The New Republic DESTROYED Her... A War Hero

[@CyberSonic-V3.0]

I honestly can’t help but sympathize with Hera. Imagine seeing war, occupation and tyranny all your life only for the cause you fought for to end those things now be full of extreme naive politicians who just want to forget any detail that indicates they are at threat from the Empire.

[@GenerationTech]

yea its hard to watch her get destroyed like that, knowing what she's been through and sacrificed

[@Tendon-Cobar-2347]

​@@GenerationTech She is a Non Human what happened to Humanity First??? Are you saying you'd be ok with Dolphin people???

[@nikik5567]

That is something nearly all veterans see eventually. They’ve known war for so long, it’s all the people they fought for think they’re capable of, so the people disregard them out of hand as simply seeking war.

[@Tendon-Cobar-2347]

@@nikik5567 in the end they're not destroying her as hard as the First Order destoyed all of them in a single Attack 🤣🤣

[@GRIGGINS1]

​@Tendon-Cobar-2347 they are like all the politicians after WW1. They want to forget war so bad. That an even worst war comes about 20 years later due to their decisions.

[@HolyknightVader999]

Hera is the poster child for how veterans are seen by rulers and politicians when the wars end: outdated, useless pests who make noise when they should just shut up. And it's sad.

[@dwnkaomwn3953]

Well, Hera didn't help herself when she disobeyed orders to help Ahsoka and Sabine and with nothing to show for it other than getting most of her squadron killed and almost getting herself and her kid killed.

[@HolyknightVader999]

@@dwnkaomwn3953 I suppose that's true. But she and her squad wouldn't have had to play hookiee if the NR listened.

[@cultured_recruit_legionary]

Sounds like today's military.

[@HolyknightVader999]

@@cultured_recruit_legionary Yep.

[@Kishanth.J]

Like the Clones after the Clone Wars.

[@TheRevanchrist]

not a unreal story. the Oppenheimer film makes it clear that when heroes start becoming a political obstacle, governments will not hesitate to drag them through the mud then put on a show to mend wounds when it suits them.

[@FreelancerFreak]

Thats because they're considered a political threat to the new politics.

[@RRaptor86]

That was the case with vets who fought in Vietnam. One of my uncles went to Vietnam himself, but he wasn’t welcomed home as a hero. You can also see this in the Batman Rises movie too with Commissioner Gordon. Even though the Joker was beaten and the Dent Act was put through, Gordon was trying to stay vigilant and the mayor was going to fire him any way.

[@blucheer8743]

Spot on observation

[@K1ng1995]

​@@RRaptor86or like in First Blood

[@zacharyradford5552]

More like they become a threat to the politicians that don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.

[@4891MR]

Impressive analysis. You're the first critic I've heard with the detachment to not discount the tragedy in the exchange nor to oversimplify and to recognize that it's actually quite a good scene. They all have good intentions. The icing on the cake is that the same senator as a much older man appeared before in the "Resistance" cartoon series and this shows his future self likely had regrets about decisions made in the current period.

[@Pinkorchid72]

I love Allen’s in depth analyses and how he chooses topics or issues that most SW KZbinrs don’t even think to cover. even better is how he relates SW stories, themes, situations to human history and issues. Keep up the great work!

[@Bob_Lennart]

"It's not for greed or loyalty. It's for a few extra credits" That's the most real thing i've heard in a God damn while. And depressingly relatable.

[@nowknowthis]

I feel like executing the imperial higher ups would have been better for everyone in that case.

[@bobafett9348]

I still do think they completely underestimate the loyalty Empire inspired.

[@K1ng1995]

​@@nowknowthiswhile I do agree the problem that would've curtailed might have lead to other things

[@jodyfouse4887]

I mean rebellion is a viable answer to a greedy empire .......even one you live in in the really real world

[@thalastianjorus]

The _sad_ thing, to me... is that I can actually relate to Hera. Watching her like feels strangely like watching my own from a strange perspective. Almost as if the way governments treat their soldiers, once they are finished with them, is near on universal. You are the most important individual on Earth, when a fight is going on. _You,_ specifically, are important. What you have to say is important. People listen to you. Once that fight is over you become merely another of those annoying obligations that the government has to deal with. This unfortunate side effect of office that, when a pat on the back and a "thanks for your service" won't make you shove off, is little better than the mountain of paperwork that they have to hire someone else to stash away.

[@davidmacy411]

Star Trek TNG hit this topic full throttle head on in an episode that is very good. Thirty years ago it was a well known phenomenon, and it still hits hard today. Gotta love the greed that has ruled especially the US for 2 centuries. At least most of Europe has a far better medical system as a foundation to help people, including veterans.

[@thalastianjorus]

@@davidmacy411 Ehhhh you might have a misunderstanding of how we handle medical in Europe. Which is fair - most people do. We DO pay for it, just not the incredible prices Americans currently pay. However we DO all pay for insurance from our paychecks. A huge chunk of our pay, in fact, goes to what amounts to government run health insurance. Which, like anything government run, does have its downsides. Those of is in Europe that say we have "Universal Healthcare?" Are usually too young to remember the system being explained, and as such have always merely seen the government withholdings as normal _(They don't question what it all is for. It's just taxes.)._ That, or they're the small bit of the older generation that bought onto the lingo.

