The Death Star Human Resources Department Newsletter: February 21, 2025
All my blue-skinned dreams are coming true.
Hello there
And welcome back to the Death Star Human Resources Department Newsletter. It’s a fun one this week. There’s a couple updates from last week’s newsletter, I go back to the Death Star HR Book Club. Disney plays with the timeline at Galaxy’s Edge. I’m just asking questions here. And finally, finally, one of the best that Star Wars Legends Expanded Universe has to offer is here on the small screen. You can probably guess what I’m talking about. All I can say is it’s real and it’s spectacular.
As always, I appreciate everyone who reads and shares and banters on here. If you’ve got a friend in your life who loves Star Wars, it would mean a lot if you just forwarded them Death Star HR and tell them about the guy who’s way too into Darth Jar Jar. Or you’re friends with a Star Wars hater, you can send them this anyway. I’m not picky.
This Is Where The Fun Begins
It’s part of Death Star HR lore by now that my other pop culture obsessions interests include The Simpsons, The X-Files, 30 Rock, Always Sunny, and What We Do In The Shadows. I even pitched a Star Wars/Shadows crossover way back in the very first Death Star HR, almost two years ago.
Just when Jabba is going to open the trap door to the rancor pit, Colin Robinson comes into the throne room and starts talking about the history of the Tusken Raiders, draining the energy in the room and allowing the group to escape. That scene in ROTJ when everyone is asleep and Leia goes to unfreeze Han? That was right after Colin Robinson put everyone to sleep.
I still think it’s gold. But anyway, I finally got around to watch the last season of Shadows. It does a pretty good job wrapping itself up. But as I noted when I first proposed my crossover:
Plus, think of how great it would be to hear Matthew Berry as Laszlo Cravensworth just saying the word “Tatooine.” I’d watch a whole of show of just that.
And someone took me up on it. Voice actor Ben Kearns did a bit as Matt Berry as Laszlo Cravensworth as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Yes, you read that right. Just a heads up, it’s mildly NSFW.
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10/10 no notes. Berry has already made an appearance in the Star Wars, showing up in 5 episodes of Book of Boba Fett has the droid 8D8.
From the Death Star HR Team Lead’s Desk
Two quick updates from last week’s Death Star HR.
First off, in the Favorite Couple in Star Wars poll, Han and Leia were the overwhelming favorites with 69% of the vote. Poor Anakin and Padme didn’t even get one vote. Which probably shows my readers have some good sense; that was pretty toxic relationship.
And second, while I was wondering if the world would end thanks to an asteroid before the Rey New Jedi Order movie could be released, friend of Death Star HR
noted that scientists have updated the odds of 2024 YR4 striking the Earth to 3.1%. Still not as high as I’d like, but in this case, go ahead and tell me the odds!Questions, Have You?
In an moment of the Mandela Effect here at Death Star HR, I could have sworn at one point in Empire Strikes Back, Yoda says to Luke “more questions, have you?” when they were on Dagobah. When I couldn’t confirm that, I then thought he said it to Qui-Gon. Also not true. Just a good reminder that what you think you remember, is likely not what actually happened. The Geto Boys were right when they said “mind playin’ tricks on me.” The line I was actually thinking of was in The Phantom Menace. After Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan tell the Jedi Council about running into a trained Force user with a red lightsaber that Ki-Adi-Mundi doesn’t think could be a Sith, Qui-Gon hangs back so he can tell them about Anakin. Yoda sees he has something on his mind and says “Master Qui-Gon, more to say, have you?”
All that to say, I am introducing a new feature here at the Death Star Human Resources Department Newsletter. An occasional question to (hopefully) drive discussion. This isn’t going to be weekly or anything, just every once in a while.
So the first question: what is your unpopular Star Wars opinion? Comment below.
The Thawn Trilogy Is Here - This is NOT a Drill, People
Although not the way you would expect. YouTuber Jar Jar Jargon is doing his own animated version of Heir to the Empire. Unlike the 3d animated style Disney does for say, The Bad Batch. This is as Jargon puts it, a “90’s animation/anime style.” Look, the voices for Han and 3PO aren’t quite right and the speech doesn’t quite match up with the character’s mouth. Although as I think about it, my guess is that’s to make it look like an anime that was originally in Japanese and dubbed into English. I don’t really know anything about anime so I’m just guessing there. Anyway, check it out.
