Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Star Wars

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ CHAPTER 12: An Ode to Fan Inclusion

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ CHAPTER 12: An Ode to Fan Inclusion

    For over forty years, Star Wars has managed to capture the imagination of various generations and different types of fans. A few of us grew up with the Original Trilogy, while others with the prequels or the sequels. Some are just into the movies, while others are into their cartoons, novels, or comics. The result is that, since everybody seems to be looking for something different to get out of the franchise, there are very few facets of it, besides John William‘s scores, that are unanimously well-received by everybody.

     

     

    But ever since The Mandalorian premiered a little over a year ago, it seems to be succeeding in tapping into a bit of everyone’s favorite type of “Star Wars” while making it all seamlessly fit into the story it’s trying to tell. Besides the obvious callbacks to the movies and cartoons (and even to the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special with Din’s phase-pulse blaster), it has introduced relevant story elements and characters from many corners of the Star Wars universe, components integral to moving the plot forward. And so, every side of the fandom seems to have been able to find something in the show that makes them smile as if it was personally directed at them.

    Season 2 has been prolific in this regard. After Cobb Vanth (a character from the novels) and Boba Fett (from the OT), we got Bo-Katan, and an Ahsoka name-drop (both from The Clone Wars and Rebels), as well as the beginnings of what is sure to become the sequel trilogy’s First Order in Moff Giddeon’s army/fleet. And Chapter 12 is a sort of microcosm of all of this, as in less than forty minutes, it manages to bring together several periods of Star Wars history.

     

     

    We get Return of the Jedi with the Scout Troopers on their speeder bikes. We see The Last Jedi‘s DJ with the reference to “slicing” when at the Imperial research base (or is there an even bigger reference to the Sequel Trilogy and that’s an early version of Snoke in the tanks?). And then we get something that is sure to take the show to new heights as it references the Phantom Menace when Doctor Pershing mentions “M-count” which is an obvious reference to… Midi-chlorians. It builds on Chapter 3 when Din Djarin rescues Baby Yoda (who we knew to be force-sensitive) from a laboratory. This small mention is a confirmation that the show is bringing back one of the most controversial aspects of the Prequel Trilogy in what can only be described as one of the most monumental choices made in the shows’ entire run. Nonetheless, it’s a choice that validates that specific Prequel Trilogy side of the fandom, making everyone feel embraced. The Mandalorian has evolved into a show that welcomes new fans by being a great starting point into the Star Wars Universe but also pays tribute to what came before. It delivers on the magic and quirkiness of the original movies, it made everyone fall in love with Baby Yoda and even managed to unite three generations of fans under a single banner: their love of Star Wars.

  • Tentative ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 13 Title Hints at Ahsoka’s Appearance

    Tentative ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 13 Title Hints at Ahsoka’s Appearance

    Ever since it became known that Dave Filoni would be directing Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian, the idea that this would mark Ahsoka Tano’s live-action introduction established itself as an almost certainty. We’ve all been anxiously waiting for her appearance on the show. Bo-Katan’s mention of her just made the wait even more difficult, as we never got an official announcement when we can expect her. Disney’s approach to marketing this weekly release has been surprisingly subtle with the episodes carrying the weight of what may be to come. Today, after the release of Chapter 12, the TV listings over at OSN.com gave us yet another hint that this should really be the case, as Chapter 13 seems to be titled “The Jedi”.

     

     

    One week from today we’ll all know for sure, but everything from the director to the storyline seems to be in place for the debut of everyone’s favorite Togruta on November 27. Ahsoka has become a staple of the Star Wars franchise ever since her debut on The Clone Wars. The last time we saw her was in Rebels, which took place before the original trilogy. It will be interesting to see her reaction to the Child. Din Djarin, our titular Mandalorian, also seems to have no knowledge of the Jedi Council that existed long before the Empire ruled the galaxy. Her addition could also hint at many more iconic characters from the extended franchise making an appearance, such as Rebels Ezra Bridger and Sabine Wren. Hopefully, we only have to wait one more week until she finally makes her The Mandalorian debut and, just maybe, find out more about the Child’s origin.