[@davidmacy411]

@@thalastianjorus Thank you for that. I have always heard that the Scandinavian nations are consistently said to have the happiest populations around, even though they pay something like 50% tax, which obviously goes to programs you mention. I dont know how the insurance would work in Europe, but insurance companies here have dedicated teams to find any and every possible loophole in order to avoid covering customers. Like you said, there are issues for yours as well, but it feels like just about anything would be better than the mess we have here.

[@ninyaninjabrifsanovichthes45]

Bad Batch also touched on this with The Clone Conspiracy, Truth and Consequences, and The Outpost.

[@rebelfighter5249]

Hera is being subjected to the demilitarization process, just like the clones found themselves forcibly decommissioned all those years ago. It's painful but this is the end of an era, and I can't blame the NR for wanting to move on and forget the Galactic Civil War ever happened. But forgetting the past is always dangerous and history has a bad habit of repeating itself with a dumbed down, forgetful galaxy.

[@DT0me7624]

Hera and the veteran rebels are like the clones after Order 66. Cast aside, disavowed, and alone…

[@HolyknightVader999]

"The New Republic appreciates your service. Now, if you would kindly step aside, we've got work to do."

[@kushgodreturns5873]

All that hard work for nothing.

[@bryanmiller8604]

That’s so very true of our very own veterans who are twice as likely as civilians to die by suicide, the Department of Veterans Affairs said, & make up more than 14 percent of all suicides, although they account for only 8 percent of the total population. Add into account higher rates of homelessness, addiction, mental health disorders, & illnesses, physical disabilities, & health issues, & is it any wonder why some veterans are grizzled, gruff, & by all accounts antisocial with no f@cks, $hits, or d@mns left to give. Like Hera, asked that pompous senator, “Have you been to war yourself, or did you just sit idly by, & wait to see who would win?” That’s the legitimate issue. Not merely a question.

[@DT0me7624]

@@bryanmiller8604 You are absolutely correct. That’s an excellent parallel. Our veterans are an after thought to our government.

[@ednec8909]

Hera could have handled it better but they know Thrawn disappeared with his FLEET. If there's a chance he could return, I think it would have warranted a scout mission. After all, this time they had some evidence of stolen military equipment/hardware.

[@everythingsalright1121]

I think the way she handled it is realistic. Sometimes in the heat of the moment we dont always say what others want to hear, but what we really feel. Hera has suffered significant personal loss at the hands of thrawn and the empire, so her lashing out what thrawn has done to her was understandable, even if it wasnt what would convince the politicians. At some point bureaucracy and foolish politicians just frustrates you to a breaking point.

[@nissutobor9078]

@@everythingsalright1121 Right... And sometimes we say shit we know isn't going to play well, but we need to say it regardless. I feel like that's where she was at right there.

[@CortexNewsService]

I keep thinking of something she could have said. Something along the lines of "They do believe Thrawn is alive. They believe it enough to steal a hyper drive to drive a super star destroyer. That alone is worth investigation." May not have worked but it may have a better chance.

[@TheyCallMeCarg]

I honestly don't think she could have handled it better, and that smarmy senator knew it. She's had a single mindset throughout her entire adult life, combined in later years with PTSD and survivor's guilt, stemming from watching the lover of her life consumed in fire, sacrificing himself so she could live. Every conflict she endures is going to be met with some degree of hostility, even if it's the subtle conflict of politics.

[@bk9471]

I think the greatest part of his canon fleet was destroyed in his battles against the Phoenix Squadron, so I hope that he'll have to get ships through his own initiatives in the future. And I don't think the senators would have granted action against Thrawn even if Hera had done a better job. I mean he is in another Universe and has been missing/believed to be dead for centuries

[@robertcoplin2830]

A little like Gen. Patton. Gen. Syndulla saw a lot of destruction and suffering and experienced loss on scale that is difficult to wrap you're head around. I have vets in my family who experienced terrible things, so did many of my ancestors. I'm in Hera's camp all the way. Politicians start the wars but let other people do the dirty work

[@smokerevenant894]

I agree and your comment made my day 🎉.

[@nikik5567]

Too often civilians in peace time forget that only the dead have truly seen the end of war.

[@waltermcgarvin8001]

I think General of a Fight Group would be like the Army Air Corp during WWII. Admirals, like Ackbar got the big ships and battle groups. All she was asking for was a scouting mission, a dozen snub fighters could do it fairly cheaply. Bothan's threw the Second Death Star in everyone's face every time they started to lose an argument. Civilians "We want no part of another war" Military "The enemy really does not care what you want. Sticking your head in the sand won't change their intentions." Filoni and Favreau are writing the end of the empire something like the end of WWI. I bet there were of people in Europe and the US telling their leadership about what was coming their way. The winners pretend life is going back to normal while the the losers ,with bitterness and anger, start slowly rebuilding to get revenge. The sequel movies were WWII

[@jackripper8337]

Likening the sequels to WWII is fitting... they both are massive tragedys to man kind,,, WWII at least was interesting (though tragic)

[@stefdelev]

Yes 100%. John Maynard Keynes wrote a book basically predicting how the treatment of Germany after WWI would lead directly to WWII. Of course, the leaders of the US and of other European countries ignored his warnings. Not the same but this reminds me of that

[@Fuzzmo147]

@@stefdelevThe US joined it for the tech & the tech only

[@chrishoffman-n6u]

Damn, the way you brought all that to reality at the very end had me speechless. Our veterans always and still do deserve better.

