Rebels: “Warhead” and “Trials of the Darksaber” (Season 3, Episodes 14–15)

While the Phoenix cell was getting obliterated on Atollon last week, war was brewing on Mandalore. Joining Clan Wren and the Protectors is our favorite redhead (besides Anna)—Bo-Katan Kryze!  In "Heroes of Mandalore" (Rebels S4, Ep. 1–2) we talk about Mandalorian warrior culture, the ethics of imperialism, the darksaber, and the importance of family. Also, it's been a long time since Bo-Katan crashed into her sister's throne room with Ahsoka in S7 of The Clone Wars, so we speculate a LOT about what she's been up to. This arc is fast and violent and involves a paint-bombed convoy ambush, plus fighting TIE fighters with just Ezra’s fists. But we also take a minute to talk about Sabine and Bo-Katan struggling with what the future holds for them, as Mandalorians, as leaders, and as women. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:15:08 Bo-Katan’s Journey 00:27:28 Family and The Ethics of Empire 00:42:51 Hera and Kanan and Sexytimes 00:46:25 Bae Watch 00:51:36 Closing Thoughts S4 of Rebels is a short one…and new shows have come out since we started. What should Growing Up Skywalker watch next? Make your voice heard on social media, or drop us a line at  [email protected]. Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!  Want more nerdy content? Check out Sam’s articles on Couch Soup! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Welcome to the end of Rebels Season 3.  In the most cinematic Rebels episodes yet, “Zero Hour” (Rebels S3, Ep. 21–22) brings all the elements of Season 3 crashing together. In our recap, we tally up the wins and losses for the Rebellion and the Empire, wonder what people across the galaxy think about it, and talk about the Bendu’s fate. We also pick our favorite Season 3 moments. Between the heroic score, sweeping visuals, deep family love, and epic sacrifice, these episodes brought us both to tears. And there’s more coming! Sabine still has a debt to repay, Phoenix Cell is homeless again, and Thrawn is out for revenge. Now’s the time to follow along with Growing Up Skywalker. With a heroic score, and visual elements that bring both your hosts to tears, this episode is an epic, sweeping, season finale that was worth the effort, and showcases the growth in the whole narrative in Star Wars in Rebels.  And there is more coming! With Sabine's debt to repay, Phoenix Cell homeless again, and Thrawn out for revenge, we are waiting impatiently for Season 4! Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!  Want more nerdy content? Check out Sam’s articles on Couch Soup! Timestamps: 00:00:00 Plot Overview 00:13:13 Calculating the Wins and Losses 00:44:27 The Bendu’s Fate 00:48:19 Standout Season 3 Moments 00:56:59 Bae Watch 01:05:51 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

It’s the final countdown…to the duel that took 30 years to finish. This week, we have special guest Tim Beisiegel of the FSF Popcast on the show to talk about the final duel between Maul and Obi-Wan Kenobi. We talked all about THAT DUEL THO, in addition to the prophecy of the Chosen One, the end of Darth Maul’s journey, the significance of these two Force masters to Ezra, and the wider Rebellion. "Twin Suns" (Rebels S3, Ep. 20) is a fan favorite for a reason—so join us in watching (and discussing) one of the best lightsaber duels of all time. Want even more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!  Make sure to check out: The FSF Popcast FSF’s interview with Sam Witwer, the voice of Darth Maul FSF’s interview with Vanessa Marshall, the voice of Hera Syndulla FSF’s interview with Taylor Gray, the voice of Ezra Bridger Timestamps: 00:02:21 Plot Overview 00:7:13 Darth Maul, Fin. 00:28:52 That Duel Tho 00:38:13 Who Is The Chosen One, Really? 00:53:20 Bae Watch 00:58:50 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

Welcome to the Rebel Alliance. “Secret Cargo” (Rebels S3, Ep. 18) starts off with a bang and finishes with Mon Mothma—last seen in Andor—calling for each rebel cell to unite. But to get there, the Spectres have to fly through a nebula, chased by Thrawn’s TIE Defender, and barely escape with their lives. Sam cried so much at all of this. We also made some time to laugh this episode. In “Double Agent Droid,” the most musical episode of Rebels, AP-5 and Chopper are up to their old tricks (and confronted by the most dangerous foe in the Empire: nerds). We laughed, cried, and cheered in this week's episode. Our heroes seem strong enough to take on anything. But are they? Join us next week to find out, as we recap “Twins Suns” with special guest Tim Beiseigel from the FSF Popcast. 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 00:13:20 Mon Mothma and the Rebellion 00:32:00 Droids, Droids, Droids 00:45:50 Bae Watch 00:49:56 Closing Thoughts --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/growingupskywalker/message

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