The Purrgil Pod

Hunter is taking a quick break this week, so Jessica is joined by the man behind the curtain—The Purrgil Pod's very own editor, Darryl! Darryl wastes absolutely no time coming in hot with a controversial take: Maul: Shadow Lord is the greatest Star Wars show ever made (sorry, Andor fans).The Empire has officially locked down Janix, and a very freckled Lieutenant Blake is here to ruin everyone's day. As Chief Clyice faces a highly suspicious "permanent" transfer, Captain Lawson tries to survive the Imperial Inquisition the only way he knows how—by consuming an absolutely dangerous, unhinged amount of caf. Meanwhile, Two Boots starts to rethink his life (?) choices, and Maul gets a much-needed mechanical knee tune-up after taking a brutal kick to the shin from Uncle Daki.The action hits overdrive in episode six with burning apartments, rooftop escapes, and a classic Indiana Jones-style lightsaber showdown on top of a moving train. When the menacing Inquisitor Marrok finally corners Devon, Maul steps in to save the day, prompting Darryl to officially call his shot: Devon is definitely going to become Maul's new apprentice. Plus, Jessica and Darryl debate the true identity of a mysterious, hooded hologram. Is it Palpatine, or did Vader just step out of the bacta tank?Join us on Facebook: The Purrgil Pod. We are also on Blue Sky and Mastodon. And check out our website! www.ThePurrgilPod.com

Hunter and Jessica are back to dissect the incredibly dark—literally, turn up your screen contrast—events of Maul: Shadow Lord. Maul is putting on his best "sage advisor" act, hosting a creepy tea ceremony and trying to recruit Devon by bonding over their shared trauma of murdered families and Republic betrayal. Devon isn't having it, utilizing Obi-Wan’s signature backflip to escape his clutches, though Maul makes sure to take his half of the lightsaber back before she runs into the light.Meanwhile, detective Lawson is consuming an unhealthy amount of caf and racking up terrible dad points by abandoning his son Riley’s "space lacrosse" game to deal with a shootout. The hosts also have a laugh at Lawson's drastic workplace conflict resolution skills: when his droid partner, Two Boots, tries to call the Empire for backup, Lawson literally just turns him off.Down in the criminal underworld, a decoy trap goes horribly wrong for Vario, leading Maul to predictably slaughter everyone and take complete control of the Pykes. Hunter and Jessica also break down the epic red-versus-blue lightsaber showdown between Maul and Uncle Daki, where we learn that violently kicking Maul in his robot knee is highly effective. With a menacing Star Destroyer arriving at the end of the episode, the hosts debate which Imperial officer is about to crash the party, prompting Hunter to aggressively nerd-out and remind Jessica that Director Krennic is ISB, not Navy.Join us on Facebook: The Purrgil Pod. We are also on Blue Sky and Mastodon. And check out our website! www.ThePurrgilPod.com

Hunter and Jessica are diving straight into the gorgeous, neon-soaked, Blade Runner-esque underworld of Janix for the two-part premiere of Maul: Shadow Lord. Everyone’s favorite half-a-Sith is back, proving that surviving being sliced in two just requires a little magical Zabrack stubbornness—and Sam Witwer's incredible voice acting. The hosts break down a surprisingly brutal opening heist, noting that while this might be an animated show, the local droids and getaway cars are getting absolutely shredded. Meanwhile, we meet the local law enforcement: a coffee-chugging, workaholic detective named Lawson who hilariously refers to lightsabers as "laser swords," and his emo droid, Two Boots. As rival syndicate bosses literally break bread and serve up severed banker-droid heads for dinner, Maul swoops in to orchestrate a chaotic prison break. His endgame? Recruiting a young, imprisoned Jedi named Devon to fashion her into the ultimate weapon to take down Darth Sidious. Hunter and Jessica also debate whether Maul and Thrawn would make the ultimate "Batman and Robin of sinisterness" and tease some upcoming Babu Frik LEGO news for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Grab a cup of 18-hour-old stale coffee and tune in!Join us on Facebook: The Purrgil Pod. We are also on Blue Sky and Mastodon. And check out our website! www.ThePurrgilPod.com

