Celebrating the 200th episode of the show and Star Wars Day 2024, writing coach Kevin T. Johns reflects on the profound impact that Star Wars has had on his life and career as a writer.
In a personal exploration spanning his childhood memories to his current thoughts on the franchise, Kevin charts how Star Wars shaped his imagination, morality and storytelling over the decades. Listeners are treated to insightful reflections on nostalgia, character identification and the challenges of maintaining an iconic property over multiple owners. The episode offers resonant perspectives on fandom, disappointment, and the power of stories to influence our lives.
Listen to the episode or read the transcript below:
The Writing Coach Episode #200 Show Notes
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The Writing Coach Episode #200 Transcript
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Hello beloved listeners, and welcome back to The Writing Coach podcast. It is your host, as always writing coach Kevin T. Johns here.
I am releasing this episode on May 3, 2024, and the first call of my new program Craft Club is taking place tomorrow, Saturday, May 4, at 1 pm. Craft Club is a monthly group coaching call that consists of a training portion and a Q&A portion, as well as some goal setting and accountability so that you can continue to build your skill set, ask questions about your project in particular, and have a group of writers just like you holding you accountable to achieving your writing goals.
As I said, it’s tomorrow at 1 pm, so if you’re listening to this episode after that, you missed the inaugural call, but it’s not too late to get signed up for the June call.
Now, this is the 200th episode of the Writing Coach Podcast. If you’ve stuck with me for a while, thank you. I was trying to think about what to do for this episode, what could be a big thing for episode 200. And I realized that the first call of Craft Club tomorrow is taking place on Star Wars Day.
You know what? If there’s a story that’s had the biggest influence on my life, it probably is the story of Star Wars. So, in celebration of Star Wars Day 2024, I thought I would spend this episode talking a little bit about this thing that is Star Wars and what it means to me.
I think, like a lot of people, Star Wars to me is all about childhood. It was rooted in my childhood, it defined my childhood, and it always brings me back to my childhood. I had a pretty tumultuous childhood. My parents got divorced when I was in grade two or three or four, kind of at that young age where there was a lot of fighting and complications going on in my family and in my life. I had a lot of trouble at school, got into a lot of trouble, got suspended in grade three. Childhood was pretty wild for me. And yet, Star Wars was always there for me as a stable thing when it felt like not a lot of other things in my life were stable.
I’m a 44-year-old man, so you have to remember when I say Star Wars, I don’t mean the DVDs were sitting there on my shelf; it was much more the idea of Star Wars. Growing up in the early ’80s, there was no home video, there was no VHS version of it. There was just the memory of it. And there were the toys. I think those toys really rooted Star Wars in our imaginations because we weren’t seeing the films again and again growing up. But we were playing with the toys, we were telling our own Star Wars stories, and I feel like one of the reasons there’s so much frustration with what Disney has done with Star Wars in the last few years after purchasing it from George Lucas is that we’ve all done what Disney is trying to do. There are a million people out there who grew up telling the continuing adventures of Luke Skywalker and the Jedi in the Star Wars universe, in our minds, in our playgrounds, and in our backyards. And so when Disney messes it up monumentally, there’s an extra level of frustration there because we all think, “Man, I did a better job of this when I was six years old in my backyard with a couple of plastic action figures.”
But something else interesting about Star Wars for me is I’m not religious in any way. I’m agnostic or nihilist, or I don’t believe in anything. So you hear about these people who have this “What would Jesus do” approach to life, and when they’re faced with complications, they say, “Oh, I should behave the way Jesus would behave?” Well, for me growing up, I really identified with Luke Skywalker, and I honestly kind of have a morality based around “What would Luke Skywalker do?” Anytime I was in a situation where perhaps I was tempted to be unkind or cruel to someone, I would always go back to my mind, “Well, I want to be a Jedi like Luke Skywalker, and that’s not the way Luke Skywalker would act.” And so I would try to act better, I would try to act the way a Jedi Knight would act. In fact, I went out for Halloween as Luke Skywalker in my youth, and I kind of adopted the persona. My mother tells me there was a period of time where they’d get home from daycare or something, and they’d say, “Okay, Kevin, get out of the car,” and I’d sit there and I wouldn’t move. My mom would say, “Kevin, we’re home,” and I would look at her and, deadly serious, I would say to her, “I’m not Kevin, I am Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight,” that would only respond.
