Han Solo Yeah I Just Got a Funny Feeling Like Im Not Gonna See Her Again
Opinions // MAY 4, 2021
On the Comlink: What Does Star Wars Mean to Y'all?
On May the 4th, 5 StarWars.com writers discuss how they first became fans and why the galaxy far, far away remains then special to them to this day.
On the Comlink is a feature in which StarWars.com writers hop on a phone call (virtual or old fashioned) and discuss a specificStar Warstopic. In this installment to celebrate Star Wars Day, Dan Brooks, Kristin Baver, Katie Barnes, Dustin Diehl, and Bria LaVorgna discuss how they starting time became Star Wars fans and what has kept them interested in the galaxy far, far abroad over the years.
Dan Brooks: This is coming out on May the 4thursday, so that's why nosotros're talking about what Star Wars means to u.s.a.. I thought nosotros could start by talking nearly how we all discovered Star Wars. So I'g going to enquire Dustin: tell us your Star Wars story — what were your first steps into…
Dustin Diehl: [Simultaneously] A larger world? [Laughs]
Yeah, oh my gosh, so I was in 2nd form and I call up they were running one of the TNT or TBS marathons dorsum when y'all would record things on VHS. My dad was similar, "I recorded this movie that I think you might like." And I had some friends in school that were big Star Trek fans and then when he said that it was Star Wars, I was like, "Oh no, I know about that. I don't really think that'due south for me." And he's like, "No, I promise you information technology'due south different." Zero confronting Star Trek, information technology merely wasn't for me at the time. And we saturday downwards to watch information technology and I was just hooked. I was so hooked, I made my mom take me to Toys 'R' Us the very next day to become my very first Power of the Force action figure. And there was only one blood-red card on the shelf and it was an R2-D2. And then R2-D2 was my beginning [Star Wars action figure]. And the next day I started Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Dorsum before my dad came dwelling house and he was so mad that I started without him, but I was merely like, "We'll just kickoff information technology over. Information technology'southward fine! We'll outset it over."
Dan Brooks: And where did it go from in that location for you lot? Were y'all re-watching the movies a lot, did you outset reading the books?
Dustin Diehl: I was huge, huge, huge into the books. I was already a pretty avid reader as a child, and got into the immature Jedi Knight series — was obsessed with that. And then pretty much any of the now Legends books, but from the Thrawn trilogy to the Jedi Academy trilogy, pretty much all the fashion through New Jedi Order all through middle schoolhouse. Very much, kind of…I survived the dark times of the '90s.
Kristin Baver: Do you have a T-shirt that says that?
Dustin Diehl: They should accept that. They should totally have that. But it was mostly through the activity figures and the toys and the books, honestly. Obviously, I re-watched the movies all the time, but I think that the love of Star Wars kind of stayed live through the novels and through the merchandise. [Laughs]
Dan Brooks: Yes, of course. [Imitating Yogurt from Spaceballs] Merchandising! Merchandising!
Dustin Diehl: Yup! [Laughs]
Dan Brooks: I knew this conversation was going to make me experience sometime, by the fashion, 'cause I survived the dark times of the '80s and the '90s. Katie, what nearly you lot? How did you get-go become into Star Wars?
Katie Barnes: Actually in a very like mode, although I remember I had multiple Star Wars entry points, which we can unpack in a minute. But I definitely call up my dad had a VHS tape and he would write all of the things that he had taped on it and like, what order they were in. I just kind of picked one up and I put it in and it was The Empire Strikes Dorsum, and then that was the first film I saw. And, you know, it was also in the '90s. And it must have been…I don't remember exactly what it was, considering I didn't immediately turn into like, a "Star Wars person." I'chiliad actually probably much more than of a Star Wars fan now than I was when I was a kid. Only then I call back going to meet The Phantom Menace with my dad. And he hated it and I loved it. I was like 10 years onetime having the time of my life. My dad kept being like, "Jar Jar sucks." And I was like, "Yeah, totally… [whispers] I like Jar Jar."
[Anybody laughs.]
[I was] very much like that pocket-sized person that was into Jar Jar Binks. And you know, it was always simply going along with my dad. And I really enjoyed it and I watched the first three…Episodes I, 2, and III, which were my well-nigh formative memories. I saw every single one of those in theaters with my dad and we would talk about it. It was only kind of like i of those things I do with my dad and that was the same with Star Wars as it was with the first three Spider-Man films. It was all kind of effectually the same time in my life. And then you know, I kind of similar stopped. My friends were into Star Wars and I watched all of the films, of course, simply I never got into like Legends canon. And I wasn't able to play that many video games as a child, and then I didn't get into those games. And it wasn't until probably when I was in college and early on adulthood that I started to kind of double back and swoop in… really started to embrace my Star Wars fandom and learn more and really pick up a couple of the novels and and then play video games. The best thing about being an adult is being able to buy your ain video games.
Bria LaVorgna: Yeah.
Katie Barnes: And I take kind of fallen in dearest with the lore now and I'm very into all of, similar, the taxes and the trade stuff and I'm like, "Yep, like allow's talk about politics." Similar, that's my favorite function almost it. Other than lightsabers, that's always going to be cool.
Dan Brooks: What was the impetus for you getting dorsum into it as an developed?
