EP. 182
Canon storytelling often dances around the topic of humanocentric fascism – maybe it has other fish to fry? Or maybe it’s uncomfortable to write about? However, it’s been lurking in the background of Star Wars since the very beginning. This week we square it up, face-first, and chart the development of that lurking lore point in Legends, Canon and on screen.
You can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunderworld/streams
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EP. 181
Ever since the Disney changeover, Legen…I mean EU fans have been clamouring for their favourite characters, storylines, factions and concepts to make their return to canon. Over a decade later, Thrawn is the only major example of the Legends-to-Canon pipeline, alongside some minor (and very minor) ones. This we look at what kinds of returns-to-story there could be, and offer some of our favourite examples.
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Guest! Ash Mothma
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EP. 180
This week we focus on cosplay, novels and sourcebooks. How is Lucasfilm Publishing embracing the Sequel era once more? What insights might we glean from The Mandalorian Visual Guide? What’s it like to be interviewed for SW dot Com? Find out as we round up the network’s coverage of New York Comic Con 2025!
You can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunderworld/streams
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Guest! Ash Baker
https://instagram.com/def.the.only.ashley
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EP. 179
Clone Force 99 goes on a wild chase through the Galaxy, which leads to some fantastic exploration of their own motivations and worries. Bad Batch: Sanctuary by Lamar Giles is at once moving and exciting, a combination brought out masterfully by Marc Thompson’s stellar audiobook performance. This week, we get ourselves back to a good old-fashioned book review!
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EP. 178
We’ll admit it: canon contradictions can sometimes be hard to swallow. Of course, screen stories have overwritten details on paper a few times, perhaps the most famous example being Caleb Dume’s experience of Order 66 in the opening moments of The Bad Batch. And what about when one paper story seems to go against another, like the apparent discrepancies between Alex Segura’s Battle of Jakku and Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath Trilogy? How much do these inconsistencies really matter? And how has our thinking and feeling about them evolved in the nearly four years(!) that we’ve been doing this podcast? This week we catch up on the Great Canon Continuity debate, and dive back in!
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EP. 177
We all know that the real winner of the Clone Wars was one Sheev Palpatine aka Darth Sidious, at least from a narrative and character point of view. How about from an institutional perspective? Between the main combatants, the Republic and the Separatists, is it possible to claim a winner? If the Empire is the successor state to the Republic, then does that mean that the clones were ultimately victorious? Or how about the ties that the New Republic and even the Resistance had to the Separatists? This week we pick up our discussion about successor states to look at its implications for our understanding of history in Star Wars.
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Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138
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It's an Eye on Canon bonus episode!
Matthew got a chance to talk with Tessa Gratton, author of The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown, four High Republic novels and multiple books outside the galaxy far, far away. Give the full interview a listen here!
Tessa's socials:
Watch the Eye on Canon Podcast LIVE every Monday at 5:30 pm PT, 8:30 pm ET on The Star Wars Underworld YouTube Channel
EP. 176
The Crystal Crown is a fun and gripping adventure! It continues Tessa Gratton’s strong work from The High Republic of writing diverse young characters stepping out into a larger world. Matthew got a chance to interview Tessa all about her impressive Star Wars output and what she brings to our favourite sandbox. Catch the full interview, followed by Matthew’s and Joel’s thoughts on Tessa’s comments. And yes, we’re bringing back the original tagline for old time’s sake!
You can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunderworld/streams
*Special guest* Tessa Gratton https://tessagratton.bsky.social
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EP. 175
Did the Empire succeed the Republic? Did the First Order succeed the Empire? Does that mean the First Order succeeded the Republic? Real-world history abounds with examples of regime changes, successor states and sweeping constitutional amendments. How can they help us understand similar dynamics in Star Wars? This week we’ve got our poli sci hats back on so strap yourselves in for another classic EOC deep dive!
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EP. 174Ritual, material, cultural adaptation, genuine faith: these are a few things that mark real-world communities defined by metaphysical beliefs, what we call “religions” nowadays. How well does Star Wars depict religions and their communities, at least analogously? Does it show widespread beliefs and practices, or confine them to a select few practitioners? When does it explore the relationship between the elites and the masses of a religious hierarchy? If a Jedi gives a Sunday sermon, do they have a congregation to hear it?
You can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunderworld/streams
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EP. 173
One of the nicest things about an extended canon – be it in streaming shows or in books and comics – is that it gives creatives more time to flesh out and expand the characters and character beats of the films. This expansion is particularly notable for characters who only have bit parts on the big screen, but then find a new lease in life in other media. For some of these examples, it's the fan reaction to a character or even a character design that prompts both creatives and executives to give these characters more time in the sun, reminding us that the stories that Lucasfilm tells and the support (financial and otherwise) that fans give to those stories are in a symbiotic, chicken-and-egg relationship. This week we look at some major characters that had a surprisingly small amount of screen time when we first met them.
