Your Evening Linc: Episode VII rumors, Clone Wars Team Disbanded, Clara on Craig and More!

So there's been a lot of really interesting Star Wars news and I couldn't wait until tomorrow to share it. Punch it, Chewie!

This is my Chewie, and today is his birthday.

1. Han Solo Might Return To Face a Disciple of Palpatine With His Kids

In an interview with WGN, Harrison Ford sounded confident that everyone's favorite smuggler turned Rebel will return for Episode VII. This jives pretty well with what George Lucas said in a Bloomberg a few weeks ago. And, according to a source for Cosmic Booknews (yes, the Cosmic Booknews....) Han will be joining his kids in an adventure 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. The Jedi Order has been rebuilt with Luke at its head, and a "disciple of Emperor Palpatine aims to rebuild the Sith Armies of the Old Republic and destroy the Jedi." Moreover, the Skywalker/Solo children must confront their dark lineage and exactly what it means to be the grandchildren of Anakin Skywalker.

"I am so, so sorry." - Shmi Skywalker

This actually sounds like a pretty cool storyline. First, we won't have a resurrected Emperor, and so it is completely conceivable (especially when considering the EU) that Darth Sidious would have a few acolytes in the wings just in case Darth Vader proved unworthy. I also like the idea of the next generation having the shadow of Anakin cast over them. How do you deal not only with having famous parents, but an infamous grandfather?

By the way, I encourage you to take this great big heaping grain of salt with any rumor until Lucasfilm/Disney confirms anything.

2. Clone Wars Team Disbanded?

Another rumor that makes the Truth-O-Meter go all wonky is the one coming from Rebelscum.com that the entire team of the Clone Wars (cast, crew, janitors) has been completely disbanded and dismissed.  This dramatic downsizing will result in further projects being handed over to existing Disney television operations.

Ahsoka has been seen begging on the streets of Coruscant.

What this means for the Season 6 material we were promised, I have no idea. What's for sure is that this is one crazy, turbulent time for Star Wars. More on this as it develops.

3. Jenna-Louise Coleman Chats with Craig Ferguson

Now turning once again to the world of Doctor Who, new companion Jenna-Louise Coleman stopped by Craig Ferguson where he labeled her the "sauciest ever companion". Check out the whole interview here, including Jenna-Louise schooling Craig on having to update his TARDIS:

 

4. Been Testing Out The New Facebook Design....And It's Pretty Cool

Before the wailing and gnashing of teeth commence when Facebook fully switches over to its new design, allow me to say this: It's actually really cool.



From a user standpoint, I think it eliminates the clutter of the current home page. Most of the real estate is taken up by the Newsfeed, with statuses and especially pictures coming in much bigger and more clearly. Everything else you need is in a convenient sidebar. I switched over this morning and it only took a few minutes to really get used to the layout. There is a much more natural flow to the page and it actually feels more intuitive.

Now, I can't stop everyone from bemoaning the death of Facebook as they know it (which is not how they first knew it), but hopefully this will ease the transition a little.

Until next time, friends!

-Joe

Farewell to the Clone Wars....For Now

Today, Lucasfilm and Disney announced the end of The Clone Wars TV series. Naturally, we all responded appropriately...

As if a million pixels cried out....

I'll never forget seeing Revenge of the Sith for the first time. More specifically, watching the final moments of the film and knowing, deep down, that this was it. I'd never experience a new Star Wars movie again. I went through college pretty comfortable in the fact that the Saga had ended, and that we might not get any new stories past the novels of the EU.

And then, one day, sometime in late 2007/early 2008, I saw this:

And made noises so high pitched dog called from neighboring states to tell me to pipe down.

We were really getting a new Star Wars movie and an animated TV series! It was exciting to go back into the theaters ready to see the fabled Clone Wars in action. We had only seen the beginning and the end in the movies, but this was going to be the main event!

And then this thing slithered on screen....

Behold the face of doom.

