#star wars: visionaries

[reyturnofbensolo]

Star Wars: Visionaries

[yojimbot13]

[unopenablebox]

🌸 is in raptures of romantic ardor because i suggested we read the thrawn trilogy together as a "besties activity"

[steampunkforever]

Looking back at the latest run of movies I've filmposted on, you might be tempted to think I'm only watching the good stuff these days. Let me dispel any thought that I've abandoned horrendous cinema as we tackle what I believe to be the reason George Lucas is the way he is: the Star Wars Holiday Special.

For the uninitiated (people who became Star Wars fans around the time the term "Reylo" was minted) let me set the stage. It's 1977, and the world has been changed by the arrival of Jedi to the silver screen. Lucas et al. can now afford more matte paintings than ever before, and are busy planning out the thrilling sequels to carry on the Star Wars saga ("Planning the Star Wars sequels" is a sentence that will not be uttered again in studio conference rooms until 2017, at which JJ Abrams will precede the sentence with the words "We will not be"). CBS approaches Lucas with a revolutionary concept: worldbuilding for the Star Wars universe by developing discrete self-contained stories through the medium of Television (the book of bobos, coming soon).

Lucas says yes, develops an allegedly solid script off his idea for an all-wookie movie, and then will not budge on his idea for a movie entirely focused on a species of alien that grunts with no subtitles. He's just put out one of the biggest movies to hit the screen ever, and furthermore is a man of great artistic vision. With Lucas at the helm this is set to be a hit.

Except Lucas needs to move studios to fit all the matte paintings he can now afford. So Lucas drops the story in the hands of the ever capable CBS and heads to the matte painting store, leaving them to find another director after the first guy quit after finishing the Jefferson Starship concert and "Bea Arthur sings at the Cantina" scenes.

Lucas' trust was, to be blunt, misplaced. CBS' finished cut was simply terrible (with the exception of a charming animated segment), and Lucas even offered to pay them to keep the abomination off air. They declined, but the Holiday Special was only aired once, at which point all copies were destroyed at Lucas' behest. At this point Lucas is at the top of his creative game and we haven't been subject to anything like Indiana Jones 4 yet, so you can imagine what a blow this is to the man who has yet to mastermind Jar Jar Binks.

Much like the preservation of HBO originals in the present day, the Holiday Special was only preserved and propagated through outright piracy, to the point that Holiday Special bootlegs became a known fandom trope. And so this week, for the second time in my life, I watched a rip of the Star Wars Holiday Special made somewhere around Baltimore on that fateful night in 1978, slotting in right before Wonder Woman. It was bad, yes, just not spectacularly so.

There is no question in my mind: The Star Wars Holiday Special killed George Lucas' directing career more so than the runaway success of the first movie.

In my writings on film, there runs a throughline (often utilizing Lucas as a prime example) that discourages sequels. I'll admit that this comes predominantly from my upbringing in a world of shared universes and IP sprawl, but it's a pretty agreed upon point that A) serialization only serves as a chance to tarnish an otherwise solid first film and B) new, discrete stories are more interesting. That said, sequels are not bad, and my analysis of Star Wars does not lay blame on the fact that we got to see what happened after the Yavin Award Ceremony.

You see, beyond being bad, The Holiday Special taught Lucas all the wrong things with its failure. Artistic control is paramount, yes, but what his experience with CBS taught Lucas was that in order to secure his legacy, he had to chain himself to the Carbonite slab that was Star Wars and micromanage it for the rest of his life to ensure the world he'd created would maintain the quality he intended for it.

Looking at the state of Star Wars in the years after Lucas cut the series loose, I don't think this was an incorrect statement, but a singular devotion to guiding his store-brand Flash Gordon empire is what led to a 22 year hiatus between directorial efforts. Even after this, as much as I personally find the prequels to be misunderstood, they lacked the same spark Lucas had, making me wonder what he could have put out in his most creatively charged years had he not lashed himself to the helm of a franchise that's abandoned most of the work he spent years tailoring to his vision in favor of Baby Yoda.

