#i didn't like how it went down with sabine and the map

[diver5ion]

Ahsoka | Part Four: Fallen Jedi

[matan4il]

Daily update post:

This is what it looked like when a school bus with teenagers happened to find itself in an area being bombed by Hezbollah, in northern Israel the other day. The post says that these rockets evaded Iron Dome, but since this is an open area, it's more likely that ID simply didn't try to shoot it down, because it's only meant to intercept rockets it calculates will hit urban and residential areas.

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And THIS is what it looks like when a rocket that is supposed to be intercepted by Iron Dome gets past it (in the southern city of Ashkelon, pic from Oct 17):

And THIS is what it looks like when a rocket IS intercepted by Iron Dome, but there's always debris, and it has to fall somehwhere (pic from Ashkelon, from yesterday):

And today, a rocket barrage was launched at the northern city of Kiryat Shmona from Lebanon, a civilian building was hit directly, responsibility was claimed by Hamas. This is a reminder for ignorant people asking how can there be so many dead when Israel is fighting just one terrorist organization? Israel is fighting more than one, on more than one front.

The family of a Hamas senior has been smuggled out of Gaza to Egypt. This is not the first time we find out that people affiliated with Hamas get to leave Gaza. ANYONE putting pressure on Israel to surrender to an antisemitic, genocidal terrorist organization, needs to explain why is that better than putting pressure on Hamas to surrender and release all the hostages immediately, or on Egypt (or Qatar) to allow in Gaza civilians, and not just the people with connections to a terrorist organization.

I've been listening to a lot of interviews about the innovation that Israel has had to employ, in tackling the urban war challenges that Hamas has presented it with in Gaza, the likes of which I'm not familiar with in modern warfare, and in emergency medicine. As I was listening yesterday to the story of the recovery of a soldier, which seems no less than miraculous, it suddenly hit me, that no matter how much the world is publicly condemning us, the second they can, they will privately rush here to learn from us. Whether people will recognize it or not (and let's be real, the latter is more likely), a lot of lives will be saved all over the world, thanks to the experience and breakthroughs Israel is currently accumulating in these tragic times.

This is Aviad Halevi.

On Oct 7, he was at the Nova music festival, with two of his friends. Aviad had a chance to flee Hamas' carnage, but he chose to stay with a wounded friend instead. Aviad was corresponding with his family, and his dad decided to grab a weapon, and drive into this area, still very much controlled by the terrorists at that point, in order to save Aviad and his friends. In order to get to their location, the father had to shoot terrorists he encountered on his way, and he did make it, but only to find three bodies. He loaded them into the back of his truck, which might have possibly saved them from becoming 3 more of the corpses held hostage by Hamas.

The next vid features Sabine Taasa, who lost on Oct 7 her husband and their 17 years old son, Or. There's another vid where she talks about what her own family went through, how she found two of her sons bleeding, the youngest without his eye, and how Koren told her that the terrorists killed Gil, his dad, asking why didn't they kill him as well. I might post it separately later. In this video, she talks about the hand drawn map found on one of the terrorists killed by Gil before he was murdered himself. I heard other survivors of Hamas' massacre mention these maps, which instructed the terrorists on who lived where, and on who to target first. The survivors said these maps could be in the hands of Gazan terrorists only thanks to Palestinians from Gaza who used to work in Israel, and many talked about their deep sense of betrayal.

May all of the murdered's memories be a blessing.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[the-delta-42]

Master and Padawan 1

Master and Padawan

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Star Wars: Rebels A.U. The Jedi and the Republic never fell, Anakin didn't fall and Palpatine is dead. After Obi-Wan and Luke bring back a prisoner from Malachor, the Council must decide what they must do with Maul’s captured Apprentice.

Chapter 1: Apprentice

Sabine quietly watched Master Kenobi return from a mission. She’d taken to hiding in the hanger to get away from the others, some thought the Council had made a mistake, as her skills with the force were practically non-existent.

It didn’t help that most of her peers were practical prodigies, especially the Skywalker twins. Personally, Sabine thought Master Allie chose her out of pity. She’d hoped that Caleb would choose her when he was knighted, but he’d just gone out on mission after mission.

“Did you hear?” Asked Dhara, making Sabine jump, “Sorry.”

“Hear what?”

“Master Kenobi and Luke fought Darth Maul, they managed to capture his apprentice.” Dhara pointed to a boy around their age being escorted off the ship in force-suppression cuffs, “I heard he took Luke’s hand off.”

“So, Luke retaliated with going for his eye?”

“Looks like it.”

A group of Temple Guards took the boy from the Clones.

“Wanna try and listen in on the Council meeting?” Asked Dhara, getting a smirk from Sabine.

“Does Tatooine have two suns?”

MAP

Mace frowned at the boy in the centre of the Council chamber. He took note of the wounds that had obviously been deliberately disrupted, almost as he had been trying to inflict as much pain to himself as possible.

“Where are you from?” Asked Master Ti, trying to coax answers from the boy, “Maul would’ve picked you up from somewhere.”

The boy sneered and said something is Togruta that Mace felt didn’t need repeating, Shaak Ti slumped back in her seat, a look of astonishment covering her face.

“That,” Said Plo Koon, after a moment, “was unnecessary.”

The boy just scowled at Plo. Anakin was outright glared at the boy.