I’ve mentioned this before, but if you’re a Star Wars fan my age, there’s a pretty good chance that the Thawn Trilogy is something you hold dearly. I was too young to see the Original Trilogy in the theaters and too old to be a Prequel Kiddie. The Expanded Universe was what we had. The Thrawn Trilogy were the first books published when Lucas decided to kick off the EU. It gave us Grand Admiral Thrawn, Mara Jade, Rukh, and Talon Karrde. It was the first to really introduce cloning as something the Empire was into. Fun fact, it was in Heir to the Empire that “Coruscant” was first used as the name of the center of the galaxy. Prior to that it was referred to as “Imperial Center” or “Imperial Capitol.”
Anyway, I’m hoping Jar Jar Jargon can keep this up before the Disney lawyers get a hold of him. And there’s a fun little twist at the end of the video that differs from the books. As far as I’m concerned, this is the real Sequel Trilogy.
At Galaxy’s Edge, Time(lines) Have No Meaning
It’s been a long time ago (in a theme part far, far away) since I’ve been to a Disney theme park. I’ve been to both World and Land, but the last time I’ve been on It’s A Small World was 23 years ago. There still was some Star Wars stuff there, I remember riding Star Tours and I have a Mos Eisley Cantina pilsner glass on my shelf. But the new and cool things like Galaxy’s Edge weren’t even a figment of anyone’s imagination the last time I was at the happiest place on earth.
Of course, I have wanted to visit Galaxy’s Edge. I don’t really care about the rest of of the Disney parks, although Epcot and the Haunted Mansion are cool, although not as a cool as your own custom lightsaber. The friends who have been to Galaxy’s Edge have all raved about it, everyone has said it’s really fun and Rise of the Resistance is a great ride. Plus you’ve got Smuggler’s Run where you get to pilot the Millennium Falcon.
If there’s one knock about Galaxy’s Edge, it’s the timeline. Like the former Galactic Starcrusier Hotel, Galaxy’s Edge takes place in the Sequel Trilogy timeline. As I also said about the Galactic Starcruiser, I get that Disney spent a lot of money on Star Wars. I get that the Sequel Trilogy are their movies and contribution to the Skywalker Saga as opposed to the OT and the Prequels. I get they really need to make Rey and Finn and Poe the next Luke and Han and Leia to get the younger generation interested and give them their own Star Wars heroes. I understand all of that. But the people who can actually afford to go to Disney these days1 are the ones with the fond memories of the OT. So Disney is finally listening to the fans and incorporating some non-Sequel Trilogy characters into Galaxy’s Edge.
In Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the new nightly projection show “Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga” will debut on March 28, taking guests on a storytelling adventure across the galaxy.
Stunning projection effects transform the spires of Batuu near the Millennium Falcon evoking memories of some of the greatest moments in galactic history as an iconic musical score, comprised of familiar themes heard throughout the films of the Skywalker saga, draws the audience into the legendary story of the Skywalkers.
It looks like Anakin and Padme are going to be featured, at least in shadow form.
Other than Rey, from what I have read there really hasn’t been any other Skywalkers featured at Galaxy’s Edge. But might one of the most famous Jedi in the history of the galaxy far, far away show up?
Joining other familiar encounters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, for the first time, a shadowy visitor will appear on Batuu for a limited time. Wearing what seem to be Jedi robes, there are rumors it might be the legendary Luke Skywalker!
I wonder if this is a signal that Galaxy’s Edge is going to move away from strictly existing in the Sequel Trilogy timeline and more to an environment that’s mostly Sequel Trilogy but is more “general Star Wars” for lack of a better way to put it. I don’t think you’d see something like Clone Troopers, Imperial Stormtroopers, and First Order Stormtroopers all hanging out. Nor would I expect say a stunt show where Phantom Menace era Obi-Wan trains Rey. Instead it will be mostly the Sequel Trilogy and if Darth Vader shows up because Disney knows they can charge extra for the Darth Vader Experience, it will be a case of “what timeline?”
Great Moments in Star Wars Merchandising
This original Chewbacca birthday cake candle was posted by
who is one half of the great newsletter Whatever Nevermind that takes a critical look at the 80/90’s nostalgia. Check them out.Also, I’m pretty sure this candle is 100% pure uncut asbestos2.
