A More Civilized Age: A Star Wars Podcast

Latest Episodes:

125: Revenge of the Sith (Novel) Pt. 1 Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

This is A More Civilized Age:

Three hours of podcast when another team would make an hour and a half. Distractions. Diatribes. Deep dives into the databanks to learn, live on air, factoids about characters who hardly matter. But that's what makes A More Civilized Age A More Civilized Age: All of it might matter. Five years running and it's still asking questions a first year podcast might.

And today it is going to learn what it already knew: That Anakin Skywalker is driven by love and fear in equal, but precarious measure. That Obi-Wan Kenobi, the ultimate blueprint of a Jedi, always knows when he's looking at a butt. That R2-D2 and C-3PO are slaves, but like, don't worry about that so much, they're more like friends, right? That Palpatine always has a plan, but always loves to pivot. And that Padme was there, too.

And it is proud to be your podcast.

Next Time: Chapters 8-14!

Show Notes

Camile Paglia about Revenge of the Sith

It's All Stover, a Matthew Stover Podcast, hosted by Carter Richmond and Ina

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social)

Produced by Michael Hermes

Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social

Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

124: The Star Wars Holiday Special Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

When I went to post this episode, I went through all the motions necessary to post it as a Patreon bonus before remembering: "Oh no, wait, did we actually watch this chaotic mess for the main feed?" That's how bonkers this 1978 variety show is. So get ready to have your mind evaporated by this neutron bomb of content as we head to the Wookiee Planet on this very special Life Day.

Next Time: Matthew Stover's Revenge of the Sith Novelization, Part One: Victory (Chapters 1 - 7)

Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized!

Show Notes

The Star Wars Holiday Special Commercials

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social)

Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social)

Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social

Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

123: Malachor V (KOTOR II 14) Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

With the Ravager in pieces, Telos seemingly saved, and an army of HK-51s unleashed, the Exile and the (remaining) crew of the Ebon Hawk heads to the place where it all began: Malachor V. There, at the end of a multi-level dungeon and a couple of boss fights, the two remaining Sith Lords stand in wait. And in classic KOTOR II fashion, what they have to offer is tantalizing, memorable, and famously unfinished.

And that's that for KOTOR II. Thank you for coming on this amazing journey. We can't wait to kick off a new series in the new year... but first...

Next Time: THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL

Show Notes

122: Return to Telos (KOTOR II 13) Nov 15, 2025

Show notes

After a climactic confrontation on Dantooine, the Exile and the (remaining) crew of the Ebon Hawk return to Telos, chasing after the Handmaiden and Kreia. There, the Handmaiden faces down her sisters, the Exile comes face to face with Atris (if that is still her name), and HK-47 fights his way through a factory of hostility-ending droids. Then, above Telos, war breaks out. Darth Nihlus arrives at the helm of his corpse-of-a-ship, the Ravager, hoping to find a buffet of Jedi to devour. Instead he finds only his old disciple, a pissed off Mandalorian warlord, and a once-exiled Jedi.

Show Notes

Unseen, Unheard

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social)

Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social)

Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social

Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

121: Korriban & the Jedi Enclave (KOTOR II 12) Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

With three of the missing Jedi Masters found, the Exile, Kreia, and the rest of the Ebon Hawk's ad hoc (ad hawk?) crew finally head towards the ancient Sith world of Korriban. There they find... well, mostly the same planet that Revan and co. left behind a few years ago, albeit a little more decrepit than usual. Then, its back to Dantooine to confront the reconvened Jedi Council and finally get some long promised answers.

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social)

Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social)

Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social

Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

120: A Return to Onderon (KOTOR II 11) Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

The Exile and the crew of the Ebon Hawk return to Dxun at the behest of Jedi Master Kevar, loyal guardian of Onderon's queen. Onderon itself is at war, and like everything else in KOTOR 2, this crisis could spiral out of control and destabilize the wider galaxy if things go bad. And that's why the Exile and co will need to split into two teams, finally kill a bunch of Sith randos, and spend like an hour doing basic algebra and deeply confusing logic puzzles.

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social)

Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social)

Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social

Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

119: Down to Dantooine (KOTOR II 10) Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

With two new party members in tow (and some dark secrets about our old crew newly learned), the Exile heads back to the first of two locales originally visited by Revan and co. during KOTOR 1: Dantooine. The old Jedi Enclave lays in ruins from a Sith attack towards the end of the last war, and the newly emerging government finds itself needing to serve three factions: fearful farmers, bored mercenaries, and sneaky salvagers. And none of them are big fans of Jedi.

Also, we meet one of the biggest herbs in the galaxy.

Next Time: Return to Onderon

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social)

Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social)

Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social

Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

118: Nar Shaddaa Pt. 2 (KOTOR II 09) Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

We bring Nar Shaddaa to a close as our Exiles fight their way through a secret criminal HQ before being whisked away to the cloaked ship of the mysterious Exchange leader, Goto. Then, after some real table top dungeon crawl hijinks, we come face to face with the first of our missing Jedi...

Next Time: Dantooine, Pt. 1 (We haven't figured out a stopping point yet! We'll announce on Bluesky later this week!)

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social)

Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social)

Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social

Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

117: Nar Shaddaa Pt. 1 (KOTOR II 08) Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

With their work on Onderon stalled out, the Exile and the Ebon Hawk head to the smuggler's moon, Nar Shadaa in search of Jedi Master Zez-Kai Ell. Instead, they find the densest planet in the game, overflowing with side quests, NPCs that seems to exist just for flavor, and some of the most aggressive dark side options yet.

Next time: Finish up Nar Shaddaa!

Show Notes

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social)

Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social)

Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social

Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

116: On to Onderon (KOTOR II 07) Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

You can watch Austin play through this section of the game right here.

With a ride secured from Mandalore, the Exile and the crew of the Ebon Hawk arrive to a world on the brink of civil war between an ineffectual and inexperienced queen and an authoritarian general, both of whom are vaguely populist. Anyway, that's not what's important. What's important is running between the same two maps four times so that we can solve a murder mystery.

Ah, with every new session, this game becomes more and more KOTOR.

Next Time: Nar Shaadaa. Focus on all the Side Quests, and end after the Fight with the Red Eclipse Crew on the Ebon Hawk.

Show Notes

Kreia & Atton Facts

Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social)

Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social)

Produced by Chia Contreras (cado.bsky.social)

Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social

Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)