“Your name,” Said Master Yoda, after a moment, “Tell us, will you?”

The boy scowled at the diminutive Jedi, “Discipulus.”

“I doubt that’s your birth name.” Objected Master Rancisis, frowning.

The boy glared at him, getting a sigh from Master Billaba.

“You’re features match the description of a young boy who was kidnapped from Lothal, Ezra Bridger.” The boy glared at Depa.

“That’s not my name!” Snarled the boy, Anakin frowned at the small quiver of fear from the boy.

“Maul kidnapped you after murdering your parents.” Said Obi-Wan, “No doubt after he sensed how strong you are with the force.”

“He’s not coming, kid.” Stated Anakin, “He could’ve intercepted the ship you were being transported in. He’s written you off.”

“You’re lying.”

“Search your feelings.”

The boy was silent, before summoning Anakin’s lightsaber, he ignited the blade and went to strike Anakin, before he froze. Anakin looked around, noting that none of the masters were holding him still with the force. Anakin stood up and slowly walked up to the boy, quietly holding out his hand. A moment later, Anakin’s lightsaber was deactivated and in Anakin’s palm.

“Master Koon, if you could guide Ezra to the Halls of Healing.” Said Master Windu, getting a nod from Plo.

“Come, young one.”

The remaining Council members silently watched Plo and Ezra leave.

“You think he can be trained.” Said Master Windu, looking at Yoda.

“Strike down, an unarmed enemy, he could not.” Said Yoda, looking around, “Not yet fallen, he is.”

“What about Padawan Skywalker’s hand?” Asked Coleman Kcaj, leaning forward.

“Maul was responsible for that, not the boy…Ezra.” Said Obi-Wan, leaning forwards, “He’s a bit rough around the edges, but he’s rather skilled in both the force and lightsaber combat.”

“But, he’s more likely to use the dark side.” Interjected Master Mundi, getting a nod from Mace.

“If he’s left untrained, we’d practically be inviting trouble.” Said Depa, “It’d be like leaving meat out to dry.”

“Perhaps we can arrange for a test of his skills and decide from there.” Suggested Anakin, “Have him spar with some learners around his age?”

“He managed to disarm Luke when they duelled on Malachor.” Objected Obi-Wan, leaning forwards, “Maul’s taught him several forms of combat, but he’s solely focuses on aggression, like Maul.”

“Learned nothing, Maul has, hmm?” Chuckled Yoda, before levelling a look on Obi-Wan, “Capture him, how did you?”

Obi-Wan sighed, “I managed to wear him down, and disarm him.”

“Where did he get a lightsaber?” Asked Windu, “We’ve kept track on every lightsaber from every Jedi that fell in the past seventeen years.”

“He was using one of Palpatine’s,” Answered Obi-Wan, “He also had Master Koth’s lightsaber. Evidently, he kept his after he left the order.”

Yoda frowned, “A training saber, he will have.”

“If we were to perform this test, it would be wise to prevent any further injuries.” Mused Master Mundi, glancing around the room.

MAP

Leia and her friends had all but jumped at the chance to duel Maul’s Apprentice, Luke had told them that the Apprentice hadn’t removed his hand. Dhara smirked and twirled her lightsaber in her hand, nudging Sabine.

“Maybe he’ll be easy.” Smirked Dhara, making Master Skoll’s padawan, Shin Hati, roll her eyes and scoff.

“Please, he disarmed Skywalker, and he’s one of the best in our class.” Stated Shin, as Master Koon guided the Apprentice into the sparring hall.

“Padawan Skywalker,” Said Plo, looking at Leia, “if you could take Ezra to pick out a saber.”

Leia nodded, before gesturing the Apprentice, Ezra, to follow her.

The two were examining the sabers, when Galen arrived.

“Is the Sith still here?” He asked, getting a nod from Shin.

“He’s over there.” Galen saw Ezra with Leia.

“Great.”

The murmuring was interrupted by a lightsaber igniting, Ezra stared at the yellow blade, entranced by it.

“You act like you’ve never seen a yellow lightsaber before.” Remarked Leia, getting a nod from Ezra.

“I thought there were only two colours.” Murmured Ezra, swaying the blade.

Leia felt a swell of pity well at the tone of Ezra’s voice. Ezra deactivated the lightsaber and moved to the centre of the room.

“Marek, you’re up.” Said Cin Drallig, gesturing for the boy to draw his lightsaber, “And remember to activate the training setting.”

Galen flushed, but drew his lightsaber. Ezra recognised the stance, his master had used it when training him, he’d found it was easier to avoid the blade rather than block it.

Ezra side stepped the swing, before activating his lightsaber and swung it as Galen’s back. Galen blocked and rolled behind Ezra, swinging his saber at Ezra’s legs. Jumping away, Ezra used the force to push Galen away from him.

Galen gasped when he hit the floor, then jumped to his feet and swung at Ezra with a yell. Ezra side stepped again and struck Galen’s back with his saber, making Galen fall to the floor with his back with a feeling of pins and needles dancing across his back.

Drallig frowned, He recognised some lightsaber forms, a mix of forms four through seven, Ezra looked like he was acting from muscle memory.

“Leonis, Wren.”

