it being a “Rebels season 5”. The villains being the better more engaging characters. And a bit more.

DZ-330 said:

These are NOT the same scene.

#AhoskaTheWhite
Different clothes and her staff. Filoni isn’t that dumb to mess up his own canon.

EDIT: Plus with Filoni being funny about when this scene takes place… I could see it being the closing scene of S1, setting the stage (with more context) for S2 or his movie.

I thought they would be different scenes too, but then Lucasfilm came out and said:

“It’s a moment that’s familiar to ‘Star Wars Rebels’ fans, with a few shot-for-shot recreations of the animated series’ epilogue.”

https://thedirect.com/article/ahsoka-rebels-retcon-lucasfilm
 

I’m guessing it was more important for Dave Filoni to show Ahsoka become #AhsokaTheWhite in this series, and retcon his own canon in Rebels instead?
 

I thought the original Rebels epilogue was Ahsoka and Sabine going off to try and find Ezra shortly before the Original Trilogy era; a valid reason why they were not around or seen in the OT. Now that has been altered or retconned to be 5-6 year after the destruction of Death Star II, what were they now doing during the Original Trilogy era?

daveybjones999 said:

Sideburns of BoShek said:

vranir said:

I’ve realized that the biggest issue I have with this show is the lack of reason to fear Thrawn. I know him from the books. Some fans know him a bit from Rebels. But in this show we have been given no information or evidence of his clout beyond his rank. Even from Rebels we know that he has with him one Imperial class Star Destroyer - what difference does that make? I’m sure there were plenty after Endor that had to be dealt with.

I’m loving the prospect of seeing a new region of space in Star Wars, and I want to see Thrawn in live action, but the threat just isn’t something I feel.

I agree, I want to see him in action in the remaining episodes, to see him be this feared, impressive tactician and leader, and not simply be told about it. Unless that is what the “wrap-up film” from Filoni is going to be, and this is just laying the groundwork for that? That will will be underwhelming if it does.

Yeah I do agree that’s an issue. It’s the problem with making Ahsoka a direct sequel to Rebels because if you haven’t seen that show Hera and Sabine are completely new, and while the show does an admirable job of trying to introduce them to new viewers it doesn’t quite work. Also because it’s a sequel to Rebels it doesn’t feel the need to show why Thrawn coming back is such a big deal because it assumes you’ve watched Rebels and therefore know why Thrawn is so intimidating. If you haven’t seen Rebels he’s pretty much the main villain of the later half of that show. I haven’t read his original trilogy, but from what I saw of him in Rebels he was a fantastic villain. He doesn’t get defeated due to anything he does wrong, it’s other characters in the Empire who screw up his well-laid plans.

Yes, the setup of Ahsoka series infers it is about finding Ezra and Thrawn and stop Thrawn returning to unite the broken Empire against the New Republic. Instead we are half way through and haven’t really seen that yet. We also seem to be dwelling on Ahsoka and contrasting issues with masters and apprentices in the past and present, something which occurred offscreen with Sabine, and is something of a mystery, which is something else we are not going to delve into? Now it appears we’ll get an Ahsoka/Anakin episode for chapter 5.

So only 3 episodes left? That is a lot of groundwork to cover for both Ezra and Thrawn, a new galaxy, and what has occurred there since we saw last saw them. And how it will play into events for the New Republic and broken Empire. All while keeping Ahsoka front and center as a character.

vranir said:

I’ve realized that the biggest issue I have with this show is the lack of reason to fear Thrawn. I know him from the books. Some fans know him a bit from Rebels. But in this show we have been given no information or evidence of his clout beyond his rank. Even from Rebels we know that he has with him one Imperial class Star Destroyer - what difference does that make? I’m sure there were plenty after Endor that had to be dealt with.

I’m loving the prospect of seeing a new region of space in Star Wars, and I want to see Thrawn in live action, but the threat just isn’t something I feel.

I agree, I want to see him in action in the remaining episodes, to see him be this feared, impressive tactician and leader, and not simply be told about it. Unless that is what the “wrap-up film” from Filoni is going to be, and this is just laying the groundwork for that? That will will be underwhelming if it does.

yoshif8tures said:

Sideburns of BoShek said:

Has Ahsoka always had Psychometry (aka ‘force echo’) as a force power or is it a new ability of hers for this show? (in episode 2).

I thought it was something you were born with, and that it was a power that couldn’t be learned or achieved through training. Only a few individuals outside the Kiffar have it?

