Empire Minute 120: Toys Wrapped in Tragedy

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Date

June 27th, 2014

Summary

Luke looks down at his hand. A metalized type of bandage has been wrapped around his wrist. The medical droid makes some adjustments in a tiny electronic unit, then pricks each one of Luke's fingers.

Guests

Skottie Young

Notes

Film

• Two-hour mark
• Last dialogue, last full minute prior to the credits.
• Starts with Luke telling Lando to take care; ends with the Falcon taking off and flying toward a galaxy.
• Leia's sixth outfit (fourth for this movie).
• Last whiny Luke for the movie.
• FX-7? Or another FX model?
• Luke's "May the Force be with you"—only time this is said in this film.

Podcast

• The galaxy appears quite close (Note: see Attack of the Clones Minute 34: None of Us Here#OK, time for some more math! for more on this)
• The hosts speculate that it could also be a star being born or something that has just exploded (Alderaan?).
• This is Alex's favorite Leia hairdo.
  • Referenced: Mrs. Garrett from "The Facts of Life".
• How long has it been since they were on Cloud City (Long time)?
• What is up with Lando wearing Han's clothes?
  • New theory: Lando and Han's false identities.
• How common are Han(d) replacements in Star Wars? Is this the level of an appendectomy?
• Luke's robot arm seems larger than the amount of hand that was actually cut off.
• This "subtle sci-fi" moment. Star Wars is usually more fantasy than science fiction.
  • Compare and contrast with the Prequels (Sorry, Pete).
  • Anakin gets a Steam Punk hand.
• If made today, Luke would have gotten a modular hand that could be replaced with a scanner or laser Gatling gun.
  • They could have attached the lightsaber right to his arm, like the Kenner toy.
• This shows restraint on Lucas' part—he just gets a regular-looking hand.
• The droids are just staring out the window, why?
• 2-1B toy talk.
  • Skull imagery in Star Wars.
• Referenced: Jack Chick tracts but for the Force.
• What is Luke holding?
• Kershner wanted to make sure to show that the robot hand could feel pain/had sensitivity.

 Skottie's Empire memories
  The tragic tales of his two favorite toys.
   He got his R2-D2 stuck in the "Dak seat" of his Snowspeeder.
   His Wampa's legs melted on the pot-bellied stove and he was heartbroken.
   BUT there was a happy ending: fans heard him mention the story on another podcast, and now people bring him brand new Wampa toys when they meet him at conventions.
   Pete helpfully mentions that he lost a wallet with $5 in it as a kid.

• Mentioned: starwarsminutelive.com (Now I have to buy that).

Meta Minute

• 30:14 podcast episode length.
• Cold open: plug for the L.A. live show.
• Finale of All-Star Week.
• Alex envisioned a story where Walrus Man and Luke met in the physical therapy office with their robot hands.
• Skottie repeatedly ends the show to go start various Star Wars-related businesses.
  • There is a line of toys from Tim Burton (huge surprise there) called "Tragic Toys".

Quotes

• Pete: ...we analyze, scrutinize, and finalize...
• Pete: (as 2-1B) Well, we're going to have to take off more of your arm, sir.
• Skottie: Hey real quick before we roll the credits, uh, give that dude his hand back. Put some robot stuff in there.
• Alex: Gimme the "Balboa"!
• Alex: (as C-3PO, paraphrasing Carl Sagan) Oh my! We're all star stuff.

Link

http://www.starwarsminute.com/2014/06/27/empire-minute-120-toys-wrapped-in-tragedy/

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