Sabine and Dhara slowly approached Ezra, the former staying behind the latter. Dhara swung her blue blade at Ezra, who blocked and then parried it. Ezra scowled, grabbing Dhara’s wrist and threw her to the side. Ezra then swung his weapon at Sabine, the force of his blow sent her weapon flying out of her hands. Ezra threw Sabine into the wall, blocking Dhara’s blade, he grabbed her wrist and threw her at Sabine.

Leia and Shin lunged at him in unison, he weaved between them, kicking Shin in the back and focused on Leia. The two stalked around each other, before swinging at each other. Leia blocked Ezra’s strikes, stonewalling him. Shin went to swing at him, Ezra ducked and countered. Quickly twisting Shin’s lightsaber out of her grip, he used the force to lift her into the air, before throwing her at Leia. She dodged the unconventional projectile and dashed towards Ezra, ducking under his blade and slipping behind him. She pressed her back against his and stayed behind him whenever he tried turn to face her.

“Stop that!” Growled Ezra, as Leia danced away from him and rapt his arm with her lightsaber.

Ezra grunted, taking the saber in his non-dominant hand and swung at Leia. Ezra’s started to wildly wave his saber, only for Leia and grab his arm and pull the lightsaber out of his hand. Leia held her blade at Ezra’s throat.

“Yield?” Asked Leia, coyly cocking her head.

Ezra breathed heavily, glancing around, Shin and Dhara were stumbling to her feet, the latter grabbing Sabine and pulling her up, Galen winced as he stretched his back.

“I yield.” Grumbled Ezra, glaring at the floor.

Drallig and Koon shared a look, Maul had obviously focused on lightsaber combat, with only basic force techniques to supplement them. They also sensed that Ezra was trying to force himself use the dark side.

“Ezra.” Said Plo, getting Ezra’s attention, “It’s time to return to the council.”

Ezra huffed, before following Master Plo.

“That was fun.” Smirked Leia, getting an eye roll from Shin.

“Only because you were flirting with him.” Snarked the Padawan, getting a swipe from Leia.

MAP

Caleb frowned as his master led him to the Council chambers, she’d asked him to meet with her, when he tried to get more information from her, but she’d been aggravatingly vague. They met up with Master Koon and a boy around the age of sixteen or seventeen, who looked unhealthily thin and had little sleep.

Depa nodded to Plo, before they entered the Council Chambers.

Caleb walked to the centre of the room, with the boy standing near the door.

“Knight Dume,” Greeted Master Windu, “I am sure that you, like everyone else, have heard of Master Kenobi and his Padawan encountering Darth Maul and an apprentice on Malachor.”

“I have, Master.”

“It’s been decided by the Council that he will finish his training in the Jedi Arts.” Continued Windu, “He showed restraint when facing Master Kenobi, Padawan Skywalker and the Clones that had gone with them to Malachor.”

Caleb felt a heavy weight in his stomach, “Okay, Masters, but why are you telling me?”

Depa sighed, “Caleb, it’s been agreed that you would be the best match for him.”

“No offence, Master, I haven’t even trained a Padawan before, surely there’s someone more qualified.”

“Dume,” Said Master Mundi, leaning forwards, “you were chosen because training the boy will also aid you in your trials as a Jedi Knight.”

Caleb clenched his jaw, “Alright, where can I find this boy?”

Master Plo gently ushered Ezra forwards, “This is Ezra, the boy we’ve been telling you about.”

Caleb looked down at the boy, judging from the looks of him, he couldn’t be older than fifteen or sixteen, he had two parallel scars on his left cheek and diagonal scar that went from his right cheekbone to just above his left eyebrow, it looked like someone tried to take his eyes out.

Caleb sighed through his nose and folded his arms, “Okay, I’m assuming he’ll be coming with me to Ryloth.”

“Master Skoll and his Padawan will be accompanying you,” Said Windu, “as to give Ezra an example of the relationship between a master and their Padawan.”

Caleb frowned, then nodded. Glancing at Ezra, “Does he have a lightsaber?”

“We’ve yet to take him to Ilum.” Responded Windu, glancing around, “Tano and Skywalker will be going to Lothal, in the hopes they can find Knight Shan’s lightsaber.”

Caleb nodded again, turning to Ezra, “You know why we’re going?”

Ezra shook his head.

“Senator Cham Syndulla’s been experiencing some violent protests.” Said Caleb, “We’re to go and bring him and his aides to Coruscant.”

Ezra hesitantly nodded, before Caleb turned on his heel and walked out. Ezra glanced at Plo Koon, who ushered him after Caleb. The boy hesitantly followed the Jedi Knight, leaving the Council chamber.

Plo looked around the rest of the Council, “Maul trained him in various lightsaber forms, but his use of the force is limited to pushes and basic levitation.”

Anakin glanced at Obi-Wan, “You said there were others.”

“A number of former Jedi,” Confirmed Obi-Wan, frowning, “I found one of the Temple Guards, Rakesh Thanos, as well as Thora Ratal and Falen Korr.”

“They vanished after the end of the Clone War.” Mused Plo, glancing around, “I assumed they were killed during the siege of the Temple.”

“Their bodies were never recovered,” Anakin pointed out, frowning, “Then again, neither was Ventress’.”

“We may need to check our list of the dead.” Suggested Mace, looking at Shaak Ti, “I am right in assuming Madam Jocasta still keeps those lists.”

“I’ll speak with Master Che,” Answered Shaak, “Master Jocasta’s stepping down from her position as head archivist, we’ve yet to select her replacement.”