The Death Star Human Resources Department Book Club: New Jedi Order #13
Well, I’m not going to finish the New Jedi Order by February. The best kind of New Years Resolutions are the kind that you never keep. But still, it’s another book down, we’re on the move! What’s lucky book number 13 have in store for us?
Title: Traitor
Series: New Jedi Order. Book #13
Author: Matthew Stover
Date published: July 30, 2002
Pages: 292
Status: Legends
Summary in 20 words or less: Jacen Solo goes on a journey that may or may not have inspired Knights of the Old Republic II.
Matthew Stover is one of my favorite Legends Expanded Universe authors. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it over the past 1.5 years I’ve been doing Death Star HR, but if not, I’m stating it now. We’ve only had four books from Stover. There’s the one we’re talking about today, the Revenge of the Sith novelization, Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor, which was a standalone story, and Shatterpoint, a a stand alone story about Mace Windu. I still need to read Shatterpoint, it’s in my bookcase. Maybe that will be the first one I read after I (finally) finish up the New Jedi Order. Also in 2008, the ROTS novelization won a theforce.net poll for best Expanded Universe story. Even beating out such works as the Thrawn Trilogy and the first Knights of the Old Republic. Also worth noting, Traitor and Shatterpoint were also in the top 10. Shadows of Mindor was not on the list, but to be fair, it hadn’t been released yet.
I do wish Stover had written more Star Wars books. He doesn’t have any in the current canon. Maybe he’s got a beef with Disney, who knows. There isn’t a ton out there on him. It appears he’s somewhat active on the rotting corpse of Twitter, at least as of 2023 he was posting. A couple Reddit threads say he’s back writing his own material and that he’s had some health problems over the years. So, I hope he’s doing well and hope that he can find his way back to the galaxy far, far away.
Getting to the actual book, one reason I like Stover is he looks at the Star Wars universe slightly askew. I’ve also mentioned how much I love the story in “Knights of the Old Republic II”. There are similar vibes here for both.
I feel like this isn’t necessary, but you know how people can be. Yes, there are going to be spoilers for 20+ year old books and video games below.
When we last left Jacen Solo, he and the rest of the Jedi Strike Team had succeeded in killing the Voxyn Queen, but at great expense. A bunch of Jedi, including his little bro Anakin Solo didn’t make it out alive. And while Jaina Solo, Lowbacca, and Tahiri the shoeless Jedi managed to steal a Vong ship and escape, Jacen wasn’t so lucky. He was captured by the Yuuzhan Vong and largely everyone except for Leia assumed he was dead. While the galaxy far far away has been keeping the war going, Coruscant has fallen, Luke, Mara, and the Jedi are scattered, and Jaina has assumed the role of the Trickster Godness. Meanwhile, Jacen is stuck in the Embrace of Pain, the Yuuzhan Vong equivalent of being waterboarded.
And he’s not alone, Vergere is with him. Which could be good or could be bad. This is where I start to wonder if there was any overlap between the plans for NJO and KOTOR II. Because Vergere and Kreia have a lot in common. Both were Jedi. Both had their own questions about the Jedi Order. They both enjoy speaking in riddles and never really giving a straight answer. Both went over to the Dark Side and became aligned with the Sith. At least as of right now, Vergere appears to be back to the light side. The other key that I noticed was she cuts Jacen off from the Force. And while Kreia did not cut Meetra Surik off from using the Force in KOTOR II, it is an important point of the game and an important question to ask, what does it mean to be a Jedi if you can’t use the Force. It’s an especially critical question for emo kid Jacen Solo, who was always a little more into his feelings about the Force than say, Anakin. Anakin viewed the Force no differently than a lightsaber, or a hammer. It was a tool that he could use to help accomplish whatever his goals were. Jacen wants to get deep into what does the Force MEAN for a Jedi.
Vergere starts by telling Jason there is no Light Side and no Dark Side. The Dark Side is just using the full power of the Force. There’s a similar argument made in KOTOR II that the Jedi and the Sith are just two sides of the same coin. And why is Vergere being so “helpful” to Jacen? Well she’s sold the Vong on the idea that she’s going to break Jacen down and convert him from a droid-loving heathen to a nature loving Yuuzhan Vong. I have always found it a little strange the Vong keep Vergere around. She’s not a Yuuzhan Vong, she’s a Fosh. The Vong are like Palpatine, they’re Space Racists. Even though Vong Executor Nom Anor doesn’t trust Vergere, but the idea of converting Jacen Solo to the Vong way of thinking is too tempting to pass up.
