5 Reasons Why You Should Be Watching Star Wars Resistance

When Star Wars Resistance was first announced, I was ready to welcome a new Star Wars animated show into my life after the bittersweet ending of Star Wars Rebels. When we learned that the show would be influenced by Japanese anime and 80’s cartoons, I was really intrigued. I didn’t know what to expect, but I had this feeling I was going to enjoy it. Resistance tells the story of Kazuda Xiono who is recruited by Poe Dameron to be a Resistance Spy on an aircraft refueling station known as The Colussus. When it premiered late last year, my significant other and I caught up one Sunday and now it’s officially become Resistance Sunday. Because I love it so much and don’t see enough love for it on the internet, I wanted to write down a few reasons as to why you should check out this show, if you haven’t already.

Without further ado, here are five reasons why you should be watching Star Wars Resistance:

1. The show is gorgeous

This show is beautifully animated and looks incredibly unique compared to other children’s animated shows in today’s day and age. The show, which is CGI, uses cel-shading to achieve its distinctive look. There have been several moments throughout the season where I’m taken aback because of the beauty of a shot.

2. Unique, interesting, and diverse characters

Each character from the main cast has their own personality and quirks, which always makes for a fun and interesting watch. The characters themselves are also diverse in how they look, from people of color to alien species, and not only are the characters diverse, but the voice over cast is as well! It’s one of my favorite things about this show.

3. BB-8

I loved BB-8 as soon as I saw him in the first teaser for The Force Awakens, but I think I fell in love with him while watching this show. He’s such a good droid and character and counterpart to everyone he meets. He is featured significantly throughout the show and even has his own love story, but I won’t give too much away… If you’re a fan of BB-8, this show has all the BB-8 content you could ever want.

4. Filling in the dots before and during The Force Awakens

While the show focuses a lot on the weekly misadventures of Kazuda Xiono as a Resistance Spy, there have been several name drops, easter eggs, and special guests that tie into the ongoing conflict between the First Order and the Resistance. If you’re curious about what’s going on in the galaxy before the events of TFA, this show is the perfect starting point. The mid-season trailer also revealed that the show will in fact overlap with TFA, which is quite interesting if you love the animated shows connecting directly to the films.

5. Incredible character arcs

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Lucasfilm animation, it’s that they excel in character arcs. Ezra and Ahsoka are prime examples of characters who weren’t the easiest to like at the beginning for a majority of people, but eventually grew into some of the most beloved characters from the Star Wars galaxy. If you’ve seen The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels from beginning to end, then you know that it takes time and multiple seasons for these characters to grow from their begrudging beginnings to their celebrated heroic endings. Kaz is of the same breed and just like the characters before him, he is currently on his own journey of discovery and transformation.

Star Wars Resistance airs on Sundays on Disney XD and will conclude it’s first season on March 17th!

All photos belong to Lucasfilm.

 

Growing Up With The Clone Wars

I found Star Wars one year after Revenge of the Sith came out and I spent a lot of time wishing I had discovered it sooner. Even though I was only 11 years old, I felt like I had missed out on so much, especially since there was no more Star Wars to look forward to. When I heard about The Clone Wars movie, I remember being really excited about getting to watch a Star Wars film in the theater. This was my chance. I was going to watch a Star Wars movie with other people in the theater and it was going to be just like the end of that Episode I documentary when Rick McCallum is hyping up the crowd and everyone has their lightsabers out and the entire audience is screaming at the sight of the Lucasfilm logo… yup, it was going to be just like that.

In 2008, when I was 13, I had only recently become a proud Star Wars fan. I spent a lot of the first few years being embarrassed by liking Star Wars. It wasn’t cool at the time and my family and classmates thought it was for boys. So, when The Clone Wars came out it was a breath of fresh air and it felt like there was something to be excited about in the Star Wars fandom again and this time I was going to be apart of it, at least, that’s what I thought.

When I discovered the character of Ahsoka Tano, I remember being so disappointed. My only reason being was that I had written fan fiction (I didn’t even know it was called fan fiction at the time) about a girl who went on missions with Obi-Wan and Anakin and who had been a favorite of Master Yoda’s. I know, right? Anyways, I loved that character so much and often wished I could escape into the Star Wars universe and be her. As you can imagine, when I found out who Ahsoka Tano was, I felt a rush of anger and disappointment and jealousy. I never went to go watch the film at the theater and even though I did eventually watch the show on Cartoon Network, I became ambivalent about the whole thing. I thought Ahsoka was annoying and immature. She was around my age and nothing like the character I created in my head.