Mace frowned, before glancing around the council, “I suppose we have a lot of work to do then.”

“I’ll make my way to the Archives,” Said Obi-Wan, getting to his feet, “I’ll make my way around Jocasta’s staff and bring back a short list.”

“I suppose I should use this time to visit the Halls of Healing.” Mused Shaak Ti, joining Obi-Wan on his feet, “I wouldn’t want to imply that Obi-Wan is the only one of us working.”

Mace nodded, “Skywalker, take Plo and Kit to the restricted section, maybe Palpatine’s effects can produce a list or something that can expand our knowledge on our…missing members.”

Anakin nodded, leaving the Council Chamber with Kit and Plo. Mace glanced around the Chamber, before getting to his feet, “I suppose we should return to our other duties.”

MAP

Maul threw the Grand Inquisitor against the wall, three other Inquisitors were scatter around tending to their injuries, while another six were lay dead.

“All you had to do,” Seethed Maul, “was keep Kenobi away from my Apprentice.”

“The boy-” Coughed The Grand Inquisitor, “was weak.”

Maul sneered, before grabbing the Inquisitor’s lightsaber, “And yet, he was still able to defeat you.”

“You, you have another.” Wheeze the Inquisitor, getting another sneer from Maul.

“Perhaps.” Said Maul, “But, remember, Inquisitor, Offee failed me, and you know what happened to her.”

Maul threw the Inquisitor to the floor and stalked away from him, leaving the four surviving Inquisitors to wallow in their failures.

[tarisilmarwen]

Ahsoka "Far Far Away" Liveblog

*vibrating out of my seat*

Oh boy oh boy oh boy.

I gotta do this one early, no way I can stay unspoilered for long.

EDIT: Welp, with everything going on in realspace for me right now, I wound up not being able to watch this for a while. Still mostly unspoilered.

Let's go.

Oooh whale calls in the intro here.

Oooooooooooh hyperspace POV from the purrgil and it's shiiiiiiiinnyyyyyyyyy.

But it makes sense that hyperspace looks different for purrgil, they're creatures that can access it naturally.

Ahsoka fondly remembering Huyang's stories, aww.

Ahsoka like: "Hmm... Sabine may have traded the safety of the galaxy for a boy. Disturbing." I MEAN SHE'S NOT A JEDI, AHSOKA, KIND OF HARD TO MAKE THE JEDI CHOICE WHEN YOU'VE BARELY BEEN PROPERLY INSTRUCTED.

ALSO SHE'S BEEN THROUGH SOME SHIT.

ARE YOU REALLY THAT SURPRISED SHE MADE THE ATTACHMENT CHOICE?

I meant to talk about this in a separate post but I'll go ahead and do it here. I see the Anakin/Padme parallels, but I'm going to argue that it's not the same situation.

Let's leave aside the fact that she couldn't actually destroy the map with her dinky little blaster, as demonstrated by Baylan needing sustained contact with a lightsaber to cleave it in half, and the fact that Sabine is not a Jedi (despite her meager training in it) and simply can't Fall like Anakin can, the deal offered by the Dark Side character isn't the same.

Palpatine's thing was "Serve me and betray your friends and family and kill anyone who stands in my way for me. Do everything I say and I will help you save your wife." He demanded full and utter loyalty in exchange for a false promise--he didn't have the power to stop Padme from dying. Anakin hated himself for it but threw himself into it completely due to his massive mental Sunk Cost Fallacy, so yes, he doomed the galaxy because of his attachment. He personally went and slaughtered the Jedi for Palpatine, including children, and spent twenty four years crushing rebellions and being a menace.

Sabine on the other hand... handed back a map that pointed THATAWAY and allowed herself to be taken prisoner, surrendering in the hopes that she could go retrieve Ezra from his marooned state. Yes, trusting Baylan at his word could have gone very badly. Yes this carries the risk of Thrawn being able to come back and menace the galaxy. But do you think for one second Sabine was just going to let that happen, after she got what she wanted and found Ezra?

Obviously they're going to team up to stop him now. They're going to fight back to try and correct Sabine's mistake. This is less Anakin's choice in Palpatine's office and more Luke running off to Bespin--the wrong choice that brought about severe and messy consequences, but that the heroes worked through and managed to turn around.

Yes, Sabine made the attachment choice. Was it the right choice, the smart choice, the Jedi choice? No. But it was the necessary choice for the story. It was the choice that meant Ezra could come home, like he wanted. It was the choice that unsealed the Sealed Evil In A Can, yes, but also the choice that possibly lets them put that evil down for good.

Siding with Palpatine absolutely doomed the galaxy. But surrendering to Baylan only might doom the galaxy.

Sabine had to take that chance.

Anyway... Ahsoka acknowledging that she should have been better about teaching Sabine Jedi mentality.

"Perhaps, for Sabine, it was the only choice." See, Huyang agrees with me.

"A choice she made for herself." "That is your fear." *DIES IN AHSOKA'S ANAKIN ISSUES* OF COURSE THAT'S HER FEAR, SHE SAW WHAT THAT KIND OF SELFISHNESS DID TO ANAKIN SHE SAW HOW HE WOULD BURN DOWN THE GALAXY TO PREVENT HIMSELF FROM EXPERIENCING LOSS, THAT'S WHY SHE CHOSE TO INDULGE SABINE AND TRAIN HER AS SOMEONE BARELY FORCE SENSITIVE, AS SOMEONE WHO COULD NEVER FALL LIKE ANAKIN COULD.

