Classics Star Wars: Ewoks (1985-1986) discussion, rewatch, information & analysis thread

I'm still here guys Senior in high school, so I've got AP Exams coming up and I'm trying to keep up (catch up, really) with the NEU, so Star Wars time is being budgeted. I'm going to continue my watch through though (and if i break for too long, please, pester me via pm! I need the motivation) as Ewoks is really worth watching.

 

One thing I've noticed - Endor is consistently shown with what looks like 2 suns - yet on Wookieepedia, only one sun is mentioned:

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ibleam

Maybe the other is a large, close-in planet?

 

Not directly an aspect of Ewoks, but it seems Rebels took a tiny bit inspiration from Ewoks too.

Note the insignia on the service caps:

 

Hey, the Nostalgia Critic looks back on the Ewoks cartoon (slight language warning just in case):

http://blip.tv/nostalgiacritic/nc-the-ewoks-cartoon-7192839

 

I don't think I want to watch yet another white first world man who thinks he's the smartest person in the world. Not to mention that "daring" and "strange" are two very, very different things. Did this person study anything related to storytelling and/or art or is he just a fanboy?

 

Anyone else think its awesome Wilford Brimly is in star wars? Oh wait this is about the cartoon? Still cool.

 

I have no idea who he is in general, as I'm not North American, but I liked him in The Battle of Endor a lot. The film is very grim and heavy and he was a very believable cranky old men, his heart melted by a child.

 

He's not a prominent actor, but he is a popular internet meme on YouTube because of the diabetes commercials he starred in.

 

In that case, I respect him even more, being an insulin-resistant person who is likely to develop diabetes later in life and all...

 

I'm sorry to hear that. The meme in question is in somewhat bad taste TBH.

 

Brimley was actually a much bigger name in the 1980s than he is today thanks to roles in Cocoon, the TV series Our House, and John Carpenter's remake of The Thing. He perfected the "grumpy old guy with a soft heart" character, which he ported over to "Battle for Endor" quite nicely.

 

Edit : Ninja'd by Nexumaster

 

That and read the before you hit and run. We're a positive bunch here.

 

Why are you quoting yourself, Ewok Poet?

 

I liked the Dr Raygar episode which I watched yesterday.

 

This should be on Netflix or DVD. I always wondered why Lucasfilm never did anything with the series, except for the one DVD and that was butchered.

 

I'm back at it!

Wicket's Wagon
This was an episode with a good premise, but weaker execution, to be sure. I like the concept a lot: Wicket sort of innocently starts rebuilding his ancestor's chariot/battering ram thing, inadvertently provoking the duloks. And, generally speaking, that plot played out how you might expect. The Shaman has some silly moments, Wicket is clever, there're some funny moments, and then there's a very good climax. The trouble with this episode lay more in what it didn't really expand on: for one, Morgeesh is introduced as this bizarre mystic oracle dulok with a connection to Umwak, but literally nothing is done with his character. And then there's a force ghost?! What?! Without any explanation?! Wicket isn't even force sensitive! And worse still, it's just sort of taken for granted. Something like that needs some explanation!

Star Wars-continuity whining aside, this was definitely an enjoyable episode. A nice way to come back to the series for sure. A bit sad that there weren't any Teebo or Logray moments, but I trust that they're coming. Also, extra points for a great Malani moment in the finale! She did an awesome job without compromising her characterization. Well done.

Overall Rating: 6/10

 

The comics hinted at it - with his (limited) ability to use Ewok magic.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Wicket

Powers and abilities

Although clearly not as adept as the sorcerer Logray or his apprentice Teebo, Wicket showed some potential Force-sensitivity in his ability to wield Logray's staff and perform other acts of "magic" while briefly under the shaman's tutelage.

 

Filoni used the phrase Force based religions while discussing the other pagan like remains buried under the Coruscant Jedi Temple. The Wookies use the Force, so its not that far fetched a notion that Ewoks could as well.

 

They could hypothetically use the Force as a form of magic just as other SW cultures do. Perhaps some Ewoks, and even Morag tapped into something they didn't even truly understand. Connecting it to nature, spirits, etc could simply be viewing the Force in their own way.

 

I've finally finished whole of Season 1. Asha's reunion with her father is rather touching.

 

What did you think of...well, everything else?

 

Morag is an excellent Villain. The Duloks are more comedic overall.

The more I watch it, the more "Logray as fraud" grates on me in the Star Wars Character Encyclopaedia.

There's a lot of dangerous wildlife on Endor.

 

Maybe the sunstar can be interpreted as a Kyber Crystal.

Willow is very interesting, its like quasi-canon basically:

http://www.starwars.com/video/questions-answered-nass-orphne-and-willow-the-clone-wars

 

"Logray as fraud" actually originates with WEG, back in the first edition of Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi. I never liked that characterization much either, but first edition WEG didn't acknowledge the cartoon or tv movies. Happily Ultimate Star Wars and the Topps card app makes no mention of Logray being a coward and whatnot, so hopefully his more noble characterization is in effect in the canon continuity.