His writing isn’t even crazy, he’s just a solid character with his own morals and agenda. In Star Wars, we’ve gotten used to characters as plot devices.
@@QuintusAntonious oh yeah he nails it! Not just delivery but physically. His lightsaber technique is very deliberate. It’s as if he’s putting more effort into moving his arms rather than the blade so it stays very vertical. Very cool to watch.
Its because he brought to Star Wars a very classic character trope: the black knight. He's got a code of his own but he's not a hero. He's a mercenary with a code. And Shin is the quintessential overeager squire. Its familiar and classic. Love it!
@@GenerationTechI don’t know about the avoiding division thing. I mean, look at the Star Wars Fandom over Disney. There are two sides, the Pro-Disney side and the Anti-Disney Side. Some in the former group view critics of modern Star Wars as just being haters wanting to stir up trouble while some in the latter group view supporters of modern Star Wars as blindly loyal fans no matter what Disney does. Some folks in the latter camp might view TH-camrs like you, Geetsly, Star Wars Explained, and Eckharts Ladder as being blind despite the fact most of not all of you make it clear you like and even prefer Legends since you keep giving some praise to modern shows. I am a little annoyed by the Anti-Disney fans since they mostly seem to only cite the live-action shows, the movies, and every now and then the Jedi video games while ignoring the animated shows, novels, and comics. At least with the latter two they can be excused since most fans watch TV, but sometimes it’s like the animated shows don’t even exist given some articles. Anyways though, I just don’t know. Kathleen Kennedy and Disney are just too unpopular to one side of the fandom. Even people who concede that Star Wars is mediocre at worst and not terrible have very mixed feelings on Disney. Even I have to concede that one peeve I’ve got against Star Wars is a lack of vision. Besides the High Republic Project and the Marvel Comics set in between the Original Trilogy movies, the rest of Star Wars feels scattered. If you look at the shows and movies coming out, they’re all over the place when it comes to eras. With all your talk on morally grey characters, I guess I would sound like a great inspiration for such a character right now. I acknowledge Disney Star Wars is mediocre with a hit-and-miss on its live-action shows and it just makes me wonder what the leadership is thinking. However I have a high tolerance for stories that are just “ok” and I also like the other stuff like the animated shows, video games, novels, and comics. I agree Star Wars needs improvement, but I also disagree that Disney is killing the franchise. Honestly stuff like this just drives me from TH-cam and X, not that I ever make any comments on the latter. Honestly it’s easy to take a side on stuff like Trump, the War in Ukraine, and Laws on Guns. But there is just too many other things I’m indecisive about when everyone’s clamoring to take a side and how being neutral isn’t a good thing. God, if I ever become a writer, I think I’m going to be torn between what I want to write and what my fans want. Compromise and trying to please the most people sounds damn hard.
@GenerationTech what they can do is let that push shin into a total monster. She loses her mentor, And what if they make it thrawn's fault to her. Now we have this angry possibly unstable ally for asoka to manage. She thought Sabine was a bad padawan, now you get angry girl with some force juice in the tank.
he’s such a great character portrayed by the great Ray Stevenson. RIP to a legend, it’s truly a shame we won’t see this character again but it’s even sadder that we won’t see ray again ❤
Similar autonomous mindset, but have Qui taken a more Dooku road. His style countered Ashoka. I can't picture him losing to PM Maul neither CW. I would scale him as Dooku before Sith training.
@@ΓιωργοςΦραγκιαδακης-μ1ζI've been using the Dooku comp too. Ahsoka is impressive, to outclass her twice in a 1v1 is a serious feat. I'm gonna go out a limb and say he's as strong as Clonewars Dooku. Expert duelists using the dark side but Baylan uses strength while Dooku uses finesse
@@brandonl7759 The latest animated series showcased that the reason his was recruited by Sidius was because he was already top5 Jedi duelist. Initiation and force lightingh was all he had to offer him thus why he feared him. Mundi and Windu spoke highly of him for a good reason. His age matches that of the time of PM.
I feel like Baylan is such a great villain for the simple fact that his character is portrayed as a simple man. No whining about his tragic past and no one trying to say he is just misunderstood. He is a villain with his own goals and he understands that his goals will cause suffering across the galaxy but he feels that it is the best way to move forward.
He isn't pro-Empire or Pro-Republic, he wants a war but he doesn't want to be involved. I think it might be an anarchist that wants to see it all burn down and not have a galaxy-wide goverment.
And he isn't wrong. Thrawn's Empire of the Hand in the old EU was far more efficient than the New Republic and far more fair. Thrawn's Empire would've been one of peace.
@@TheLastKentuckyIrregular9524nah this is some fascist apologist bullshit. You’re forgetting thrawn was also a genocidal maniac and the empire committed uncountable atrocities. The new republic is a mess and not great but iirc they aren’t making an effort to invade and subjugate independent systems like the empire and republic before them.
I'm also sick of those tragic, villains with an oh so tear jerking past, that you see everywhere nowadays, just in order to shove in some "grey depiction" in the cheapest possible way.