    Source: OSN

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 12 Primer

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 12 Primer

    In The Mandalorian Chapter 11, “The Heiress”, the frog lady found her husband and hatched an egg, so that is one less The Child has to snack on and one job done for the Mando. After the frog family reunion, the Mando took The Child to a diner where he hoped to find someone who could take him to another Mandalorian, and in a way he did. When he attempted to kill Din Djarin, other Mandalorians came to save him. Eventually, we find out that the lead Mandalorian was actually Bo-Katan!  Bo-Katan told Din Djarin that she will help him find a Jedi to help find more of The Child’s kind. But this comes with a price. He has to help her with hijacking an Imperial ship. She sends him to the planet Corvus to find Ashoka Tano. Yup that’s right, Din Djarin is going to meet Ahsoka!

    Ahsoka Tano—A Star Wars Oral History | Vanity Fair

    Ashoka is a former Jedi Padawan who was Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice. If the Mando wants to make it to Ahsoka, he will definitely have to get his ship repaired because it is in very bad condition. Even though he paid a Mon Calamari to fix it last episode. If we pay attention to the Season 2 trailer, it seems to be that he will be headed back to Nevarro to meet up with his old allies, Cara Dune and Greef Karga, again. We can assume that is what will happen in the next episode, though we don’t know exactly. Hopefully, they can help him restore his ship and he can resume his journey.

    Arlyn’s Assumptions

    Seeing that at the end of the last season he left the planet Nevarro during a huge battle it is definitely going to be weird returning there. Karga said that Nevarro was going to become a bounty hunter haven, so maybe bounty hunters from all over will be there. The bounty hunter that I think could be there is Bossk, who first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back. We’ve seen the series bring in characters from all over the place so far and another classic bounty hunter would fit right in. If Mando does find Ahsoka in this episode, it probably won’t be until the end.

  • ‘Star Wars: Squadrons’ Adding Two Free Holiday Updates

    ‘Star Wars: Squadrons’ Adding Two Free Holiday Updates

    I am revisiting Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order as I got in the mood to revisit the galaxy far far away. Sadly, I have yet to try out Star Wars: Squadrons, which is the latest game released by EA from the franchise. Unlike the Fallen Order and Battlefront, this franchise focuses on space combat. It put you in the cockpit fas you fought through a single-player campaign or even with friends online. The game released in early October and is now getting some more content updates, which the developers Motive Studios titled their holiday supply drops. The best part is, the DLC will be free for those currently enjoying their time in the X-Wing or Tie-Fighter cockpits.

    In their first update as of November 25th, players will get a brand new multiplayer map. Fostar Haven, which was heavily requested from the campaign, will be available via Fleet Battles and Dogfight. You can expect some upgrades on the familiar location that will not side with either the New Republic or the Empire. They are also adding some new components, which will help add something new while battling it out in space.

    That is not all, as the December update will include two brand new Starfighters. The New Republic will be equipped with the B-Wing, or also known as the Blade Wing. It got classified as a brand new Bomber-class. Tie Defenders will be joining the ranks of the Empire, which will act as a Fighter-class starfighter. The update will also include the ability to create custom matches. So, players will finally be allowed to create their match with unique modifiers for a new challenge.

     

     

    The developers ended the blog article with a thank you to the fans that come to love this game. As I said, I haven’t been one of the lucky ones to try it out yet but seeing this much passion by the developers certainly has gotten my interest. Also, these designs look fantastic, especially the new TIE Defender has my interest. My favorite part of the Battlefront franchise was being able to take control of one of the iconic starfighters. So, I think it is about time I give the game a shot so I can enjoy these new additions alongside everyone playing the game.

