My Star Wars Bracket

I have never been a huge basketball fan, but I always enjoy filling out a bracket for the NCAA tournament. With Star Wars fandom building to a fevered pitch with the release of The Force Awakens this December, I am more actively watching who will be the This Is Madness tournament over at starwars.com!

But since I missed the deadline to submit a bracket on Wookieepedia (darn it!), I thought I would write it up here on my blog.

I missed out on the Play In round, but here were the match-ups:

REBELS
Wedge Antilles, Threepio, Admiral Ackbar, Sabine Wren - WINNER: Sabine

JEDI
Ahsoka Tano, Kanan Jarrus, Luke Skywalker, Ezra Bridger - WINNER: Ahsoka

EMPIRE / SEPARATISTS
Admiral Piett, General Veers, Nute Gunray, Agent Kallus - WINNER: Piett

BOUNTY HUNTERS
Cad Bane, IG-88, Asajj Ventress, 4-LOM - WINNER: Ventress

Here are my picks for the Rule of Thirty-Two and Sixteen Strikes Back brackets:

REBELS
1 Artoo v 4 Sabine - WINNER: Artoo   [Artoo 75%]
2 Leia v 3 Hera - WINNER: Leia   [Leia 72%]
R2-D2 v Leia - WINNER: R2-D2   [Artoo 57%]

I'm curious what kind of showing the Rebels characters will have. They are so new to the galaxy, I can't imagine them upsetting Artoo or Leia. I think Artoo will have the sentimental attachment of people to vote him through. REVIEW: I nailed this bracket at least. It is hard to beat a character that has been in every Star Wars movie...at least to date!

JEDI
1 Obi-Wan v 4 Ahsoka Tano - WINNER: Obi-Wan   [Obi-Wan60%]
2 Yoda v 3 Qui-Gon - WINNER: Yoda   [Yoda 69%]
Obi-Wan v Yoda - WINNER: Yoda   [Obi-Wan 52%]

This is the most interesting bracket. I think Yoda will trounce Qui-Gon, but Obi-Wan may struggle against Ahsoka. Still, I think it will still be a showdown with the past two winners and Yoda being the victor. REVIEW: Alas, Ahsoka...you were able to top Luke but Obi-Wan proved to be too strong. But you had the strongest showing of any non-film character. Well done! It is hard to beat one of the few characters who has been in every Star Wars movie and many Clone Wars episodes! Obi-Wan ekes out a win over Yoda! I knew it would be close, but I guessed wrong.

SCOUNDRELS

1 Chewie v 4 Zeb - WINNER: Chewie   [Chewie 85%]
2 Han v 3 Lando - WINNER: Han   [Han 86%]
Han v Chewie - WINNER: Han   [Han 69%]

Another Rebels character going up against Star Wars royalty. No way Zeb can pull this upset. Han should pull past Lando, even if he is a slimy, no-good swindler. Han against Chewie?! I have to give it to Han. REVIEW: Han destroyed Lando. I think this bodes well for his chances throughout this tournament! No love for the new "kid" on the block - Zeb. But this was hardly an even match-up! Nailed this bracket too, but this wasn't really hard to pick.

REPUBLIC

1 Padme v 4 Jar Jar - WINNER: Padme   [Jar Jar 62%]
2 Rex v 3 Gregor - WINNER: Rex   [Rex 75%]
Padme v Rex  - WINNER:Rex   [Rex 52%]

Yeesh. My faith in fandom will be confirmed if Rex emerges victorious from this bracket! REVIEW: Jar Jar beats Padme?! Bwah-hah-hah! I love it! Star Wars fans are the best. Rex squeeks by Jar Jar to advance. Phew! That was close. My bracket Republic bracket is saved!

EMPIRE/SEPARATISTS

1 Tarkin v 4 Piett - WINNER: Tarkin   [Tarkin 81%]
2 Grievous v 3 Inquisitor - WINNER: Grievous   [Grievous 66%]
Tarkin v Grievous - WINNER: Tarkin   [Tarkin 59%]

Tarkin is just too skilled and ruthless for any of these to oppose him. REVIEW: I am a little bit surprised at the turn out for the Inquisitor. So far the strongest showing of a Rebels character in the tournament. Of course, match-ups are everything! Tarkin emerges victorious as expected.