You can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunderworld/streams
Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138
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EP. 172
Ewan McGregor. John Boyega. Ethan Sacks. Paulo Villanelli. Tim Zahn. Some other folks named Matthew, Ash and Dominic. The premiere genre fandom event on the north side of the border is *just* around the corner, and we get you set for all the Star Wars content coming up!
PLUS! We do an extended “grab bag” edition of Our Week in Star Wars!
You can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunderworld/streams
Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138
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EP. 171
San Diego Comic-Con culminated in its first-ever appearance by The Maker himself, George Lucas. He was joined by Oscar-winning director Guillermo Del Toro and longtime Star Wars designer Doug Chiang to introduce the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, set to open next year. In the Hall H panel, they described the “why” of the museum, which led to a moving and profound exploration on the meaning and power of art in our social and cultural consciousness. This week we unpack their comments on the panel and talk about what that might mean for the way we approach the narrative and visual worlds of Star Wars.
You can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunderworld/streams
Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138
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Lucas Museum @ Comic-Con panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ke3LUd2V30
Last night! Matthew joined Starrapter on Outer Rim Transmissions to look back on the High Republic initiative! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z5RmvFXaEw
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EP. 170
San Diego Comic-Con was a whirlwind, and Star Wars sure made its mark! Filling the gap were two publishing panels, a spectacular booth celebrating Lucasfilm animation, and an awesome afterparty. Rounding out the whole convention was The Maker’s first-ever SDCC appearance! This week we continue our coverage of con season with a look at all the offerings from the Galaxy Far Far Away!
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Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138
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Ep 169Begun the Clone Wars has! Back in 2003 Dark Horse comics and Jon Ostrander chronicled these events in the epic Republic comic book run. Joel is joined by Redleader Antillies to discuss it all and more!You can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunde... Hosted by Joel Davis https://bsky.app/profile/jid20234.bsk... Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/eyeoncanon.b...Star Wars Underworld Podcast NetworkJoin us on Discord! / discord Audible 30-Day Free Trial https://amzn.to/3cfeebq
EP. 168
They did it. They really did it. In Trials of the Jedi by Charles Soule, the story of the High Republic publishing initiative comes to a gripping, heartfelt and utterly satisfying end. This week we dive deep into the twists and turns of adventure and introspection carried throughout by this extremely well-paced and engaging final novel.
You can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunderworld/streams
Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138
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Guest: Dominic Jones! https://instagram.com/dominicj25
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EP. 167
The origins of Star Wars lie in Modesto, California, an All-American city in the San Joaquin Valley. While creatives from across the globe have made their mark on the Galaxy Far, Far Away, the franchise is first and foremost a piece of American pop culture. George Lucas used his platform and his imagination to reflect on the ins and outs, ups and downs of his own world, his own society, and his own country. Many others have followed, putting the good, bad, liberating and concerning aspects of American history, politics and social life on display up to the present time. This week, a few days after the United States celebrated its 249th birthday, we explore the many American dimensions of Star Wars.
You can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunderworld/streams
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EP 166
Connections to Canada in Star Wars might be a bit obscure, but they’re there if you know where to look. Thankfully, half the members of this podcast hail from the Great White North, so we can spot plenty of references. From Naboo’s shimmering lakes and benevolent constitutional monarchy, to real-world creatives like Hayden Christensen, Deborah Chow and Pablo Hidalgo, Canada surely punches above its weight. On the Eve of Canada Day, we take a look at ways this land has inspired the Galaxy Far, Far Away.
And don't worry America: you’re up next week!
You can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunderworld/streams
Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138
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EP. 165The Death Star: the ultimate power in the galaxy, or is it insignificant next to the power of the Force? Or maybe it's a small moon? This week we continue the Andor momentum train with a look at the fearsome superweapon that started it all, and what it symbolizes in the mythology of Star WarsYou can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunderworld/streams Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138and Joel Davis https://bsky.app/profile/jid20234.bsky.social Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/eyeoncanon.bsky.socialStar Wars Underworld Podcast NetworkJoin us on Discord! https://discord.gg/xhbXgRuuGxCheck out Resistance Fest at the historic Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto! Thursday June 26 at 8 pm ET! Featuring The Mahones, F-105 and more!https://www.showclix.com/tickets/ResistanceFestAudible 30-Day Free Trial https://amzn.to/3cfeebq
EOC 164
The year is 1991. The Star Wars Trilogy ended nearly a decade ago and fans have been left in the lurch. Though entries such as the Ewoks films and Droids sustained us for so long, we yearned to know what happened to our main trio. That story came thanks to Tim Zahn, a science fiction author who gave us that answer in the form of the Thrawn Trilogy.
You can watch our episodes live every Monday at 5:30 PM PT, 8:30 PM ET at https://www.youtube.com/@Starwarsunderworld/streams
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Guest Dominic Jones
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