@DarknessGuard their not even well depicted. They're cartoonishly evil or incompetent and their grey morality is shallow, but to be fair so are the heroes as well.
Ahsoka is only using one blade because Baylan Skool's single blows would obliterate a single hand block. Look what happens at the end of the duel when Ahsoka is forced to block with one hand due to her injury. He just powers through her. She KNEW that about him from the beginning and realized that she needed to match his form to be beat him.
Ahsoka wanted to grab the map, for her own search for Ezra... Had she kept her resolve, she would just cut it down with lightsaber, instead of ill-fated attempt to capture it But she had doubts, in no small measure due to Sabine
I sort of thought of that too. It is a fantasy so rule of cool is in effect a lot, but that said a lot of the more choreographed and "masterful" Lightsaber duels do use a lot of real life duelist theory and martial arts and generally in real life dual wielding even at its most realistic application (generally a normal but not too heavy main weapon, and a smaller shortsword or even a dagger so even thats reflected by her fighting style here.) was extremely situational. I figured even if Ahsoka is a specialist in dual wielding, her training has taught her of the moments when it's just not applicable. Maybe she intended to use it as a surprise attack at one point too at most but then she burned her other hand If not that I figured she just wanted a free hand to catch the map and get out since that seemed to be her priority which is probably more likely whats going on.
when ahsoka used two blades against vader she was holding her own quite well and vader is a much bigger heavy hitter then baylan. also is no one going to talk about how she only used one blade against marrok? unlike with baylan where people can try to say ahsoka was trying to grab the map the same cant be said with marrok
My favorite line of his thus far is “How inevitable.” It just drips with regret. You can tell he’d rather not be doing this, that if it were up to him some kind of common goal could be found and competent, powerful people could work together. He says so much with so few words. Very well written and excellently executed.
Whether as legendary pirate Blackbeard or legionnaire Titus Pullo, Ray Stephenson has always been a force to watch in whatever role he found himself as. His passing is such a blow to the world of acting.
He’s fantastic. The way him and shin are written with mythology inspiration is great. He’s a methodical fighter and a heavy hitter. It’s unfortunate this is the last of Ray/Baylan we will see
Even their names are heavily inspired by mythology Baylan Skoll Shin Hati Skoll and Hati are the two wolves in norse mythology that chase the sun and moon, and Ragnarok starts when they finally catch and eat them
I loved the note of fear in Baelin's face when thinking about fighting Ahsoka. I love it so much when the Villain has to struggle even as the protagonists are. He knows that all their plans could be foiled by a simple duel, and that duel will be fought against a former jedi trained by arguably one of the 4 best swordsmasters of their era. He did everything he could to buy time when the fight came, but also showed genuinely soldierly compassion. "We're on opposite sides, but she's not a bad person. I don't *want* to kill her, but I will if I have to." sort of mentality.
Baylon to me is like a very cool dark version of Obi Wan. The way he is so reserved and deliberate in the words he chooses and the even the expressions he makes is very similar. I totally agree that it's the performance delivered by Ray Stevenson that makes the character so interesting and likeable despite being the bad guy. Star Wars doesn't often see a lot of really good acting, I think that is in part why people loved Andor so much, the acting was top notch, it draws you in more to something you might otherwise not care about. I think book of Boba Fett and Mando season 3 suffered greatly from a lack of good acting, making us not really care about what was going on throughout the season despite having all the ingredients to make a great show.
Really digged this video. "if only we could just be more empathetic to one another... We'd be in a much better place." Love the genuine personality you bring to this content. Makes it stand out from other Star Wars stuff.
Ray Stevenson promised that we will love Baylan and he delivered. RIP Ray you were awesome. Also Baylan is what I imagine how dark sider who is pragmatic should be. That is why I personally love Baylan as character.
I was looking for someone to say this. Yes, I totally agree, he's less a villain and more an antagonist. His goals simply don't align with the protagonists. He has morals he has rationality, If it weren't for the fact that he just wants control of his situation he might even go against Morgan if someone could provide him a better option.
Miss Ray. He acted in other shows and movies I really enjoyed and he always did a solid guy. He did such a good job whenever he was in front of the camera. A really great actor taken way too soon.
I can't imagine how awesome it'll be to have Baylan and Thrawn team up, the two are practically made for each other. A shame that Ray's passing will inevitably have an impact in case of a S2, assuming the character survives S1 that is
After just four episodes he's become one of my favorite characters in Star Wars. Sucks that we won't get to see him after this season and that he didn't get to see how much we love his work. RIP.
Really? Out all the characters, all the plots, story lines, he’s your favorite after only 4 episodes with almost no back round or any information on him?
@@Wildkoala1I agree, I’m a huge Star Wars nerd and in just 4 short episodes he’s become one of my favorites. Not because I am that easily swayed but because his character is that well constructed. Good writing and acting goes a longgg way.
It's a good point that Ahsoka is acting more like a 'traditional' Jedi I.e. 'me good guy, you bad guy'. She didn't even attempt to explore Baylan's motivations, which she did at first when facing Maul on Mandalore - that is before caving to her irrational idealisation of Anakin. There was a timer, yes, but a dialogue might have taken less time than a fight.