SHE WAS SO, SO AFRAID TO CAUSE ANOTHER ANAKIN. BUT SHE DIDN'T PROPERLY TEACH SABINE THE PHILOSOPHY, THE MINDSET, THE EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE THE SHADOW OF ANAKIN'S TRAINING STILL HAMPERED HER.

She didn't know what else she had to pass on besides combat skills, and some basic, "Be open." That's why she needed the Force Vision. She needed Anakin to tell her she was more, she could be more, teach more, than just what he taught her.

*sobs*

HUYANG TELLING THE STORIES.

Sabine just kind of chilling in her cell lol. Her snark is a much needed return to form.

She's starting to think Baylan's going back on his word, I bet. So now is when she breaks herself out right?

Morgan is unamused by Baylan's promise lol.

So I guess that's how intergalactic travel looks in hyperspace. Cool.

Ancient Dathomiri homeworld, cool, cool. This was a bit of Legends canon I think, the first Dathomirians came from outside the galaxy. Apparently this info was in the Jedi archives. Not surprising Cal didn't know it though, he was practically a baby during the Clone Wars, certainly not old enough to tell Merrin.

People seem to think Merrin should have known? But it was so long ago it should just be legends now.

Anyway, I like this, this is cool.

D: NOOOO DON'T DIE, WHALES.

That's really creepy.

Ngl, every time Shin looks at Sabine I get the heebies.

Big ol' weird Force culture statues, nice.

Giving off Bene Gesserit vibes here.

Ahhh, we knew it! It was the ancient Nightsisters calling to Morgan, not Thrawn specifically.

Not to brag, but I called that something Force-related was behind the siren song Morgan was hearing.

Aaaaaaaaand that would be the extent of Sabine's interactions with Shin and Baylan and Morgan this episode won't it? Lolol.

Love the creepy dark fortress.

Starting to think maybe Baylan was in on the plot to maybe get access to this place?

Oh is Shin going to get some actual character, finally?

Baylan echoing less charitable views of the cycle of conflict in Star Wars. This speech sounds like it could have been lifted directly from the most rancid Anti-Jedi YouTuber videos. Or Kreia. Screw that bitch.

(JUST BECAUSE THE FORCE MIGHT REQUIRE SOMETHING FROM YOU OCCASIONALLY DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE FREE WILL YOU TEMPER-TANTRUM-THROWING NIHILISTIC ASS.)

I can't help but feel like making this the villain's motivation was a deliberate choice lol. Okay Filoni. You get some rights for now.

And there's Sabine wising up to her own actions? Maybe?

*narrows eyes* She better not be able to open that door.

Oh good it's just a ship arriving.

Ho ho ho the Chimaera ain't looking so hot. Clearly been patchwork repaired, rusty. NICE.

THE ORGANS! THRAWN'S THEME!

Suggestions of it at least.

WELL THESE STORMTROOPERS ARE CREEPY AS HELL.

WHO THE HECK?

THERE HE IS THE BLUE MAN HIMSELF!

HELLLOOOOOOOOO THRAWN. :D

Oh man the gutteral sounds. These troopers are like orcs practically with how they sound.

Typing starting to get slowed down, must be coming to the bullet point limit, hang on, let me line break so I can type more quickly.

That's better. (This is still asinine, BTW.)

This whole sequence is super creepy.

Lars Mikkelson be killing it.

Emptying out the catacombs? Ohh ho what is this now?

Thrawn recognizes who Baylan is.

Aaaaand is VERY interested in the fact that Sabine's there.

Oh man, I'm really feeling how this should have been animated, Lars's face is throwing me a little. I mean it's a perfectly fine face, just trying to reconcile the voice coming from it.

AAAAAAAAAHHH SQUEEEEEEE!

Sabine still on about, "Where's Ezra?" And Thrawn is like, "Yeah, you down bad for him girl."

HHNNNNNGGHH THIS IS SUCH A GOOD SCENE.

Thrawn being so polite and cordial and honorable, allowing Sabine to go after Ezra, probably figuring there's no way she can stop him.

"You really doomed the galaxy for a BOY didn't you?" says Thrawn, in essence, and I lol.

Sabine is so stubbornly Mandalorian about all of this lol.

Rat doggo. Okay. Weird looking booger.

Looks like it could be a Loth-Wolf ancestor, maybe.

Well you were supremely blunt, Enoch.

That guarded hope in her smile, aaaaaaahhh.

THRAWN OUT HERE PLAYING TECHNICALITIES WITH BAYLAN'S PROMISE LOLOL WHAT AN ASS.

(PS Ezra got to be a thorn in Thrawn's side as both of them deserved. :D)

I kinda feel like we shouldn't rely so much on beskar as super power special metal, it's okay to let her get a little hurt here.

Also would be nice if the lightsabers could be a little stabby.

Is this a rating issue, can't get too violent for the show's rating?

Okay! Do we get to see what we're loading into the Chimaera now?

...Looooooooooooks a little disturbingly like coffins.

THRAWN SENT THE MERCENARIES TO INTERCEPT HER OH THAT ASS.

He is deliberately sabotaging her chances.

