The Death Star Human Resources Department Newsletter Year in Review
Let 2025 die. Kill it if you have to.
Hello there
I know, I know. I said I was on winter break until January 9th. But with it being New Years Eve and all, I thought I’d throw together a quick little 2025 recap. It’s not so much what happened this year in the world of Star Wars, or even the world of Death Star HR. But it’s seven things I really liked from Star Wars this year, along with a link to where I already wrote about them.
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Top Seven Star Wars Moments of 2025
These are less the top 7 most important Star Wars moments, but rather the top 7 for me personally.
7 - I Finally Finished All 19 New Jedi Order Books
It took about a year and a half, but I completed the Expanded Universe New Jedi Order books. All 19 of them. I thought I could do it in a year, but as Luke Skywalker told Palpatine, “your overconfidence is your weakness.” The NJO was an incredibly ambitious project for Star Wars. Up until then, almost all Expanded Universe books were standalone. At most you’d have a trilogy. It is Star Wars, we like trilogies. Yes, there was the X-Wing series, but even then that was only 8 books. There were a few times I thought maybe 19 books was too many. But it was one of the few times that you really felt like (almost) anyone could be killed and there was much more of a sense of danger.
6 - The O.G. Star Wars Returns to the Theater
I have to put this one at number 5 simply because it hasn’t happened yet. We finally got confirmation earlier this month, right as I was about to start my Death Star HR winter hibernation, that the original 1977 cut of Star Wars will be back in the theaters in February 2027. Disney announced back in August that as part of the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, A New Hope would be back in theaters in 2027. But they were coy as to what version. The original with Greedo shooting first? Or the 1997 Special Edition with the CGI Jabba. Turns out, we’re getting a completely restored and remastered version of the 1977 version. As I was negative 3 years old when Star Wars was first released, I’ve never seen this version on the big screen. I am very, very excited for February 2027.
5 - Death Star HR Has a (Very Infrequent) Podcast
I know, I know. Just what the world needs. Another man with a podcast. I’ve thought for a while about starting a podcast to go with the written version of Death Star HR. But, I am a law talker by trade which means I am in love with the sound of my own voice. There’s only a few things up on the Death Star HR YouTube channel, but I’m looking to add more next year. This year I talked to Star Wars themed metal band Galactic Empire, fellow Substacker and all-around interesting dude JB Minton 📺, and cosplayer/Ben Solo protestor Reychel of Jakku. It was a lot of fun talking to people about their relationships with Star Wars, and there will be more to come next year.
4 - Rebel Scum Con Happens and I Was There
Up until August, I had never been to any kind of convention. Or at least not as an adult. I went to some baseball card shows as a kid and a few Magic: The Gathering tournaments when I was in high school but nothing as an adult. No Star Wars Celebration. No Comic Con. Not even the Dallas Fan Expo or any of the smaller cons that pop up randomly in the DFW suburbs. This year I finally made it to Rebel Scum Con, and dragged along my friend, the Obi-Wan Kenobi of Tarrant County. It was, quite simply, a blast. Everyone was cool. I liked seeing all different cosplays people came up with. Year 3 of RSC is happening in August and I’ll be there.
3 - Revenge of the Sith Returns for it’s 20th Anniversary
I don’t like to make sweeping statements, but I think it’s fair to say most Star Wars fans consider Revenge of the Sith to be the best of the Prequels. Taste is subjective and all that, so your version of the “best” may vary. But Episode III was back in the theaters for it’s 20th Anniversary and once again I made the Obi-Wan Kenobi of Fort Worth leave the house. Star Wars is meant to be seen on the big screen. That’s also a fun Death Star HR since it has me and friend of Death Star HR Shane Elliott yakkin’ about The Acolyte.
2 - The Hunt for Ben Solo Consumes Us All
Easily the most unexpected bit of Star Wars news this year was The Hunt for Ben Solo. It turns out that Adam Driver wanted to play Kylo Ren again. He roped Steven Soderberg into the project. They pitched it to the Lucasfilm braintrust who at least liked it enough to keep the project going. A script was written. Only to reach the end of the line when Disney CEO Bob Iger said he wasn’t sure how this could happen since Ben Solo died.
The internet reacted as the internet tends to do. With over the top craziness. Planes with banners, billboards, missing posters, cosplay outside of Disney HQ. The Hunt for Ben Solo captured the imaginations of Star Wars fans in a way I haven’t seen since Baby Yoda first hit the small screen.
1 - Andor Season 2
Not sure how you could pick anything else. If you had told me back in 2021 or whenever Andor was first announced that a Star Wars show staring a secondary character from Rogue One and wouldn’t feature the Force or Jedi or any known characters outside of Cassian, Mon Mothma, and Saw Gerrera AND would still be one of the best things you’ll watch all year, I would have said I think you’ve been sniffing too much rhydonium. Instead we got a series that was beautiful, tragic, funny, and all too real.
That’s it. I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and I’ll see you all again on the 9th.
That’s it for this week. If you like what I’m doing, please subscribe. I’ll catch you next week, and may the Force be with you.
Happy New Year!
Here’s to 2026!
Remember Alderaan!