If my mother would say, “Luke, we’re home,” and so Star Wars was really, really big in my imagination. It was big in the games I played in my backyard, big in the costumes I wore out for Halloween. It was really only later on in the late ’80s when we got a VCR, and somehow my dad or my mom taped the original Star Wars film off of television. So, I finally had a copy of Star Wars that I could watch again and again.
When I think about being home sick during childhood from school, I know a lot of people think about watching “The Price is Right” or drinking stale ginger ale or whatever. But when I think about being home sick, I think about watching that videotape of Star Wars. I always kind of looked forward to getting the cold or the flu because it meant I got to stay home and watch Star Wars rather than going to school. It feels like the world I grew up in is 100 years ago, not 30 years ago, because I can remember when Star Wars came out on VHS for the first time, what a monumental event that was.
Now, not only did I have the first film taped off of TV, I had all three films that I could watch at any time. Those videotapes also came with interviews with George Lucas, the creator, the man behind Star Wars, and it was only then that Lucas really became a personality in my life. As the years went on, I came to understand what a unique thing Star Wars is and what a unique individual George Lucas is.
Lucas was ultimately an independent filmmaker. He funded these films out of his own pocket when every big studio was shooting him down. He made the most successful franchise of all time himself, not by committee or with a big corporation backing him, but because he wanted to tell this story. It’s not just that I grew up before VHS, it’s that I grew up before everything was a brand and every story had to be a series. The age of content bloat that we live in today is just another world from the world I grew up in, where these precious Star Wars films were these rare three stories, this holy trilogy that came out and then largely went away.
As I moved into my teen years in the ’90s, Star Wars really wasn’t around. It felt more like a cult thing. Now, you can walk into a Walmart and buy anything Star Wars-related. But back then, it was kind of a thing that had come and gone, and George Lucas had moved on to other things. When Kevin Smith’s independent film “Clerks” came out and the characters were talking about Star Wars, it was kind of a big deal. Then Lucas started releasing special editions of the films, and controversy arose around them. For me, it all just felt pretty cool. When those special editions got released, we got to see Star Wars in theaters, which was a huge deal.
All of that was part of this massive build-up to Episode One, which was the most anticipated film of all time. And with that came the backlash and the hate, but personally, I have a lot of good memories related to Episode One. Which was the most anticipated film of all time. Of course, with that came the backlash, the hate, and the continuing displeasure with George Lucas and where he was taking Star Wars. There’s an interesting documentary called “The People vs. George Lucas” all about the hatred of Episode One and everything related to that. But personally, I have a lot of good memories related to Episode One. And again, so many things change over time.
I have watched the trailer for this new Star Wars TV show called “The Acolyte,” which I suspect is going to be god awful. But in the trailer, there’s a shot where you see like seven or eight Jedi all lighting up their lightsabers at once. I just remember watching Episode One and seeing Obi-Wan Kenobi with a lightsaber and Qui-Gon Jinn with a lightsaber, and I was like, “Oh my god, two lightsabers at the same time.”
Here’s the continuation and minor editing of the transcript:
People who watch that film now probably don’t even register that as anything. But I remember sitting in that theater and being like, “Wow, I’ve only ever seen Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi with lightsabers. I’ve never seen two Jedi Knights at the same time,” and it just felt so cool to me.
By the time Episode One came out, I was an adult, 19 years old, finishing up high school, working jobs, and getting ready to move to the big city of Toronto on my own with my girlfriend. I was working a fairly regular job that summer. I remember thinking, “Man, if I had this kind of money when I was a little kid, I would have bought all those Star Wars toys.” Growing up, I had a few, like Leia, Lando, Luke, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and C-3PO, but not many. When Episode One came out, I bought every single figure from that original Star Wars Episode One line. Those figures traveled with me for a very long time, from Toronto to Ottawa and back, and eventually, my kids played with those toys. They got a great lifetime out of them, both on display and in actual play.