The Star Wars Holiday Special is truly what separates Lucas from Coppola. Without that harsh lesson in trusting Star Wars to someone else, Lucas might've focused on directing future projects of his own rather than managing those of people expanding his space wizard universe.

Or maybe if you'd swapped their places Coppola would have Don Corleone meet up with cheerful Gungan Jar Jar Binks.

Of course this is all conjecture. Lucas has put out some of his best work as a writer and story lead working on projects like Indiana Jones and Willow, but it's sad to see one of the most influential film workers in the world, whose work I truly admire, with only a half dozen directing credits despite having all the matte painting money he could ever desire to make passion project films. Coppola went broke, but at least 2/3rds of his filmography didn't get coopted to sell Disney streaming packages.

Then again if I'd just put out three revolutionary films in a row and then saw what CBS did with my high concept wookie script, maybe I wouldn't be seeing things so clearly.

We're about a dozen paragraphs too long for a filmpost on the Star Wars Holiday Special, so I'll wrap up now: I can't say I recommend it.

[kazieka]

starwar really really needs an r rated movie adn i should be the one to write it. we deserve to hear someone say fuck. non euclidean alien dicks. full frontal twi’lek. lightsaber injuries in all their cauterized bubbling-flesh gore and glory. someone call mark hamill i have an idea for a short film where luke skywalker goes to a planet where the whole planet is a strip club

[doublechocolate]

begging whoever is gonna write another star wars show or movie to please please get a functioning writer's room

[jewishcissiekj]

I feel so Thrawn when looking at Star Wars concept art. I could not beat Iain McCaig in a fight but I get it. I really do.

I do however absolutely believe I could beat George Lucas in a fight because he'd get scared if I shoved unused concept art into his face. Or just art of Women tbh.

[cheesenames]

#the only actual disney show id ever sign off to would be an animated padme series set during her time as a queen#with palpatine as an evil viseer. no overarching plot. just him getting foiled like yzma in emperors new grove#bc i mean thats their whole vibe. he missed 99% of all hits he took at padme#HORRIBLE stats for a guy who usually doesnt miss. and in fact not-missed so hard he brought down a religion by corrupting their messiah#and then reigned for 20 decades unrivalled until padmes kids came and kicked his ass (tags from @ozvezdja)

Palpatine never stops getting obliterated by Padmé his entire life. Like imagine you’re trying to do evil advisor political things and then there’s this child queen cutting you off at the pass every time. Oh okay no worries you try and assassinate her but then she gets even more politically adept and then seduces and marries the guy you’ve been working really hard to groom. Rats! But no problem, because now she’s dead and you’ve succeeded in making her husband into your metal fleshmachine murdersub but—SURPRISE! Turns out she’d been hitting that freakazoid raw during every wartime conjugal visit and now you’re getting your ass kicked by not one but TWO of her kids, which, given they both have 50% of her DNA, is like kind of like getting your ass kicked by a genetically combined total of 100% Padme Amidala. Crazy.

[quasi-normalcy]

What really stood out in watching Jenny Nicholson's review of the Star Wars hotel is just that...Disney really can't do *anything* right anymore, can it? Objectively one of the most successful corporations ever in history, got where it was through legitimately high-quality product, visionary engineering, and obsessive attention to detail, and now...they just can't do anything. Guess that's oligopoly for you.

[felassan]

Article from Bloomberg by Jason Schreier, under a cut due to length.

