#especially after watching Andor

[ghostiesandghoulss]

Love of my life Cassian Andor. Ignore the fact that I literally cannot draw facial hair please I’m begging you

[skoulsons]

Obligatory sappy end of the year post !!!

Made a tumblr account about a year ago now and I never expected it to turn into anything. I just wanted somewhere to Rot and unashamedly spew my thoughts about my blorbos that I couldn’t contain

It brought more than I thought and I’m very thankful for it. The friendships that have been made and the moots I see in my notifs who id die for unironically are the best parts of this place 🫶🏻

And the community, of course. The gifsets, art, and fic that leave me dry heaving on the floor are also a great part of it 😭

Time for another year. More rots. More friends to meet. More friends to make. More shows and movies to experience. More father and daughter relationships to discover. More meta posts to make and fics to read and write. More time to be alive 🤍

[justiceforc3po]

ANDOR is great, but not like that

Ok, here we go. I need to talk about Andor - I love this show so much, and so I've been watching lots of content about it, especially analysis videos. And while I would technically immediately join in on praising this show into absolute oblivion, I often find myself disagreeing with one specific idea - that Andor is "The Best of Star Wars".

When I first heard someone say that, I didn't know why I hesitated to agree. After all, technically, I'd say they're right - Andor is brilliantly written, has great dialogue, beautiful practical and CGI effects, incredible characters, acting, themes, etc. But I realised, there's a few reasons why I do not think that Andor is or can be called the epitome of Star Wars. First of all - I don't think there can be such a thing as "The Best of Star Wars". The franchise is far too massive and varied to pick something out as the best thing. You simply can't compare Andor, a live-action show with a very dark story and incredibly tragic characters, to The Clone Wars for example - an animated childrens' show that will simply have different restrictions (and benefits!). But secondly...while I adore Andor, I think that it does lack something important to even be considered the best of Star Wars specifically for me. Quite simply, Andor is just too different from the rest of the franchise. It isn't Star Wars enough. Does that make it bad? Oh hell no. They shouldn't be trying to make it more Star Wars! It's perfectly fine as it is! But I think that while it is better on a technical level than most other Star Wars media, putting it on a pedestal over the rest of the franchise is doing a complete disservice to what made SW so popular in the first place. Because no, the OT and especially the PT are not better stories, or movies, than something like Andor. They're kind of cheesy, sometimes a bit muddled, and campy as hell. But I also wouldn't change them one bit (ok, I do have some bones to pick with the PT but shh)! Luthen's speech is amazing, it's beautiful dialogue, nothing in those movies comes close to it on a technical level! But Star Wars didn't get popular through dramatic speeches. In fact, the sometimes stilted dialogue is part of it's charm as a series. The campy sci-fi elements, the humour, it's all part of what makes Star Wars what it is. Andor is excellent at highlighting the more gritty part of the story, and executes the political themes wonderfully. But in Star Wars, for me, it will always just be showing one side of what the franchise has to offer. This isn't a bad thing. I'm glad Andor does its own thing. But it simply isn't close enough to the heart of this franchise to be the best part of it. And now, here we can argue all day, but for me, the core of Star Wars is and always will be the OT and the PT combined. While I might enjoy the OT more, the PT is undeniably incredibly important to what the franchise is today and so so much to the table. I don't think I need to mention the sequels (but jar-jar binks had more goddamn plot relevance than several sequel characters. just saying.) But, what I will say, it is the best of what Disney+ Era Star Wars has to offer. Because shedding the classic Star Wars feel for Andor was a decision that makes it a little less Star Wars to me - but it also makes the show work better in its own merit. And at the end of the day, no lightsaber battle, no cute reference, no beautiful scenery will EVER make up for how much these shows are simply empty husks lacking any real passion or fresh ideas for the franchise. And it's a real damn shame, because they could all have been beautiful. But Andor works - not even because of how damn good it is, but honestly because there has to be someone who truly makes us want to love these characters, because they cannot rely on us simply knowing them already. And that's when Star Wars is best! When someone makes something new, and you can just feel the passion and love for the world and the story and characters through the screen. And wether that be through how much George Lucas filling the PT with bad CGI just because he CAN, or through how beautifully tragic Cassian Andor's story is, I truly do not give a fuck.

I went a bit off-topic there lmao, but TL;DR: Andor is brilliant, and better on a technical standpoint than most other SW media. But not only is the franchise too vast to have a "best" part, Andor only shows a very specfic facet of what the franchise can be, and that's completely fine. It's definitely better than all other live action Disney+ SW shows though.

[rise-my-angel]

.

[norraexploradora]

The Tragedy of the CX Troopers and the Missed Opportunity to Teach Us All an Important Lesson

A deeper look into how the CX-Troopers were handled in the Bad Batch and the narrative surrounding them that unfortunately got dropped in season 3

I want to start off by applauding the Bad Batch for the brave attempt to tackle dark topics throughout the series and presenting them in a way that is appropriate for families to watch and discuss with their children. Most of series is successful in being just dark enough to raise tension but to also keep things suitable for a child’s first glimpse into the harsh realities of life. However there still a few places that missed the mark.

The one I wish to cover today is the inconsistent narrative surrounding the CX-Troopers. I’m not here to say it was bad writing per se, but if a dark topic is discussed in a family oriented tv series, it is best to commit adequate time to truly flesh it out so the messaging is clear. Subjective is great in a mature series like Andor, but kids lack the life experience required to read between the lines.

And yes, exposition does make dialogue sound clunky at times, but there is a reason why most cartoons in the 80s had the kind of “The more you know” lesson after each episode. The Bad Batch was no different. Tech’s speech in the Crossing and his encouragement to Omega at the end of Retrieval are perfect examples of this.

In my opinion, there was an opportunity for an important lesson to be learned from the CX Troopers that was brought up but left unfinished. These shadow operatives could have been a way to show the viewer how anyone can be “brainwashed” either by force or by clever manipulation.

One operative in season 2 called himself a “Believer” which seems to evoke he was forcibly submerged into a cult-like indoctrination. It’s also why I prefer to use the phrase “coercive persuasion” or “forced persuasion” instead of brainwashing as they are a more accurate description of the process that has been historically implemented by governments, cults, and captors in order to make good people believe in or do horrible things.

Dr. Hemlock’s use of forced persuasion on select clones to turn them into CX-Troopers is a interesting look into the real world and well-documented cases of brainwashing within fascist regimes; especially in wartime settings. It is common and disturbing tactic implemented in moments of great despair and something that deserves more focus within the narrative if it is to be brought up as a major plot point.

Most of the brainwashing aspects in the Bad Batch were rapidly glossed over probably due to time and budget constraints, and not so much by the dark and disturbing imagery. One can easily get the “idea across” without showing it explicitly. (Like Crosshair having his hand chopped off. We didn’t see it but yeah, we get the gist).

I will say however, that despite the mystery surrounding brainwashing in the CX-Program, one of the more poignant moments was Captain Rex telling a caught CX Trooper that he was still their brother and that they would help him. It was a beautiful show of compassion and introduced new plot element; that the soldiers who undergo forced persuasion could possibly be reached or even saved.

It’s not a stretch to believe that the Bad Batch would take this route given the series had built up “we don’t leave our own behind” as one of the main themes. It would also be safe to say that saving fictional heroes from brainwashing gives us hope that real life survivors can recover from such trauma.

It was one of the many reasons fans were led to believe that the mysterious CX-2 operative could have been Tech or Cody. The focus on this particular shadow operative gave rise to speculation that he was different, that there was something coming to shed light or hope that a lost soldier could be found and rescued; something that would make sense of it were a character we already cared greatly about.

Alas, CX-2 was kept a mystery box that gave no insight to the tragic nature of his existence nor gave us a reason to mourn his death. That is why the battle between the Bad Batch and Hemlock’s Batch of secret operatives felt rushed and incomplete to some viewers. There wasn’t proper time for the story to breathe beyond “One Batch is good, the other Batch is bad.”