Hunter and Jessica have finally reached the end of the road with the Andor Season 2 finale, and it’s a straight shot right into the events of Rogue One. The hosts break down the claustrophobic Coruscant rescue where a spectacularly lethal K-2SO helps create the ultimate "ISB sandwich," putting a permanent "hurt" on Officer Heurt. Meanwhile, Major Partagaz realizes his tyrannical web has finally collapsed, choosing to ironically listen to Nemik's rebel manifesto one last time before making his dark exit.Back on Yavin 4, Cassian’s massive intel dump about the critical phrase "Jedha, Kyber, and Erso" gets a surprisingly underwhelming reaction from Rebel command. The hosts discuss Mon Mothma’s tense Zoom call with a paranoid Saw Gerrera, and hilariously debate whether Bail Organa is secretly shopping on Coruscant for metal bikinis—or just practical claw clips—for a teenage Princess Leia. They also marvel at Cassian’s miraculously fresh Rogue One haircut and his adorable dedication to watering his plants before heading off on a suicide mission to the Ring of Kafrene.Hunter and Jessica try to hold back tears discussing the emotionally devastating final montage, which features Dedra Meero sporting Narkina 5 prison stripes, Krennic admiring his shiny new Death Star, and Bix hiding out on "fake Lothal" with a very surprising baby Andor. Stick around as the hosts map out their upcoming pod schedule, transitioning from a Rogue One rewatch straight into the highly anticipated April release of the Darth Maul: Shadow Lord series.Join us on Facebook: The Purrgil Pod. We are also on Blue Sky and Mastodon. And check out our website! www.ThePurrgilPod.comThank you, Darryl <3

Hunter and Jessica are back to break down the penultimate episode of Andor Season 2, and the tables have officially turned! It's a bad day to be Dedra Meero. The hosts revel in her spectacular fall from grace as she finds herself strapped to an interrogation chair, getting threatened by Director Krennic and a rather intimidating drill. Hunter and Jessica debate if Dedra has essentially become the new Syril Karn, desperately craving validation from superiors who frankly couldn't care less.Meanwhile, Cassian, Melshi, and a wonderfully sassy, parade-boasting K2-SO jump into a U-Wing for a high-stakes rescue mission to Coruscant. The hosts try to decode the capital planet's absurdly complex, 5000-level 3D zip codes, and dissect the tense cliffhanger ending where the rebels and the ISB finally collide at a safe house with radios buried deep in its concrete.Plus, stick around for a quick tangent on Darth Maul's robotic "plastic surgery" ahead of the new Shadow Lord show, and hear Jessica's passionate, survey-fueled campaign to get a wing named after herself at the upcoming Star Wars Saga Museum. Join us on Facebook: The Purrgil Pod. We are also on Blue Sky and Mastodon. And check out our website! www.ThePurrgilPod.com

Hunter and Jessica are back to break down the intense pressure of Andor Season 2, Episode 10, "Make it Stop". The timeline has officially jumped to one year before the Battle of Yavin, and poor double-agent Lonnie is absolutely "shook". After being buttered up by a surprisingly gentle Luthen on a very public Coruscant park bench, Lonnie finally delivers the ultimate Rogue One setup, dropping the intel on the Empire's kyber crystal strip-mining operation, Jedha, and a guy named Galen Erso. Sadly, it's RIP for Lonnie, though at least a Dave Filoni-approved Loth cat is the one to find his body. Meanwhile, Dedra Meero smarmily struts into the antique shop thinking she’s finally trapped her rebel spy, only to discover Luthen has melted his comms with acid and literally stabbed himself to avoid interrogation. Hunter and Jessica question Luthen's incredibly messy methods, debating whether a Mandalorian-style poison pill would have been a much smarter play. Ultimately, Dedra's solo ambition completely blows up in her face, resulting in her getting arrested and questioned by her very own newly-promoted assistant. But the real MVP of the episode is Kleya. The hosts dissect her tragic backstory of witnessing Imperial executions as a child and her progression into a hardened rebel. In the present timeline, she pulls off a masterclass hospital infiltration by stealing scrubs, hijacking a hovering space-wheelchair, and casually abandoning an elderly alien grandmother to sneak past security. It all leads to a heartbreaking final sequence where Kleya must finish the job, crying as she pulls the plug on Luthen's life support. Plus, stick around for the hosts' quick thoughts on the upcoming Andor comic bridge to Rogue One, Darth Maul's glorious return in Shadow Lord, and the countdown to The Mandalorian and Grogu.Join us on Facebook: The Purrgil Pod. We are also on Blue Sky and Mastodon. And check out our website! www.ThePurrgilPod.com