Baylon and Ahsoka had a very brief discussion of his motivations before the fight and she simply said "ambitious", suggesting both of them know exactly what he is trying to do. And it didn't make her reconsider stopping him. I think it was enough to show they both know a bit more of each other than we do.
That duel with Ahsoka was excellent. Baylan proving his superior strength, but needing to keep her off balance mentally, as he knew she was a very formidable opponent. He resents the fact they're on opposite sides, as deep down he truly respects her skill and renown.
12:14 I love your speeches "it's the ideas I hate, not the people" well said!👏 if only more people could see things this way, the world truly would be a better place.
It's refreshing to have a villain who isn't either a deranged maniac, tyrannical despot or previously decent guy who snapped one day cos his goldfish died, so far Baylan seems a bit more 3 dimensional, fingers crossed they stick the landin with him
@@albertbarie5305 He was the iirc Ukrainian Mob Boss, the one that was in charge of the Strip Clubs, killed a ton of folks, had Hanna kidnapped, then he and Dexter bonded, kinda became friends, right before he died(not by Dexter). Ok I checked he played Isaac Sirko.
both Baylon and Dooku seem like they would’ve made really good light light side characters. If events in their life had just happened slightly different. They both seem like Reasonable people rather than villains. I really like the direction they are going In the show, and I really hope that Thron gets the same treatment as Baylon.
From Baylan's point of view the Jedi Order was a cult and Palpatine gave him the opportunity to gain more life experiences and broaden his outlook. Imagine a person who grows up in a strict religion and then moves to a major capital city with decent nightlife and multiple cultures.
I genuinely think this is your best, most enlightening and heartwarming TH-cam video yet. Hearing your opinions beyond Star Wars and your approach to the world and humanity was truly wonderful and uplifting to listen to; and your analysis when it came to Star Wars was superb, breaking down Baylan as a character and how his character relates to a greater context on the human condition. You're a super intelligent, likeable, insightful and good hearted man, Allen, and of course I've always thought this, but you've best exhibited these lovely and *human* attributes in this video. It's an exciting time in the world, and there's no better use of my time than experiencing this excitement with you, Allen. Thank you for this amazing video. Bravo my friend, bravo!
What a great video and what a great loss. Ray's turn in Rome was one of the most charismatic TV performances I can remember. And this series, floored though it is, is a worthy last vehicle
He seems to want a war between the Imperial Remnant and the New Republic but doesn't want to be on either side. I think probably sees the Empire and Republic as the same thing, a corrupt galaxy wide government, and wants to see it all burn. Without a central government Force Users can do anything they want and go anywhere they want.
Maybe she only used one saber because she anticipated she would need all her strength to block his attacks. There is more strength in two hands than just one.
@trillionbones89 If she used both at the same time, absolutely. But I doubt she could've blocked with an individial saber while dual-wielding. Someone else pointed out that she was only forced off the cliff after she burned her hand and couldn't hold her saber with it, and that's why she used the force.
Bro that was beautiful. So glad to see a content creator that is more than just recapping an episode like everyone else. Those were some great words of wisdom towards the last half of your video. Cheers! And MTFBWY.
The duel-wielding Ahsoka may be various factors (stunt double, story decision, etc). The stunt double for Rosario in Mandalorian was Caitlin Dechelle who can definitely dual wield (you can watch some of her videos). The stunt double for Rosario in Ahsoka is Michelle Lee (I'm not sure if she can dual wield. I haven't searched on her much).
It was a story reason not a stunt double or Rosario issue. She dual wielded against the HK Droids in EP1, against the Inquisitor in EP2 and at the start of EP4.
I love generation tech and Allen. Awesome content creator. So original and fresh. Not a hater, just a deep thinker on all things Star Wars. Keep it up!
He creates some sort of conflit in us i would say. We know he his evil, but he is so cool and likable, that we end up rooting for him as well. What a great character!
Because Baylan brings back the Lawful evil side of the Sith. You can tell he is a gentleman warrior, you can tell he still has compassion and empathy. he really seems like a dark Obi-Wan and i love it. best Star Wars character in decades.
Why Ahsoka didnt dualwield against Skoll is explained in the Book of Five rings by Musashi himself who stated that dualwielding is better for the battlefield, with multiple opponents, while he himself also favored single wield against a single opponent. Maybe Ashoka viewed the spear as similar to fighting multiple opponents which is why she fought Elsbeth dual wielding but saw Skoll as a single opponent where she would need both hands to face the two handed strength (which we also saw that once Ahsoka burned her hand Skoll immediately got the strength advantage.)
Yes, I believe she was trying to go for a single powerful kill strike (like she used with Marrok), but Baylan had his defense locked down. I also belive that she needed a 2 handed grip, to defend against such powerful strikes he was landing.
I feel like she used 1 blade for the simple reason that she was dueling a huge opponent, he could have smashed through a blade held in one hand. She needed the leverage.
