A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

A long time ago in a galaxy, far far away... there was a spaceship with a princess and a pair of droids and a malevolence dressed in black. There was a desert world with two suns and a farm boy whose only chance at escaping the planet's gravity was a wizard who lived out in the hills and couple of smugglers looking for a big payday. And there was something grey--aggressively grey--a sphere in the darkness of space, blocking out the stars, lighting up envy green, and insisting on its own place in the orbits of galactic lives.

We've come to the end of Matt Stover's (p)re-telling of Revenge of the Sith, and it has raised a lot more questions than it answered (which isn't, necessarily, a bad thing). Questions like: "Why does Anakin say things like that?" and "How do I know that's a baby?" and, maybe most importantly, "Padme who?" 

NEXT TIME: STAR WARS

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Show Notes

Four Reasons Yoda Failed as a CEO

Common Cyborg

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.s...

We return to the final days of the old Republic. But not the Old Republic. That's different, now, that's like... an even older time before all this. Anyway, the Battle of Coruscant has concluded and its heroes, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi can finally come home for a little rest. And a little scheming. And a little paranoia. The Jedi Council members spin their wheels despite having all the clues. Palpatine spins the world around his finger. And Padme, Anakin's Wife (remember this), is also there.

Next Time: The Rest of the Book

Show Notes<...

This is A More Civilized Age:

Three hours of podcast when another team would make an hour and a half. Distractions. Diatribes. Deep dives into the databanks to learn, live on air, factoids about characters who hardly matter. But that's what makes A More Civilized Age A More Civilized Age: All of it might matter. Five years running and it's still asking questions a first year podcast might. 

And today it is going to learn what it already knew: That Anakin Skywalker is driven by love and fear in equal, but precarious measure. That Obi-Wan Ke...

When I went to post this episode, I went through all the motions necessary to post it as a Patreon bonus before remembering: "Oh no, wait, did we actually watch this chaotic mess for the main feed?"  That's how bonkers this 1978 variety show is. So get ready to have your mind evaporated by this neutron bomb of content as we head to the Wookiee Planet on this very special Life Day. 

Next Time: Matthew Stover's Revenge of the Sith Novelization, Part One: Victory (Chapters 1 - 7)

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

...

With the Ravager in pieces, Telos seemingly saved, and an army of HK-51s unleashed, the Exile and the (remaining) crew of the Ebon Hawk heads to the place where it all began: Malachor V. There, at the end of a multi-level dungeon and a couple of boss fights, the two remaining Sith Lords stand in wait. And in classic KOTOR II fashion, what they have to offer is tantalizing, memorable, and famously unfinished.

And that's that for KOTOR II. Thank you for coming on this amazing journey. We can't wait to kick off a new series...

After a climactic confrontation on Dantooine, the Exile and the (remaining) crew of the Ebon Hawk return to Telos, chasing after the Handmaiden and Kreia. There, the Handmaiden faces down her sisters, the Exile comes face to face with Atris (if that is still her name), and HK-47 fights his way through a factory of hostility-ending droids. Then, above Telos, war breaks out. Darth Nihlus arrives at the helm of his corpse-of-a-ship, the Ravager, hoping to find a buffet of Jedi to devour. Instead he finds only his old disciple, a pissed off Mandalorian warlord, and a once-exiled Jedi.<...

With three of the missing Jedi Masters found, the Exile, Kreia, and the rest of the Ebon Hawk's ad hoc (ad hawk?) crew finally head towards the ancient Sith world of Korriban. There they find... well, mostly the same planet that Revan and co. left behind a few years ago, albeit a little more decrepit than usual. Then, its back to Dantooine to confront the reconvened Jedi Council and finally get some long promised answers.

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin...

The Exile and the crew of the Ebon Hawk return to Dxun at the behest of Jedi Master Kevar, loyal guardian of Onderon's queen. Onderon itself is at war, and like everything else in KOTOR 2, this crisis could spiral out of control and destabilize the wider galaxy if things go bad. And that's why the Exile and co will need to split into two teams, finally kill a bunch of Sith randos, and spend like an hour doing basic algebra and deeply confusing logic puzzles.

Show Notes

<...

With two new party members in tow (and some dark secrets about our old crew newly learned), the Exile heads back to the first of two locales originally visited by Revan and co. during KOTOR 1: Dantooine. The old Jedi Enclave lays in ruins from a Sith attack towards the end of the last war, and the newly emerging government finds itself needing to serve three factions: fearful farmers, bored mercenaries, and sneaky salvagers. And none of them are big fans of Jedi. 

