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!

We of course also encourage you to write in with your list! What do you think is the best of the best in Star Wars? Email us at towerofbabblepodcast@gmail.com

If you enjoy the show please subscribe and leave a kind review on Apple Podcasts, and check out Patreon.com/TowerBabbleCast to become one of our latest patrons.

Categories and Winners

Best Film

Julian:

The Last Jedi

Rachel:

Empire Strikes Back

Best Director

Julian:

Rian Johnson (The Last Jedi)

Rachel:

Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian)

Best TV Series

Julian:

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Dave Filoni and George Lucas)

Rachel:

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Dave Filoni and George Lucas)

Best Actor

Julian:

Harrison Ford (Han Solo)

Rachel:

Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan)

Best Actress

Julian:

Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa)

Rachel:

Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa)

Best Scene

Julian:

Binary Sunset (Episode IV)

Rachel:

“No I am your Father” (Episode V)

Best Performance

Julian:

James Earl Jones (Darth Vader)

Rachel:

Ray Park (Maul)

Best Lightsaber Duel

Julian:

Ahsoka vs Maul (The Clone Wars S7)

Rachel:

Maul vs Obi-Wan (Episode I)

Best Jedi

Julian:

Yoda

Rachel:

Yoda

Best Villain

Julian:

Darth Vader

Rachel:

Darth Maul

Best Score

Julian:

Binary Sunset/Force Theme

Rachel:

Duel of the Fates

Best Romance

Julian:

Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla

Rachel:

Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla

Best Friendship

Julian:

Han and Chewy

Rachel:

R2D2 and C3P0

Best Droid

Julian:

R2D2

Rachel:

R2D2

Best Planet

Julian:

Kashyyyk

Rachel:

Lothal

Best Cinematography

Julian:

The Last Jedi (Steve Yedlin)

Rachel:

The Mandalorian (Greig Fraser)

May 15, 2025

SSSW - Andor S2 Finale

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.

May 9, 2025

SSSW - Andor S2 E7 - 9

When dealing in the world of prequels, it’s impossible to escape the inevitable - Anakin will fall, Han will win the Falcon, Cassian will die on Scarif. Somehow, in the midst of some of the most thrilling episodes of television ever put to screen, Tony Gilroy and his team found a way to address that impending doom and weaponize it against the audience to induce some of the most gut wrenching and heart breaking moments we’ve yet to see on ‘Andor’ - “There’s some place he needs to be”. At a larger scale, the show continues to outdo itself on a weekly basis, proving that the Star Wars galaxy provides a colour pallet of some of the richest hues from which to paint bold and personal stories. Proving you can go beyond the larger than life stories of heroics and grandeur to human stories of loss and pain and everything in between. That’s without mentioning the deft touch in pulling in themes that resonates with the contemporary while remaining timeless - a feeling that is a staple of Star Wars. Every detail is considered, every character is deep and interesting. There isn’t much more that can be said about such a powerful piece of art, except that not even the audience can escape the inevitable - only one week remains of this masterpiece.

May 2, 2025

SSSW - Andor S2 E4 - 6

I'm sorry to tell you all, but we're already halfway through this final season of 'Andor'. Fortunately, the quality hasn't dipped one bit as we accelerate into the finish. Join Julian and Rachel as they savour every minute of this 3-episode arch that takes us to Ghorman for the first time on screen. Tony Gilroy and the team at Lucasfilm outdid themselves yet again in crafting every detail. The size of the set alone is impressive, but they take it a step further by developing a unique culture and even language different from anything we've seen in Star Wars before. It all fits seamlessly into this next chapter of the story that has a heavy emphasis on spycraft as the pressure ramps up for both the Rebellion and the Empire.

Apr 24, 2025

SSSW - Andor S2 Premiere

It's been a long time since Cassian Andor and his band of Rebel compatriots has graced our TV screens. A long hiatus, no doubt, but when you look into WHY this second season took so long the reason becomes clear - they were dotting every "i" and crossing every "t" (along with dealing with the writers and actors strikes, growing and harvesting ancient grains, hand stitching wedding dresses, the list goes on...) to make sure that this isn't just good Star Wars, but indeed the maybe the BEST Star Wars (I'm partially convinced that it may be the best we may ever get actually). Season 2 roars to life in it's first of four, 3-episode drops (essentially a movie a week for a month), not wasting any time picking up with our characters a year after the events of season 1. The sheer scale, scope, and commitment to its heavy themes is laudable, but when combined with the masterful set design, costuming, writing, and acting, you can't help but to stare, mouth agape, at this singular piece bold storytelling, that will likely go down as Tony Gilroy's largest contribution to popular culture, and deservedly so. Join Julian and Rachel as they unpack it all. It's going to be one hell of a ride!

Categories and Winners

Best Film

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Director

Julian:

Rachel:

Best TV Series

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Actor

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Actress

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Scene

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Performance

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Lightsaber Duel

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Jedi

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Villain

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Score

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Romance

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Friendship

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Droid

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Planet

Julian:

Rachel:

Best Cinematography

Julian:

Rachel:

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