It wasn’t until season 3 that I started liking The Clone Wars. I don’t know if it was the show itself or having gone to Star Wars Weekends and Star Wars Celebration V that really changed my mind, but it was definitely around that time when I realized this is the Star Wars that’s part of my generation and the Star Wars that I’m growing up with. I felt like I had to be proud of that and also… the show just got better as it progressed.

As time passed, I realized that Ahsoka was changing and growing up, just like I was. I can’t really pinpoint what episode or moment made me start liking Ahsoka, but I can tell you that watching her walk away from Anakin and the Jedi Order made me an emotional wreck. It was in that moment that I realized Ahsoka had grown on me and I cared about her journey. I remember watching it in my living room alone and regretting how much I hated her at first, but I had to grow up to realize that she actually meant something to me. I felt a connection to her and have loved her ever since.

It’s been 10 years since The Clone Wars premiered and thinking back on the show and my relationship with it has made me incredibly nostalgic. It takes me back to the early days of my fandom, when I was just starting out and going to Star Wars Weekends to see all the voice actors. It reminds of my first Star Wars Celebration and the beginnings of Her Universe. I love the sequel trilogy, I love what Disney has given us, but sometimes when I think about those days when all we had to look forward to was a new Clones Wars season and a Robot chicken special, it makes me smile and miss it in a weird way.

If you don’t know by now, there will be new Clone Wars episodes from Lucasfilm and Disney in the future. It was announced at San Diego Comic Con and pretty much blew everyone’s mind, mine included. I wasn’t expecting it, I didn’t even think it would be possible, but someone at Lucasfilm is paying attention and I am grateful.

The episodes will be released through Disney’s streaming app and there will be 12 in total. I am so happy about this and I am happy for Dave Filoni who finally gets to complete his first show in the way he always wanted to. It feels like Star Wars really is Christmas now and it just keeps giving us gifts every year, whether it’s in the form of a TV show, film, book, or comic. I truly have never been more proud to be a Star Wars fan. After all, once you’re a fan, you’re in this life for good.

I’m so happy we’re finally getting the closure we never had. No one will ever spoil my love for the galaxy far, far away. 💜 #CloneWarsSaved

— Lauryn (@JediLore) July 19, 2018

#CloneWarsSaved

May the 4th Be With You!

Hey you.

Happy Star Wars Day!

Time to celebrate by wearing your favorite Star Wars t-shirt, eating Star Wars themed food, and watching Star Wars all day long. This is a pretty average day in my life just with more puns and a whole lot of appreciation for the galaxy far, far way.

One thing I like to do every year is reflect on how much Star Wars has changed my life for the better. I’ve written about it here and there on the blog that Star Wars isn’t just another film series that I love. It’s something that came into my life at the right moment and provided me with solace and hope. A bit much, I know. But it’s true, I have never quite loved something as much as I love Star Wars. I fall in love with TV shows and movies and fictional worlds all the time, but Star Wars has always been consistent and it always feels like home. Not to get too personal but Star Wars has saved me on occasion by simply existing and the sequel trilogy will always feel like a present I get for staying here and choosing to live my life. What I’m trying to say is I love Star Wars a lot and everyone should take the time to think about what the series means to them. That’s what is so wonderful about loving something like Star Wars, everyone has their own story and they are always so fascinating to hear.

I hope everyone has a great Star Wars Day, no matter how you feel about certain films or books or games, remember your Star Wars story and celebrate it. There are so many amazing and creative ways you can celebrate today, feel free to tell me how you celebrate your Star Wars Day in the comments!

May the Fourth be with you.

The Last Jedi… Three Months Later

So, The Last Jedi is officially out to own on DVD and Blu-ray at a store near you.

I just finished re-watching the film and all of its bonus content and I can honestly say it is truly a spectacular movie. When my first viewing of TLJ ended I remember my SO turning to me and asking me how I felt, I was literally speechless. I couldn’t even think because I was trying to process what I had just seen. The movie was so different. I wasn’t expecting it and I wasn’t sure how to feel. Was I in the wrong if I loved it? Was I in the wrong if I hated it? I couldn’t make a quick judgement, I needed to watch it again.

After my second viewing I remember driving home and thinking it was incredible. All the things that made me feel uneasy were actually wonderful and different and new. That was the best part.