[@bananapanda9805]

Would be interesting to see someone like Grand Admiral Thrawn on the New Republic, being able to balance politics with military goals or etc.

[@konstantinosnikolakakis8125]

Except Thrawn was shit at politics. The only times I’ve seen him make good political decisions was in Thrawn Ascendancy Greater Good when he prevented a civil war. The second time was in Dark Force Rising (I think) when he allowed newly conquered planets to have reduced taxation.

[@RexWort]

Warrior being treated like shit after the war *Clone Troopers:* First Time?

[@michaelarmstrong9722]

Imagine fighting to free these people for them to only turn their backs on you. And when the first order comes, they destroy everything you fought and died for. Truly gut wrenching 💔

[@violetlight1548]

The Core had it pretty good under the Empire. If anything, they probably see the Rebels as the usurpers (and they have a point).

[@jeremyweaver9598]

As a wounded Iraq vet, I found what you said here thought provoking. And, it hit a raw nerve as well. I remember full well how the American people clamored for the Iraq invasion, believing the propaganda from the Bush administration and the media. I enlisted in the Army just 2 years prior to 9/11, as a tank crewman. I knew what would happen when we went to war. Nobody likes to see their country conquered by an outside power. While I performed my duties to the fullest extent of my capabilities, I couldn't help but empathize a bit with the Iraqi people. They were people defending their homes from an outside invader. If anything, we should have supported the Kurdish uprisings in the 1990's. We shouldn't be fighting other people's wars. That's the lessons of Vietnam that we should always remember. Today, I support Ukraine in it's self-defense. While I believe we should not fight the war for them, I whole-heartedly support giving Ukraine logistical and humanitarian assistance. We've seen the Russians run out of fuel, ammunition and food. The Ukrainian people are tenacious and strong in their resolve. They are the Star Wars Rebellion made flesh, and I admire them. It's life imitating art.

[@zcorpalpha2462]

I was against the war

[@jarekkish5515]

You were a dupe then, you're a dupe now.

[@zcorpalpha2462]

@@jarekkish5515 What does that even mean ?

[@jarekkish5515]

@@zcorpalpha2462 It means he's an unquestioning agent of American imperialism.

[@K1ng1995]

Given that you are a vet what are your thoughts on the movie First Blood?

[@kittycat0876]

Even Luke had problems with the New Republic

[@Tendon-Cobar-2347]

Jedi what did you expect from them.

[@manhunter433]

Luke did his ultimate best to keep the new Jedi Order off the Republic's radar, he didn't want a repeat like the old order.

[@theashbys8863]

Thanks Alan great as always

[@loganallen1575]

Hi Generation Tech. I'm a huge fan of your content

[@SavageSamxV]

What I find so frustrating about the majority of Star Wars content but also a good analogy for real life is that no one admits when they’re wrong. If Thrawn comes back and brings war the senate will still see it as Hera’s fault because like the Jedi, the senate will always look away from themselves to assign blame.

[@briangrover873]

As someone who works in veteran care; i find your analysis spot on.

[@briansieve]

100% agree. Thank you for this tribute.

[@briansieve]

AND that scene made me froth with fury.

[@briansieve]

That phrase "convenient excuse" was why that jagoff senator deserved a kick in the teeth.

[@JGDeRuvo]

“They’re just senators focused on making things work.” 😂😂😂😂😂 That’s funny Alan.

[@jamesbernald2850]

Not sure why she didn’t just ask for a small squadron to investigate rather than the fleet. Seems like they may have approved the small task force that ultimately went to the planet.

[@everythingsalright1121]

If i had to guess its because of the stolen executor grade hyperdrive. Not a lot of things that would fit into. Couldve been nasty whatever they were doing with it

[@cmac3530]

That WAS what she asked for, Hera literally said, "If I could get approval to send a task force to the Denab system I could find out"

[@joshuahogan3475]

​@@cmac3530when you say "task force" in relation to naval operations it implies a fairly hefty amount of tonnage. Not necessarily a full fleet but something only a level or two below that. She was basically asking to send at LEAST a few frigates with a strong fighter escort. Possibly some light cruisers as well. What she should have done is negotiate down to a couple fighter squadrons with authorization to send the rest of the fleet in IF they ran into something major. And honestly Mom Mothma should have suggested that as a compromise.

[@cmac3530]

@@joshuahogan3475 Where is the source for any of this? Because in the context of what has been shown in Disney Star wars I have absolutely no indication that any of that information is true. It sounds like you may be speaking from real-world naval experience but, that doesn't necessarily translate 1 to 1 to Space war tactics in a completely different Sci-Fi galaxy. Especially one that's run by Disney. In my opinion the request for a "Task force" is an ambiguous ask for a reason. They gave her absolutely nothing. They didn't even give her permission to confirm her suspicions on her own. And to be clear I was responding to the original comment which referred to the fighters that ultimately went (The Ghost and Carson Teva's crew of 5 X-wings) as a "Small Task force"

[@marrqi7wini54]

​@@cmac3530 I believe a task force is still quite a bit in star wars. If you read the first Thrawn book of this current canon, when he was promoted to admiral around the battle of Batonn he was in command of a task force. Granted to your credit that was the empire not the rebellion or new republic.