Katie Barnes: It's one of those things that was actually gradual. I immediately thought of this line from The Fault in Our Stars — just go with me — about like, you fall asleep slowly and and so all at once. And information technology was a lot like that where my friends were very into Star Wars and I was into The Lord of the Rings but similar, I've but ever been kind of casual nearly my fantasy fandom. I recollect, honestly, if I'm beingness similar self-reflective and frank about information technology, it hasn't been something that I had felt was really inclusive of the person that I am as like a black queer non-binary person. I only didn't know it was for me….[It] didn't seem like something that I would necessarily be a part of from a fandom and customs standpoint. And so, I but kind of followed their lead and they were all talking almost really cool stuff, and I wanted to talk about cool stuff. And I hate feeling left out, and that was a big commuter for me to kind of really swoop in and notice other entry points into being a Star Wars fan beyond just the films. And like, you lot know, now I can talk to them near Rebels and almost Clone Wars, and just having other Star Wars experiences other than like the kind of but casual and lukewarm ones I'd had every bit a kid.
Dan Brooks: I desire to simply ask most something important that y'all brought upwardly, which is representation. You know — and everybody tin can talk about this — how practise you feel about information technology now? Do you feel similar things with Star Wars are getting improve in that expanse? Is there a lot of work to do? What are your thoughts on that?
Katie Barnes: I mean, there's e'er work to exist washed, but I hateful, yeah, it's amend. Information technology's and so much better! Like the vibe is mode different, I recollect. I mean, of course there are stories that came out around Kelly Marie Tran in Episode Eight and those difficulties and I'm non going to minimize that, but in terms of only sitting downwardly for Episode Vii and seeing John Boyega on screen, that's awesome! I beloved Rey as a character and I beloved Daisy Ridley in that role and and so it's definitely changed for the improve in that regard. And I think that it has carried over to The Mandalorian as far as the different types of characters and the way that representation has been expanded and, like, I love that. I think it speaks to the manner that what beingness a Star Wars fan means and what beingness a function of the Star Wars community has meant has evolved over time in a pretty clear mode.
Bria LaVorgna: I call back information technology's definitely gotten a heck of a lot better. I got into Star Wars pretty young and equally a half Chinese person there weren't many characters who looked like me. I think it'south gotten a lot better, only I definitely recall there'southward yet work to be done. Almost of the representation that has been very meaningful to me — every bit, again, a half Asian and queer adult female — has come in the books. Doctor Aphra! I would have never expected we would get Medico Aphra. If you lot had asked me 10 years ago [if] at that place would be similar, a queer Asian rogue archeologist, I would have been like, "No, that'south not…" And here she is, one of the most popular characters in the books. But between her and then Iden Versio from Battlefront II, it's been really absurd for me equally a fan who as well cosplays, because now there are characters who really kind of look like me. Then I don't have to be like — and I don't go this as much as other cosplayers of color do because I'm half white — merely y'all know, "Oh, the Asian Princess Leia" or something like that.
Kristin Baver: Bria, what was your entry point into Star Wars?
Bria LaVorgna: Then I was two and I was left with my uncle, aunt, and cousins while my parents went on vacation and they introduced me to chocolate cake and Star Wars on the same day. It was not bad. [Laughs]
Kristin Baver: That is a bye!
Dustin Diehl: Best day always!
Dan Brooks: That is a neat day.
Katie Barnes: Bully mean solar day.
Bria LaVorgna: Right?! So Star Wars has only kind of always been there for me considering they introduced it to me. My older cousin, who is 10 years older than me, and and so one of my other uncles, they're both really big fans as well and so they sort of fostered that love. And at some betoken I know I found the Jedi Prince books because this was a little bit before the Special Editions came out. I think I was in second grade and at that place was a picture of Trioculus in carbonite and I was showing it to the other girls in my class. And they were like, "What? Why? Why would yous practice this?"
Dustin Diehl: Zorba the Hutt! [Dustin spreads his fingers at his chin to mimic Zorba'due south long braided beard.]
Bria LaVorgna: Yeah! Zorba the Hutt! They were the cool covers from the '90s! I did eventually get introduced to the young Jedi Knight serial and I spent my entire time wanting to like, both exist and be best friends with Jaina and Tenel Ka. And and then from there I kept reading the Expanded Universe books. And and so just kept reading them, and here we are. [Laughs]
Dan Brooks: What well-nigh your jump into cosplay? To decide to get alee and give information technology a try?
Bria LaVorgna: I recall that kind of had to do with the forums I was on when I was a teenager because the Jedi Council ane had a cosplay section. And so I was like, "Oh, I could try to practise this," and I fabricated a very, very bad Barriss Offee costume when I was similar 15 or 16. Pictures are out there on the internet. Don't. Please don't.
Dustin Diehl: I'm sure it was keen.
Katie Barnes: That's gonna be my new phone wallpaper, then…
Bria LaVorgna: I was 15 and I did another one about six or seven years ago that was much better. But I had always known how to sew. My mom had taught me when I was a trivial kid, and so I was, like, "Oh, I wanna be a Jedi, as well. I want to be like Leia." And so I started to learn and I started going to conventions like DragonCon after I was in college and and so I merely kept making things and realized it was fun. You'll weep because you'll probably stab yourself with a sewing needle multiple times, merely it's fun when you go to walk effectually in a full flight suit and a TIE airplane pilot helmet and just give people the Royal death glare. So much fun.
[Laughter]
Kristin Baver: Information technology just tells united states then much about you lot, Bria.
Dan Brooks: It does.
[Bria laughs.]
Kristin Baver: I hateful, just that judgement is similar, Bria in a nutshell. I honey information technology.
Dan Brooks: How did you go into Star Wars, Kristin?
