A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

130: The Empire Strikes Back (4k80) Pt. 1

Three years after Luke turned off his targeting computer, Star Wars returns. Indeed, one might even ask "Is The Empire Strikes Back the actual 'start' of what we know as Star Wars?" Maybe! It's here that Star Wars begins to take the shape of a franchise (without any of the bloat yet), Industrial Light & Magic performs even greater special effects miracles, and the story begins to effortlessly blend fairy tale and melodrama. Plus, we get to see the original little green freak in his natural habitat. NEXT TIME: The Back Half of Empire Strikes Back Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized! [https://www.patreon.com/civilized] Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/robzacny.bsky.social]) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/ali-online.bsky.social]), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/austinwalker.bsky.social]), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/nataliewatson.bsky.social]) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/notquitereal.bsky.social] Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/xeecee.bsky.social])

129: Star Wars (4k77 Version) Pt. 2

We return with the back half of a little movie called Star Wars. We can finally talk about some of the most foundational moments in the franchise. The very first lightsaber duel--and its relationship to a little tv show called Obi-Wan Kenobi. The series' three protagonists finally sharing screen time. The Death Star trench run and its relationship to the Force and Technology. But we also get to talk about some of the stuff that gets lost along the way. Like about just how funny Star Wars has always been. How the Empire is already a bit of a send-up of bureaucrat sci-fi baddies. And how whether Lucas knew the particularities of their history or not, Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi show up with enough ambiguity and depth to carry years and years of storytelling to come. Show Notes George Lucas: The Wizard of 'Star Wars' | Rolling Stone [https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/george-lucas-the-wizard-of-star-wars-2-232011/] REBEL SCANNERS: Preserving Star Wars (with Rob of TEAM NEGATIVE 1) [https://www.trashcompod.com/rebel-scanners-preserving-star-wars-with-rob-of-team-negative-1/] Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/robzacny.bsky.social]) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/ali-online.bsky.social]), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/austinwalker.bsky.social]), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/nataliewatson.bsky.social]) Produced by Austin Walker Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/notquitereal.bsky.social] Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/xeecee.bsky.social])

128: Star Wars (4k77 Version) Pt. 1

A long time ago in a galaxy, far far away... there was a spaceship with a princess and a pair of droids and a malevolence dressed in black. There was a desert world with two suns and a farm boy whose only chance at escaping the planet's gravity was a wizard who lived out in the hills and couple of smugglers looking for a big payday. And there was something grey--aggressively grey--a sphere in the darkness of space, blocking out the stars, lighting up envy green, and insisting on its own place in the orbits of galactic lives. Today we talk about Star Wars. Show Notes Star Wars Version Comparison [https://youtu.be/P1b47UP6ZGI?si=xfqWC5w5cp2q_Luc] Luke and Biggs Deleted Scenes [https://youtu.be/O7J_IZ9agRI] Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/robzacny.bsky.social]) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/ali-online.bsky.social]), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/austinwalker.bsky.social]), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/nataliewatson.bsky.social]) Produced by Austin Walker Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/notquitereal.bsky.social] Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/xeecee.bsky.social])

127: Revenge of the Sith (Novel) Pt. 3

We've come to the end of Matt Stover's (p)re-telling of Revenge of the Sith, and it has raised a lot more questions than it answered (which isn't, necessarily, a bad thing). Questions like: "Why does Anakin say things like that?" and "How do I know that's a baby?" and, maybe most importantly, "Padme who?" NEXT TIME: STAR WARS Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized! [https://www.patreon.com/civilized] Show Notes Four Reasons Yoda Failed as a CEO [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/four-reasons-yoda-failed-ceo-mark-logan/] Common Cyborg [https://granta.com/common-cyborg/] Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/robzacny.bsky.social]) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/ali-online.bsky.social]), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/austinwalker.bsky.social]), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/nataliewatson.bsky.social]) Produced by Austin Walker Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/notquitereal.bsky.social] Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/xeecee.bsky.social])

126: Revenge of the Sith (Novel) Pt. 2

We return to the final days of the old Republic. But not the Old Republic. That's different, now, that's like... an even older time before all this. Anyway, the Battle of Coruscant has concluded and its heroes, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi can finally come home for a little rest. And a little scheming. And a little paranoia. The Jedi Council members spin their wheels despite having all the clues. Palpatine spins the world around his finger. And Padme, Anakin's Wife (remember this), is also there. Next Time: The Rest of the Book Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/robzacny.bsky.social]) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/ali-online.bsky.social]), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/austinwalker.bsky.social]), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/nataliewatson.bsky.social]) Produced by Austin Walker Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/notquitereal.bsky.social] Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/xeecee.bsky.social])