Fall in love with Star Wars Again: Abandon Disney for the EU

[@AhemLd]

Browsing Wookieepedia as a preteen for hours and hours were some of my most pristine memories. EU is definitely where it's at.

[@cotopaximusic]

I couldn't always afford books or comics as a kid so the hours spent on Wookieepedia were heaven back then

[@mazkeraid4039]

Ditto, I haven't been into Star Wars straight up until the year 2020.

[@wiinis-official]

My only issue with Wookiepedia is that it's on Fandom. Other than that, it is really good for references and citations to other pieces of SW media.

[@Young_FlexerOG]

Same!! Back in 2016/2017 for me!

[@AlecFortescue]

been there. the state of wokiepedia now...

[@brock2443]

If you want a physical copy and don’t want disney to get any money from it. The books are available in any used book store, or goodwill.

[@wesleymahan5903]

Yep. Although at my local second hand stores there are more Disney start wars books there now. Nobody wants them

[@dancingdragon3]

The authors won’t get their money though.

[@wesleymahan5903]

@dancingdragon3 I'm not sure Disney pays royalties like they are supposed to. There was a lawsuit

[@Khultan]

@@wesleymahan5903 Alan Dean Foster finally got paid but there are others, too.

[@synapticflow]

Came to say the same thing.

[@mattcat83]

I've been saying this for 12 years.

[@ChosenOne-il4bm]

But legends makes no sense How can Anakin be the chosen one If there is endless war after episode 6 Good bye eu

[@JangoDNA99]

​@@ChosenOne-il4bm Well, the force is still in balance and the Sith are gone so...

[@juegew3]

​@@ChosenOne-il4bm Well... The franchise is called Star WARS, what did you expect? It's like you finding nonsensical to expect Dinosaurs in a Jurassic Park movie

[@zshah3107]

EU is Half Canon, yes!

[@darthlucasfuu]

​@@ChosenOne-il4bm Anakin saved his son, Luke Skywalker, who became the Grandmaster of a new reformed Jedi Order, stronger than any other version of the Order! Luke's Order defeated every menace they've faced! So yes, Anakin is the Chosen one in Legends and he brings the balance to the Force, and the balance is the New Jedi Order of his son!

[@miameramusic]

The EU books are what kept Star Wars alive during the dark ages.

[@PaperSpeakersWat]

And they're doing it again

[@Soup-man]

To replace the Acolyte, play KOTOR. Especially the second one. Like it expands on the force, and the Jedi and the Sith's philosophies, so well.

[@MrStrangermoon]

replace ros with dark empire comic. Star wars 2015 comic good also.

[@Castillo525]

Just going though the first kotor game rn lol

[@LifeofSquidMann]

And don't forget to install TSLRCM. It's a *must*.

[@DJ-1Q84]

The second game was clearly rushed/unfinished though.

[@starwarsescapist3189]

too add onto this the darth bane trilogy of books are incredible. they were my intro to the EU

[@LegendsLiterature]

Jumped into the EU in 2021, and I’ve never looked back. Such a fantastic expansion of the films and there are quite a few stories that I think are significantly better than the films.

[@Dogmeat1950]

I will and will always say the EU is true Star Wars

[@spencerwalton4623]

Agreed! I'm actually currently reading Kenobi for the second time

[@mr_z_____]

Great video. That's what I always do - when Disney disappoints me with their stupidity I always turn to the EU - I play the games, listen to the books, read the comics. Everything pre-disney feels so special.

[@gravynog]

Same. So good to know I’m not the only one.

[@juegew3]

I've never left the EU. Like everyone I gave Disney a chance to see what they do and... I just felt disappointed and indefferent, but the SW I love it's still there, right in my bookshelves, so I don't really care what other shitty agenda Disney comes out, I will stay with the EU until some miracle happens. Let's embrace Star Wars people, the Star Wars made by authors that really cared for Star Wars and not their agendas.

[@achaudhari101]

Not everything DSW done is bad.

[@juegew3]

@@achaudhari101 That's true, Mando, Andor, CW and Bad Batch, Jedi Games and some comics and novels are really good, but knowing that all that lead to the character assassination trilogy of the sequels, I can't enjoy them that much. The EU wasn't perfect, but at least it respected the characters and give them a Legacy, not deconstructed and destroyed it

[@achaudhari101]

@@juegew3 You can separate all of that form the Sequels, it's not like you HAVE to accept the Sequels since it's all different eras.

[@juegew3]

@@achaudhari101 What's the point of having an overarching story if I only cherrypick what I like, ignoring the sequels (or the Lesbian Space Witches) won't erase how bad they are.

[@achaudhari101]

@@juegew3 It means you can still enjoy the good stuff and not worry about the bad really. Some people did that. Witches weren't really lesbians in Acolyte.

[@PolishBigfootCircle11]

I am a Bible scholar. I live and breathe meaningful stories. My life as a Christian is tied to deriving life changing meaning from stories. Star Wars has always been a reliable source for that. Growing up, the EU was so much fun because it was meaningful. Modern media fails to create meaningful stories because they abandon the cultural values that give these old stories a heart and soul.

[@kianvandenberg6364]

The EU is so much better than canon. I only started reading the EU this year and I’ve already consumed 15 books, I can’t wait to read more.

[@claytonveno3710]

Its not "canon", its Disney!

[@MMZERO9]

The power of the original EU is a pathway to many stories that some would consider to be…EPIC.