Also, we meet one of the biggest herbs in the galaxy.

Next Time: R...

We bring Nar Shaddaa to a close as our Exiles fight their way through a secret criminal HQ before being whisked away to the cloaked ship of the mysterious Exchange leader, Goto. Then, after some real table top dungeon crawl hijinks, we come face to face with the first of our missing Jedi...

Next Time: Dantooine, Pt. 1 (We haven't figured out a stopping point yet! We'll announce on Bluesky later this week!)

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker...

With their work on Onderon stalled out, the Exile and the Ebon Hawk head to the smuggler's moon, Nar Shadaa in search of Jedi Master Zez-Kai Ell. Instead, they find the densest planet in the game, overflowing with side quests, NPCs that seems to exist just for flavor, and some of the most aggressive dark side options yet.

Next time: Finish up Nar Shaddaa!

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social...

You can watch Austin play through this section of the game right here.

With a ride secured from Mandalore, the Exile and the crew of the Ebon Hawk arrive to a world on the brink of civil war between an ineffectual and inexperienced queen and an authoritarian general, both of whom are vaguely populist. Anyway, that's not what's important. What's important is running between the same two maps four times so that we can solve a murder mystery.

Ah, with every new session, this game becomes more and more KOTOR.

Next Time: Nar...

You can watch Austin play through this section of the game right here.

In search of the missing Jedi Masters, the Exile and the crew of the Ebon Hawk head towards Onderon. I say "towards" Onderon because before they land, they're driven to the nearby beast moon of Dxun. And that's not the worst of it: Before they can enter the jungles and reconnect with one a series' favorite... they first have to spend a full two hours basically just talking to various crew members, new and old. Whoops.

Next Time: Finish up Onderon!

You can watch Austin play through this section of the game right here.

The Exile and their companions delve into the abandoned military bunker on the surface of Telos in search of a shuttle that can, potentially, bring them to whoever has stolen the Ebon Hawk. And oh, what a "whoever" that turns out to be...

Show Notes

Invisible Headgear Mod

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Chia Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

You can watch Austin play through this section of the game right here.

This week, our various Jedi exiles are forced to pick a side in ongoing dispute on Citadel Station. Should we back the new age-y Ithorians who have a little knowledge, a lot of heart, and no resourcing? Or well-funded, profit-minded (put poorly budgeted) Czerka? Hard choice, I know. But what if I told you that one of these pathways introduces one of the greatest droids of all time...

Next Time: The Underground Base, the Polar Plateau, and the Secret Acadmey

...

You can watch Austin play through this section of the game right here.

With Peragus behind us, the Exile takes some time to chat with Kreia, Atton, and T3-M4 before heading to the nearest safe port: Citadel Station, a city orbiting the ruined planet of Telos. There, the group run into some cops, deal with an assassin, and finally focus on the three most important things in KOTOR: 1. Talking. 2. Shopping. 3. Minigames. 

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Show Notes

Kreia & Atton F...

You can watch Austin play through this section of the game right here.

After T3-M4 and 3C-FD (who we're all sure will be very important throughout the game) managed to repair the Ebon Hawk, it and its unconscious crewmembers--the so called "last of the Jedi" and a mysterious robed woman named Kreia--have come to in the abandoned Peragus Mining Facility. Well. Mostly abandoned. There is the matter of the sneering (but surprisingly aware) scoundrel Atton... and the droids. So many droids. Hallways and hallways of droids. Now if only we could get a lift off this st...

As we announced last week, today we're diving headfirst into Knights of the Old Republic II, Obsidian's follow-up to the BioWare game that dug into the ancient history of our favorite galaxy far, far away. (Though before we dig into that, we talk more about that announcement from last week to try to share some of our thoughts and process about getting where we got.)

Because KOTOR II is a pretty big meal, we took our time today to set the table. We dig into our characters, the state of the galaxy after KOTOR II, the mods...

A More Civilized Age will not be covering Andor Season 2 as planned, due the the ongoing boycott of Disney Plus by the BDS Movement.

This is a surprise to us, as it is likely to you and some explanation is required. Last year, the BDS movement targeted Disney Plus for boycott on the grounds that it has cast Israeli actors in its films who have been cultural ambassadors for Israel and do not support the Palestinian cause for liberation or justice. Additionally, Marvel films have made use of characters who have a history in the comics of...