When I think back to Episode One, it’s good memories. My friends and I skipped school that day, and we put a giant banner across the front of our lockers saying, “Let’s go see Star Wars!” The day after that, we got called to the principal’s office. The principal wasn’t thrilled that we announced it, but he understood. There’s something special about Star Wars, and even grumpy principals understand that sometimes, some things are more important than attending classes.
Here’s the edited continuation of your transcript:
By the time “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith” came out, these prequel films had fallen off my radar. I was a young man in my 20s, figuring out who I was as a young adult. I ended up going to university to study cinema and literature. I was into snobby intellectual art stuff in my 20s, so Star Wars was really off my radar from the early 2000s until about the mid-teens, around 2013-2014.
Around that time, Lucas sold Star Wars to Disney, and there was a lot of news and anticipation. I had kids, a family, multiple jobs, and hockey as my hobby. However, as life took over, playing hockey became increasingly challenging due to late-night game schedules conflicting with parenting and work responsibilities.
With the sale to Disney and all the news and anticipation, I felt like my life was purely work, and I needed a hobby. I needed something other than parenting and work. Star Wars had been such a big part of my childhood, so I decided to reinvest in it. Even though I hadn’t paid attention to it for the last 15 years, I was ready to go all in on Star Wars again.
And as I mentioned, I had kids, so it was perfect timing. I brought out the old toys, showed the movies to my kids, and the Disney films really came out swinging. “The Force Awakens” was the biggest film of all time at the time it came out. “Rogue One” is also a beloved film among Star Wars fans. People were saying, “Wow, the sale of Star Wars to Disney was good. Star Wars is back.”
But then, of course, “The Last Jedi” came along, and Star Wars was never the same again. It was like a watershed moment in Star Wars history. Not even “Episode One” had as much impact, despite people liking to criticize “The Phantom Menace” and Jar Jar Binks. The negativity and toxicity that followed “The Last Jedi” really changed Star Wars forever.
Ironically, I think “The Last Jedi” is a noble failure. It’s absolutely fascinating because the creator, Rian Johnson, tries to do so many interesting things with the film and fails at every single one. Every attempt to add layers and complexities to the world of Star Wars just falls flat. There are a couple of moments that shine, like when Rey and Kylo Ren both realize they won’t turn each other to their sides. It’s a human, real, and powerful moment. However, it’s surrounded by a disastrous film of failures.
Perhaps the biggest blow of all is killing off Luke Skywalker.
I don’t understand the modern filmmaker mindset that thinks we need to kill off our icons. The ending of the last James Bond film, with James Bond being killed, was one of the most unimaginably disgusting artistic acts I could possibly imagine. At least Rian Johnson had noble intentions when he killed off Luke Skywalker. I think the killing of James Bond was just… I don’t know what. But anyway, the killing off of Luke Skywalker really felt like the death of my childhood, a death of a part of who I was. I really identified with him, dressed up as him, used him as my moral compass, and saw him as the greatest hero of my life. In “The Last Jedi,” they kind of kill him off, and he dies largely in ruin and misery. It hurt, you know, it really hurt.
Having a part of me killed off with that film. “Rise of Skywalker” was basically a joke, absolutely disastrous. I could talk for hours about all the interesting failures and noble intentions of “The Last Jedi” and what it meant. “Rise of Skywalker” was nothing; it wasn’t even barely a movie. It felt like a bunch of images flashing on a screen that meant absolutely nothing, a story that made no sense. The studio seemed like they just wanted to bury the film, and it felt like they made it out of obligation. This was coming off the failure of the Han Solo film, which was like 70% shot, then the filmmakers were fired, and Ron Howard was rehired to try to remake the film. By this point, Star Wars was a disaster, and they never made another Star Wars film again. It’s been about five years since “Solo,” and it all started with “The Last Jedi.” Things were never the same again.