There were simply too many dropped narratives throughout the final season that reduced the whole CX Trooper plot to a video game-esque final boss battle. Don’t get me wrong, it was an amazing fight, beautifully animated, terrifying, and intense; but nevertheless, it felt hollow because the build-up went nowhere.

At that’s exactly where the narrative around the tragic nature of brainwashing got lost.

It’s important for you to know that I’m not saying the Bad Batch killing these operatives in the final fight was wrong. I’m also not saying that they should have tried to reach out to save these Shadow Operatives in the middle of of a life and death situation. It’s just unfortunate that we were never given a reason to feel anything other than relief that the CX-Troopers were killed.

And yes, this is a show about the Bad Batch and not brainwashed mystery troopers, but I stress, the writing set up these characters and introduced a very dark and disturbing concept to young viewers. With more time and effort spent on the narrative, it could have been an important lesson that applies to real life.

Coercive Persuasion is not a fantasy concept. It is very very real. Sleep deprivation, isolation, abuse, constant interrogation, drugging, shame, and humiliation, are all various means to break down a person’s will and forcibly persuade them into believing anything.

One can simply look to how many people get forced into false confessions by unethical police practices, or those who end up committing atrocities due to cult leader manipulation. A more common and less obvious example is social media outlets designed to spin conspiracy theories; coercing people into believing anything they want, like like the Earth is flat and microchips were put in Covid vaccines. By preying upon people’s anger and fear, these sites cultivate distrust and can lead one to extremist thinking.

This is real world, dark and scary stuff that needs to be handled with serious care and consideration of bringing it into an animated Star Wars series.

So given more time and budget, how could this lesson be shown through the story of the Bad Batch? How could these brainwashed operatives been presented in a way to that is scary but still gives younger audiences a way to sympathize with them?

Shedding more light on a terrifying process would remind us the CX-Troopers are victims and despite their terrifying nature, they still deserve our compassion and empathy. So giving the operatives more of a backstory is a good start.

For Example:

Showing the transformation of at least one of these operatives before the final battle would provide more emotional impact after their demise. Having kids clearly, and not subjectively, understand that under those cool costumes there used to be good men is such an important lesson. It reinforces the narrative that the real villains aren’t these soldiers but the regime that warped their minds and forced them into mindless monsters.

To be clear, this a a family series and I am in no way implying that a clear visual of lengthy torture would be acceptable. There are already hints through Crosshair’s PTSD and that is enough to get the idea across.

My suggestion would have been to place the sniper clone who eventually became CX-2 in the cell next to Crosshair while on Tantis. The viewer gradually sees these two men go back and forth to their cells after these conditioning sessions and the witness bond that forms between them. Crosshair is forced to see CX-2’s identity slip more and more away after each session until he is no longer the person he once was. The sadness and loss of seeing this man lose his identity not only leaves a mark on Crosshair, but by the viewer as well.

The scene of the shadow operative watching Crosshair on Tantiss and the one shadow operative calling him “brother” would have made more sense in retrospect. In addition, having an emotional and clear connection between Crosshair and the man who became CX-2, would have given their epic fight on top of the waterfall more emotional weight. CX-2’s line “You could have been one of us. You made the wrong choice” would be more resonant to the viewer. CX-2 would literally be a sniper shadow operative that Crosshair could have become verses a subjective mystery box.

To further this narrative and Crosshair’s character arc, making the above change to the story could have also opened the door to Crosshair eventually saving this lost brother. Omega’s determination to never give up on Crosshair could have resulted in Crosshair reaching out to CX-2 and eventually getting through to him before the final battle. It would have been so emotional and fulfilling.

And yet…as lovely as that would have been, I realize the above scenario would require at least one additional episode; which the animation team probably didn’t have the luxury or the budget to do. So I’ll offer another solution:

Adding a few minutes here and there during season 2 and the beginning of season 3 dedicated to Hemlock’s treatment to the CX-Troopers and other Clone prisoners would give the viewer a clearer picture into the nature of the CX Program. The result would be that the feeling of triumph wouldn’t be seeing the shadow operatives lying dead on the floor but knowing that the experimentation on the clones at Tantiss by Dr. Hemlock was finally over.

So in conclusion:

It’s a shame that the shadow operatives were left a mystery and simply became foils and metaphors. The fight at the end was nothing more than the Batch having to kill or be killed and it failed to showcase a serious topic with less black and white thinking.

With more time, the writers could have explored the tragedy of forced coercion. Discussing a difficult subject in a manner fit for young audiences could leave them with awareness when they are faced with a similar real world scenario.

The CX-Trooper plot could have also been a good way for a parent to discuss what coercive persuasion does to people; especially in today’s world where social media is rife with bad people luring in youth and manipulating their anger and fear into extremist thinking.

Think about it.

How does someone get so isolated that they fall prey to extremism and they end up committing acts of terrorism? How does one get indoctrinated into a cult and become so brainwashed that they take their own lives or the lives of others at the behest of a cult leader? How would an innocent person sign a confession of a crime they didn’t commit?

These are all good questions that people often ask after horrendous real life events and can regularly be seen on the daily news and social media. Having a fictional metaphor for scary real world issues that children could easily understand would be exactly the kind of thing Star Wars was created for. It was also created to give children and all of us hope.

So in the end, the lesson should have been that people who fall victim to brainwashing aren’t weak or gullible. They have been put through extreme duress and put through unethical means of isolation and manipulation.

And if there is hope for even one of the CX-Troopers to be saved, we as a society should have empathy and try to reach out to those in our own lives who have been a victim of coercive persuasion before writing them off.

Disclaimer:

One thing I’ve learned in life is that platforms like Twitter are not places for deep discussions and good faith arguments. You have a set number of letters to get your ideas across and interpreting the meaning or tone always leads to misunderstandings.

That is why I’m coming to to Tumblr to discuss my deep dives into season 3 of the Bad Batch. I am the type of person who doesn’t like angry, confrontational sparring over ideas.

My goal is to shed light on a different perspective; not to make anyone agree with me, but just to understand that we can all watch the same show and interpret things differently due to our own life experiences. By explaining my viewpoints, I’m showing you into my thought process. You are certainly free to disagree but I’m not trying to change your feelings on the matter, nor do I wish for anyone to forcibly change mine.

We can all exist in the same space and I encourage anyone who has a different view to write an analysis of their own instead of arguing in anyone’s comment section. Be kind and respectful and most of all, remember this is fiction and subjective interpretation. There are so many things to be really angry about in the world and Star Wars is the least of our worries.

Cheers and as always, May the Force be with you!

[marvel-starwarsfangirl]

"The Bad Batch" S3 Review- Spoilers

Alright guys, we made it. After 3 years of this lovely show, it has finally come to an end. I definitely plan on doing a review of the entire show and see where it fits with the other big animated shows. However, that will come after my Crosshair Character Study. For now, let's focus on S3. Like Season 2, I'd definitely say it's a solid 8.5/10 for me. Although, S2 might still be my favorite. I honestly think Rebels might be the only show that has a 9/10 final season for me. Look, I loved CW and Siege of Mandalore is phenomenal, but that Ahsoka arc was not it. The final season of TBB has so much I absolutely loved and so much I wished it handled better. So, let's jump right into it!

This season felt so different for me and I definitely know why. The story is much more plot driven than the first two. In the first two seasons, the Batch were more worried about survival and kinda just went on adventures all around the galaxy. The Empire really didn't know where they were so the stakes weren't as high. Crosshair himself was stuck in the Empire meaning he didn't focus on the Batch as much until they crossed paths with him.

