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Star Wars

7.08 Behind the Mask of THE MANDALORIAN

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When the Star Wars universe made the transition to the small screen, no one could have predicted the cultural impact that The Mandalorian would have. Featuring a sympathetic hero in Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), a wild-west atmosphere and, of course, Baby Yod… er… the Child, Mando has become a pop culture phenomenon, reviving a flagging franchise and rebuilding trust with its fans. This week, we welcome back pastor Jedi Greg Banik and ScreenFish padawan Gary Blaze to talk about the magic of the series and identifying with the man behind the mask.

(NOTE: This episode features spoilers up to episode 5 of Season 2.)

You can stream the episode on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

7.08 The MandalorianDownload

GIVEAWAY: Digital Copy of STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

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When it’s discovered that the evil Emperor Palpatine did not die at the hands of Darth Vader, the rebels must race against the clock to find out his whereabouts. Finn and Poe lead the Resistance to put a stop to the First Order’s plans to form a new Empire, while Rey anticipates her inevitable confrontation with Kylo Ren. (Warning: Some flashing-lights scenes in this film may affect photosensitive viewers.)

To enter, tell us your favourite force power and why. For a bonus entry, like or share the post on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram.

The winner will receive a digital copy of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker on iTunes.

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Thursday, April 2nd, 2020.

To hear ScreenFish Radio’s episode on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, click here.

Ahsoka’s Universe: 1on1 with Ashley Eckstein (STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS)

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It’s not every day that one gets the opportunity to speak with Star Wars royalty.

Since her introduction in the first season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars as a young Jedi-in-training, Ahsoka Tano remains one of the most beloved characters in the Star Wars universe that doesn’t carry the last name of Skywalker. Voiced by Ashley Eckstein, Ahsoka’s journey from precocious padawan to confidence and maturity is one of the great character arcs within the Star Wars canon.

With the latest—and truly final—season streaming on Disney+, Eckstein finally has the chance to revisit the beloved character and allow fans the opportunity to see what she’s been up to since she abandoned the Jedi Order. Asked why she believes Ahsoka resonates so deeply with the fans, Eckstein believes that the connection stems from the amount of time that they have had watching her grow and mature.

“With Ahsoka, there are very few characters, in Star Wars especially, that span a generation. An entire generation of fans grew up with Ahsoka, whether they were kids when Clone Wars first came out and it was their first introduction, or maybe they were parents watching it with their kids or whether it’s lifelong fans that went on this journey. The fans truly went on a journey with Ahsoka and she became the eyes of the Clone Wars. She was really the eyes of the audience and they really connected with her.”

“Something that Dave Filoni and his writing team did so brilliantly is that everyone relates to Ahsoka. I think in the very beginning, we never pointed out that she was a girl. We literally threw her gender out the door and she has orange skin so everyone can relate to her. No matter what your gender is, race, beliefs, anything, everyone can relate to Ahsoka. You can almost say that Ahsoka is everyone. Over the course now of twelve years, we’ve had so much time and so many hours of television to grow [and] experience with her, people have gone through an entire chapter of their life with her.”

Having voiced Ahsoka from the very beginning, Eckstein recognizes how truly special it is to have helped bring someone entirely new to life in the Star War Universe. Working with showrunner Dave Filoni and his team, Eckstein feels that she has also been allowed to bring her own voice into the character.

“I truly feel like I won the lottery by getting the chance to originate a new character in Star Wars,” she says enthusiastically. “It’s such a privilege and it’s one that I do not take lightly. I mean, I’ve practically devoted my life to it because I see what an honor and a privilege it is. Dave has allowed me to be part of the process from day one. I’m careful by saying that I’ve never written the episode. That is truly Dave and his writing team and they’re incredible. What Dave has allowed me to do from day one is bring my own voice. I don’t mean literally just my voice, but my own personality and how I would say things.” 

“It turns out that I was cast, not for my audition per se, but really just how I was acting in between takes. They wanted someone with an Icelandic accent and I just couldn’t master it and, in between takes, I was getting really frustrated that I couldn’t give them the voice that they wanted. And it turns out the way I was asking questions, the mannerisms of my body, how I was moving my arms, how I was getting exasperated, was actually what got me the part. I went to ask Dave, ‘why did you cast me?’ And you know, he said, ‘Ashley, you’re genuine and that is also Ahsoka.’ That always stuck with me. I never thought about it but, to me, it’s very important to be genuine in everything you do. I want to be that for Ahsoka and I will continue to be that.”