The Last Jedi is not a traditional Star Wars film, both technically and story-wise. It features shots that aren’t traditionally used in Star Wars movies and it shows us incredible ways the Force can be utilized by its users. It’s understandable that certain Star Wars fans may have felt uncomfortable, it’s understandable if they got taken out of the universe they loved so much, but you know what’s not understandable? For people to boycott, harass, and threaten people’s lives over a space movie.

Three months have passed since The Last Jedi premiered and it has been quite a tumultuous time for fans on the internet. Frankly, it sucks. There are certain hate groups who are trying to ruin people’s love for Star Wars, they’re harassing creators on the daily, and they attempt to do very petty things to try and get Disney to listen to their opinions. It’s ridiculous and makes me feel so bad for the people who have to deal with it every day.

There is no doubt TLJ changed Star Wars fandom forever. With the negativity it’s easy to forget that the majority of fans loved and appreciated this film. It doesn’t have to be your favorite. Art is subjective, you can like it or dislike it. You can disagree with how something was shot and you can be mad about Luke dying. But it is completely unnecessary to tweet at a random person to tell them they’re wrong for loving this movie.

After watching all the bonus content I couldn’t help but think about how this film divided people. It is such a wonderful addition to the Star Wars filmography and the Skywalker saga and I have never felt more confident about Rian Johnson than after The Director and the Jedi.

The Director and the Jedi is a documentary that features behind the scenes footage of the making of The Last Jedi. It was beautiful. It made me laugh and cry and wish I were working on a Star Wars film. I was slightly disappointed with the bonus content of The Force Awakens, so I was extremely satisfied with this release. I’m used to watching The Beginning: Making Episode I and Within a Minute: The Making of Episode III. I watched those documentaries over and over again when I was younger. It sparked my dream to work in film, but more specifically on a Star Wars production. I found myself having those same feelings of awe and wonder. Rian Johnson handled this film with composure and class. I look forward to his future trilogy and admire his unperturbed attitude towards the horrible people online.

The Last Jedi and all of its bonus content is out and worth a watch. Yes, it was a controversial film and we will all look back at this time in Star Wars fandom and probably laugh and roll our eyes and then cry because Star Wars is fucking amazing.

Looking for Leia

Hey!

Let me tell you about this really cool docu-series called Looking for Leia. The project was originally going to be a documentary all about women in Star Wars fandom, but is now a six episode series ALL ABOUT WOMEN IN STAR WARS FANDOM and the creators need our help to get it done.

Check out the sneak peek below:

Check out the docu-series announcement below:

Annalise Ophelian is behind this wonderful project that features women of all ages and backgrounds who love Star Wars and not just in front of the camera but behind the scenes as well. After watching the trailer a couple of months ago I instantly regretted not having known about it last year, but it’s not too late to support the project and help get it out there for all of us to watch.

If you’re interested in donating, visit their crowd-funding page here.

If you can’t donate but want to get the word out, follow them on twitter @LookingForLeia.

#GirlsRunTheGalaxy

#WomenBuiltThisRebellion

 

 

Godspeed Rebels

Star Wars Rebels is over. It’s the end of an era.

The first season of Rebels was one of our earliest glimpses into the galaxy far, far away after the Disney acquisition of Lucasfilm. Many were hesitant about the show post-Clone Wars (me), but with Dave Filoni at the helm it quickly earned many fans’ respects.

Over the last four years we have been introduced to several characters across the galaxy and many unique qualities about the force that none of us would have ever believed. If you think The Last Jedi was weird, watch Star Wars Rebels. The series finale aired last night on Disney XD and I wanted to share my thoughts about the ending of this show that initially, I had very little faith in.

Basically, I loved it. I loved the finale. I loved that in the end, our ragtag crew of rebels made it out alive.

Well, for the most part.

We lost Kanan in “Jedi Knight” after he sacrificed himself to save the family that he loved, who he knew would continue the fight against the Empire. It was tragic, beautifully done, and a necessary loss. As for Ezra, I honestly cannot imagine where he’d be and if Thrawn is alive or not. I will probably have to listen to a few podcasts and read a few theories before I make any assumptions. Zeb and Kallus live happily ever after on Lira San and probably adopt a few lasats (wishful thinking). Hera turned out to be pregnant, which I would NEVER have predicted and ended up giving birth to a baby boy named Jacen (yes, Jacen). Jacen Syndulla.

Sabine narrates everyone’s lives from the liberation of Lothal to after the Battle of Endor, which was another surprise! Everyone expected Rebels to end before Rogue One or possibly after the Battle of Yavin. I absolutely love that Hera, Sabine, Zeb, and Chopper survived the original trilogy. I didn’t expect it, but I should have. Sabine then goes on to say that she along with Ahsoka Tano (AHSOKA LIVES) will fulfill the promises they made to Ezra to find him and bring him home.