[@rhyslightning3037]

Is it possible to see this kind of story telling again?

[@MMZERO9]

@@rhyslightning3037 Not from Disney.

[@theodorehawkwood6594]

The Han Solo Trilogy has been a favorite of mine for decades. Thanks for bringing them up.

[@Puzzoozoo]

Brian Daley's trilogy nicely slots in-between The Hutt Gambit and Rebel Dawn.

[@Artoriassif1897]

So jealous, so hard the get a copy in Poland

[@danroberts007]

@@PuzzoozooI was wondering why the Brian Daley novels weren’t mentioned in the video. What the heck??

[@donweatherwax9318]

Seconded! (Thirded?) Brian Daley's _Han Solo Adventures_ trilogy was Crispin's inspiration for her trilogy (which sort of fits around Daley's in the timeline). But Daley's Trilogy is very much worth reading, because they served as _the_ foundational books in the Expanded Universe, before it was even called that. [Aside: Alan Dean Foster's _Splinter of the Mind's Eye_ was published first, before Daley's trilogy; but Foster adapted _Splinter_ from a treatment he had written for Lucas for a standard 1970s-style cheapjack _Jaws 2/Superman III_ style sequel, which was the most Lucas thought he could expect, until the grosses started pouring in. _Splinter_ is an interesting curio and has its fans, but it has certain issues (cough Luke/Leia cough) that are difficult to square with the subsequent EU.] Daley's trilogy has a few scratches, I suppose, if you look hard enough; the prose is a bit rough in the first book's first chapter or two, for example. And while Lucas explained Han's background to Daley (Corellian orphan; brought up as a slave among a shipload of con-artist thieves posing as entertainers, with a Wookie as his mother-figure; expelled from the Imperial Academy after killing an officer for abusing his Wookie slave [guess who], etc.), he then told Daley not to mention any of that stuff in the books, or any characters in the original film(s), in fact, don't touch anything! (If you're wondering where that "troupe of entertainers" subplot in the first book comes from, that's where; Lucas literally made Daley take out the references setting it up.) Ol' George wouldn't even let Daley's events take place in the main Empire, which forced Daley to set the first two in the more mercantilist (if less human-supremacist) Corporate Sector Authority, and the third in the backwater, border-town vibe of the Tion Hegemony. Given these absurd restrictions, Daley's books did an amazing job creating the hyperspace-routed, transparisteel-windowed, piracy-plagued, disruptor-wielding pocket universe that _all_ subsequent EU books (including Zahn's and Crispin's) got to play around in. Considering there _was_ no EU, back then, for him to key off of, Daley does an amazing job creating the setting; and his plots are pulpy without being soapy, zipping blithely between setpieces, full of little anecdotal details that showed later EU writers how to do it. (If you ever wondered where the heck the inspiration for _Andor_ comes from, wonder no more. It's not just Daley's "Espos" showing up as "Corpos"; the whole first season is clearly informed by the darker aspects of Daley's trilogy. Luthen is obviously a grimdark (and whitewashed) tribute to Rekkon from Daley's first novel; that trick he uses to escape that Imperial tractor beam was loosely adapted from a trick Han used to escape an Authority picket-ship in that novel. K-2SO was already clearly inspired by Bollux ("Zollux" in UK printings); and I keep expecting Cassian to bump into Atuarre or Fiolla or Skynx, which would be awesome, by the way.)

[@christopherrobin4619]

FINALLY Someone is saying this! The EU is canon. All stories needed approval from Lucasfilm ie( George) at the time and had strict limitation on what they could write about in universe before they could be published. All of it good and bad, (looking at you "children of the jedi") honoured the spirit of the IP and the films. Disney has never done that. Not in with Rey or her terrible films and not even with the The mandolorian. They were so hungry to dispose of the legacy ip and characters so they could make more money off the new ones. They didn't fire kennedy on the stop when she screwed up. "The force is female" Really ?! disney? are females fans lining your pockets? no. Disneywars is done.

[@Chris_Thorndyke]

EU fans rise up!

[@The_Trident_Master]

Something I find interesting is that Lucas’ planned sequel trilogy would have broken off from the EU as well

[@Allison_XypprZ]

@@The_Trident_MasterYeah. As much as the EU was canon, it wasn’t as canon as the movies, or even TCW.

[@darthlucasfuu]

​@@Allison_XypprZ That's why we had an hierarchy system, to organize the lore of the franchise. But, at least to me, TCW doesn't deserve to be above the C-Canon...

[@Allison_XypprZ]

@@darthlucasfuu TCW i think should be equal or at least very close to the G tier of canon(Lucas’s movies) because George worked on it in a more direct capacity than any other EU related material. His involvement could be compared to his involvement in tESB(Kasdan still wrote it, and Kershner directed, but Lucas had a lot of heavy involvement).

[@DanielMiranda-f9m]

The Knights of the Old Republic cinematic trailers and cutscenes litteraly outplay the sequels in every way. I can keep watching those and still be enthralled at all of it.

[@Toshiro93]

@@DanielMiranda-f9m Return manages to have a better teacher-student relationship in just 6 minutes, compared to three films lasting two hours each.

[@steinlolboy5085]

Sadly the real game’s story isn’t as good. (The mmo, not kotor 1 and 2. Those are perfect).