"New ‘Dragon Age’ Game Faced Turbulent Development The studio head of EA’s BioWare says ‘Dragon Age: The Veilguard’ received nothing but support from EA throughout its lengthy production cycle EA’s BioWare label hopes to find redemption with the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard Today we’re getting in-depth on the new Dragon Age game A new age for dragons In late 2020, when Gary McKay took over as studio head of BioWare, the Electronic Arts Inc. subsidiary best known for making big roleplaying games, the climate was dire. BioWare, which is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, had released two critically panned games and was facing turbulent development on a new one — while trying to cope with a worldwide pandemic. “We needed to shift how we were thinking about building our games,” McKay told me in a recent interview. BioWare, founded in 1995 and purchased by EA in 2007, had won over millions of fans with hit single-player RPG franchises such as Dragon Age and Mass Effect. But a 2017 entry called Mass Effect: Andromeda was widely panned, and the studio’s next game, the 2019 multiplayer shooter Anthem, flopped both critically and commercially. Both games had also gone through brutal development cycles that drove many BioWare veterans to exit the studio. At the end of 2020, studio boss Casey Hudson was planning to step down and called McKay to ask if he would take over. “We had a few conversations over the course of the next month around the people and the culture,” McKay said. BioWare’s next big project would be a new game in the popular fantasy Dragon Age franchise. But the game, which had been in development for years, was facing turmoil and had been rebooted from a single-player game into a live-service game with a heavy multiplayer component, which EA had been pushing across many of its subsidiaries in the late 2010s. Hudson, too, was interested in multiplayer games and had been the lead visionary on Anthem. Some employees jeeringly referred to the next Dragon Age as “Anthem with dragons,” which worried fans after I reported on the game at Kotaku. Enthusiasts of the series wanted another single-player game, not a repeat of BioWare’s biggest mistake. When he took over, McKay began to feel similarly. “We were thinking, ‘Does this make sense, does this play into our strengths, or is this going to be another challenge we have to face?’” McKay said. “No, we need to get back to what we’re really great at.” In the months that followed, McKay met with leadership across BioWare and EA and ultimately decided to reboot the next Dragon Age a second time, pivoting back to single-player."

The choice was obvious in many ways. Anthem had flopped while EA’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, a single-player action-adventure game, had sold more than 10 million copies, helping prove to the publisher that not all of its games needed to be online. BioWare games were popular because of their focus on character dialogue and player-driven narrative decisions, which did not mesh with multiplayer gaming. “Once we made that decision, a lot of things started to fall into place,” McKay said. In the years that followed, he would go on to consolidate more of the studio’s projects, shutting down an attempt to reboot Anthem and selling off the rights to the online game Star Wars: The Old Republic to a separate studio. The goal, McKay said, was “focus.” BioWare then spent the next three-and-a-half years developing what would become Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the fourth game in the franchise. Out this week, the game has received mostly positive reviews and so far topped charts, although EA has not yet revealed sales numbers. Some things went right during development. McKay said they “had the game end-to-end playable” earlier than any previous BioWare product, allowing them to spend extra time iterating. A reorganization at EA, which split the company into divisions called EA Games and EA Sports, allowed Dragon Age: The Veilguard to receive more support from internal teams that might otherwise be stretched thin, such as research and data insights groups. “That gave us an extra boost in terms of the support and focus from the company,” McKay said. But the development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard still faced plenty of obstacles. The pandemic led BioWare to shift to hiring remotely, which McKay said made for cultural challenges. The game slipped past its original target date, although McKay wouldn’t say how much extra time it needed. “I’m never going to call it a slip,” he said. And it went through significant scope changes over the course of development. Then, last summer, BioWare laid off 50 people, including veterans with decades of experience. McKay told me the reduction, which arrived during a period of widespread layoffs across the video-game industry, “was all about focus at that time.” “When you have a really large team, you’re always compelled to keep everybody busy all the time,” he said. “When you have a smaller team, you have the right people in the right roles at the right time, some incredible momentum is gained at that point.” The stakes are high for the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Fans and pundits have worried that a third failure in a row might have devastating results for BioWare. McKay wouldn’t comment on the specifics of what would make the game a hit in their eyes. But said he has felt supported by EA Entertainment & Technology President Laura Miele. The game is so important to BioWare’s future that the company brought in its second team, which has been incubating a new Mass Effect, to help out during the final stretch of development. The Mass Effect team played a major role in finishing and polishing Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Other companies across EA, such as its Motive studio in Montreal, also supported the game. Now, the company will look to see how players react to the next Dragon Age — and, McKay hopes, “bring BioWare back into the conversation as a top game studio.”

[source]

[paxarsenal]

Mutuality

A WaveWave (Soundwave x Shockwave) fanfiction I had sitting in my notes app since June.

