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Tower of Babble

Discussing the goings on in geek news with a focus on film and television. We're talking about the things you care about. Characters, places and events that aren't real... but are.

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SSSW - Kathleen Kennedy Steps Down

Julian Meush February 12, 2026

There have been rumours circulating for years about the eventual retirement of Kathleen Kennedy from her role as President of Lucasfilm. Never mind the seemingly constant swirling demands for her head from segments of the fan base. And while those rumours and demands may have felt at times unwarranted, they were nevertheless always going to be right... eventually. Kathleen Kennedy, after 14 years as head of the studio announced that she would be stepping down and returning to a more traditional producer role, and her successors would be Dave Filoni on the creative side, and Lynwen Brennan on the business side. Julian and Rachel unpack the announcement, the press coverage, and even Kennedy's exit interview with Deadline, reading between the lines and trying to get a read on her legacy. As well as examining what life might be like under Filoni as Star Wars enters a new era under his watch. Plus, a check-in on 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' following the underwhelming Super Bowl spot.

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars, Lucasfilm, George Lucas, Bob Iger, Disney, Dave Filoni, The Mandalorian and Grogu
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SSSW/ToB Film Club - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Julian Meush May 22, 2025

It's hard to believe that 'Rogue One' premiered nearly a decade ago. At the time, it was fairly well received, considered to be a decent first step into the standalone Star Wars movies, if not a bit messy. As the years passed, we learned more about the production. Gareth Edwards, who retained sole directing credit, was assisted by Tony Gilroy to "fix" the project. Tony went so far as to call it a "corpse" when he came aboard for rewrites and reshoots. It was Tony's inclusion that brought us some of the movies most memorable moments, and ultimately led him to leading the charge on 'Andor', a prequel project that flew under the radar as hits like 'The Mandalorian' hogged the spotlight. With 'Andor' now complete, considered by many to be a masterpiece in storytelling, not just in Star Wars but on television in general, now is the most appropriate time to reexamine the movie that spawned the Cassian-centered prequel series with fresh eyes. 'Andor', which leads directly into the events of 'Rogue One' recontextualizes much of the film, creating a unique viewing experience that pays off a multitude of threads that are brilliantly laid over the two seasons of 'Andor'. It takes the movie, which was already pretty good, and makes it great. Now existing as part of a whole that weaves a cohesive narrative from the nascent moments of the Rebellion all the way through to the destruction of the Death Star in 1977 (the seed that begat ALL Star Wars, and what we appropriately align our Star Wars BBY calendars to). It all feels wholistic and considered when viewed from the broader perspective - an accomplishment that should set a shining example of what Star Wars can and should aspire to.

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In Small Screen Star Wars, Bonus Episode Tags ToB Film Club, Review, Recap, Lucasfilm, George Lucas, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars, Tony Gilroy, Diego Luna, Andor
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SSSW - Andor S2 Finale

Julian Meush May 15, 2025

After only 4 weeks - the blink of an eye - it's all over. The best Star Wars story since the Original Trilogy has graced our screens and left us in awe. These final three episodes weren't able to reach the emotional highs of last week's arc, but that wasn't the goal. Instead, it provides time to look back at what brought us here, and sets the stage for the climax of the story to take place not in this moment, but within the now recontextualized film that birthed all of this in the first place, 'Rogue One'. And while the show may carry Cassian's name on the title screen, it's been the cast of characters we've met along the way that truly elevated this experience. Not to pick favourites, but in particular, Luthen and Kleya, who get an episode all to themselves this week are the standouts. And what an episode it was, as their story which shepherded much of the series came to an end, as we all expected it would have to. Embracing those feelings of closure, in the final moments of the series, as Cassian flies off into 'Rogue One', we are treated to our last glimpses of our heroes and villains. From Dedra to Vel and even Perrin, we are left to consider their fates as the story marches with inevitability into what begat all of this way back in 1977. Will we ever see Kleya, Vel, Wilmon, or Bix again? One can only hope - and rebellions? Well, they're built on hope.