She probably was planning to use the free hand to grab the artifact but Baylan's assault was just too heavy and powerful plus she lost focus with the whole Sabine situation.
More than that, she was facing a competent huge opponent who isn’t fighting at a handicap. Vader may have been big, strong and competent but he was also slower and clunkier than he could have been at full potential. Plus Ahsoka knew his style even if he’d altered it to adapt to his cybernetics. 5th Brother was big and strong but inept, hobbled by his Inquisitor training. He relied on ferocity and fear to overwhelm his opponent instead of honing his skills. Baylan is more competent than 5th Brother, faster than Vader and probably almost as strong as either of them with the Force enhancing his physical abilities. The right combination to make it so Jar’Kai is too risky. The fact that she doesn’t use it despite having used it against fighters it should have been weak against spoke volumes of how Ahsoka viewed him.
I predicted that Baylan would be the Jetstream Sam of this show, and I was right. He's a charismatic mercenary with a red blade who's far from being a blind accessory to evil. And Ahsoka lost because she denied her weapon its purpose; it yearned to bathe in the blood of her enemies, yet she held it back, and used it as a tool. Well, this is what happens when you bring a tool to a swordfight. :) That, and Ahsoka only used one blade to focus all her strength on it. If she used two blades, Baylan would knock them out of her grasp.
My thought as to why ahsoka used one saver is simply that she saw his size, and his long hilt and concluded that he will be using great strength and leverage. Ahsoka herself is a bit small, so she decided to focus her strength for defense. Notice when she lost the use of one of her hands she was being knocked around like a doll
I like the good Lord Baylan because he is so well written. He actually made me think we should destroy to make new. He broke the fourth wall, he used his powers to get in MY head, and I'm pro Light side.... I was, I am... I think, I don't know. We need more characters like him with his depth and width... oceans over puddles.
The dark side is better and more powerful. Don’t listen to yoda and his propaganda. If you can control and direct the dark side it’s the most powerful tool you’ll ever have
He has been refreshing and great. Reminds me of how Kreia was written for KotOR 2 and if the writing is well enough and the person delivers it great... can be much better. The small facial expressions he has when talking about things. As you pointed out, regret and a smugness when he goaded Ahsoka into attacking with power over speed. Manipulation of Sabine was one thing but than he for the most part kept his word so far.
it was awesome that Baylan was looking more Jedi like than Ahsoka in this duel. he was trying to reason, while she was dead set on violence in name of stopping Thrawns return - at all costs (absolutes Sith anyone?) he looked like genuinely sad when he said "it didnt have to end like this!" and he finally spared Sabine from Shin's wrath, providing he keeps his word, a good quality in a mercenary...
Most salient observation: “I gotta’ stop saying everything that comes into my head. Or at least stay away from the spice before hitting record. LOL Seriously, love your videos, man!
Ahsoka uses single lightsaber because with a very strong opponent as Baylan it would be very difficult to stop his attacks using just one hand. She's smart, the guy looks like a medieval knight, his lightsaber is also unique and I bet she knows everything about that lightsaber thanks to Huyang and acts on that knowledge. A very Thrawn-ish thing to do I must say.
I did feel like the video was personalized to me, since I'm also an Allan (regardless of how you spell yours), and I appreciate that. Thanks Generation Tech!
My theory for the single blade is that Skoll’s lightsaber seems to be wielded with a lot of weight and force behind it, as such to fully block it she may need both hands on a single blade. So maybe not a skill disparity, but just a bad matchup for Ashoka
It could be but forcé powers sometimes are as strong as the plot dictates. She was blocking general grevious strikes when she was less experience and he was literally a lightsaber flailing machine.
My 8 year old and I love watching this channel together. Right now he's sitting in front of the TV and he can't watch this very video will he's eaten his vegetables. Thank you Alan for creating family friendly content.
I really enjoy morally grey characters because it is more true to life. We have heard Baylan say to his apprentice that when they find Thrawn some will have war, some will have a new beginning, and they will have unimaginable power. His motives are not yet clear but the singular pursuit of power is never good or beneficial in real life or the galaxy far away. Don't forget he slaughtered that ship crew to achieve his goals. He's not more relatable and reasonable than Ahsoka. He's still a murderous villain; a regretful murderous villain and a more true to life depiction, but a villain still. He obviously used to be a descent person because he was a Jedi and though heavily flawed they are still "do gooders". I like the character but lets not go overboard.
Right on bro' Why can't we all just get along? Another great video and perspective. Very much enjoying Ahsoka and the wider "Rebels" characters. Keep up the great work :)
I love him because he’s so imposing physically, but extremely calm and cool tempered, not to mention slow and calculating in his lightsaber combat. He’s just a great villain, who obviously has a backstory full of trauma and respect for the Jedi and the Empire alike.
That's why he's so different from the typical Sith or Dark Jedi - no megalomania or temper tantrums, just cool professionalism and thoughtful introspection.