Kristin Baver: I feel similar my story sounds a lot like Dustin'southward in terms of, I was raised by Trekkies, then I was raised…
Dan Brooks: Nosotros'll bleep that out.
Kristin Baver: Yes. No one will know what I just said, information technology'll be great. But I remember distinctly existence like 4 years old and watching Star Trek: The Next Generation on syndication with my dad in his recliner because I was tiny enough that nosotros could both fit in the chair, and simply having such love for that franchise. I went to my showtime convention when I was nine — it was a Star Trek convention.
This is for StarTrek.com, right? This is fine.
[Everyone laughs.]
Dan Brooks: Kirk or Picard. Who's better, Kristin?
Kristin Baver: Oh! Oh my god, it's Picard and that'southward a different argument. We'll have that fight later, Dan.
[Everyone laughs.]
But, all of this is to say that I was raised with a lot of sci-fi and a lot of love for that. And then I call back, if I'm remembering correctly, I somewhat discovered Star Wars on my own when information technology was on the Sci-Fi Aqueduct. Information technology was correct later nosotros had only gotten satellite TV for the commencement time and I remember feeling like I had discovered something special, and then my dad being similar, "Oh, aye. I know. I know what this is. Okay. No, this is absurd, as well."
[Everyone laughs.]
Y'all know that feeling like, "This is just mine. No i else knows about this." And, of form, it's like the '90s, like a lot of people knew near this already. And as with many things I think in one case you, especially maybe when you're a child, but one time you kind of fall in love with something you are just down the rabbit hole. So I retrieve information technology was on Sci-Fi only then of course I wanted to sentry it on tape. So we got the original trilogy on VHS. And we watched Return the Jedi then many times nosotros broke the tape and nosotros had to get find a replacement and I was adamant that it still match the set for some reason. It was the ones that had like the one-half Yoda, half Darth Vader faces on the covers.
Dustin Diehl: [Nodding] Oh yes.
Kristin Baver: And I joined the Star Wars fan club and I had like, a little wallet that had velcro still, because I was a kid. I didn't accept money or a driver's license, merely I signed that bill of fare and put that menu in that piddling wallet and carried it effectually simply in case I was going to get asked well-nigh information technology.
[Everyone laughs.]
And I remember for Christmas I got those Ability of the Forcefulness action figures. I likewise got R2-D2 and Chewbacca first, and Chewbacca was vitrify.
Dustin Diehl: [Laughs] Yeah.
Kristin Baver: And then I just started collecting all of those figures, which is the genesis of how much I love Star Wars toys and Star Wars action figures in item and then it just started morphing in new ways. Like, Bria, yous were saying your kickoff cosplay wasn't bang-up. My outset cosplay — sort of and my but cosplay I call back to date — I was doing a presentation in schoolhouse and we were supposed to be a graphic symbol and so I decided to be Princess Leia for this presentation and talk about Star Wars from Princess Leia'south signal of view. And my mom made me a costume from a white bedsheet. I notwithstanding have information technology to this solar day. Nosotros but, like, cinched this white bed sheet and I got these long ropes of red doll pilus and wrapped them effectually my actual hair to make these behemothic Leia buns and I wore this costume for the presentation and I wore information technology for Halloween one year — or I think really a couple years. But information technology's just and then near and dear to my centre that my parents took this thing that I was clearly just voracious nearly and kept helping me feed my love for information technology. Y'all know, they bought the activeness figures, they bought the VHS, but especially helping me brand that costume and, you lot know, supporting in that fashion is but so special.
Bria LaVorgna: Kristin, we can fix the "first and only cosplay" thing.
Dustin Diehl: Yeah!
Bria LaVorgna: You know people!
Kristin Baver: I know, I know. I have a list. It's well documented on StarWars.com that I actually desire to build a Boushh costume at some point. Only now I live in San Francisco where no ane has any actual space to store a Boushh costume. I know, Bria, you're like, "Hang on. It'due south not that big. We can accept care of this." You and I will talk when we're washed here.
Bria LaVorgna: Yes!
[Bria and Kristin laugh.]
Dan Brooks: I feel like yous don't see a lot of that costume at Commemoration or Comic-Con, now that y'all mention it.
Dustin Diehl: No.
Bria LaVorgna: It's a difficult one to do. Especially as far as the Leia ones go.
Kristin Baver: Of course the first one I want to do is the hardest ane. Of course.
[Dustin laughs.]
Bria LaVorgna: That cabinet behind me is all Star Wars helmets, so we got this.
Dan Brooks: I was wondering if those were costume sketches over your shoulder behind you. Is that what that is?
Bria LaVorgna: Yeah, that's for a unlike franchise though that I won't name.
Dan Brooks: Oh, let'due south not talk about that then.
[Anybody laughs.]
Kristin Baver: We'll bleep that ane out likewise. Even though you didn't even say which one it was.
Bria LaVorgna: I was careful.
Dan Brooks: Well, I'll share my story actually quickly. I actually have a couple of different points of entry into Star Wars, or points of discovery. I don't remember when I start saw it and I was born in 1980. I know I loved it every bit a kid. I had tons of toys and vehicles but at some point I left it behind every bit I got into other things. So I remember a friend of mine had the first Timothy Zahn novel and I had not thought near Star Wars in a long time, but I saw it at his firm and I looked at information technology and I was similar, "Oh, yeah, I call back that." And you know, to put it into context, Star Wars really kind of disappeared from the public centre…
Kristin Baver: Because it was the night times.