[@OrthobroAustin]

@@steinlolboy5085I think the SWTOR Narrative is pretty good, atleast the core of it maybe some of the early expansions too. The Jedi Knight Narrative (and tie in flashpoints) is the real successor and continuation of the KOTOR games, with the other stories accounting for basically periphery details.

[@colbyentzminger217]

Factual. The antidote to the poison is the antidote. Not whining that poison kills.

[@FindecanorNotGmail]

That's a great phrase. I'm going to use that from now on. 👍

[@jmoountfort5204]

The phrase "star wars is for everyone" also betrays the ignorance of people who don't understand that art, even commercial art, is never "for everyone". As soon as we can see that something was meant to be consumed by "everyone" we know we are about to view a Nothing.

[@FriendlyDarkwraith]

This is a great EU primer that isn't too overwhelming for anyone unfamiliar with the material. The next step would be to make individual videos that break down each Star Wars era and its respective EU content, including the books, comics and video games.

[@armoroftruth3166]

The True Canon

[@achaudhari101]

It’s not.

[@armoroftruth3166]

@@achaudhari101 and who says so? Disney? They can kiss my ass as far ad I concern.

[@blacksun6245]

​@@achaudhari101Yes it is

[@darthlucasfuu]

​@@achaudhari101Disney Canon is not canon! EU forever will be the true canon! Like you or not!

[@popkorn256]

Disney's Star Wars is not canon. It's garbage.

[@LifeofSquidMann]

TCW is a core part of my childhood, but the explosion of Clone Wars material that came out between the releases of AotC and RotS was a completely different beast with the 2003 microseries and games like the OG Battlefronts & Republic Commando (+ novels)

[@jaylionel2711]

At the moment, I’m reading Star Wars: Coruscant Nights

[@LiftedHaddock]

Finally. EMBRACE STAR WARS EU

[@achaudhari101]

Nah.

[@zshah3107]

Nigh!

[@claytonveno3710]

@@achaudhari101 Uh... Yah! 😃

[@achaudhari101]

@ Uh… Nah!

[@LiftedHaddock]

@achaudhari101 Uh... You don't have to. But I would recommend you look into it.

[@claytonveno3710]

I will forever maintain that the copyright holder has ZERO say over what is canon or not! YOU are the one who has that say because YOU are the one who ultimatly decides what stories matter to you and which ones don't. Stop letting corporate overlords who don't care about you or the brands they own decide what is real Star Wars to you!

[@ClamMan1989]

Yes!!

[@filmaru8556]

How about when they destroyed an entire series just to get rid of Gina Carano I mean seriously they had to cancel her and then destroy everything that’s surrounded her including the new republic show the second and third seasons of the Mandalorian and the book of Boba Fett

[@LegendsLiterature]

That was based of them. Gina Carano is a terrible actress and an idiot.

[@assemblyrequired7342]

I don't agree with her political viewpoint one bit (diametrically opposed actually), but if what I've heard about her role as Cara Dune is accurate, unless she just wouldn't shut up about it, I would say that getting rid of her was a travesty. And keep in mind that I absolutely hate Trump, but firing someone because you have different (or even misguided, diametrically opposite) viewpoints is just in bad taste. Pretty sure that Gina Carano also played a character in Deadpool. From what I could tell, she was an up-and-coming actress at the time.

[@LegendsLiterature]

@ they asked her to shut up for like weeks. Considering she represents the company she’s employed at, if they tell her repeatedly to zip her lip about controversial stuff, they have every right to can her.

[@filmaru8556]

@@LegendsLiterature The thing is they refused the same for her costar Pedro who had similar views and announced them just a much. They played favorites and fired her instead of firing both.

[@LegendsLiterature]

@@filmaru8556 were they asking him for weeks to shut up? Also, as fucked up as it is, he is simply more valuable than her. He’s the star, not a side character. A sad reality of the working world is that the more valuable you are, the more protected you become.

[@jayt9608]

I always recommend starting with the movie novelizations and moving on from there, particularly any immediate prequel, sequel, or companion books. My exception would Darth Plagueis, which is likely better read toward the end of the Prequel era as there are spoilers for nearly every other book, but no other book spoils it. If one reads the movie novelizations, I recommend reading Truce at Bakura after Return of the Jedi as that is the direct sequel commencing the day after the celebration. From there, I agree the sky is the limit. In my opinion, there is no "wrong way" to read the EU, and not all stories are equally relevant. My introduction was standing in the library reading New Hope and staring at the pages of color photo inserts. I was eleven or twelve and have been a fan now for approximately 30 years.

[@mazkeraid4039]

And that's a good thing, you can pick and choose however you like and it doesn't effect much of the enjoyment, meaning it can stand on it's own.

[@trevturp6891]

You read the novelization of A New Hope, when it first came out?!

[@Puzzoozoo]

@@trevturp6891 I did.

[@trevturp6891]

@@Puzzoozoo Oh, ok.

[@harry_bert]

Been Listening to the Marc Thompson Audiobooks since listening to podcasts in an election year was giving me high blood pressure. Honestly if Disney just made X-Wing Rogue Squadron series on D+ and followed the story almost exactly while changing as little as possible to avoid breaking cannon(Lucas Cannon, these books are older than the prequels). It would be monumentally successful. Pilots, space battles, espionage, Wedge, Corran, Mirax, Isard. 4 books 4 seasons then follow it up with Wraith Squadron series and I, Jedi film(could probably make that a 2 parter. Academy arc, undercover pirate arc.). Rake in the cash, please the fanboys. Easiest few billion dollars anyone ever made.