Asked how she feels Ahsoka has changed, Eckstein confesses that her characters journey is relatable to all and has even mirrored her own growth over the years.

“Ahsoka has gone from the snippy padawan to a master in her own right. It’s been an incredible journey and one that, even though these stories happen in a galaxy far, far away, we can all relate to. We all start out in whatever we do like Padawans and, as we grow up and go out into the world, we all can relate to Ahsoka. Me included… Sometimes it’s been really heartbreaking, but my life has mirrored Ahsoka’s in so many ways. It’s like art imitates life. And that’s why I’m so outspoken about the fact that I ask myself daily, what would Ahsoka do because I do believe that she represents all that is good and all that is light. She wants to make the right choice and so I ask myself that on a regular basis.”

Most important to Eckstein, however, is the impact that Ahsoka has had on Star Wars culture. Coming at a time when there were few strong female characters in the franchise, she recognizes that characters like Ahsoka have helped give voice to a generation of women who were looking for cultural role models.

“Ahsoka was a trailblazer, especially for female fans. People forget that, back in 2008, Rey didn’t exist. Jin didn’t exist. Hera, Sabine, all of these strong female characters. We weren’t having these female led stories and franchises. Ahsoka was a game changer and she wasn’t met with praise at first. She shocked people. She was the first female Jedi that was a lead character in the Star Wars universe and it was shocking. I realized very quickly again that this was an honor and a privilege to be voicing her. I so badly want to be a real-life representation of her.“

With this in mind, Eckstein is also passionate of her clothing company, Her Universe, which she hopes will be an encouragement to young females who have found themselves alienated in a primarily male-dominated fan culture.

“What Dave was always supportive of was to start ‘Her Universe’, my company, which was 100% because of Ahsoka,” she argues. “It wasn’t just for the merchandise. It was because fan girls were being bullied and they were being bullied terribly just for being a girl and liking Star Wars. I knew nothing about making clothes. I knew nothing about licensing. I knew nothing about starting a business, but when I saw all of these women and girls being bullied, I asked myself, I said, what would Ahsoka do?”

“Ahsoka would stand up for fan girls. She would give a voice to the invisible. Ahsoka would pay attention to and stand up for those that feel that they can’t stand up for themselves. So, with Her Universe truly, I started it to give a voice to female fans and not to say that this world is just for female fans. It’s not just for male fans. Star Wars is for everyone. Star Wars is a story to me of good overcoming evil. It’s a story of hope and it’s a story that you can’t put a gender on. I feel like the role that I’ve really been able to play as well by being the voice of Ahsoka and help giving her voice is to spread Ahsoka’s message throughout the galaxy and throughout our world of hope.”

In addition to her work on Clone Wars, Eckstein has also recently written her first fiction book, a Little Golden Book based on Ahsoka’s adventures. For Eckstein, the chance to contribute to a children’s franchise that has inspired for generations was simply too good to pass up.

“This is ‘bucket list’ level for me,” she beams. “I feel very blessed to have gotten to do some pretty cool things in my life, but this just ranks up there with one of the top. I grew up and learned to read because of Little Golden Books. So, when they asked me to write a Little Golden Book, I’m not joking when I say I think it was the fastest time I’ve ever said yes to anything in my life. It’s part of a series of Little Golden Books for Star Wars…

“When they asked me if I would be interested in writing I am a Padawan for Ahsoka, I just thought it was perfect. There are so many wonderful lessons that Ahsoka learned and the new generation that’s going to come up on the Little Golden Books, just like I did, are so hungry for these lessons… They’re lessons of hope and bravery and failure and friendship and knowledge and all of these wonderful lessons that, whether you’re learning them for the first time or whether you’re getting a reminder, these are good lessons for everyone. I had so much fun writing it.”

