#Mandalore Discourse

[phoenixyfriend]

Don't drink the propaganda juice, learn the actual makeup of Mandalore (hint, all characters of color either died 3-4000 years prior to canon, were introduced after people got mad about TCW's Mandalore being white, or are Fett clones).

Anyway, you can't arbitrarily apply the diversity beam to Jaster's Good Ol' Boys White Man Club and not Satine's We Have Three Character Models On A Shoestring Budget City.

[moxie-girl]

Star Wars clone wars-era tumblr dashboard simulator! this meme format is so old sorryyyy

🌳 treehuggr Follow

hate hate HAAATE that holoblr is so core-centric and you’re expected to post in basic or people just comment asking you to translate. I should be able to post in shryiiwook.

⬜️ senatesux-deactivated00192…

Hey, your choice of Shyriiwook as an “exotic” language to post in ties inherently into old colonialist views on Wookies and I need you to be aware of that, if it wasn’t intentional. Many people on the holonet these days…

Read More

🌳 treehuggr Follow

hi! op here. I’m a wookie.

🪐 outer-rim-4lyfe Follow

HELPPPPPP

#core holoblr users stop assuming everyone is human challenge

36,923 notes

🛸 fuckthatoldman Follow

ok but whys grandmaster yoda kinda… 🥵🥵

🧑🏾‍🚀 sora-the-explora Follow

Everybody on here claiming to be attracted to GILFs is lying except for this guy

#everyone unfollow me i wanna be alone with them

6,969 notes

5️⃣ 55555555 Follow

some of the ppl posting on here against clone rights are so funny like do you have any idea how many clones are on holoblr?? have fun losing like all ur followers lmao

#what do u think we’re doing between deployments??? just standing around waiting to fight????? #clone rights #cloneblr

84,255 notes

🌃 coru-ssant Follow

I sure hope my pet piece of flimsi is doing well! good thing I left my apartment window open so he could get some fresh air while I was at work :)

🌃 coru-ssant Follow

by the stars this can’t be happening

3,206 notes

🧋 bubble-tea-bounty Follow

⚒ keldabekisses Follow

#anyways vote vanilla extract for mand’alor it’s what jaster would’ve wanted #mandalore #mando discourse #<- for those of u who have it filtered

17,384 notes

🦾 hero-with-many-fears Follow

anakin skywalker is 22??? he should be at da club….

2,836 notes

🌌 posts-from-a-darker-galaxy Follow

so was anyone gonna tell me they found out the chancellor is a sith or was I supposed to learn it from a CNL skit???

🌝 pizzathehutt Follow

posts that make you read op’s url

🚀 hyperdriven Follow

#op if you go asking at enough temples eventually a sith might answer

157,239 notes

[limnsaber]

Ok not to bring up “the Covert is a cult” discourse or w/e but a large part of the way cults maintain control is by limiting information right? And every time we see Din ask the Armorer about something she gives him the truth?

I know we make jokes an Din knowing next to nothing about the Star War, but the truth is that Din is incredibly knowledgeable about what is relevant to his people and his way of life. He’s incredibly skilled, and we only ever see him out of his depth in situations where any person who wasn’t Jedi or Jedi-adjacent would be as well!

He may not know much about the Jedi or fractured Mandalorian factions, but they were literally living underground, in hiding, for fear of death upon being found — and that fear was realized when they were. Do we even know Din spoke basic when he was first rescued?? There’s a different answer to this on a Doylist level with Din as our story’s protagonist, but to a fractured Clan of people who have had to remain insular to survive, I’m not surprised that Din (who was a foundling) doesn’t know what we know about the rest of Mandalore pre-Imperial decimation.

[furious-blueberry0]

A serie is made about Satine, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's year on the run on Mandalore, and every episode roughly talks about the events of each month.

We explore the non-war aspects of Mandalorian culture, like music, food and language (all through Satine), the history of the planet and its people, and also aspects of Jedi culture.

We see Qui-Gon having to put up with two sassy teenagers who can't stand each other and being caught up in their crossfire.

We see Satine having her first kill as she tries to protect the others, and how that death and the future ones she has to take are going to effect her, as she just tries to survive as the prey of a hunt.

We see Satine teaching Obi-Wan how to use blasters and vibroblades, while Obi teaches her katas and lightsaber stances.

We see the two of them get separeted from Qui-Gon and having to survive on their own, and finally managing to start a friendship.

We see Satine talking about her family, of her father, killed in the war, of her mother, who dissappeared no one knows where, of her sister, that she had to leave behind.

We see Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan intetacting with every kind of strange creature or insects that they can find on that destroyed world, while Satine tries to convince then to "just continue walking, they're gonna find us!"

We see the looming threat of Death Watch always on their necks, waiting for the right moment to attack.

At the end, after a final action showdown, we see Satine taking off her beskar armor and drop her helmet on the floor, starting a discourse to the other Mandalorians present there.

Something something "Our armours are the proof of this fratricide" "No amount of reforgings will ever get rid of the blood of our brothers and sisters that stain the beskar" "Haunted by the lives we took in the name of different ideals"

[authortobenamedlater]

This is sorta where my Din and Bo hang out right now.