[@HobbyJunk]

Absolutely. My fiancee is listening to the Marc Thompson audiobooks for the first time now. The Star Wars brand would be in a much stronger spot if they had done as you suggested. The fans would have gotten what they wanted, and they would still be new stories for the wider audience.

[@dancingdragon3]

Star Wars audio books are incredible!

[@francoisregis2155]

For me Star Wars is what george lucas did and so many authors did in books and comic books from 1977-2012 Shitney star wars doesn’t exist in my mind

[@achaudhari101]

That’s what we call brain damage since the EU wasn’t Canon.

[@juegew3]

​@@achaudhari101 DSW wasn't made by Lucas either, so by that logic DSW is not canon as well

[@darthlucasfuu]

​@@achaudhari101No no no no! Brain damage is defending a multi billionaire company who doesn't give a shit about our beloved franchise! Brain damage is defending Jake Skywalker and claims that this is the closest thing to George Lucas' vision of the character and the franchise, even if he was never involved in any new Star Wars content! So, the EU is the CANON, and DisneyWars never gonna be canon!

[@MrRobot2027-wd9iw]

@@darthlucasfuu But George Lucas wanted to decanonize the parts of the EU to tell his own sequel story and put Luke in a dark place (similar to Jake Skywalker but not to the same extent) and introduce a female lead based on his own irl daughter. If the real Eps 7,8, and 9 came out it would have gotten mixed reactions just like the prequels but still be better than Disney slop. Have you seen the fan edit Journal of the Whills which is like the Blackened Mantle but for the sequels, that is the closest thing to his version of Eps 7,8,9 that isn't a news article or a piece of unused story board art?

[@darthlucasfuu]

​@@MrRobot2027-wd9iw There is no confirmation of that, maybe this is just some previous ideias of him, in the early 2006's, before he gave up on make a Sequel trilogy, because he declares more than once that he don't will make a Sequel trilogy! And maybe his ideas from a sequel involved the EU without decanonize everything post Return of the Jedi, and could have Ben Skywalker, Jaina Solo and a new protagonist based on his daughter, why not. He declares, during the Force Awakens premier: "The original Saga was about the father, the children, and the grandchildren. That's not a secret to anybody-it's even in the novels and everything". We will never know! It's pretentious to assume that Disney got his vision right, especially after Bob Igger himself admitting that they don't follow George's ideas and that he felt betrayed by them!

[@minimalbstolerance8113]

Always remember: The EU is called "Legends" because it's legendary. Disney Wars is called "Canon" because it's fodder.

[@HobbyJunk]

@@minimalbstolerance8113 Based

[@arnavnigam9259]

Based

[@wackywarrior001]

The books were so good, some of them were real gems

[@Steel-101]

I’m 31 and I still love the original EU for Star Wars. Star Wars Outcast & Jedi Academy(both awesome games) introduced me to the EU. It was so cool to see Luke Skywalker as a Jedi master on Yavin. Yeah, that’s what really bummed me out when it came to the Disney sequels. It makes all of the heroic efforts from the prequel’s, the originals, & the New Republic pointless. All of that fighting just to start from scratch(AGAIN) by episode 9. I agree, the old EU(true canon) does a better job with the legacy characters and the New Republic. Plus, it’s so cool to see the Skywalker/Solo family tree grow.

[@gymjunkie35]

Thanks for making this video. This is exactly how I’ve felt for the last several years. My brother started his EU collection when he was in high school back in the early 00s and we’ve been Star Wars fans for our entire lives. Tried to give Disney a chance in the beginning, but now I don’t even acknowledge its existence. EU is the real Star Wars.

[@exar1806]

For another Book of Boba alternative, please check out Tales of the Bounty Hunters. Great anthology stories for five bounty hunters

[@user-z828]

I found it someone who understands the true Star Wars canon is the Expanded universe 😊 Thumb up my friend you are a true Star Wars fan .

[@Sub20-xx4zy]

You've sold it to me. I read a few back in the day. I fancy having another go with them

[@nicademus8733]

Thank you for this analysis and recommendations! I too have lost interest for Star Wars over the last few years and it continues to decline under Disney’s mismanagement. Just ordered the Thrawn trilogy paperback to start my EU journey. (Non-legends rebrand of course)

[@FictionPhilosopher]

Never gave a single Disney Wars PRODUCT the time of day past The Last Jedi, and have never regretted it. The TRUE canon lies light years beyond the pandering, cynical, spiteful trash they tried to smear onto the Star Wars name like the garbage it is, on every single level. Remember Luke Skywalker, Han and Leia Organa-Solo, Chewie, Mara Jade Skywalker, Kyle Katarn, Revan and Bastila, Meetra Surik, Cade Skywalker, and every other character who touched your heart, inspired your mind and emboldened your spirit throughout the years in that great galaxy. Disney Wars is not Star Wars, and never will be. We, each and every one of us, keep the TRUE Star Wars alive in our hearts and minds by continuing to love and enjoy the great stories through the dozens of books, games and comics formed over the decades out of genuine passion and love. Continue to ignore the Empire of Disney, and never forget where the true pathways to that great galaxy far, far away lie. The Force is with us all, always.

[@BaseDeltaZero1972]

I never left the EU...I have around 50 novels and 60 or so graphic novels...I never purchased anything published after the prequels. The EU is worth it for Thrawn, The Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy and the one off tale "A Barve like that" alone (which details Fett's escape from the Sarlac). There is also a lot of garbage, but none of it was ever written with disrespect or other agendas. It was a golden age of creativity, imagination and excitement - we won't see it again in Star Wars.