    Source: EA

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 11: The Significance of the Darksaber

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 11: The Significance of the Darksaber

    Three days after it debuted, the buzz around Chapter 11 of The Mandalorian remains significant. Bryce Dallas Howard’s episode packed a major punch and did so in in a short amount of time but it’s something that we didn’t see on screen that fans who aren’t extremely well-versed in Star Wars mythology might want to brush up on: the Darksaber.

    Darksaber The Mandalorian Explained - How Did Moff Gideon Get the Darksaber?

    If you watched Season One of The Mandalorian but have yet to catch up on The Clone Wars or Star Wars Rebels, two animated series whose events are now canonical, you have seen the Darksaber before, though to be fair, you might not have known what you were seeing when you saw it. In last season’s final episode, when Giancarlo Esposito’s Moff Gideon used the Darksaber to slice his way out of his downed Tie Fighter, fans of the show got a look at the weapon while hardcore fans lost their minds. I don’t recall Gideon saying, “let me bust out this Darksaber”, so you’re excused if you didn’t know that’s what it was but now we know the purpose of that scene was to establish that the weapon was in Gideon’s possession and now, thanks to one brief bit of dialogue in Chapter 11, we know that Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan wants to get her hands on it and is almost certainly on a collision course with Gideon. If you thought to yourself, “that looks like a black lightsaber”, you’d be correct. The Darksaber is in fact an old Jedi’s weapon and has a rich history, most of which has been told through The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels; however, now that it’s made it’s way into live-action along with Bo-Katan, who first appeared in The Clone Wars herself, it’s probably a good time to get a brief overview of the blade and why exactly Bo-Katan is after it.

    The Mandalorian reveals a fan-favorite character in season 2, episode 3 | EW.com

    Created by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian to become a Jedi, the Darksaber has changed hands quite a bit throughout its history and its power is certainly more symbolic than absolute. During the fall of the Old Republic, the weapon was “liberated” from the Jedi by Mandalorians belonging to House Vizsla and remained in their family for generations. When a civil war erupted on Mandalore between the pacifist regime led by Bo-Katan’s sister, Satine, and the traditional Mandalorian warriors, the pacifists prevailed and exiled the old school Mandos to the planet’s moon, Concordia. There Pre Vizsla, an ancestor of the Jedi, created a group of hardline warriors called the Death Watch who used and included Bo-Katan among their numbers. Led by Vizsla and the Darksaber, the Death Watch retook Mandalore, though as seems to be the way it goes on Mandalore, it didn’t last long. Later, during the Reign of the Empire that saw Mandalore under Imperial rule, another Mandalorian named Sabine Wren came into possession of the Darksaber and gave it Bo-Katan, who sought to use it as a symbol under which to unite the many splinter groups of Mandalorians and take back their planet from the Empire. At some point, Gideon took possession of the weapon and, as we saw in Chapter 11, Bo-Katan wants it back and hopes to finally restore Mandalore to its former glory.

    The Mandalorian's Bo-Katan And Her Connection To The Darksaber, Explained - CINEMABLEND

    Of course having the Darksaber come back into play just as Din Djarin comes face to face with the fact that he might just not know everything there is to know about Mandalore and Mandalorians was an incredibly clever move on Howard’s part because she has put the audience and Djarin in the same place moving forwards. Just as you and I have questions about the unknown history or Mandalore, so does our Mando and we’ll almost certainly come to understand them together.

  • ‘The Mandalorian’: Katee Sackhoff Teases Bo-Katan’s Darksaber Hunt

    ‘The Mandalorian’: Katee Sackhoff Teases Bo-Katan’s Darksaber Hunt

    The Mandalorian‘s latest episode gave us the live-action debut of Bo-Katan. Not just that but Katee Sackhoff returns to play the character she famously voiced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Rebels. It was probably one of the best adaptations we have seen from animation to live-action. Sadly, at the end of the episode, our favorite Mandalorian and child went their separate ways. Luckily, Sackhoff revealed in an interview with ET that we did not see the last of her by a longshot.

