Yes, we're still on hiatus, but we couldn't wait until November to share this conversation with you. We're psyched to welcome Doug Burton to the podcast to talk about the Heroine's Labyrinth - an alternative to the Hero's Journey. We'll apply it to Leia's story in A New Hope, and about how this story structure applies to other original trilogy and prequel trilogy movies. Punch it! ~*~*~*~*~*~ Follow the Show: TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@sw7x7 Instagram: https://instagram.com/sw7x7 And...

In the final episode of our Acolyte rewatch, we'll discuss what Osha brought with her into that helmet; the helmet's potential connection to the Brendok witches (and one in particular); why Sol really wants to talk to the Jedi High Council (it's not to confess!); and much more, including an announcement about season 1 of this podcast. Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years:...

The flashback episodes of The Acolyte were titled "Destiny" and "Choice" - and we find out in the latter that Sol made a choice to alter Osha's destiny because of his emotional attachment. We'll talk about that in our rewatch deep dive, plus what Sol wanted to tell me, the source and effects of the vergence, why the Mae mind-wipe will wear off, and much more. Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it...

The Brendok secret has caused double-digit Jedi deaths, and Sol is the only one left to blame. Mae is out of options. Qimir thinks he's found his soulmate but is trying to be chill about it. And someone should have told Osha about the dangers of Sith helmets. It's our doubly-deep rewatch dive into "Teach/Corrupt," episode 6 of The Acolyte. Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years:...

Our Acolyte rewatch takes on the action-packed fifth episode, "Night"! We'll discuss how/why Qimir has any pressing reason to see the Brendok Jedi killed; why Mae went from wanting to turn herself in to fighting Jecki so ferociously; the juxtaposition of Mae's "weakness" and Osha's "strength"; Sol and Qimir facing off, and more. Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years:...

It's episode 4 of our Acolyte rewatch! We're talking about "Day," and about the linger effects of witch possession, the parallels between Sol and the Stranger, the conflicts within Osha and Mae, and how Osha's stubbornness keeps Yord alive - for a few extra minutes, anyway. Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure to...

It's never too early for an Acolyte Rewatch! Today, we're looking at Episode 3, "Destiny," the first of the flashback episodes. Elements leading to the dark path appear in many ways for Osha. The hypocrisy of this group of Jedi is laid bare. And did Darth Plagueis work with the Brendok witches to create Mae and Osha? Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years:...

Is it too soon for an Acolyte rewatch? Or is now the perfect time, considering that we have all the context from the full season fresh in our minds, and can see the earlier episodes with fresh eyes? That's my thought about it, a!nd so I'm sharing observations about the premiere episodes that we may all have missed or didn't grasp the significance of in our first viewing. Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been...

The second half of our conversation with Dr. Chris Kempshall is here! We're talking about his new book "The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire" and his role as its author - while also portraying the in-universe author, Beaumont Kin. Punch it! Follow Chris: Website: https://chriskempshall.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriskempshall.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/chriskempshall Twitter: https://twitter.com/chriskempshall Book cover art by Maurizio Campidelli.  ...

Dr. Chris Kempshall returns to the podcast! He's here to talk about his latest book, "The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire." Part 1 of our conversation is on tap today...  Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure to subscribe/follow the show on your favorite podcast app! If you have an extra minute, giving a rating or review on...

Fluctuating ratings are to be expected, I suppose, but The Acolyte did drop a couple spots in a couple new viewership updates - and jumped in the granddaddy of them. I'm updating our analysis here, and including some comparatives to other Star Wars shows, in our latest Jedi Business update. Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure...

"The Acolyte" (episode) is the season finale of The Acolyte (TV series)! Yesterday we had the no-spoiler reaction - today we have the full spoiler 7-takeaway breakdown. Punch it!  (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure to subscribe/follow the show on your favorite podcast app! If you have an extra minute, giving a rating or review on that...

The Acolyte season 1 finale has dropped, and our Patrons made some great calls with their predictions! There were a lot of unexpected outcomes, but the theme of the Jedi making questionable decisions was carried all the way through. We'll talk about that in a non-spoiler way, and about the conundrum of paying such close attention to a series and what that costs...  Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been...

It's The Acolyte Finale Day! In advance of the episode's drop at 9pm ET tonight, I asked Patrons of the podcast for their predictions. And they didn't disappoint. I'll share my views, too, and I want to hear yours...   Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure to subscribe/follow the show on your favorite podcast app! If you have an...

During season one of The Acolyte, Osha and Mae have walked on both light and dark paths. Where will the finale take them? We'll look at what we know so far, including a thing about Osha's departure from the Jedi Order that seems to be flying under the radar. Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure to subscribe/follow the show on...

Is the whole Jedi Order to blame for the terrible events on Brendok 16 years ago? Or does the fault fall squarely on the shoulders of any one Jedi? Probably only Kelnacca gets away clean on this one, as we discuss this and reflect on Anakin parallel's, too. Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure to subscribe/follow the show on...

The big Disney D23 event takes place August 9-11. So far, there's precious little in terms of Lucasfilm/Star Wars representation there. We'll discuss what we know, and speculate about how a lone person's appearance really stands out...  Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure to subscribe/follow the show on your favorite podcast...

Did The Acolyte really fall out of the Top 10 shows? Depends on who you ask, and how you measure. I'm bringing all the receipts in our first Jedi Business episode related to The Acolyte, and the results indicate that the show's doing just fine. Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure to subscribe/follow the show on your favorite...

Overall I'm enjoying The Acolyte and I'm excited for the finale. But episode 7 cemented a concern I've had since episode 3, with how the show was described for us in pre-release interviews versus how it's unfolded so far. I'm examining this in light of how Lucasfilm handled previous live-action TV seasons today...  Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years:...

"Choice" is the 7th and penultimate episode of The Acolyte season 1, and as expected, we revisit the events on Brendok 16 years ago. Our 7-takeaway breakdown will focus on the new and tragic things we learn about what went down that fateful night...  Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure to subscribe/follow the show on your...

"The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire" by Dr. Chris Kempshall is not just a compelling examination of its topic. It's also an unexpectedly moving portrait of its in-universe author, Beaumont Kin, grappling with his place in galactic history. Our book review is on tap today...  Punch it! (Thanks very much to the nice folks at DK who sent me a copy of the book to read in advance of its publication.) (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the...

It's one thing for Qimir to refer to himself as a "Sith." But is he, potentially, a full-on "Sith Lord"? There's evidence for that, which we'll consider on today's show. And if that's the case, then there's even more trouble to come for the Jedi...   Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure to subscribe/follow the show on your...

10 years ago today, Star Wars 7x7 went live on iTunes (now Apple Podcasts) and a few other podcast apps you'd never heard of. Today, we're looking back at this crazy journey for just a few minutes... (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure to subscribe/follow the show on your favorite podcast app! If you have an extra minute, giving a...

The interactions between Osha and Qimir don't start off as a seduction, but by the end of "Teach/Corrupt," it's pretty clear that it's more than just the dark side of the Force that Qimir is working - and the audio description for this Acolyte episode only emphasizes that aspect. Punch it! (Enjoy the show? For the price of a cup of coffee each month, you can support the independent creator who’s been making it for nearly ten years: https://patreon.com/sw7x7) ~*~*~*~*~*~ Be sure to...