“I was really intimidated actually because this was the first fiction story that I wrote and I put it aside for a second. It was really daunting. I was kind of scared to start and one day, I had a deadline and I said, ‘okay, I gotta jump in’. I went back to the episodes of the Clone Wars and the lessons that I learned and really got to relive the entire journey. I picked out my personal favorite lessons that I took away from the Clone Wars and that I wanted to pay it forward and share.”

Despite the fact that The Clone Wars has famously been cancelled twice before, Eckstein confirms that they are officially wrapping up the story with this latest season. With Ahsoka’s return to the series, she points out that the fans will finally get to see what her character has been doing since she left the Jedi Order as well as the highly anticipated Siege of Mandalore.

“This [season] picks up right where we left off,” Eckstein explains. “Ahsoka’s on her own. She’s trying to find her way in this new world, a world that she knows nothing about because all she knows is the Jedi Order. She was brought to the Jedi temple when she was a youngling. We saw how young she was when Plo Koon found her and brought her to the Jedi Temple. All she knows is being a Jedi and now, everything she knew, she walked away from and she’s questioning. She truly is lost. So, these first four episodes, we pick up with her finding her way and figuring out who she is [and] what she’s going to do next. And, without spoiling anything, adventure ensues [laughs].”

“Then, we’re finally going to get the Siege of Mandalore. That is truly Ahsoka’s finale [as well as] Clone Wars. Everyone knew when, when Clone Wars was on the air before, that we were leading up to that. So, it never felt complete when Clone Wars ended because we all knew that we were supposed to get this ending and we never got it. So, like I said, I’m so grateful to Disney, Disney+, executive Carrie Beck and Dave Filoni for giving us this opportunity to make Clone Wars again. I’m always careful to say it’s not just me. It’s a whole team of people that makes the show that brings Ahsoka to life. I’m just one member of the team and I’m so grateful that they brought the gang back together and that we could wrap it up.”

One of the more unique appearances of Ahsoka came in the form of a verbal cameo at the climax of Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. For Eckstein, the opportunity to be a part of the franchise’s film canon was an unexpected privilege. 

“Getting to voice of Ahsoka in Rise of Skywalker is truly one of the highlights of my entire career,” she exclaims. “It was an honor that I was shocked. I found out in April of 2019… and I was told that it might not happen. I was kind of protecting my heart a little bit because I thought they were going to change their mind… So, all of a sudden, the year came and went and here we are in mid-October and I still hadn’t heard anything. I thought it wasn’t going to happen. The next thing you know, I got a call from my agent telling me that I have a recording session at Bad Robot and I couldn’t believe it. I literally was speechless… “

“I’m forever grateful to Matthew Wood for including me in this part. JJ Abrams couldn’t have been kinder. He immediately came up to me and thanked me for being in the movie, which I immediately said, ‘Oh, JJ Abrams, thank you for having me in the movie!’ [laughs]… All the lines that you heard in that montage, I’m assuming they had us all read all the lines and then they picked and chose which ones they wanted us to say.

“It was just one of the coolest moments in my career. I will say this, one of the characters says ‘let the light guide you’ and Ahsoka says “as it guided us”. It couldn’t be more perfect because that’s what I’ve already been asking fans. That’s what I feel like Ahsoka represents. She lets the light guide her and that’s the message that I want to continue to spread to fans as I strive every day to be a real life Ahsoka. Just let the light guide you.” 

As rumors continue to circulate of the casting of Rosario Dawson to bring Ahsoka to life in the upcoming season of The Mandalorian, Eckstein admits that she continues to be out of the loop on any decisions that may (or may not) have been made. Regardless, she recognizes that the passion the fans have for the character continues to astound her.

“I’m not involved in The Mandalorian,” she clarifies, “so I can’t speak to any rumors. I can’t speak to anything that I’m not involved in but I did speak [on Instagram] to what Ahsoka means to me and to the fans. In just two hours, the response from the fans is unreal. I am speechless with the response, but it really shows what Ahsoka means to everyone. It’s really incredible.”

For full audio of our interview with Ashley Eckstein, click here.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is wrapping up its adventure on Disney+ now.

2020 So Far: Iran, Church Shooting, Star Wars, Golden Globes

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your sunday drive

Your Sunday Drive Podcast Season 2, Episode 1.