    She’s so important to the story in The Mandalorian and where it’s going.

    We all assumed that similar to the first season some of the characters will make their return in a later episode. Moff Gideon is after the child, so it wouldn’t be too surprising that their paths would cross. He is in the possession of the Darksaber that Bo-Katan is after, so we might see the various stories collide once again. She also teases that we might get to see a brand new side to the character.

    I think that there is a little piece of Bo-Katan that I don’t think you see coming. She’s got something else going on in her mind and everything she does is purposeful and I think that is something new for her.

    There is a good chance this is connected to the story between Moff and Bo-Katan. We do not know how he got into the possession of the fabled Darksaber. It could be connected to the events of the Great Purge, which may be shown in a later episode. There was also the rumor that she might be getting her very own spin-off series, which could explore that moment in history. The Mandalorian seems to be slowly expanding to all corners of Star Wars history. There was a tease that they took some inspiration from Game of Thrones, so maybe we’ll see the return of Mandalore in future episodes.

    Source: ET, CinemaBlend

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ CHAPTER 11: The Promise of Ahsoka

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ CHAPTER 11: The Promise of Ahsoka

    Chapter 11 of The Mandalorian will be a hard one to follow up. From what it might set up for Din Djarin’s arc to what it could mean for the franchise as a whole, it’s bound to be referenced as one of the most meaningful chapters of the series when it’s all said and done.

    Besides the live-action debut of Bo-Katan, one of the most significant moments we got was the mention of former Jedi Ahsoka Tano, and how Din Djarin is now on his way to meet her so she could assist in dealing with The Child. But even though everybody wants this encounter to happen as soon as possible, the series will most likely take its time and make us wait just a little bit longer. There are some details that hint at it, both in the footage we’ve already seen and the production information on who’s directing which episodes, something that entails that Ahsoka will have her own episode to shine in a couple of weeks.

    This next episode, Chapter 12, is set to be directed by Carl Weathers, who also plays Greef Karga, one of Mando’s returning allies. Since Weathers has been quoted in saying that this episode will allow him to go a bit deeper into his own character, it’s fair to assume that this could be the episode where most (if not all) of the trailer footage he was featured in came from. That would mean that Mando would be back in Nevarro, perhaps looking for parts to repair the Razor Crest to give himself a better chance of reaching the forest planet of Corvus in one piece, and could end up getting caught in an already developing conflict on the planet. An interesting possibility will be for him to cross paths with the Mythrol (portrayed by comedian Horatio Sanz) he captured in the first chapter of the series. All we know about him is that he was dropped off in Nevarro and that he had quite a few credits to his name. Since he also featured in the trailer footage there it is probable that Mando, alongside Karga and Cara Dune, may end up breaking him out, turning him into an ally in the fight against the remaining forces of the Empire.

    Another reason why Chapter 13 is all but assured to be the Ahsoka-centric one is that that will be the only episode this season that Dave Filoni will be both writing and directing. Filoni, who played X-Wing fighter pilot Trapper Wolf in chapters 6 and 10, is, amongst other things, the “father” of the Ahsoka character. He developed her during his tenure in The Clone Wars and later in Star Wars Rebels, and it makes sense for him to be the main voice behind her live-action debut. Having Filoni completely devoted to an entire episode at a time Ahsoka is due to make her first appearance makes it pretty obvious what that episode will be about.

    There is obviously the possibility of her showing up at the end of Chapter 12, making for an incredible cliffhanger as we wait for Chapter 13. But the way that the series didn’t play coy when mentioning her name as the Jedi Djarin should be go looking for, shows that the cat is already out of the bag, so there shouldn’t be any need for a surprise of that kind. We already know she is coming, and so her first appearance should come when it can be thoroughly developed and appreciated. The opposite point can obviously be made since that, for Filoni to truly have an entire episode to properly introduce Ahsoka to general audiences, she should be there from the start so as not to waste a single minute with the focus on something else. For that to happen, an appearance on the final seconds of Chapter 12 would be in order.