Nice GFFA galaxy map. :)

Morgan: "Shouldn't we sent more guys to support Baylan?" Thrawn: (looooooooong pause) "During this exile our numbers have dwindled."

CONFIRMATION THAT EZRA HAS BEEN MAKING HIMSELF A PAIN IN THE ASS Y/Y?

Lol and Thrawn doesn't wanna deal with Baylan and Shin either, he's had enough of Jedi bullshit.

"You abandoned me!" OUCH. That feels like it's some personal feelings coming out.

Natasha nailing Sabine here.

Lol what is this? Crab people?

It's ugly cute.

LOL RAT DOGGO WANTS TO EAT IT.

THE CRAB RECOGNIZES THE REBEL ALLIANCE SYMBOL ON HER PAULDRON.

AAAAAAHHHHHHH EZRA HAS SHOWN THEM THE ALLIANCE SYMBOL. HE CARVED A LITTLE PENDANT FOR THE LITTLE GUY AWWWWWWW.

Rat doggo perks up like the other crab people are a full on buffet lolololol.

OHHHHHH OH I JUST REALIZED.

SABINE IS TANKING THRAWN'S SABOTAGE WITH THE POWER OF CONNECTION.

Gosh, she really is Ezra's soulmate isn't she?

THEY KNOW EZRA. THEY KNOW HIM.

LOLOL RAT DOGGO STILL LOOKS LIKE IT WANTS TO EAT THE CRABS.

Love all the substance we're getting out of Baylan here.

Also totally knew that Shin was a feral Forcie Baylan just found.

Aaaaand people are going to take Baylan's line here as some kind of confirmation that there's an extragalactic threat that Thrawn is trying to prep the galaxy for THAT IS NOT WHAT IT SAYS IN CONTEXT HE IS MERELY CONFIRMING THE UNIMAGINABLE POWER HE SEEKS IS PROBABLY HERE.

Lol, Baylan copping to the notion that Thrawn doesn't trust him and not trusting him or his lackeys back ha ha ha.

This sequence with the crab people is... not gonna lie, a smidge similar to one of my Sabezra Week fics. I kinda dig that.

I AM TRYING NOT TO GNAW MY HAND OFF GHGHGHGKJHAKJDFH THIS IS IT I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

"I knew I could count on you."

GHGHGHGADKJSFHAK FGFFFFFFFFFFFF FHLKJHAKSJH.

FRICK I MIGHT CRY.

Not digging the beard lol. Shave that off Ezra.

FRICK THAT SMILE.

I AM UNWELL.

SORRY, THIS MOMENT IS UNDOING ME.

And again, c'mon tumblr this is stupid.

Some people have quibbled about the bantering but honestly the bantering is very Them, though I would have appreciated it AFTER the hug.

They are gonna hug yes?

EMAN IS PERFECT OH MY GOSH.

FRRRRRRRIIIIIICCCCCCCCCKKK.

THE HUG.

THE REUNION HUG.

THANK YOU THIS IS ALL I WANTED.

I WON'T GET OVER THIS FINALLY YESSSSSSSSSS.

DAMNIT I CAN'T.

I WAITED SO LONG FOR THIS.

THEY HUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGEEEEEED!

EZRA'S THEME PLAYING OUT.

She has to keep touching him to make sure he's real I AM UNWELL.

Oh boy there gonna be ANGST when Sabine has to tell Ezra how she found him. Looking forward to that.

"Sabine... thanks for coming. I can't wait to go home." AWWWWWWW.

Lol Lars letting just a liiiiiiiitle bit of unease into his expression there.

And of course wanting to know all about Ahsoka to prepare himself.

And telling them to shoot on sight for purrgil lololol do we have bad memories?

Thrawn enlisting the proto-Nightsisters for something else, cool

WHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

I might compile more thoughts later, there were some issues I had with the slow pace and a couple acting things. Not from Eman or Natasha of course, they were great.

BUT I GOT THE REUNION I WANTED. I'M GOING TO ROLL IN THAT FOR A WHILE.

Watch for incoming posts. I am going to be FEASTING.

[qvnthesia]

AHSOKA Ep4: "Fallen Jedi" thoughts

(considering how i'm already losing my mind it's only by the Will of the Force™ that i'm able to type this with whatever that's left of my sanity)

the way seatos' aesthetic always slays >>>>

(god how i wanna live my shadow phase there)

THE WAY HUYANG JUST BITCHSLAPPED THAT DROID FROM AN EXTENSION BEHIND HIS HEAD LMFAO??!

love it every time when ahsoka ignites her sabers, especially when huyang powered down that ship.

shin's subtle cloak drop 👀

lightsaber duels were FERAL this episode

lmao marrok disintegrating into dust and just obliterating all other fan theories about his identity. though, the dust was green in shade, similar to the nightsisters one 👀

"anakin spoke highly of you." "funny, he never mentioned you." dead.