S3, however, sees the Batch and Omega specifically being hunted relentlessly. They need to figure out what's going on or else they will never be free. This shift from the Batch galavanting around the galaxy to a more plot driven narrative does change things up. Looking back, I think the creative team just needed more time. S3 has so much going for it and there just isn't time to flesh out the ideas to their fullest potential. That being said, I am overall satisfied with everything they pulled off, especially Crosshair. This show has solidified him as one of my top 3 favorite SW characters and fave clone. He's so well-written and I adore him.

What I loved:

The atmosphere this season was so dark and I loved it. There was a maturity to the ideas and threat level that I honestly really appreciated. Just like Andor, TBB really demonstrates just how monstrous the Empire is. There is nothing that Palpatine won't do in order to achieve total domination and subjugation of the entire galaxy for all eternity. And Hemlock is right there beside him. That man's passion for his craft knows no bounds; it doesn't matter who's strapped to his table. It's so horrifying to think how Tantiss is probably just one of the many, many inhumane and monstrous things the Empire has running. TBB, like Andor, is peak Empire imo. If there was any doubt that this monstrosity could last as long as it did, these two shows erase it.

I also really loved the character relationships, particularly Omega and Crosshair. Their bond is so beautiful and reminiscent of ones I see in my own life. There's nothing Crosshair wouldn't do for her and it fits really neatly with who he is as a person. Omega brings out the best in him, just as she does all her brothers. This season really emphasized how much Omega's brothers have influenced her. Their lessons really come into play by the end of the season. To see her grow from a naive young girl into a mature (but still childish) teenager/pre-teen was beautiful.

Crosshair this season was everything to me. I could be here for hours talking about him. I was beyond thrilled with how they handled him. He has changed so much and this season highlights that growth in every way. Crosshair remains to be the best written character and nothing about him felt OOC. I loved his dynamics with the Batch and Omega. (The hugs were perfect)! I loved how his struggle was something he worked on the entire season; it wasn't just one and done. I love how the themes of trust were woven so perfectly into his story. Crosshair was perfect (I'll touch on the hand thing later). I couldn't have asked for more (except just give me more Crosshair. I will never be tired of him. I could watch a whole show of just him doing stuff).

I don't have a burning desire to punch Hunter anymore. Yay! But in all seriousness, I have developed a soft spot for him. As much as he got on my nerves in S1, I really do appreciate him a lot more. He does care deeply and has a lot he's struggling with.

Echo showing us why he's the ARC Trooper. Seriously, those scenes of him will always live rent free in my head.

Emerie! Really great character and very interesting.

*hides in a corner* Rampart.

The music and animation were phenomenal. Honestly, both were flawless. The music in particular moved me to tears several times. Props to the animators and Kiners because this is some of their finest work yet. That one shot of Crosshair catching CX-2's knife was outstanding.

I also loved the action, seeing the boys fight together, and final shot of the Batch + the epilogue. There is so much I adored in those moments and the rush of emotions I got each time. The epilogue was so personal and I might do a separate write up on it.

The themes of family and hope were also front and center and I loved every second of it. If anyone asks why I love TBB, it's because this is show about family more than anything. The Batch are a family and seeing them learn to be one is so beautiful. It means so much that Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair got to settle down together and raise Omega. It's just beautiful.

What I didn't like:

I wanted more deep convos. Whether it was because of a preference for action or time constraints, the writers just needed to have more deep character emotions and let them sink in. It's why "The Outpost" and Tech's convo with Omega are so well loved; they let us really be with the characters. I wish S3 had more of those moments because they make this show that much better. I just wanted more. And I know this show is capable of that. It sucks knowing what it could've been. So many moments could've hit more had they been given time to breathe or worked in a bit differently.

The way Tech was handled. Hats off for actually keeping him dead. I just wish we got proper closure on that 😐. Although Tech's death looms largely over the Batch, it feels like the writers brushed it off. Why didn't we get a scene of Crosshair learning what happened? I know the time skip implies they all processed Tech's death, but it still felt like something was missing. It felt like the writers expected us to also process it like the Batch and move on. Except, we're not the Batch. We don't know what went on in their heads because they're fictional. The audience relies on the writers to show us that grieving process and we don't get it. It also didn't help that it felt like they were baiting us with CX-2 at times.

Some of the plot lines being dropped for plot/time reasons. Look, I know that it's about the Batch and their journey on becoming a family. However, it felt like more was being set up and it might go no where. One thing I love about TBB in general is how it showed us how the Empire began to change the galaxy the moment Palpatine got what he wanted: total dominance. Clones began to take a stand. Talks of rebellion were already being whispered. I just hope that these storylines revolving around Rex, Riyo, and Echo don't wither away because TBB has ended. Or the Ventress thing. I know they said she'll be back but who knows when that'll happen. I also wanted to know more about the CX Program. That’s what fanfics are for, am I right?

The pacing was brutally fast. This ties into my points about the narrative being more plot driven and lack of time to fully flesh out ideas. It felt like there was almost no room to breathe at times because we jumped from plot point to plot point as each episode progressed. Don't get me wrong, TBB handled this way better than Ahsoka, but I just needed like two more episodes of the boys and Omega running around, ok?

Overall, this season just needed time.

What I am neutral on:

Scorch. Man was done dirty, but I didn't know who he was til this season. Sorry guys. Including him and not giving him anything wasn't a good idea imo though.

Crosshair's hand. I get both sides of the argument, I really do. First off, I'm a sucker for whump. I can't help it. Also, you can say that him losing his hand connects to him severing himself from Tantiss and the pain he went through. But at the same time, Crosshair's trauma isn't going to magically vanish by just chopping off his hand. If anything, it'll just add to the trauma. I applaud the writers for dealing with such a sensitive topic, but from a certain POV the hand chop is a quick fix to a storyline that could've had more substance with another season. I'm neutral on it because again, I see both sides of the argument. I think if we got more of a reaction from Cross, the situation would've been more clear (he was doing some crazy compartmentalization during the back half of the finale, let's be honest here).

Anyways, that's my review of S3 of TBB. Despite it's flaws, this little show still went out on a high note and I am very pleased with it. I love TBB with all my heart and I will hold it cherish it forever. Until next time everyone. I will still be talking about Crosshair and this show, don't worry. No matter what, I will never tire of this beautiful family ❤️

[colleybri]

Which Rogue One characters should make an appearance in Andor Season 2 ?

^ Orson Krennic. Would be so great if we got a scene with him and… Partagaz? Dedra?!

Casting spoilers and speculation below…

Apart from Cassian, Mon, Melshi and Saw, we now know that K2SO is making his chronological debut, and we’re getting more Krennic. General Draven - Cassian’s commanding officer - can also be glimpsed in the D23 leaked trailer. Mads Mikkelsen is appearing at Star Wars Celebration 2025, fuelling speculation that Galen Erso might be in Season 2.

^ The wonderful Mads Mikkelsen as Galen Erso. I remember whimpering with joy when I first saw he was in this film.

My own point of view? I love Rogue One but I prefer Andor if forced to choose (though I’m excited by Diego Luna’s repeated assertions that after season 2, it will be like watching a completely different film ) and for that reason I don’t want any less screen time for my season 1 favourites. Especially those who I think still have a lot of growth/story to come: Syril, Mon, Bix and Vel. But seeing as the final arc happens merely days before Rogue One begins - and the final scene will literally be Cassian departing for the Ring of Kafrene to meet Tivik the informant - it makes sense for Tony Gilroy to enhance the links to the film.

There are some characters who I would like to see and some who it would make sense to be there. Bail Organa perhaps - he’s clearly known to Mon. Mon even knows about his links to Obi-Wan (“your friend - the Jedi”). He would be a good character to have at least in the background, as an explanation for an increasing awareness of the Force (even in an unlikely character such as Cassian) . Maybe. Not essential though, and I wouldn’t be fussed either way.