Disney Star Wars is horribly inconsistent and doesn’t adhere to any rules

Agreed. Even its own 2014 canon rules, as Caston posted about Filoni and Lucas overwriting or retconning others’ work in Star Wars (some before and some after the 2014 canon/legends announcement):

https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/the-clone-wars-messes-up-continuity-or-how-lucas-is-still-destroying-star-wars/id/12323/page/3#1542438
 

jedi_bendu said:

Sideburns of BoShek said:

Has Ahsoka always had Psychometry (aka ‘force echo’) as a force power or is it a new ability of hers for this show? (in episode 2).

I thought it was something you were born with, and that it was a power that couldn’t be learned or achieved through training. Only a few individuals outside the Kiffar have it?

I’m fairly sure this is the first time we’ve seen her use it but I definitely could be wrong. I love the ability, honestly even if she’s able to use it out of nowhere I’m happy.

Thanks. I thought the scene itself was well done and even liked it. But it does seem strange to give established characters new and rare force powers who haven’t previously shown them. Once is okay I suppose, but I wouldn’t want to see more unique force powers given to characters this way. Force Speed for Obi Wan to use just that once in TPM still feels odd to me! 😃

Emre16O1 said:

Sideburns of BoShek said:

Emre16O1 said:

Omni said:

1971, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1981…

I was referring to Star Wars, both on-screen and his retconned and made-up claims off screen, as well as the lack of cohesive story of the 6 main films.

or 9 films, 12, 13. or 1 film and a cheap sequel, or just 3 films. Then back to 6 films, then “I never said 9 films” 😃
 

“Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, in danger, in love, in Star Wars” : 30 second 1977 trailer on YouTube. Before the story was changed to make them brother and sister, and before their father was changed to become Vader, and then made all about their father instead.

Yeah, we understood what you meant.

Thank you. Such a weird trailer seeing that back again. Are you glad Lucas sold up too?

Yeah, that magical awe vanished when the Prequels came out. Like so many other have commented on over time, GL suffers from not having those talents and creatives around him to challenge him, say no to him, offer alternatives, bring their insights to the fore and so on. To go back and continue needlessly altering that work is a stain on what they all achieved together.

Lucas’ content since the mid 1990s hasn’t been engaging and lacked that magic “he” once had. So he may as well have handed over the reigns to someone else and do whatever it is he is doing now, whatever that is I do hope it makes him happy. The Disney era of SW has been a very mixed bag, but I’ll happily take R1, Solo, Andor, Visions, and even TFA & TLJ. Even though I’d probably only re-watch R1, Andor and Visions.

Yourself?

Superweapon VII said:

Zero interest from me. Does every origin story need to be told? Can’t something ever be left to the imagination?

After seeing the Prequel Trilogy, I completely agree.

I do have some hopes for this. Mainly because it is Mangold doing his own thing. I hope so anyway.

Why don’t people put the titles of videos when linking to them? Or who they are by? Or how long they are if a lengthy video?

4 hours for any video is a long time. Especially one from Rick Worley.

Shouldn’t this be in “Theatrical Cuts vs. Subsequent Releases”? Or deleted as there is already a thread on it?

Has Ahsoka always had Psychometry (aka ‘force echo’) as a force power or is it a new ability of hers for this show? (in episode 2).

I thought it was something you were born with, and that it was a power that couldn’t be learned or achieved through training. Only a few individuals outside the Kiffar have it?

3 episodes in 2 weeks is awesome news. Looking forward to seeing them all.

Emre16O1 said:

Omni said:

1971, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1981…

I was referring to Star Wars, both on-screen and his retconned and made-up claims off screen, as well as the lack of cohesive story of the 6 main films.

or 9 films, 12, 13. or 1 film and a cheap sequel, or just 3 films. Then back to 6 films, then “I never said 9 films” 😃
 

“Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, in danger, in love, in Star Wars” : 30 second 1977 trailer on YouTube. Before the story was changed to make them brother and sister, and before their father was changed to become Vader, and then made all about their father instead.

Yeah, we understood what you meant.

I’ve had some recent changes to my circumstances, and thought I’d miss having Disney+. I was wrong, I haven’t missed it at all and doubt I’d subscribe again until Andor’s 2nd season is out.

Other subscriptions too, I just haven’t missed any of them.

Fan_edit_fan said:

I don’t know why anyone has their hopes up on this show…given the track record of their writers recently. But I guess even I hope it’ll be cool. 🤷‍♂️

It is all relative, but as this show is in its own timeline, doesn’t have Filoni working on it, isn’t a crossover show, does not much fan service to include, is using real sets and locations as opposed to the Volume, and that Headland has a good reputation going on her previous work, I do have my hopes up a bit. They are not high hopes.