I'm so normal about them ✍(◔◡◔) <(💜💙💜💙...) Spreading Wavewave propaganda all around!!!

~~~

Everything they’d established was mutual. Everything was temporary.

Yet…

Soundwave worked through long cycles at a time. Although Vehicons worked as equals with said con, they would often head out in herds and murmur amongst themselves, turning towards their higher upper in ignorant secrecy. “He wouldn’t go… Workaholic… Always so quiet…” They would say and leave, yet the communication officer didn’t care. He liked it alone. He… was alone.

Being alone wasn’t too bad as Cybertronians put it to be. Sure, all sentient beings such as humans are social creatures. Why wouldn’t a biological AI be? Soundwave scoffed in silence, amused by discussions of socializing and friends, some bot to lean onto. He has no need for that, but somehow in some way, he still felt empty.

Mega-cycles prior to the events of the Civil War, he was just a gladiator within the rings of Kaon. Almost besting even the then most notorious Megatrous, and as an ex-senator, he had ways to keep himself occupied. Soundwave was as loyal as Orion Pax to Megatrous. The latter would then become the last Prime and Megatron’s archenemy, but Soundwave saw the light Megatron envisioned and showed. The Decepticon saw himself as the only one deemed inseparable from the Decepticon cause and to Megatron until he was wrong.

Shockwave… was a newcomer and was immediately impressed by this visionary. He devoted himself to the cause with the knowledge of science at the back of his servo. He was of great use; easy to bond with if you were Megatron.

… If you were Megatron… or…

Soundwave found himself side to side with Shockwave when calculating the future events that would behold on their precious planet. They hardly talked. Well, Soundwave never did, but it seems as if Shockwave could read his thought processor and always understood him no matter the situation.

They found themselves together through their work and even areas of leisure. Each one’s company filled the other with unexplainable warmth, craving it yet never so close. It was vulnerable and bitter, but also sickly sweet.

Everything they had was mutual. Everything was temporary.

Shockwave never returned to the Nemesis after their last battle at Cybertron. He assumed he sacrificed himself for the fruition of the Decepticon cause… or lost his life to a disposable Autobot. However, he kept those words to himself as he always did. He never showed his concerns. Not even the worries of a lost friend…

Thoughts of Shockwave bored into his processor as days went on.

When Shockwave did come back, Soundwave held his tempered emotions between his empty exterior, wondering still thoughts and muted feelings. As the meek Starscream and honorable Megatron discussed the whereabouts of Shockwave’s new discovery, Soundwave turned his HUD mask to that scarlet orb of a con. He stared at Shockwave, spark still alight.

Soundwave found Shockwave admiring the space of blue and violet at the Nemesis’s large interior window. Soundwave usually patrolled the corridors before heading to his berth. It was a mere task any mech can do, but he found it as an excuse to clear his mind off of the stress the crew caused numerous times, be it their own or the Autobots.

He stood by Shockwave, neither inching closer or away. He too glanced up at the night-lit aurora that passed through each universe. The stars reflected on SoundWave’s screen; it was beautiful.

“Surely my disappearance didn’t cause too much of a strain for Megatron or the faction,” Shockwave started, his free limb swayed to meet his chassis as red optic focused on Soundwave.

Soundwave shook his helm. “Negative: Decepticons, steady process.”

“You?”

“Affirmative: Soundwave… ” He stopped himself. He couldn’t start now. How uncharacteristic it would be, the silent and vicious Communication Commander, speechless for words. But even then, he wouldn’t lie to Shockwave, so why now?

“Troubled.”

Shockwave nodded the best he could for an Empurata. “I expected as much, for a high command, you are valued - for me, not as much.” His partner resisted the urge to scoff, to break the vow of silence to argue it was not. However, he said nothing. Instead, he turned to Shockwave and latched his paper-thin fingers over Shockwave’s oppositely sharp ones. They mindlessly took hold of each other’s small embrace, their figures never unmoving until their chassis touched and faceless helms pressed into gentle bliss.

As opposed to Soundwave’s cold exterior of a vision field, Shockwave was hot, radiating heat that warmed the equally cold-sparked mech. The way Soundwave cooled Shockwave’s underlying heat which never faded from Kalis and the Enforcers.