The characters who make most sense to me and who I would really like to see : Tivik and - IF we’re getting Galen - Bodhi Rook. Tivik because Cassian clearly knows him and has met him before. An appearance by him – especially if we see the sister that Cassian and Jyn were supposed to be meeting with on Jedha - could add a lot of weight to the scene where… Cassian is forced to off him. You know, deliberately depriving a sister of her brother and all that. What with his own history. And there goes another little sliver of his soul…(This is one of the scenes that Tony Gilroy added in the reshoots in order to enhance the sacrifice theme.)

^ Alas, poor Tivik. With that great big red flag of a wounded arm . Among the all-time greats of “Characters who were unceremoniously shot dead by Cassian Andor”.

I love the film, but the opening 20 minutes or so is pretty confusing and fast moving and we’re given no explanation about why Galen trusted Bodhi enough to give him the hologram message for Saw. This is my biggest personal wish. I would really love to see a scene between Galen and Bodhi. To find out a bit more about this relationship and how it was built up. Bodhi obviously has a great deal of affection and respect for Galen. It doesn’t need to be much or long, but I think it would really enhance the film.

Bodhi Rook - arguably Rogue One’s least developed main character. Could Andor’s final arc do something about that?

Jyn Erso? With apologies to my Rebelcaptain-loving friends, I can’t realistically imagine a scene where Cassian is staring at her hologram image, simply because that wouldn’t happen before the Rogue One Tivik scene - the Alliance only then start looking for her as a possible way to track down Galen and gain safe access to Saw. But there is a hope that she might pop up at least as a mention in any Galen and Bodhi scene, or perhaps via Saw - who looked after her all those years. Maybe even Luthen knows about her in some way from that time.

^ Jyn Erso - might we get a mention or even a glimpse?

For the same reason, I don’t think we’ll see anything of Baze or Chirrut - it makes sense for their first appearance to be in the film.

One more wishlist request from me. Bor Gullet. The alien who works for Saw as a mind-reader. I would really like a little backstory there. No, really. I’m fascinated. (Might Bor even be retconned as a surviving Dizonite?!)

^ Bor Gullet will know your thoughts! The unfortunate side-effect is that one tends to lose one’s mind.. (though not for very long, apparently!)

Over to you. Re-blog or comment with your wish list.

I have a feeling we’re going to love you all over again, K2!

[velvet4510]

Look, I know the novelization has the “he didn’t know her, there wasn’t time” line about Jyn and Cassian.

I get the strong points made by takes and fics that bounce off this saying the two of them were an “I could have loved you” situation.

It’s unquestionable that their relationship would’ve only deepened and strengthened if they’d only had more time. There was a lot more they could’ve learned about each other’s pasts plus, you know, the little things like favorite colors and favorite food, things that normal couples know about each other. They were robbed of the happy future that they deserved and should have had more time among the living, no doubt about that.

But still, I don’t feel like that makes their feelings any less real.

Especially, you know, considering that people buy into the Titanic love story which plays out over just as short a span of time as RebelCaptain’s story (72 hrs max), and I’d argue that within those hours, Jyn and Cassian went through as much, if not more, together than Jack and Rose did. There’s just no “could” about their feelings. They got there.

The looks they shared, the total lack of personal space, his face when she took down the Jedha troops, their perfect teamwork in battle, the sheer number of times he came back for her, the sheer number of times he chose her over everything else, the fact that she canonically wanted to throw herself after him when he fell apparently to his death, the fact that in her head she placed him on the same level as her parents when thinking about what Krennic took from her, the fact that he made his way to the top of the tower with a broken back to save her, the sheer intimacy of the elevator moment and final hug… You don’t do any of those things for someone you don’t love.

Plus just the fact that they affected each other so quickly, that within only a few days they had already changed each other for the better and brought out the best in one another, the fact that they willingly died for each other and she didn’t leave him behind to escape when she could’ve, the fact that he literally declared himself her home … If that isn’t love, I just don’t know what is.

It happened so quickly because they’re soulmates; you only need to watch Andor to know that’s true. I’ve lost count of the number of parallels between their stories thanks to this show.

It is admittedly likely that mutual self-doubt about feelings made them think that it wasn’t real yet, and they were fooling themselves. It certainly was too soon for them to say it out loud, considering how inexperienced they were with relationships this deep and this loving. But they said it in the elevator, with their eyes (and maybe a kiss).

Their feelings were real, whether they knew it or not. By the end, they were in love.

I’m sorry, but nobody can convince me otherwise.

[oliviabear]

The problem with the acolyte marketing…

so because i’m insane and delusional and i also have severe anxiety disorder and was worried i spent a whole week unhealthily obsessing over something like a lunatic therefore neglecting my real life which tends to happen when a hyperfixation strikes me, i looked a bit into other star wars shows and how they performed on socials, especially in regards to marketing… unfortunately was met with bad news and it concerns me about season 2 of the acolyte but i’m a worrier not a warrior so i tend to dramatise and turn to being cynical about everything 😭

like first of all there was no merch campaign to be found anywhere? if you look it up, other shows have a bunch of merch. didn’t find any for e.g andor either but that brings me to my next point

there are no hashtag emojis on twitter. i know this seems silly but it actually helps a lot! when people use hashtags it creates engagement which increases numbers in general performance and i think sometimes even helps ratings. we got no hashtags for this shows which is ridiculous? i mourn the cute little mae/osha icons…

interviews have been very helpful but compared to other shows, the views on them, as in youtube, have been really low and there’s no way to tell if that actually counts for something. the marketing team on socials has also not really been promoting these interviews and informing people of access

the review bombing has been too extreme. leslye confirmed they know and don’t really care about that stuff but if you go on twitter, you won’t be able to find a single post about the acolyte without “show probable sp*m” under it. the tiktok community has not been much better. i refused to go on reddit but i’m sure the situation there isn’t that hopeful either. the show’s getting so much hate, as do the actors. especially amandla.

it’s sort of hard to find any positivity anywhere. yes, millions are watching but they also did that for other shows. i’m still worried😭

the biggest thing giving me hope is the fact these are brand new characters and brand new era that has never been done before in live action so yes if the numbers are a bit lower, it makes sense as other shows had familiar characters. plus a lot of people started watching after the villain reveal (thanks manny) which increased viewership numbers after episode 5.

but my cynicism is still making me crazy. even if we do get renewal, i want the marketing team to step it up!!!!! it feels unfair this show hasn’t gotten what the other shows did.

[syn4k]

actually yeah, fae tr, especially during s2. think about it.

operate on strange rules and dynamics that are incomprehensible to all but themselves

adjacent to the arcane and unnatural from the very start. they approach a natural terror and fucking play around in it

incredibly aggressive for no apparent reason. violence for violence may be the law of beasts but they have shark tooth grins and laugh at things that terrify others so who's to say that any of them are human?

very tightly knit group. they have their banter and their little dogfights and they spill blood and pull the rug from under each others' feet but one almost gets the sense while watching that this is just how they show affection

attempts to enter that group are never really fully successful. sure, they have friends and allies, but even those are kind of on the outskirts of. whatever dynamic they have going on.

unless you're Andor, that is.

some in Dagrun whisper that the fact they accepted him so readily as one of their own is a blessing. most of the town see it as a curse.

lastly, and most importantly, they are inextricably bound to each other. every last one of them. if you fuck with one of them, all of them hit back in vengeance, and the vengeance of the sky people is not something that you want to provoke. because after all,

they say the zombie singlehandedly killed a god he used to be championed by and absorbed all of its power

they say the mercenary has eyes that are a little bit too sharp behind his glasses, a tongue that's a little too rough for a champion of mianite. his actions never quite line up with his words

they say the thaumaturge runs towards things that would destroy her instead of away like she should, embraces them fully, and emerges stronger and more fucked up for it every time

they say the wizard holds enough power in his little finger to turn entire cities inside out without so much as lifting it

and they say when the captain goes quiet, you should run.