In our first episode of 2020, we briefly refocus the goal of this podcast: seeking ways to approach current culture in a Christian/biblical way. We then ask “what’s happening so far in 2020?,” covering topics from the conflict with Iran and another recent church shooting, to some reflections on Star Wars and the Golden Globes fallout.

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

6.14 Family and Fans in STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

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In Star Wars: RISE OF SKYWALKER, Director JJ Abrams returns to attempt to wrap up a story 42 years in the making. As Resistance Heroes Poe Dameron and Finn attempt to wage ware agains the darkness of the First Order, young Jedi Rey ventures into the far reaches of space to face a deeper evil who has returned from the grave ready to expose secrets from her past. This week, Jedi Master Greg Banik and Mando Arnaldo Reyes return to the show to do battle about fan expectations, the nature of family and redemption from our past. 

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

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Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

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Daisy Ridley is Rey and Adam Driver is Kylo Ren in STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

The first words in the scrolling text that opens Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker are “The dead speak!” It continues on with a few things to remind us where the story left off. But those first three words are all we really need, because as the film progresses, the dead will indeed speak over and over.

This is the final film of the Skywalker Saga that began in 1977 with what would become Episode IV: A New Hope and eventually restarted with Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Because it is the final film in the series (the last film in the last trilogy), its main task is to bring the story that has taken over forty years to tell to a satisfying end. Star Wars is such a cultural touchstone that opinions on how well that has been accomplished will vary. My own opinion is that the series does not go out with a bang, but rather with a sigh.

This episode continues the stories of two characters with strong connections to the Force: Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), son of Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and grandson of Darth Vader, and Rey (Daisy Ridley) an orphan who has tried to become a Jedi by training with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Ren has chosen to follow the Dark Side and has been trying to bring Rey to join him and together rule the galaxy. They continue their dance of trying to convert each other through this film. Both are seeking a hidden planet where the real power is to be found and grasped or eliminated. While there are other characters involved in various subplots, these two are the real heart of the story.

Ren (aka Ben Solo) fashions his own version of Vader’s mask, and when wearing it has something of Vader’s ominous voice. He has taken the title Supreme Leader, and seeks to grab all power for himself, but would like Rey to join him. Together they would be a formidable power.

Rey, on the other hand, rejects the Dark Side. She trained with Luke, but still feels unworthy to carry his lightsaber. When she sets off on her mission, Leia tells her, “Never be afraid of who you are.” But who is she? That becomes a central question as the film plays out. What is it about her that has made her such a focus of the Force? (And since this is the final film, it will be revealed—but not in this review.) The knowledge of her background will be a challenge for her to accept.

There will be lightsaber duels, space fighter dogfights, explosions, and all the other accoutrements of Star Wars. There will be redemption, sacrifice, and even resurrection. Love will be declared. Loss will be devastating. And the story will be wrapped up with some tears and some celebrations. Then there will be a coda that takes us back to Tatooine, where the Saga began to bring the circle to a close. (Sigh)

But what about those first three words of the scroll? The dead speak! Initially it is because the dead Emperor Palpatine has been making a comeback. But then we get to see or hear others from the past episodes who have died as the story played out. Luke, is prominent, even though he died at the end of The Last Jedi. Now a glowing personage, he continues to teach Rey what she needs to know for her final battle. But in a decisive scene for Kylo Ren’s character, there is another visit from one who has died. Who are all these who speak from the grave? Well, they are essentially the saints of the Saga. Through their words they bring healing and they bring power. As Rey must face her final challenge, she gathers strength from many of these voices.

The scripture that comes to mind is Hebrews 12:1. After retracing the history of Israel’s heroes, the author says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that has been set before us.” [NRSV]

Star Wars has always attracted theological/spiritual reflection. The Rise of Skywalker gives us a chance to consider the idea of the fellowship of the saints. It is not just what we think of sitting drinking coffee in the fellowship hall after worship. It is not even just what it means to come around the Lord’s Table as God’s people. It is also an attachment to the whole history of God’s salvation. We are joined to those who have come before us. And we are joined to those who will come after us.

As we look at the end of the Skywalker Saga, we are able to see the whole arc of a story in which faith in action has been passed on from one to another. It has not always been an easy passing. There are those who have been corrupted, but also those who have found redemption and restoration. The past brings ist strength to a new day—a dawning of new life.