    Another interesting aspect of this next chapter of The Mandalorian is that it could probably show us the rest of the trailer footage that hasn’t yet been featured on any episode so far, thus making us go into the final half of the season with little to no visual references of what could be coming our way. If this does happen we’re sure to get some stormtrooper action, something that could bring Moff Gideon back into the frame (as we saw on the last episode), perhaps even making him follow Mando as he searches for Ahsoka. Gideon’s interest in Baby Yoda is certain to be related to him being force-sensitive, and having him meet up with a full-fledged former Jedi could make matters all the more interesting.

  • ‘The Mandalorian’ Latest Episode May Have Set Up The Third Season’s Arc

    ‘The Mandalorian’ Latest Episode May Have Set Up The Third Season’s Arc

    The Mandalorian just expanded their world once more, with the latest episode introducing some familiar faces. You can read more on it by checking out  João Pinto‘s latest entry by clicking here. He already covered most of the episode, so I want to take a look at what it may say about the future. Not too long ago, we got the reveal that Disney+ show’s third season was already entering production. What stood out, it was going to have the working title “Buccaneer” during production. The moment we read this news, we probably all had the same thought as Skyler Shuler did when he shared the news.

    As last time, keep in mind there are some mild spoilers in this article, so only continue at your own risk.

     

    Western films were the inspiration for the show’s initial direction. It wouldn’t be too surprising for them to diversify the genre as the show continues to grow. This way, it won’t become stale and can be reinvented to bring in a new audience. The latest episode teased the potential direction as we met Bo-Katan and her small team of Mandalorians. We get more insight into how Din’s creed is different from those that lived on Mandalore. It gave us some insight into how Mandalorian traditions have changed over the years especially after many wondered last season why Din couldn’t take off his helmet. It offered a lot more lore to finally connect The Mandalorian, The Clone Wars, and Rebels.

    What makes this episode stands out is how it already played around with new concepts. We spend some time in this episode at sea, where Din gets betrayed by his new captain. Just like previous episodes, this creates a visual connection to the main meat of the story after he is rescued by the previously-mentioned fellow Mandalorians, who he has been looking for throughout the season. The episode then takes that context to build the connection to the main focus of the Mandalorians hijacking a ship. If you combine this with the Mandalore history that got teased early on, it creates a potential set-up for where the series heads in its third season.

    I believe the third season will continue the arc set-up in this episode. Bo-Katan is aiming to retrieve the Darksaber so she can return to her home planet as their leader. She seems to be aware of Moff Gideon, so she might ask for his support in this mission. It would expand the cast to include a new ragtag team of Mandalorians that help Din and the Child on their quest. He becomes conflicted with the teachings of his creed while also fulfilling his mission. We might get our first live-action visit of Mandalore after they set out on their travels taking down one Empire ship after another. His own story will parallel with that of the Child, who is also on the search for his home.

    Source: DisInsider

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ CHAPTER 11: Welcome to the STAR WARS Cinematic Universe

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ CHAPTER 11: Welcome to the STAR WARS Cinematic Universe

    There are times when expectations can make certain moments pale in comparison with what was initially envisioned. Even though The Mandalorian‘s storyline was leading to this (with trailer footage helping connect the dots) CHapter 11 managed to surpass what we expected of not only the moment in question but also improve the idea behind the show itself.

    Even though we’ve already had several connections to other Star Wars events and characters through the previous ten episodes, this chapter felt like a pivotal point for the franchise. It was reminiscent of the post-credit scene of the first Iron Man when Nick Fury shows up at Tony’s Malibu mansion to say: “Mr. Stark, you’ve become part of a bigger universe; you just don’t know it yet.”. From that moment on, everyone knew things would change, not only for the Iron Man movies but for the idea of what we now know as the MCU could grow into one day. And that’s what Chapter 11 might mean for the Star Wars live-action universe going forward.