Dan Brooks: It was the dark times. The start…
Dustin Diehl: Night times. [Laughs]
Dan Brooks: But then I remember I saw an ad that HBO was playing The Empire Strikes Back on like a Friday dark and Render of the Jedi on a Saturday night. So I just thought, "Okay, I'll watch that." And I think I was almost 12 years old. And I just recall with Empire this real feeling… The merely thing I tin liken it to is like the beginning time you hear Abbey Road. Like it was this feeling of, "I didn't know movies could be like this." And I recall feeling similar I didn't know that people could come up together to brand something so skilful and and so rich, you know? And it felt like at that place was a moment. It was, you know, my life before this screening of Empire and my life after. It taught me so much nigh what was possible. I loved it and, actually, and then watching Jedi the next night, I loved that even more. And I would still say that, y'all know, I recognize the greatness of Empire. For a long time I've said it's my favorite, simply I call up when it comes downwardly to it, Jedi is my favorite Star Wars flick and information technology's just for the way it makes me experience. It tin take me right dorsum to how I felt watching it that Sat night — like, every fourth dimension I see it.
So, you lot know the next thing I wanted to ask on that note is why you all think y'all connected with information technology? What was it about Star Wars that hit you? Because, obviously, nosotros all have movies that we dearest or Television set shows that we love, merely they don't reach us in the same way that maybe Star Wars has. So Kristin, let's get-go with you lot since you're stuck on my screen for some reason.
[Dan and Kristin laugh.]
Kristin Baver: You pinned me and you lot can't effigy out how to unpin me.
Actually, I've thought a lot about this because, Katie, I recall you lot made this signal, but a couple of you have said something to this upshot — my trajectory with Star Wars was also kind of fading in and out sometimes. Because I got super hardcore into it, and then I remember the Special Editions came out and I loved those and I really liked the prequels, but I was starting to go into my teen years at that point and I was starting to feel similar "Oh, maybe I'one thousand getting as well old for this," which is hysterical now. I become it, I hear it, I hear the irony. And then I remember kind of being away from it for a little while after that and getting excited when Disney bought Lucasfilm and realizing that we were getting new Star Wars movies. That had been my ain — I think that was the dark times for many of us when after the prequels in that location were no new Star Wars movies and we didn't expect to ever come across one over again, necessarily. So just going to The Force Awakens with my best friend and crying so hard at that moment — which I even so feel like is a spoiler if I say it out loud. I don't know why.
But I think what initially continued me to Star Wars and probably what keeps bringing me back is this feeling like I know these characters, similar these are a real characters. They resonate with me…and I think it's because they accept that mod mythology backbone. They are based on these timeless archetypes. But, you know, when y'all really drill down to information technology, even though I was a Han kid — and I've said this many times and, Dan, I see you nodding considering we have had this back and forth in our office because yous're a Luke kid. Simply even though I was a Han kid, what I have come to realize is function of what made A New Hope feel so compelling to me as a kid was that I was a rural Pennsylvania farm child, substantially. I was raised either on the holding or across the street from the property where my grandparents had their dairy farm, and I had no interest in farming whatsoever. And when you lot see Luke experiencing life on Tatooine and simply desperately wanting to get out of in that location, I feel similar that spoke to me on a level that I hadn't even recognized in myself yet at that point. But when you lot look at Tatooine farmers, to me, those personality types are non that different from the farmers that I actually knew in Pennsylvania, you lot know, my grandparents and other people in that industry. So I think it just actually captured something raw and real and accurate.
Bria LaVorgna: I remember for me initially it was Leia considering I've always loved the badass, take-charge, become-things-done lady types. And that's who yous run across Leia existence in A New Hope, especially. Like, I love her whole, "Into the garbage chute, flyboy," and off they become! And and then again, not long after when I found the books and I found Jaina Solo and I plant Tenel Ka, I latched onto both of them considering they were similar archetypes, both kind of a little bit tomboy, if you can use that term in the milky way far, far away. I kind of grew up with them. They are a little older than me. I was thankfully not fighting a galactic civil war at the age of xvi. But at the same time as I was in center school and high school, I was finding the online community. And so between that and then finding stories like those of Jaina and Tenel Ka, and the X-wing books, like, I latched onto those super hard. That's where I found friends. And some of those friends I made when I was 13, xiv years old — I'm nevertheless friends with some of those people now and I'k 31! So I recollect it was that community aspect and that'south what keeps me coming back to Star Wars even now much older.
Katie Barnes: Yes, I remember for me, since…my fandom has deepened over fourth dimension and peculiarly as more than of an developed. That's so ridiculous. I'm like, I actually like the politics. I love it. Similar, I am really motivated and blithe by politics and lore and the opportunity to go be in a world. And I think the affair I really honey about Star Wars, and accept loved as I've sort of rediscovered it, is that I've been able to define that fandom for myself. In that location'south then many different entry points into a galaxy far, far abroad that it doesn't hateful the same matter to everyone and that'south okay. Similar, five years agone, even just being a part of this chat, I probably would take run and hid and been like, "You don't actually want to talk to me."
Yous all are talking about action figures and I'm like, "Did I have an activity figure?" No. Merely at present I'm only like, "I like Star Wars a lot and information technology's different for me than it is for other people," and what keeps me coming back is dissimilar because I don't have that really visceral childhood nostalgia. Just I think that's what is so great about information technology, is that you don't have to have discovered it when you were two years one-time — though it's great if you lot did! And all of the stories and the richness around fandom of Star Wars, you know, is as diverse as the community itself and that is something I really, really love about information technology and have come up to understand equally I've gotten older and started to just admit that I really like the machinations of trade policy. That's just who I am.