[hottpinkpenguin]

Reasons, Ch.6 - Cassian Andor series

Female reader insert Summary: You're a droidsmith on Ferrix when a handsome stranger walks in one day with a hopelessly damaged droid. You agree to take on the repairs for the stranger, a decision that will change the direction of your lives forever. Word Count: 2,260 Content Warnings for: canon-divergence; cursing Taglist: @mithicakurogo @nonniecannie @freerangesweets @zbeez-outlet @chicken-fifi @queerponcho @theatergirlmgm @oh-yeah-i-exist @shakespeareanlead @idontevenknow1359

The sound of waves licking the sandy beach below had become a steady soundtrack that pounded around your head all hours of the day and night. You’d at first been mesmerized by the planet Niamos - to think, its inhabitants lived within full eyesight of an ocean at all times - but now, almost three and a half months after your frenetic arrival, boredom mixed with fear had gotten inextricably mixed with the sounds and smells of the ocean and you realized that you hated it here. Especially without Cassian.

He hadn’t stayed long, maybe two days. He’d dumped you in this beautiful, empty house and left with barely a word…

“I need to see my contact on Coruscant.” His dark eyes were red-rimmed from lack of sleep and cold. “Need to sort out safe passage for you. Get forged papers, new documents. It’ll take a while.”

You’d breathed in a heavy, long breath. Exhaustion had settled deep in the center of your bones, but what choice did you have? You were a fugitive now.

You nodded numbly, looking longing out through the perpetually-open wall of glass at the ocean stretched out to the horizon line. 

“I’ll go pack,” you replied, sliding out of the chair you were in and heading towards the bedroom you were staying in. “Won’t take long.”

Cassian caught your hand as you turned away. His touch sent electricity ricocheting up your arm, stealing your breath. You turned back to him, wondering if you looked as hopeful as you felt. 

“I’m going alone,” he clarified. His voice sounded sad and far away, but those dark, bottomless eyes revealed nothing. 

You didn’t know what to say. What to ask. Where would you stay? Here, you supposed, only because there was nowhere else to go. You’d realized very quickly that the Galaxy was massive, and you’d never left Ferrix before. The only person that you knew out here was Cassian, and laying claim to ‘knowing’ him felt like a lie. You felt that now more than ever. You didn’t really know him at all. 

You felt yourself give a shrug. Half resignation, half confusion. Cassian watched you quietly as you slid back into the chair, your eyes returning to the waves. Each time a new wave boiled up from the ocean depths, crested, and then crashed in a spray of foam on the seashore, you felt a new emotion rise up and crash open inside you. Grief. Rage. Despair. Terror. 

You don’t know how long you’d sat there, staring at the sea. After a long while of sitting still and thinking, you said the only thing that really mattered to you anymore. “Don’t forget to come back for me.”

Cassian hadn’t said a word after that. He’d simply slipped out the door without so much as a backwards glance. Leaving you to the empty house that looked out over the empty ocean…

The realization that Cassian wasn’t coming back for you had hit you somewhere around week seven. He hadn’t left a way for you to contact him, or vice versa. He hadn’t sent anyone to check on you. He hadn’t squirreled away a secret note or some small token of his remembrance. It was like he’d never been here at all. And that was by design. He was covering his tracks. Sure, you were on the run. But so was he. 

You wondered where in the escape things had gone sideways. He’d seemed so deliriously guilty about getting you tied up with the Empire when he’d broken into your home on Ferrix. He’d been tender in taking care of you after hyperdrive sickness, and then he’d brought you here. To safety. Because he cared… right?

There was one moment that everything had pivoted. You could barely bring yourself to think of it. Your cheeks burned with embarrassment (and desire, if you were completely truthful) each time you relived that kiss. It had to be the kiss. You’d crossed a line, you told yourself. Cassian was just trying to save your skin, and you’d gone and made it some sort of tragedy-romance mashup of bad luck and bad decisions when you’d slapped your lips on his. I’ve always been a good actor. You’d never forget those words. He’d been acting as the good guy, trying to make up for his wrongs by pulling you out of Ferrix. But that’s where it had ended. You’d fallen for his show, and you’d ruined everything. And now, you were alone. Just you and the ocean. 

Three and a half months was a long time to be by yourself. You’d managed to get by on the credits you’d had the sense to pack before fleeing your home, but that supply was dwindling. Pretty soon you’d have to make a choice: go home, or set up shop here. You’d have to fix droids. It was all you knew. But setting up shop somewhere new was bound to be fraught with challenges. You didn’t know the market, didn’t have a customer base. There were bound to be other droidsmiths on Niamos, so you’d be making enemies while you were bowing and scraping, taking whatever anyone would throw at you, all in the name of buying trust and goodwill and maybe, hopefully, a repeat customer. 

But worst of all, setting up shop here felt final. Setting up shop here meant that you wouldn’t be leaving. That this was home now. And, at the end of the day, that meant that Cassian wasn’t coming back. 

You hated him for leaving you, but not enough to give up all hope. Not yet. You counted the credits you had left. One more week, you thought to yourself. If he’s not back by then, I’ll start looking for shop space. 

An empty promise, you knew. You’d made the same one for the last four weeks.

* * * * * * * * *

Cassian felt fire burning in his veins as he held Senator Mothma’s gaze, her last words hanging heavy in the darkness between them. 

“I cannot afford to wait another week,” Cassian growled through gritted teeth, his hands trembling at his side. “It’s been almost four months already, Senator.”

Senator Mothma fidgeted uncomfortably with the large hood that obscured her face from the ambient light of a Coruscant night. They were quite alone in the rancid-smelling alley that Cassian had chosen for their meet-up, but the hum of the city-planet rang in their ears. A reminder to be quick, and be on their way. 

“I’m sorry, Cassian, I truly am, but I simply canno-”

“Senator, with respect, I am tired of your apologies.” Cassian was pacing now, his voice breaking free of the constraints of whispering. His temper was fracturing with impatience. “My contact on Niamos is in constant danger, and you’ve kept us waiting for four months for papers!”

“Cassian, please.” The Senator cast a shifty glance around. No one was listening, but the last thing either of them needed was to make a spectacle of the exchange. A Senator caught in a clandestine midnight meeting with a known Rebellion agitator would do neither of them any good. To say nothing of the warrant for Cassian’s arrest and the bounty price of half a million credits on his head. Or the Senator’s deeply scrutinized allegiances and alleged ties to the Aldhani incident. 

Cassian tried to calm himself, but he was beyond reason. All he could see was your eyes, the way you’d crumpled when he’d told you he was coming to Coruscant alone. It had nearly broken him to leave you there, but the brutal calculus of life as a wanted criminal demanded the utmost adherence to scruples. Cassian couldn’t risk your life just to keep you near him. It would have been easy - too easy - to delude himself into thinking that the safest place for you was by his side. Right where he wanted you. But he’d already proven himself near-fatal to you, almost getting you good and shot on Ferrix just by trying to pay off his massive debt with some traced credits. And all that had been before that goddamned kiss. After that, he was sunk. Totally enraptured. He knew it from the instant he felt your lips on his. No, he was in far too deep. If it was the last thing he did, Cassian Andor meant to make good on his promise to you: he needed to get you set up somewhere safe and then make it so that you never saw him again. It was the best way - the only way - he could see to keep you safe. And as badly as he wanted you, he wanted you alive. More than anything, that was what mattered. 

He reminded himself of all of this, one painstaking bitter pill at a time. Slowly, incrementally, he felt the fire begin to burn off as his mind cleared to reason. When he finally felt calm enough to speak, he rounded on Senator Mothma.

“Senator, it gives me no pleasure to do this, but I simply cannot wait any longer. If I don’t have the papers I’ve requested - and paid for, mind you - by tomorrow, I’ll have to take matters in my own hands.” 