BOUNTY HUNTERS

1 Boba Fett v Asajj Ventress - WINNER: Boba Fett   [Boba 66%]
2 Jango Fett v 3 Greedo - WINNER: Jango Fett   [Jango 83%]
Boba vs Jango  - WINNER: Boba   [Boba 53%]

I really want Asajj to win. I am just burned out on the whol Mandalore/Fett thing. But you have to recognize brand awareness and Boba has it. Jango should fry poor Greedo without a problem. Father versus "son"? I'll choose the son. REVIEW: *Yawn*. Predictable and not terribly interesting.

SITH

1 Darth Vader v 4 Count Dooku - WINNER: Vader   [Vader 88%]
2 Emperor Palpatine v 3 Darth Maul - WINNER: Maul   [Maul 51%]
Vader v Maul  - WINNER: Vader   [Vader 75%]

This bracket is actually a bit tricky! The Maul-Emperor match-up could be close. But, regardless, Vader will come out of the Sith bracket on top. REVIEW: Maul ekes out a win over his former master! I was not expecting it to be that close. Vader decapitates Dooku a second time....well first time as Vader...last time he was Anakin...although he was a little Vader...you get the picture. Vader to Maul: "You don't know the POWER of the Dark Side!"

UNDERWORLD

1 Jabba v 4 Bib Fortuna - WINNER: Jabba   [Jabba 56%]
2 Pre Vizsla v 3 Hondo Ohnaka - WINNER: Hondo   [Pre Vizsla 56%]
Jabba v Hondo - WINNER: Jabba   [Jabba 67%]

Jabba versus his underling? Pleease. Pre Vizsla versus Hondo is more interesting. I really don't like Pre Vizsla as a character very much whereas Hondo is a lot of fun. I hope he makes it into Rebels? Either way, Jabba owns the Underworld bracket. REVIEW: I'm actually surprised that Jabba beat Bib by only six percent. That is a strong showing for a sychophant! Pre Vizsla wins because he is a Mando...*groan*. Hondo is such a better character. Jabba made short work of him.

32 & 16 WRAP UP: I am in very good shape so far. I lost Yoda for Duel of the Eights, but all my other picks are still viable. Jar Jar over Padme was my biggest surprise. I wonder with him being subject to 15 years of fandom hatred that people are coming around to liking him. Mandos are still a powerful draw for fans but I don't think anyone can overcome Jabba in the Underworld bracket.

Now we move on to the Duel of the Eights:

Artoo v Yoda - WINNER: Artoo  [Obi-Wan 60%]

Goodness this is a hard one. I am going with who I *hope* will win, but Yoda is a previous champion. Maybe the fans will want a new winner this year? REVIEW: With Obi-Wan beating Yoda in the previous round, I missed out on this one. Obi-Wan beats Artoo?! Nooooooooo! He may not recall owning a droid, but he owned this match-up.

Han v Rex - WINNER: Han   [Han 52%]

I love Captain Rex, but Han makes even a hardened princess swoon. I'll bet he will do the same with the voters. REVIEW: Wow this was *much* closer than I expected. Not bad for a clone!

Tarkin v Boba - WINNER: Boba   [Boba 59%]

I want Tarkin to win, but I think the Boba-bunch will marshall the votes to push him through. REVIEW: Fett is cruising in his 'vette to the Fate of the Four.

Vader v Jabba - WINNER: Vader   [Vader 54%]

Yeah, I don't think this will be that close. REVIEW: Whoa. Jabba almost pulled off an upset!

Now for the Fate of the Four:

Artoo v Han - WINNER: Han   [Obi-Wan 50%]

Man this is getting really hard now! As much as I want Artoo to win it all, I think everyone is cheering for Han. We know he has a prominent role in The Force Awakens and Harrison Ford managed to be a real-life hero when he safely landed his stalled airplane on a golf course in the heavily populated area around the Santa Monica airport. Han will win this.  REVIEW: Man! You can't get any closer than this! I demand a recount!

Boba v Vader - WINNER: Vader   [Vader 6%]

Brand names can only take you so far. Vader will be unleashed and Boba will be bantha poo doo.  REVIEW: This went as I expected.

The Championship Match: 

Han v Vader

Wow what a championship this will be! I can see this going either way. But I'll side with the light side of the Force....

2015 CHAMPION

HAN SOLO!
   [DARTH VADER 57%]

REVIEW: We have a new champion! I am left to wonder what would happen if it was Han versus Vader. That would have been very interesting. I suspect the desire to not have a repeat winner weighed on the voters.

