A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

I have been listening to the show since it started. I don’t generally leave reviews, but felt I needed to after the announcement of the postponement. I am so happy the crew took a stance on what is happening in Gaza. You have a forever listener in me. Thank you for all you do!

Im usually too lazy to leave reviews, I dont like writing and Im not especially interested in putting my own thoughts out for conversation or scrutiny. Likewise, I dont usually read reviews or go look into public discussion over the media I consume; I like to enjoy something relatively priavtely or with friends in person, and thats the end of it. Even for things I get a lot of enjoyment from, I dont usually feel the need to share my enjoyment, even with the people who create the thing I enjoy, because so often I dont feel like I have more to say than "I liked it". And again, Im pretty lazy. That said, its hard to see the backlash from the hosts recent decision to stand in solidarity with the Disney+ boycott (and the resulting pause of their coverage of Andor S2) and to continue to have nothing to say. If I find myself feeling generous, I can consider that perhaps the great majority of the response is a dissapointed outcry from those who came to the show for Andor coverage specifically, and I can understand the frustration with not having a much anticipated companion to what Im sure is an excellent season 2. It likely wont be quite the same to have the Andor coverage coming out after the fact, given that the fan discussion and theory crafting was an exciting part of their coverage of the previous season. It is crushing to have something you value and anticipate not arrive, and so I understand the outspoken disapointment. What I do not understand, or maybe just fail to have sympathy for, is the contingent that finds this choice unbecoming, ill-considered, or most bafflingly; out of character. I have to wonder what those individuals have been taking away from the hours they have spent listening to this podcast. Why does it make some angry that the hosts are acting consistently according to the values and views that they regularly express? Would it be better that they do not make an effort to maintain that integrity? If so, I struggle to understand how those people could stand listening to the show at all. It would render all their thoughtful coverage and in-depth consideration of the media they discuss inert, for if they do not stand by the things they say they believe, how could a person trust there is any substance to the other opinions they express or the critical thought they engage with. To the hosts: Your podcast is wonderful, and if nothing else, the acerbic reaction to your collective comprimise proves the value of the project you create, as well as the effectiveness of a well targeted boycott from a position with influence. Anger, frustration, and inconvenience are all effective tools for driving attention and action, and your choice to stand in solidarity expands the reach and message of the BDS movement that much further *because* of the quality of the product you are withholding. This is all a bit redundant, you certainly know this already and factored all this and more than I have mentioned into your decision. But since I am here already, I will conclude with a few of the compliments I usually dont express: The 4 of you have managed to curate some of the most thoughtful media criticism I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. Rob, your incredible insight is only matched by the infeciousness of your enthusiasm for the content and conversations you have with the other hosts. Austin, your depth of knowledge and desire to investigate or dig deeper into a topic gives you an uncanny ability to open conversational avenues and lead discussion in a way that is, frankly, masterful. Natalie, your ability to break down motivations and expose the heart of a topic of discussion leads to such excellent candid conversation. Ali, you bring such a poingiant and thoughtful perspective to every topic, and you regularly shift the lens of a conversation to expose facets of a topic previously unexplored. On top of all this, you are all so full of wit, humor and good grace as you navigate the challenging and often unstable landscape of being a public figure and content creator. It is a joy everytime a new episode appears in my podcast feed: be it coverage of a comic, a videogame, a childrens tv show, or a loadbearing text of incredible merit (looking at you Dooku: Jedi Lost). I know that no matter what you cover, you will bring your knowledge and your wit, your enthusiam, your consideration, and your care to whatever you so choose. Thank you, and 5 stars.

i cannot tell you the number of times i have reached the brink of star wars induced madness, whether over some mind boggling creative choice of george lucas or david filoni, fandom nonsense, or just pure hype when oh my god this sw show is actually good?? each and every time i can count on the amca crew to suit up and charge into blaster fire to unpack and analyze the delightfully frustrating stories of the galaxy far far away, keeping me from ending up much like darth maul on the trash planet. you remember. shout outs to the pod for putting my thoughts to words and bringing new angles of analysis i never would have thought of. who knows where i’d be without y’all.

AMCA reviewing various animated Dave Filoni Star Wars things or the old Zahn trilogy and the like is a very good, very fun podcast which I recommend. AMCA reviewing Andor is maybe the best podcast to ever do it. Metaphorically speaking, Andor in particular is proton torpedoes fired directly into the exhaust ports of its four hosts and then you just listen to them explode for a few hours every week. It is a joy.