I’m dead.

First of all, Ahsoka Tano is a fucking legend. I am in love with her story even though it’s shrouded in mystery. I honestly think that’s probably what makes me love her even more. Yes, there is a small part of me that wants to ask, “well, where was she during this event or what about this infamous Yoda quote about Luke being the last Jedi?” I get it. However, Ahsoka isn’t a Jedi anymore and Luke is the only one who could have redeemed Vader, end of story.

Jacen Syndulla is my new favorite conspiracy theory. Who does he grow up to be? Where do his allegiances lie? They obviously were inspired by the EU to use the name Jacen. Why Jacen? Hmm? Anyways, I’m happy that Hera was able to have a living memory of her love for Kanan and it looks like she’s teaching him the ways of space piloting, which is so sweet.

Ezra is the heart of this show. I will admit that I didn’t care for him until the very last episodes because I couldn’t relate with him on a personal level. He is a teenage boy growing up under incredibly difficult circumstances. While I still don’t quite relate with him, I do sympathize and saw that in the last few episodes he really grew up and became the leader and light that everyone needed in those dark times. He made the decision to sacrifice himself not knowing where he’d end up, so that he could liberate his home planet and save his family. Just thinking about his last words make me teary-eyed. I hope Sabine and Ahsoka do find him and I hope we get to see that in a future show or film one day.

Thank you to Dave Filoni and the entire cast and crew of Star Wars Rebels. The show is over, but the Ghost crew will never be forgotten.

 

Featured image from StarWars.com & Lucasfilm.

Star Wars ComLINKS: Favorite Scene From The Last Jedi

Star Wars ComLINKS is a monthly link up by Anakin And His Angel centered around the galaxy far, far away.

Let’s be real here, I have many favorite scenes in The Last Jedi and that’s because this movie is filled with incredible moments that either gut punch you or make you feel like you could jump out of your seat in exhilaration. I’d like to preface this by saying that I do not have a top or number one favorite scene. However, the one I’ll choose to discuss today is Leia using the force to save her life.

Yup.

It’s probably the most controversial because of the way she flew through space. Some people found it cringy, others found it to be impossible. While I agree a different positioning of her body would have been less comical, I didn’t mind it at all when I first saw it. In fact, I was so awestruck at the fact that she was using the force in the first place, I wasn’t even concerned with the way she was flying.

For those of you who don’t know, Carrie Fisher passed away in December of 2016. The Last Jedi had already finished filming and many were concerned with how the character of General Leia would be handled, me included. I can honestly say Lucasfilm, Rian Johnson, and Carrie Fisher did an wonderful job with Leia. Her lines ironically felt like comforting goodbyes and this scene in particular let the audience know that Leia was stronger in the force than we could have possibly imagined.

When the explosion of the bridge occurs we watch Leia get blown out into the vacuum of space and the scene cuts. I immediately thought “oh, this is how they’re going to do it, this is how they’re going to kill off Leia.” Then I thought “wait, I’ve seen so many promotional stills of her interacting with Admiral Holdo (who has yet to be introduced), this can’t be it.” As soon as we cut back to Leia’s body surrounded by debris, I knew something would happen I just didn’t know what.

In my opinion the music is what makes this scene. As we close up on her face, her theme starts playing in a soft and melancholic tone and it instantly made me cry. The music builds up as her fingers begin to twitch and we know Leia is alive and then we realize, she’s using the force, she’s saving herself.

When her eyes open she starts to move through space, passing the debris from the explosion. Poe Dameron, Finn, and Kaydel Ko Connix (played by Billie Lourd, Carrie Fisher’s daughter) watch from the Raddus as they witness something truly incredible. That’s another thing, nobody aboard the cruiser questions how Leia is doing this. They know.

 

Upon my first viewing, I couldn’t help but exclaim in my head Leia is a Skywalker, Leia is Anakin’s daughter, of course she’s this powerful. When she arrives at the cruiser we cut to her in a space stretcher (at least that’s what I’m calling it) as she is being taken away to be treated. She used the force to save her own life and it was incredibly powerful to watch, especially as a Carrie Fisher fan. The music, the backdrop of desolate space, her face being illuminated by the stars, and the extraordinary way she used the force made this scene one of my favorites of all time in Star Wars and in film in general.

If you are someone who had trouble accepting this scene, I just want you to think about what Carrie Fisher would have thought about it, if she had the chance. She’d probably make fun herself, I laugh just thinking about would have come out of her mouth. Carrie loved poking fun, but I’m also sure that she would have loved to see Leia in such a profound way.

If you’re interested in the music from the scene: John Williams – The Supremacy

What was your favorite scene from The Last Jedi? Comment below!

Star Wars Style: The 40th Edition

I love fashion, but more importantly I love geeky fashion. Star Wars Style is a series that has been done before by many wonderful bloggers and this is my attempt at joining in on the fun. I love curating outfits in my everyday life, especially ones that feature Star Wars because I own way too many SW related clothing and accessories.

So, here it is… my first outfit of the series.

I decided to make my beloved Her Universe 40th Anniversary Souvenir jacket the main focus. It’s my favorite thing to wear at the moment and I really should stop before I ruin it forever. This jacket is such an eye-catcher that I always make sure the rest of my outfit doesn’t attract too much attention. I paired the jacket with light blue cropped jeans from Levi’s, a plain black top from H&M, and black platforms from Urban Outfitters. For accessories I’m wearing my Millennium Falcon earrings from Hot Topic and sporting some classic black Ray-Ban sunglasses. I like minimal jewelry and I feel that the earrings are a nice touch and add a subtle nerdy flair.

This outfit is very versatile and can be worn for many occasions, such as girls night out, on a date, The Last Jedi premiere, etc. The platforms could easily be replaced with sneakers for a more casual look. My favorite thing about this jacket is that the material isn’t thick and I never feel like I’m having a heat stroke (I live in FL).

This year marks the 40th Anniversary since Star Wars premiered in theaters and this jacket is the perfect piece in any wardrobe to show your love and celebrate the milestone!

 

 

Star Wars, you’re old.

Hi.

My name is Lauryn. This is my blog.

While I have started and quickly abandoned many blogs in my life, this is my first official blog. I hope to have this blog with me for however long I choose to tell you about my life, and if you haven’t guessed already, this blog will most likely feature a lot of Star Wars. Sorry, not sorry.

Some fun facts about me: I watch a lot of movies and TV shows! Too many, in fact. I may have a problem. I love writing. I can’t say I’m any good at it, but it’s one of the reasons I’m here. I hope blogging will inspire me to write more and eventually write my own original material. I’m also a pop culture fiend. I consume most forms of entertainment like video games, music, comedy, podcasts, etc.

I guess you could say I’m a nerd.

Now that I’ve given you an idea of what this blog will feature and the topics I will probably discuss in the future, I want to focus on something that’s been on my mind recently.

Star Wars.

Yes, Star Wars has been on my mind.

May 25, 2017 marked the 40^th Anniversary of the original Star Wars release in US theaters. I will start by saying I’m in my early 20s, so no, I wasn’t there to experience it first hand. However, I have been a fan for the last 11 years and Star Wars has been a huge part of my world.

I discovered Star Wars at a time in my life when everything seemed pretty grim. I was a kid who had just moved from their beloved home state, who started going to a new school with no friends, and who had a hard time adjusting to their new home life.

I truly believe that Star Wars came to me. It found me. I will never forget the feeling of acceptance I felt with Star Wars. I will always remember the summer I discovered these movies. Two months spent watching and breathing in all six films, playing all the old video games I could get my hands on, reading as many expanded universe novels as I could find, researching every character and planet on Wookiepedia and the Star Wars Databank. I was hooked and I never looked back.

Fast forward 11 years, I have been to three Star Wars Celebrations, I have my own personal Star Wars collection, I have introduced several friends over the years to the movies, and to this day I still get the exact same feeling I got when I first saw a Star Wars film, the feeling of hope.

I know. I know. I just cringed.

But it’s true!

If I could use only one word to describe the feeling I got and the feeling I still get, it’s hope. Star Wars took me away from my real life and transported me to a fantastical universe. It gave me something to look forward to and it took away my loneliness. As I got older, I came across other movies and books that I would grow to love, but never in the same way. Whenever I would find myself in a depressed state of mind or whenever I felt lonely, I would turn to Star Wars and get wrapped up in that universe over and over again.

That is why Star Wars is so special to me, because it came to me at a time when I needed it the most. To this day, I return to it looking for some sort of escapism and it never disappoints. So, not only am I celebrating its 40-year existence, but I’m also expressing deep gratitude and thankfulness that it does exist and still continues to give me hope.