GODDAMN BAYLAN BOI YOU COLDBLOODED AS FUCK

the way the dialogues continue to slay >>>

CARSON TEVA YAY!

okay hera sweetie I love you but bringing a 10-year-old to a potential warzone isn't such a good idea—

CLAN WREN IS DEAD??? WEREN'T THEY ALIVE IN REBELS?? WTF HAPPENED

i'm mad at sabine for giving up the map but i understand her decision so i got mixed feelings about the outcome lol — though it goes to show how much layered she is, which is what I've always loved about her

my writer mind wants more information about peridea and the hyperspace coordinates

am i sensing something between shin and sabine? yes. am i interested? VERY MUCH 👀

here's reaction to when the hyperspace ring leaves 😭 she's just so fuckjng devastated

"i've got a bad feeling about this" 😭😭😭

and seatos, which has an ENTRANCE TO THE WORLD BETWEEN WORLDS??

live action world between worlds is beautiful 😭😭

"hello snips" WHAT THE—

"anakin" THE DEAGING LMFAO hayden's always looked like a 30-year-old anakin to me, it's, like technology, a bit off. let's see how it looks in the next ep though.

*VADER'S THEME PLAYS* FILONI I CAN'T WAIT FOR ANOTHER WEEK MY LIFE IS SHIT GODDAMMIT THAT CLIFFHANGER IS EATING AT MY SOUL JSSHHSGSHAKAVXHEBSJABDHEJSNXUEKAOWOQOQOSOEHDEVHSJANWISNWKABZBEJAJSIWJWJSNWJAHZHAAJAJA

all-rounding questions to the ahsoka show (questions are also related to the sequels; respectfully asking, this ain't a place to bash them because I love the characters but also displeased with the writing and the way disney betrayed them):

jacen is a jedi and obviously luke and hera know each other, so he's going to train, right? or does hera decide something else for him considering kylo went on to destroy the temple?

are there any more details we can get about seatos considering it was settled by an extragalactic species and that it has an entrance to the world between worlds?

i hope we get to see bits of peridea; not much, but enough.

where's leia in all this? and luke? ik appearance isn't possible but a mention would be great.

would travel to peridea possibly create a rift in the galactic barrier of the known galaxy? there was some SERIOUS void-like cronau radiation trailing behind when the ship jumped to hyperspace 👀

how did clan wren d-word? and why didn't ahsoka trust sabine? was it with regards to physical or mutual support?

(more questions will be added later on)

hands down, ep4 is a gazillion out of 10 from me. as i've indicated, I am clearly very much dead, and will be back alive next week to scream more.

live reaction to seeing anakin:

[sizeable-star-wars]

Major Ahsoka Episode 1 and 2 Spoilers below.

This is my brief review of the first two episodes.

Ugh, Disney. For five minutes, can you not write formulaic, predicable stories. FOR FIVE MINUTES?!

I'll start off with things I like:

1) The Fan Service is strong with this one. Ahsoka is good, Rosario Dawson once again delivers a good performance. Having Hera featuring so heavily in it is great too, her actress does a good job. They even get a very good facsimily of Ezra, which was a nice bit. Hopefully they put him to good use.

2) The supporting cast have given good performances too. The male "Jedi?" seems cool, and his Apprentice is interesting. Though I predict she is going to change sides down the line. She just has that air about her.

3) The effects are good, on par with usual Star Wars. However some of the practical alien costumes are a bit... stunted. There's a Mon-Calamari officer at the start who can't seem to flex his lower arms or his fingers, just like the Rhodian guy in Book of Boba Fett.

4) Chopper is a highlight, a fun highlight 😄 You can tell what he's trying to say. Hopefully we get to see him commit more w*r cr*mes! 😄

5) The HK Droids are awesome. While they're not like our beloved HK-47, they are still decent side-adversaries.

Now for the things I don't like:

1) It is so, so predictable and formulaic. Ahsoka shows Sabine the show's first McGuffin device (more on that later) and tells her to stay put. Sabine did not stay put.

Sabine makes the McGuffin work, only for the enemy to show up and steal it. Things go bad. But luckily they left behind a clue for them to follow!

They go to the place, and surprise-surprise, people loyal to the bad guys are there! The bad guys escape, but not before a tracking beacon gets put on their ship!

It's just so formulaic and by the numbers. Andor didn't have this, I didn't predict much about that. This was entirely predictable, like they read a book on story tropes and just put it all in there!

2) Sabine gets stabbed through the stomach by a lightsaber. And she's fine! Totally fine after what, a day in hospital? No lasting injuries, no death, barely an inconvenience. First Reva (a literal child) and now Sabine. Poor Qui-Gon must be very grumpy after all these others surviving being stabbed! Her internal organs should be cooked! She should be dead!

But nope, Lightsabers just aren't what they used to be. Yet all those soldiers at the start die instantly from being slashed across the chest or arm. They forgot their plot armour!

3) The typical "Estranged Master and Student" thing with Ahsoka and Sabine. So predictable, they seem to do this all the time. They waste a good portion of time with them arguing or speculating about whether it's worth reuniting again. And they resolve that after two episodes, which is at least brief by most arcs.

4) The fight choreography isn't great. Not as bad as the Sequel Trilogy, but not great either. Gone are the days of the beautiful prequel fights. There's a point where Ahsoka is fighting the "Not Inquisitor" and is in a lightsaber bind with him, but one of her sabers is behind his. So she just had to flick it, and he's decapitated. Same goes for Sabine fighting the Apprentice. Very, very stunted and plenty of exploitable moments from both fighters. Sabine being out of practice, I can understand. But the Apprentice was giving her plenty of openings and also ignoring Sabine's lack of experience too.