Hunter and Jessica are back to break down what might be the most stressful 24 hours in galactic history. In this episode, the political, militaristic, and underworld factions of the rebellion are finally colliding, and Mon Mothma is officially done playing the polite politician. The hosts dissect her epic, bridge-burning Senate speech where she bravely drops the "M" word—Monster—on Emperor Palpatine right before the ISB literally pulls the plug on the power. Meanwhile, Cassian Andor’s retirement plans are once again spectacularly ruined. Despite telling everyone who will listen that he is completely "done," he inevitably ends up playing bodyguard, throwing his gross brown jacket over Mon Mothma's couture to rescue her down a 187-step OSHA nightmare of a staircase. Jessica and Hunter also dive into Luthen's terrifying puppet-master skills, Bix's heartbreaking farewell recording (could there be a baby Andor on the way?), and the highly anticipated boot-up of a certain KX security droid. Plus, stick around for some quick thoughts on The Mandalorian and Grogu trailer and those glorious X-Wing sunset shots.Join us on Facebook: The Purrgil Pod. We are also on Blue Sky and Mastodon. And check out our website! www.ThePurrgilPod.com

Hunter and Jessica are back to discuss the absolute emotional devastation that was Andor Season 2, Episode 8, "Who Are You?".It’s the end of the line for everyone’s favorite stalker. The hosts break down Syril Karn’s final, crushing moments—where getting punched in the face by Cassian Andor hurts less than realizing your arch-nemesis doesn't even know your name. Talk about an identity crisis.Meanwhile, Dedra Meero is having a really bad day at the office (and by office, we mean a massacre in the town square), and the hosts debate if she’s finally regretting those promotions. Jessica and Hunter also discuss the surprisingly convenient origin story of a certain sassy droid (hello, K2!), and why Cassian really needs to stop assembling sniper rifles in hotel windows—we get it, it’s a Rogue One callback!Plus, stay tuned for a rant about The Mandalorian Super Bowl commercial and whether Budweiser Clydesdales are now canon in Star Wars.Join us on Facebook: The Purrgil Pod. We are also on Blue Sky and Mastedon. And check out our website! www.ThePurrgilPod.com

Episode Overview: Andor Season 2, Episode 7 – "The Messenger"Happy New Year, 2026! Hunter and Jessica are finally back to break down the calm before the storm in Andor Season 2, Episode 7, "The Messenger".In this episode, the Empire is busy staging false flag operations, and Dedra Meero is choking on her ambitions while trying to keep Syril Karn in line. Jessica has some choice words for Dedra's manipulation tactics, describing her farewell to Syril as the "most unpassionate kiss ever"—akin to kissing a "stranger's dog". Meanwhile, on Yavin, a Force healer gets inside Cassian’s head (and shoulder), planting the seeds for Bix to realize she might be holding him back from his destiny. From Mon Mothma’s senate struggles to the "dead meat" rookie troopers arriving on Gorman, the hosts analyze how all the pieces are being placed for a massive catastrophe. Grab your sniper rifles (some assembly required) and join the discussion! Join us on Facebook: The Purrgil Pod. We are also on Blue Sky and Mastedon. And check out our website! www.ThePurrgilPod.com

The Purrgil Pod: Calibrate Your Enthusiasm (and Your Cough Medicine)Welcome back to The Purrgil Pod, where hosts Jessica and Hunter are battling colds and exhaustion to recap a very tension-filled episode!It was a festive evening indeed, where the ISB looked fantastic in their dress whites (don't get us started on Krennic and his little sash—oh, hot!). We debate why Mon Mothma's amazing, ribbon-covered outfits and great collar pieces aren't already available on Etsy!The tension is building as the Coruscant party and the Gorman heist go down simultaneously. While Cassian worries about protecting Gorman, Luthan is looking at the bigger picture, stating that if the effort "goes up in flames, it will burn very brightly". You definitely won't be laughing when we cover the heartbreaking tragedy involving Vel and Cinta, or when Bix decides she’s had enough and delivers fiery closure to Gorst.Also, learn why you must "Calibrate your enthusiasm" when dealing with the ISB! And please, somebody tell us: Do we really need more Porgs in the next Mandalorian movie?This episode has everything—even Hunter forgetting the name of Coruscant. And not even one joke about this being our 69th episode. We are so grown up! Tune in!