It's an exciting time of year; we're ranking The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special! Having a shirtless Kylo Ren, Billy Dee Williams as Lando, Kelly Marie Tran as Rose, and jokes upon jokes, there's a lot to appreciate with this one. We'll look at the story, characters, technical aspects, music, and the immersive universe it creates. Join us as we unravel the unique features of the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special.
"It really was a lot of fun" - Brody
This particular Holiday Special provides a unique opportunity to experience the universe in an entirely new way. By combining the classic storytelling of the whole Star Wars saga with the playful fun of Lego, it offers a fresh yet familiar immersive experience that us fans (both children and adults) can enjoy. With this combination of classic Star Wars storytelling and Lego fun, the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special is a must-watch for fans of the franchise.
"This nailed comedy really well" - Christian
The story is nothing but fun, and the characters were enjoyable. I think we can all agree the best part of the Special was the laugh-out-loud references to the saga films. It was a great way to tie everything together and make the story feel more familiar. I also appreciate the attempt to make it fun for both kids and adults, not overcomplicating Rey’s goal, but keeping it entertaining with the vast change in scenery all within an hour’s time. There were a lot of jokes and gags that everyone could enjoy. Overall, the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special is a great addition to the Star Wars canon…or is it canon?
During the podcast, we discussed the Christmas gifts that we received this year. Amanda was given lightsaber chopsticks that change colors, which are perfect for having mini lightsaber battles or making TikTok content. My son received a mini Lego Razor Crest with a Mando minifigure that we enjoyed building together. Brody received a Baby Yoda mug with a lid that keeps its beverages hot. He also gave his son a variety of stuffed Star Wars characters, including a Stormtrooper, and a Darth Vader with a voice changer. A wide variety of Star Wars-related gifts were exchanged, and it's clear that us Star Wars fans have plenty of options when it comes to gifting.
"One of the first things I picked up on that I really enjoyed was how great the voice actors were" - Amanda
Getting back to the Special; it’s about Rey struggling to teach Finn the ways of the Force, while the rest of the crew plans for a big Life Day celebration on the Millenium Falcon. Rey and BB-8 find a peculiar key that allows them to travel through time and see different masters and apprentices throughout the Star Wars history. It features cameos and special appearances from Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, Leia, Max Rebo, and so much more! RIP his other band fellows. This Lego Special takes a humorous approach to the franchise, as characters from different timelines interact with each other and make comical connections. The voice actors do a great job of staying true to the characters and bringing them to life. Billy Dee Williams and Kelly Marie Tran even reprise their roles as Lando Calrissian and Rose, which was a pleasant surprise to hear. Even the insufferable Palpatine was humorous, but Brody thinks they could’ve done better with Seth MacFarlane instead.
The technical aspects of the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special aren’t as up to par as The Lego Movie or The Lego Batman Movie. It was absent of the sensible stop-motion and intuitive uses for lego bricks, granted it was much shorter than those films, at roughly 45 minutes compared to the full feature-length movies. However, the the episode was filled with great references and jokes that were tailored from the universe to the fandom. From Obi Wan Kenobi's iconic "Hello there" to the awkward moment between Hux and Kylo Ren, the laughs were there for both adults and children to enjoy. The Lego movies are known for their great comedy and thankfully this one was no exception.
"I think this was my favorite Lego movie I've ever seen" - Brody
Ranking higher than the technical aspects is the immersive universe. With the inclusion of various characters and references from different timelines, it was able to create an enjoyable and comical experience that brought it all together in a way that Rise of Skywalker fell short. It gets back to the relationships between a master and their apprentice, arguably at the heart of Star Wars storytelling. The music was also done well, utilizing a variety of themes from different Star Wars eras. It was orchestral and full of motifs that were recognizable from the franchise. It’s certainly a fun, light-hearted take on the franchise and is worth watching for any Star Wars fan.
While it’s not as serious or consequential as other Star Wars content, does that mean it should be cast into a different basket altogether? Absolutely not. Like everything else, we broke down each category to objectively rank (to the best of our ability) this animation with the current times in mind. One thing is undeniable: Its comedic inside jokes approach will be sure to put a smile on the face of any fan, and that’s a special thing for the Star Wars community. It plays off of unsaid truths some of the fandom might share. It resonated with Amanda and her beef with the politics of The Phantom Menace, the absurdity of Palpatine’s return in The Rise of Skywalker, and it makes light of Anakin’s hatred for Obi-Wan during Revenge of the Sith. That’s part of why we also couldn’t come up with any serious hot takes for the feature. It’s about silliness, family, friends, and Life Day. All things that shouldn’t be polarizing to the fandom. So what if all of our takes were milquetoast? Great! We could all use a break on ruffling the feathers this holiday season. But we had fun stumbling our way through that hot takes segment of our show.
Overall, the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special is a great way to celebrate this festive time of year. It will bring a smile to the faces of kids and adults alike. If you are looking for a fun, family-friendly way to celebrate the holidays, then it’s the perfect choice. Plus, it’s a great way to introduce the little ones to Star Wars without spoiling the good stuff. So what are you waiting for? Watch it with friends and family, you won’t regret it.