Aggressive Negotiations: A Star Wars Podcast

The direction of the prequel films became a contentious point among Star Wars fans as The Phantom Menace hit theatres in 1999. This debate became more pointed when George Lucas stayed in the director's chair for Attack of the Clones, as many fans voiced the opinion he should have handedthe reigns to someone else. So what if Lucas, the victim of stinging criticisms, had decided to do just that?In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing offer a look at alternatives Lucas could have chosen if he'd sat back to focus on producing, instead of directing, the second entry in the prequel trilogy. They offer their dream choices, debate their more-realistic picks, and pitch their dark horse candidates for who Lucas would've been able to trust with his tale of galactic intrigue and romance.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMastersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/aggressivenegotiations/Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes 

The voice of the Star Wars films has always been more than dialogue. John Williams’ inescapable score set the emotional tone and resonance which transcended the words and direction, transporting modern audiences back to the feeling of the Silent Era when music was the only soundtrack provided. His work indelibly marked film culture in a way that grounded future works of fantasy. In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters Matthew Rushing and John Mills look at the fourth work of Williams’ Star Wars  oeuvre, accompanying the retroactively-first film in story order, The Phantom Menace. They discuss its impact and reception at the time, the ties it had to the scores which came before and how it set the expectation for what was to come.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!

Bonus 001: The Commentary AwakensHappy May the 4th! Celebrated across fandom as “Star Wars Day,” we’re sharing an exclusive commentary to pair with “The Force Awakens.” It’s our way of saying “thank you” for your listenership and support.Joined by Jedi Council members from across the galaxy, or at least the globe, get what Lucasfilm failed to give you on the home release of Episode VII - an insightful, informed commentary track from fandom’s many points of view.In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters Matthew Rushing & John Mills are joined by Tristan Riddell (Nerd Nuptial), and Lee Hutchison & Matt Hansen (The Senate Floor) to accompany your journey from the wastes of Jakku to the chilly innards of Starkiller Base. Learn about music cues, director influences, design decisions and points of contention with the deep perspective that you’ve come to expect from The Nerd Party. HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingGuestsTristan RiddellLee Hutchinson Matt HansonSend us your feedback!Twitter:

The Force Awakens.Our most contentious negotiations occur this week, as our examination of The Force Awakens Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Download continues, as we move from discussing the special features on the latest Star Wars home release to the film itself. We assess how home viewing alters estimation of the film, new reads on the material, and what flaws are highlighted and strengths magnified. Are there story choices that could have been made that would have benefited the film, or are the Jedi Masters seeking something that cannot be found?In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing journey back to Jakku from the comfort of their living rooms to discover what The Force Awakens means to them now, as the fervor from its theatrical release has died down. Find out where the film ranks in order of preference, what they see happening with public perception in the future, and what the impact of future releases will be.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!

The Extras Awaken.April 4, 2016 will be a day long remembered…at least for a while. It saw the release of the second most successful film in history in box office terms, *Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens*. Fans are now able to feel the rumblings of the dark side, the heat of Jakku’s sand dunes and the thrill of a Rathtar attack while on the comfort of their own couches.In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters Matthew Rushing and John Mills look at the extras that came with the most anticipated home video release of the year. They break down what they enjoyed, what they thought of the film’s transfer, what they could have done better, and how the set compares to previous Lucasfilm home releases in the digital age.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!     

So Civilized.“The weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon, from a more…civilized age.” In 1977, the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi introduced the world to the lightsaber with those words. As the energy blade emitted from that gleaming metal hilt, it captured the imaginations of children and adults without exception.In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing examine the symbolism, schematics, and style of one of the most iconic weapons in film history! Through decades of films, books, and television shows, the lightsaber has seen its meaning and expression changed to reflect the look and feel of each era. They share the hits, the misses, and what the most meaningful blades of the saga are to them.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!

The Expanded Universe.The Star Wars Expanded Universe has been a source of great joy, angst and debate for fans since the 1990s. While the comics of the 1980s and the West End Games source materials could coexist without conflict, the later EU found itself the source of continuity errors, conflicting writer interpretations, a perpetual second act, and vociferous arguments about how authoritative it really was.In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters Matthew Rushing and John Mills open their holocrons to take a larger view of the Star Wars Galaxy, delving deep into the lost Legends lore to talk about favorite characters, cartoon series, RPGs and video games, and the so much more. As an added bonus, Matthew and John provide their authoritative Top Ten lists of must-read EU titles!HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!

