Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast (2024)

09/07/2024

Things have taken a turn on The Acolyte, as a ruthless villain reveals himself — in more ways than one. In this episode, we discuss the middle act of The Acolyte, including a stunning fight on a forest planet and a fascinating dark-side seduction on a hidden world. We delve into Qimir’s insidious ideology, Mae’s messy behavior, and what, exactly, Osha could possibly be thinking. Plus, we’re nervous about Sol, and Haley has a food question.

Things have taken a turn on The Acolyte, as a ruthless villain reveals himself — in more ways than one. In this episode, we discuss the middle act of The Acolyte, including a stunning fight on…

17/06/2024

Three episodes in, The Acolyte is taking Star Wars in a bold new direction with fresh characters and a disturbing but thought-provoking premise. Join Eric, Grace, and Haley as we break down the complicated relationships between the main characters, debate the portrayal of an exiled witch coven, and try to predict where the show is heading. Grace is on a social media break, so it’s up to Eric and Haley to fill her in on the awful online discourse. And you won’t believe how long it takes Haley to bring up her newest space-food obsession.

Three episodes in, The Acolyte is taking Star Wars in a bold new direction with fresh characters and a disturbing but thought-provoking premise. Join Eric, Grace, and Haley as we break down the com…

28/05/2024

What’s it like being in love with a huge Star Wars nerd? To celebrate our fiftieth episode, we’re talking about the role that Star Wars plays in our personal lives, and we’re joined by three special guests: our partners. From first dates and pandemic TV marathons to naming cars and doing bad impressions, our significant others pull back the curtain on how our love of Star Wars manifests beyond the microphones of Hoth Takes. Plus, we ask our partners about galactic conspiracy theories and their best TV show pitches, and one of them asks a divisive question.

What’s it like being in love with a huge Star Wars nerd? To celebrate our fiftieth episode, we’re talking about the role that Star Wars plays in our personal lives, and we’re joined by three specia…

22/04/2024

Disney is following Tales of the Jedi with Tales of the Empire, opening up new opportunities for Tales anthologies focused on other corners of the galaxy. Given the recent focus on the dark side, we decided to pitch our best ideas for anthologies about our favorite overlooked villains. But what starts as an episode about a future Tales anthology quickly snowballs into a brainstorming session about much wackier concepts — and eventually, we come up with a Star Wars TV show so perfect that it genuinely annoys us that it will never exist.

Disney is following Tales of the Jedi with Tales of the Empire, opening up new opportunities for Tales anthologies focused on other corners of the galaxy. Given the recent focus on the dark side, w…

12/03/2024

With the upcoming Star Wars TV show The Acolyte in the news recently, Eric and Grace sit down to discuss their hopes and expectations for the franchise’s first mystery thriller. We talk about the storytelling potential of a wide-open time period, the challenges of humanizing villains without glorifying them, and whether and how Disney will use the show to plant the seeds of the prequels. Plus, inspired by The Acolyte’s mature tone, we have a mini-debate about whether there’s room in Star Wars for stories that cross two very big lines.

With the upcoming Star Wars TV show The Acolyte in the news recently, Eric and Grace sit down to discuss their hopes and expectations for the franchise’s first mystery thriller. We talk about the s…

14/02/2024

For as long as the stars have been warring, they’ve also been loving. So why has the Disney era of Star Wars had noticeably fewer romances, including multiple frustrating missed opportunities in the sequel trilogy? To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we’re diving into the topic of romance in Star Wars. We explore the challenges of writing romantic relationships, the factors that might be discouraging Disney from emphasizing love stories, and how Star Wars has succeeded and failed at romance, from Hera and Kanan’s heartwarming bond to Anakin and Padme’s toxic codependency to Rose and Finn’s weird surprise kiss. Plus, in a conversation that reveals a lot about ourselves, we each pick the Star Wars character we’d most like to marry.

For as long as the stars have been warring, they’ve also been loving. So why has the Disney era of Star Wars had noticeably fewer romances, including multiple frustrating missed opportunities in th…

25/01/2024

You can tell a lot about a person’s Star Wars fandom by what they put on a top-five list. In this episode, Eric, Grace, and Haley share, explain, and defend their five favorite examples of various Star Wars themes, debating the best criteria to use and the most controversial omissions from each other’s lists. As we discuss the reasons for certain inclusions and exclusions, we revisit memories from our own journeys with Star Wars, from childhood wonder at a senatorial outfit to adult awe at a special space food. You might be able to predict some of our list-making choices, but we guarantee you’re in for a few surprises.