The Holidays & Mental Health; Star Wars

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your sunday drive podcast

It’s nearly Christmas – a joyous time, but also a difficult time for many.

In this episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we welcome local family medicine physician’s assistant Dave Mulder to talk about the holidays and mental health, trying to lend a Christian perspective to an issue that many face this time of year.

With The Rise of Skywalker just days from release, we also take a quick few minutes to discuss the spiritual significance of Star Wars.

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

The Mandalorian: This is The Way

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Last week, I had the honor and privilege of attending the red carpet premiere of The Mandalorian. It was a fan event that had a Q&A in the beginning, and then a screening of the first three episodes.

First, a little backstory as to how this came about. I love Star Wars, and I also love giving back. Two years ago, I decided to merge those two loves together and started my journey out of my comfort zone into costuming. Fast forward to a year ago, and I became an official member of the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club. I’ve had the privilege to do many charity works from hospitals, orphanages, charity walks, etc. The smile on the children’s faces is the only reward or perk that I need. Last week, however, the reward was an invitation by Disney/Lucasfilm to attend the premiere. Along with many fellow Mandos, we descended upon Hollywood Blvd at the El Capitan Theatre where we stood along the red carpet as stars and those who worked on the show arrived. It was an experience that can’t be described.

The Mandalorian isn’t like any Star Wars film before it (of course, it’s not a film but a series). Werner Herzog said it best at the premiere when he stated that, “This is the birth of a new mythos within the already established mythology.” As a fan of what the Mandalorian culture has been in Star Wars lore, having a live action series centered around that (and no longer be referred to as Boba Fett, who isn’t even a Mandalorian) had me filled with excitement and fear. Will it be done right? How will a series work? Will there be more and simply focus on just one? Of course, most of those fears were quelled when I heard Jon Favreau was working alongside George Lucas’ padawan himself, Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels, Star Wars: Resistance). For Dave to move from animation to live action, taking all he learned from George and pass it on to this show, gave me peace about it.

Of course, this isn’t a rambling fan boy article. So, what about the show itself? Well, all those fears were erased within the first episode. The Mandalorian has arrived and is everything that it should be. Herzog wasn’t wrong in the notion that this is essentially creating a new mythos within the mythology that already exists.

And that’s what makes it even greater.

The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) in Lucasfilm’s THE MANDALORIAN. Photograph by Francois Duhamel/Lucasfilm Ltd

There is no question that the fandom can’t come to agreement with how Star Wars should expand (or if it should at all). The reality is that it should expand but it shouldn’t be based on what many fans wanted from it: the expanded universe (now known as ‘legends’). The Mandalorian, though giving fan service, feels fresh and new. The only knock against it that I feel is the run time…. I need more! It’s amazing that, for a character that never takes his “bucket” off, one can really see his emotions through his body language. Pedro Pascal works the camera in a way where you can tell if he’s frustrated, relieved, curious, angry and more. You get a glimpse into Mandalorian culture, how they are the best warriors in the galaxy and the most feared. As one of my favorite Marvel heroes say, ‘they are the best at what they do.’

WARNING SPOILERS

By now, the first two episodes have aired and, as I said, I saw the first three. I won’t focus too much on the first two episodes but be warned. This is about Episode 3 and how it eclipsed all of my expectations by signifying what makes Mandalorians the best. In Episode 1, we see The Mandalorian get an advance payment of Beskar, the metal that Mandalorians forge their armor from. It is unique to them and is part of a war-filled history. Some can be centuries old as it is past down form generation to generation. When the Great Purge took place, the Empire stole the Beskar. So, it makes sense for a former Imperial to have some in his possession after the fall of the Empire. Beskar is as rare as the Mandalorians themselves in this time period. It’s what made the first episode so significant to me. Yes, the rescue and the baby Yoda (no, it’s not Yoda) sequence was amazing and the Jawas in Episode 2 were hilarious. But it’s the moment after The Mandalorian gets the Beskar that really drew my attention. It took me three times watching it to realize, as The Mandalorian makes his way to The Armorer, that this hidden alley is filled with other Mandalorians.

