A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast
Join Rob Zacny, Natalie Watson, Ali Acampora, and Austin Walker as they dive headfirst into the fall of the Galactic Republic, debate which Jedi is messiest, and dig into the themes and politics of The Clone Wars. Cover Art by @XeeceeVEVO on Twitter.
Episodes
As Rebels begins its lead up to the second season finale, it's got some important work to do. First, it has to give its two Jedi protagonists (and their not-quite-a-Jedi-anymore friend) some direction and confidence. Then it has to sell the idea that they have to confront the Inquisitors directly or risk inevitably leading them (and their Dark Lord of the Sith master) to the Rebel forces. Finally, it has to tease the idea that mayb...
As we inch towards the end Rebels Season 2, some things are becoming clearer and clearer. First, Ezra's whole animal empathy thing is going to keep happening. Second, we're definitely going to get some 'different rebel cells have different goals' stories as the series continues. And third... they are definitely, absolutely going to try to redeem Kallus. It's a bold strategy. Let's see how it plays out.
As we return from the midseason finale, we get a trio of episodes that represent the three major emerging categories of Star Wars Rebels stories so far. One is a story driven by a cameo from the larger Star Wars universe. Another is a big swing at some brand new worldbuilding and an exploration into tone and style that is totally brand new for the show. And the third is, unfortunately (and of course), a lackluster Sabine episode th...
Folks, we did it. After a middling pair of episodes last time and with what looked like a connected pair of stories coming up, we decided to call an audible and increase our episode count to three!
So, today, join us on a journey across the galaxy: First into an experimental imperial weapon with its origin in the EU glory days of old, then on a planetary hunt for force-sensitive babies, and finally a return to Lothal where a troubl...
After Season 2's strong start, the crew of the Ghost is finally settling into a lower key rhythm, which has both ups and its down. On the plus side this week, we get a loving look at the B-Wing (an all time great Star Wars ship design) and some more Sabine and Hera backstory! On the other... well, that backstory ain't all that great, and we're really feeling to limits of these one-off episodes.
This is a week for introductions and reunions. First, Rebels offers us our first real look at the Inquisitors left behind by the now fallen Grand Inquisitor. Then, as Ezra begins to doubt his place in the burgeoning rebellion, he stumbles into an old acquaintance of ours. Yes... he's back. Yes. Him. Hondo Ohnaka. And wouldn't you know it? He just happens to be looking for a new crew member,
We were pretty high on our return to Rebels last episode, and for good reason. This time the mood continues to improve with the return of some familiar faces. Come on in, grab a cold one, and kick your feet up... because the boys... ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!
Next time: Rebels 20 & 21 ("Always Two There Are" and "Brothers of the Broken Horn")
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After months spent bouncing around the galaxy of the Old Republic, we are finally back to the wonders of the... lemme just check my notes... the era of the Empire! That's right, folks, the Emperor, Governor Tarkin, and Darth Vader are at it again, expanding their control over the galaxy and squeezing out any attempt at resistance. And you know what? It's good to be back.
Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!
Next time...
In only ten episodes, we've traveled from the comfortable military quarters of the Ender Spire to the viewing platform of an ancient alien species' life-devouring shipyard. Finally, it's time to face our destinies: Some of us must overcome the sudden separation from our companions and the limits of our support-focused character builds. Others must commit to doing absolutely cartoonishly evil things to our erstwhile allies. But all...
After last episode's grand "reveal," we're left with only a few goals remaining: one star map, a handful of side quests, and the grand finale. And hey, next up is Korriban, home of the Sith Academy and many of the events we've recently covered in our comic episodes over on our Patreon! Join us as we finally meet a character willing to explain what the Sith believe, delve into a bunch of tombs, meet Carth's son, and try to lord our ...
FINALLY! After months of careful (if fundamentally futile) spoiler avoidance, we can can finally talk about the Big Twist of KOTOR. What's that? It seems as if our duo of new players had already basically figured it out? Well, hold your tongue, because there's knowing "the twist" and then there's really understanding how (and who) exactly did the twisting.
Next time: Korriban and any pre-finale side content
Ah, the blue waves of Manaan, home to the galaxy's only supply of a miracle drug, the most litigious culture in the stars, and a delicately simmering cold war. Time to go knock the whole thing off balance.
Next time: THE LEVIATHAN (and any non-Korriban side stuff you wanna catch up on!)
Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!
Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)
Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_w...
From week to week, from planet after planet, one thing has remained true about our journey through the Old Republic: Zaalbar has kept his lips sealed. Sure, he'll make you a grenade. But ask him about what he knows about a place or how he's feeling or, god forbid, what his home is like? Complete. Brick. Wall.
Well that ends today, because we've landed on a little world called Kashyyyk. Time to find out if the saying is true: A Wook...
We're back with more KOTOR! And wouldn't you know it, we're also back once again to Tatooine, the planet Star Wars just can't stay away from. What's up with this desert world some 4,000 years before Luke ever farmed a single drop of moisture? Well, would you believe a Hutt is running swoop bike races? Or that there are tensions between the indigenous population of the planet and human colonizers? What if I told you that a giant des...
The unlikely crew of the Ebon Hawk has ESCAPED Taris and set their sights for Dantooine, where TRUTHS and MYSTERIES await. We've got Jedi temples! We got mysterious ruins! We got beasts upset by a disturbance in the force! We got decades long feuds! We got droids! ....eugh, we certainly have droids, don't we....
Last time, we said we'd only do half of Dantooine but right here, we're covering the whole thing, baby!
Next time: ALL o...
Oh Taris, how we've missed you! Your glittering towers, so cleanly representing the world's heavily stratified racialized class divide. The smell of swoop fuel in the air, the distinctive odor of underworld betrayal. The wildlife! You know, Rakghouls and death droids and the slimiest crime lords this side of Nar Shadaa. Ah, Taris, it's good to be back!
Oh. I've just been handed a note about the fate of Taris.
Welp. We did it. We went to space. Thanks to your support, a favor from a friend in Disney's gaming department, and our realization that our rainy day fund had finally found a storm worth being spent on, we flew down to Orlando and took in the sights, sounds, tastes, smells and stories of the Galactic Starcruiser.
This episode, recorded about a week after our visit to the Halcyon, is just one of two episodes we're releasing on our...
Join us as we continue our journey down into the depths of Taris, a city so bad that it hasn't really gotten that much worse under Sith occupation! Sure, there's a rampant plague of not-zombies spreading through the dark fantasy undercity. And a traitorous swoop racing gang has started killing people in the streets. And, well, I guess there's the matter of the Rancor.
But somehow, most of that would've happened even without Sith i...
An even longer time ago, in a galaxy approximately the same level of far, far away, there was Knights of the Old Republic, a Computer Role-Playing Game based on D&D's D20 system. Natalie and Rob never heard the story of Darth Malak, probably because it is not a story the Jedi would tell you. But Bioware, back in 2003, told everyone this story and along the way invented the kind of RPG the game studio would be known and renowned for...
Hey everyone! As promised, we took some time to discuss and consider what we'll be doing for the next chunk of AMCA during the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. And we've reached a determination.
As highly, overwhelmingly requested, we will be playing Knights of the Old Republic. Ali and I get into it a little on this short announcement episode, but we're both very excited for Rob and Natalie to play through this game that was so ...
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