Rebels

Sabine over Wedge, Threepio, Ackbar
Sabine loses to Artoo (25% vote) 1st round

Hera loses to Leia (28% vote) 1st round

Zeb loses to Chewie (15% vote) 1st round

Inquisitor loses to Grievous (34%) 1st round

Kanan loses to Ahsoka play-in
Ezra loses to Ahsoka play-in
Kallus loses to Piett play-in


THIRTY TWO
34 - Inquisitor (Grevious)
28 - Hera (Leia)
25 - Sabine (Artoo) defeats Wedge, Threepio, Ackbar in Play-In
15 - Zeb (Chewie)
0 - Kanan (Ahsoka)
0 - Ezra (Ahsoka)
0 - Kallus (Piett)







Clone Wars

Ahsoka over Kanan, Luke, Ezra
Ahsoka loses to Obi-Wan (40% vote) 1st round

Rex over Gregor (75%)
Rex over Jar Jar (52%)
Rex loses to Han (48%) 3rd round (Duel of Eights)

Ventress over Cad Bane, IG-88, 4-LOM
Ventress loses to Boba Fett (34%) 1st round

Pre Vizsla over Hondo Ohnaka (56%)
Pre Vizsla loses to Jabba (33%) 2nd round

Hondo Ohnaka loses to Pre Vizsla (44%)

Gregor losts to Rex (25%) 1st round

Cad Bane loses to Ventress play in


DUEL OF EIGHTS
48 - Rex (Han), defeats Gregor (75%) and Jar Jar (52%)

SIXTEEN
33 - Pre Vizsla (Jabba), defeats Hondo Ohnaka (56%)

THIRTY TWO
44 - Hondo (Pre Vizsla)
40 - Ahsoka (Obi-Wan), defeats Kanan, Luke, Ezra in Play-In
34 - Ventress (Boba Fett), defeats Cad Bane, IG-88, 4-LOM in Play-In
25 - Gregor (Rex)
xx - Cad Bane (Ventress)

Star Wars Canon Tracker

I am going to *attempt* to stay up with as much of the official Star Wars canon as I can. But I can see it will be overwhelming - especially with the announcement of 20 books the will be the prelude to Episode VII: The Force Awakens!

As of March 16, 2015, here is the list of canonical material (outside of YA novels):

EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE

EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES

*The Clone Wars (TV)

Dark Disciple (N)

EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH

Kanan (C)

Lords of the Sith (N) - before Tarkin

Tarkin (N) - 5 years after III

*A New Dawn (N)

*Rebels (TV)

EPISODE IV - A NEW HOPE

Princess Leia (C) - starts immeditately after IV

Star Wars (C)

Darth Vader (C)

Heir to the Jedi (N)

EPISODE V - THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

EPISODE VI - RETURN OF THE JEDI

Aftermath (N)

Journey to the Force Awakens (C)

Journey - C3PO (C)

EPISODE VII - THE FORCE AWAKENS

So this is the official timeline for grown ups. I am treating the youth fiction as a wholly separate thing, which perhaps is not a good idea? Anyway, here are YA novels that are out or announced and a rough timeline, published by Disney-Lucasfilm Books. Thank you Wookiepedia! Note: I am excluding the books that are novelizations of Rebels episodes or the films.

JUNIOR NOVELS

III - ROTS

*Ezra's Gamble
Servants of the Empire: Edge of the Galaxy
Servants of the Empire: Rebel in the Ranks
Servants of the Empire: Imperial Justice (July 2015)
Servants of the Empire: #4 Untitled (October 2015)

IV - ANH

Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo Adventure (September 2015)
The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure (September 2015)

V - ESB

Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure (September 2015)

VI - ROTJ

Lost Stars (September 2015)

VII - TFA

* - indicates books I have read or shows I have watched

The comics will be a little easier to keep up with since they are quick reads. I picked up all the currently available issues earlier today. I have already read A New Dawn, which was a very entertaining book and a good prelude to the first season of Rebels. I am now officially two novels behind schedule and more is on the way. Sheesh.

I sure hope Lucasfilm comes up with a good resource to keep track of the official canon and the official timeline. It is already getting confusing and the first of the new films isn't even out yet!

