The December Experiment's Conclusion

And so we come to an end of the December Experiment, where I posted some sort of Web of the Force content on Ao3 every other day.

Tentative Plan:

Begin posting five new novels, two chapters of each

Post 5 short stories/behind the scenes/artwork/something fun

Conclusion:

It almost followed the path! Four of the five novels have their first two chapters released, and the fifth only had the first released, because the storyline is giving me fits. Instead of the second chapter of Heart'sCall, I posted another behind the scenes extra instead.

Observations:

I found it less difficult than I anticipated, but I suspect some of that has to do with the fact that I was ahead. I had chapters available in the queue before December even started. I have a tiny cushion now, but not as generous a one for January as I had for December.

Because of that, I'm considering the next tentative plan to schedule in a couple of rest days at the end of the month specifically for the purpose of preparing for the next month.

Will I have a January Experiment? Perhaps. I'm going to make a hypothetical plan, and if it seems doable, then perhaps I will.

Until then, you could check in with the Web and see what's currently available to peruse.

Thrawn: Alliances to Include Clone Wars!

So twice today I have heard someone mention that Timothy Zahn's Thrawn and Thrawn: Alliances are part of a trilogy. And while I am quite desperate to believe it, no sources were cited.

I went to Wookieepedia to try to find answers, but the Thrawn novel page didn't tell me, so I moved on to the Thrawn: Alliances one. And while it did not specify whether it's part of a trilogy or not, it did claim to have information from an official blurb from the Penguin Random House website!

I followed the link and found this:

"The sequel to New York Times bestseller Thrawn, Thrawn: Alliances will continue to follow the rise of Grand Admiral Thrawn to the heights of Imperial power—and accompany him into the past, witnessing his first encounter with the man who will one day become Darth Vader."

We're going to get to see the time Thrawn met Anakin that was mentioned in Thrawn!

I am absolutely delighted. I am ridiculously excited. More Clone Wars era content, and a meeting I've wanted for a long time. And since it will dabble in two eras, we get to see both Anakin and Thrawn interact... and Vader and Thrawn.  

Episode VIII Ridiculous Theory

So while I was watching a new The Last Jedi TV spot, I had a sudden thought. I don't think it is actually what's happening, but it might make for a fun AU sometime.

Snoke says, "Dark rises, and the Light to meet it." What if he facilitated Ben's fall to the dark side not because he needed a powerful darksider, but because he needed the light user who would come out of the woodwork to face Kylo?

After all, didn't Han tell Kylo that Snoke was simply using him as a means to an end and would discard him when done?

If I just went overboard with my imagination, I'd like to dovetail that into the idea that Snoke is from the Unknown Regions, part of the ancient threat that Thrawn has been trying to build a defense against for so long.

Perhaps there's an artifact that can only be accessed through strong use of the light? Or maybe Snoke's power is limited by some ritual performed by ancient Force Wielders of a caliber similar to his, with the idea that only a champion of the light could return him to his full, devastating potential, and so he has to lure one in, and trick them into freeing him the rest of the way?

Rey could trick Kylo into thinking she wants to join him, only to try to fight Snoke in the Throne Room. Snoke reveals his true designs, informs Kylo he's nothing, and attacks Rey. In a rage over his own naivete and the fool he's been made to appear, Kylo attacks Snoke, surprising him, but that is not enough to turn the tide.

In strides Luke, who duels Snoke so that Rey and Kylo can escape. Luke is presumed dead- either really is, or is locked away somewhere- and the film ends with Rey and Kylo agreeing to team up for real this time to take out Snoke.

Which they do in Episode IX, and maybe relocate the thought-to-be-dead Luke Skywalker in a very nasty dungeon somewhere. Maybe on Mustafar, because I really want to see Vader's castle some more.

I look forward to December, when I'll be able to look back at this and laugh over how far off the mark I was!

Wild Speculation #43: Beauty and the Beast (2012-2016) Season 2 Episode 8, Man or Beast

Hello! I'm Star Wars Syl and this is the Remember Clone Captain Keeli blog.

Warning: This post will contain spoilers for this episode, and any episodes that came before it.

Okay.

I have thoughts about characters' decisions in this episode. No, scratch that, I have thoughts about Vincent's choices in this episode. I've figured out whether I like him or not. The answer is not flattering to a certain Beast.

On the other side, do I like Gabe? Yes.

I think his best line in this episode was, “Don't worry, I'm not getting in that car. I'll wait for a bomb squad. You go arrest that jerk.” I do love me an intelligent hero.

Now for Vincent.

Who didn't once care that his actions were going to make Cat look like a dirty cop. Beat up the perp? She had a clean catch, it was perfect, and now when she brings him in, there will be... injuries she has to make up answers for.

Not to mention the fact that he just intentionally crashed a car Cat is in.

Vincent does not respect Cat. And he completely took away her agency. She was weeping, begging him to stop, and yet he deliberately chose to murder her father.

I have absolutely no respect left for Vincent. I want Cat to leave him and never once look back. It doesn't matter if he “loves” her anymore or not, what he did was inexcusable if she was some random stranger on the street, if she was his girlfriend, or if she was his ex. Her relationship status with him is irrelevant. He put her life in danger. He put her job in danger. He's putting her in a position of having to decide if she'll cover for him again— which, might I add, he just assumes she will— and nearly murders her father. Yeah, he's a terrible dad. But it's just not Vincent's place.