[@MonsterKidCory]

Based rejection of the prequels too 😃 I even like some of the "warts and all" aspects of the pre-prequel EU stuff, because it shows an idea in the course of development. My Star Wars will always include the Ewoks cartoon 😄

[@matthewgaudet4064]

I'd love more Luke stories in the EU canon, I'm sick of Disney ruining him. They have a new comic where they are setting up Jake Skywalker, and the Return of Palpatine. Everything leads to those movies.

[@Rschr101]

Disney dismissing the EU was the beginning of the end. Killing Han Luke and Leia and not reuniting them on screen was borderline criminal.

[@ClamMan1989]

Nothing short of cultural vandalism. I hate them.

[@astrosquirrel5038]

Awesome video. I’ve been delving into the EU over the last few years and it is indeed amazing. I’m kicking myself for ignoring it and now I’m making up for lost time after the disaster that is Disney.

[@achaudhari101]

Not everything they make is garbage.

[@achaudhari101]

@@Voltar Not entirely since that didn't ruin Anakin's reputation as the Chosen One.

[@darthlucasfuu]

​@@achaudhari101Rey PALPATINE defeating Palpatine and some random witches creating two persons through the Force not ruin Anakin as the Chosen one? Are you nuts? How much they're paying you to defend that crap?

[@achaudhari101]

@@darthlucasfuu Or people use the Force differently. I’m not saying Acolyte is a masterpiece (It’s not) but I’m not going to take the lazy route and assume it breaks Canon because a different tribe uses it differently compared to the Sith.

[@kaptainkoffee9074]

Reject modernity, embrace tradition 🗿.

[@claytonveno3710]

Reject Disney, Embrace The EU! 😃

[@Geschichtenwelten]

But tradition was once modernity, too 😅

[@claytonveno3710]

@@Geschichtenwelten Yeah but todays modernity is shit so thats kinda the point ya fool!

[@claytonveno3710]

@@Geschichtenwelten Yeah but todays modernity is shit which is kinda the point!

[@masmustacheo891]

This is why I actively look for Pre-Disney/Old EU works and lore books.

[@rhob2422]

Also, I would encourage people to dive into the Anime Gundam, specifically the original Universal Century timeline. It's a Sci-Fi Space Opera and was Japans answer to Star Wars. It comprises about 5 TV series, 8 Spin-Off series, and about 7 movies. It is a lot of content and It's all connected and tells an amazing story about war, love and hate, betrayal, and the evolution of Humanity.

[@HobbyJunk]

@@rhob2422 I'm new to Gundam! Really liking it so far.

[@Cretaceous158]

It even basically has Jedi, which are called newtypes.

[@ishguy524]

Its similar but it's something

[@ishguy524]

It's a more military focus than starwars, mainly

[@Cretaceous158]

@@HobbyJunk Heavy Metal L-Gaim, which had the same directer as Gundam, has a more Star Wars original trilogy aesthetic, as the character designer was a Star Wars fan. The protagonist is basically Luke Skywalker. You probably won't be ready for the reveal in episode 37 for how... close he was to his half sister though. They were engaged for some reason, and it added nothing to the plot.

[@kortovos]

I recently finished the og Thrawn Trilogy and I can’t express how much I loved it! EU is my canon and I don’t care about anything done by Disney or Filoni anymore. I'm glad I became an EU fan.

[@julesds2516]

100% agreed. I did that the day TFA came out. I watched it and hated it. Now I stick to Legends with the exception of Mando, Boba, Rogue One and Andor.

[@Toshiro93]

My two cents: born in 1993, I was able to see both the OT and the PT. After Revenge of the Sith, the passion for this saga pushed me to recover what, at the time, was still considered the canon, albeit unofficial, on what had happened after Return of the Jedi. Even though some of the stories were - and still are - very absurd, I felt drawn to the characters and the conflicts they overcame. After 2015 and, above all, after the final disaster of Disney's management of Star Wars, I didn't watch the 6 films again for about...5-7 years, something like that. Last year I marathoned Episode I to Episode VI and, what can I say? It remains an overall excellent product. As for the EU, I already have a few comic series that easily eat the Disney trilogy without needing a digestive. Legacy is vastly superior to what Lucasfilm has produced from 2015 onwards.

[@achaudhari101]

This is being lazy.

[@Toshiro93]

@@achaudhari101 It would be interesting to know why.

[@achaudhari101]

@@Toshiro93 Because there are good DSW stuff outside of the Sequels. Hell we got the best spin-off SW movie after TFA came out the following year.

[@Toshiro93]

@@achaudhari101 So... I'd be lying if I said I didn't appreciate RO when it came out, although I realized that much of that appreciation came from the bitter disappointment I suffered with TFA, in recent years I've toned it down after multiple viewings. As for products not designed for cinema... well. The Mandalorian started off well, and then fell into easy fan service and a plot that didn't excite me. I draw a veil over BoBF and Kenobi, two series that didn't understand anything about how to talk about those characters, especially the second: I also tried to see Andor, but it convinced me. Or rather... it would look great in one of his shows, but I just can't see it in SW. I am not a supporter of the modern philosophy of making do or waiting and then it gets better. If this management doesn't convince me, it simply doesn't convince me, for objective and subjective reasons.

