The Bad Batch — “Cut and Run” and “Replacements” (Season 1, Episodes 2–3)

The darksaber saga continues! Following up on the stellar darksaber training montages of last week, "Legacy of Mandalore" (Rebels S3, Ep. 16) brings Sabine and her family into direct conflict—over Satine’s past mistakes and her potential to lead all Mandalorians. Will found family fight blood? We dive deep into Mandalorian culture and the futility of feudal life.  Then we take a turn straight into Alexsandr Kallus’ eyeballs. "Through Imperial Eyes" (Rebels S3, Ep. 17) is a taut spy story with brutal conclusions for our heroes and a dark turn, as well as some delightful Easter Eggs. These episodes center on trust and betrayal, and the potential for betrayal seems to be lurking around every corner. Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! We're posting over an hour of bonus content this week! Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:13:33 Mandalorian Feudal Hierarchy 00:35:26 Trust and Betrayal in the Empire 00:50:51 Bae Watch 00:55:08 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

“Trials of the Darksaber” (Rebels S3, Ep. 15) is, quite simply, one of the tightest-scripted, haunting, and beautiful episodes of Rebels so far. And “Warhead” (Ep. 14) is a delightful buddy cop special feat. Zeb and AP-5. This week, we dive deep into the lore of lightsabers and darksabers. We talk about what it means to wield the Force, rather than just be a part of its flow, and talk about Sabine’s inner demons. And Sam crowns Sabine and Kanan’s training duel as one of the Top 5 Lightsaber Duels, Ever. In the meantime, Thrawn has cut his list of planets the Rebels may be inhabiting down to 94… Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! We’re about to deliver a book report on Claudia Gray’s “Master and Apprentice,” feat. baby Obi-Wan and peak Qui-Gonn Jinn. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:11:54 Lightsabers and Darksabers Discussion 00:17:19 Sabine’s Demons  00:28:12 The Force for Non-Force Users 00:39:28 Imperial Infiltration 00:53:34 Bae Watch 00:58:38 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Have you ever wanted to spend half an hour debating the moral calculus of war and the conflicting ethics embodied by Saw Gerrera? Boy are you in the right place! In “Ghosts of Geonosis,” Rebels’ mid-season 3 arc, we do a deep dive into fanaticism, rebellion, and the meta-narrative of a character who has been in just about every single Star Wars series up until now. Saw Gerrera is one of the most puzzling and polarizing characters in Star Wars, and Ghosts of Geonosis pitches his rebelliousness against the larger backdrop of the Rebellion. Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! Now is the perfect time to join in on the fun, because you have a chance to request our next Spice Run project—otherwise, Sam is threatening another 5-hour Sam’s Naval History Minute. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:9:11 Deep Dive into Saw Gerrera  00:30:50 Klick-Klack and the Ethics of Geonosian Survival 00:44:30 Rebel Command 00:49:29 Bae Watch 00:55:14 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Not to dunk on it too badly, but so little of note happened in “The Wynkahthu Job” (Rebels S3, Ep. 9) that we added “Visions and Voices” (Rebels S3, Ep. 11) to our watch this week. Combined, these episodes show that there are two Boomers inside of you—a Hondo and a Maul—and you become the one you feed. We spend quality time on Dathomir getting hassled by Nightsister ghosts, and watch Thrawn touring the facility and picking up slack on Lothal.  Join us this week for an impromptu triple-header as we explore themes of sabotage, betrayal, and oppression. We also talk about the next owner of the darksaber, Maul’s trauma-goggles, and Ezra growing up. Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! After we finish Visions Season 2, we’re on to a big old recap of Claudia Gray’s “Master and Apprentice” novel, starring baby Obi-Wan and peak Qui-Gonn Jinn. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:14:42 Threads Tying These Episodes Together 00:28:41 Thrawn, Sabotage, and TIE Defenders,  00:44:35 Lingering Questions 00:55:02 Bae Watch 01:02:32 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Do you want to know everything there is to know about Mandalorian internal politics? You’re in luck! In our discussion of “Imperial Supercommandos” (Rebels S3, Ep. 7) we explore Mandalorian clans, the Protectors of Concord Dawn, family loyalty, treason, and responsibility. Star Wars was only mostly samurai-inspired before this! On the flip side, “Iron Squadron” (Rebels S3, Ep.8) gives us…youths. There is some nice space combat and deep lore into a Legends-imported ship—but at what cost?? Thrawn lets the Rebels go free, and that’s always bad news. Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!  Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:14:38 Easter Eggs 00:20:06 Mandalorian Politics 00:34:22 Iron Squadron 00:52:33 Bae Watch 01:00:08 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Welcome to a “Best of Thrawn” homage. In “Hera’s Heroes” (Rebels S3, Ep. 5) we talk all about the grandest art appropriator of them all—and how art theft is a theft of self.  In the second installment this week,”The Last Battle,” we get a deeply ominous situation which ends up being DELIGHTFULLY silly. We see the Clone Wars from the other side—from the battles we fought in the past, to what we need to do to overcome them. As generals become allies and allies become friends (maybe?)—and B1 battle droids continue to be goofballs—we see actual growth from some of the old guard as the new generation takes over. Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! We’re now taking suggestions on what to watch after we finish Visions Season 2. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:16:22 Art Appropriation and Why It Makes Thrown Scary 00:38:57 Real and Psychological Wars 00:52:45 Bae Watch 00:57:52 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Fate in the Star Wars universe: Can you escape it? Does free will exist? All these questions and more come up during “The Holocrons of Fate” (Rebels Season 3, Ep. 3) as our heroes have to contend once again with an angry Maul. We also dance around some of the setup and payoff for the events of the original trilogy in “The Antilles Extraction” (Rebels Season 3, Ep. 4). Wedge Antilles, Boy Wonder and heartthrob of Skystrike Academy. We get to see Sabine shine as she infiltrates the Empire’s elite flight academy. Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! We’re now taking suggestions on what to watch after we finish Visions Season 2. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:15:51 Caleb Dume, Maul, and Destiny 00:35:10 Fate and Destiny in Star Wars 00:44:41 Wedge Antilles, My Friends 00:56:03 Bae Watch 01:02:37 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