Kristin Baver: Katie, I don't think I've heard anyone give that reply. "I come up to Star Warsouthward for the politics." And I'm here for information technology and I love it.
Katie Barnes: Sorry, I simply do! I love The Mandalorian because I'k like "Yes, what is happening?" Not even just "Who are these people?" Only like, "No. What is happening?" Similar, where are we in terms of the timeline and who's in charge? My friends all told me I needed to spotter other shows because of the geopolitics. That's what they sold me on, and that's only the person I am. I read Supreme Court cases for fun and I don't have a police force caste, and so…
Bria LaVorgna: Please tell me you've read Bloodline by Claudia Grey because if y'all beloved the Star Wars politics yous'll love Bloodine.
Dustin Diehl: Yeah.
Katie Barnes: I'1000 taking all recommendations for the things that I demand in my life.
Bria LaVorgna: Bloodline. [Bria points to a promotional poster on her wall from the book's launch.]
Katie Barnes: Thank you.
Dustin Diehl: I'm glad anybody else went commencement because I experience similar my answer would be shades of everything. But what I thought, Kristin, yous said that hitting me, simply as well then on the flip side of the same money, you do take those archetypes in those characters that yous recognize and you can latch onto. I think for me it was too recognizing that and having that every bit a stable entry point. But then, the affair that keeps me going is the in-between characters. Information technology's such a huge franchise in a huge galaxy and there are and then many different stories. It's unlike other franchises in that way, at least for me, in that you're not stuck with just this limited number of characters. There's an infinite number and there continues to be infinite numbers of characters, hopefully, knock on wood forever and ever. That fifty-fifty if you don't see yourself right away, there'due south the run a risk then you haven't…and I call back as a child, I had in the back of my head, like, even if I don't necessarily see me, I know that I tin exist in this world because there are space possibilities. The fact that a side graphic symbol that had 1 second of screen time could end upwards as an action figure, information technology'due south like, "Hey, you tin can take your own story in Star Wars and never take to cantankerous paths with Luke and notwithstanding have your own adventure." And I think that's what keeps me coming back. There'due south plenty adventure and enough space for everyone. No pun intended.
Kristin Baver: Well, and Dustin y'all just mentioned something that struck me. I think office of what was important for me with the activeness figures growing upwards was the ability to kind of write your own Star Wars stories with that playtime.
Dustin Diehl: Yes, yeah!
Kristin Baver: And I similar how you lot put it that if y'all don't encounter yourself, information technology's not that you don't exist there because you definitely could. Star Wars is for everyone and the galaxy is filled with more characters than we tin can possibly imagine it seems.
Dan Brooks: On that annotation, ane thing that I think Star Wars is really successful at is having these kind of m macro plots but personal stories inside of that. I call back George Lucas was especially vivid at that. I remember the prequels, frankly, don't go enough credit for it. You've got the story of, "Well, how does a democracy crumble?" Only within that you've got this securely personal story of, "How does a man plow evil?" and just a handful of characters that it'due south focusing on. So, you lot know, on one hand if you're interested in the politics side you're getting that, but if you desire the character drama, it'south giving you lot that also. Information technology's just dressed up with lightsabers and fast ships, and information technology's just an amazing mix in the end.
Kristin Baver: And one affair that Star Wars likewise does really well is, information technology asks "What does it take for a homo to become evil?" but then it also asks "What does it accept for that man to exist redeemed?"
Dan Brooks: Yeah.
Kristin Baver: And it allows you to experience the full breadth of that story without having — other than, arguably, Palpatine — characters who are very conspicuously good, very clearly bad. Anybody has the chapters for practiced and evil except, I'one thousand going to say, Palpatine. Palpatine is just only bad.
[Dan and Dustin laugh.]
Kristin Baver: He's evil all solar day.
Dan Brooks: He's the only 1.
Kristin Baver: He'south the merely i. And I'm sure some folks would disagree with me in that location, just…
Dan Brooks: Watto was a pretty irredeemable wiggle, I would debate.
Kristin Baver: But in that location's a difference between being a jerk and orchestrating the entire Clone Wars so that you lot can accept over with the evil Empire. Like two different levels.
Dan Brooks: Yep, that'southward true.
Kristin Baver: I mean, Watto likewise had slaves. Non a slap-up await.
Katie Barnes: Yeah, non corking.
Kristin Baver: Yes. Actually awful and repugnant. Merely non Palpatine level for me.
Dan Brooks: No.
Bria LaVorgna: There's a really skillful quote from Battlefront II. I know I'chiliad being so on make right now.
Kristin Baver: You lot are!
Bria LaVorgna: But there'southward a great Luke Skywalker line…
Dan Brooks: Your check is in the mail, Bria. Don't worry.
[Anybody laughs.]
Bria LaVorgna: But there's this great quote that Luke Skywalker says to Del Meeko. He says: "A selection to be better." I think about that a lot because Star Wars shows us that in that location's practiced, that there's evil. It shows us that you brand that choice and and then above all…just the underlying message for me is that of hope. There's always hope that things will go better and that people will make the selection to be better and that's something that I actually, really like about the franchise.
Dan Brooks: Yep, that'southward funny, because I was gonna say, that's the thing for me. The reason I call up that I continued with it and why I still dearest it and become something out of it is, it makes me experience like I can exercise annihilation. I become that from the behind-the-scenes, real-life story of Star Wars and George Lucas, and from Luke Skywalker, who has always been my favorite grapheme in anything. On all levels it's merely inspiring for me.
