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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 - Year in Review 2025 + Visions Vol 3

Julian Meush January 5, 2026

With the back half of 2025 being relatively quiet from a Star Wars perspective, it's hard to remember that 'Andor' wrapped up it's two season run and blew us all away THIS year. Never mind that 'Skeleton Crew' also wrapped up in 2025! Julian and Rachel, using the help of this handy Starwars.com article as reference, look back at the year that was in Star Wars. Overall, despite things slowing down content-wise, 'Andor' alone makes it a stellar year, and with new movies on the horizon and a new animated series set to drop in 2026, there's still plenty to be excited about going forward. If that wasn't enough, join us as we explore 'Star Wars: Visions - Volume III', posing the question: has the Star Wars anime concept run it's course?

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Star Wars, Andor, Star Wars Visions, Revenge of the SIth, The Mandalorian, The Mandalorian and Grogu, Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, Lucasfilm Animation, Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars: Starfighter, Skeleton Crew, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, The Old Republic, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Star Wars Episode IX, The Force Awakens, Star Wars Episode VII
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Episode 199.75 - The 2024 Tobie Awards (8th Annual)

Julian Meush January 27, 2025

It is once again that special time, where we come together to celebrate our favourite films and shows from the last year. As part of the ceremony, your hosts look back at some of the concerns worrying Hollywood about 2024 to see if any progress had been made (the answer is mostly no). When it comes to the awards themselves, as is tradition, Jeremy refused to do a list. Which really means he has the privilege of a front row seat as Julian delivers his selections. Plus enjoy an unexpected side tangent celebrating the 20th anniversary of 'Resident Evil 4' (do you feel old yet?).

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In The Tower of Babble Podcast Tags ToBies, X-Men '97, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Gentleman, The Acolyte, Fallout, Mr and Mrs Smith, Shogun, House of the Dragon, Skeleton Crew, Shrinking, Batman: Caped Crusader, The Penguin, What If...?, Furiosa, Dune, Civil War, Transformers, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Aquaman 2, Gladiator 2, The Joker 2, Alien: Romulus, Resident Evil 4
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SSSW - Skeleton Crew S1E8 "The Real Good Guys"

Julian Meush January 16, 2025

Well that's all folks! Well possibly anyway. We don't yet have official word on whether Disney and Lucasfilm will bring back 'Skeleton Crew' for another season. So as it stands, this is the story. Overall pretty great, and while we can gripe a bit about the lack of an epilogue to really tie up loose ends, on the whole this finale was satisfying. All four of the kids had an arch that felt complete and inclusion of the parents helped put a bow on that (despite Wendle largely still being an idiot). The episode had strong pacing, as none of the character centric moments felt rushed, though again, it could have maybe done with a few more minutes of run time to make sure that everyone got a fair shake. KB, for instance, got short shrift. The ending itself leaves a lot of story left to be told, and thankfully given it's placement in the timeline, even if we don't get a second season, there should be plenty of opportunity to pick up on some of the loose threads in future Star Wars projects. All in all, 'Skeleton Crew' is one of the strongest outings from Lucasfilm in awhile and it's our sincere hope that it represents a sign of what's to come from the recently maligned studio.

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Skeleton Crew, Jude Law, Star Wars, Lucasfilm, Disney+, Review, Recap
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SSSW - Skeleton Crew S1E7 "We're Gonna Be in So Much Trouble "

Julian Meush January 9, 2025

Penultimate; everyone's favourite TV word. When it came to 'Game of Thrones', we became accustomed to this next-to-final episodes being a big splash, before a relatively calm finale. That tradition has carried forward into all sorts of different series but Star Wars has never been one to follow the trends. So here we are, 'Skeleton Crew' now only has one episode remaining, and the big question is, did this week's lead-up do enough work setup a satisfying conclusion. In our humble opinions, yes, but that's largely on the back of what is, standing alone, a pretty amazing 30 minutes of Star Wars fun. This episode is full of twists and unexpected turns that left us genuinely surprised. The big factor here though is of course Jod (Jude Law), who has now gone full heel, which has us concerned whether the show has the balls to commit to this turn or unwind it all in the last few moments. Either way, not knowing is part of the fun and as they proved this week there are certainly a lot of ways this show can go to stick the landing. Time will tell!

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Star Wars, Skeleton Crew, Jude Law, Lucasfilm, Disney+
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SSSW - Skeleton Crew S1E6 “Zero Friends Again”

Julian Meush January 2, 2025

After a very strong outing last week (maybe the best of the season!), which revealed the pirate lair and cracked the mystery wide open, 'Skeleton Crew' follows that up with the shortest episode so far, which provides neither much plot progression nor anything beyond overly simplistic character beats. Despite that, there is at least one extremely interesting reveal, that begs the question, "why wait this long to reveal this?". With now two episodes left to close out the season, and especially with this week really feeling like it was dedicated to setting up a bombastic finale, we can look forward to the kids meeting the pirate hoard back on At Attin very soon!

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Star Wars, Lucasfilm, Disney+, Skeleton Crew, Review, Recap
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SSSW - Skeleton Crew S1E5 "You Have a Lot to Learn About Pirates"

Julian Meush December 27, 2024

After a fairly odd WWII/French resistance inspired episode last week, we turn the page to something almost as weird - a luxury spa built on top of a pirate haven. Starting smartly with some needed character work and lore building, the episode then turns into a fairly wacky romp that draws similarities to the Canto Bight side quest from 'The Last Jedi', complete with alien species and visual easter-eggs aplenty. But what really works here is the humour. They seemed to have nailed a tone that allows for effortless comedy, while when needed, are able to ratchet up the tension effectively. Speaking of which, while we thought last week's heel turn from 33 was good, it doesn't hold a candle to this week's finish, surpassing it in every way. We couldn't be more excited to see what happens next!

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Star Wars, Skeleton Crew, Disney+, Lucasfilm, Review, Recap
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SSSW - Skeleton Crew S1E4 "Can't Say I Remember No At Attin"

Julian Meush December 19, 2024

Halfway through the season and 'Skeleton Crew' maintains its strong momentum, even if this fourth episode isn't necessarily a home run. The kids find themselves on a dark mirror-like version of At Attin that has been ravaged by generations of war. Unfortunately, this solid story idea is undercut by being executed slightly too simplistically, even for a kids show. That being said, there are some great moments here. The world-building, was interesting and a we get a few satisfying twists in the larger adventure, including a terrifying final moment. Of course we can't forget about Neel, who finally gets the attention he deserves, sieving upon the opportunity and becoming the internets new favourite adorable Star Wars character (at least until Grogu shows up again).

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Star Wars, Disney+, Lucasfilm, Skeleton Crew, Review, Recap
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SSSW - Skeleton Crew S1E3 "Very Interesting, As An Astrogration problem"

Julian Meush December 12, 2024

With the two-episode premiere out of the way, 'Skeleton Crew' can start finding its groove, and while this episode is enjoyable, the show might need to keep searching for what exactly that groove is for at least another week. Despite getting to spend a full, though somewhat short, episode with Jude Law, it's the kids (and especially Nick Frost's SM 33) that continue to steal the show. It's probably just a matter of time, but Jod (Jude Law) has yet to fully land as a character. A handful of charming scenes gets him going in the right direction though. Overall, this is a relatively safe step along the path for a show that has yet to get into the meaty parts of the adventure. Our prediction? Things really pick up in earnest next week. Stay tuned!

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Star Wars, Lucasfilm, Skeleton Crew, Review, Recap, Disney+
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SSSW - Skeleton Crew - Series Premiere

Julian Meush December 4, 2024

Ahoy me mateys! Star Wars is back on TV and this time it's pirate themed baby! Julian and Rachel return to recap and review this two-part series premiere, and are happy to report that the show is off to a great start. Star Wars has been in a difficult place as of late. Something that has been discussed a lot as of late. Each new piece of content announced or released is under a microscope, and probably rightfully so, considering the mixed levels of quality we've been getting from Lucasfilm of late. Amongst all that angst, 'Skeleton Crew' was not at the top of a lot of fans wish-lists, but sometimes low expectations can do wonders. Despite a somewhat slow first episode, the series seems to quickly figure out what it wants to be (Treasure Island in space basically) and hits it's stride through it's second episode. The child cast is charming with great chemistry, but it's Nick Frost's droid character that really steals the spotlight so far. Be warned shipmates, thar be full spoilers ahead!

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In Small Screen Star Wars Tags Star Wars, Review, Recap, Skeleton Crew, Lucasfilm
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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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REcent Episodes

Featured
SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 9 & 10 / Season Finale
May 6, 2026
SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 9 & 10 / Season Finale
May 6, 2026

There it is, folks - the season finale to the latest creation from Lucasfilm Animation. It was certainly gorgeous to look at, with the new painterly stylings, and there was no shortage of thrilling action to sink your teeth into, nor did they skimp on the stakes. But while the season started off on a welcomed unfamiliar foot, by the end of this season, and certainly in these final two episodes, the hallmarks of what we've come to know from Star Wars animation showed their head. Early on, the admitted inspirations from films such as 'Heat' and 'The Dark Knight', provided a needed grit to a show which was ostensibly following a villain. This provided the show with a fresh personality - distinguishing itself from it's predecessors in animation. Unfortunately, the creatives couldn't seem to maintain that tone, as by this two-part season finale the old tropes and predictable beats of 'Clone Wars' rose into prominence. And while the appearance of a certain fan favourite character adds some very cool action, the unoriginality from a narrative perspective robbed the final moments of the needed pathos and drama required to land the plane in the most satisfying of ways.

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May 6, 2026
SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 7 & 8
Apr 30, 2026
SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 7 & 8
Apr 30, 2026

There's two of them now?! With the arrival of another Inquisitor things really start to escalate on Janyx. We see Maul at his lowest since probably his spider-leg days (he goes on a self-guided therapy session/vision quest that results in something quite inspiring actually!), providing us a deeper understanding of his motivations, beyond simply "revenge!". Meanwhile, Devon continues to be the most interesting character on the show as she takes two steps forward, one step back, flirting with the dark side (though bonus points for the slick ride she acquires for their getaway). On the action side, the show continues to bring the goods, with dynamic, large scale battles (heavy on LAATs which is always a treat), intimate lightsaber combat, and a special shout out to the speeder chase this week that included a new Star Wars techno track (get outta here Niamos!), which combined for a chef's kiss of a sequence. The finale is next week, dropping on Star Wars Day (May the 4th), so stay tuned to see how much the show wants to tie up and how much it wants to leave dangling ahead of season 2!

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Apr 30, 2026
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

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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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