You can tell a lot about a person’s Star Wars fandom by what they put on a top-five list. In this episode, Eric, Grace, and Haley share, explain, and defend their five favorite examples of various …

30/11/2023

We’re wrapping up our discussion of Ahsoka’s first season with a look at the secondary characters and B-plots that tied the show together. Did Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati break new ground as villains? How much did Hera even matter to the story? And did the series do a good job of exploring the nuances of New Republic galactic security debates, in which our warrior heroes are often working against democracy? For the most part, Eric, Grace, and Haley weren’t impressed, but there’s some disagreement about how successfully these characters and storylines were executed. Plus, Haley tells Eric about a wild Ahsoka fan theory that dredges up one of the weirdest things to come out of the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

We’re wrapping up our discussion of Ahsoka’s first season with a look at the secondary characters and B-plots that tied the show together. Did Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati break new ground as villain…

27/10/2023

The Disney+ series Ahsoka debuted to high expectations, but did it do justice to the fan-favorite Star Wars characters that it revisited? For Eric, Grace, and Haley, the answer — at least when it comes to three of the show’s most important characters — is no. Join us as we dig into what worked and what didn’t with Ahsoka’s portrayals of Ahsoka Tano herself, Sabine Wren, and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Eric and Grace disagree about the value of the World Between Worlds sequence, Grace and Haley disagree about the merits of Sabine wanting to be a Jedi, and we’re all mad about how Ezra and Sabine’s long-awaited reunion played out. Plus: Should Ezra have been more like Yoda? And what if Sabine is a lot like Superman?

The Disney+ series Ahsoka debuted to high expectations, but did it do justice to the fan-favorite Star Wars characters that it revisited? For Eric, Grace, and Haley, the answer — at least when it c…

30/09/2023

There are hot takes, and then there are truly hoth takes. In this episode, Wired security reporter Lily Hay Newman returns to Hoth Takes to defend one of the most controversial Star Wars claims we’ve ever heard: that The Book of Boba Fett was a good TV show. Lily loved how the show played with different forms of storytelling, and she came away from it with a newfound interest in Boba Fett. But here on Hoth Takes, she has some explaining to do. How does she respond to Eric and Grace’s complaints about the Din Djarin and Grogu interludes and the unceremonious slaughter of the Tusken Raiders? What does she have to say about the mod parlor’s cheap resurrection trick? And what can she possibly mean by comparing The Book of Boba Fett to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?

There are hot takes, and then there are truly hoth takes. In this episode, Wired security reporter Lily Hay Newman returns to Hoth Takes to defend one of the most controversial Star Wars claims we’…

30/08/2023

How do you tell a story of change without alienating fans who like things the way they are? Disney has faced this dilemma multiple times since buying Star Wars, and the results haven’t always been impressive. From Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi to Ahsoka Tano in her new Disney+ series, storytellers have struggled to depict characters growing and changing while maintaining the core traits that made those characters so popular. In this episode, New Republic staff writer Matt Ford joins Eric and Grace to talk about how Disney should tell bold new stories without trampling on fan expectations. We compare Luke and Yoda’s journeys into exile, contrast Andor with The Book of Boba Fett, and debate the necessity of the big canon reboot. Plus, Matt explains why J.J. Abrams seemed like a natural choice to thread the needle of evolving beloved characters in the sequel trilogy — until it all went wrong.

How do you tell a story of change without alienating fans who like things the way they are? Disney has faced this dilemma multiple times since buying Star Wars, and the results haven’t always been …

13/07/2023

We’re just about a month away from the premiere of Ahsoka, the live-action series that will continue the story of Star Wars Rebels, give Grand Admiral Thrawn his long-awaited live-action debut, and set up a cinematic Mando-Verse crossover in a battle for the fate of the New Republic. But here at Hoth Takes, we might be more nervous than excited about Ahsoka. In this episode, Eric, Grace, and Haley discuss their hopes, fears, and expectations for the series, from how characters will be portrayed to how the story will unfold. Grace is worried about montrals and lekku, Haley wants to return to a mystical realm, and Eric is eager to see Thrawn and Ezra Bridger spend some quality time together. We also discuss what Sabine Wren and Hera Syndulla are up to, how important Ahsoka Tano will be in her own show, and the unavoidable pitfalls of live-action adaptations of animated series.