[@strambino1]

The state of the Galaxy after the galactic Civil War, sounds just like the state of Europe after World War I.

[@lerneanlion]

The Senator can said it better. He can said that even if Thrawn is alive, he is a Chiss military commander and thus, the Chiss Ascendancy is his top priority, not the Imperial Remnant. And the fact that nobody ever bothered to think about this left me baffled. Also, you're right, Alan. Politic is the necessary evil.

[@marrqi7wini54]

Thrawn basically said it best with his conversation with Nightswan in the first book. And it really goes into his motives for fighting for and trying to reestablish the empire. Think of 2 people running from a predator, you can either strengthen both yourself and the other person to make sure you both can fight the predator off, or you sabotage the other person while you escape and gain yourself more time to formulate a strategy.

[@lerneanlion]

@@marrqi7wini54 Politically, most of the times, alliances come and go. So what stopped Thrawn to contact the Chiss Ascendancy about the rise of the Third Republic and see to it if the alliance with this replacement of the Empire is a good option or not. This can also be performed in reverse as well if it is possible for Thrawn to contact his people's government.

[@marrqi7wini54]

​@@lerneanlion Well he needs to get found first. Also he may have determined that the New Republic might be next to useless on his own do no need for that. (Considering the sequel trilogy and media surrounding it, I think he would be absolutely correct.)

[@lerneanlion]

@@marrqi7wini54 This leads to a new question here. If the Third Republic did not take the threat of the First Order seriously, will they take the threat of the Grysk Hegemony seriously? Heck, I am even surprised the First Order did not set up a stage for the Grysk Hegemony to attack the Republic. And since the Republic is fully incapable of waging a war, the First Order can appeared to play a hero to save the day. Strategically, this is such a genius move if they managed to pull this off.

[@sundragon7703]

Often a character must fall from grace in order to rise as a greater hero. It's one of the most used and most awesome tropes of the hero's journey.

[@orokusaki1243]

lol, love the chair spin intro!

[@ukmediawarrior]

Considering she dealt with a ton of politicians, or people like them, during the war, and the length of time since the war ended and her promotion, she should be easily prepared for these guys. Hera is a master strategist and diplomacy is simply another form of warfare. Skills in one can be transferred over to the other. This scene made her look naïve, which she certainly should not be. Now I could buy that she had faith in Mon Mothma having her six, that would work. But then it shows Mon Mothma doesn't seem to have any power if she can't swing a few x-wings to go help a friend.

[@milkywayhuizar5641]

I don't think she has such a mastery of balancing both like Leia did, but that's just my opinion

[@allthenewsordeath5772]

Of course, that raises the other problem of where the heck is princess Leia?

[@TheTrueAdept]

@@allthenewsordeath5772 probably putting out political fires within the New Republic. Until Mon Monthma stood down, and Leia's opponent took the big chair (with the help of the Imperials, I might add, in a similar way that 2016 had Russia basically install Trump), she was likely trying to keep the New Republic from collapsing.

[@gonzalocastro5561]

​@@allthenewsordeath5772that can be applied to every OT hero, Leia had Jedi training at some point before returning to the new republic senate, I want to believe that's why she isn't in Ahsoka cause otherwise...wtf, where is she? Seriously, Hera fought for longer than Leia and it's still working, so I won't buy a "She's spending time with her husband and son" excuse

[@MotleyNerd]

In the old EU, in the Thrawn trilogy, this still happened. And the ones they refused to listen to were Han and Leia. It's not a matter of politicians being inept or stupid. It's politicians being power hungry and out for themselves. You know, like politicians. People like Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, Leia, and even Padme are not normal politicians; they're egalitarian ideologs who ended up in those positions due to circumstance and took the calling by the balls. Borsk Fey'lya, who the current guy is based on, did the same thing in the original Thrawn trilogy. This guy is a translation of Fey'lya, whose motivation for denying had nothing to do with disbelief. Heck, Fey'lya had his hands deep in several secret things and was aware of the signs of Thrawn from personally finding them in his business dealings. Hell, he put Admiral Ackbar under house arrest by accusing him of the things Fey'lya himself did himself. Same thing is likely happening here. It doesn't matter what Hera or anyone else says or if they mess up or act naive. These people will not listen because they have their own games that they're playing. They refused to listen to _Leia_ in the Thrawn trilogy. The only reason they turn around and do the right thing is because Thrawn personally shows up, takes the big fleet Fey'lya was trying to find, and then puts an invisible asteroid field around Coruscant. Hera has no chance of getting through to them until it is already too late.

[@Star_Wars_With_PercyMan]

Videos like this one are the reason you’re my favorite Star Wars KZbinr.

[@luisemoralesfalcon4716]

This maneuver must have costed a lot:casualties, disobeying orders, made an enemy of Senators and let the enemy get away.

[@joseestevezhernandez558]

Funnily, if the senators weren't arseholes, she could had arrived with time to spare

[@luisemoralesfalcon4716]

@@joseestevezhernandez558 pretty much, and they never gave a reason as of where they needed her and the Forces under her command.

