Two Years of Ahch-To Baby
Today marks two years since I launched this labor of love, and it’s been quite a lot of fun. I made a deal with myself that I would never write this newsletter as if it was my job or an obligation - I have plenty of actual responsibility. I wanted this place to reflect how much I love this series, and maybe spread that goodwill around. I hope that so far I’ve lived up to that, and as a reader, you’re getting something out of it as well.
I’m barely on Instagram, I don’t use TikTok, and I don’t use Twitter, so the growth of this newsletter’s audience, which has been steady, comes primarily from your recommendations. That means the world to me, and thank you.
It’s remarkable to think about just how much brilliant Star Wars has been released in the two years since I launched: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Ahsoka, The Bad Batch, The Mandalorian Season Three, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Tales the Jedi, Star Wars Visions, Young Jedi Adventures. And, of course, there were tons of comics and The High Republic, which I’m so behind on! There was even a new Indiana Jones movie! I know I’m a broken record about this, but younger fans simply can’t understand how getting this much Star Wars in two years feels surreal. It’s still cool to me, dammit. It’s the best.
Because this is my own place to play, I’ve also given myself permission to look back. I’ve written about the original films, other material, characters and concepts. I’ve even had a chance to be a little cheeky at times. Thanks for coming along on those flights with me.
I had generally avoided writing about Star Wars online before now (except to drive my friends nuts on Facebook), because I feared it would put the purity of my love of the series in jeopardy. Not everything is meant to be externalized, no matter what the modern technological world would have us believe, and it’s okay to love things privately. But I’m glad I decided to do this. The small community that’s been built up here on Substack is already one I have a deep fondness for. So thanks to the regular people who respond and comment.
Here’s to two years. Clink a glass or something! May the Force be with you.
“This is about power and who is allowed to use it.”
In The Acolyte trailer, that line feels wonderfully provocative, but it also brought up for me the perennial “Why do Star Wars fans seem to hate Star Wars so much?” question. Real answer: they don’t. I think there are plenty of folks who like or don’t like individual pieces of a very big storytelling universe, and that doesn’t make them any less of of a fan. I don’t think one must be uncritical or even like everything to be a fan.
But it’s hard to ignore the fact that when any new Star Wars is released (this isn’t only true of Star Wars, to be fair) that does not center white, cisgender, male voices there’s a contingent of outspoken, very-online guys (it’s mostly guys, as far as I can tell) that make comments sections nigh-unreadable.
I would suggest that this is about power and who is allowed to use it. There’s a group of people in this world who feel mightily threatened whenever they are not centered in a story. They crave, essentially, power over the cultural conversation, over who is allowed to speak, who is allowed to run studios, who can tell stories, and who can be represented in those stories. They bully and cajole and egg each other on in bad faith, and are generally exactly the sort of people you would not invite to a party.
As a man in his late forties who happens to be able-bodied, white, straight and cisgendered, I would like to say that I have not felt underrepresented, thanks, and I’m thrilled that individuals who don’t look like me are a part of my narrative universe. It’s a big world, a big galaxy, and it should look big to reflect that truth. The distortion is a lack of representation and diversity. The world is simply not made up primarily of one group of people, and if our stories don’t reflect that, then our stories should. (I’d also like to say that if you can’t relate to someone who isn’t just like you, that’s a failure of imagination on the part of the viewer, not a failure on the part of the storyteller.) But I also have a lot of hope. History goes one way and representation is becoming the norm, not the exception.
I was watching the very first Star Wars with our friends’ son. He plays with the Legos, loves the stories and characters, but had never actually seen the first movie all the way through. So it was a big deal to watch it with him, I felt honored.
One of his comments? “Why are all the pilots boys?” He’s young enough that this feels like it’s very old-fashioned and strange, in the same way movies from the 1990s feel very homophobic in retrospect. He sees what we couldn’t see at the time, because he’s a kid growing up in an era where women are represented far better than they were in 1977. That’s a good thing. He should notice. He’s not someone with a political agenda, he’s a kid. He just wants things to make sense and look right.
So, down-rating something on YouTube, or whatever, is simply not going to do a damn thing to stop that. The world is becoming a better place for most people, a more welcoming one, and our stories reflect this. If that bothers you, if that causes you enough discomfort that you throw a tantrum, you might want to ask yourself why.
The rest of us? We’ll be happily dressing up, geeking out, and have a fine old time. Wish you were here.
Listen to me on the What Does Star Wars Mean To You? Podcast
I’d like to thank Dave and new co-host Elora for making me a part of the What Does Star Wars Mean To You? Podcast. I’ll be contributing to their mini-sodes (Episodes Between Episodes) by reading pieces from Ahch-To Baby. The first one is below, and you can also check them out on Apple Podcasts here.
Dave is such a wonderful guy, genuine and charming, and Elora is a great contribution to the show. I hope my reading sounds okay and that it’s a worthy addition to an already great podcast. Give it a listen! Like and subscribe! You know the drill!
(I’d also like to thank
at All The Fanfare for his extremely kind words about this very podcast, and the newsletter. I highly recommend his excellent newsletter as well! It’s personal and in-depth and full of sharp writing and insights.)
Sat down to write a short piece on the response to The Acolyte trailer and wasn't happy with what I put to page, but you've done it here better than I could have. Well said! And congrats on the anniversary!
Congrats on 2 years! I always enjoy reading your posts and usually come away with a new perspective on our favorite galaxy.
Also the podcast was a fun listen and confirmed what I've always suspected. The Star Wars comics are WILD.