We’re just about a month away from the premiere of Ahsoka, the live-action series that will continue the story of Star Wars Rebels, give Grand Admiral Thrawn his long-awaited live-action debut, and…

19/06/2023

Disney is closing the Galactic Starcruiser, its immersive Star Wars hotel in Orlando, Florida, and here at the Hoth Takes podcast, we have some great ideas for what should replace it. But as you’ll hear, only one of us focused on practical suggestions. The others…well, their ideas have to be heard to be believed. In this episode, we’re talking Resistance missions in kitchens, hotels based on the galaxy’s most dangerous planets, time-traveling political hitjobs, and a Star Wars twist on an iconic culinary adventure. We get equal parts wacky and depraved as we pitch Disney’s Imagineers on the most ambitious, legally irresponsible Star Wars theme-park attractions you’ll ever encounter.

Disney is closing the Galactic Starcruiser, its immersive Star Wars hotel in Orlando, Florida, and here at the Hoth Takes podcast, we have some great ideas for what should replace it. But as you’ll…

04/05/2023

Now that The Mandalorian season 3 is over, let’s look back at its story arcs, character choices, and major themes and consider how successful it was. For Eric and Grace, the short answer is: not very successful. In this episode, they discuss Din and Grogu’s bond, Bo-Katan’s path to victory, New Republic and Imperial Remnant world-building, Moff Gideon’s return, and some of the season’s lighter moments. Eric comes up with an ingenious use for an AI image-generation tool, Grace defends a light-hearted detour from the main story, and the two of them disagree about a politics-heavy episode.

Now that The Mandalorian season 3 is over, let’s look back at its story arcs, character choices, and major themes and consider how successful it was. For Eric and Grace, the short answer is: not ve…

14/04/2023

Disney made some big announcements about the future of Star Wars at the recent Celebration convention in London. This time on Hoth Takes, we share our hopes, fears, predictions, and questions about each of the upcoming projects. How will fans react to Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order? Can Dave Filoni save his Mando-Verse crossover movie from Marvel-like synergy fatigue? How weird and mystical will the “dawn of the Jedi” movie get? Plus, we’re fascinated by the reported vibe of The Acolyte, Haley is already scared for the children of Skeleton Crew, and Grace is worried about some not-so-subtle hints in the Ahsoka trailer.

Disney made some big announcements about the future of Star Wars at the recent Celebration convention in London. This time on Hoth Takes, we share our hopes, fears, predictions, and questions about…

24/03/2023

How should the New Republic rebuild after the events of the sequel trilogy? In this episode, we debate issues like galactic representation, collective security, and planetary rights as we try to design the ideal structure for the new government. Does the New Republic need a big military? Should it go back to rotating its capital planet? How should it interface with the new Jedi Order? There are disagreements aplenty in this episode of Hoth Takes. Plus, Grace questions the very need for a galactic government, and Haley asks a provocative question about Force knowledge.

How should the New Republic rebuild after the events of the sequel trilogy? In this episode, we debate issues like galactic representation, collective security, and planetary rights as we try to de…

28/02/2023

The success of Andor has created a new benchmark for quality Star Wars storytelling. But what lessons can Disney actually learn from Andor? What does its popularity tell us about the kinds of Star Wars stories that can succeed? And what does its success imply about the strengths and weaknesses of Disney’s existing Star Wars strategy? In this episode, we explore the perils of open-ended television series, the pitfalls of Disney’s risk aversion, and the challenges posed by cameos and synergy. Plus, we discuss how dark Star Wars can get, how to balance iconic Star Wars trappings with new settings and points of view, and how Disney can branch out into new genres and formats.

The success of Andor has created a new benchmark for quality Star Wars storytelling. But what lessons can Disney actually learn from Andor? What does its popularity tell us about the kinds of Star …

08/02/2023

Recent Star Wars projects like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor have shown us the strengths and weaknesses of the Imperial surveillance state. But how effective are the Empire’s cameras, databases, and scanners, and how well do storytellers justify the failure of this technology to snare our heroes and stamp out the Rebellion? In this episode, Wired security reporter Lily Hay Newman joins Eric and Grace to discuss the depiction of surveillance in Star Wars. We discuss how the franchise has to adhere to its roots in the technological imagination of the 1970s, how the scale of the galaxy and the complexity of the Imperial bureaucracy might undermine an effective panopticon, and how mod parlors and other tricks can defeat surveillance. Plus, Grace and Eric offer some creative explanations for why Imperial security cameras aren’t constantly alerting Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker’s location.