Despite this mutuality, there was indeed something. War was a terrible, terrible concept that separated many physical and mental bonds. At best, Shockwave and Soundwave never made any. Still, their existence lingered within hard metal and soft sparks.

Even if everything they had was mutual… everything was temporary, they had everything.

[reyturnofbensolo]

Star Wars: Visionaries…Darth Sidious!

[opalstonedyke]

You certainly have done your homework on our kind. 🤭

What do you like??

Well, i like 60s pop, vintage fashion, online shopping, star wars.... but you probably mean in femmes, teehee.

I like a femme that's supportive. That will tell me how good I've done, how helpful I am, how sweet our love is. How eternally beautiful, in and out I am, how irreplaceable I am, how I am the love of her life, the perfect lover, one she will never need part.

I like a femme that's sensitive, that I can bare my soul to. A femme that's warm, welcoming, inviting. A femme I can bundle up with all my comforts and affections and she'll be the centerpiece of my heart.

I want a femme that's artistic, visionary, driven. Clever and bookish. Knows how to appreciate classics and an old fashioned butch. One who will thrift with me, fill our house to the brim with vintage trinkets and paintings and furniture, make our shared space a collage of well-loved, colorful items, to wake up to every morning, and wrap ourselves to sleep every night.

That's in a nutshell. I probably haven't experienced enough to say for certain. Life is a journey, and I'm well on my way in it, I just haven't found my companion yet. And that's fine. She'll come when it's right. She'll come home, and I'll nest with her, and be happy.

[presbierue]

Sometimes I wish Star Wars had gone in a more cultish direction with the First Order because I think having a friendship (an unhealthy, dysfunctional and toxic one) between the First Order triumvirate would have been kinda cute in an off putting way but also a good source of angst and I love angst. Like, cults prey upon those who lack connection and are looking for a sense of purpose, and I think that would have played into the big connection themes in Star Wars.

Like, little Ben Solo looking for belonging, feeling lost and like he cannot possibly measure up to his family legacies and he meets two young people equally driven to live up to Imperial Legacies. Phasma is a common First Order child soldier who fascinated by Boba Fett who did whatever it took to win. She wants to be the best fighter, to be noticed and seen by others, and will do anything for it. She is already well on her way at a young age. Little Armitage Hux has a mild god complex, believing (knowing) that he could make an unbeatable Death Star, that he can fix the weaknesses of his family legacy (less of an unwanted child in this version, more of a single survivor of his bloodline deal) and restore his family name to greatness. He misses his family dearly and resents the hell out of the New Republic quietly though (would probably prefer his actual family back than greatness but lacks EQ to realize this).

Snoke offers Ben everything he wants: like minded peers and a chance to be as great as his family. That would be hard for a teen to turn down, especially as Snoke would be hiddibg the fine print of this deal.

Hux, Phasma and Ben would likely exist for long periods of time with minimal conflict between them as they aren’t direct competitors. Hux does a lot of the planning and scheming, Phasma runs the pragmatic and social game, and Kylo leads the spiritual and visionary role of the group. Yeah they probably quibble over what they specifically want and need for their own power and plans, but it would probably be low grade jabs that teens usually trade in. More “your stormtroopers are well trained in treason” than force choking and blaster fire. Cooperation would be the best way to increase their power and influence.

I feel like having both the good and bad guys have the whole “power of friendship” on their side would have been an interesting dynamic when contrasting them. Rey and Hux both want their families back but can’t have it so they cling to their friends, Finn and Phasma are ultimately just trying to survive in abysmal conditions (one goes high visibility violent to deter others from attacking her where Finn goes avoidant, only fighting long enough to flee), and Kylo and Poe are trying to reconcile their family legacies with their own personalities and abilities. The difference is that the First Order triumvirate is a much older and well defined connection that is adjusting to new changes and pressures; Hux won by the start of TFA he built an even