[@achaudhari101]

@@Toshiro93 You also forgot the animated shows and games which are also good as well. You can pretend TFA didn't happen while enjoying Rogue One. It's not like you don't have the power to do just that.

[@CommanderGree-iu1is]

Thank you for a fantastic video essay! Some of my most treasured SW memories are of the EU. I would add an honorable mention to Barbara Hambly's 'Children of the Jedi' - a beautiful and poetic exploration of heroism, in its different forms.❤

[@BromarRamirez]

Go to your local Bookman’s or something and buy some Legends books!!! The first Thrawn Trilogy is amazing and there is so much in between that and the battle against the Vong. New Jedi Order is PHENOMENAL.

[@aster4jaden]

Every time I read or listen to the EU I constantly fall back in love with it.

[@jtoons99]

100%! I've gone back to the EU and discovered that there are so many good stories there. Whether it's comics, novels, or other items made by other large companies or fan-made, it's fun and assorted. I've even started an EU vignette parody series called "Wars Among the Stars" over on Webtoons to recapture that energy, fun, and excitement.

[@mitchelllasalle8447]

Been doing this for about a year now. Saved me so much frustration. And I’ve discovered so many good stories and characters in the process.

[@Wubster649]

Disney deciding to create their own canon is probably the best thing that could happen to the EU.

[@Tyler_W]

The EU is so much better, and simply because of my age, I didn't really get much opportunity to explore huge chunks of it growing up. I don't think everything from Disney canon is twrrible, but far too much of it is, and it's very telling that the best examples of Disney canon are that which either owes a lot of its ideas to the EU or was directly grandfathered in from the EU/continued that story in current canon. Personally, I'm sticking with the EU and then I'll only pay attention to "official canon" if enough people tell me it's actually good.

[@Soup-man]

I've been getting into some of the EU Games as of late and want to get into the old books too. IT'S SO MUCH FUCKING BETTER! KOTOR alone could save the entire franchise. Like the shit with Revan and the Mandalorian Wars, the Jedi Civil War, Kreia's philosophical journey, Carth Onasi's Backstory, Meetra Surik being exiled from the order, Darth Nihilus going insane on the Dark Side and eating planets, I could go on. Also as a Star Wars and Devil May Cry fan, The Force Unleashed is a sexual experience

[@ArrowValley]

All Disney needed to do was take three of the books and turn them into movies. Instead we got an awful, disconnected and dull fan fiction and bad fan at that. They made garbage yet we as fans were the problem? Yea, but no. Only thing I’ve liked during the Disney era is that Jedi Fallen Order video game which even that was only okay in terms of its story and I only played it once and never again. Some of the classic SW games I still play to this day like Empire at War and Galactic Battlegrounds. At least we’re getting some of the classic SW games getting released like Dark Forces and hopefully this trend continues with Jedi Knight.

[@ingobernoble2678]

Grew up with the EU starting in the late 90s. This series has such a special place in my heart. Love seeing people giving it some shine again. Though ironically I've always thought all the Zahn, Thrawn stuff was overrated haha. I absolutely love the Han Solo trilogy. I always wished they brought Ann back for more books

[@juegew3]

Her books were top tier, it's a shame that she is no longer with us, but her works will be beloved forever

[@frixos0073]

I remember a time when everything new Star Wars used to excite me to no end. I would spend HOURS on wookiepedia just reading through all the lore from books or games that weren't available in my country and was impossible to get my hands on as a kid. Now I dread every announcement Disney makes since it's like playing Russian roulette on what they will ruin next.

[@Y2Kr4SHM4N]

Most of us have been doing this since gullible tools said The Force Awakens was a decent sequel and not a hollow reboot of a New Hope. I grew up as the EU was released (except Splinter of the Minds Eye, I wasn’t born yet). I started with Heir to the empire as a ten year old. This continues with the games such as the Dark Forces and Jedi Knight Series, being ecstatic upon getting to fight darkside Force Users at Luke Skywalker’s side for a pivotal gaming moment. I personally may accept Andor and Rogue One, even if it erases my boy Kyle Katarn. But only with the notion that they retcon his history to being involved with stealing the Death Star II plans after the Bothans secured the intel.

[@FriendlyDarkwraith]

It doesn't even have to go that far. Remember this line in ANH: "Several transmissions were beamed to this ship by Rebel spies. I want to know what happened to the plans they sent you." Several transmissions. Who said the entire Death Star plans were on Scarif?

[@Y2Kr4SHM4N]

​@@FriendlyDarkwraithYou're one insightful dude! Of course, why didn't I think of this?

[@wydow351]

I love this take! Saying Star Wars is dead gives WAY too much credit to Disney garbage , the greatness of Star wars still exists, in the books, games, movies, shows, animation that came before. I'll just continue to dig into the EU until Disney/Lucasfilm has a massive shift of staff, administration, agenda and writing, if ever.

[@edwaiwood2416]

Unless you are prepared to go all the way back to 2008 I wouldn't make such suggestions. Star Wars was already starting to tarnish when Lucas and company retconned the Clone Wars micro series with his 3d show. Say what you will, the show is full of EU contradicting decisions.