Recent Star Wars projects like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor have shown us the strengths and weaknesses of the Imperial surveillance state. But how effective are the Empire’s cameras, databases, and sca…

22/12/2022

Andor won critical acclaim for its gritty and nuanced portrayal of rebellion in Star Wars, but what makes its depiction of insurgency so special? In this episode, The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer joins Eric, Grace, and Haley to discuss how faith and revenge motivate rebellion throughout Star Wars, how Luthen’s approach to insurrection sets him apart, how class shapes the goals and decisions of Andor’s rebel and Imperial characters, and what the show says about the role of radical revolutionary violence. Plus, we compare Andor to Star Wars Rebels, Adam makes the case that Andor wants us to think Luthen is a fugitive Jedi, and we discuss a curious theory about two droids being one.

Andor won critical acclaim for its gritty and nuanced portrayal of rebellion in Star Wars, but what makes its depiction of insurgency so special? In this episode, The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer joins E…

06/12/2022

Andor season 1 ended with a triumphant run of episodes, and we’re here to break down all the greatness, from the cutthroat political maneuvering to the epic brawls, riots, and space battles to whatever’s going on with Dedra Meero and Syril Karn. Eric fanboys over Mon Mothma, Grace talks about familial love putting Cassian over the edge, and Haley discusses the genius of making Dedra sympathetic and relatable before showing her dark side. We also talk Andy Serkis, Ferrix funerals, Luthen’s all-around bossness, and Nemik’s manifesto. Plus: Hats off to Syril and Sergeant Mosk for having the best villain bromance in all of Star Wars.

Andor season 1 ended with a triumphant run of episodes, and we’re here to break down all the greatness, from the cutthroat political maneuvering to the epic brawls, riots, and space battles to what…

01/11/2022

Eight episodes into Andor, we keep finding more things to love. Join us as we discuss the Disney+ series’ surprisingly stark treatment of the surveillance state, police brutality, and the prison-industrial complex, tackling issues that Star Wars has either ignored or relegated to the background. We also cover Diego Luna’s extraordinarily expressive face, the many layers of Mon Mothma, the intimate portrayal of Imperial oppression, and the villains we almost want to root for. This series is so good that even Grace’s mom is loving it. Enough said.

Eight episodes into Andor, we keep finding more things to love. Join us as we discuss the Disney+ series’ surprisingly stark treatment of the surveillance state, police brutality, and the prison-in…

04/10/2022

We’re one-third of the way through Andor’s first season, and so far, things are looking incredibly good. In this episode, Eric and Grace break down how Andor is hitting all the right notes, from its grounded setting and its darker tone to its nuanced portrayals of heroes, villains, and everyday people. We talk about Mon Mothma’s unexpected vulnerability, the office politics of the Imperial Security Bureau, and Andor’s unflinching depictions of surveillance, migration, and insurgency. Plus, we explore the series’ smart integration of Easter eggs and celebrate production-design choices large and small.

We’re one-third of the way through Andor’s first season, and so far, things are looking incredibly good. In this episode, Eric and Grace break down how Andor is hitting all the right notes, from it…

19/09/2022

Podracing: to paraphrase Qui-Gon, it’s very fast, very dangerous, and very possibly the best sequence in The Phantom Menace. In this episode, Daily Beast congressional reporter Sam Brodey joins us to discuss the podrace sequence’s uniquely excellent world-building, the racers’ bizarre backstories, and the high-octane competition’s best sound effects and strangest moments. Plus, we celebrate Fode and Beed, pitch ideas for a podracing mini-series on Disney+, and mourn Ratts Tyerell — gone but not forgotten.

Podracing: to paraphrase Qui-Gon, it’s very fast, very dangerous, and very possibly the best sequence in The Phantom Menace. In this episode, Daily Beast congressional reporter Sam Brodey joins us …

12/09/2022

How will the new Disney+ series Andor balance its ambition to be a political thriller about insurgency and migration with its imperative to serve a mass audience and respect Star Wars’ kid-friendly roots? In this episode, Eric, Grace, and Haley discuss their hopes and expectations for Andor, including a spotlight on Mon Mothma, an exploration of Imperial loyalism, and a focus on more grounded heroes. Plus, we digest a revelation about Mon’s past, ponder Tony Gilroy’s promise of journalist representation, cheer for Andor’s escape from the Volume, and consider whether the show is destined to be another battlefront in the culture war.

