The Mandalorian & Grogu Final Trailer Released!

 

© Disney, Lucasfilm

Several disturbances in the Force have happened in the past couple of days, with an extremely active news week for the galaxy far, far away that we all know and love (Star Wars Celebration 2027 tickets now on sale! First looks at Han and Leia at Galaxy's Edge!). 

The biggest news, though, is that of The Mandalorian & Grogu's final theatrical trailer releasing at CinemaCon! 

 

The trailer gave us more glimpses of what we know about the film's plot, and the theories are already buzzing in my head. Since it first released in 2019, the Mandalorian has been no stranger to building up to the sequel trilogy, setting up Palpatine's eventual return and the New Republic's negligence and corruption that allowed the First Order to rise. 

It seems as though those are the very same themes the film is going to be revisiting, with Sigourney Weaver's Colonel Ward telling Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) that the mission she has for him isn't about revenge, but preventing another war (something we've also seen General Hera Syndulla struggle to be taken seriously over, in the Ahsoka series regarding Grand Admiral Thrawn's return). Could it be possible we'll see even more of the beginnings of the First Order in this film? 

With the inclusion of the Hutt crime family, I'm leaning towards yes. In Star Wars Resistance, we learn that the First Order worked closely with the underworld to cover up their own activities, or to ensnare planets or stations with the promise of security from threats they themselves caused. The potential that remnants of the Empire might have aligned with the Hutt Clan is too much of a similarity to how the First Order operates, to be a mere coincidence.

We also learn that Ward is an X-Wing pilot, which has me especially excited since pilots are my favorite niche in the galaxy far, far away. I cannot wait to learn more about her, since - according to the Empire spread a few months ago - Dave Filoni described Ward as:

“Ward exists in a lineage of women who dismantled the Empire on the frontlines who “really went through it” like Mon Mothma, Hera Syndulla, Amilyn Holdo and Leia Organa”

 More rebellion ladies to love! I'm so here for it. I would also love if we get some comics down the line that give us some lore about Ward working with Leia (whom Sigourney Weavey describes Ward as "going way back" with), or even showing her flying alongside other Rebellion era pilots like Evaan Verlaine or Shara Bey!

I'm also anxious about the separation that clearly is happening between Din and Grogu: my current theory is that Din is captured trying to cover Grogu's retreat from the Hutt's bounty hunters and the film is about the father and son duo trying to reunite. If you'll excuse me, I'll be crying over the inherent parallel of Din and Grogu's separation in the trailer with Poe sending BB-8 away in the Force Awakens, until probably after I've seen the movie!

Tickets for The Mandalorian and Grogu are now on sale, and the movie releases May 22nd!

 

 

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Disney Dreamlight Valley Unveils "Droid Dreams"

 

Disney Dreamlight Valley © Disney, Gameloft, Lucasfilm. Screenshot by me.

        

After teasing something celestial coming to the shops in the near future on social media, Disney Dreamlight Valley updated its in-game shop this morning to reveal a new section called Droid Dreams, showcasing two companion skins to join the player on their adventures, in the form of BB-8 and R2-D2!

I only began playing Dreamlight Valley last Summer, and was fortunate enough to be able to collect Artoo then with the moonstones (the in-game currency that can be unlocked for free by searching the valley for chests containing moonstones or by contributing and voting in the weekly DreamSnaps challenges. You can also purchase moonstones for as cheap as $5 if need be, according to DLV's shop), but never saw BB-8 last year, so I'm uncertain if he's a new addition or just one I've unfortunately missed in the past.

Luckily, I had enough moonstones saved up this morning to be able to unlock him! He's so cute, and far chattier than Artoo typically is while following me around. And when you pet him? He spins! It's so adorable.

Screenshot by me.  © Disney, Gameloft, Lucasfilm 

 

Last year, they updated the shop with Star Wars themed items for May the 4th such as Padme's lake dress and Anakin's Jedi robes, and I'm excited to see if they'll do so again this year. 

My guess is that if they do, it'll be to tie in with the Mandalorian and Grogu (out May 22nd!), but my biggest dream is that they'll do another DLC in the future that brings in characters from the Star Wars universe to the valley! I genuinely see no reason not to, when we already have companion skins for two of the best droids in the Star Wars galaxy, and Star Wars is essentially a space fairytale. I really think it'd fit right into the themes of the game.

