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128: Star Wars (4k77 Version) Pt. 1

A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

Release Date: 03/05/2026

131: The Empire Strikes Back (4k80) Pt. 2 show art 131: The Empire Strikes Back (4k80) Pt. 2

A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

The heroes of the rebellion have fled Hoth and found themselves in new environs unlike any we've seen in Star Wars before. Bespin's Cloud City is the first real metropolis in the series, and while Yavin was covered in trees, it was nothing like the damp swamps of Dagobah, home to creepy crawlies of all sorts. As our heroes meet their respective contacts, one has to wonder, which of these new worlds is home to the more trustworthy sort of person? Trick question. You can't trust either of these motherfuckers. Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny () Featuring Alicia Acampora (), Austin Walker (),...

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130: The Empire Strikes Back (4k80) Pt. 1 show art 130: The Empire Strikes Back (4k80) Pt. 1

A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

Three years after Luke turned off his targeting computer, Star Wars returns. Indeed, one might even ask "Is The Empire Strikes Back the actual 'start' of what we know as Star Wars?" Maybe! It's here that Star Wars begins to take the shape of a franchise (without any of the bloat yet), Industrial Light & Magic performs even greater special effects miracles, and the story begins to effortlessly blend fairy tale and melodrama. Plus, we get to see the original little green freak in his natural habitat. NEXT TIME: The Back Half of Empire Strikes Back Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny ()...

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129: Star Wars (4k77 Version) Pt. 2 show art 129: Star Wars (4k77 Version) Pt. 2

A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

We return with the back half of a little movie called Star Wars. We can finally talk about some of the most foundational moments in the franchise. The very first lightsaber duel--and its relationship to a little tv show called Obi-Wan Kenobi. The series' three protagonists finally sharing screen time. The Death Star trench run and its relationship to the Force and Technology. But we also get to talk about some of the stuff that gets lost along the way. Like about just how funny Star Wars has always been. How the Empire is already a bit of a send-up of bureaucrat sci-fi baddies. And...

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128: Star Wars (4k77 Version) Pt. 1 show art 128: Star Wars (4k77 Version) Pt. 1

A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

A long time ago in a galaxy, far far away... there was a spaceship with a princess and a pair of droids and a malevolence dressed in black. There was a desert world with two suns and a farm boy whose only chance at escaping the planet's gravity was a wizard who lived out in the hills and couple of smugglers looking for a big payday. And there was something grey--aggressively grey--a sphere in the darkness of space, blocking out the stars, lighting up envy green, and insisting on its own place in the orbits of galactic lives. Today we talk about Star Wars. Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny ()...

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127: Revenge of the Sith (Novel) Pt. 3 show art 127: Revenge of the Sith (Novel) Pt. 3

A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

We've come to the end of Matt Stover's (p)re-telling of Revenge of the Sith, and it has raised a lot more questions than it answered (which isn't, necessarily, a bad thing). Questions like: "Why does Anakin say things like that?" and "How do I know that's a baby?" and, maybe most importantly, "Padme who?"  NEXT TIME: STAR WARS Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny () Featuring Alicia Acampora (), Austin Walker (), and Natalie Watson () Produced by Austin Walker Music by Jack de Quidt ( Cover art by Xeecee ()  

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126: Revenge of the Sith (Novel) Pt. 2 show art 126: Revenge of the Sith (Novel) Pt. 2

A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

We return to the final days of the old Republic. But not the Old Republic. That's different, now, that's like... an even older time before all this. Anyway, the Battle of Coruscant has concluded and its heroes, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi can finally come home for a little rest. And a little scheming. And a little paranoia. The Jedi Council members spin their wheels despite having all the clues. Palpatine spins the world around his finger. And Padme, Anakin's Wife (remember this), is also there. Next Time: The Rest of the Book Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny () Featuring Alicia...

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125: Revenge of the Sith (Novel) Pt. 1 show art 125: Revenge of the Sith (Novel) Pt. 1

A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

This is A More Civilized Age: Three hours of podcast when another team would make an hour and a half. Distractions. Diatribes. Deep dives into the databanks to learn, live on air, factoids about characters who hardly matter. But that's what makes A More Civilized Age A More Civilized Age: All of it might matter. Five years running and it's still asking questions a first year podcast might.  And today it is going to learn what it already knew: That Anakin Skywalker is driven by love and fear in equal, but precarious measure. That Obi-Wan Kenobi, the ultimate blueprint of a Jedi,...

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124: The Star Wars Holiday Special show art 124: The Star Wars Holiday Special

A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

When I went to post this episode, I went through all the motions necessary to post it as a Patreon bonus before remembering: "Oh no, wait, did we actually watch this chaotic mess for the main feed?"  That's how bonkers this 1978 variety show is. So get ready to have your mind evaporated by this neutron bomb of content as we head to the Wookiee Planet on this very special Life Day.  Next Time: Matthew Stover's Revenge of the Sith Novelization, Part One: Victory (Chapters 1 - 7) Show Notes       Hosted by Rob Zacny () Featuring Alicia Acampora (), Austin Walker...

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123: Malachor V (KOTOR II 14) show art 123: Malachor V (KOTOR II 14)

A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

With the Ravager in pieces, Telos seemingly saved, and an army of HK-51s unleashed, the Exile and the (remaining) crew of the Ebon Hawk heads to the place where it all began: Malachor V. There, at the end of a multi-level dungeon and a couple of boss fights, the two remaining Sith Lords stand in wait. And in classic KOTOR II fashion, what they have to offer is tantalizing, memorable, and famously unfinished. And that's that for KOTOR II. Thank you for coming on this amazing journey. We can't wait to kick off a new series in the new year... but first... Next Time: THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL...

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122: Return to Telos (KOTOR II 13) show art 122: Return to Telos (KOTOR II 13)

A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

After a climactic confrontation on Dantooine, the Exile and the (remaining) crew of the Ebon Hawk return to Telos, chasing after the Handmaiden and Kreia. There, the Handmaiden faces down her sisters, the Exile comes face to face with Atris (if that is still her name), and HK-47 fights his way through a factory of hostility-ending droids. Then, above Telos, war breaks out. Darth Nihlus arrives at the helm of his corpse-of-a-ship, the Ravager, hoping to find a buffet of Jedi to devour. Instead he finds only his old disciple, a pissed off Mandalorian warlord, and a once-exiled Jedi. Show Notes ...

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A long time ago in a galaxy, far far away... there was a spaceship with a princess and a pair of droids and a malevolence dressed in black. There was a desert world with two suns and a farm boy whose only chance at escaping the planet's gravity was a wizard who lived out in the hills and couple of smugglers looking for a big payday. And there was something grey--aggressively grey--a sphere in the darkness of space, blocking out the stars, lighting up envy green, and insisting on its own place in the orbits of galactic lives.

Today we talk about Star Wars.

Show Notes

Star Wars Version Comparison

Luke and Biggs Deleted Scenes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social)

Produced by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social

Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)