[@violetlight1548]

Hera mentioned Thrawn -- someone she had faced in the past, and had a grudge against. She notably *didn't* mention the stolen SSD hyperdrive -- aka the proof the Senate needed to act. Mon Mothma, to her credit, did take Hera's warning seriously, but she too, needs more proof than just word of a biased officer -- one who loves to throw her rank around at that. (not that Rebel generals aren't a dime a dozen -- Han, Lando, arguably Leia -- they're all generals). Why the hell is she even a General at this point? She doesn't seem to have *anyone* under her command other than Chopper (as much as Chopper's commanded by anyone). The one thing I cannot forgive, especially after seeing Hera's own past as a child warrior, is her *willingly* taking her son along on what she knew to be a dangerous combat mission. What the actual hell?! I have a son almost the same age, and there is no way. Just no way. Why couldn't there just be a line "oh, Jacen's vising Grandpa back on Ryloth"? There, problem solved. At least with Din and Grogu, Grogu can hold his own being a Jedi, and Mandalorians of all ages are raised in dangerous situations (like setting up shop on Jurassic World), but that still doesn't really excuse Din either. Hera has no excuse whatsoever. Somebody should sicc Space Child Services on her Lekku.

[@Darthdoodoo]

Okay karen relax! The ship is their house too where would he go? This is star wars where they take kids and make them child soldier wizards to fight killing machines 😂😂😂

[@violetlight1548]

@@Darthdoodoo like I said in my comment, Jacen should have been dropped off on Ryloth with his grandfather, or with Luke at his Jedi academy (his Dad was Force-sensitive, so there's a good chance he is too.) Anywhere but taken into battle. Jedi Padawans didn't have a choice in the Clone Wars (and neither did the clones themselves -- they were mentally 10 years old), but Hera *does* have the option to *not* put her kid in danger, and notably does not take it. She's a horrible mother.

[@12undeadleader]

​@@violetlight1548Honesty we don't even know if Cham is alive. and he has a streak of terrorism too so I'm not sure Hera has that many options unless she uses some sort of galactic kid-sitting service lol

[@zephyrstrife4668]

​​@@12undeadleaderwe also never get confirmation of his death... the last we hear of him is his support for the rebellion after his daughter helps him realize that she's not just trying to save Ryloth, but the entire galaxy. So as of this point, we can only assume he is still alive... old as heck, but alive, since he did fight in both the Clone Wars and the Galactic Civil war, which was a total of approximately 23 to 24 years of uninterrupted guerilla warfare.

[@carlost856]

​@@12undeadleadershe still should have some sort of family left that she could drop him off to. Failing that they dud mention Luke Jedi academy.

[@jacobfurneaux1705]

It’s the SSD hyperdrives for me. How tf are you going to have these go missing and not put what resources you have available into finding them? Even if it isn’t imperial related, any ship or station that could fit one those hyperdrives would be a gargantuan ship more than capable of delta base zeroing a planet. The possibility backed up by significant evidence that someone is rebuilding/repairing super star destroyers or ships like them should immediately mobilize every intelligence asset and scout in the new republic to find out what is happening.

[@Robwade71]

Alan, Hera is every veteran who has had civilians send them to a war and lost friends because these politicians don't understand what it is to be a warrior. Her question brings up the disdain a lot of us have for politicians who, instead of getting in the fight, send people they don't know to die and then don't appreciate our opinion in the peace.

[@thineubaut]

I never saw the cartoons, so I really appreciate the context you provide.

[@clearlywrong6520]

"Man... it must suck to fight your entire life for freedom and _still_ lose." - E;R

[@undisputedtruth4954]

She's dealing with the same issues as Ahsoka, except she wasn't trained to deal with it; just keep living. That sounds line most of America. Get thru the work/school week, blow off steam for a short period, then make it thru another week. A mind numbingly inhumane cycle of waste.

[@frankwitte1022]

Excellent video and .... nails hit on the head. When watching episode 4 of Ahsoka it seemed to me that much of what you were saying in your video, dawned on Hera the moment Jacen said he had a bad feeling. She doesn't look at him when he says so ... she looks at her controls but with a kind of absent stare. I think it is that moment that she realizes things have gone awfully wrong: the men she lost, the control she lost, and the fact she endangered others in the pursuit of something she should have left into the hands of Mon Monthma. It echoes what Ahsoka says in Episode 2: If sometimes we do something for all the right reasons, but it has the wrong outcome, then it is still wrong. In Episode 5 all 3 ladies have tough stuff to grapple with ... Ahsoka with her unprocessed past, Sabine with he abandonment of Ahsoka and Hera with her callously endangering the pilots under her command, the confidence Mon Mothma had in her and ... her own child's life. If you ask me: it is a low these three characters needed to face, it's the damage they still carry with them from decades of war. They too ... are not ready for a new one.

[@100dfrost]

Having been mobilized in the service of my country twice I can state without fear of contradiction that the people of our country regret that we don't just disappear when the war is over. We grow old, we retire, we hold opinions based on our past experiences that are unpopular to those that are younger, that have never served. I find that I am sorry, so I will apologize to all of you out there, I am sorry I didn't die in the service of my country, or that I didn't just dissolve when my term of service ended. You see, foolishly I thought I could enjoy some of the freedoms that I spilled my blood for. Sorry I lived.

[@gr8tbigtreehugger]

Maybe if Hera mentioned the 9 SSD reactor cores made for ships not in the fleet???