How will the new Disney+ series Andor balance its ambition to be a political thriller about insurgency and migration with its imperative to serve a mass audience and respect Star Wars’ kid-friendly…

09/08/2022

We’re mixing things up in this episode of Hoth Takes and turning the reins over to a special guest: Washington Post health-care reporter Dan Diamond. Dan, a self-admitted Star Wars novice, asks us a series of pressing questions about the galaxy far, far away, from how people get their news to why stormtroopers can’t hit anything. We also discuss the role of Star Wars in the real world, including why there’s so much anger in fandom and whether someday, far off in the future, Star Wars will become an actual religion. Plus, we try to convince a skeptical Dan of the majesty of Cad Bane (and his hat).

We’re mixing things up in this episode of Hoth Takes and turning the reins over to a special guest: Washington Post health-care reporter Dan Diamond. Dan, a self-admitted Star Wars novice, asks us …

26/07/2022

Now that we’ve had plenty of time to digest the second half of Obi-Wan Kenobi, we’re diving into how everything went down and whether the series lived up to its potential. From Obi-Wan and Anakin flashbacks to Reva’s secret agenda, find out what we thought worked and what disappointed us. Plus, Haley gives us a new way to think about the finale’s Star Wars Rebels ripoff (perhaps “homage” is a better term?), and we pour one out for Tera Sinube.

Now that we’ve had plenty of time to digest the second half of Obi-Wan Kenobi, we’re diving into how everything went down and whether the series lived up to its potential. From Obi-Wan and Anakin f…

18/07/2022

Who’s your favorite Jedi? In this episode, Eric and Haley make their cases for two very different characters — one young and irreverent, one experienced and solemn. What can Ezra Bridger teach us about the Jedi quest for selflessness amid the temptations of family, home, and power? And how much was Mace Windu to blame for the success of Darth Sidious’ plan to corrupt Anakin Skywalker? From Loth-wolves to Sith holocrons to dangerous lightsaber fighting styles, the stories of Ezra and Mace are full of complex, fascinating dilemmas about Jedi identity and purpose, and in this episode, we dive into how they tackle those challenges. Plus: What might be next for Ezra? And if Mace is somehow still alive, what should be next for him?

Who’s your favorite Jedi? In this episode, Eric and Haley make their cases for two very different characters — one young and irreverent, one experienced and solemn. What can Ezra Bridger teach us a…

27/06/2022

He’s one of the most popular characters in all of Star Wars, immortalized in countless action figures and endless fan art. But what makes Darth Vader so cool and interesting? Why can’t fans ever get enough stories about him? With Vader back in the spotlight thanks to the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, Eric and Grace explore Anakin Skywalker’s journey from selfish downfall to selfless redemption and discuss the Star Wars stories that best capture his dark essence. We talk about how Ezra Bridger and Ahsoka Tano see Vader very differently in a pivotal Star Wars Rebels episode, how Vader’s team-up with Grand Admiral Thrawn reveals a different side of the Dark Lord, and how he’s endlessly fascinating in the original trilogy thanks to his enigmatic presence and subordinate role.

He’s one of the most popular characters in all of Star Wars, immortalized in countless action figures and endless fan art. But what makes Darth Vader so cool and interesting? Why can’t fans ev…

06/06/2022

We’re halfway through the new Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, and here at the Hoth Takes podcast, Young Leia is giving us life. But while there’s a lot to love in these first three episodes — Ewan McGregor’s performance, the depiction of Darth Vader, and everything Leia — we still have some questions. Haley is surprised that Obi-Wan hasn’t gotten up to much in the ten years after Revenge of the Sith, Grace doesn’t think the show has justified its existence yet, and Eric is concerned about a major canon contradiction. Plus, Inquisitors are so extra, that space trucker just wants some order, and Eric tries to explain the deep-cut Easter egg that most people probably missed.

We’re halfway through the new Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, and here at the Hoth Takes podcast, Young Leia is giving us life. But while there’s a lot to love in these first three episodes — Ewan M…

13/05/2022

Star Wars meets politics in this episode as Eric and Haley discuss how the Republic government should be rebuilt after the sequel trilogy. How much control should it have over planetary affairs? Should it have an active military? How should law enforcement be handled? What should the government’s relationship with the Jedi be? And speaking of the Jedi, what should they look like in this new era? Haley wants to see some Force civics education, and Eric thinks the Republic needs a House of Representatives. Join us as we wrestle with big questions of galactic political science, some of them pretty familiar to us here on Earth.

Star Wars meets politics in this episode as Eric and Haley discuss how the Republic government should be rebuilt after the sequel trilogy. How much control should it have over planetary affairs? Sh…

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast