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PODCAST

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast

Journalists Eric Geller, Grace Segers, and Haley Byrd Wilt combine their love of debating Star Wars with their professional curiosity, irreverence, and knack for asking hard questions in this freewheeling discussion show about the galaxy far, far away.

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All Episodes

51:22

45: Hoth Takes #45: Rooting Against Democracy

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2023/11/30

We’re wrapping up our discussion of Ahsoka’s first season with a look at the secondary characters and B-plots that tied the show together. Did Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati break new ground as villains? How much did Hera even matter to the story? And did the series do a good job of exploring the nuances of New Republic galactic security debates, in which our warrior heroes are often working against democracy? For the most part, Eric, Grace, and Haley weren’t impressed, but there’s some disagreement

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58:08

44: Hoth Takes #44: There Should Be Crying

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2023/10/27

The Disney+ series Ahsoka debuted to high expectations, but did it do justice to the fan-favorite Star Wars characters that it revisited? For Eric, Grace, and Haley, the answer — at least when it comes to three of the show’s most important characters — is no. Join us as we dig into what worked and what didn’t with Ahsoka’s portrayals of Ahsoka Tano herself, Sabine Wren, and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Eric and Grace disagree about the value of the World Between Worlds sequence, Grace and Haley disagree

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65:39

43: Hoth Takes #43: Ungenerous and Deranged

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2023/09/30

There are hot takes, and then there are truly hoth takes. In this episode, Wired security reporter Lily Hay Newman returns to Hoth Takes to defend one of the most controversial Star Wars claims we’ve ever heard: that The Book of Boba Fett was a good TV show. Lily loved how the show played with different forms of storytelling, and she came away from it with a newfound interest in Boba Fett. But here on Hoth Takes, she has some explaining to do. How does she respond to Eric and Grace’s complaints

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56:22

42: Hoth Takes #42: No Parallel Universes Here

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2023/08/30

How do you tell a story of change without alienating fans who like things the way they are? Disney has faced this dilemma multiple times since buying Star Wars, and the results haven’t always been impressive. From Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi to Ahsoka Tano in her new Disney+ series, storytellers have struggled to depict characters growing and changing while maintaining the core traits that made those characters so popular. In this episode, New Republic staff writer Matt Ford joins Eric and Grace

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57:50

41: Hoth Takes #41: Dawn of Thrawn

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2023/07/13

We’re just about a month away from the premiere of Ahsoka, the live-action series that will continue the story of Star Wars Rebels, give Grand Admiral Thrawn his long-awaited live-action debut, and set up a cinematic Mando-Verse crossover in a battle for the fate of the New Republic. But here at Hoth Takes, we might be more nervous than excited about Ahsoka. In this episode, Eric, Grace, and Haley discuss their hopes, fears, and expectations for the series, from how characters will be portrayed to

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56:49

40: Hoth Takes #40: The Point Is Suffering

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2023/06/19

Disney is closing the Galactic Starcruiser, its immersive Star Wars hotel in Orlando, Florida, and here at the Hoth Takes podcast, we have some great ideas for what should replace it. But as you’ll hear, only one of us focused on practical suggestions. The others…well, their ideas have to be heard to be believed. In this episode, we’re talking Resistance missions in kitchens, hotels based on the galaxy’s most dangerous planets, time-traveling political hitjobs, and a Star Wars twist on an iconic

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53:31

39: Hoth Takes #39: This is Bo-Katan’s Fight Song

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2023/05/04

Now that The Mandalorian season 3 is over, let’s look back at its story arcs, character choices, and major themes and consider how successful it was. For Eric and Grace, the short answer is: not very successful. In this episode, they discuss Din and Grogu’s bond, Bo-Katan’s path to victory, New Republic and Imperial Remnant world-building, Moff Gideon’s return, and some of the season’s lighter moments. Eric comes up with an ingenious use for an AI image-generation tool, Grace defends a light-hearted

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52:14

38: Hoth Takes #38: Sequel Trilogy Serenity Prayer

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2023/04/14

Disney made some big announcements about the future of Star Wars at the recent Celebration convention in London. This time on Hoth Takes, we share our hopes, fears, predictions, and questions about each of the upcoming projects. How will fans react to Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order? Can Dave Filoni save his Mando-Verse crossover movie from Marvel-like synergy fatigue? How weird and mystical will the “dawn of the Jedi” movie get? Plus, we’re fascinated by the reported vibe of The Acolyte, Haley is

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51:30

37: Hoth Takes #37: Would Rey Be a Libertarian?

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2023/03/24

How should the New Republic rebuild after the events of the sequel trilogy? In this episode, we debate issues like galactic representation, collective security, and planetary rights as we try to design the ideal structure for the new government. Does the New Republic need a big military? Should it go back to rotating its capital planet? How should it interface with the new Jedi Order? There are disagreements aplenty in this episode of Hoth Takes. Plus, Grace questions the very need for a galactic

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59:20

36: Hoth Takes #36: Orn Free Taa’s Close Friends

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2023/02/28

The success of Andor has created a new benchmark for quality Star Wars storytelling. But what lessons can Disney actually learn from Andor? What does its popularity tell us about the kinds of Star Wars stories that can succeed? And what does its success imply about the strengths and weaknesses of Disney’s existing Star Wars strategy? In this episode, we explore the perils of open-ended television series, the pitfalls of Disney’s risk aversion, and the challenges posed by cameos and synergy. Plus, we