[@maleexile9053]

Agreed

[@edwaiwood2416]

@@maleexile9053 One very glaring example, going all the way back to 2005 when they made Grevious a hacking Russian coward, instead of a Jedi killing nightmare. If it was only in ROTS I could live with it, chalking it all up to Mace Windu's force crush, yet TCW ran with it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZOTfmhuiN2Kjrc

[@yoshyfoods]

Since Disney took the reigns, I actually fell out of being a star wars fan. Sure I’ll watch the older movies once in a while, but the new movies and the disney+ shows all left me with a foul taste in my mouth. The last content I really watched was Boba, and I was honestly optimistic and hopeful that MAYBE it’d be good (it was not). Disney found a way to rip the joy out of what I held near to my personality in my childhood.

[@yoshyfoods]

And a thing I ***love*** sooooo much (sarcasm) about disneys universe is, they start foundationally similar in all other situations, Luke did try rebuilding a jedi order, Han did start out in imperial training, Boba does escape the sarlacc, but then they write on top of it all this garbage that is just kinda weak and bad. Its like they’re taunting the legacy of the great stories of old

[@evprince]

This is a good video. Yes! Star Wars is still there, and it's waiting for you to come back to it. The EU awaits you!

[@offthegrid01]

I really need to fall in love with Star Wars again. The series was such a massive part of my life for so long. Now it's like a stranger. An old friend that you haven't seen in years. Someone who lost their way, became completely toxic and unbearable to be around. It may be time to reintroduce myself to the EU. There are still plenty of books that I haven't read. Thanks for reminding me of this.

[@meatpuddle90]

I'm all in for the Star wars eu but i feel overwhelmed by the amount of comics and books. So thank you for the recommendations. I've also been watching videos about the eu so i won't go in blind when i eventually start reading the book and comics.

[@davidmartin4836]

Thank you for the hope! I'm going to jump in and start reading!

[@RaymondvanGelderen]

I’m from Europe and was in shock haha. For me there’s 1 trilogy and that’s it.

[@Wade_Tyler]

I’ve actually been doing this. Thank you for spreading the word.

[@Jetsparx373]

I've got a few things to say here... When Disney basically denounced the old expanded universe, instead of just playing it's safe and adapting those books and comics was criminally stupid on top of what they had done to the OG characters with everything they've produced. But what you got to understand is, some people are Star Wars fans because of the Old Expanded Universe books and comics. Not because of the films, some of the video games, or the Clone Wars show or even the Clone Wars shorts animated by Gendy Tartakovsky. My knowledge of Star Wars from years ago was only through the prequel and original trilogy... For watching so many Star Wars versus videos, it got me interested in wanting to understand all those characters in the stories they were a part of. And this is before the release of Episode VII, and my love of the franchise was fractured. Those EU fans never left they just didn't and most likely still don't acknowledge all the crap Disney made. The original six films, the Clone Wars multimedia project headed by George Lucas led LucasArts, and post Return of the Jedi books comics and games during the 90's and early 2000s were and still are the biggest fans of the fan of the franchise.

[@Inquisitor_Lelouch]

This is why EU vader is better than Disney. He actually had a reason to be called a jedi killer.

[@nathanyessler1509]

I would also add to this list the plethora of Dark Horse Comics, as well as the video games. Crimson Empire, Tales of the Jedi, Purge, Dark Times, Star Wars Republic, and tons of others were amazingly told stories with some exceptional artwork. Knights of the Old Republic (both the games and the comics, with John Jackson Miller as the writer on the comics), Republic Commando, Jedi Outcast and Academy, Dark Forces II, Battlefront II 2005, Rogue Squadron, Bounty Hunter....there's a lot of great Star Wars games. The EU was multifaceted in being able to have stories across various forms of media that all tied together in a sinuous narrative.

[@platformerfailure3257]

An excellent video. While there's very little of any value in modern Star Wars for the foreseeable future, fans who know where to look will find themselves with an entire galaxy of fantastic stories. And, thanks to this video, more people will know where to look. Here's hoping that this helps people branch out and heal the wounds left behind by Disney's blunders.

[@StarwarsFannick]

Thanks for helping me rekindle my interest in star wars that is none disney. It means a lot.

[@joshuamueller3206]

Thanks, this video will be super helpful as I have been trying to make a head-canon/fan-fiction that takes my favorite features from the new canon (where I jumped on) and the old EU (young enough that most of it was written before I turned 10). I really like the idea of Operation Cinder, the Inquisitorius, and Rebels, but I also like Leia becoming a Jedi and wish there was a way to edit the The Clone Wars (2008) and the Clone Wars mass media project together.

[@HobbyJunk]

Glad it helped!

[@FriendlyDarkwraith]

If Operation Cinder was limited to the Empire burning worlds that were sympathetic to the Rebel Alliance, I wouldn't have any problems with it. The Inquisitors are another great idea in concept, but have been lacking in execution aside from 1 or 2 examples. Rebels is a bit too kid friendly to properly portray "the Dark Times" in galactic history. TCW and the Clone Wars MMP are probably somewhat compatible as long as you're willing to shift some dates around, at least where the contradictions aren't blatant.

[@joshuamueller3206]

@@FriendlyDarkwraith With Operation Cinder I liked the idea of the Emperor having a contingency plan that if he died, then he wanted the Galaxy he failed to conquer destroyed. Too bad Disney retconned that when Palpatine "somehow returned." Also, it would be a mighty small band of fanatics willing to glass every planet in the Galaxy, so maybe it would run out of steam after attacks on a handful of worlds. I like the Inquisitorious, but Kenobi and Tales of the Empire tried to ruin them.