Next thing I wanted to ask: What is your favorite Star Wars anything? Information technology could be a movie, a comic book, a toy, whatever.
Bria LaVorgna: This is too broad a question. How tin can I possibly respond that?
[Everyone laughs.]
Dan Brooks: Just pick the one thing yous love the about! It could be anything.
Kristin Baver: [Laughs] Wow!
Katie Barnes: Okay, this is very specific.
Dan Brooks: Go ahead.
Katie Barnes: I actually like the starfighter mode of Battlefront II.
Dan Brooks: Okay.
Katie Barnes: In a TIE fighter. I don't honey flying an Ten-fly nearly every bit much. [Laughs] And I don't know what that says virtually me, but it is [true]. My favorite thing is flight a Necktie fighter and shooting stuff.
Dan Brooks: Why?
Katie Barnes: I don't know. I don't know what it is. It's merely like…I detest the racket that they make, it sounds similar people screaming. Information technology'southward terrible. But I just love it and I get so amped. And I love the stars and I recall that's why. I would play that manner any day, every day.
Dan Brooks: That'southward awesome.
Katie Barnes: Yeah, I know information technology's a little weird, but hither we are.
Bria LaVorgna: I'm gonna stare at my Star Wars bookshelf. I can't…
Dustin Diehl: Yes, I was gonna say, while Bria looks for a favorite…
Kristin Baver: This is so hard!
Bria LaVorgna: This isn't fair, Dan!
Dustin Diehl: I think I'1000 gonna crook a picayune bit and not have it be a physical thing, simply more than of like a retention. I think my favorite Star Wars thing was my first Celebration that I e'er went to, which was Celebration V in Orlando. I was already into Star Wars and it wasn't similar a reignition necessarily, simply similar to your story, Dan, information technology was similar a turning bespeak for me. I felt an firsthand camaraderie with everyone at that place. And it was just so nice to be like, "I don't know what these people do for their day jobs. I don't know who they are in their personal lives." But nosotros were there and we were together and it just felt great. I met so many amazing people. And yeah, that was crazy for me. I did the overnight line to encounter Jon Stewart interview George Lucas and I got one of the last wristbands. Like that whole experience for me was only what Star Wars for me is nearly — it'southward simply being at that place with people, lack of slumber, really skillful content.
[Dustin and Dan express joy.]
Dustin Diehl: That will, I remember, stick with me as like, my favorite Star Wars.
Dan Brooks: Yep, I have to say, the first time I went to Celebration, and I'g not — I know I piece of work for Lucasfilm, I'm non just proverb this — I was really struck by the positive vibe that you just option upward on walking around, you know? I've been to a lot of dissimilar conventions. I can't say that I got that feeling in every unmarried i, only I think the divergence is people who have something that they share, all being together. Information technology's just a powerful thing. I don't think I've e'er really felt that anywhere else.
Dustin Diehl: And it'due south good to be reminded of that considering I feel similar the in-between times it can get a piddling dark, right? Online is a terrible place sometimes and people, you know, you just get pulled in, I think, to some of the negativity, unfortunately. But I call back going to those events and beingness dorsum with your people and getting that energy once again, it reminds you that in that location is hope…back to Bria'due south comment.
[Dan laughs.]
Kristin Baver: Yeah, and Star Wars Celebration to me e'er just feels similar getting i behemothic hug from the fandom in this weird fashion. My beginning Celebration, I actually went to cover news for StarWars.com in 2017. I had never gone before because I was not a big convention person. I hate continuing in lines, peculiarly for the bathroom. So I went to cover things and I was really struck past how much excitement at that place was, but also just how amazing information technology was that y'all could exist walking from your hotel to the convention center and see a cosplayer and stop them and have a great conversation virtually Star Wars. It was similar, being in a town where everybody who was there for that weekend likewise loved the same thing that y'all did and no thing who you ran into yous'd be instant friends because y'all had an opening and an entry point and something to discuss.
Bria LaVorgna: My favorite things at Celebration are when everyone's in the bar or the hotels subsequently because everything is only sort of chill. Like, you've seen everything that's happened for the twenty-four hours and everyone there only loves Star Wars and you can turn around and, "Oh my god, there'due south Christopher Sean." And, "Oh my god, at that place'south Peter Mayhew." And anybody'due south just there considering they want to hang out and talk and information technology's a very special surround you lot don't necessarily get at other cons.
Dan Brooks: Is that your final answer for favorite Star Wars anything? The bar?
[Kristin laughs.]
Bria LaVorgna: Me? No, no!
Kristin Baver: [Laughs] The bar at Commemoration! No, no! Nosotros just started talking about other stuff. We were hoping you would forget the question, Dan.
Bria LaVorgna: No! I got it, though! I got it. I have my answer. It is Aaron Allston'south Ten-wing books, specifically the Wraith Squadron ones and Starfighters of Adumar. That is, if someone makes me answer my favorite Star Wars book information technology's Starfighters of Adumar. I was lucky enough to meet Aaron multiple times before he passed dorsum in 2014, and he could not have been nicer. I hateful me and my friends are a bunch of immature twenty-somethings who are similar, "Oh my god, Wraith Squadron!" And he but took it with practiced sense of humour and those characters ever connected well with me considering the race in item were a bunch of misfits who just wanted to pull pranks with Ewoks and have a practiced time and who were working through all of their trauma and I but I loved them so much. And someday I need a pick-me-up, I pick upwards Starfighters of Adumar and I only laugh the entire time so cry ii pages after and then I'grand laughing 5 pages after that.