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57:27

35: Hoth Takes #35: Wookiee1234!*

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2023/02/06

Recent Star Wars projects like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor have shown us the strengths and weaknesses of the Imperial surveillance state. But how effective are the Empire’s cameras, databases, and scanners, and how well do storytellers justify the failure of this technology to snare our heroes and stamp out the Rebellion? In this episode, Wired security reporter Lily Hay Newman joins Eric and Grace to discuss the depiction of surveillance in Star Wars. We discuss how the franchise has to adhere to its

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57:42

34: Hoth Takes #34: Snitches Get Stitches Here On Andor

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2022/12/22

Andor won critical acclaim for its gritty and nuanced portrayal of rebellion in Star Wars, but what makes its depiction of insurgency so special? In this episode, The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer joins Eric, Grace, and Haley to discuss how faith and revenge motivate rebellion throughout Star Wars, how Luthen’s approach to insurrection sets him apart, how class shapes the goals and decisions of Andor’s rebel and Imperial characters, and what the show says about the role of radical revolutionary violence

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70:25

33: Hoth Takes #33: How Am I Supposed to Move On From...

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2022/12/06

Andor season 1 ended with a triumphant run of episodes, and we’re here to break down all the greatness, from the cutthroat political maneuvering to the epic brawls, riots, and space battles to whatever’s going on with Dedra Meero and Syril Karn. Eric fanboys over Mon Mothma, Grace talks about familial love putting Cassian over the edge, and Haley discusses the genius of making Dedra sympathetic and relatable before showing her dark side. We also talk Andy Serkis, Ferrix funerals, Luthen’s

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64:32

32: Hoth Takes #32: The Drink Worms Were Definitely...

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2022/11/01

Eight episodes into Andor, we keep finding more things to love. Join us as we discuss the Disney+ series’ surprisingly stark treatment of the surveillance state, police brutality, and the prison-industrial complex, tackling issues that Star Wars has either ignored or relegated to the background. We also cover Diego Luna’s extraordinarily expressive face, the many layers of Mon Mothma, the intimate portrayal of Imperial oppression, and the villains we almost want to root for. This series is so good

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58:58

31: Hoth Takes #31: Karnage

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2022/10/04

We’re one-third of the way through Andor’s first season, and so far, things are looking incredibly good. In this episode, Eric and Grace break down how Andor is hitting all the right notes, from its grounded setting and its darker tone to its nuanced portrayals of heroes, villains, and everyday people. We talk about Mon Mothma’s unexpected vulnerability, the office politics of the Imperial Security Bureau, and Andor’s unflinching depictions of surveillance, migration, and insurgency. Plus, we

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52:18

30: Hoth Takes #30: Fode and Beed and the Multiverse...

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2022/09/19

Podracing: to paraphrase Qui-Gon, it’s very fast, very dangerous, and very possibly the best sequence in The Phantom Menace. In this episode, Daily Beast congressional reporter Sam Brodey joins us to discuss the podrace sequence’s uniquely excellent world-building, the racers’ bizarre backstories, and the high-octane competition’s best sound effects and strangest moments. Plus, we celebrate Fode and Beed, pitch ideas for a podracing mini-series on Disney+, and mourn Ratts Tyrell — gone but not

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52:00

29: Hoth Takes #29: A Male Individual Was The Husband...

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2022/09/12

How will the new Disney+ series Andor balance its ambition to be a political thriller about insurgency and migration with its imperative to serve a mass audience and respect Star Wars’ kid-friendly roots? In this episode, Eric, Grace, and Haley discuss their hopes and expectations for Andor, including a spotlight on Mon Mothma, an exploration of Imperial loyalism, and a focus on more grounded heroes. Plus, we digest a revelation about Mon’s past, ponder Tony Gilroy’s promise of journalist

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53:36

28: Hoth Takes #28: Somewhere, Chewbacca Is Dreaming...

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2022/08/09

We’re mixing things up in this episode of Hoth Takes and turning the reins over to a special guest: Washington Post health-care reporter Dan Diamond. Dan, a self-admitted Star Wars novice, asks us a series of pressing questions about the galaxy far, far away, from how people get their news to why stormtroopers can’t hit anything. We also discuss the role of Star Wars in the real world, including why there’s so much anger in fandom and whether someday, far off in the future, Star Wars will become an

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55:26

27: Hoth Takes #27: Who Has the High Ground Now?

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2022/07/26

Now that we’ve had plenty of time to digest the second half of Obi-Wan Kenobi, we’re diving into how everything went down and whether the series lived up to its potential. From Obi-Wan and Anakin flashbacks to Reva’s secret agenda, find out what we thought worked and what disappointed us. Plus, Haley gives us a new way to think about the finale’s Star Wars Rebels ripoff (perhaps “homage” is a better term?), and we pour one out for Tera Sinube.

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43:05

26: Hoth Takes #26: Anakin Needed A Chaperone

Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast ·

2022/07/18

Who’s your favorite Jedi? In this episode, Eric and Haley make their cases for two very different characters — one young and irreverent, one experienced and solemn. What can Ezra Bridger teach us about the Jedi quest for selflessness amid the temptations of family, home, and power? And how much was Mace Windu to blame for the success of Darth Sidious’ plan to corrupt Anakin Skywalker? From Loth-wolves to Sith holocrons to dangerous lightsaber fighting styles, the stories of Ezra and Mace are full of

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