And you thought we were anxious during the Rebels S2 finale! After a six-month time skip, everyone has new hair and new vibes. We’re also introduced to two new characters: the Bendu (iconic, btw) and GRAND. ADMIRAL. THRAWN.  We talk about Thrawn’s canon importance, the nature of the Force, and absentee parents. We also question when a healthy relationship is just unbelievable. (C’mon, Hera, yell at your man!!) as well as what the wider Rebellion is up to. There’s so much going on in these episodes that Hondo Ohnaka is in them and barely got a mention. Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! We’re now taking suggestions on what to watch after we finish Visions Season 2. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:14:17 Ezra’s Steps Into Shadow 00:24:31 The Bendu, The Ashla, and the Bogan 00:33:34 Kanan, Hera, and Healthy Relationships 00:44:13 Grand. Admiral. THRAWN. 00:57:02 Bae Watch 01:02:10 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

In the Rebels Season 2 finale, the Force users of the Rebels crew head to Malachor to find answers. However, between a new Inquisitor, MAUL, DARTH VADER, and a ton of lightsaber fighting, things get pretty scary this week too! But whose twilight is this? Depa Billaba’s apprentice, recently blinded? Palpatine’s apprentice, shaken in faith? Kanan Jarrus’ (and possibly Maul’s apprentice) taking steps into a new, darker world? We have more questions than answers this week, but sometimes that’s the point! Join us in our “I watched Rebels Season 2 and I am not okay” support group and hang on until next week for whatever the heck is going to happen next! Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! We’re now taking suggestions on what to watch after we finish Visions Season 2. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:12:36 The Theme of “Twilight” 00:35:31 Ahsoka’s Fate 00:55:31 Bae Watch 01:06:30 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

There’s only one crew member of the Ghost who hasn’t fulfilled their Season 2 recruitment goals, and it’s Chopper. Fortunately, he fills his quota this week—so let’s give a warm leg of applause to the newest Spectre recruit, AP-5! “The Forgotten Droid” (Rebels S2, Ep. 19) shows the bravery and honor of droids and how metallic brethren become friends. With a bench full of recruits and a safe base at last, we move into “The Mystery of Chopper Base”...which isn’t too much of a mystery, tbh. Unless you weren’t expecting giant schmonsters.  In our recap, we talk about friendship, the growing divide between Team Rebels and Team Force-Users, tough conversations with your romantic partner, and the ethics of piracy. Join us next week for the Rebels Season 2 finale—it’s going to be a doozy! Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! We’re now taking suggestions on what to watch after we finish Visions Season 2. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:17:16 Strategic Importance and Themes 00:33:51 When the Rebels Are Also Baddies 00:54:07 Bae Watch 01:03:10 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message