Senator Mothma inhaled, her chin jutting out proudly as her eyes simmered. “And just what does that mean, Cassian?” Puffed up and haughty, but Cassian saw a flicker of fear in the back of her eyes. She knew a threat when she heard one. And Cassian had been honest about one thing: it really didn’t give him any pleasure to play this hand with the Senator. She was a noble woman, strong in her beliefs and an astoundingly deft political operative. Smart and confident. Cassian respected her immensely. But, when all was said and done, she was proving to be a hindrance. Cassian had promises to fulfill. Or rather, promise. Singular. Your safety. He was determined that nothing - not the Senator’s delicate political situation, not an outstanding warrant for his arrest, not an entire garrison of Imperial Storm Troopers - would stand in his way.

“Let’s hope you don’t have to find out, Senator.” 

For a few tense seconds, the two of them sized each other up in the hazy darkness. Cassian’s gaze was steely, his resolve never stronger. Three months, three weeks, two days. His internal clock screeched like a tea kettle. Too long. 

After a few breaths, Senator Mothma deflated slightly, her head sagging on her proud neck. The way she crumpled, like a kite that’s lost its breeze, reminded Cassian of the way you’d looked as he’d left you alone by the seashore on Niamos. The memory brought the threat of tears to his eyes. 

“I’ll get them to you,” the Senator agreed. Her voice sounded stretched and thin. Cassian felt a pang of guilt for having to push her to this. He knew what she was risking - her career in the Senate, her daughter’s and husband’s safety, her own life - to get these forged identichips. Ever since the Empire had assumed power, identichips had become mandatory for Imperial citizens to carry at all times. Forged chips had quickly flourished as one of the most lucrative corners of the black market, but the Empire had expended considerable effort on quashing that enterprise in its infancy. Those willing to alter identichips were few and far between now; those willing to forge entirely new ones, even fewer. Only the very wealthy had enough credits to realistically purchase such a service, but forgers made themselves extremely scarce in efforts to avoid Imperial imprisonment. Not that Cassian blamed them - wasn’t that the fate he was trying to save you from, after all? - but their secretiveness had proven an unexpected time suck on his plans. Months had dragged by before Senator Mothma had even made contact with one, and now her order hadn’t been delivered on schedule. Cassian wasn’t sure what it would cost her to extort the identichips tonight, but he couldn’t allow himself to backtrack now. 

“Thank you.” He exhaled heavily, unsure if he felt relieved or more terrified than before. He’d been focusing for so long on getting the identichips that he hadn’t let himself think too hard on what would come after. Were you still on Niamos? Would you still want his help? Had the Empire found you? Were you still alive at all?

Unwilling to follow those thoughts any further, Cassian simply handed Senator Mothma a small strip of paper with a ship’s name and docking location scribbled on it. “I’m leaving at midday tomorrow,” he told her as she crumpled the paper and slipped it into the pocket of her robe. “Make sure my chips are on board by then.” 

She nodded again - a sad, completely exhausted acquiescence - and turned on her heels, vanishing into the foggy street. Cassian watched as she left, listening to the sound of her retreating footsteps. She was walking away with the power to make or break him, Cassian realized. If she didn’t deliver those chips, and Cassian couldn’t get back to you… 

He wasn’t sure what that would mean for him, except that his heart turned to ash in his chest whenever he thought of that possibility. Steeling himself against the mix of dread, relief, and adrenaline sitting on his shoulders, he turned the collar up on his coat and turned in the opposite direction from the Senator. He threw up a silent thought for you - all alone by the seaside in a beautiful, empty house - hundreds of thousands of miles away, but somehow still the closest thing he had to home.

*more chapters coming soon! please let me know if you'd like to be tagged for future chapters

[the-scandalorian]

OMG i’m sorry if ur inbox isn’t the best place to disappointment rant about TBOBF but ur last post is so REAL like i was SO disappointed w it especially because i have loved boba fett since i was like 3 years old and he is a BOUNTY HUNTER ?? HELLO ???

like… disney… i get that there are a lot of kids watching star wars but… let my space western have some space saloons.. some space brothels if u will…

definitely not the wrong place

i was wildly disappointed by TBOBF, especially after the dope ass intro it got in mando with boba and fennec killing bib fortuna and sitting on that throne ?? like ?? those vibes--yes please

and the scene in mando where boba kills all those storm troopers. where was that sick fucking energy???

there was so much PROMISE

then the show was weird and watered down and the plot was meandering and boba was somehow out of character and also had no personality? the writers were like we'll make him a badass crime lord! who hates crime! that will be so cool for us

i thought there was going to be a meaningful story line with the tusken raiders... and then they were ALL killed for the sake of plot and not mentioned again

as much as i love mando, TBOBF shouldn't have been used as a shoddy bridge between seasons 2 and 3. it was a huge disservice to both shows

and don't even get me started on the 1950s cyborg child biker gang

the inconsistencies between star wars shows (and the seasons, in the case of mando) is truly baffling to me. how did we get andor, with its impeccable writing and execution, and TBOBF in the same franchise?? why did they do boba so dirty???

[pearwaldorf]

I started watching a very long video essay about how to save the Star Wars franchise because I'm bored and I was curious to see if any of the problems people brought up after The Acolyte's cancellation would make an appearance.

I was not super impressed by other videos this person has made, mostly because his analysis is pretty surface-level and has a habit of cloaking extremely obvious opinions as objective fact. This absolutely did not improve in this video.

One of his assertions was that the Kenobi show didn't do very well and didn't give any sort of cite or metric for how he was judging this. My anecdata (as somebody who knows lifelong SW fans) showed it was extremely well-loved, especially after we found out young Leia was going to be a huge part of it. I loved Reva and Beru and the Obikin divorce. Objectively it was not super well written but it was cromulent. I got what I wanted out of it and it's fine that this guy didn't, but that's not the same as the general public not being into it.

He also said Andor didn't grab people because it was a retread of the oldest story line (rebels vs empire). I thought it would be the tonal dissonance* between Rogue One and the entire rest of the SW universe, but ok.

AND THEN, he laid into Kathleen Kennedy for being terrible at her job and saying nobody wanted the Rey movie except her. And cited Captain America: Civil War as an example of how a cinematic universe should converge into an event movie. At which point I turned it off because I finally realized he's one of Those People who is part of the problem of why Star Wars will never improve as a franchise until Disney stops listening to grognards like this.

--

* Rogue One is such an odd duck, not just being the one good non-trilogy film (Solo was just. so underwhelming), but in how actually gritty it is. I regret we will probably never see anything like it again.

[weaselbeaselpants]

kind of related but not- I'm genuinely sorry to be posting so much or about Lily Orchard, guys. Prior to Courtney coming on and telling us her story I was mostly just taken aback and angry with Lily as "one of those critic types" in my circle of vision.

It sucks -and yeah I know other critics don't want to hear this+Lily will use this fact as an excuse to discredit ppl's complaints abt her. but I think a lot of us were initially exposed to Lily because they knew of andor were fans of her cartoon criticism content. In my case I knew Lily from her days of Bronydom and have watched her make more and more meanMEAN material even w it's not about internal fandom dramacallouts. Back in those days and up to last year I could say of Lilly the same thing I'd say for a lot of people who annoy me online: I think she's a bully. Which is still bad, it's just not 'criminal', inherent. Comparing her to Rebecca Sugar, Lindsay Ellis, Contrapoints or VivziePop would be stupid as she really doesn't have even half the portfolio or wherewithall as any of those people -or even Zena and Poppy, not that they're angels. Lily was/is annoying because she'd use other people's genuine concerns and talking points. There's a certain takenupbyaltlight-term that I begrudginly would love to use for Lily that REALLY hits the nail on the head with her, be it as a fan, a critic or an activist. But I won't use it. Not because it's untrue, but because it's used by the same people who write her kiwifarm pages and misgender her and clearly couldn't give a crap about her if she didn't make them "lol"

But then, I actually looked at some of Britt's receipts and skimmed bits and pieces of what remains of Stockholm (I think you all already know this but @britts-galaxy-brain the links are missing now). For years, I'd known and listened to others honestly harp on Lily as some kind of counter-initiative for her going after their fav foalcon people. I assumed it was more of the same. It's not. Lily 100% wrote cp and is trying to hide it. No not fiction abt young adults that delves into erotic and sexisms; not stuff with aged-up child characters being big boobied of themselves thru the gaze or r34 artists. She wrote cp.