I've had it with this man. I am definitely voting for Gabe.

Wild Speculation #42: iZombie Season 2 Episode 3, Real Dead Housewives

Hello! I'm Star Wars Syl and this is the Remember Clone Captain Keeli blog.

Warning: This post will contain spoilers for this episode, and any episodes that came before it.

Here I am, returning to iZombie after a personal break from the show.

I walked away from this episode thinking, “Wow. The guy is begging for his life, for his dog's life, and yet Major still goes through with it. Wow.”

I'm not entirely sure I feel sympathy for Major. In fact... I'm not feeling very forgiving towards him at all. I really, really think he needs to tell Liv about all of this, and let her decide what to do. It's her life that's on the line here.

I had two favorite quotes in this episode, both by Clive.

“Do you know what she's talking about?”— Vaughn

“Occasionally.”— Clive

And the second one, speaking of Liv and Major's relationship...

“I can never tell what the end goal is with you two.”

That one made me laugh.

Wild Speculation #41: Beauty and the Beast (2012-2016) Season 2 Episode 7, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Hello! I'm Star Wars Syl and this is the Remember Clone Captain Keeli blog.

Warning: This post will contain spoilers for this episode, and any episodes that came before it.

She drove into the Hudson to try to flatline. Wow. Poor thing!

So. Tess and JT. I don't quite know what I think yet, I'll just need to wait and see.

The Dad is skilled. I'm mad it's working so well, but he's good at what he does.

I'm mildly frustrated with Cat and Vincent, but hey. The keystone of this storyline is romance, so there had to come a time when someone kissed someone else, and everything blew up for a while.

In this case, an actual explosion. Now on to the next episode to see what in heck happened!

Wild Speculation #40: Wynonna Earp Season 1 Episode 13, I Walk the Line

Hi, all! I am Star Wars Syl and this is the Remember Clone Captain Keeli blog.

Warning: This post will contain spoilers for this episode, and any episodes that came before it.

Okay. I loved the part where Doc and Dolls threw Wynonna out the window!

I'm really unconvinced about Bobo's protestations that he treated Willa fairly. Very unconvinced.

Waverly! Smart Waverly! I love this girl. Way to go, stealing Peacemaker!

Here's a snippet of what I scribbled while watching this episode: “You got any dynamite in there?” — Doc. I hope Doc gets his moment with— kark. He dies with dynamite. Oh, that'll be bittersweet!

Yep. I kept expecting for them to have to send dynamite in somewhere, Doc volunteering to carry it and set it off, all of them knowing he won't make it out, but Doc deciding it's OK. (Yes. I see the pun.)

And then that never happened. Can't say I'm sorry, exactly, since it means he'll be around for Season 2, and I really like this character!

Speaking of liking characters. Haught asking for an explanation? Dolls' predictable response of it's classified, followed by Doc instantly spilling the beans about all of it. The look on Dolls' face! And Haught's reaction was precious: “Finally! Thank you, it actually makes perfect sense.” “Agent Haught, welcome to the Black Badge Division.”

To echo Haught: Finally! Yes! Haught is on the team. That was quickly followed by utter terror on my part— followed by this scribbled on the notepaper: “SHE WORE A VEST! SO SMART! LOVE HAUGHT!!”

Yep. My notes were all over the crazy place for this episode.

I loved Wynonna's acknowledgment to Waverly: “Finally picked a smart one” with an eye-wink. It was such a sweet benediction.

There were so many amazing Doc moments. I stared in disbelief and laughter when he picked which drug to administer to Dolls based on the fact he “had a horse named Lavender once.” And Dolls' reaction after he was conscious again? “You pocketed my drugs.” “I brought your drugs. You are the laziest junkie I have ever met.”

Also. Nedley! I so misjudged this man, and apparently so did Wynonna, since she blurts, “Must be the end of the world because I think I want to marry Sheriff Nedley.”

There was another reference I very much appreciated: “Old Yeller might owe you some royalties.” I grew up watching that movie!

And now we get down to some of the unanswered questions. Like the statement made to Waverly: “You're not even an Earp.” So... does that make her a Holliday? My current wild speculation, gross though it may be, is that Bobo is her dad. Because he makes that comment about thinking about trying to take the baby, but they didn't... but oh, ouch.

“Willa's got Peacemaker, Bobo's got telekinetic powers, what do we got?” — Wynonna “Things that go boom.” — Doc

And then came the line about how Doc did not return to be a farmer, and by that point, I was absolutely convinced Doc was going to end up blowing himself up.

“Careful, Earp. Doing what's right even in the face of ridiculous odds? You are beginning to sound like a hero.” — Doc, a wonderful and hilarious statement.

I loved the moment when Wynonna used the fact that she knew Bobo would pull the gun from her hands. And the fact that she had him pull the pin of the grenade, but also managed to have her middle finger involved as well! So there, man who kidnapped, brainwashed, and abused her sister!

I was not expecting the Ghost River Triangle to turn out to be not only a prison but a sanctuary, as they put it. That snake thing was... wow. Unexpected and rather shocking.

I found the ending very poignant, the decision Wynonna made in regards to Willa and then Bobo. I was stunned by what happened to Dolls, and was not ready for what happened to Waverly. And holy Sith, do I need Season 2. Hopefully I'll gain access to it sooner than later, but until then, I'll have to content myself with iZombie.

May the Force be with you!