That brief viewing and brief encounter brings us to Episode 3. The one thing about Star Wars is that it reveals the heart of a character. With Han, we see a scoundrel and smuggler who’s heart was good, noble, hero and a friend. We see that the good can be tempted and sometimes fall to the dark side, but they can be redeemed. The Mandalorian captures just that in this third episode. You see the real heart of a man who’s face you never see. You see how much the tribe means to him. Most importantly though, we learn how much his past makes his present and future important. Mandalorians are in hiding because the tribe is more important than the individual. But, sometimes, you have to make a choice that risks that very thing. For The Mandalorian, he could have easily went about his business. But that is neither his way, nor his tribe’s way. To do good, and to protect the foundlings (I have my own theories on that but won’t get into it now) stands above all. To him, a foundling isn’t just those around him, hidden from view. Knowing that they would be willing to kill the child for whatever devious plot they had, he saw himself and his fellow foundlings in the child that he brought in. His decision to go back and (quite awesomely) rescue him put all he had accomplished at risk. In fact, through his actions, he basically threw it all away.

But here’s what family is really about. What sets Mandalorians apart and has always appealed to me, is that it isn’t just the warrior spirit. It is that sense of community and family. When all hope seemed to be fading and effort lost, his family arrived, throwing all they had worked to protect away. Jetpacks, missile launchers, and a Heavy Weapons Gatling gun firing while hovering in the air warrior showed off all that is amazing about Mandalorians.

This episode felt like a season finale, yet we still have 5 more episodes to go. I’m not sure how they are going to top it but one thing is for certain: The Mandalorian is proving to be worth all the hype that it was made out to be. To see that pay off in theatre with some of my Aliit (family in Mando’a) is an experience one can never forget. The Mandalorian isn’t just about a lone warrior making his way through the galaxy with a youngling in tow (some of the great old Samurai film tropes). It is about family, loyalty, duty, and fighting evil even if it costs everything. This is the way!

The Mandalorian airs on Disney+ and releases new episodes every Friday.

Has Disney Killed Star Wars? Episode II

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Somewhere, in a galaxy far far away, in an outpost called Anaheim, there is a disturbance in the force. Well, maybe it was just convention food for some people. D23 Expo has come and gone and with it a whole slew of breaking news and announcements and unsurprisingly their two big franchises really made an impact. Star Wars and Marvel left the weekend in a buzz, tho it is the franchise that many loud social media folks claim Disney has killed that really came out on top.

In Part One of my “Disney hasn’t killed Star Wars” take, we focused more on the misconception of Galaxy’s Edge and this past summer at Disneyland. To do a quick follow up, I have now been to Batuu two more times. Last week, blackouts were lifted on the many annual passholders with “lower tier” passes. I was there Sunday night. It wasn’t my first time going late in the day and in the parking garage I normally park in the third level. This time around, parking was only available at the very top level. Disneyland was jammed pack, thanks in part to no more blackouts and the swarm of tourists that made their way to D23 Expo. At Galaxy’s Edge, it was swarming with guests, the most I’ve seen all summer (again thanks to the above). And tho a small sample size, it helps reinforce my earlier take, that Galaxy’s Edge isn’t a bust but rather Disneyland is as it always has been, an annual passholders park. Meanwhile, Disney World has opened it’s platforms and begun transport to Batuu as of 5 AM Thursday 8/29/19. Within an hour, the area was filled to capacity and the wait time for the Falcon ride was at 5 hours. Of course, the detractors will say give it time. But at least for now, the rumors of Star Wars demise under Disney have been greatly exaggerated.

So now for part two, and in comes the aforementioned D23 Expo. We went into the weekend expecting announcements, trailers, timelines, etc. We were greeted with that and the buzz is going to last a while.  There were two trailers released, and as of this writing, one of them has generated 15 million views in 3 days while the other 12 million views within 24 hours. A week ago, the trailer for season two of Star Wars Resistance was dropped and it has nearly 500k views. Not bad for a dead franchise. A Canon timeline was released that also splits into three sections, Age of Republic, Age of Rebellion, and Age of Resistance. But all the hype from D23 is surrounded within three things.