I think Tom and Chyler skipped this part and jumped right in the deep end 😆

personally i find the binary of “lets make every relationship in media gay” vs “no the creator was trying to say something important about friendship” stifling …. you guys are completely ignoring the possibility of platonic-romantic limbo where you would definitely kiss your friend if they asked but by god you are not going to make a move first . friends can and should be a little in love with each other actually

[marmota-b]

Justice for Fenn Shysa!

Well, that may be too strong a wording, but, seriously, Fenn Shysa deserves a lot more respect than he seems to get these days. Turns out I have a lot of thoughts and feelings on the subject, but the thing is, they're based on canon. (Legends canon, but considering how little new Disney canon ended up giving us, that still is where most Mandalorian discourse is happening to begin with.)

Fic writers (at least on AO3) who are into Mandalorians seem to love, love, love Jaster Mereel. They seem to think Jaster Mereel would have fixed everything, if only he had lived. There is an image of Jaster Mereel people have built up, and which they love, and hold up as a metric of what a good Mandalorian and Mand'alor is like.

I love it myself, but. But. Most of it is pure fanon.

Fenn Shysa's accomplishments aren't. Fenn Shysa is canonically great. Where are all the Fenn Shysa fics?!

Fenn Shysa, who incidentally has a lot in common with Jaster, actually did fix everything.

And it's a very interesting comparison to make because the two actually do have a lot in common, on a superficial level. They're both Mand'alors who started out as policemen, and don't come from a big established clan. But it seems to me that they took very different lessons from their experiences, and as far as I can see Shysa comes out the better from the comparison. Mereel, heralded as the reformer, by all appearances (including what lessons Jango seems to have taken from him) still doubled down on certain hardwired Mandalorian stock responses. Shysa moved on from them. Shysa overcame the biggest Mandalorian shortcomings.

(As far as I can see, the only thing Jaster might canonically have over him is taking in a ward (did he ever actually adopt Jango?) when Shysa remained without any family. Considering the truly hard times Shysa lived in, considering he spent a good deal of his adult years as a guerrilla fighter desperately trying to save people from the Empire, I can't find it in myself to hold it against him.)

And it's also interesting for a Mandalorian fan inclined to draw never-stated conclusions to compare them just by how they present. To look at Jaster Mereel, and look at Fenn Shysa, and see one wearing the colour of justice, and the other the colour of duty. Neither is necessarily wrong, of course, but in-universe, it probably does say something about them. We first meet Jaster fighting a civil war, bent on eliminating his opponents; we first meet Shysa freeing enslaved people. Their reasons for fighting differ considerably. And so do the results of their actions.

And it's the actions where Shysa shines. Where it's Shysa who is the real reformer.

Fenn Shysa actually united Mandalore. If you draw conclusions from the shifting canons the exact same way you do with Jaster, Fenn Shysa actually managed to work with all the factions and gain their respect: the fact that he was an undisputed Mand'alor after the fall of the Empire is Legends canon, not just fandom speculation of what the situation was and could have been.

Based purely on actual established canon events, Fenn Shysa was just about the best Mand'alor ever. Not flawless, of course, but better than most Mandalorians, able to rise above their common failings that have kept dooming them all throughout their history. He did not hold grudges, he wasn't isolationist, he wasn't inseparably married to the idea of warrior glory, while still maintaining warrior honour and a certain sort of proud independence. But he was not too proud to ask the Rebel Alliance / New Republic for help when Mandalore was attacked and overwhelmed - and not too proud to work with them. He also forgave and helped his enemies when it turned out they may have had somewhat justifiable reasons for their attempts at conquest, and immediately offered them Mandalorian help in reclaiming their own home. (Isn't one of the biggest failings of the Mando'ade how much they hold grudges, dooming any attempts at fruitful collaboration through old blood feuds and petty disagreements?) And he worked with the nascent New Republic, yet without giving in an inch of Mandalorian independence. He united the things the various factions wanted: he was an honourable warrior upholding the Supercommando Codex, he achieved peace within the system and peace with the Republic, and he gave rabid traditionalist Mandalorians actual wars to fight in which Mandalorians could prove their mettle before the Galaxy - just not destructive wars of conquest. It's not like the GFFA is short on villainous factions to try and stop.

It's Tobbi Dala who touches on it out loud in the comics, not Shysa specifically, but he obviously echoes Shysa's ideals: Their highest purpose as warriors is to protect. That's what the Resol'nare say, nothing else. Shysa started out, in the Clone Wars, as more or less a mercenary, like Jaster, but I think, outside of situations when he did have to be pragmatic about things like making a living, he outgrew it into something even greater.

Fenn Shysa may not have written a neat manifesto, but I bet he actually lived it. He was the best Mand'alor Mandalore had had in ages. Fenn Shysa was exactly the Mand'alor the Mando'ade needed, when they most needed him. He revived their spirit and their purpose after centuries of strife and defeats.

More respect for Fenn Shysa, please. Much, much more.

(I guess the unquestioning love of Jaster at Shysa's expense is excellent proof of the truth of that one Mandalorian saying: "He who writes, remains." 🙄)

[sidhebeingbrand]

Time to Be Normal about Mandos on Main again

I really only have a main these days

TIME TO BE NORMAL ABOUT MANDOS ON MAIN AGAIN

This time it's about the presumption of loss built into their culture as defined by Karen Traviss and possibly hinted at in the new Didney canon

Blanket disclaimer that I am Aware of the Problematic Aspects of the Republic Commando Books. Like, I read the first trilogy, i saw them, I was there, Frodo.

But without those books and this author, we don't get Aayhan. Which is… it's neat.

hOkAY so in the RC books and KT's surrounding writing there are a few concepts that really Make mandos for me? Like as differentiated from any Noble Warrior People #253. 'A strong warrior code' is great and all but the specificity of the Mandalorian wordlview is…

I just like them, okay, I think they're neat.

SO ONE THING: is that Mandalorians used to worship gods. They don't anymore, but the concepts of them remain-- the god who represented the worst things in the universe, the one who would 'kill' your spirit, was Arasuum. A god of sloth and stagnation. The word arasuum still means 'stagnation' in Mando'a the same way that 'jovial' still means a good time bro even though the worship of Jupiter has strongly fallen off.

There was a trickster god, too, more neutral, and the Best god, the one mandalorians strove to emulate, was Kad Ha'rangir. Literally translates to 'the blade that makes ash?' A destroyer god, and a god of creation. The ideas are linked in the Mandalorian language-- creation comes from destruction, is only POSSIBLE with destruction. The greatest evil is everything staying the same. The greatest good is making new, and that comes with the end of things that are old.

(It is probably a heretical view that one needs a balance between the two-- Mandalorian stability and tradition are old. The language lives and gains new words and new ways to use those words but it has stayed more comprehensible than, say, Basic, which seems to have undergone massive levels of change within Yoda's lifetime. Is that not the hand of Arasuum? I bet the religious arguments about that ended up with the opposing philosophers in traction and that was the Really Polite Discourse)

What remains in the culture now that the gods are gone is this-- that the universe is not a battle between Good and Evil, Kind and Cruel, but Stagnation and Creation.

(ANd I watch The Mandalorian which is not bound to the concepts in the RC, I know that, but I also see: Bo Katan sits on her throne, staring at nothing, defeated, in the hands of Arasuum Bo Katan rises to the moment, throws off her stagnation, becomes Active, becomes Mandalorian once more.)

But anyway ANOTHER THING is that KT writes the Mandalorians as spiritually nomads, no matter how stable their current living situation. The only TRUE home a Mandalorian is guaranteed is within the Manda after death. A Mandalorian is not bound to a planet. A Mandalorian is Mandalorian because they have a mandalorian soul. And to have a Mandalorian soul is to know that at any time half the galaxy is pissed off at you, and you're pissed off at the other half.

There is a cultural expectation-- somewhat lost in later days by Mandalorians who live on Mandalore, but certainly firmly embedded in the minds of the remnant Ha'at'ade, the last of the true Mandalorians, who lost their civil war and saw power and structure ripped away from them.

In fact, their culture overlaps strongly with the Jedi here: they know loss is inevitable, and has to be accepted. That's one of the REALLY HARD lessons of the Jedi, too!

The difference, and likely one of the reasons* that Jedis and Mandos have Historically Not Gotten Along, is their reaction to that principle. Mandalorians don't limit their attachment to the things they know they may lose. Oh, no, they go full bore the other way-- they pour their time and souls into the things they love, and they defend them bitterly, and when they lose them if there is a tangible culprit for that loss they will pour their rage and grief upon that culprit--

(*There are a lot of reasons to be fair)

But then when the vengeance is done, the thing is over. What's lost is lost. Rebuild if you can. Salvage if you can. But you shouldn't be trying to re-enact the past! (TOR. Looking at YOU TOR) You are building the future. You are adapting, because that is how a culture is immortal. The Mandalorian word for immortal, going back to god words, is dar'asuum, and that 'asuum' is-- yeah-- straight from arasuum. No Longer Stagnant: an exulted state where you rise above your inherent inertia.

You can't avoid building because what you build will be destroyed-- you're robbing the future. You're robbing your soul.

Mandos know that everything lovely ends in time, to make room for the new; if it didn't, it would be the most poison fruit. If you can't let go, Arasuum's sleepy fingers twine around your heart, make you slow, complacent. You fight for what you love because you are a warrior, and the Taung's ashes burn inside your blood, but when it is gone it is gone.

Even a home.

(Din Djarin says: You'll have to move the covert. Paz Vizsla says: This is the way)

And you rebuild it from the ash, if it's practical to do so. You break down the old forge and remake it into the new one. You take the shards of glass that were people and homes and infrastructure and the very ground of your planet and you make new things. But you don't rebuild the same. What a fool's errand. What a stagnant thing.

SO THESE THINGS are encapsulated in one of the signature Mando Cultural Experiences, which is Aayhan.

Aayhan is that moment of perfect fulfillment-- of happiness, of peace -- in which you feel the ghosts of those who are not there to see it with you. In which what you have lost tangles with what you have gained. In which you Remember as you Feel. Joy laced with pain to make the joy more piquant.

It's just such-- of course. Of course they have a word for that, of course they IDENTIFY that because what do could you possibly have, if you have lost nothing? Loss is part of life, it is essential, it is what keeps the galaxy turning and the stars burning until they too end. The rage keeps your heart pumping. The threat of it keeps you sharp. The grief throws your joy in brighter relief. Without the danger and the reality of knowing Everything Ends you are a stagnant shell.

Loss is assumed, in their language, in their culture, in the stories they tell and the sensations they seek. And it's when this comes out-- this shape of a culture that is NOT like the one we live in, that is not common in the Galaxy they exist in, which is just-- Mando-- I don't know, it just gets to me. I feel things.

(And Paz Vizsla demands to know why his people should fight on behalf of who have taken from them, due to whom they have lost so much, and it is a rhetorical question: he will answer it himself in the next breath: "Because we are Mandalorians!" )

[oswlld]

✨2023: A Summary✨

Post your most popular and/or favorite edit/gifset for each month (it’s okay to skip months!)

Tagged by (1)@casualavocados, (2)@pranink, (3)@alexshenry, & (4)@forcebook 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼 YAYY thank you all for tagging me, happy to tackle this for the third yr in a row (here’s 2022 and 2021; it’d be fun to look back and see if i agree with the choices today)

--

January

most popular — the mandalorian: s3 grogu

favorite(s) — vice versa: basic process of a colorist series

February

most popular — my school president: random screencap #1

favorite(s) — my school president: a lover’s discourse

March

most popular — the mandalorian: the mines of mandalore

favorite(s) — my school president: periodic table 1+2

April

most popular — doctor who: langston hughes

favorite(s) — midnight museum: the payphone & vice versa: talay’s top outfits

May

most popular — our skyy 2 bad buddy/atots: a self-portrait in letters

favorite(s) — jump started a book redesign series over here

June

most popular/favorite(s) — taylor swift: speak now tracklist

technically edited this in may and took a break from editing that month

July took a break

August took a break

September took a break

October

most popular/favorite(s) — vice versa: end of an era

it was the first edit back from break and the only edit that month

November

most popular — doctor who: the star beast

favorite(s) — last twilight: episode three braille

December

most popular — doctor who: the giggle

favorite(s) — last twilight: ?/.

--

tagging @morkofday @seatawinan @seatawinans @dribs-and-drabbles (for all your analysis, would love to see what popped off and what your personal favs are!) @i-got-the-feels @jimmysea @moonkhao @athousandbyeol @buffonia @taeminie

[mearchy]

we’ve simply managed to invent mandalorian civil war part 4 or whatever. this edition on tumblr dot com! another round of haat mando’ade v. evaar’la mando’ade coming to a galaxy near you nov 18th. this time with 100% less kyr’stad.

So it's Satine vs Jaster, huh. I'm not sure I have another one of these in me TT

Yep. Here's to a finale that feels very painful to me, personally, in light of recent events.

Time to send in your propaganda for Satine Kryze vs Jaster Mereel for the Optimal Leader Of Mandalore!

I'm tentatively planning to have the poll go live Nov. 18th, but will delay if people would prefer that.

[kaira-diaries]

Chapter One: A Senators Retreat

Part One of: The Heiress's Dilemma

Note: this story is over on Wattpad under kairadiaries

Warnings: threats of death/attempted SA

story summary: Elara Voss, a former galactic senator, finds herself at the heart of a crisis that threatens her family's legacy and the very essence of their honor. As she grapples with the fallout of her decline in the political world, she's forced into hiding with a mysterious bounty hunter. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to retrieve a relic that holds the key to Voss's redemption while avoiding enemies at every turn. Little did she know, this journey would unlock the emergence of a love she never saw coming and leave her stronger than she ever was before.

****

The scorching twin suns of Tatooine shone relentlessly over the desert terrain, where the ever-shifting sands concealed the echoes of ancient legends and the remnants of forgotten civilizations. It was uncharted, unexplored and your court hadn’t ever found much use in it.

You cursed yourself now, as you rode with purpose on the back of a speeder bike, guided by a cryptic message that led you to the outskirts of a small settlement. Your destination, marked by the silhouette of weathered buildings, appeared like a mirage on the horizon. You flexed your gloved fingers, tightening them on the handles of the bike, weary in fear of the unknown monsters that lurk in the dried elements of the sand dunes.

The heat was oppressive, even at high speeds, offering a consistent gust of wind. You lick your lips, in hope of relieving them of the painful exhaustion of the breeze, only to find them painfully chapped.

You wipe your soaked brow, frustrated.

As the young senator of a newly constructed Mandalore, you were acutely conscious of the risks inherent in your position, accepting the inevitability that one day those risks might escalate to a critical juncture. And maker, did they.

Reflecting on the incident, you recalled the sequence of events that pushed you to the brink..

The elegant corridors of the Galactic Senate echoed with the usual hum of political discourse, but an undercurrent of tension continued as you navigated the complex dance of diplomacy. Your recent outspoken stance on independent capabilities had earned both allies and adversaries, and the shadows of political intrigue had begun to cast a threat over the once-groundbreaking career that continued your family lineage with pride and success.

You championed the strengthening of the independence of the new Mandalore, advocating for a course that emphasized self-reliance and sovereignty.

As the weight of political responsibility rested on your shoulders, the stakes were high. The decisions you made and the path you charted in the turbulent waters of politics weren't just about the fate of Mandalore; they were intertwined with the survival and prosperity of your family name. The honor and legacy of generations rested on your ability to navigate the complexities of the political arena, making every move with the awareness that the consequences reached far beyond the confines of the Senate chamber.

History revealed the tragic chapter as The Empire, hungry for power and resources, swiftly destroyed Mandalore. You aimed to showcase that those oppressed by the Empire could rise up, demonstrating resilience and returning stronger than ever.

The galaxy needed it. Even with the Empire gone, leaving vast worlds in a painful quest of putting themselves back together, witnessing a disintegrated race like Mandalore resurrected would serve as an inspiration for countless others. The resurgence of Mandalorians wouldn't merely be a regional triumph; it would be a symbol of hope, showcasing the spirit of a people determined to rebuild against all odds

Opposing factions within the Senate grew uneasy. Splitting the room in half. The delicate balance and inclusion you sought to maintain became a source of contention. Whispers of dissent circulated, painting a target on your back.

Your heart hadn't understood why, until it did. Hidden agendas. In the intricate web of galactic politics, there were always clandestine forces with their own agendas. However, now, those forces ran counter to Mandalore's independence. These unseen actors viewed you as a threat to their interests. You were wise enough to understand why. Many had sought to control such a powerful culture. They sought to build armies, utilizing such skills to get what they wanted. Yet, in your heart, after years of growing up on Mandalore and witnessing its downfall, you knew Mandalorians were more than mercenaries or hired killers. The essence of Mandalorian culture ran deep, rooted in honor, resilience, and a sense of identity that transcended the manipulations of those who sought to exploit it.

An anonymous transmission reached your quarters the very next day after your proposal. A distorted voice, shrouded in secrecy, warned you of the consequences of pushing for disarmament. The chilling words hinted at a well-orchestrated assassination attempt, sending a shiver down your spine.

In the following days, the threat manifested in subtle but unnerving ways. Unmarked speeders trailed you on your way to the Senate, and ominous messages were left in your private quarters. Mercenaries, clad in armor appeared on the periphery, their intentions veiled in mystery. It became clear that your dedication had disrupted the delicate equilibrium of power, provoking a reaction from those who preferred the status quo of criminal activities.

The heat of the two suns beating down on your head brought you back, no doubt burning your scalp.

Your heart sensed the presence of evil in these sands, a chilling warning that whispered of the nefarious forces entwined with this desolate planet.

Despite your current complaints, you still found yourself on the run, guided solely by coordinates that promised to lead you to the only bounty hunter willing to protect you — for a considerable price.

Approaching the settlement, you couldn't help but observe the paradoxical signs of life emerging from the decay that surrounded it. Amidst the dilapidated structures, a more vibrant building stood out, teeming with signs of life. Hopping off the speeder, you approached cautiously, a silent mantra urging you to maintain your composure.

As you stepped inside, your gaze lowered, and you observed the beeping of your navigation system. It confirmed that the coordinates precisely aligned with the building—a bustling bar.

The pulsating rhythm of the music reverberated through your entire being as you entered. Dancers skillfully adorned tabletops, their energetic performances earning them credits from the inebriated patrons who surrounded them. The ceilings, surprisingly high, were adorned with breathtaking chandeliers that cast a warm glow across the lively scene. A silent prayer passed through your mind, hoping those chandeliers weren't made of glass, as the energetic beats threatened to dislodge them from the ceiling.

Two bar tops came into your line of sight, each stool occupied by customers reveling in the vibrant atmosphere. The incongruity of such a lively scene in the heart of what seemed to be a deserted area lingered in your thoughts, adding an air of mystery to the situation.

The lively ambiance surrounding you seemed to heighten your sense of exposure and vulnerability, leaving you with an unsettling feeling of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The crowd and the thriving atmosphere made you suspicious that a bar like this could be a hotspot for dealings and underground businesses. And the nagging question echoed in your mind: Why did the coordinates lead you to this particular place?

The realization struck you then—self-defense hadn’t been in your skill sets for years, you’d hardly remembered a thing.

A heavy weight settled on your chest, you were on your own right now, making every breath feel like a struggle and fear gnawed at you, the thought of being an easy target for criminals skyrocketed the sense of terror.

You compelled your legs to retreat toward the entrance, and as you moved backward, you collided with a rock-hard chest. A pair of large hands firmly gripped your shoulders, halting your retreat.

"Well, well. What do we have here?" Your body was swiftly spun around, and you found yourself face to face with a man whose eyes gleamed a vivid purple. "You are just darling." His pointer finger traced a line across your cheek. "What's your price, sweetheart?" A gasp escaped you in sheer terror. "Oh, I'm not a—"

He silenced you with a shush, a finger coming to rest on your lips. You recoiled from the overwhelming scent of alcohol that clung to him. "Oh, but we all are, sweet thing. We just sell different parts of ourselves."

Your heart sank into the pit of your stomach as he attempted to drag you toward the back room. Summoning every ounce of strength, you will yourself to fight back, pushing him away with all your might. In the struggle, you remained oblivious to the fact that your once-tight long-sleeved tunic was being torn apart by his prying hands.

"There you are," a voice called out. It had a filtered, almost droid-like quality, devoid of any discernible human emotion.

You and the inebriated man turned, your eyes landing on a tall Mandalorian in silver armor that gleamed like a freshly minted coin under the bright lights of the bar.

He approached with large, purposeful steps, reaching out to pull you away by the arm. "I've been looking for you," he said, looking up at the man, "thank you for finding her for me." Your attention snapped toward the man, who seemed to have sobered up instantly at the sight of the formidable bounty hunter. You recognized the unmistakable look of terror in his eyes as he hastily scattered off into the crowd.

Slowing your breathing, you became aware of the rip in the collar of your shirt. Before you could utter a word, the bounty hunter skillfully guided the two of you out of the bar and into an empty alley.

He gripped your shoulders, leaning down. "Are you okay?" You nodded.

He stood back up straight, with a sigh, he said " We need to get out of here.." His eyes scanned the surroundings, vigilant for any potential threats, and you took the opportunity to thoroughly inspect him. His helmet gleamed under the twin suns, reflecting their radiant beams. Clad in the all too familiar beskar armor that shined like it was freshly forged, he looked well-equipped, armed to the teeth with an arsenal of weapons.

After giving careful consideration to staying out of sight, given the bar situation, the two of you navigated the desolate town with caution, making your way towards his ship stationed on the other side. He handed you his soft brown cowl, and you wrapped it around yourself, concealing your face and the large tear in your shirt that exposed too much of your chest.

After what felt like an abundance of twists and turns, you finally arrived at his ship, and it appeared grand—much larger than any ships you'd ever seen back on your planet. The awe on your face was undeniable, and you stumbled up the ramp into the hull. Inside, you observed a spacious armory stocked with just about every gun known to man. Small living quarters, a bathroom, and storage containers filled with maker knows what.

You barely noticed the Mandalorian brush past you. He was swift, shutting the ramp, and climbing up the ladder into what you assumed was the cockpit. A moment of indecision hung in the air—do you follow or stay down in the hull? You didn't want to be in his way, but your curiosity outweighed your judgment, and you found yourself climbing the ladder after him.

The cockpit was compact as you came upon it, adorned with expansive windows that offered the bounty hunter an extensive field of perception. Taking a seat in the co-pilot position, you broke the everlasting silence, "Your beskar looks newly forged." The remark, perhaps could be taken as admiration or scrutiny, acknowledged his pristine condition.

Punching in coordinates and lifting off, the bounty hunter deftly switched to autopilot. Swiveling his chair, he looked at you. "Yes," he affirmed. You hummed, an uplifting smile tugging at your lips, crossing your legs with your hands in your lap- a habit. "I've never seen such a signet. A mudhorn, isn’t it?" You paused, your gaze fixating on the symbol adorning his shoulder. A potent representation of identity, "I'm glad to know after all this time signets still remain," you remarked, expressing a sense of gratefulness. He sat still, his head turned towards you. If he sought to uncover more about your knowledge you hadn't known, he gave no indication. After a brief moment, he swiveled back around, the enigmatic figure maintaining a stoic demeanor.

With his gloved hands hovering over the controls, he remarked, "You're a senator."

It wasn't a question, but a statement that hung in the air.

You hummed. "I was.” The simplicity of your response carried a weight. You dug your chin comfortably into your shoulder, finding solace in the connection between you and the expanse of space around you. The wondrous streaks of starlight zipped by every second, a mesmerizing display.

Continuing, you said,"Until the beliefs I had for the greater good of my planet made me look like a fool..made my family name look weak," you lamented, revealing the profound impact of your convictions on the legacy that preceded you.

"Last I checked, honoring your beliefs is anything but weak," the Mandalorian stated, his voice resonating with a firm belief that underlined the strength found in unwavering principles. His claim reflected his culture, your culture, one that esteemed honor above all else.

"Try telling that to the rest of the Senate. Most of them have their hands so dirty that any threat of exposure to their underground workings will send you six feet under," you remarked, your tone tinged with a cynical acknowledgment of harsh realities. "The greater good of the galaxy means shit to these people." The weight of your words lingered, encapsulating the system where self-interest often overshadowed noble ideals.

Silence rang in the air after that. The Mandalorian sat still as a statue, and you only stared out the windows at the shooting stars, counting as many as you could. What occupied your thoughts, though, was what the future held for you. Your mind bounced a mile a minute from question to question—would you be on the run forever? Would you eventually fall prey to those who sought bloodshed? Would this Mandalorian stay true to the deal? Senator or not, things are different now; alliances change. For the first time in a long time, you felt that sense of hopelessness you hadn't experienced since that night of destruction. The uncertainty of the path ahead weighed heavily on your shoulders, providing a palpable tension in the silent journey through the cosmos.

****

[tarisilmarwen]

ah yes, Mandalore. The major cultural world of a people infamous for being brutal warrior crusaders surely is far more important than THE galactic capital and home of the Senate and Jedi Temple.

like is the intent that we must side with Ahsoka? are we meant to recognize that her focus on Maul and Mandalore is in fact a bad thing but the execution is just botched?

The intent SEEMS to be that we're supposed to agree at least in principle with Ahsoka--that by prioritizing Coruscant (a planet of trillions, the location of the Jedi Temple and the Senate and all the governing heads of state) and the rescue of the Chancellor, the Jedi are "playing politics" and "not thinking/caring about the little people of the galaxy", which is such an unfair framing of the argument Obi-Wan even says it ONSCREEN. (Which is the ONLY defense he's allowed to offer, man should have been able to verbally smack Ahsoka into next year.)

Ahsoka's whole Walkabout Arc with Trace and Rafa and behind the scenes commentary from Filoni also ties into this; Ahsoka was supposed to have had a bit of "spiritual enlightenment" on her journey, realized the core of why she's a Jedi and that she cares about having compassion and fighting for the people that the Republic overlooks. The implication with her argument with Obi-Wan suggests that we're supposed to view the other Jedi as having also overlooked the "ordinary" people, they're distant, they're out of touch, blah blah blah.

Neglecting of course that, 1. That's not remotely true, and 2. The reason they haven't had much time to devote to their normal civilian services lately is because there's only 10,000 of them spread thin across the galaxy putting out a million tire fires an hour because of THE WAR.

The whole framing of the back half of S7 just has this veneer of leaning into the icky fanon "The Jedi lost their way/brought about their fall bc of their own actions" sentiment, instead of properly framing the issue as, "And this is how it was so easy for Palpatine to convince the galaxy to overlook their brutal murder down to the last child."

It's frustrating because for the most part? Filoni's behind the scenes commentary on Star Wars lines up exactly with Lucas's. And then like 15% of the time he busts out a Steeped Too Long In The Fandom Bullshit take that's just like, "What."

So yeah, this has been a fun week in Star Wars Discourse.

[cassatine]

next year on Mandalore | The Mandalorian (+ Clone Wars + Rebels)

This is what it's like to be Bo-Katan Kryze: you make all the wrong choices. You find ever-new, spectacular ways to fuck up. You do it all over again, and again, and again.

Rinse, repeat.

feat. Extreme Amounts of Mandalorian Fuckery, the Kryze Sisters' Political Philosophy Debate Club, History Discourse, and Survivor Guilt. introducing Bo-Katan Kryze: Founder of the Tarre Vizsla Hate Club, and The Concordia Exile as New Mandalore’s Original Sin. answering pressing, vital questions such as: Whatever Happened to Korkie Kryze, and How Many Times Can Mandalore Be Carpet Bombed Before It Takes?? (The Answer May Surprise You!!), and Is Special Sword Ownership A Good Basis for Government Anyway. there are War Crimes and Implied Cannibalism and A Very Important Tea Set, and for some reason, Tarre Vizsla as Space King Arthur.

[fellthemarvelous]

Satine Kryze Defense Squad

Ugh.

I don't know why Satine hate needed to show up on my dash, but why do these weirdos insist on referring to her as a dictator and accusing her of committing genocide? Gross.

Immediate block!

I don't have time for that negativity. Or the asinine ignorance that comes with this anti-Satine discourse.

Duchess Satine is one badass lady who turned Mandalore from a bloodthirsty warrior society into a peaceful planet.

She was right about the Clone Wars from the very beginning.

She was targeted for assassination by Death Watch, the Separatists, AND the Republic because she refused to get involved with the war.

But yeah, she's the dictator for trying to protect her people from more violence and unnecessary death because she saw the Clone War for the game it was from the very beginning. Got it. 🙄

[browneyesbrighteyes]

I’m actually gonna make a longer post. 

I’m realizing I’m not upset with the outcome of this season so far so much as I am with the way we’ve gotten here. 

Back when S2 ended there was a lot of discourse about whether or not Din even had any story left to tell. And at the time I would have emphatically said YES! Of course!

Because you had a man who had just lost everything. His child (though he had yet to admit it), his creed. Who had a responsibility he didn’t want (the darksaber) and who was facing being alone again (something he’d been used to before but, through Grogu, had grown accustomed to being without). 

And if this season had been TBOBF ep 5 and s3 eps 1&2, but told more slowly and from DIN’S point of view? I would have been okay with it. But I wanted to see HIS motivations and HIS struggles with accepting these changes.

I wanted to see him grapple with taking his helmet off. Even if he ultimately decided to bathe in the waters and redeem himself, I want to see him get to that decision and why.