If it is anywhere near approaching the quality of Andor; production, writing, characters, acting, compelling storylines, risk taking, having something to say that resonates, even the use of sound and things like that, then I’ll be happy.

Christ, that is a low bar in modern Star Wars, isn’t it? Those things should be the minimum expected.

Mocata said:

Sideburns of BoShek said:

timdiggerm said:

What is the status with defeating the DRM on D+ anyway? Is that pretty well sorted by now? Hard to pirate without a source.

There is DRM on Disney+?

If there is DRM, it doesn’t stop the content appearing on torrent sites and stream sites just hours after release.

I was gonna say if they have any streaming protection it hasn’t stopped all the fan edits.

Good point, I forgot about all the fan edits!

I wonder what region will be next to follow after Australia. Europe?

timdiggerm said:

What is the status with defeating the DRM on D+ anyway? Is that pretty well sorted by now? Hard to pirate without a source.

There is DRM on Disney+?

If there is DRM, it doesn’t stop the content appearing on torrent sites and stream sites just hours after release.

Star Wars: The Old Republic has a new developer

In a BioWare blog, the developer stated it’s moving development on the Star Wars MMO to Ultima Online and Dark Age of Camelot studio Broadsword.
 

 
'The Star Wars MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic is changing development studios. In a developer blog on the BioWare website, BioWare general manager Greg McKay wrote that while EA will remain the game’s publisher, active development will move from BioWare to Broadsword — the studio known for its work on Ultima Online and Dark Age of Camelot.

“Players will continue to enjoy the SWTOR they know and love,” McKay wrote. “There are also exciting new features planned that the team is not quite ready to talk about yet, but suffice it to say that players can expect improvements and new content into the future.”

SWTOR’s studio move was long rumored. Earlier this month, IGN reported that EA and Broadsword signed a letter of intent indicating that SWTOR would indeed be changing developers. In a statement to IGN, EA wrote:

“We’re evaluating how we give the game and the team the best opportunity to grow and evolve, which includes conversations with Broadsword, a boutique studio that specializes in delivering online, community-driven experiences. Our goal is to do what is best for the game and its players.”

In addition to that statement, McKay posted on the SWTOR forums reassuring players that the game would still be actively supported. “All future content updates are also moving forward as planned.”’

I know they are denying the game is going into to “maintenance mode”, but it sure seems like it is.

Fans on their forum have done their homework, and think it will be dead soon, that it has been mistreated for a while now, note the layoffs (it will be around half the number of devs over the past few years; 80 down to 40?), that Broadsword have a history of being the place where games go for “maintenance mode” too, and Broadsword’s silence on the issues, questions and in general:

https://forums.swtor.com/topic/929816-an-update-on-the-development-of-swtor

Caston said:

Respawn Star Wars FPS Is Single-Player & Inspired by Dark Forces Games - in The Escapist, March 2023.

 
‘The single-player Star Wars first-person shooter in development at Respawn Entertainment will be inspired by FPS games like Star Wars: Dark Forces and Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2, according to a recent LinkedIn job post. The post, which seeks to recruit a lead technical artist for the project, also provides more hints about the AAA story-driven title, including that it will utilize Unreal Engine 5. You can read the full description of the currently untitled project below:’

I really hope this happens. No cancellations. No stuck in development hell, A good solid FPS Star Wars game.

MinchD36 said:

TCW Version of Anakin Skywalker was just a Bad Clone of Han Solo

and without the charm or warmth of Han Solo.
 

I thought the 2003 Clone Wars gave us a better Anakin as a character than the AOTC did, even better than early 2008 TCW did. There wasn’t many scenes of them, it wasn’t that type of show, but what there was, was very well done.

I need to give the 2003 Clone Wars another watch through.

I think any replies to this will be like the posts in this other similar thread?:

Disney Plus should release all of the theatrical versions of the Star Wars movies on their service
 

And yes, I hope so too!

Some of us think it is an obvious solution to the Disney CEO’s recent quotes about cutting back on the number of future Star Wars (and Marvel) projects to cut costs.

As Emre said in one of the other threads: “Less Star Wars = less Disney+ subscriptions”.

If they want people to still subscribe to their Disney+ platform, but state they are doing less new shows in the future, why not give them “new content” in what is already sitting in the Disney or Lucasfilm archives?