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Andor, Star Wars, Lucasfilm, Rebels, Tony Gilroy, Diego Luna, George Lucas, Review, Recap
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SSSW - Bonus Episode - Star Wars Check-In - November 2024

Julian Meush November 15, 2024

It’s been two months since we did our “State of Star Wars” episode where we essentially eviscerated the current situation in regards to the decision making process at Lucasfilm and their seeming inability to get a movie into production, among other things. Well in that time, we’ve had a smattering of news stories of all stripes, which Julian and Rachel cover in this episode, but what really prompted another Bonus Episode was the latest piece, again from The Hollywood Reporter, exploring the situation in further depth on the movie side of the business at Lucasfilm. Your hosts deep dive on all of it, and then cap things off with something much more lighthearted. Next up, ‘Skeleton Crew’ in December, where we’ll be breaking down every episode. Stay tuned!

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Star Wars, Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, George Lucas, Skeleton Crew, Andor, The Mandalorian and Grogu, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars Episode V, Star Wars Episode I, Disney, Ewan McGregor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Simon Kinberg, Rey Skywalker
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SSSW - Bonus Episode - The State of Star Wars

Julian Meush September 11, 2024

Following the cancellation of ‘The Acolyte’, many fans are taking a step back and asking questions about the state of the franchise. And rightly so, considering the confused state that many have been left in. Especially considering that Lucasfilm continues to leave us in the dark, with no official word following the recent cancellation. They've also done very little to inspire trust in their current creative process given the number of high profile project announcements that have never come to fruition. Meanwhile, the fandom is imploding on itself. Creators and influencers in the community are pitted against each other, seemingly in a fight for influence over control of the narrative surrounding each new project. Debates over what is or isn’t "Star Wars" wage on the internet as fans dodge bad-faith landmines across their social feeds. Julian and Rachel look at where things stand with Star Wars today, how we got here, and what the future might hold.

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Star Wars, Disney+, Disney, Lucasfilm, Lucasfilm Animation, George Lucas, The Acolyte, Rey Skywalker, Skeleton Crew, Kathleen Kennedy, The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson
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SSSW - Ahsoka - Series Premiere

Julian Meush August 24, 2023

After only a short 4-months since ‘The Mandalorian’ season 3, Small Screen Star Wars returns with more reviews and breakdowns. After having to (fairly) bow out of covering the season finale of Mando, Rachel returns to the podcast chair, alongside Julian, to unpack the two-part series premiere of ‘Ahsoka’. With these episodes coming in at nearly two full hours combined, there’s a lot of lore, character and details to sift through, so buckle up for a comprehensive exploration of every action-packed moment in this overstuffed exploration of the latest Star Wars story! (which just so happens to basically be a semi-sequel to ‘Rebels’)

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Ahsoka, Ahsoka Tano, Star Wars, Lucasfilm, George Lucas, Disney+, Review, Rebels, The Mandalorian
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SSSW - The Bad Batch S1E4 "Cornered"

Julian Meush May 25, 2021

The picture of what ‘The Bad Batch’ will be like week-to-week is becoming more clear. This week’s episode “Cornered”, brings a fan favorite character to animation for the first time, but more importantly, it established that this show is not interested in slowing down, and in fact seems to be speeding up, despite there still being 12 episodes left. The pacing here is relentless but never feels rushed, even with only a 22 minute runtime, and the they are finding clever ways to blend the truly spectacular action (some of, if not the best, non-lightsaber action in recent memory) with some tender character moments. Plus, the show is apparently not afraid of getting dark as this week episode continues to prove. I’ll say it again, this is top tier Star Wars. Listen as Julian and Rachel recap the full episode right here!