[@projectamis4772]

You have the better SW analysis on yt. Hera's like Leia, and I'd love to see them meet.

[@kalvinravn8431]

I’m a 51 year old man and I’ve been fighting the good fight since I was a kid, keeping the peace, I respect her character. Good video my friend.

[@giladpellaeon1691]

"Is that a Winabago with wings?"

[@demariomontague27]

The Cheesecake Factory on Curuscant is divine

[@thedoctor755]

Dude, one of your best videos! Showing again you have a good grasp of how politics works, how people really tick. Hera rocks, and I'm glad she's in Ahsoka, but she does seem a little off. May just be the live action translation... nothing but love for Ramona Flowers 😍 You're spot-on about Hera in that scene though, shows how in peacetime it can be hard for good soldiers to do what they need to do.

[@mikepenny8940]

Hera's color is off and just seems like a totally different character. I'm too used to her voice in rebels

[@K1ng1995]

I love that she's married to Obi Wan

[@celsetialarchives5909]

I bet that politician that stopped her from borrowing the fleet is gonna be receiving a few choice words from hera

[@MarvinNitz]

what a beatiful background this episode, i look forward to every single new video of yours, keep em coming ❤

[@Thebigbadwolf6625]

Hera is such an amazing character,i love her, she's so inspiring!💚 I hated how the senators treated her!😤 Like how do they have such incompetent senators?!

[@JeffWiersma]

I SO appreciated your caveat about how it is appropriate for the republic military to be citizen-led.

[@Rychlewicz]

5:40 Isn't a better reason why people are still mentally working for the Imperials is because... How old are they? 20 year olds live their whole lives under the Empire and New Republic so far introduced just more chaos.

[@willaumep]

well politician or not, the possibility of Thrawn return and a major shiping return is an existantial threat and if she is a genaral she has enough approval to mount at least the recon she is after.

[@danupton4852]

Half the Senators were probably on the payroll of the imperial remnant.

[@SLDFSpectreSix]

It's been said a crapload of times already, but I can't help but sympathize with Hera. The politicians treat her and a lot of former Rebel Alliance soldiers, pilots, officers.. as flotsam. They needed them to fight their war and safeguard their political positions, and now there's no Empire to threaten them, they have no need for pilots, soldiers, warriors. They just want everything to be hunky dory when things aren't hunky dory. Things are very not. I've seen so many friends come back from military service just to be treated like an afterthought by the system they fought to protect. Hell, one of my friends had to fight tooth and nail just to get *seen* by the VA. If a decorated officer says, "Hey, the dudes we just got done fighting ain't really gone, and the main dude that nearly shitcanned us early on is coming back", you fucking listen to her.

[@darkwolfnova344]

Freedom isn't free. Never was, never will be. But the people who need to remember that are always the ones that forget it first. And the very people who fought and died or survived are the ones that continue to pay for that freedom. They are the ones who paid with their lives and souls and now they have to keep paying because the people that should recognize that sacrifice that payment of life, limb and souls are the very ones that are taking away the dignity and honor every veteran fought for and deserves

[@dierbloodrose5178]

Just as an FYI the only reason Western Europe could do what they did is because of the United States which is a Republic and not whatever the hell the nations of Europe are.

[@emory442]

The real reason they didn't give her authorization was that Ahsoka and Sabine needed to be alone in their fight. Had Hera gone earlier with more support, they could have won. And that couldn't happen. So we used the lazy trope of bureaucracy to make it harder for Ahsoka and Sabine. And that's my biggest problem with Star Wars. That we must constantly retcon bad storytelling

[@Kobainishe]

And republic fleet was busy doing what exactly? Hauling prisoners in capital ships? Sorry, single prisoner.

[@richardlahan7068]

Once she began making command decisions based on emotion, she should have been quietly retired. Her bosses are civilians, whether she likes it or not.

[@MrZonehawk]

The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. Douglas MacArthur

[@Emanon...]

If anyone else except him had uttered those words, I'd give them some thought. But MacArthur was an absolute narcissist. The only reason he (maybe) said this, was because he thought it would make him sound good.

[@MrZonehawk]

Fair enough but the words still hold truth.@@Emanon...

[@jurassictyrantkingYT]

The new Republic is run by idiots drunken peace when they didn't even think of spying on these former Imperials who pretty much are still loyal to thrawn and the ideas of the Galactic Empires restoration. That's what ultimately doomed the new Republic. Personally if Disney does go through with the new Trilogy of Star Wars films with Daisy Ridley and the other characters that we know 15 years after the events of episode 9 I'm kind of hoping the new Republic is no longer a thing considering that it's been tried and failed. Because to be honest at this point none of the planets that we see from these movies are going to want to form a single government after the New Republic was already corrupt and suffered the same problems as the galactic Republic did. After what the new Republic did to Hera syndulla it's better off staying dead.