Dan Brooks: I've heard those books are really skilful.
Bria LaVorgna: So good.
Dustin Diehl: And Aaron is so great. I have a funny Celebration story with him. He was getting on i of the trams from the convention centre dorsum to the hotel, and a friend I was with was similar, "Who is that kind of kooky-looking guy with, like, actually thick glasses?" And I was like, "Come sit next to united states! Come sit next to united states of america!" He was such a sweet guy.
Dan Brooks: That's bully.
Bria LaVorgna: I was at a con where he was near ii or 3 weeks after X-Wing: Mercy Impale came out and it was the Mon morn of the con and it just turned into a panel where all of us would just be similar, "Okay, only tell us about this matter in the book. We have concerns. Can you assistance united states piece of work through these problems?" And it was the all-time panel I've ever been to because information technology was merely all of united states nerding out nearly this volume with this very kind man who was more than than happy to answer the ridiculous questions we were throwing at him.
Dan Brooks: That's a peachy way to settle an argument most a book — if you could just bring the author over.
[Dustin laughs.]
Kristin Baver: He has the answer and it'south canon. Yous can't argue it.
Dan Brooks: I'll requite my pick for my favorite Star Wars annihilation. I'one thousand going with the first thing that comes to mind, and information technology's my original Kenner Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker. Again, it'south similar, the feeling information technology evokes in me and everything it represents. It's my favorite character from my favorite moving-picture show, and I call back…I told the story nearly watching Empire and Jedi, and afterwards I did that I went upwards into the cranium with my best friend to become all of my Star Wars toys that were stored upwards there for years. And when y'all're 12 and you don't expect at something, from when I was mayhap like four or 5 years former, that feels similar such a long fourth dimension. It feels like you're an archaeologist uncovering something ancient. That's like a lifetime when you're that immature. And I remember we took the crates down and I didn't really know what was in there, and I took out my Darth Vader conveying case and I shook it. I could hear there was stuff in it, and when we cracked it open, every slot was filled with a toy. So it was like finding a treasure or something. And I remembered the Luke — I remembered having it when I was a kid and he was still in in that location. And so it'due south only something that I actually cherish. And Kristin I'll pass information technology over to you.
Kristin Baver: Man, this is yet then hard! I've come up with seven different answers while you guys were all talking. I'm going to go back to my original reply though inspired, Katie, by your drilling down into something. I'grand gonna say my favorite Star Wars anything is the introduction of Yoda in The Empire Strikes Dorsum considering it completely subverts expectations and even now when I lookout man it — and I've seen it endless times — I just adore the weirdness of that whole sequence. He's arguing with Artoo about the niggling lamp and cackling to himself. And I don't know if he'south merely crazy because he's been by himself for a long fourth dimension. He's, like, super quarantined.
[Dustin laughs.]
Or if he's just putting on this affectation to test Luke. I still can't decide because half the time when I watch it, I'm like, "Oh no, he's been alone too long with those snakes!" And then the other half I'g like, "Oh no, he's just messing with Luke to make sure that he'south pure of eye. I get it." Merely I become back and forth, simply you know, just the luminescence of Frank Oz and as well George Lucas putting and so much of the emotional and spiritual weight of that sequel on the tiny, tiny shoulders of Jedi Primary Yoda.
Dan Brooks: What does Star Wars mean to you today? And who wants to have that first?
Bria LaVorgna: Yous're giving united states softballs here. Come on.
Kristin Baver: Wait, I know. Dan can go first. Dan should become first. It's your question.
Bria LaVorgna: Yep, Dan.
Kristin Baver: Go ahead. Go ahead.
Katie Barnes: Yeah. Yes.
Dan Brooks: The tables accept turned!
Kristin Baver: I dearest how we all dog piled. We all have teamed up. It's all on Dan now.
Dan Brooks: Yeah. Well, what does it hateful to me today? In many ways, I recall it still means a lot of the aforementioned things. You know, it's a feeling that you tin can practice anything. You're not limited. It doesn't matter who you are or where you came from. Work hard, exist kind, and you tin can do it. And I still get that message from information technology. But it's changed over the years for me. I mean, I think ane thread that I've picked up on here is the idea of community. I've had friends who were into information technology, you know, just aught on the scale of like, going to a Commemoration and meeting people who share that. When I was in college, my friends — who are notwithstanding my all-time friends — none of them were into Star Wars. And so I just had long stretches where I just enjoyed it equally a solitary thing.
And the other affair I would say is — I wrote nigh this on StarWars.com — Luke'southward arc in Concluding Jedi, information technology was really interesting seeing that as I was getting older. Just the idea that he had regrets about things that he did. Information technology was like he was still pedagogy me, you know, every bit I was getting older — that you've made mistakes and information technology's okay and yous have to acquire from those things. And I think that's important. Especially for those of us who grew upwardly with him, I just thought it was a good message to take from that graphic symbol and just some other way that that grapheme tin can mean something to people.
Simply aye, when information technology comes downwardly to it, they're all the same my favorite movies. And I'm excited to share them with my kids at present.