The Clone Wars film was certainly...underwhelming. Stiff dialogue, a convoluted plot, and all around cringe-inducing nicknames ("Skyguy", "Snips", and, perhaps worst of all, "Artooey") made the movie a bit of a disappointment. 

But it most certainly got better. And better. And better. We were treated to stories of clones in action, political intrigue, Jedi at their pique, witches and Sith, even hints at the very nature of the Force itself! The Clone Wars knocked it out of the park with story arcs like The Citadel, Krell/Umbara, Mortis, and even the Wrong Jedi arc which just wrapped up last week. The character development, the effects, the action, and scenery, and the overall quality of the show kept exceeding expectations. They pushed the limits of CG animation and also made us question everything we knew about Star Wars.

Oh yeah...and they brought back Darth Maul.

Ladies.

What seemed like an impossible, irresponsible, lazy stunt turned into one of the best arcs in the show's history. We were treated to the Maul we had always wanted to see more of after Episode I, and we learned that doing so came with a price. We had to watch the once promising Sith apprentice bring himself back from the darkest depths of his own mind and turn his lust for revenge into a plot to seize ultimate power. It all culminated in "Lawless", quite possibly the best episode of the entire series.

And we got to see a lot of characters rise, fall, and grow. Asajj Ventress, Savage Oppress, Captain Rex and his clone brothers all became much more than what we had assumed they'd be at the onset of the show. New favorites, like Hondo, and old ones, like Plo Koon, were also given their time to shine. 

Most of all, we got to watch Ahsoka grow up. 

Nothing says badass like a shoto.

I'll admit Ahsoka was never my favorite. She seemed to appeal more to the teen girl demographic that I found very hard to break into in high school. This last arc really tested her, and her refusal to return to the Jedi Order was so packed with emotion and symbolism that it could rightfully serve as the last episode of the series. Ahsoka walking into the sunset signaled not only the end of her time as Jedi, but of our time as viewers.

It took a while for The Clone Wars to catch on with older fans, but once it did it never let go. And, more importantly, it introduced a whole new generation to Star Wars. There are some kids now who still haven't seen the movies, but love it just as much as the kid who first saw A New Hope in 1977. And that's what Star Wars is all about, each generation finding their way to the Saga we all love. And, without any knowledge of the Sequel Trilogy, for a while The Clone Wars was the last bastion in keeping alive that singularly true fan motto: "Star Wars is Forever". And it did the job admirably.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the brilliant cast and crew, led by the incomparable Dave Filoni. He took George's vision and, under his guidance, wove the Clone Wars so expertly into the Star Wars mythos. His eye for storytelling and his passion for the Saga made him the ideal choice to helm the series. And then there was the cast, an assembly of some of the most brilliant voice actors of our time. I think we take for granted how original, and yet classic, Tom Kane's opening announcements were. And his Yoda had the wisdom and whimsy we first saw way back in The Empire Strikes Back. Matt Lanter's Anakin showed his slow progression to the dark side. Catherine Taber was sublime as Padme. Ashley Eckstein was always enthusiastic as Ahsoka, but also somehow was able to make her more mature as each season progressed. Dee Bradley Baker deserves an Emmy for his portrayal as Captain Rex and all of the clones, particularly during the Umbara/Krell arc. And, of course, there's the incomparable, fantastic, and incredibly awesome James Arnold Taylor who, to many, is Obi-Wan Kenobi (and Plo Koon!). All the supporting cast, who brought to life characters like Asajj, Dooku, Savage, Mother Talzin, Hondo, Grievous, Satine, Bo Katan, Palpatine (RIP Ian Abercrombie), and many others are worthy of our recognition and thanks.

The Dream Team

As The Man With the Hat says himself, there's more to come for The Clone Wars, and we were even treated to a clip of what that might be (see the link at the beginning of this post). But, sadly, for now, it's time for The Clone Wars to end. It is the way of things. The Way of the Force.

Oh...oh right in the feels.

I'm just glad we got to experience the thrill one last time.

May The Force Be With You

-Joe