[@AzraelThanatos]

And a lot of it is "New boss, same as the old boss..." shit with places that just switched sides because the New Republic was ahead, no actual changes in policy or anything else, just lip service and continuing to do the exact same thing because the New Republic doesn't want to rock the boat until all hell breaks loose while the higher ups play political one upmanship games. Then they blame the people who tried to do anything with it when their inaction bites them in the ass...something that, repeatedly, happened in Legends stories with the beginning of the Vong war and the Yevethan Crisis being some of the largest there. Hell, this also has shades of the crapshow the early New Republic pulled with regard to Thyferra being taken over by Isard and alienating Rogue Squadron

[@mrgermanvono35]

They're only doing one new movie with Rey. The other 2 are different. One is a movie in the time period of ahsoka and Mando, so presumably thrawn. The other movie is way before during the old republic and beginning of the jedi

[@ClassicHarleyQuinn]

Hera should have been able to enjoy family life with her son.

[@ohari1]

The small scouting force she wanted shouldn’t have required top level clearance.

[@RRaptor86]

It seems to me that Hera is in a much similar position that Thrawn was in when he was in the Chiss military and the Empire. Hera, like Thrawn, isn’t skilled with politics. But Hera does have help through Mon Mothma, like Thrawn had Arynda Pryce helping him navigate the politics of the Empire.

[@MsJuno]

Ahsoka and Hera. Directly from the clone wars to the Galactic Civil War. Neither of them had a real life.

[@GenerationTech]

out of the oven into frying pan

[@jessmith7324]

It didn't go bad until the feyla character made it personal. Then hera lost her footing and went after him in turn.

[@GTGrabber]

Damn dude. Hell of a statement to leave on. Cheers!

[@CloneScavengerVulpin8389]

I hope hera doesn't get court marshalled. And hera reminds us how many of us take our lives for granted, there's always someone who has been through worse things.

[@Spartan3D213]

Hope she and others from the navy just leave and have the senators face the music when thrawn sets his sights on corusaunt

[@CloneScavengerVulpin8389]

@@Spartan3D213 the senators will have to see it to believe it.

[@rebelfighter5249]

​@@CloneScavengerVulpin8389 and when they do, it'll be too late. There's a reason Hosnian Prime, NOT Coruscant becomes the NR capital in the sequel trilogy and rotating the capital between different worlds becomes a thing in those movies. Thrawn most likely did one of two things: 1. Destroy Coruscant 2. Occupy Coruscant I'm leaning towards #1 as to why we don't see Coruscant as the undisputed seat of galactic power anymore by Episode 7 and beyond.

[@CloneScavengerVulpin8389]

@@rebelfighter5249 it is likely to happen at some point, possibly.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

Their is a middle ground that the US has kinda of found... Have the government/milltary be as strong as the leadership and have them stay out of each other way. Let each go to their strengths instead of having to dominate each other.

[@joelstalcup2464]

The New Republic needs a stronger executive that doesn’t have to consult with a senatorial council for even a basic decision to send an investigatory task force. I’m not saying there shouldn’t be oversight but Mon Mothma’s chancellorship seems weak and ineffectual. Also those saying Hera didn’t mention the stolen ISD hyperdrive might be mistaken. I assumed she’d transmitted that report to the government and this was just a briefing asking for resources.

[@romanmorozov6974]

You have a cool setup man! I love the sunrise/sunset

[@marcjohnston4271]

Wow - great analysis! I love how you explain the politician's view in all of this - balancing guns and butter - and understanding the essential strength - and weakness - of a republic is having to compromise between different factions to achieve a greater goal. The in-fighting keeps everyone honest (or at least, pretend to be) for the betterment of all. Of course, I disagree with your interpretation of Western Europe. They were only able to spend all that money to rebuild and flourish because another country protected them, a luxury the New Republic doesn't have.

[@charliechuckles2195]

She's in the New Republic Navy, would it have been so hard to make Syndulla an admiral?

[@darwinskeeper421]

I remember an old saying along the lines of "The best political system is a good king but the worst political system is a bad king and bad kings outnumber good kings by about 10 to 1. The American democratic system is as frustrating as heck, and sometimes we wish we could cut through all the gridlock and bureaucracy. The problem is that doing that could lead to the next Palpatine.

[@GenerationTech]

well said

[@packfan4560]

Of all the Star Wars channels I subscribe to this one has the best theories! Keep up the great work

[@kyleshurmur-dg3kq]

I have been watching your channel for about three of four years had to make a few new youtube accounts. through the years as i forgot many of the email address passwords and the pass words to my accounts, because i was homeless and had a shit memory, but no matter what you have always made me laugh keep up the good work alan.

[@cpltrickie]

Hera is the Kirk of Star Wars. She will never trust Imperials, and she never will. She will never forgive them for the death of Kanan.

[@jasonlauritsen5587]

Hera is definitely my favorite of Phoenix Squadron, she's the most gungho and she's the mother figure of the ship and the only one who is always listened to... well mostly always. Her issue is her stupidity for not either wiping or outright destroying Chopper.

[@nightsplurge810]

Hey man im trying to see how much higher Chopper's kill count can go with this show

[@jasonlauritsen5587]

@@nightsplurge810 oh i enjoy his murderous ways too, I'm just stating that, that is technically a major character flaw by most people standards

[@bryanmiller8604]

@@jasonlauritsen5587Just because your droid happens to be a CPTSD, murder-hobo, doesn’t mean you should unplug, & disassemble it. Chopper, & Hera are family after all.

[@TheMetahedron]

★ Thank You. A Great Video. Hints of Patton here. A Career Soldier vs. Newbies. ★

[@blucheer8743]

The actress playing Hera is doing such an awesome job she really gets her… she really has come to life in “ahsoka” awesome!