Kristin Baver: Hmm. Yep, and to echo something that you only said, in that location is a groovy theme that runs through all of Star Wars about plant family. And it doesn't affair, you tin can be no ane from nowhere or you tin be related to the greatest Force-wielding dynasty known in the age of the Empire. It doesn't thing. You're capable of expert and evil. You are the production of your ain choices and decisions and you get to decide besides who you're going to spend your time with. Your found family are the people that you proceed adventures with and you put your neck out and sometimes they save your skin and sometimes you save theirs and I think that's just such a fantastic theme to behave through. But as well, the older I've gotten, the more I retrieve that that resonates for me. And I think this was very true when I saw The Forcefulness Awakens and just seeing Rey coming into her ain. I recollect I've said this before, probably on StarWars.com, but I think considering Rey has that moment where she feels very lost and like, she'due south simply waiting and waiting and waiting for years and she doesn't know really what to do next and she's just stuck. And I think probably when I saw that movie I was feeling that way but I didn't recognize information technology yet. Man, this is a meandering answer that isn't answering your question at all. I tin can hear it now.
Dan Brooks: Become alee. But go with it.
Kristin Baver: When I have to edit this later I'm going to exist so mad at myself. So I think what Star Wars ways to me now is that you get to make your own destiny. [Kristin drops an imaginary mic.] That's information technology.
Bria LaVorgna: I feel like you guys have covered a lot of what could possibly be in my answer because Kristin did a lot of the stuff nearly plant family and that's always been a huge thing that I've really, really loved nigh Star Wars. And like you said, again, coming back to the Battlefront 2 quote because that's what I do.
[Dan and Dustin express joy.]
You lot have the opportunity to brand the choice to practise improve. That'south something I've idea a lot about getting a tattoo of just because the words resonated so heavily with me. And I estimate to me Star Wars, it's hope and especially over the last couple years, hope has been something that almost feels like it'southward been in curt commodity. So existence able to come back to stories like this where, you know, the skilful guys do win and democracy and justice tin can be restored to the galaxy is something very meaningful. And so too, like Dan said, the community. I've fabricated so many friends because of these space movies! Similar friends who I've started just knowing online and so at Celebration Chicago I see them standing by the AT-AT. And you lot merely see [a fan dressed as] Iden Versio sprinting across the con floor to tackle hug someone. Truthful story, by the way. It's, y'all know, information technology's those bonds you make. And even though online can be a little tricky to navigate some times, I would never desire to give up beingness part of this customs considering it has brought so many skilful things to my life and and so many friends who I agree very dear to my heart.
Kristin Baver: Bria, I honey that what you just said was essentially you dearest the institute family in the story and and so you lot have also constitute a found family among the customs. Look at that synergy.
[Kristin and Katie express mirth.]
Dustin Diehl: Mmm hmm.
Katie Barnes: I remember for me every bit a writer in particular, Star Wars is a place that implores me to exist creative and encourages me to retrieve about things differently. To go and play in a unlike space and to call up about the shapes that storytelling tin can take. And I think that's something that's been really important for me in my professional life when, you know, I'yard just bogged down with my job, which is writing. And then I can watch an episode of The Mandalorian and just think near how powerful and impactful good writing can be. Y'all know, which in some means, I mean, I'yard the person that talked most taxes and merchandise policy so I am the boring person but…
Kristin Baver: You love what y'all beloved!
Katie Barnes: [Laughs] I am who I am. I like it because it helps me be meliorate at my job. But, you know, writing is, of course, it'south non just a chore, information technology's who you are. And in that sense I really dearest that Star Wars has become an integral part of that process for me in both being personally and also professionally fulfilling and essential. Yeah. Disney will beloved that answer. Synergy.
[Everyone laughs.]
Kristin Baver: The check is in the mail, Katie.
Katie Barnes: Yeah, keen.
[Kristin and Katie laugh.]
Dustin Diehl: I don't think mine is going to be that creative because I was gonna go with the family one, too, which has been taken. But it is, like, I think that's what it means for me, right? I have not only my real-life, real-earth family unit with my dad being the i who introduced me — he's even so the one who I always become to all the midnight showings with. I bring my family unit along. And then to me Star Wars will always be my existent family. But and so to the point that was made about the found family, I have expanded that definition of family through Star Wars. It'south not simply the people I grew up with and the people I'm related to, but it's the people that I've connected with through this franchise, whether they be personal friends or co-workers that I've been able to hook in to the fandom or ones that I've met through online communities or through Celebration. So in the obvious way that theme fits actually nicely with Star Wars also, and, Kristin, your new book!
Kristin Baver: I worked so hard not to shill information technology this entire fourth dimension. There were a couple moments where I was similar, "I could say Skywalker: A Family at War. But I'grand not gonna." Non gonna say it… [Whispers] Available now.
Dustin Diehl: We got you. We got you.
Kristin Baver: Thanks. Thank you.
Dustin Diehl: But yeah, information technology notwithstanding means that to me, I call back.
Dan Brooks: Very nice. [Dan'southward kids open the door and squeal with please in background.] In that location it is. I retrieve nosotros gotta say adieu. They're excited.
Bria LaVorgna: Okay, what does Star Wars means to them? Come on.
Kristin Baver: Yeah. Put 'em on the spot.
[Dustin laughs.]
Dan Brooks: Well, for Ben, if information technology ways he gets to skip naptime, so he'll say it's his favorite thing in the world. That's what almost things revolve around.
Kristin Baver: Overnice.
Dustin Diehl: He'due south gonna miss those naps in almost 10-fifteen years, human being.
Dan Brooks: Yep.
Bria LaVorgna: I want naptime dorsum.
Kristin Baver: Kids don't know how lucky they have it. Honestly.
This discussion has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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