It took us a little bit longer than we planned, but we've done it: We finished Rebels. And hey, in the process we sort of learned that time is sort of a malleable thing anyway, right? So kick back and enjoy this finale--and this final episode before the Spring of Syril kicks off in earnest.

That's right: We're covering Andor Season 2 as it releases, with our new episodes releasing on MONDAY every week from now until the show finishes. We haven't seen any of it yet, but early buzz seems great, and we cannot WAIT to feast...

Since the middle of season 3, the crew of the Ghost--none more than Ezra Bridger--has been begging Rebel Alliance command to send a unit to liberate his home world of Lothal. Finally, with a little help from an old underworld friend (not that one) they're doing it. But instead of knocking down the Empire... they end up knocking on a mysterious door.

Next Time: The rest of Rebels! 73 & 74 (A Fools Hope and Family Reunion -- and Farewell)

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Show Notes

Balalyka's Letterboxed List of...

A clever mix of stakes material and spiritual? A return to Lothal, only to find it terribly transformed under the industrial violence of the Empire? A series of episodes where Ezra and Sabine really click as complementary characters? Oh, we are so back. And we won't even let the kind of forgettable (but basically enjoyable) fourth episode of this set bring us down.

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Next Time: Rebels 68 - 71 (Rebel Assault, Jedi Knight, DUME, and Wolves and a Door)

Show Notes

Hosted by...

The final season of Rebels starts with a bang: a pair of excellent two-parters, giving us some of the best action and most exciting character dialog we've had in the whole show. And hey: We finally get to learn what the hell the deal is with the damned Beskerator.

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Next Time: Rebels 64 - 67 (The Occupation, Flight of the Defender, Kindred, Crawler Commandeers)

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), A...

Rebels Season 3 comes to a close with a trio of episodes that demonstrates just how far the Star Wars Animation team has come as a group of visual storytellers. Twin Suns brings us to Tatooine as hostile and hopeless as its ever been seen for a final confrontation between two series standbys (and a totally fine Ezra arc about family and fate). Zero Hour gives us Thrawn at the height of victory and vulnerability. The stage is set for the final season... which we'll be bringing to you over the next two months in four episode chunks, so that...

After finally giving us some solid Sabine time, Rebels is now zooming back out to get a broader view of the ongoing conflict--and, of course, a one off comedy episode about a droid. And hey, good news, not only do these episodes manage to deliver some great character beats, not only do they bring us a dramatic look inside of our favorite slowly radicalizing senator, Mon Mothma, not only do they provide one of the most magical (and musical?) moments of Star Wars... they're also really good! 

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

For three and a half seasons, Rebels has been teasing us Sabine backstory. Finally, this week, we get the details behind that backstory... at least most of them. And hey, they're pretty good! Sure would've been great if they'd gotten them to us sooner, so that we could've, you know, thought about how the events of the show intersected her history. Still, a much needed showcase for Sabine, and hopefully a good sign of things to come.

Oh. And Zeb has some droid hijinks. 

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

N...

It has been nearly 5 months since we last visited the crew of the Ghost, but finally, we are back. Today, we return to Geonosis... which is.... uhhhhh.... mysteriously empty? Shouldn't there be like... millions of giant bugs here? Instead, it looks like there's only one... itty bitty Geonosian and maybe the most cartoonishly wicked version of Saw Gerrera that we've seen yet. Oh well. At least Sabine gets to do some cool jetpack tricks.

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Next Time: Rebels 51-53 (Warhead, Trials of the Dark Saber, & Legacy of...

Here we are with our final episode of the Thrawn trilogy! Secrets: revealed! Clones: showing up! Devious plans: thwarted!! 

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Next Time: We FINALLY return to Rebels!

And a heads up next for patreons--we'll be skipping Q&A this month for holidays! But next month we'll do a Q&A AND an episode on Skeleton Crew! Send your questions about Thrawn on over to amorecivilizedage at gmail dot com :) 

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Aust...

What awaits us for our one hundredth episode? Oh, the normal things: Smugglers being manipulated. Dark Jedi making power moves, and regular jedi offering therapy services. Clever tactical maneuvers using cloaked asteroids. Oh, and of course, a collection of trees that are not to be trusted.

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Next Time: We finish the Thrawn Trilogy

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

This week, we crack the spine on the final book of Timothy Zahn's franchise-extending Thrawn trilogy, and wow, what a doozy it is. The Dark Force is no longer Rising, it's risen, and that means the pedal is down and the plot is going full speed. Talon Karrde is meeting with smugglers. Luke bounces all across the galaxy. Lando's walking city is in ruins. Han and Leia's kids are here, and they have visitors, invited and otherwise? And Mara Jade? Well, she's wide awake and getting ready to do the things she does best: Pout and kill people.