Essense of Thought's and that one hour long video talking about Stockholm were the first real horrifying revelation. Then I read through Brittney's saved messages from Lily and 'Tara'. Then I saw Patch's video.

THEN, Courtney came out and told everyone on here and her server everything we needed to know. I don't abide by everything Courtney says, especially about her abusers but I mean they're her abusers and please stop asking her to like the children who're valued more than her in the lives of her abusers, or at least maybe vent openly not to Courtney directly about your fear for those kids Cameron has. Yeah, I'm also concerned but idk there's got to be a better way to handle this. Anyway, as previously stated, I believe Courtney, Britt, and Patch. There's no way that those people have faked that stuff. I've heard kind of stretched explanations being true, but there's no way Stockholm was "edited by pedos" like Lily's saying it was I know I'm missing a few folks in there but I believe a lot of people have been genuinely victimized by LO and aren't just acting out of transphobia, bigotry.

Of what I can attest based on what I've seen, I KNOW that Lily Orchard wrote 'fluffy' foalcon and is saying she didn't, and also that the woman hates the word "queer".

Of what has been shown to me, I fully BELIEVE Lily Orchard is an abusive, sockpuppeting predator. Not only that, she's hiding behind other predator's existence to lie to her audience of other abused people to convince both them and herself that she couldn't possibly be a predator.

In 2013, what was 10 years from now, there was a controversy in the MLP fandom where a minor rose a (not undeserved) stink abt the askblog Princess Molestia and how it was making light of r*pe, intentionally or not. To counter this, a bunch of mouthbreathing bronies took it upon themselves to prove they weren't creeps by threatening the underrage sa victim, making r*pe porn of her while other mouthbreathers basically said "yeah put she's [the minor] annoying so it's the same kind of evil we're doing, really". Centrists.

Why this matters to me is (CW. CW. CW) you can find a post from Tara Callie, who was almost certainly one of Lily's alts at the time, admitting she found the r*pe art of Pinkiepony "hot", all the while Lily herself was publicly denouncing Pinkie's treatment by the fandom.

Lily Orchard is an awful human being. She does not have intrusive thoughts or fears of acting on those intrusive thoughts sometimes, like me and other people do. She has sexual and violent urges that she hides enough form the public to not make her followers suspect anything. She's twofaced and takes out her probable self-hate by attacking other predators. She's all deflection and lies. I can not believe a thing that vile woman says. Neither should you.

The biggest means of fighting her I think we all can do of is refusing to use her critical tag w we talk about her. Spam her "own tag". Enough hiding and denying who this terrible bigoted abusive woman really is.

Because really, her thoughts on glubshitto or whoever from Owl House are HARDLY the worst of it. Not even.

[power-chords]

Some stream of consciousness Andor thoughts: Tony Gilroy, MVP. This is Star Wars but it’s also Vietnam War, Cold War, Bone Wars (lmao). The intercutting of past/present pursuits and escapes, transitions from one world to the next: growing up, leaving home twice over, the passage from a form of adolescent naïveté to adult disillusionment. Both involve a figurative dimension. Kassa encountering his reflection and then smashing at it in anger and confusion hurted a little bit, NGL. Especially after him witnessing the death of an intriguing elder girl. (Was she a relative? I may have to re-watch that episode, I could have missed it.) I’m only up to episode three, so I have no idea what those glossy black racks contained, but my gut says: data. That’s an archive. Of what? Of information? Of life? (Well, what’s the difference, I suppose.) Some major Andromeda Strain/Space Odyssey vibes from that spooky ghost ship. Cassian is in this sense poisoned by association. And what he attempts to bring with him in his escape off-planet is essentially a totemic artifact representing safeguarded open speech. Oof. P.S. Anon: I have yet to get to your ask but I will be digging in eventually on those sources you recommended, thank you, I am sure there are plenty other references I missed.

I love that I thought Kassa was a girl at first. Women are always part of the action, as scavengers and mystics and… middlemen! Be still my heart. (The implication is in fact that Cassian learns his tradecraft from them, after being witness to the death of one who is either stupid or brave or both — there is both context and totally open-ended non-context in that ritual expedition, since we have no idea what any pre-existing ones look like, yet or possibly ever.) I love that the dipshit little footstool droid is all Int and like zero Wis and yet still has attitude, extremely relatable. Next post Stellan Skarsgaard and that crazy encounter/shootout sequence. No comment on Bix!!!

[enigmaticexplorer]

Six Options for Star Wars Watching Order: For those who don't know where to start

Hi @violetasteracademic! I saw your comment asking about Star Wars and because Tumblr’s comments only allow so many words, I thought it best if I typed out a complete response :) 

I’m going to break this down into six watching orders depending on your preferences for engaging with Star Wars content. 

The first option is a general, easy way to get back into Star Wars that focuses only on the 11 movies.

The second option is for people who are NOT interested in watching animated shows; this focuses solely on the 11 movies + live action shows. 

The third option is intense and combines movies + live action shows + animated shows.

The fourth option is for those who've seen the movies and are only interested in live action shows.

The fifth option is for those who've seen the movies and are interested only in the animated shows.

The sixth option is for those who've seen the movies and are interested in watching both the live action and the animated shows. (This is my recommended viewing option for those who have already seen all 11 movies.)

Option One: The Simple Viewing Order of Star Wars

If you want to get back into Star Wars but aren’t 100% sure what content you want to engage with, I would start by rewatching all 11 movies. Recommended watching orders depend on each person. I recommend watching in chronological order, especially since you’ve already seen the movies before:

The Prequel Trilogy (The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith)

Solo

Rogue One

The Original Trilogy (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi)

The Sequel Trilogy (The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker)

Rewatching the 11 movies will give you a big picture overview of the Star Wars universe as it currently exists, and then you can decide which eras you want more content about (the Clone War era, the Empire era, the post-Empire era), if any. 

Option Two: Star Wars Movies + Live Action Shows

If you want to immerse yourself into ALL live action content of Star Wars, then the Disney+ shows are a great way to start. There was a surge in the Star Wars fandom when The Mandalorian (a live action show) first premiered back in 2019, and since then, five more live action shows had been created.

I recommend watching the live action shows interspersed among the movies. The shows build off the movie era they take place within, and they provide additional information and world building to their respective eras.

The shows that take place in the post-Empire era (after Return of the Jedi) are all connected. Characters in one show can be seen in another. So, to avoid spoilers, it's important to watch these shows in chronological order.

It’s important to note, however, that watching only the live action materials means you’ll be missing relevant information revealed in the animated shows. The animated shows are not necessary to understanding the big picture, but you might want to do some reading before you start the live action shows to make sure you know who the main players are and the general plot of what’s going on. 

Your watching order will be:

The Phantom Menace (movie) 

Attack of the Clones (movie)

Revenge of the Sith (movie)

Solo (movie)

Obi Wan Kenobi (live action show) 

Andor (live action show)

Rogue One (movie)

A New Hope (movie)

The Empire Strikes Back (movie)

Return of the Jedi (movie)

The Mandalorian Season 1 - 2 (live action show)

The Book of Boba Fett (live action show)

The Mandalorian Season 3 (live action show)

Ahsoka (live action show)

The Force Awakens (movie)

The Last Jedi (movie)

The Rise of Skywalker (movie)

The Acolyte (live action show)*

* The Acolyte show just finished airing last week. It takes place hundreds of years before The Phantom Menace. No other Star Wars media deals with the content and era seen in The Acolyte. If you’re interested in this era, you will need to get into the books and comics which delve into it more. Since I have not watched this show, I can’t make a recommendation of whether or not it’s necessary to understanding current Star Wars media. However, if you want to give it a shot, I would watch it last.