[@mazkeraid4039]

I say, do not meld TCW and CW together along with its contents. I would rewrite TCW to distinguish the fact that Anakin never had a padawan like Ahsoka, as someone else already has.

[@joshuamueller3206]

@@mazkeraid4039 The rational for why Ahsoka was assigned to Anakin makes sense, but the dialogue in Revenge of the Sith casts serious doubt on Anakin ever having a Padawan.

[@neonthunder3261]

Amazing video! I started with some novels, but my favorites so far have been the KoToR comics with Zayne Carrick, Star Wars Legacy, and Tales of The Jedi!

[@J__T]

With a title like that how could I resist?

[@atavious2491]

Jania and Jacen Solo are what Rey and Kylo Ren are SUPPOSED to be. Actual students of Luke Skywalker who also have their tribulations well thought out than their sequel movie counterparts.

[@cartcart4726]

Never knew about the EU. Star Wars used to be such a big part of my life and I’ve been so disappointed in Disney Star Wars and have basically given up on it but with this I might be able to spark my love for this universe again. Thank you for making this video

[@Bleedblxck]

I've actually been doing this lately, buying old EU books to fall back in love with Star Wars. I'd love to see the sales numbers for the bigger EU books and comics from Disney's purchase til today because I'm sure the sales did sink for a little while but are probably starting to spike again as people abandon the Disney films and shows

[@FlippedHands]

The Thrawn trilogy and X Wing series are amazing and also have amazing audiobooks! Highly recommended.

[@rayn0577]

I started the EU with the Young Han Solo trilogy when I was about 10, and that was it, I was hooked. My recommended list would be the Young Han Solo trilogy, The Truce at Bakura, The Courtship of Princess Leia, The Thrawn Trilogy, the Corellian Trilogy, and the Jedi Academy trilogy.

[@titanrex0513]

Way ahead of you, bro! The Star Wars Legends timeline not only justified my continued interest in Star Wars, it also gave me my love of reading. Started 5 years ago when my parents bought me the original Thrawn trilogy, The canon Thrawn novel, and the Ashoka novel. As of now I’ve read over 100 legends novels and I plan to read them all. I’ll still read the canon novels from time to time, even, though I think canon has a weaker timeline, it does have some decent novels. Canon just doesn’t seem as valid to me, though.

[@Starwarsfearsome]

Got into the eu in 2017 with Darth Plagueis, now in 2024 I’m at new jedi order!

[@conormcmullen6437]

Great and clear explanation. Subscribed brother, can't wait for more.

[@MmntechCa]

First time I encountered Thrawn as a character was in TIE Fighter, which is also the first time he appears voiced. Your character serves under him for a good chunk of the game. You're not even fighting Rebels for most of it, but a rogue admiral who's overly dependent on his own technological supremacy. Which of course Thrawn masterfully maneuvers to use against him. Such a badass character. This was on top of him being an alien in a human supremacist empire, who commanded even the respect of Palpatine. Even the games back then had better writing than Disney.

[@fakename5308]

6:54 The irony of them referring to OTHER people as toxic is one of the most embarrassingly hilarious things that I’ve ever seen. WOW, people can be dense

[@nathanryan12]

Yea F Disney for what they’ve done to Star Wars

[@real30yearoldboomerhours53]

My portal into the EU were the Dark Horse comics. Man those were great. X-wing Rogue Squadron, Thrawn trilogy, Dark Empire etc.

[@joelwatts6890]

The original Star Wars Roleplaying Game materials published by West End Games in the 80s and 90s are also great material.

[@azmob8909]

The sad thing is, that even in disney's time there are good books, like Empire's End, but they are little known

[@LucasJAmmons]

You forgot the Young Jedi Knights series of books…

[@Stevesautopartsify]

The awe I felt in 1977 when first saw Star Wars died in a galaxy far far away!!

[@Enriki810]

Brother I literally decided to do this today and am going to be sorting through (with ai of course) to make my own definitive cohesive canon hahaha

[@3ofSpades]

Expanded universe is love, Expanded universe is life.

[@anthonykostelnik3148]

I just can't wait for the fable studios showrunner app because ill be watching eu stuff everyday all day. My wife wont be a happy camper

[@hyperballadbradx6486]

I've been loving reading the original books again. That's all I need

[@JohnRicard]

I came here for the content based on the title, but immediately left because of the music.

[@xelldincht4251]

This is great. I would love if you make more videos recommending EU books and comics

[@Alex-sg4jg]

The audio books are phenomenal. You have a complete production with sound effects, John williams' music and any narration by Mark Thompson is guaranteed to have good voice acting. I have listened to the Trawn trilogy over and over.

[@Alex-sg4jg]

@SBx340 oh, man, missing out. Marc Thompson has done the thrawn trilogy, the rogue series and have almost finished the entire wraiths series. Pre-order for darklord read by Thompson just went on pre-order. Highly recommended! Thrawn and Outbound flight also Thompson, some of my favorites. All unabridged...

[@AlexandrosofSparta]

Amazing video, thank you I have one of the Thrawn Books "Dark Force Rising" but it doesn't have the Gold Legends band on it so that's nice

[@WildDancer101]

There's even fan-made films taking place in the galaxy, like Darth Maul fighting off five Jedi and Darth Vader's abusive relationship with Darth Sidious.

[@MrGadfly772]

The only way I can keep my head from exploding when thinking about Star Wars is to simply decide that the sequel Disney movies never existed. That's my mind canon and it keeps me sane.