Major props to Dave Filoni for creating such great villain whose already more intriguing than Moff Gideon, Snoke, Capt Phasma and Kylo Ren. Ray is killiing it! RIP
his character has depth, he's not an open book the viewers dont understand within 5 minutes. he also doesnt seem to be the generic bad guy who just kills kills kills, he seems to have a genuine nurturing approach to Shin. then theres his charisma.
He’s written very well. His character isn’t just evil and makes a great argument for his beliefs. He’s a smart character, calm and badass. Visually - a Darth Vader without the suit
I really enjoyed how the more I saw of him, the more convinced I was that he wasn't bad or evil. He's just a mercenary, and we all know Star Wars is basically a western. Most of the fights he's in, he doesn't start - he goes straight for that diplomacy first.
Excellent brakedown of an excellent character. U ring up a lot of really good points that I don't think I have heard anyone else recognize. Also, pointing out that Ahsoka betrayed Sabine instead of the other way around... Nice job
Fun Fact. Baylan Skoll is the master of padawan Shin Hati. In nordic mythology There are two wolf brothers called Skoll and Hati. Skoll is the wolf pursuing the sun to eat it, while Hati is pursuing the Moon for the same reason. Maybe just a reference maybe not.
Fun fact: republican credit IS A CRYPTOCURRENCY! And he (Palpatine) is The dealer. Learned from Muun banker Hego Damask also known as Darth Plagueis the Wise.
His writing isn’t even crazy, he’s just a solid character with his own morals and agenda. In Star Wars, we’ve gotten used to characters as plot devices.
Agreed!
solid way to put it 💯
This is the best answer.
Ray Stevenson also has tremendous charisma and presence, which really helps the character.
@@QuintusAntonious oh yeah he nails it! Not just delivery but physically. His lightsaber technique is very deliberate. It’s as if he’s putting more effort into moving his arms rather than the blade so it stays very vertical. Very cool to watch.
Its because he brought to Star Wars a very classic character trope: the black knight. He's got a code of his own but he's not a hero. He's a mercenary with a code. And Shin is the quintessential overeager squire. Its familiar and classic. Love it!
Dude he's SO a black knight omg
how tragic that Ray left us so soon. I am treasuring every moment with him here.
such a tragedy
@@GenerationTecha shame indeed. If only he could’ve seen the love he was getting for his performance.
maybe he can... you know cosmic force and all
@@GenerationTechI don’t know about the avoiding division thing. I mean, look at the Star Wars Fandom over Disney. There are two sides, the Pro-Disney side and the Anti-Disney Side. Some in the former group view critics of modern Star Wars as just being haters wanting to stir up trouble while some in the latter group view supporters of modern Star Wars as blindly loyal fans no matter what Disney does. Some folks in the latter camp might view TH-camrs like you, Geetsly, Star Wars Explained, and Eckharts Ladder as being blind despite the fact most of not all of you make it clear you like and even prefer Legends since you keep giving some praise to modern shows.
I am a little annoyed by the Anti-Disney fans since they mostly seem to only cite the live-action shows, the movies, and every now and then the Jedi video games while ignoring the animated shows, novels, and comics. At least with the latter two they can be excused since most fans watch TV, but sometimes it’s like the animated shows don’t even exist given some articles.
Anyways though, I just don’t know. Kathleen Kennedy and Disney are just too unpopular to one side of the fandom. Even people who concede that Star Wars is mediocre at worst and not terrible have very mixed feelings on Disney. Even I have to concede that one peeve I’ve got against Star Wars is a lack of vision. Besides the High Republic Project and the Marvel Comics set in between the Original Trilogy movies, the rest of Star Wars feels scattered. If you look at the shows and movies coming out, they’re all over the place when it comes to eras.
With all your talk on morally grey characters, I guess I would sound like a great inspiration for such a character right now. I acknowledge Disney Star Wars is mediocre with a hit-and-miss on its live-action shows and it just makes me wonder what the leadership is thinking. However I have a high tolerance for stories that are just “ok” and I also like the other stuff like the animated shows, video games, novels, and comics. I agree Star Wars needs improvement, but I also disagree that Disney is killing the franchise. Honestly stuff like this just drives me from TH-cam and X, not that I ever make any comments on the latter. Honestly it’s easy to take a side on stuff like Trump, the War in Ukraine, and Laws on Guns. But there is just too many other things I’m indecisive about when everyone’s clamoring to take a side and how being neutral isn’t a good thing.
God, if I ever become a writer, I think I’m going to be torn between what I want to write and what my fans want. Compromise and trying to please the most people sounds damn hard.
@GenerationTech what they can do is let that push shin into a total monster. She loses her mentor,
And what if they make it thrawn's fault to her. Now we have this angry possibly unstable ally for asoka to manage. She thought Sabine was a bad padawan, now you get angry girl with some force juice in the tank.
he’s such a great character portrayed by the great Ray Stevenson. RIP to a legend, it’s truly a shame we won’t see this character again but it’s even sadder that we won’t see ray again ❤
We could get the character again in animation one day with a different voice
There character we could see again ( unless he's killed) .
It's the actor unfortunately we won't see again 😔
they are replacing him with Nick Offerman
May the force be with him 🙏
@@warbringer5554 source?