Of course, since unlocking BB-8 this morning made me weep tears of joy, I think maybe I need to brace myself if they ever do add the characters that are so near and dear to my heart! 

 Update: after posting this, it came to my attention that Dreamlight Valley actually unveiled its new Star Wars collection in a short teaser!

 

The short teaser highlights last year's collection (excuse me as I mourn not acquiring those Naboo inspired furniture items), before unveiling this year's! We're going to get Padme's meadow dress from Attack of the Clones, and I'm so thrilled, I absolutely love that dress. I'm definitely going to be saving up moonstones to get it! 

Besides that, they'll be releasing furniture sets themed to match Tatooine's architecture, which I'm honestly also excited about (maybe I'm having thoughts on how best to decorate my valley with it). The two collections they've released so far have been heavily Prequels-leaning, with a lot of Anidala (hooray!) inspired items, which makes me very happy as a life-long Anidala shipper, and as my best friend pointed out to me, they're releasing items that really suit the tone of the game!

 

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Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord Episode I & II Thoughts

After months of waiting, Maul: Shadow Lord finally premiered its first two episodes Monday, and pushed us into a brand new era of Star Wars animation. Although I was largely disinterested in the show upon its announcement (I was depressed at the time, and even new Star Wars projects weren't exciting me), our first look at the show quickly flipped my opinion and it became my most anticipated show in years.

Maybe that's to be expected though, since I'm a Prequels baby, who has a deep rooted love and connection with the Phantom Menace, since it released the year I was born.

Me as a baby, kissing Darth Maul's cheek (aka my dad ♡)

Without delving too much into spoilers for the first two episodes (though if you haven't watched them yet already, please do because the next two episodes drop tomorrow!), I'll say this is the best Star Wars has been in years, and that's such a highly competitive arena because when isn't Star Wars telling compelling stories?

 Ahead of the show's release, I went back and rewatched Maul's appearances in the Clone Wars, because I couldn't remember the episodes that well, and the difference in tone between Clone Wars and Shadow Lord is staggering. Although TCW matured as the seasons went on, there is a lightness to the anthology series that feels almost entirely absent in Maul, even with two characters that provide us with a certain amount of comic relief. It approaches the story it wants to tell with patience and nuance, already introducing us to characters with rich backstories and living in shades of grey.

 The animation is probably the best Lucasfilm has ever done. It has the cinematic feel of the Siege of Mandalore arc in The Clone Wars, but the improvements made on their existing style feels like the animation team watched Arcane and the Spider-Verse films and went "we can do that, too." The way they incorporate an almost watercolor style feeling to the backgrounds (particularly visible in the Janix skylines), reminds me strongly of Gwen's universe in Across the Spider-Verse. And the amount of details gone into the animation is incredible: you can see individual strands of hair on multiple characters' heads, and dust motes in the background of some sequences. 

 It's also violent and leans hard into some horror film elements (which has been promised to get even stronger once the Inquisitors have entered the fray later in the season), and the fight choreography is already amazing, and we're only two episodes in! Not to mention the score - no surprise to anyone, but the Kiners are absolutely knocking it out of the park again, I almost screamed when the first title card splashed across the screen and the show's suite played for the first time (don't even get me started on the Duel of the Fates needle drop).

 My favorite characters so far are Spybot (a talking, sassy goth cat-like droid? Sign me up), and Devon Izara. Devon's character already stands unique among a slew of other Order 66 survivors, because she's got a more hardened, pragmatic edge to her. She's aware that in order to survive in such a lawless time, morals might have to be compromised - but she's got a good heart on her, too, and I'm interested to see where the rest of the series takes her, though I have quite a few theories on where she might go.

 I'm also fond of Lawson. The on-the-nose naming technique endears me so much (he's a cop named son of the law! About as subtle as Before the Awakening making Poe's first assignment in the Resistance, being stationed aboard a ship called the Echo of Hope), and he feels like he's been pulled straight of an old detective film - which, despite being a popular character archetype, feels incredibly fresh to Star Wars. He reminds me a little bit of Legend of Korra's Lin Beifong for that reason, although Lawson is far softer than gruff Lin.

I don't think I've been this invested in a Star Wars series since Star Wars Rebels, which is still to date one of my favorite entries in the franchise, and if the rest of the season proves to be as good, I might even have a brand new favorite show in general. Thank the maker it's already been renewed for a second second! 