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Star Wars, The Bad Batch, The Clone Wars, Disney+, Lucasfilm, George Lucas
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Episode 158 - Fincher Unleashed

Julian Meush November 26, 2020

As the pandemic rages on, and we adjust to the new normal, so does Hollywood. With news that Wonder Woman 1984 will be coming to HBO Max on Christmas, the future of the theatre going experience becomes even more clouded. Meanwhile, David Fincher is in the press, promoting his latest streaming endeavor ‘Mank’, (and dropping some spicy takes!) fresh off signing a 4-year exclusive deal with Netflix of his own. We watch as the Hollywood landscape is remapped on the fly. But it’s not all doom and gloom! I mean, there’s a ‘Wedding Crashers’ sequel in the works, and a new Predator film coming from Dan Trachtenberg. So there’s SOME hope is all I’m saying. Julian, Dan, and Jeremy also touch on the latest from the Snyder Cut, and weigh in on the pressing subject of whether streaming services should let credits play uninterrupted (you know, the important stuff). All that, and so much more, on this week’s Tower of Babble Podcast.

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In The Tower of Babble Podcast Tags Wedding Crashers 2, Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 1984, HBO, HBO Max, Disney, Disney+, Chris Nolan, Predator, Transformers, The Scorpion King, Mortal Kombat, Fantastic Beasts, David Fincher, Netflix, Joker, George Lucas, Star Wars, WandaVision, Thor: Love and Thunder, Star-Lord, Spider-Man 3, Deadpool 3, Marvel, Spider-man, Iron Man, Vision, Black Panther, The Suicide Squad, James Gunn, Zack Snyder, Justice League, The Snyder Cut, IMAX, DC, DCEU, Agree or Disagree, GCPD, The Batman, Matt Reeves, Batman, The Last of Us, Black Lightning, TBS, Halo, Showtime
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SSSW - Star Wars Oscars

Julian Meush September 3, 2020

Inspired by the creative minds at @starwarstuff on Twitter, Small Screen Star Wars is back with more podcasting goodness. This week’s theme is Star Wars Oscars (not to be confused with Star Wars AT the Oscars, where John Williams owns). Julian and Rachel pick the best of the best from across Star Wars on film (and television of course). Who’s the best Star Wars director? What is the best lightsaber duel? The best droid? (spoilers, there’s only 1 correct answer for this. I’m sorry, but we don’t make the rules) Tune in to find what is OBJECTIVELY (subjectively) the best stuff in Star Wars!

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Star Wars, The Mandalorian, The Clone Wars, Lucasfilm, George Lucas, Dave Filoni, Ahsoka Tano, Jedi, Star Wars Episode VIII, Star Wars Episode VII, Star Wars Episode IX, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Chewie, Han Solo, Ben Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Force Awakens, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker
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SSSW - The Clone Wars S7E11 "Shattered"

Julian Meush May 3, 2020

It’s finally happened. The moment we’ve all been waiting for, but dreading all the same. Order 66 has come to our beloved Ahsoka and Rex. A foreboding sense of creeping doom hung over the first half of the episode like a guillotine with the score, once again, being used to the fullest to build suspense and tension. When the order was finally given, we were treated to one of the most intense moments we’ve ever seen in The Clone Wars. However, it was Dave Filoni and his team's ability to continue to exceed our expectations, particularly for a scene we all knew was coming, that was truly impressive. Every beat felt perfectly crafted to fit the narrative we already knew, while at the same time felt fresh and true to the characters. So far, every episode in this 4-part finale has been near perfect Star Wars, and “Shattered” maintains that streak. Which leaves us with one final episode to wrap up the series, and no matter what happens in part 4, I think we can all agree, it's been one hell of a ride.