The Mandalorian

The first official trailer for The Mandalorian dropped and the buzz around the Disney+ series is high. The first ever live action series follows the exploits of a bounty hunter in a time period after Episode 6 and before Episode 7. It brings the grittiness of Rogue One in an old western type of feel series that from the trailer looks to be drama filled and action packed. The stunning action sequences in this trailer leaves one wanting more. Having seen more footage at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago back in April, I can tell you that this series alone is worth the Disney+ subscription. As Mandalorian fan, I gladly speak for all of us Mando’s that finally, the time has come. This will be like nothing ever seen or done in Star Wars, and we can’t wait. Starring Pedro Pascal, Gina Carrano, Carl Weathers and Taika Waititi with show runners Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, The Mandalorian comes at launch with Disney+ November 12.

Hello There

Rumors started swirling in the past few weeks that Ewan McGregor was in talks to reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi for a new Disney+ series. With no confirmation from Lucasfilm or Disney, or Ewan himself; these were taken with a grain of Crait salt. But Ewan didn’t disappoint, and in a kind of dramatic fashion, showed up at D23 and was asked live on stage if he would reprise his role, to which was an emphatic yet. Obi-Wan series will take place after Episode III and focus on Obi-Wan’s time on Tattooine. It is before the Star Wars Rebels animated timeline, so unfortunately no Darth Maul. It will be interesting how they put this together considering the Empire was never aware of his whereabouts.

Dark Rey

After news broke of the trailer shown at D23, the interwebs were abuzz anticipating the public release the following Monday. And it didn’t take long after it released for it to be the #1 trending (and still is on YouTube over 24 hours later). The trailer was a nice tribute to the entire Skywalker saga. Starting with scenes from the original trilogy, to the prequels to then the new. Of course, a few things stood out. C3PO with red glowing eyes? Were those Imperial and not First Order Star Destroyers? Rey vs Kylo on what looks to be broken pieces of the RoTJ Deathstar. And of course, Dark Rey! Most likely a dream sequence, but it leaves plenty for imagination (be careful with that).

Star Wars is certainly not dead. Toy sales may be down, but the hype is still real. The dangers as mentioned in part one lies in social media. Already theory pages and videos have millions of views just because of the recent trailer. These all lay the mental trap of setting oneself up for failure. I’ll stick to my two go to, The Star Wars Show (from Lucasfilm themselves) and The Rexin Around Show. I’ll even throw in the Rogue Rebels Podcast, a fun family that just love Star Wars. But like before, enjoy what you enjoy, look forward to what’s coming. Star Wars will never die as long as it continues to reach different generations of fans.

And for those that were looking for Clone Wars Season 7 news, not much was given, except that it will premiere in February (that is the collective sadness of fans like me who were hoping it would be back at Disney+ launch).

Bright Suns and May The Force Be With You!

The Funny Side of Sci-Fi: 1on1 with Mark Jackson (THE ORVILLE)

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Set on the titular U.S.S. Orville, a mid-level exploratory space vessel in the 25thCentury’s Planetary Union, The Orville is a sci-fi adventure that reveals the lighter side of the darkness of space. Airing on Fox and developed by Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy), the series follows a crew of lovable misfits as they discover new worlds while trying to hold themselves together as well. When offered the role as the ship’sartificial intelligence science officer, Isaac, star Mark Jackson couldn’t resist the opportunity to be a part of such a unique series.

“The Orville is set for 100 years in the future and we are in the world of the Union, which is a conglomeration of planets and the alien races that have gotten together,” he explains. “The action takes place on the USS Orville, a Union ship, which is set with the task of exploring the universe, greeting new races, and often doing boring things like dropping off cargo. But generally they do have fun times… [When the opportunity came,] I jumped at the chance, to be honest with you.”

One of the most attractive elements to the role for Jackson was the opportunity to work with comedian Seth Macfarlane. Filled with his unique blend of comedy and charm, Macfarlane is not only The Orville’s lead character, he’s also involved in every aspect of the show.

“Seth is everything on this show,” clarifies Jackson. “He’s written it. He obviously stars in it. He produces it, he show-runs. It’s entirely his baby and it’s incredible to work on a project where someone is the entire genesis of the project. That’s quite unusual. Usually, there’s so many different factors involved, which there are, but he sort leads on all of them. It’s amazing to see him work like that.”

With MacFarlane at the helm, one might expect that much of the comedy stems from improvised moments onset. However, Jackson insists that every scene is carefully constructed and relies heavily on the show’s tightly written comedic scripts.