During Jacen’s stint in the Embrace of Pain, Vergere is peppering him with questions about just what does it mean to be a Jedi. Once he’s been waterboarded enough, Jacen doesn’t neccesarily come around to the Vong way of thinking, but he’s come around enough to he’s send to a Vong seedship. Seedships are used to grow new planet that can act as a Yuuzhan Vong homeworld. On the seedship, Jacen formed a bond with the one of the Dhuryam, the life-form that was supposed to coordinator terraforming the new homeworld. Proving that he hasn’t completed been indoctrinated by the Vong, Jacen goes on a rampage and murders a great many Yuuzhan Vong, their slaves, and 12 of the 13 Dhuryam. Just as he’s about to kill the last one, he has a vision of Anakin telling him not to.
In the third act of the book, Jacen wakes up to discovery that he and Vergere are on the new homeworld of Yuuzhan'tar, only to discovery it’s actually the remains of Coruscant. He’s also discovered that thanks to the slaveseed, he can sense the Vong through the Force. Similar to how Anakin could with his modified lightsaber crystal. As he and Vergere travel through what’s left of Coruscant, Jacen ends up in situations where he has to use Dark Side Force powers. Vergere tries to convince him again that there’s no Light and Dark side. There’s just the Force. After making his way back to the Solo’s old apartment, Jacen is confronted again first by the Force ghost of Anakin and then again by Vergere and Nom Anor. Nom tells Jacen they believe him to be the avatar of Yun-Yammka, the Yuuzhan Vong God of war. Jacen agrees, but not really. Guess the Dark Side isn’t really bothering him anymore.
The very last part of the book was a surprise to me, I was not expecting Ganner Rhysode to show up. He had been searching for Jacen, thinking that if he found the missing Solo, he’d be the hero he always wanted to be. Jacen and Ganner hatch a plan, they’re brought to the Well of the World Brain, in the old Galactic Senate chamber. The world brain evolved from the Dhuryam that Jacen saved. The idea is they’ll kill the last World Brain and cripple the Vong. Ganner tells Jacen he’ll hold off the Vong while Jacen kills the World Brain. Using Anakin’s lightsaber, Ganner kills nearly all the waves of Yuuzhan Vong warriors but eventually they’re too much to overcome. Ganner gets the hero’s death he always wanted. At the last minute, Jacen decides not to kill the World Brain, but instead convinces it to make the new planet inhospitable for the Vong. Vergere tricks Nom Anor into giving up the location of his escape ship, and Vergere and Jacen head back to the New Republic.
Whew, that was a lot.
The Good:
As I mentioned above, this is one of the best reviewed Expanded Universe books and for good reason. As he always does, Stover explores what is the Force and what does it mean to be a Jedi. If there’s anyone who looks at Star Wars from a certain point of view, it’s Stover. I really liked this book and couldn’t put it down.
The Bad:
Nothing. This book is awesome.
Wild Card:
Possibly the first mention of pubes in the Star Wars universe:
Up next is book #14, Destiny’s Way.
This Day in Star Wars History
It is always a pleasant surprise when I check and date and find that a lot happened in the Star Wars universe. I’m not going to go back and check every week of Death Star HR since I started doing “This Day in Star Wars History3” but I think there’s a good chance that February 21st is the biggest day I’ve covered so far.
We’re starting off with a big one. Anthony Daniels was born on this day in 1946. He is the only actor to be credited in Episodes I - IX, Solo, Rogue One, and The Clone Wars movie. Wookieepedia uses the word “credited” which does make me wonder if there is someone who has been in all 12 movies but isn’t credited in all 12. Anyway, Daniels helped develop C-3PO’s personality. I read somewhere years ago that Lucas had envisioned 3PO has a fast talking used car salesman type. Daniels has basically made a career out of voicing 3PO in everything from movies to TV shows to commercials to audio books. I don’t say this as a knock on him. If you’ve got a steady job, keep it. Also of note, in 1990 he played a priest in a movie entitled I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle. I watched the trailer and it looks absolutely insane.