better Death Star (I think having it blow up in the First movie was ultimately the wrong move it would have been more threatening if it hung in for all three movies to emphasize that the First Order isn’t messing around) and that puts pressure on Phasma and Kylo, who are still not at Legendary Boba Fett/Vader levels. Like, your friend rising to the top of the heap before 40 when you’re still trying to reach previous levels would sting. On the other hand, Hux might genuinely resent Kylo for killing Han, because Hux feels his victory is empty without his parents and siblings around to see it. Phasma and Kylo are probably too self conscious and jealous after Starkiller success to actually acknowledge that Hux did the thing until like movie 3 when there might be some emotional resolution for that group, so Hux is probably just sitting with a hollow victory all movie 2 and is now just fully depressed as the one thing he thought would make him happy didn’t. This could be resolved by end of movie 3 or blow up in their faces when their relationship can’t hack the pressures anymore.

Flip that to the tensions you could do with Rey, Finn and Poe. Poe feels like his mother and other rebellion sacrifices were for nothing since the First Order took over in like a week, so he feels like a failure which results in him taking bigger and bigger risks, threatening his own life. This freaks out Rey who is PETRIFIED of losing the people she cares about again, and Finn goes to an avoidant attachment style where he starts trying to not care about either of them and does a Han Solo Hoth exit (he comes back again quickly but it freaks Rey out even more so she’s not ending the middle movie in a good place). I think the end moral ends up being something like “Avoiding one kind of pain leads to another, be open about what you’re going through so people can help because you’re never completely alone” kinda thing. Maybe you can’t be the perfect Jedi who avoids fear entirely, but fear is a gift that tells you what you care about and you can work with that. The First Order Triumvirates cardinal sin is that they’re pursing outdated markers of success and security that they think will protect them and the people they care about, but it worsens their relationships and self worth instead.

IDK man this feels like an AU that I could develop into a full rework of the sequels but it is half baked at best. I just think it would be fun to Rey and Finn screeching at Luke to give them combat training while the whole time Luke is just bouncing Grogu and other Jedi younglings around and asking them “So do you feel like you can really trust each other, or do you trust that the other is useful in filling a gap in your own life?”. Just relationship counselling the shit out of everyone. Like, recontextualize the whole “can you control the darkness in yourself” Yoda question as “can you build a support network strong enough to support you and your loved ones when you feel the darkness”. Because while Leia, Han and Luke all tried that, they built networks that only worked for them, not the people they loved, which resulted in isolation and deterioration of their relationships over time (Leia rebuilt Alderaan, Han built a semi legal shipping company and Luke built his Jedi school, but none of those things had room for the people they loved).

Edit: also, it adds a degree of Kylo having to think it through at the end where he either has to actively destroy Phasma and Hux, the people he is closest to or back down. He has to actively do all the things that made Vader as miserable as he was (lose a parent, kill the one he loves most, betray his mentor/father figure) to HIMSELF. And that’s an interesting question: is this character actually resilient enough to go through what Vader did? Can you do it completely alone, with the knowledge that no one else could do this to you but you? When does self hatred become that destructive?

[snapmite1998]

"We are brothers. The true Lords of the Sith."

The Sith Triumvirate: Darth Maul, Savage Opress, and Feral Opress

The Sith Triumvirate, comprised of Darth Maul and his brothers, Savage Opress and Feral Opress, represents a convergence of raw power, strategic cunning, and dark side mastery. Bound by blood and ambition, these three Sith Lords form a formidable alliance that seeks to dominate the galaxy and bring the Sith back to ultimate supremacy. Each brother, with his unique set of abilities and roles, contributes to their collective vision of destruction and domination, making them an almost unstoppable force.

1. Darth Maul: The Apex Predator and Strategic Mastermind

Role and Responsibilities:

- Leader and Visionary: Darth Maul is the central figure of the Triumvirate. His vision of Sith domination drives their collective ambitions. As the leader, he makes the strategic decisions that guide their actions.

- Master of the Dark Side: Skilled in Sith alchemy, dark side sorcery, and advanced lightsaber combat, Maul’s connection to the dark side is profound. He combines physical prowess with a keen strategic mind, making him a versatile and deadly opponent.

- Command of Crimson Dawn: Maul oversees Crimson Dawn’s operations, leveraging the resources and manpower of the underworld to fortify their position and execute complex operations.

Abilities:

- Lightsaber Mastery: Maul is renowned for his proficiency with a double-bladed lightsaber, single blade, or wielding both his Sith weapon and the Darksaber showcase his capability of fighting multiple opponents with unparalleled efficiency.

- Tactical Brilliance: His strategic acumen allows him to outmaneuver and outthink his enemies, orchestrating large-scale operations that result in significant victories.

- Dark Side Mastery: Maul’s deep understanding of the dark side augments his physical abilities, giving him enhanced strength, agility, and endurance.

2. Savage Opress: The Berserker and Enforcer

Role and Responsibilities:

- Frontline Enforcer: Savage Opress serves as the brute force of the Triumvirate, often leading charges and engaging in frontline combat. His overwhelming strength and formidable combat skills make him a fearsome warrior.

- Protector and Executor: Savage guards his brothers, particularly Maul, ensuring their safety in the midst of battle. He also carries out Maul’s orders with unwavering loyalty, striking fear into the hearts of their enemies. He carries out executions with pleasure, his lust for murder unlike any Sith that has come before.

Abilities:

- Giant Physique and Enhanced Strength: Savage’s immense size and strength, amplified by dark side enhancements, make him capable of overpowering opponents with raw force.

- Weapon Proficiency: Though often seen with a lightsaber, Savage is versatile and skilled with a variety of weapons, making him adaptable in combat.

- Rage-fueled Power: Savage taps into his rage to fuel his dark side abilities, increasing his strength and resilience during combat.

3. Feral Opress: The Silent Shadow and Assassin

Role and Responsibilities:

- Shadow and Assassin: Feral specializes in stealth operations, often acting as the Triumvirate’s assassin. His agility and ability to move undetected make him perfect for covert missions and surprise attacks.

- Scout and Intelligence Gatherer: Feral provides crucial reconnaissance, gathering intelligence that informs their strategies and operations.

- Redemption Seeker: Feral’s personal journey from weakness to strength drives him to prove his worth to his brothers and the Sith legacy.

Abilities:

- Dual Crimson Lightsabers: Feral wields two crimson lightsabers with exceptional skill, enabling him to engage multiple foes with rapid and precise strikes.

- Stealth and Agility: Feral’s training emphasizes stealth and agility, allowing him to move like a shadow and strike without warning.

- Dark Side Resurrection: Resurrected by Mother Talzin, Feral possesses unique dark side enhancements that bolster his physical capabilities and resilience.

Collective Strength and Strategy

1. Unified Vision and Leadership

- Shared Ambition: The Triumvirate is bound by a unified vision of Sith domination and personal vengeance against those who have wronged them. This shared ambition strengthens their resolve and focus.

- Coordinated Strategy: Under Maul’s leadership, the Triumvirate operates with strategic precision. Each brother’s abilities and roles are integrated into a cohesive plan that maximizes their effectiveness in various operations.

2. Combined Combat Prowess

- Tactical Versatility: The distinct combat styles of Maul, Savage, and Feral allow them to handle a wide array of situations, from large-scale battles to stealth missions and one-on-one duels.

- Synergy in Battle: When fighting together, the brothers form a lethal team. Maul’s strategic oversight, Savage’s raw power, and Feral’s agility create a dynamic and adaptable force.

3. Fear and Influence

- Imposing Presence: The combined presence of the Triumvirate projects an aura of fear and inevitability. Their exploits and victories solidify their reputation as nearly unstoppable warriors deeply connected to the dark side.

- Influence over Followers: Their command over Crimson Dawn and allied forces is strengthened by their fearsome reputation. Followers and allies are inspired by their power and ruthlessly efficient leadership.

Impact on the Galactic Conflict

1. Orchestrating Chaos