That's my basic summary, I'm happy to discuss more with people who want to 😊

5) The McGuffin device! Yet another star map which leads to the person everyone is looking for! Just like Luke Jake Skywalker! How did they even know that was where he went? He got sent there by Ezra and the magical Hyperspace Whales! Did the Ancient Nightsisters forsee it somehow? Or did they know that the Hyperspace Whales would go there? Is that their home?

Disney, please stop with the McGuffin devices! Please, come up with something original! 😭

[antianakin]

I will try to elaborate a little on this, but please keep in mind this was written as kind-of half-joking, I am not religious at all (my mother's Catholic but never talked to me about religion nor did she take me to church or anything, I've been to church maybe like 3-4 times in my life and it was always in a language I do not speak and I was there under duress), so please take this explanation in the spirit it was originally meant.

Also, spoilers below the cut just to be safe.

Okay. So I think most people at this point are aware that Star Wars, especially the Jedi, is based on a LOT of Buddhist ideologies. A lot of things the Jedi talk about as their core beliefs are very very Buddhist in origin, things like mindfulness and non-attachment as two very specific examples. Star Wars sends the message that only when you truly understand yourself and your darkness can you have any hope of CONTROLLING that darkness.

One of the ways the Jedi choose to do this is through mindfulness, which at its bare bones just means to be aware of the emotions you are feeling and why so you can understand why you are reacting to things in certain ways and choose whether to act on it or not.

One of the other ways the Jedi do this is through non-attachment, which is more about understanding that everything in life is ephemeral, it doesn't last, and it's unnatural to try to KEEP things from changing simply because they make you feel good. This is true in numerous ways, from relationships with other people to connections to a particular item or place or an idea of how your future will look, etc. The Jedi work to accept that change is inevitable and almost EMBRACE change as a natural part of life so they can let go of the things they care about when it's time to do so rather than clinging on selfishly which does nothing but cause pain to yourself and others.

The non-attachment thing in particular seems to be a sticking point for a lot of people because it gets interpreted as "they can't ever love or care about anyone or anything." And so there's this pushback to sort-of insist that actually the Jedi SHOULD feel that strong connection, especially to a person, because that's just what love IS.

And the Ahsoka show suffers from that same problem. Instead of following the non-attachment message, it argues that actually you SHOULD burn a galaxy down for one person you love above all else because if you don't, you don't truly love them and you may in fact be an evil villain or an asshole. To be more specific, Sabine ends up with a map that leads to a galaxy that both Thrawn and Ezra might be in and the only way to use the map to find Ezra is to allow Thrawn's followers to also find HIM, which gives him the opportunity to come BACK to their galaxy and continue to wreak havoc and maybe even restart the Empire while the New Republic is just trying to rebuild itself. And instead of destroying the map so that NEITHER of them get what they want and Thrawn is kept far away, she gives the map to the bad guys on the condition that they bring her with them. Surprise surprise, Thrawn ends up coming back to the galaxy and is presumably going to restart the Empire.

Sabine is not EVER condemned for this choice. NOBODY censures her for it. In fact, Ahsoka tells her when they end up reuniting later that she's actually just going to support all of Sabine's choices from now on no matter what. Ahsoka had a conversation with someone else earlier where he defends Sabine's choice by saying that, while there would be no more Thrawn and no more Empire had she chosen to destroy the map, there'd also be no more Ezra, and Sabine may have felt like she didn't HAVE a choice. Ezra himself is never even TOLD about any of this, so how he might have responded to the fact that Sabine intentionally undid everything he sacrificed himself for all those years ago is left unknown, but given the way the rest of the show went, I assume he'd have been fine with it. There's even an implication at some point that it's fine that Sabine did this because the ultimate consequence was "meant to be" or something. That she was basically destined to make this choice, so it's not really her fault that she made it and she can't be held responsible for it or whatever.

And then there's the Anakin stuff and how Ahsoka never ever ever condemns Anakin for anything he does and completely forgives him by the end and acts like he never actually did anything wrong in his life at all. And it's clearly paralleled with the way she treats Sabine and the selfishness Sabine showcases and Sabine's relationship to Ezra and so there's the same element of predestination with Anakin's choices which removes all of his responsibility for the consequences of his choices. Ahsoka is choosing to just act like Anakin was a good person and none of the rest of it even matters.

And I dunno, it feels just... SO FAR from the Buddhist ideologies of non-attachment that Lucas intentionally wove into his own story with Luke and Anakin and Obi-Wan and Yoda. And it feels very reminiscent of more Christian ideas of like... loving one god above all and how "god has a plan for all of us" and all of that. The whole idea of like... if you ask for forgiveness from god once then all of your sins are now just... poof gone or whatever. Easy peasy.

There's also elements of trying to turn the Jedi into more like medieval knights than Buddhist monks, both visually and ideologically, and it just feels really sad and anti-Jedi to be taking this core element from them to turn them into something else. If I want medieval knights, I can get those anywhere. The Jedi felt more unique BECAUSE they were Buddhist monks in space. They're not cooler without that element, they're honestly 10x more boring.

So yeah, I could probably go on and on about why this show sucks and why it's anti-Jedi, but the joke about having "made it Christian" is me being kind-of facetious and trying to find a way to fit my feelings into this particular joke format.

Filoni: I have made the best Star Wars.

Pro Jedi fans: You fucked up a perfectly good space opera is what you did. Look at it. It's Christian.