Duel of the Ranks is BACK, and we're diving straight into the two biggest Star Wars releases in years! After a two year hiatus, Brody, Amanda, and Christian return to break down The Mandalorian and Grogu on the big screen. Was it a fun popcorn flick or a shareholder pleasing flop? We talk puppetry that rivals Jim Henson, that gladiator arena callback to the Dejarik board game, Jeremy Allen White's... interesting take on Rada, and why this might be the lowest grossing Star Wars movie ever. Spoiler: the scores are NOT kind.

Then we get into the show that actually earned its hype: Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord. We're talking painterly animation, a career best voice performance from Sam Witwer, and THAT finale, Vader's silent, terrifying arrival that had us pausing the episode to call each other mid meltdown. Is this one of the best debut seasons of any show ever? We think it might be.

Plus, our Hot Takes segment gets spicy: is John Favreau actually a good director? Should Star Wars ditch the "kid plus mentor" formula for good? Is Maul secretly overhyped? Grab a seat at the table and find out where the debate lands. May the Force be with you, hit subscribe, we're just getting started again.

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In this month's edition of Duel of the Ranks, the crew absolutely fawns over Rebels Season 2. For Amanda and Brian, it ranks amongst the best of all Star Wars content. Brody and Christian agree it may be their favorite single season of Star Wars television. But does the animation hold it back from scoring as highly as it does in our hearts?

Join us as we debate the merits of the story, characters, lore, technical aspects and music. And don't forget to watch live on Saturday, October 26th at 11 AM CST to give us your hot takes and ratings as we continue our journey to find which piece of content ranks above the rest.

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Duel of the Ranks is back with a new format! With Christian returning to host, the crew discusses the entirety of Star Wars Rebels season 1. Amanda and Brian have been looking forward to discussing their favorite series of the franchise for a long time. Despite the clunky animation, the characters are relatable and enjoyable. And even as a children's show, our hosts agree that the quality of storytelling will be appreciated by fans of any age.

Listen along as we discuss our favorite and least favorite characters, episodes, and moments from this season. Join us live on Youtube Saturday, September 28th at 11 AM CST for our ranking and analysis of season 2 of Rebels.

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With The Acolyte coming to a close, our hosts debate the merits and pitfalls of the show. With nuanced characters, compelling action, and rich lore, it brings a lot to the discussion table. But is that enough to redeem it from pacing issues and muddled motivations? Brian, Brody, and Amanda are here to answer that.

The finale delivered on many fronts and suffered in others. With many over-generalized arguments about the quality of writing and the state of Star Wars television as a whole floating around, join us in our attempt to understand all perspectives and share what Star Wars means to us.

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The Duel of the Ranks crew dives into episodes 6 and 7 of The Acolyte. Amanda finds episode 6 more engaging with its darker story elements, while Brian enjoys episode 7's exploration of Sol's perspective and the Jedi's role in their own troubles. Both agree the episodes tackle the Jedi's moral failings and develop a compelling villain.

Brody admires the action sequences and the portrayal of the Wookie Jedi, but on the other hand, criticizes the show's illogical plot points and unbelievable character motivations. With the finale around the corner, our hosts attempt to understand the show's message amidst its chaotic pacing and appreciate the contributions The Acolyte has to offer to the Star Wars universe.

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Our hosts, Brian, Brandon, and Chaco, share their thoughts on the newest episode of The Acolyte: Night. Brian and Brandon are fans of the action-packed episode, praising the best choreography, music, and tension we've gotten in this season. Brian particularly likes how Sol's character is evolving, while Brandon questions whether the villain, Quimir, is a true Sith.

Brody is less impressed. He finds the acting uneven and the plot predictable, although he acknowledges the show's impressive visuals. The discussion then takes a broader turn as the hosts debate what defines a Star Wars story and whether The Acolyte captures that essence.

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On this week's episode of Duel of the Ranks, our hosts Luke, Alanis, and Choco debate the latest episode of The Acolyte. While some found the cliffhanger ending to be exciting, others were critical of the clunky dialogue, rushed character progression, and short run time. Speculation and intrigue for new characters such as Mae, Jecki, and Bassil are thriving despite recent outcry from segments of the fandom.

Additionally, the episode explores long-running questions about the Jedi Order, particularly their struggles with open-mindedness and appearing in control. Speculation flourishes around the mysterious "Darth Smiley," as our hosts craft theories about their identity and the significance of their mask. Join us next week as we debate ranks and hot takes from every corner of the galaxy.

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Reviews for episode 3 of "The Acolyte" are all over the map. Brody finds the episode the weakest of all Star Wars content with a predictable plot, uninteresting characters, and being too focused on lore for die-hard fans. Luke and Choco offer a more positive take, enjoying the new information about the Force and the portrayal of the fallible Jedi. Brian agrees with the criticism of technical aspects of the show but finds the episode more rewarding on a second viewing.

The discussion takes a more speculative turn as connections between the witches, the Sith, and Jedi prophesies begin to evolve. The episode's effectiveness in establishing a compelling story, however, remains a point of contention as heavy lore appeals to a slimmer subset of the fanbase. While the episode has garnered a lot of negative attention online, our hosts attempt to dissect how much of the criticism is fueled by bad faith arguments while rationally assessing the flaws in its production.

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To stay up-to-date on all things Duel of the Ranks, be sure to check out our links below!

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