    We already had a fairly prominent character introduced in The Clone Wars (and later appearing on Rebels) show up in a live-action project in Saw Gerrera. He even cameoed in the game Star Wars Jedi: The Fallen Order. But the level of connectivity this episode brings to overarching storylines from other media that haven’t yet been completely disclosed, the weight of the characters now introduced in the overall Star Wars lore, the way it shifts the focus from the movies and the boundaries they set on themselves to what we could now be getting through Disney+ is a whole new ballgame

    What’s also of notice is the way the minds behind The Mandalorian managed to make it all seem so effortless, in a way, validating the choices made and the possibilities ahead. The idea of introducing characters with a massive backstory to new audiences might seem daunting to say the least, but they understood that there was no need for an exposition dump, where the audience had to endure a 5-minute crash course in 10 years of Star Wars content. Everything flowed naturally, with the interactions not being more than they had to be, making this one of the series’ best episodes yet in terms of pacing. Another hurdle surpassed was the consistency in taking cartoon characters and bringing them to live-action. There was no need to make things more grounded or more flashy. Trusting the source material was enough for everything to work, and the respect shown for it was palpable. If the series and, its future spin-offs, manage to keep the introduction of characters coming in from other corners of the universe so efficient, really adding to the story and then leaving the show equipped to lead their own show, the future is bright.

    By hitting it out of the park in more ways than one, Chapter 11 has shown the way for what Season 2 could end up becoming, with the certainty that what got achieved in this episode can and will be a focal point of what Star Wars can aspire to accomplish in the coming years. Long live (this) Star Wars.

  • Star Wars’ ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Who is Bo-Katan?

    Star Wars’ ‘THE MANDALORIAN’: Who is Bo-Katan?

    Ahead of The Mandalorian’s season 2, we give quick introductions to characters that have yet to debut on a live-action Star Wars project, but that most likely will show up on the Disney+ hit series in the coming weeks.

    During the Clone Wars, Mandalore, the homeworld of the Mandalorians, was ruled by Duchess Sarine Kryze, Bo-Katan’s sister. Not happy with her sister’s pacifist beliefs, she decides to join Pre Vizsla, the governor of Mandalore’s moon Concordia, and his Death Watch, that sought control of their planet to restore Mandalore’s warrior heritage. By doing so, and since Pre Vizsla had also made a pact with Darth Maul, she ended up helping to set in motion the events that lead to her sister’s demise.

    After Vizsla managed to successfully assume control of Mandalore, he turned on Maul, which leads to a death duel between the two. With Maul emerging victorious, killing Vizla, he would now be wielding the Madalore symbol of power: The Darksaber. Refusing to accept an outsider ruling over Mandalore, she escaped, but her sister, a close friend of Obi-Wan Kenobi, was murdered by Maul as he tried to lure his nemesis to deal with him once and for all. Bo-Katan manages to help Kenobi escape and then turned to both him and Ahsoka Tano for help in defeating Maul, their common enemy, and the Mandalorians that were still loyal to him. They eventually get behind her and support Bo-Katan’s Mandalorian forces as they regain control of Mandalore’s capital city, Sundari. The Republic took control over Mandalore to ensure a peaceful transition of power, but with the rise of Emperor Palpatine and by refusing to follow the Galactic Empire, Bo-Katan lost her position as Regent of Mandalore.

    A couple of decades later, while wielding the Darksaber once again, alongside rebel and fellow Mandalorian Sabine Wren she was able to destroy an Arc Pulse Generator, an Imperial weapon that managed to incinerate whoever was wearing an armor made out of beskar. She regained the trust of several of Mandalore’s clans, uniting them under a single banner. After the Great Purge, that saw the Empire coming into conflict with the Mandalorians, stripping them of their beskar, Moff Gideon managed to take possession of the Darksaber, and Bo-Katan’s fate remains unclear.

     

    For more details regarding The Mandalorian season two aswell as other Star Wars projects, check out the dedicated feature focused on the future of the Star Wars Universe.