Baylan is on the same tier as Qui-Gon for me. He's like an old school medieval knight. Wise, powerful, and stoic.
And a slave to his instinct. Such a hard thing to cast aside when your religion REQUIRES YOU to listen to it. As in "both" cases.... ....Oops?
Similar autonomous mindset, but have Qui taken a more Dooku road. His style countered Ashoka. I can't picture him losing to PM Maul neither CW. I would scale him as Dooku before Sith training.
@@ΓιωργοςΦραγκιαδακης-μ1ζI've been using the Dooku comp too. Ahsoka is impressive, to outclass her twice in a 1v1 is a serious feat. I'm gonna go out a limb and say he's as strong as Clonewars Dooku. Expert duelists using the dark side but Baylan uses strength while Dooku uses finesse
@@brandonl7759 The latest animated series showcased that the reason his was recruited by Sidius was because he was already top5 Jedi duelist. Initiation and force lightingh was all he had to offer him thus why he feared him. Mundi and Windu spoke highly of him for a good reason. His age matches that of the time of PM.
I feel like Baylan is such a great villain for the simple fact that his character is portrayed as a simple man. No whining about his tragic past and no one trying to say he is just misunderstood. He is a villain with his own goals and he understands that his goals will cause suffering across the galaxy but he feels that it is the best way to move forward.
He isn't pro-Empire or Pro-Republic, he wants a war but he doesn't want to be involved. I think it might be an anarchist that wants to see it all burn down and not have a galaxy-wide goverment.
And he isn't wrong. Thrawn's Empire of the Hand in the old EU was far more efficient than the New Republic and far more fair. Thrawn's Empire would've been one of peace.
@@TheLastKentuckyIrregular9524nah this is some fascist apologist bullshit. You’re forgetting thrawn was also a genocidal maniac and the empire committed uncountable atrocities. The new republic is a mess and not great but iirc they aren’t making an effort to invade and subjugate independent systems like the empire and republic before them.
I'm also sick of those tragic, villains with an oh so tear jerking past, that you see everywhere nowadays, just in order to shove in some "grey depiction" in the cheapest possible way.
@DarknessGuard their not even well depicted. They're cartoonishly evil or incompetent and their grey morality is shallow, but to be fair so are the heroes as well.
Ahsoka is only using one blade because Baylan Skool's single blows would obliterate a single hand block. Look what happens at the end of the duel when Ahsoka is forced to block with one hand due to her injury. He just powers through her. She KNEW that about him from the beginning and realized that she needed to match his form to be beat him.
I keep telling people this
Ahsoka wanted to grab the map, for her own search for Ezra...
Had she kept her resolve, she would just cut it down with lightsaber, instead of ill-fated attempt to capture it
But she had doubts, in no small measure due to Sabine
I sort of thought of that too. It is a fantasy so rule of cool is in effect a lot, but that said a lot of the more choreographed and "masterful" Lightsaber duels do use a lot of real life duelist theory and martial arts and generally in real life dual wielding even at its most realistic application (generally a normal but not too heavy main weapon, and a smaller shortsword or even a dagger so even thats reflected by her fighting style here.) was extremely situational. I figured even if Ahsoka is a specialist in dual wielding, her training has taught her of the moments when it's just not applicable. Maybe she intended to use it as a surprise attack at one point too at most but then she burned her other hand
If not that I figured she just wanted a free hand to catch the map and get out since that seemed to be her priority which is probably more likely whats going on.
She also learned from her fight with Vader that she might have had the upper hand if she used just one saber.
when ahsoka used two blades against vader she was holding her own quite well and vader is a much bigger heavy hitter then baylan. also is no one going to talk about how she only used one blade against marrok? unlike with baylan where people can try to say ahsoka was trying to grab the map the same cant be said with marrok
My favorite line of his thus far is “How inevitable.” It just drips with regret. You can tell he’d rather not be doing this, that if it were up to him some kind of common goal could be found and competent, powerful people could work together. He says so much with so few words. Very well written and excellently executed.
🔥
Whether as legendary pirate Blackbeard or legionnaire Titus Pullo, Ray Stephenson has always been a force to watch in whatever role he found himself as. His passing is such a blow to the world of acting.
He was in dexter too
@@derekchant7875and the punisher
@@nthdarkempiregamingand firefly in GI joe retaliation
Immediately after hearing of him dieing, I binge watched Rome again
@@nofuxgivens2797 and now I cry every time Vorenus yells, "Pullo, formation!" 😢
He’s fantastic. The way him and shin are written with mythology inspiration is great. He’s a methodical fighter and a heavy hitter.
It’s unfortunate this is the last of Ray/Baylan we will see
Even their names are heavily inspired by mythology
Baylan Skoll
Shin Hati
Skoll and Hati are the two wolves in norse mythology that chase the sun and moon, and Ragnarok starts when they finally catch and eat them
@sentientmustache8360 Jesus that's so amazing we need more of this in star wars!