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Star Wars, Disney+, Lucasfilm, George Lucas, Dave Filoni, The Clone Wars
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REcent Episodes

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Episode 205 - CinemaCon 2026 + News Roundup
Apr 25, 2026
Episode 205 - CinemaCon 2026 + News Roundup
Apr 25, 2026

It's been a minute since Matt and Julian sat down to cover the latest in film and TV news. Some might say it's been dearly missed. Well wait no more folks because this week it's all news and nothing but the news so help me god! If the last few weeks (months?) of stories weren't enough, CinemaCon 2026 also just concluded which had it's own news deluge. The guys unpack it all (well most of it anyway)! Of utmost priority is the news of Michael B Jordan and Austin Butler's reboot of 'Miami Vice', which is close to Matt's heart. Plus 'Spaceballs 2' gets a title and release date, trailers for 'Dune 3', 'Clayface' and 'Street Fighter' all surprise (in a good way), and a new 'Lord of the Rings' movie is announced (and you won't guess who's writing it!). Plus, a 'Game of Thrones' movie, more 'Transformers' and is 'Avatar' over? All this and so much more on this week's Tower of Babble Podcast!

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Apr 25, 2026
SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 5 & 6
Apr 23, 2026
SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 5 & 6
Apr 23, 2026

We’ve reached the halfway point of the season and with it comes a tonal shift back to the roots of Star Wars animation - 'The Clone Wars'. With the arrival of the Empire, the focus shifts away from Maul and his dealings and toward the pair of Jedi as they are now in the crosshairs. The noire tone takes a back seat, next to Maul, as things become more pulpy, mixed with an impending doom that is reminiscent of the final season of 'The Clone Wars'. The set-piece action sequences get an injection of scale and danger, which is exciting, and some of the early seeding of characters like Rylee start to pay off. While maybe a bit different from the previous 4 episodes, the quality and the stakes remain high (well... for every character except Maul I suppose). Join Julian and Rachel as the unpack it all in excruciating detail.

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Apr 23, 2026
SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 3 & 4
Apr 15, 2026
SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 3 & 4
Apr 15, 2026

Now that the premiere is out of the way, the team at Lucasfilm Animation can focus on driving the story forward with authority. The pacing is much improved this week as time feel more evenly dispersed across the characters. There's a greater concentration on characters who can wield a lightsaber and it's appreciated. No shade to the crime syndicate storyline, but we've kind of seen all that already (it was quite literally a 'Clone Wars' arc). The action remains strong while taking another step forward with lightsaber duels joining the mix. Plus, the fast cutting from last week seems to have been dialed back, which is appreciated as it provides more clarity in action scenes. For example, Devon's engagements with Maul are gripping, and with the additional time provided to Master Daki, the stakes feel ratcheted up. Kevin Kinner's music remains a highlight, the illusions to the Anakin vs Obi-Wan Mustafar theme was a particular highlight. In general, there is still room for more character growth, especially with characters not named Maul, who really can't/won't change - but happy to proven wrong! This show feels like it's in full swing already, which is good because next week things look to be really heating up as we hit the half way mark. Julian and Rachel unpack it all!

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Apr 15, 2026
SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 1 & 2
Apr 9, 2026
SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 1 & 2
Apr 9, 2026

It's been some time since we've been able to sink our pointy teeth into a meaty Star Wars animated project. Since the finale of 'The Bad Batch' all the way back in May of 2024, all we've had to tie us over were anthology installments of varying quality. Praise the Force, that wait is finally over with the release of 'Maul: Shadow Lord', the latest full length series from Lucasfilm Animation. The series marks another technical leap forward for the animation studio, taking their patented visual style and adding another layer of detail and artistry that jumps off the screen. The story follows the titular, Maul shortly after the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire, he's looking for revenge and the series wastes no time dropping us right into the thick of things (3 car/speeder chases in 40 mins is impressive). And while we know much of Maul's criminal dealings (and most of the rest of his life actually), the introduction of a new Padawan into the mix, another apprentice-to-be for Maul, adds a layer of intrigue to an otherwise underworld focused story. Join Julian and Rachel as they unpack Chapter 1: "The Dark Revenge" and Chapter 2: "Sinister Schemes", in intricate detail.

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Apr 9, 2026

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Tower of Babble Podcast

We're a podcast network talking about the things you care about. Characters, places and events that aren't real... but are. Three friends chat about the goings on in geek news. Film and television are the focus with a variety of shows that also concentrate on gaming and comics.

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