It won’t cost them much to screen them on Disney+, and may even get new subscribers signing up as well. Especially if the unaltered theatrical cuts of the Original Trilogy are made available. The 1997 Special Edition too. Maybe even the various cuts of the other Star Wars films, and that Holiday Special too!

I posted pretty much the same in one of the other threads.

If they already have archives of different cuts or versions of films at the ready, then use them, especially the theatrical cuts of the OT.
 

I actually feel a little for Kathleen Kennedy and the bigwigs at Lucasfilm. How are they meant to plan or budget for future series and films when the “big boss” at Disney is spouting stuff like this?

And like you posted, fewer new Star Wars = fewer Disney+ subs. The same for Marvel and less new content in general too.

Star Wars to Release Fewer Movies & TV Shows, Confirms Exec (Bob Eiger) - at The Direct

https://thedirect.com/article/star-wars-movies-tv-shows-release-fewer
 

'During a recent interview with Squawk Box [a 4 minute video], Disney CEO Bob Iger re-confirmed that the company will be “spending less on what [they] make and making less” projects like Star Wars.

When asked directly if they’ll be pulling back on Marvel and Star Wars projects, Iger simply responded, “Yes.”

The CEO elaborated, stating that this goes along with the company’s “cost containment initiative:”

“Yep. And pull back, not just to focus, but it’s also part of our cost containment initiative. Spending less on what we make and making less.”’

If only they already had versions of films in their vaults, ready to be screened, that were very popular, and people would pay good money to see.

Lucasfilm and Star Wars Receive a Combined 23 Emmy Nominations - at the official Star Wars site.

Andor was nominated for:

Outstanding Drama Series,
Outstanding Cinematography For A Series (One Hour) - “Rix Road”,
Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series - “Rix Road”,
Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score) - “Rix Road",
Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music,
Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) - “The Eye”,
Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Season Or A Movie,
Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series - “One Way Out”.

There is also a good article here with Tony Gilroy:

On Heels of ‘Very Pleasing’ Emmy Nods, Tony Gilroy Calls for Transparency in Streaming Data - at IndieWire
 

and here with Diego Luna:

Diego Luna says ‘it’s difficult’ to celebrate ‘Andor’ Emmy nominations with the writers’ strike - at LA Times
 

I was surprised that Genevieve O’Reilly didn’t get nominated for an Emmy in Andor. I thought she was superb throughout, and hope to see her get a larger role, or link up with the other characters more, for Season 2:

www.goldderby.com/article/2023/genevieve-oreilly-andor-emmys
https://discussingfilm.net/2023/07/10/genevieve-oreilly-talks-mon-mothmas-journey-from-andor-to-ahsoka-exclusive-interview

My view is that Filoni’s statement is just more empty rhetoric, from a creator who often struggles without rewriting and retconning other creatives’ previous work, as both you guys nailed here and here, in The 2008 Clone Wars messes up continuity thread.

I say that as someone who actually enjoys some of his writing and work.
 

Anakin was likely the worst Jedi ever, betraying the Jedi Order, and murdering thousands of Jedi, overseeing a galaxy-wide inquisition, and his lust for power seeing him side with those responsible for millions of deaths, and the oppression and suffering of billions galaxy wide, for an entire generation.

Before that we merely had impatience and petulance, shit-talking about his friend and master, perving and making women uncomfortable, and lusting for power. Married in secret against the Jedi code. Executed a defeated & unarmed man, And also what Caston wrote in the post above.

If Anakin was “the greatest Jedi of all time” he wouldn’t have fallen to the dark side. He wasn’t even seduced by it, as we were told by Obi-Wan previously; Anakin was easily and quickly manipulated into joining the Sith by a vague promise that they could somehow save the woman he loved… from some bad dreams he was having about her dying in childbirth. And that lust for power.

Yes, he was strong, powerful and effective soldier & leader in the Clone Wars. Yet as Yoda says, “Wars not make one great”.

But yeah, Filoni probably felt viewers and fans likely needed a reminder of the link to the more recognizable legacy characters.

Which is a little surprising given Ahsoka has previously appeared in The Clone Wars (both 2008 film & 2008 series), Rebels, The Rise Of Skywalker (voice), The Mandalorian, The Book Of Boba Fett, Tales Of The Jedi, Galaxy Of Adventures, and Forces Of Destiny. And I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw her briefly appear in Bad Batch, Skeleton Crew, or even a brief one-shot cameo or reference to her as Fulcrum, in Andor too.