- Destabilizing the Republic: Through coordinated attacks and strategic planning, the Triumvirate aims to destabilize the Republic, targeting key infrastructure and sapping the resolve of its defenders.

- Undermining the Jedi: Maul’s personal vendetta against the Galactic Republic and Jedi Order, particularly Obi-Wan Kenobi, drives many of their operations, seeking to break his enemy's strength and influence across the galaxy.

2. Expanding Dominance

- Territorial Expansion: The Triumvirate oversees the expansion of Crimson Dawn’s influence, capturing vital territories and establishing control over key trade routes and supply lines.

- Conquests and Alliances: By forging alliances with other criminal organizations and leveraging their military might, the Triumvirate expands their reach and power within the galaxy.

Conclusion

The Sith Triumvirate, composed of Darth Maul, Savage Opress, and Feral Opress, represents the epitome of dark side mastery, strategic brilliance, and raw combat power. Each brother brings unique strengths to their alliance, making them an almost invincible force dedicated to Sith supremacy and vengeance.

As they continue their campaign to bring down the Republic and the Jedi Order, the galaxy trembles at the mere mention of their names. Their unity, driven by blood ties and shared ambition, ensures that their influence grows ever stronger, promising a future where the Sith and Dathomir reign supreme, and their enemies are left in ruins.

[knightotoc]

Best Star Wars scenes of the '20s so far:

(I was going to include the Baby Yoda and Trilla reveals but those were both in 2019!)

5. Yord's Indirect Mind Trick

In the first episode of Acolyte, arrogant Jedi Yord Fandar raises his hand to threaten a Neimoidian with a mind trick. The alien's companion quickly gives Yord the information he wants before he can cast the spell.

This is my favorite scene in Acolyte, as it shows the sinister side of a mighty Jedi Order, where the threat of magic is just as powerful as magic itself. It reminds me of the social dynamics in some Arthurian literature, and I always appreciate when SFF shows what ordinary people think of our powerful "heroes." Acolyte pulls its biggest Jedi-critical punches, but this one lands.

4. Leia Asks Obi-Wan about the Force

"How does it work, the Force? What does it feel like?"

"Have you ever been afraid of the dark? How does it feel when you turn on the light?"

"I feel safe."

"Yes, it feels like that."

An unexpectedly tear-jerking moment in an occasionally frustrating show, this scene accomplishes a bunch of great stuff. First, it centers the by-far most neglected central character of Star Wars, Leia, and her too-often offscreen journey with her own powers. Second, it shows a more vulnerable side to Obi-Wan: through didactic empathy with a child's fear of the dark, he tells us that he, too, is afraid of all the awful shit that happens to him. His coolness is a front, and his bravery is real. Third, it adds an emotional layer to the Light Side's role in the universe; Yoda's "luminous beings" metaphor is just as beautiful, but much more cold.

3. Tsubaki's Prophecy

In the final episode of the first season of Visions, jaded old Jedi Knight Tsubaki is haunted by a nightmare of death, which comes to pass by his own ironic hand. It reminds me strongly of Anakin's vision in the second half of Genndy Tartakovsky's Clone Wars from 2003, but without the kinda offensive "primitive natives" vibe.

Visions is an awesome format for including more artistic and unusual creators in Star Wars, like the similarly-named and just as wacky Visionaries comic book from 2005. It's great to be able to make these comparisons to the 00s, the best era of Star Wars.

I especially appreciate when these odd short stories get to be tragic. Singular voices that acknowledge sadness and darkness feel even more daring now under Disney than they did under George Lucas, who after all seems like quite a pessimist himself.

2. Crosshair's One-Handed Shot

I've already written a long post about this moment in the Bad Batch finale; the tl;dr is that, for once, Star Wars actually acknowledges the consequences of amputation. Crosshair, a sniper who has none of the magic powers or institutional support of other Star Wars amputees, has to take a high-stakes shot at his own baby sister's handcuffs before the attached villain drags her into a chasm. It's incredibly exciting and feels earned and genuinely empowering. Star Wars is one of the worst culprits of the fantasy robot prosthetic trope, which I've really begun to despise, and this scene moves away from that in the most satisfying way.

1. "I can't swim."

Andor #1 of course!!!!!!!!!