We return on this... historic... day... to wrap up the second entry in Timothy Zahn's franchise redefining Thrawn Trilogy. And when you hit the final third of a Star Wars story, you know what that means: Revelations! Compelling heart-to-heart confrontations! And, of course, a giant space battle to put a button on everything. 

Will Thrawn take another L, or have his ships finally come in?

NEXT TIME: The Last Command Ch. 1 - 10

Show Notes

It is all happening this week: Han reverts to a flustered school boy in the face of Corellian local legend. Luke gets a new teacher, and the vibes are more off than ever before. Leia connects with her dad's favorite slave race. And Mara Jade finds herself compelled to help a boy she just.... GRRR... she hates him!!!

Has Star Wars ever been this good? 

NEXT TIME: Dark Force Rising Ch. 22 - 29

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by...

There's good news and then there's great news. Good news is stuff like "Within a few chapters, we meet an entirely new sort of weirdo in Dark Force Rising." Good news is "In these chapters we realize that Luke and Lando have impeccable chemistry." Good news is the phrase "Senator Palpatine's Advisor."

Great news? Well. Great news is: "Natalie Watson has returned to the podcast.

Next Time:  Dark Force Rising (Chapters 11 - 21)

Show Notes

Jason Alexander Passes the Mafia Test

Featuring Alicia A...

A flailing republic. A re-emerging imperial armada. A dark jedi, eager to corrupt the next generation of force users. All of it pales in comparison to the most pressing crisis of of the year 9 ABY: The most awkward and stressful dinner party of all time.

Step aside Luke and Mara. Take a pause, Han Solo. Leia, we'll come back to you and your Wookiee drama in a second. Admiral who? Coudln't care less. Because right now--and forever--it's Karrde time baby.

Next time: TBD, we'll announce on socials!

Show Notes

Our coverage continues on Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire, deeper into Thrawn's devious web of manipulation and galactic dominance. How do our trio of heroes fare, divided across the galaxy, facing down their own unique conflicts? Well, uhhh unfortunately kinda sauceless! And don't even get us started on the dinner plans!! Or, well, we do get started and talk about it at length--that's podcasting, baby!! And for those at home who hoped we'd listen to the audio books for more context: you're in luck! Did we fix our pronounciation of names as a result? Sure didn't!!

O...

PIVOT!

With Natalie on a short medical leave, the crew here at AMCA has made a decision. We've revisited your requests for what non-mainline content we could cover and decided to cover the second place candidate for what became our KOTOR series.

That's right: It's THRAWN TIME baby! (That's his catchphrase, right?) So join us as we kick off our run through the Timothy Zahn trilogy that ushered in the old EU. First up: A depressed Luke, a galactic government that fits in a high school classroom, an Alien with a cat-lizard boa, and a...

Have three episodes ever more represented the breadth of Rebels than this set? The Wynkahthu Job is a one-off, Ohnaka-driven heist story that retreads old ground, but stuns visually. An Inside Man gives us new angles on Imperial power and control, and gives Thrawn (and Lars Mikkelsen) scene-stealing material. And Visions and Voices returns to some Clone Wars material to mixed, but intriguing, results.    Hosted by Rob Zacny (@RobZacny)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (@ali_west), Austin Walker (@austin_walker), and Natalie Watson (@nataliewatson)

Produced by Ricardo Contreras (@a_cado_appears)

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

You know what was great? Those battle droids. The hijinks they got up to. The little gags they'd do. Their super serious boss... Sometimes I miss those guys.  

What's that? You'll make me a deal? I can visit them again? But in exchange, I'll have to sit through another episode about precocious children getting up to hijinks (bad version)? Well... You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Filoni, but it's a deal.

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

NEXT TIME: "The Wynkahthu Job," "An Inside Man," and "Visions and Voices"

...

Rebels season 3 is in full swing. How can you tell? Well, first of all, Uncle Maul is back and he's leading Ezra (and his collection of holocrons) closer to the dark side. And Hera once again shows out, with a killer episode that brings us closer into contact with emerging season villain Admiral Thrawn. And... well... We've got another crack at a Sabine episode. Maybe this time we'll learn something about her, or how she relates to others, or what her past is, or... anything at all. Maybe? Please?

Support the show by going to Patreon.com...