Option Three: Movies + Live Action Shows + Animated Shows

If you want to engage with ALL the Star Wars media content out there, you’ll need to buckle up for an intense ride. You will be combining all of the movies with the live actions and the animated shows. The animated shows have multiple seasons with 12-24 episodes each season.

Before you start watching the animated shows, it’s important to remember that these shows are intended for children audiences. They are kiddish at times. They are unserious. There are some dreadfully dull episodes (looking at the Droid Arc in S5 of TCW). However, ALL of the animated shows mature with each passing season, and they provide SO MUCH information that’s relevant and, frankly, pertinent to understanding the depths of Star Wars as a whole. If you’re able to overlook poor animation at times and a handful of cringey kiddish storylines, then the animated shows will payoff. They contain some of Star Wars best moments ever—from lightsaber fights to emotional deaths to gut-wrenching relationships. I will always recommend watching the animated shows.

The animated shows are also great for not only understanding the Star Wars universe but also navigating the fandom. The clone fandom, especially, has a big presence on Tumblr. (This is the fandom I'm part of and it's such a wonderful place!) You'll see lots of fanart and fanfics from this community alongside The Bad Batch community whose show just recently concluded a few months ago. If you like soldiers who respect women and emphasize loyalty, then you will enjoy the hell out of this fandom.

Here is the chronological watching order with movies, live action shows, and animated shows*:

The Phantom Menace (movie)

Attack of the Clones (movie)

The Clone Wars Movie (animated movie)

The Clone Wars (2008) (animated show)

Revenge of the Sith (movie)

The Bad Batch (animated show)

Solo (movie)

Obi Wan Kenobi (live action show)

Rebels (animated show)

Andor (live action show)

Rogue One (movie)

A New Hope (movie)

The Empire Strikes Back (movie)

Return of the Jedi (movie)

The Mandalorian Season 1 - 2 (live action show)

The Book of Boba Fett (live action show)

The Mandalorian Season 3 (live action show)

Ahsoka (live action show)

The Force Awakens (movie)

The Last Jedi (movie)

The Rise of Skywalker (movie)

The Acolyte (live action show)

* Please note that this viewing order is biased. I have excluded the animated shows Resistance and Visions. I didn’t enjoy either so I don’t recommend when watching. And since neither has proved itself pertinent to the Star Wars timeline, at the moment, they are not necessary to understanding the universe.

Option Four: The Live Action Shows

You've seen all 11 movies and now you want to jump into the live action shows. The live action shows build off the information provided in the movies and deep dive into certain eras. These eras are split into two: the Empire era and the post-Empire era.

The Obi Wan Kenobi show and the Andor show take place during the Empire era. The former has one season (it may have a future season but this hasn't been confirmed and the first season ends on a conclusive note). The latter has a second and final season that will be premiering either this year or next.

The Kenobi show is perfect for Obi Wan lovers who want to know what happened to him after Order 66. This explores Obi Wan's grief, his relationship with the twins, and his own encounters with his old apprentice.

The Andor show is perfect (my favorite of all the live actions) for those who want to get into the "dark side" of the Rebellion. Building off the less-than-ethical means of fighting we were introduced to in Rogue One, Andor continues this exploration of rebellion and the means required to fight against a fascist government. This is slower paced and darker but it's one of those shows that you have to rewatch because the little hints scattered throughout make more sense on a rewatch (and, if you're like me, it makes it even more exciting).

Now, if you want to know what happened during the post-Empire era--the era when the New Republic existed and prior to its eventual collapse to the First Order--then The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka are the shows for you. These three shows are interconnected. Pay attention to the watching order below.

The Mandalorian relies on information and characters explored in both The Clone Wars (animated show) and Rebels (animated show). However, you can understand its storyline fairly well without these shows as background. You might have to do some research, though, especially when it comes to the third season. The third season lacks background information and expects you to know its major players from prior knowledge.

The Book of Boba Fett is to be watched immediately after The Mandalorian Season 2 and before Season 3. It's one season and most likely, due to the backlash it received, will not have a second season. Warning: If you're a big fan of cold-blooded, bounty hunter Boba Fett, this show will disappoint. Lower your expectations.

The Ahsoka show builds off the two previously stated shows but is also heavily influenced by Rebels (animated show). If you do not watch Rebels, you will need to do some extensive research on characters and plot lines in order to understand the main objective of the show.

Watching order:

The Mandalorian Season 1 - 2 (live action show)

The Book of Boba Fett (live action show)

The Mandalorian Season 3 (live action show)

Ahsoka (live action show)

Option Five: The Animated Shows

The animated shows are the spine to Star Wars. They provide so much information, character development, and plot explanation for the Clone War and Empire era.

The Clone Wars (2008 animated show) is one of the most popular pieces in Star Wars media. It has seven seasons and it follows the storylines of both Jedi and the clone troopers who fought alongside the Jedi. It's a devastating show but the characters introduced and explored are complex. If you want to watch this show, I would recommend watching the dreaded The Clone Wars movie before. It's not necessary to viewing but it does introduce the main characters of The Clone Wars. If you decide to skip it (totally understandable), I would read a summary on it. The later seasons (seasons 3 - 7) are much darker, more intense, and more heartbreaking. If you're struggling to enjoy the first two seasons, push through to the third (or skip to the third). That's where the story really starts and, if you don't like that season, then you can dip out knowing that it's not the show for you.

The Bad Batch just concluded a few months ago and it's well-lauded like The Clone Wars. It's set immediately after Order 66 and its follows a group of rogue clones as they find purpose and make their own life during a fraught time period when they're being hunted down. If you like the clones and want more clone-centric content, then this show is the perfect follow-up to TCW. (It also stars Omega--a young girl who grows into herself and steals your heart.)

Finally, Rebels takes place in the Empire era as well. Some of its characters are seen in TBB. Unlike TCW and TBB, Rebels gets a bad rep for its poor animation and its kiddish tendencies. The first two seasons, especially, are difficult to watch. However, the last two seasons are much more mature and the storyline becomes intense. The final season is one of the strongest single seasons Star Wars has produced. This show follows a found family of rebel fighters trying to make a small difference in the galaxy and whose Jedi members become responsible for more than they were expecting. It's emotional and it's affecting future Star Wars projects, especially upcoming live action storylines. If you choose to skip Rebels, I would watch the final season or read an extensive summary on it in order to understand what's coming.

Your watching order:

The Clone Wars Movie (animated movie)

The Clone Wars (2008) (animated show)

The Bad Batch (animated show)

Rebels (animated show)

Option Six: The Live Action + Animated Shows

You've watched all the movies and now you want to watch all the shows (excluding the three shows that I haven't seen/don't recommend). Watching the live action shows + the animated shows is the best way to immerse yourself in the Star Wars universe. And after you've watched the shows, then you can dive into the books (which provide even MORE information to the universe as a whole!).

Here is your watching order:

The Clone Wars Movie (animated movie)

The Clone Wars (2008) (animated show)

The Bad Batch (animated show)

Obi Wan Kenobi (live action show)

Rebels (animated show)

Andor (live action show)

The Mandalorian Season 1 - 2 (live action show)

The Book of Boba Fett (live action show)

The Mandalorian Season 3 (live action show)

Ahsoka (live action show)

The Acolyte (live action show)

There’s A LOT of media content with Star Wars right now. It can be very overwhelming! Let me know if you ever decide to get back into the fandom! Obviously it has its toxic sides but the fandom on Tumblr is fairly welcoming and kind. And if you have any questions, let me know. I’d be happy to talk :)