Yep he could have easily played a part ina future movie. Really like this character and it's sad he passed away.
agreed, honestly he was the only quality part of the show... Ashoka is great, but the estrogen in the room is getting overpowering and boring
But what of a hell of a way to go out
I love how they made him good at getting inside their heads. He read Sabin like an open book in a heartbeat
I loved the note of fear in Baelin's face when thinking about fighting Ahsoka. I love it so much when the Villain has to struggle even as the protagonists are. He knows that all their plans could be foiled by a simple duel, and that duel will be fought against a former jedi trained by arguably one of the 4 best swordsmasters of their era. He did everything he could to buy time when the fight came, but also showed genuinely soldierly compassion. "We're on opposite sides, but she's not a bad person. I don't *want* to kill her, but I will if I have to." sort of mentality.
Baylon to me is like a very cool dark version of Obi Wan. The way he is so reserved and deliberate in the words he chooses and the even the expressions he makes is very similar. I totally agree that it's the performance delivered by Ray Stevenson that makes the character so interesting and likeable despite being the bad guy. Star Wars doesn't often see a lot of really good acting, I think that is in part why people loved Andor so much, the acting was top notch, it draws you in more to something you might otherwise not care about. I think book of Boba Fett and Mando season 3 suffered greatly from a lack of good acting, making us not really care about what was going on throughout the season despite having all the ingredients to make a great show.
glad I'm not the only one who saw this, I've been calling him Evil-wan Kenobi
@@theseukonnen1200He’s like a noble, evil mix between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
I think he is like evil qui gon and dooku
Really digged this video. "if only we could just be more empathetic to one another... We'd be in a much better place." Love the genuine personality you bring to this content. Makes it stand out from other Star Wars stuff.
Ray Stevenson promised that we will love Baylan and he delivered. RIP Ray you were awesome. Also Baylan is what I imagine how dark sider who is pragmatic should be. That is why I personally love Baylan as character.
RIP Ray Stevenson. Great performance as the major antagonist in Ahsoka. ❤️
💅💅💅💔
I was looking for someone to say this. Yes, I totally agree, he's less a villain and more an antagonist. His goals simply don't align with the protagonists. He has morals he has rationality, If it weren't for the fact that he just wants control of his situation he might even go against Morgan if someone could provide him a better option.
Miss Ray. He acted in other shows and movies I really enjoyed and he always did a solid guy. He did such a good job whenever he was in front of the camera. A really great actor taken way too soon.
I can't imagine how awesome it'll be to have Baylan and Thrawn team up, the two are practically made for each other. A shame that Ray's passing will inevitably have an impact in case of a S2, assuming the character survives S1 that is
After just four episodes he's become one of my favorite characters in Star Wars. Sucks that we won't get to see him after this season and that he didn't get to see how much we love his work. RIP.
Really? Out all the characters, all the plots, story lines, he’s your favorite after only 4 episodes with almost no back round or any information on him?
@@Wildkoala1I agree, I’m a huge Star Wars nerd and in just 4 short episodes he’s become one of my favorites. Not because I am that easily swayed but because his character is that well constructed. Good writing and acting goes a longgg way.
It's a good point that Ahsoka is acting more like a 'traditional' Jedi I.e. 'me good guy, you bad guy'. She didn't even attempt to explore Baylan's motivations, which she did at first when facing Maul on Mandalore - that is before caving to her irrational idealisation of Anakin. There was a timer, yes, but a dialogue might have taken less time than a fight.
Well, she did have a time constraint of the map being analyzed
Baylon and Ahsoka had a very brief discussion of his motivations before the fight and she simply said "ambitious", suggesting both of them know exactly what he is trying to do. And it didn't make her reconsider stopping him. I think it was enough to show they both know a bit more of each other than we do.
That duel with Ahsoka was excellent. Baylan proving his superior strength, but needing to keep her off balance mentally, as he knew she was a very formidable opponent. He resents the fact they're on opposite sides, as deep down he truly respects her skill and renown.
I was so devastated when I heard Ray had passed. I was a fan of all his work but in particular in Rome. Great actor!
12:14 I love your speeches "it's the ideas I hate, not the people" well said!👏 if only more people could see things this way, the world truly would be a better place.
I agree
It's refreshing to have a villain who isn't either a deranged maniac, tyrannical despot or previously decent guy who snapped one day cos his goldfish died, so far Baylan seems a bit more 3 dimensional, fingers crossed they stick the landin with him
I don't just love him in Ashoka, I loved him in Thor and I loved him in Rome. The dude is just awesome.
Check him out in Dexter! One of his very best characters!
@@r.shanethompson7933 Do you mean the remake? I saw the whole original series, but years ago, and I'm not rembering him in Dexter.