But then comes along the savior, Jon Favreau, who creates the television series called “The Mandalorian” for Disney+. What amazed me about the first two seasons of “The Mandalorian” was how it always pushed right up against being cheesy but never quite crossed that line. It captured that old-school adventure feel, playing with Star Wars in my backyard, these weekly adventures, this return to the universe I loved. And of course, the introduction of Baby Yoda, a character that became a cultural meme during the pandemic. Like many, I was stuck at home during the pandemic, looking for ways to bring joy to an otherwise dreary period of months and years. One thing I did was rebuy the entire “Episode One” action figure line and save them in their cases, not just the characters but also the vehicles and playsets.
So, probably from mid-2020 or late 2020 to late 2021 or 22, I spent all day scouring eBay, looking for deals, looking for characters I didn’t know existed that I was missing. It was a lot of fun buying those action figures again and waiting for them to arrive in the mail. During the pandemic, it felt like an endless nightmare, but when I had a Star Wars figure coming in the mail, it gave me something to look forward to, even if the world seemed to be ending.
We got two really great seasons out of “The Mandalorian,” and in the season finale of Season Two, Star Wars resurrected Luke Skywalker. We got this deepfake CGI Luke Skywalker looking like he did in “Return of the Jedi.” It may sound silly, but I really bawled my eyes out when that happened. There was so much stress during the pandemic, worrying about my kids getting sick and the fear and doubt, and then in walks Luke Skywalker, the Luke Skywalker of my childhood, and it felt like a part of myself had been resurrected. They killed him with “The Last Jedi,” and then they resurrected him with the season finale of “The Mandalorian.” From there, it seemed like the future was bright, like maybe we’d have amazing Star Wars TV from now on.
But that was not to be. After “The Mandalorian” Season Two, we got “The Book of Boba Fett,” which was utterly bizarre and fairly bad. Then we got “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” which was a total disaster with an incomprehensible storyline. Then “Mando” Season Three, which was almost unwatchable. It’s been this utter decline from the height of “Mando” Season Two to “The Book of Boba Fett,” “Obi-Wan,” “Mando” Season Three, and “Ahsoka.” It’s been sad to see something so beautiful and unique turned into a commodity by Disney, something they just can’t seem to get right in any way. Boba Fett, Obi-Wan, Mando Season Three, Ahsoka—all four bad television series seasons in a row. And “Andor” is mixed into all of that, but it barely feels like Star Wars. I don’t even know how to fit it into the mix.
Star Wars is not in a good place right now, and what hurts the most is feeling pushed out as a core audience member. It seems like Disney is trying hard to appeal to new audiences, but in doing so, they’ve made it clear that Star Wars is no longer for the longtime fans. That’s a painful realization when something you’ve loved so deeply becomes a mere product, and the creators signal that it’s no longer for you.
So, I see Star Wars more like a sports team now. You follow the news, engage in the drama, complain to friends, cheer for success, and brace for disappointment. It’s a corporate product made to please a board of directors, not necessarily the dedicated fans. But at its core, Star Wars is a story—a story crafted by George Lucas and a team of artists, craftsmen, actors, and musicians who created something original and timeless.
Reflecting on my life through Star Wars, I can see distinct periods—the ’80s with toys and VHS, the ’90s leading up to the prequels, and the 2000s and 2010s as an adult navigating life. Star Wars has been a constant thread, shaping my experiences and memories.
Star Wars has been an integral part of my life, shaping my morality, imagination, and relationships, especially with my children. Tomorrow, I’ll be watching Star Wars with my dad, highlighting the power of storytelling that started with George Lucas and a simple pencil on yellow pad. This billion-dollar franchise began as words on a page, influencing countless lives, including mine.
That’s why I emphasize the importance of writing and helping writers be the best they can be. We need more stories like Star Wars—ones that enrich, define, and inspire goodness and perseverance. As writers, we play a crucial role in telling these stories that guide people through life.
Thank you for joining me on this exploration of my Star Wars journey in Episode 200 of the Writing Coach podcast. I’d love to hear about your own Star Wars experience and how it impacted your storytelling. Feel free to email me at Kevin@KevinTJohns.com. Also, if you’re listening on Friday, May 3rd, head to the show notes on KevinTJohns.com for a link to sign up for Craft Club and join our first group coaching call on Saturday, May 4th, Star Wars Day, at 1 pm.
Thank you for tuning in, and I will see you on the next episode of The Writing Coach.
