Vespas in Star Wars? Let’s talk about that.

As an avid Star Wars comic book reader, there have been allot of strange things created for that medium, and since Jon & Dave are following the success of Kevin Feige, they're creating things that we would normally see in that medium. They're introducing characters the non-readers no nothing about, for example Black Krrsantan. I'm looking forward to more zany creations... LOL. It feels like Star Wars to me.

 

Mind you, I found the color of the bikes or Vespas rather glaring for Tatooine. But some fans seemed to be confusing the actual bikes for the characters themselves.

 

I think they kinda go hand in hand. The characters are eccentric modified youths- basically, what we might call "punks" in our world (hold on, having to take a break to clutch my back and take my meds as I type that out).

It makes sense that the characters would be very counter-culture to the typical stuff in Mos Espa. And unlike something like Mad Max where basically the whole world is a massive sandpit, Tatooine exists in a universe where it's relatively easy to travel between vastly different planets. It makes a ton of sense that counter culture youths would've valued things that make them stand out from the rest of their planet, and it especially makes sense that those things would be "cars"- especially when we're really just talking some parts and a few cans of paint.

If anything, it's surprising that we don't see quite a bit more variety in a supposed spaceport like Mos Espa/Eisley. Historically, crossroads like Venice or Istanbul were melting pots of diversity in all things.

 

I was okay with cyborg bikers and I was okay with the chase (given its comedic intention.) But the bright colors and 'newness' of the bikes didn't work. Not only did it not fit the Tattooine vibe, it begs the question what are petty water theives with no jobs doing with new bikes?

Overall, I loved the show -- especially Eps: 5,6,7 and 2. But it could have been better. Those of you familar with Youtuber, Starman Universe's SW reaction videos might want to check out his latest video. He does a great job of highlighting how the series could have been better.

 

The speed of the chase didn't really work for me, but that's the only issue I had. As far as the bright colors... this is Star Wars and there's plenty examples of bright colors. The idea that everything in the galaxy has to look used and muted is kind of silly. Overall I enjoyed the series. The weakest bit was having to tell the backstory which is always a chore. Please. no more Star Wars backstories. This is why I'm not hopeful about Obi Wan.

 

Since the end of the war and the Empire fell it would have become easier for outer rim folks to get their hands on vehicles from, say, Coruscant. Which would obviously seem out of place on Tatooine.

 

I don't mind them, they just need to be a little more concise.

Mando's flashbacks to his childhood in S1 gave us some of the coolest looking live action Clone Wars content we've ever gotten (the tech has come a long way since the prequels, and the brief glimpses we got of the separatists were glorious) and the Armorer's flashback of Mandalore's fall was well done, too. But yeah, we didn't need four episodes of Fett flashbacks only for none of it to ultimately mean much thematically or narratively.

 

I probably should have said backstories on long existing characters. I didn't mind your examples because they were a crucial part of the story. Whereas most of Fett's backstory felt like "we have to explain how he's alive." They did attempt to work in the Sand People as Fett's path away from his previous life, but that's a lot of backstory.

 

I didn't mind them at the time. But I was disappointed that there was ultimately no payoff for them.

I guess we were supposed to extrapolate that Boba's newfound sense of family he gained from his time with the Tuskins now applies to the citizens of Mos Espa. It was one of the more awkward bits of TBoBF's storytelling. But I can forgive it given all the good stuff we also got.

 

The cybernetically modified kids gang of TBOBF call themselves "Mods", which is a shortened version of the word "modified".

As a Briton, I fully understand why the Vespa's are in this show.; its a play of words of the "Mod" name.

In another galaxy far, far from theirs on the planet Earth during the mid 1960s were British teenage gangs called the "Mods". However, these earthling "Mods" got their name from their "modern" fashions and alternative modern lifestyle.

Cars were still prohibitively expensive for teenagers in the UK in the 1960s, so they rode motorised scooters or mopeds instead. These mopeds and scooters were often decorated with large numbers of rear-view mirrors and headlights.

The "Mods" wore big hooded "Parka" style coats (usually found with a British Royal Air Force roundel patch sewn on the back) and were often found listening to the latest modern pop music records in coffee shops.

The Mods were arch rivals to motorcycle biker gangs of "Rockers", who rode powerful Norton or BSA motorcycles. The Mods and Rockers gangs both rejected the standard accepted expectations of life and usually fought with each other wherever they met.

The 1979 film "Quadrophenia" was based on this 1960s culture. Some people compare this film as a British version of the George Lucas classic "American Graffiti".

 

I had no Star Wars problem with the Vespas but I have major Tattooine issues with them.

What do they do to keep them all bright, shiny, and clean with all of that irritating sand everywhere?

You could be wiping them down and waxing every moment of every day and not be able to keep them that glowing.

 

In TPM, several of the podracers are shiny and Queen Amidala's Nubian Royal Starship -- which sits parked in the desert on the outskirts of Mos Espa for a day and a night and a morning (or whatever it is), during which time it also weathers a heavy dust storm -- was still very shiny when the gang leaves Tatooine for Coruscant. Perhaps the SW folks have better paints or wax than what we've presently got here on Earth. Of all the things to complain about...


On a related note, I recently rewatched the episode on a much better TV than I had back when it first aired, and it worked A LOT better on a proper telly. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and now raise my score to 6/10.

 

It’s funny I notice people riding Vespas now. Lol Star Wars is a strong franchise. Even when fandom dislikes something the world at large embraces it.

 

The only disappointing about the vespas is that I didn't see Princess Vespa show up

 

Btw, Mod gangs in England didn't always ride Vespa's, they had Lambretta's too.

 

Found a decent documentary about the Mods vs Rockers scene of the 1960s:

 

First of all, they park them every night in a high place : very important to keep the high ground over the sand.
Second : the gang spends a lot of time cleaning their proud monts. They are so civilized there, y'know.

 

Why are people still discussing the Vespas ridden by that street gang?

 

Honestly, my first reaction was to throw an old man rant about them dang kids and their motor scooters. They don't belong on Tattooine!
Then I had to remind myself that this is the same place we just saw a woman sitting in a bar playing cards with a six foot tall ant while a little blue elephant and his band played funky jazz. Let's not jump head first into the whole "doesn't fit in" argument.

Secondly, for everyone saying that the bikes are too flashy/shiny/clean for where they are, y'all have obviously not spent too much time on the seedier side of town. Customized cars/bikes is not necessarily a wealthy-folks-only culture, and they are bright, shiny and clean always. Mos Espa's Mod gang did stand out. That was their intent! Shiny bikes, shiny body parts, shiny clothes, they were showing off. I rolled my eyes much more about the swoop bike gang that Boba fought. They looked ridiculous all decked out in black leather vests and bandanas like they were the Sons of Anarchy Dune Sea Chapter.

 

It never dawned on me at the time that leather-clad bikers on a hot, desert planet was actually more ridiculous than our vespa crew. Oops