The Rise of Skywalker: A Deep Dive Discussion with Spoilers

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

• 🚀 The opening of "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance" at Disneyland Park on January 17th is discussed, with a note that Florida's version is already operational and improving.
• 💡 Disneyland is offering a special three-day, one-park-per-day ticket for $67 per day to encourage attendance for the attraction's opening.
• ✨ The attraction is described as one of the most amazing experiences in any theme park, with expectations of high attendance.

Publishing Delays and Potential Revivals

• 📚 The delay of "The Art of Star Wars Rebels" book is discussed, with potential reasons including overseas printing and tariff issues, or a desire to keep information under wraps.
• 💡 The delay of "The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" book was attributed to Disney's request to prevent spoilers, specifically regarding Palpatine.
• 📺 The potential revival of "Star Wars Rebels" is explored, possibly to keep the "Clone Wars" animation team together, with news possibly coming from a WonderCon panel.
• 🌟 The return of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" for a seventh season on Disney Plus, starting February 17th, is confirmed.

Deep Dive into "The Rise of Skywalker"

• 💔 The hosts express mixed feelings about "The Rise of Skywalker," placing it in their bottom three Skywalker saga films, though still enjoying it as a "Star Wars movie."
• 🤝 The chemistry between Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac as Rey, Finn, and Poe is highlighted as a strong point, lifting many scenes.
• ❤️ Adam Driver's performance as Ben Solo and his redemption arc are praised, with the handling of Han Solo's return and Carrie Fisher's scenes noted as particularly effective.
• ❓ The inclusion of Kanan Jarrus and Ahsoka Tano's voices in Rey's Jedi gathering scene is confirmed, sparking discussion about their fates.
• 🧐 Frustration is expressed regarding the visual dictionary's description of Lando Calrissian's character, suggesting a missed opportunity with his daughter, Janna.
• 💥 The return of Emperor Palpatine is seen by some as negating Darth Vader's sacrifice, though the argument is made that Vader still gave his life to save his son.
• 🤯 The scale of the Final Order fleet and the stadium of Sith worshippers are described as "overkill."
• 🗺️ The gathering of ships for the final battle is explained by the novel "Resistance Reborn" and the year-long effort to rally allies, contrasting with the lack of aid in "The Last Jedi."
• ❓ Questions are raised about the First Order's relevance when the Final Order becomes the main threat, and the practical effects and creature designs are praised.
• 🗣️ The lack of Rose Tico's significant presence is discussed, with speculation that her scenes were intended for Leia and didn't work with available footage.
• ⚔️ The Knights of Ren are noted as a formidable force that was ultimately defeated by Ben Solo, and the "Ben Solo challenge" on social media is mentioned.
• 🎶 John Williams's score for the sequel trilogy is lauded as his best, with specific musical cues from "The Imperial March" and "Return of the Jedi" highlighted.
• 🤔 The difficulty of concluding the Skywalker saga is acknowledged, with the film feeling more like the end of a season than a definitive finale for some.

Host Updates and Future Content

• 🎙️ Dan Zehr discusses his new business venture, danzmedia.com, offering podcast and blog consulting, and public speaking services.
• 📺 Both hosts mention their respective podcasts and encourage listeners to rate and recommend them on iTunes.
• 🛍️ A call to subscribe on Bandcamp is made to support the purchase of "The Art of Star Wars Rebels."