Writer Christopher Yost was born in 1973. He was a writer on Rebels, including a couple great episodes, Legacy of Mandalore and DUME aka Ascension Pt 2. He also wrote Chapter 6: The Prisoner in the first season of The Mandalorian. That’s the episode with Bill Burr, the guy from Sons of Anarchy, and the Xi'an, the Twi'lek who wanted to both get with Mando, and kill him. Which when you think about it, that’s really what love is.
I was all set to write about how nerd-extraordinaire Kumail Nanjiani was born this day in 1978. However, despite what Wookieepedia says, both Wikipedia and IMDB say he was born on May 2nd, 1978.
Aftermath: Empire’s End was published this day in 2017. The final book of the Aftermath Trilogy, the book is most famous for featuring the Battle of Jakku. Mister Bones forever.
In 2020, the Bad Batch (the characters) made their debut in the season 7 premiere episode of The Clone Wars, simply titled The Bad Batch (the episode). I hadn’t realized this, but the idea for the characters, thought up by Uncle George himself, and the episodes had been around for a while. The first four episodes from season 7 were screened at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim in 2015 but never made it to TV until 2020.
Finally, one year ago today, The Bad Batch (the series) had the season premiere of season 3. Disney gave us a mini-binge with a three episode drop of Confined, Paths Unknown, and Shadows of Tantiss to start the final season. Like Rebels, The Bad Batch was probably better than it had any business being. I have no idea if all three seasons were planned out in advance, but I do wish more shows would say “we’re doing X number of seasons to tell the story and then we’re done.” Even if that story is just Omega getting captured by the Imperials over and over.
From the Depths of Wookieepedia
Way back in July of 2023, I shared a meme comparing Star Wars characters to different genres of metal and wondered if there were any metal bands in the Star Wars universe. It’s taken a year and a half, but the Wookieepedia randomizer has given me one. Ladies and gentlemen, please throw up the Zabrak horns for BLACK SABACC!
OK, so it doesn’t actually specify what type of music Black Sabacc plays, but I’m going with them as a metal band. And in case you didn’t get it, Wookieepedia helpfully explains:
Black Sabacc is a reference to the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath.
In my best Ozzy voice: “I…AM…3PO”
News From the HoloNet
I Think I've Figured Out What Star Wars' Next TV Show Is After The Latest Celebration Announcement
Hera and Omega’s Rebellion Adventures. It makes sense. I do wonder if Disney will lean more into animation for TV shows.
You Can Now Hang Luke Skywalker’s Star Wars Medal Around Your Own Neck
It will just cost you a cool half-million.
Star Wars' TV Future Might Be Riding on Andor Season 2
Part of me wants to say this is hyperbole. Part of me thinks it’s more right than wrong. I think we’re guaranteed to get Ahsoka season 2. But a strong showing by Andor, in both reviews and streaming numbers would go a long way for getting more TV shows.
Rumor: Popular Star Wars Expanded Universe Character May Get A TV Series
It’s Mara Jade. Fortuitous timing to find this link the same week I find the animated Heir to the Empire. I think it would be more likely to work Jade into a series/movie than give the character her own series. It would also be interesting since Uncle George was allegedly not a fan of her.
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.
I read an article a while ago about people going into debt to afford a Disney vacation. No words.
Yes, I am aware asbestos is very fire resistant. Can’t let facts get in the way of a joke though.
Should it be “On This Day In Star Wars History”? I can never decide.
Unpopular opinion: I don’t get why Boba Fett is in anyone’s Top 25 of favorite Star Wars characters. Ok, he looks kinda cool (as long as he’s not standing next to Vader), says a couple lines, then goes out like a sucka in an attempt at comic relief. We didn’t need more of him, and most certainly not “Oh, he’s actually just misunderstood. It’s really a 65-year old in that armor and we should respect our elders and help them with their groceries. Also, his ship was definitely not named ‘Slave I’.” On the bright side, aka across the galaxy from Tatooine, Book of Boba Fett did give us Danny Trejo training Rancors, which ruled.”
Thanks for shouting us out and sharing the candle I really regret not buying! (I was too afraid I’d kill my family) I learned so much on that excursion to a vintage toy store. Example: if a Yoda figure has the snake and staff you can charge $65. (My brother used to chew on them. Little did he know) If not: $20