I wanted to see him grapple with the responsibility of the darksaber. Even if he ultimately decide it was a responsibility he didn’t want and did give it back to Bo-katan eventually. Bo-Katan could have even been there on Mandalore and for part of this, but it could have been from HIS point of view.

I wanted to see him realize he didn’t want to be alone. So yes, I don’t think Grogu should have been in most of this season. It’s clear now they have no purpose for him other than to do a million backflips. He could have still eventually returned to Grogu and Grogu could have still been given the same choice, but it should have happened in The Mandalorian and he should have been absent for at least part of the season (we know this was Disney. I hate them for this). 

The story could have been EXACTLY the same in terms of overall plot and outcomes. But the way they did it has me so disappointed. It’s like I’m talking myself into liking this season. And I don’t hate it. There’s a lot that is fun and moments I’ve really enjoyed. I’ll give them the chance to see where these last two episodes go and am hoping we get Din’s POV once more. and again, I don’t hate the outcomes. 

But I miss Din Djarin. He’s RIGHT THERE, and I still miss him.

[noddytheornithopod]

Got mixed feelings about the Ahsoka finale. Liked some stuff, but other stuff I'm not so sure on. Spoilers under cut

Okay first thing... the episode felt kinda cheap? Like, I could tell this was on a TV budget, lol. Some episodes have looked pretty good, but for whatever reason this just wasn't working for me?

Maybe I also just am still getting used to seeing animated stuff in live-action. Seeing the green flames finally show up is a relief, but it still felt kind of strange.

My other thing is, I'm not exactly sure I understand what block Sabine has overcome to be able to use the Force properly now? It was kind of jarring to suddenly see her do all this stuff.

Oh yeah, and a lot of this is down to unfortunate circumstances but... Baylan only got one scene? And we only get a slight tease of what he might be after (something Mortis related :v)? Was surprised we barely got any Shin, too.

I did like the zombie troopers even if the action scenes looked a bit cheap. Morgan dying I'm indifferent on, also hey "blade of Talzin." Thrawn explicitly mentions he knew Anakin, and clearly hints he knows of the Vader connection.

Still not sure how I feel about Ahsoka's place in everything, we got Morai finally but Filoni's really teasing the mystery box with her here (and now Baylan, lol). Also, hi Anakin.

I admit I do find the irony of Ezra being the only one to make it back quite amusing. Him making the new lightsabre inspired by Kanan's is pretty cool, too.

It is kind of weird that Sabine only talked about her decision with Ahsoka, though. That conversation resolved that aspect for them thankfully, but to know that Ezra's not gonna know anything until whenever they're together next is... yeah. Who even knows when that will be? If there's a Season 2, I feel like that's gonna not happen for a while, lol.

Oh yeah, some more clarification of the timeline with Mandalore and the Purge. It sounds like it happened at the end of the war, so at least they got to have like 4-5 years of having the upper hand before Gideon and co bombed the fuck out of them.

Maybe it's just me but they felt kind of vague on how much Ezra knew about Thrawn and the Nightsisters? This episode clarified it, but it was hard to tell in his previous appearances.

Am curious as to the specifics of what Morgan went through, and what the sacrifice those Night Troopers made was. It seems like they're not dead, but they do something that renders them subservient to her and makes them undead. IDK how similar Marrok is, he seems kinda different.

Am sure the Thrawn book discourse will continue, but everything's lining up and playing as I expected. He's all in on the Empire, but he's genuine when he says he believes it's for the security of the galaxy. For those of you worried about the Grysk, there's a bone for you. :P

Not sure when "long live the Empire" developed though, cuz if it was post-Endor then wonder how Thrawn got it, maybe it's something they prepared to say if things went to shit, or more weird dream shit is happening, lol.

So... yeah, that's the end of Ahsoka, presumably the first season of at least another. Kind of average in the end for me, I guess. I like more than I don't, but I do have a bit of Filoni fatigue at this point, especially with the amount of mystery boxes, lol.

Okay with Sabine and the Force, upon reflection I realise it's meant to be because Ahsoka showed she trusted her and had faith in her. Definitely think it could've landed better, but I guess I at least get it now.

Also, RIP to learning about where Ahsoka was between Malachor and the end of the Galactic Civil War. IDK what Mr Filoni think, but I personally think it's a pretty important detail to acknowledge, because why wasn't she with the Rebellion then?

[piepeloe]

Mandalorian S3E6

Before I saw the ep I read that it was 'divisive' and I thought, oh no, what kind of discourse now?! But I can see it.

It had a lot of the elements that make SW fun: great visuals and world-building, references to other stories and lore.

I quite enjoyed it, but I can see why it might be too silly for some? A cameo too far (if I was famous, I too would want a part on this show to hold the baby)? The plot too thin? I feel like it would have made an excellent TCW or Rebels ep.

Maybe the expectations were just not set right for this season? I was expecting more lore from the Mandalorians, time on Mandalore, etc. We got some, but right at the end of the episode. I guess I was expecting that sort of vibe for the entire ep or even season? It's been pretty lighthearted for the most part.

I like the season and this ep, but the tone is different from previous seasons and what I expected. I'm curious if they'll shift for the next few episodes, leading up to the finale