“We haven’t improvised and I think that’s testament to just how precisely cleverly thought out the script is when it comes to us performing it on the day,” he states. “It changes and we will often have rewrites but that’s very common in TV and film. It’s part of the fun actually. Once you’ve got the script and you’re standing on set, [those lines are] what you’re going to say. That might sound quite draconian, but it isn’t at all. It’s pretty liberating, actually. When you’re standing on set in front of a camera, you need to have some sort of solidity in your life. So, a script that you can actually rely on is a very welcoming thing.

Much of MacFarlane’s unique brand of humor stems from his ability to highlight the awkward but human nature of his characters. According to Jackson, it’s this lovable messiness that gives the show its charm and relatability.

“In terms of the characters being awkward, it’s a closer reality to what we’re used to in most sci-fi shows,” he believes. “I think that’s where the charm of it lies. I mean, Star Trek is wonderful and I’ve always loved it but it’s a big glossy. You don’t see the ins and outs of daily routines and the kind of mundane things that we all have to deal with in our own lives…. it’s a great source of comedy in The Orville. People don’t really think about, but it takes a long time to get anywhere in space. There are several moments across the two seasons of The Orville where they have to go to a different part of the universe and it takes about seven days. So, they feel like, until the very exciting moment happens with lots of action will take place, we’re on the ship and we’ve just got to kind of got to get along with each other. So, you have people just going for a drink at the bar. You have people just passing each other in the corridor and trying to make chit chat in the elevator. It’s beautifully observed everyday life in a very unusual situation.“

Although it’s been referred to as a ‘throwback’ to other classic sci-fi series, he maintains that the show is also passionate about wrestling with current issues that matter to today’s contemporary culture..

“I think the show builds on all the giants of science fiction past and stands on the shoulders,” he asserts. “So, I think in terms of ‘throwing back’, I suppose The Orville takes all the best elements of those shows and combines them with something actually quite forward-thinking. This idea of looking to the future and trying to solve the problems of today, I think the show does really well. One of the great things about sci-fi is that you can take modern day issues and transport them to a place where it’s quite a safe environment to deal with them. We take the episodic nature of Star Trek: The Next Generationand the innocence and hope that you have with that show and we then bring that forward and deal with issues of today. If you think of that as a throwback in any way, it can only be a good thing”

“Sci-Fi allows us the opportunity to take issues which are a bit too painful or too complex to explore in the current socioeconomic environment and throw them onto a planet on the fringes of the galaxy 7,000 years in the future… It immediately throws a new light on the subject, but also potentially provides us with a way to tackle it in ways that we haven’t thought of yet. Distancing yourself from things can be very productive in a way.”

Playing science officer Isaac, Jackson has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of the show’s incredibly talented cast. Asked what he finds most appealing about his character, he says that he can’t help but enjoy playing a character who is so wildly different than himself.

“It’s interesting when you play someone who’s considered a bit of a psychopath, when people ask you [how you connect to him] because you [wonder] how revealing should I be?,” Jackson jokes. “What kind of bizarre, disturbing facets of my own personality can I lay on the table here? [laughs] Quite frankly, the appeal of playing him is that he is so weird and different and is so unhuman. You get to go to places that you wouldn’t necessarily get to go to a normal, human character.”

As the premiere of Season Two fast approaches, Jackson asserts that he’s thrilled with the show’s ability to step up and deliver scripts that continue to develop and expand the world that it has created.

“Everything you loved from Season One is going to go into overdrive in Season Two,” he declares. “We just step it up again so much. Every time we got the new scripts, they just read like movies [in] each and every episode. There’s so much more action. There are new characters. The relationships develop in very unexpected and thrilling ways, and I can say that for Isaac as well. We get more aliens. The alien production workshop has been in overdrive this year, which has been great in the effects. And the music! I don’t know if you know, but the music is recorded with a huge orchestra for every episode. It’s absolutely beautiful and so rare to have that on a TV show. So, just expect super quality, great stories and a hell of a lot of adventure.”

Season Two of The Orville begins on Sunday, December 30th, 2018 on FOX.

For full audio of our conversation with Mark Jackson, click here.