On the tail of the film’s 20th anniversary, Kimberly Cook — social media editor and writer for Monkeys Fighting Robots and Pop Axiom, respectively — hyperspaces onto the show to discuss Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace. Thanks in large part to young Jake Lloyd and a certain bumbling Gungan, the film remains one of the most divisive entries in the saga. We discuss the film in depth, marking the beginning of our epic journey back into a “galaxy far, far away.”

Every month for the rest of 2019, we’ll be discussing the next episode of the Star Wars saga, building up to the release of Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker in December. Check back next month as Pete Langhelt joins us to talk Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones.

Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace synopsis, courtesy of StarWars.com:

Stranded on the desert planet Tatooine after rescuing young Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) from the impending invasion of Naboo, Jedi apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) discover nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), a young slave unusually strong in the Force. Anakin wins a thrilling Podrace and with it his freedom as he leaves his home to be trained as a Jedi. The heroes return to Naboo where Anakin and the Queen face massive invasion forces while the two Jedi contend with a deadly foe named Darth Maul (Ray Park). Only then do they realize the invasion is merely the first step in a sinister scheme by the re-emergent forces of darkness known as the Sith.

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