[@minximayhem]

08:18 Most of those senators weren't elected by their people. Most were hereditarily seated due to either their position in their home world's nobility or in the case of Naboo civil service. But even then Naboo chose within it's more affluent class. The Senate was corrupt as hell before the Empire and corrupt as hell after the Empire hahahaha Probably even more so. The galactic civil war was basically fought to restore the corrupt surviving senators back to their offices. So yeah, they are happy as Nerfs to ignore Imperial loyalists. Because they are just secretly arresting and mind flaying them.

[@vinnydiaz6959]

look where europe is with their “economic growth”

[@GRIGGINS1]

Sadly most of Europe forgot the lessons of WW2. The most important lesson is the Enemy gets a vote.

[@thorpeaaron1110]

Hera's plight kinda reminds me of the plight of veterans in our own world many of them risking their lives to preserve our freedom only to be push aside and treated like garbage by our government.

[@K1ng1995]

Wonder Woman even got that same treatment from Eisenhower and Nixon in The New Frontier

[@macalcord]

I disagree with you on a few points..Ok don't give her a fleet..Give her a recon unit and prep a strike team because a threat unseen is no less a threat..They should have listen...Hell this is the second time a highly decorated officer tried to warn them a threat is looming and they ignored it.

[@lgndairborne627]

Hera is right, politicians should have to have served in the military before being allowed to run for office, that’s the problem with our government they can send people to war but they are useless humans who have never been to war, political talk is so false with people always saying one thing and not meaning it, Hera isn’t chasing the past she is speaking the truth and being blunt about it.

[@gadoo24]

I kinda like how in this instance, Hera is like the Rebel/Republic counterpart to Thran. Both are great leaders and tacticians. However, both of them are terrible when it comes to politics, so they are unable to get what they need to complete their objectives. Thran couldn't play politics to get funding and resources for the TIE Defender program and Hera is unable to play politics when it comes to getting resources for her investigation into the literal witch hunt for Morgan Elspeth.

[@Narco42]

As a Military Officer. Hera did everything correctly when engaging the politicians. She uses her professional military experience to pull the pants down on the civilians. Any reasonable civilian politician who doesn't want a war would immediately send a task force to check out this piece of intel so they could do everything they can to prevent it.

[@AlissonBirck]

I found your channel last week and I fucking love the way you explain stuff. Great fucking job. Subbed and will watch many videos!

[@WilliamAGould]

Weak leadership can be far more dangerous than corrupt leadership. As corrupt leadership can be, such leadership usually has a direction it is going. The direction is likely only in the best interests of those that are part of the leadership, but it is usually a direction towards a long term goal. Weak leadership is usually directionless, preferring expediency and shortsightedness over needed long term goals. The only thing worse than weak leadership is corrupt, weak leadership.

[@Lukeywoodsey]

"Easy to say politicians are evil" Yes it is have you seen the UK government? 🤷‍♂️

[@ChairmanKam]

14:10 You know, it used to be that if you weren't a vet your odds of being a politician were low. This was also back when they had reasonable approval ratings. Just saying.

[@GenerationTech]

approval ratings are lower now because we have more access to politicians than ever. More of the general population was soldiers thanks to WWII and Vietnam.

[@ChairmanKam]

@@GenerationTech Yes I know. I brought that era up because it is a better analog to this point in Star Wars. At least to my mind. It was similar during the early years of the US.

[@lupo5586]

I thought this senate briefing scene was kinda stupid. Why would they not allow her to pursue some remnants of the imperial military? That is the only job the republic fleet had at the time (correct me if I'm wrong but there weren't any other wars to fight). She shouldn't even need the threat of Thrawn to justify that mission, recapturing a high-ranking imperial officer who escaped from prison with the help of force wielding bad guys should be more than enough. And it's not as if they had another important mission for Hera, the senate just had here sit around in open space.

[@ArtofLunatik]

Im starting to think Saw Guerrera was right about all these political factions when he ranted about em in Andor. Theyre lost.

[@kushgodreturns5873]

Ezra and Kanan would be disgusting at the republic.

[@Tendon-Cobar-2347]

Everyone who served in the Republic would be disgusted with this thing that isnt even baced out of the Capital of the Galaxy that stole their name.

[@shinystarmiestudios4179]

I'm disgusted with the Stupid Republic. How the Stupid Republic collapsed before the Stupid Order did.

[@StrykeSZN]

Indeed. This isn’t what they sacrificed their lives for. Hopefully Ezra will come back and help if they don’t get stuck in the new Galaxy

[@Tendon-Cobar-2347]

@@StrykeSZN Ezra wouldn't even have to come back if they behaved liks the majority of citizens of the empire and and most likely well off too if they turned in Kanan like ghe majority of every normal non person would do. Hell even criminal organisations Turned in jedi to the empire.

[@RealCodreX]

Hera: You destroyed me! New Republic: You did this to yourself!

[@jozzieokes3422]

My favourite character in the show. Its sad whats going to happen to her.

[@allen100k]

All your vids are good but this one well chefs kiss

[@HoldenWitherow]

I hate see hera go but I love to see her walk away ❤

[@Deaman1331]

Lmao at the random shot at Poland, the hell? Have you watched the news?