 

 

 

 

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Loungefly's Star Wars: The Force Awakens Mini Backpack Review

To paraphrase the iconic Rose Tico, doing product reviews isn't my forte (talking to Resistance heroes
probably wouldn't be either, though I sure would love to get the chance to - but I suppose I did talk to Rey at Galaxy's Edge and even got her seal of approval for joining the Resistance, as if there were ever any other option), but I love this backpack so much I'm willing to embrace something new for the sake of being able to gush over it.

Truthfully, I've been obsessed with the design of it ever since Loungefly announced it back in March, and had made a habit of occasionally going to stare longingly at it on Amazon every now and then, but $60 was definitely out of my price range (no matter how much I needed a new bag anyway). Luckily, a few weeks ago while it was on sale, someone bought it off my Amazon wish list, and I'm going to be honest with you: it felt so much like a dream I might receive this backpack that I didn't truly believe I would ever own it until it actually arrived at my doorstep. Weeks later, I still can't believe it, even though it sits opposite of my bed every day!

 

New Star Wars styles have awakened
💫: https://t.co/a2zQWUBP40 pic.twitter.com/amzTzBSRmV

— Loungefly (@Loungefly) March 25, 2025

I cannot emphasize enough how beautiful this bag is. It has two compartments, the primary one where you store your belongings, and the front one which contains the LED switch for the lights on the front of the bag (and where you can charge it when the battery is depleted!). Unfortunately, I've been unable to get a picture of the bag while it's lit up, but rest assured it's an absolute delight to watch. The interior of the backpack is just as gorgeous as the outside, with a beautiful blue fabric that features a "constellation" of symbols important to the plot of the Force Awakens, which perfectly matches the top and upper sides of the outside of the backpack, just above the continued illustration of the forest scenery that's so iconic from the film. 

 And speaking of the art, I have to voice how much I adore this art style. I am disappointed that I have yet to be able to identify the artist behind the design, but hopefully at some point credit is given where credit is due. The style does make me think of the Galaxy of Adventures shorts, just with a slightly Disney-esque twist (which is so fitting when the Force Awakens itself has so many callbacks to Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast).

 

Rey in Galaxy of Adventures

The back of the bag features another illustration, this one of Rey calling the Skywalker saber to herself. That design is more prominently featured on a wallet that pairs with the backpack, which I'm also enamored with if we're being perfectly honest. The backpack itself is no longer available on Loungefly's website (instead, it can be found on Amazon), but the wallet is.

The bag is made of vegan leather, which I appreciate, and I have to say it's the first ever backpack I've ever owned where I didn't have to meticulously mess around with the straps to get it to fit my shoulders. And even the straps themselves have a nice touch, with one side being red and the other blue for the Dark Side and the Light! It's also lightweight, which is welcome as purses and bags tend to pull on my neck and cause migraines.

A little known fact about me (because I was so self conscious as a teenager about shipping an enemies-to-lovers pairing) is that I actually fell hard into Reylo after the Last Jedi premiered, after two years of disliking them conceptually. I wasn't open with it at the time, but it was a shockingly formative time for me in fandom (it opened up media analysis to me in ways I'd never considered before, it pushed me into watching things I had snubbed my nose at as a teenager, like Disney movies and 2005's Pride and Prejudice, all of which are now favorites of mine, and even helped me get back into reading after years of being burned out). 

I fell out of it when I briefly fell out of the fandom after Rise of Skywalker came out, but the past year (and 2024's the Acolyte and it's romantasy/Reylo vibes!) pulled me back in. While I'll never truly forgive Kylo Ren for the unthinkable (torturing my favorite flyboy), their dynamic is so compelling and fun, and with Rey as one of my all time favorite characters, it's hard not to be swept back into their complicated, tragic relationship.

While eighteen year old me would definitely never be able to imagine walking around wearing a Reylo backpack, I had so much fun wearing it today (I paired it with my favorite Poe shirt, the now almost impossible to find "May the Force Be With You" Rise of Skywalker themed tee that I was able to buy from HerUniverse back in 2021), that I even went home and painted my nails to match the straps on the backpack! 

 

 

 

 I receive no monetary gain by any of the above links, or even the review itself. I just really love this backpack, and want to share it with as many people as possible!

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