COMING SOON
Novel - Lords of the Sith (4/28/15)
Novel - Dark Disciple (7/7/15)
Comic - Kanan (starting in April)
Comic - Star Wars 4, Vader 3, Leia 2

Clone Wars Chronology

The Clone Wars has debuted on Netflix, including the never-before-seen Season 6: The Lost Missions. I am only two episodes into it, but I must say they are excellent. I've said before I was not a big fan of the Clone Wars myself, but I can clearly see how much they have improved, not only with the visuals but with the storytelling as well. I hope the lessons learned will translate well into the new Star Wars Rebels series. I am a big fan of Dave Filoni and have every confidence that he will.

One exciting aspect of having the Clone Wars on a streaming service is that it is so easy to switch episodes.

216 116 T 301 303 101-115 117-121

201-203 217-219 204-214 220-222

305-307 302 304 308 122 309-311 215 312-322

S4

502-513 501 514-520

601-613

Cat and Mouse (S216)
Hidden Enemy (S116)
Clone Wars: The Movie
Clone Cadets (S301)
Supply Lines (S303)
Ambush (S101)
Rising Malevolence (S102)
Shadow of Malevolence (S103)
Destroy Malevolence (S104)
Rookies (S105)
Downfall of a Droid (S106)
Duel of the Droids (S107)
Bombad Jedi (S108)
Cloak of Darkness (S109)
Lair of Grievous (S110)
Dooku Captured (S111)
The Gungan General (S112)
Jedi Crash (S113)
Defenders of Peace (S114)
Trespass (S115)
Blue Shadow Virus (S117)
Mystery of a Thousand Moons (S118)
Storm over Ryloth (S119)
Innocents of Ryloth (S120)
Liberty on Ryloth (S121)

Holocron Heist (S201)
Cargo of Doom (S202)
Children of the Force (S203)
Bounty Hunters (S217)
The Zillo Beast (S218)
The Zillo Beast Strikes Back (S219)
Senate Spy (S204)
Landing at Point Rain (S205)
Weapons Factory (S206)
Legacy of Terror (S207)
Brain Invaders (S208)
Grievous Intrigue (S209)
The Deserter (S210)
Lightsaber Lost (S211)
The Mandalore Plot (S212)
Voyage of Temptation (S213)
Duchess of Mandalore (S214)
Death Trap (S220)
R2 Come Home (S221)
Lethal Trackdown (S222)

Corruption (S305)
The Academy (S306)
Assassin (S307)
ARC Troopers (S302)
Sphere of Influence (S304)
Evil Plans (S308)
Hostage Crisis (S122)
Hunt for Ziro (S309)
Heroes on Both Sides (S310)
Pursuit of Peace (S311)
Senate Murders (S215)
Nightsisters (S312)
Monster (S313)
Witches of the Mist (S314)
Overlords (S315)
Altar of Mortis (S316)
Ghosts of Mortis (S317)
The Citadel (S318)
Counterattack (S319)
Citadel Rescue (S320)
Padawan Lost (S321)
Wookiee Hunt (S322)

Water War (S401)
Gungan Attack (S402)
Prisoners (S403)
Shadow Warrior (S404)
Mercy Mission (S405)
Nomad Droids (S406)
Darkness on Umbara (S407)
The General (S408)
Plan of Dissent (S409)
Carnage of Krell (S410)
Kidnapped (S411)
Slaves of the Republic (S412)
Escape from Kadavo (S413)
A Friend in Need (S414)
Deception (S415)
Friends and Enemies (S416)
The Box (S417)
Crisis on Naboo (S418)
Massacre (S419)
Bounty (S420)
Brothers (S421)
Revenge (S422)

A War on Two Fronts (S502)
Front Runner (S503)
The Soft War (S504)
Tipping Points (S505)
The Gathering (S506)
A Test of Strength (S507)
Bound for Rescue (S508)
A Necessary Bond (S509)
Secret Weapons (S510)
A Sunny Day in the Void (S511)
Missing in Action (S512)
Point of No Return (S513)
Revival (S501)
Eminence (S514)
Shades of Reason (S515)
The Lawless (S516)
Sabotage (S517)
The Jedi Who Knew Too Much (S518)
To Catch a Jedi (S519)
The Wrong Jedi (S520)

The Unknown (S601)
Conspiracy (S602)
Fugitive (S603)
Orders (S604)
An Old Friend (S605)
The Rise of Clovis (S606)
Crisis at the Heart (S607)
The Disappeared Part I (S608)
The Disappeared Part II (S609)
The Lost One (S610)
Voices (S611)
Destiny (S612)
Sacrifice (S613)