Breaking Anakin Part 2. Anakin Skywalker’s fall is such a pivotal moment in Galactic History, there are multiple perspectives not just on its impact, but its causes. We conclude our duo logy on this linchpin of Star Wars lore by switching out the hot seat and seeing what different aspects can be teased out about the alleged Chosen One’s destiny and the parts played by the people in his life.And so, in this episode of Aggressive Negotiations Jedi Master John Mills turns the interrogative glare onto Master Matthew Rushing to probe his thoughts on what caused Anakin to turn to the Dark Side and betray the Jedi, the Republic and his friends. We talk about Obi-Wan’s culpability, the Council’s oversight, a different perspective on training, and whether tenderness can coexist with Sith utilitarianism.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!

Breaking Anakin Part 1.“For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire.” These are the immortal words of Obi-Wan Kenobi as he explained to a young Luke the impact of Darth Vader and his choices on the galaxy. The Prequels would show fans just exactly how that happened and the way Anakin helped completely dismantle the Republic.In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations Jedi Master Matthew Rushing interviews Master John Mills about his thoughts on what caused Anakin to betray the Jedi and the Republic and turn to the dark side. We talk about if he should have been taken from Tatooine, if he should have been trained by some one other than Obi-Wan, some of the key reasons for the descent into darkness and wrapping up with the impact that Ahsoka had on Anakin’s journey.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@th

Representatives of the Jedi Order.Who represented the title of Jedi best? With a disparate Order from thousands of cultures, who managed to rise above and help define what it meant to be a Knight or a Master? After all, how we behave reflects on who we’re trying to be.In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing turn their focus to the Jedi that helped define the title for them, how they came to those conclusions and where they differ.As an added bonus, Matthew surprises John with a question about Force Ghosts!HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNerdParty/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!

Jedi Power BattlesUnlimited power? Through the years and the many media in which the Jedi Knights of the Star Wars galaxy have appeared, their powers have been defined and expanded. Whether through what was shown on screen, demonstrated in supplemental books, or established through video gameplay, what a Jedi can do has shifted like sands on a Coruscant beach.In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters Matthew Rushing and John Mills continue their discussion series about the Jedi, examining the powers we’ve seen, the ones we’ve forgotten, and the ones we’d like to forget.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aggressivenegotiations/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!

Issue 005: Are the Jedi Necessary?The accusation has been brought against the Jedi that all the problems in the galaxy find their way back to the action or inaction of the Order. Would the Star Wars galaxy have been better off if the Jedi never existed?In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing discuss if the Jedi are necessary in Star Wars, what do they mean to the saga and what is it that makes them important?HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aggressivenegotiations/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!

Jedi That Were, Jedi To Be.The Jedi Order. The iconic knights of the Star Wars galaxy have been defined and redefined many times on film and in print, and they are being reinvented once again with the coming of The Force Awakens. But who were the Jedi? What did they mean to a storyline filled with rogues, rebels and lightsabers?In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing open a series focused on this ancient order of peacekeepers, examining what they’ve come to mean and what is to come now that Rey has found Luke.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aggressivenegotiations/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!

Favorite Ships.Design has always been one of the core pillars of the world building in the Star Wars galaxy, and one of the key stones in that pillar has been ship design. From the simply cool to the downright iconic, fans of all types can acknowledge the influence the design of Star Wars has played in their enjoyment of the still-expanding saga.In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing answer a listener question, discussing their favorite ship designs, honorable mentions, definitions of a “ship” and even a couple they dislike outright.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aggressivenegotiations/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!

Friendship.Friendship is one of the most powerful forces in life, whether it’s our galaxy or one far, far away. A key element of Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the new friendship between Poe and Finn, which left the Masters pondering, “Is this the first true friendship in Star Wars?”In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations, Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing discuss friendship in the Star Wars saga by comparing and contrasting the uniqueness of Poe and Finn’s friendship with others seen throughout the films and television shows.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aggressivenegotiations/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!

An old debate has found new life with the addition of Episode VII to the Star Wars saga: The endless discussion about the order in which to watch the movies. Do you watch them in release order, story order, or mesh the series into a modified “Machete Order” to account for the new story? Does the addition of The Force Awakens complicate the question of how to introduce someone to Star Wars if they have never seen it?In this episode of Aggressive Negotiations Jedi Masters John Mills and Matthew Rushing tackle the question of viewing order. We look at it from a few different points of view before coming down to our final thoughts.HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMastersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/aggressivenegotiations/Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!

This is Aggressive Negotiations: A Star Wars Podcast. We are not your usual Star Wars show as we cover no news or current events in fandom, no we talk about all the things you always wanted to talk about but no one ever has. In our pilot issue hosts Matthew Rushing and John Mills discuss the small moments in the Star Wars franchise that stand out and how those small things impact their love of the galaxy far, far away. HostsJohn Mills and Matthew RushingSend us your feedback!Twitter: @TheJediMasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aggressivenegotiations/ Email: an@thenerdparty.comSubscribe in iTunes!