@@albertbarie5305 He was the iirc Ukrainian Mob Boss, the one that was in charge of the Strip Clubs, killed a ton of folks, had Hanna kidnapped, then he and Dexter bonded, kinda became friends, right before he died(not by Dexter). Ok I checked he played Isaac Sirko.
im so happy that asokhas series had a great start. i was scared after obi wan and bobas stories were lackluster at best. hope they keep it up
It's not surprising everyone likes this dude, he's awesome
I love the character because he acts so real. He has concerns and has a charm about him. That’s why I like him anyways
“Hi Allen, welcome back to friend, my name is Generation Tech” 😂
both Baylon and Dooku seem like they would’ve made really good light light side characters. If events in their life had just happened slightly different. They both seem like Reasonable people rather than villains. I really like the direction they are going In the show, and I really hope that Thron gets the same treatment as Baylon.
They both were awesome light side users at one point.
From Baylan's point of view the Jedi Order was a cult and Palpatine gave him the opportunity to gain more life experiences and broaden his outlook. Imagine a person who grows up in a strict religion and then moves to a major capital city with decent nightlife and multiple cultures.
I genuinely think this is your best, most enlightening and heartwarming TH-cam video yet. Hearing your opinions beyond Star Wars and your approach to the world and humanity was truly wonderful and uplifting to listen to; and your analysis when it came to Star Wars was superb, breaking down Baylan as a character and how his character relates to a greater context on the human condition. You're a super intelligent, likeable, insightful and good hearted man, Allen, and of course I've always thought this, but you've best exhibited these lovely and *human* attributes in this video. It's an exciting time in the world, and there's no better use of my time than experiencing this excitement with you, Allen. Thank you for this amazing video. Bravo my friend, bravo!
His presense is incredible. Everything about him from his voice to his posture feels just...solid. I wish we coulda had him around for longer.
Ray Stevenson gave a really good performance. I hope he enjoyed playing this role, since it tragically became his last.
Baylan is a really cool character, and he's played by the late great Ray Stevenson. We lost him way too soon.
This is your best video that I've seen. So many gems. "Our non-dolphin allies" had my roaring
What a great video and what a great loss. Ray's turn in Rome was one of the most charismatic TV performances I can remember. And this series, floored though it is, is a worthy last vehicle
I can safely say I have no idea what Baylans grand plan is, actually curious to see if he takes out thrawn or something.
The details haven’t been revealed, but there’s strong hints that he wants to access the World between Worlds to, as he puts it, “secure the future.”
@@GGBlaster now that'd be interesting, maybe he kills palpatine for good snd we get a new sequel trilogy bahaha
He seems to want a war between the Imperial Remnant and the New Republic but doesn't want to be on either side. I think probably sees the Empire and Republic as the same thing, a corrupt galaxy wide government, and wants to see it all burn. Without a central government Force Users can do anything they want and go anywhere they want.
@@StoobsNAor performs a 66 on Anakin when he was younger through the WBW🤷🏼♂️ maybe a Tatooine scene?
Maybe she only used one saber because she anticipated she would need all her strength to block his attacks. There is more strength in two hands than just one.
You can use two sabers to block.
@trillionbones89 If she used both at the same time, absolutely. But I doubt she could've blocked with an individial saber while dual-wielding. Someone else pointed out that she was only forced off the cliff after she burned her hand and couldn't hold her saber with it, and that's why she used the force.
Bro that was beautiful. So glad to see a content creator that is more than just recapping an episode like everyone else. Those were some great words of wisdom towards the last half of your video. Cheers! And MTFBWY.
He means what he says, and honors his word. we root for him because he doesn't want to fight, people fight him.
Your channel has kept me sane this year, and it’s been there when I’ve needed it… thanks man!!
The duel-wielding Ahsoka may be various factors (stunt double, story decision, etc). The stunt double for Rosario in Mandalorian was Caitlin Dechelle who can definitely dual wield (you can watch some of her videos). The stunt double for Rosario in Ahsoka is Michelle Lee (I'm not sure if she can dual wield. I haven't searched on her much).
It was a story reason not a stunt double or Rosario issue. She dual wielded against the HK Droids in EP1, against the Inquisitor in EP2 and at the start of EP4.
Caitlin is great!
Huh? Wouldn’t you think they would just edit the scene even if the “stunt double” wasn’t able to use 2 sabers at the same time to look like she could?
I love generation tech and Allen. Awesome content creator. So original and fresh. Not a hater, just a deep thinker on all things Star Wars. Keep it up!
He creates some sort of conflit in us i would say. We know he his evil, but he is so cool and likable, that we end up rooting for him as well. What a great character!
Because Baylan brings back the Lawful evil side of the Sith. You can tell he is a gentleman warrior, you can tell he still has compassion and empathy. he really seems like a dark Obi-Wan and i love it.
best Star Wars character in decades.
Yes.
such a bummer he passed away.. S-tier actor work in Ahsoka!
Huyang is hilarious. He has no shame whatsoever, he says the truth no matter what😂😂
Why Ahsoka didnt dualwield against Skoll is explained in the Book of Five rings by Musashi himself who stated that dualwielding is better for the battlefield, with multiple opponents, while he himself also favored single wield against a single opponent. Maybe Ashoka viewed the spear as similar to fighting multiple opponents which is why she fought Elsbeth dual wielding but saw Skoll as a single opponent where she would need both hands to face the two handed strength (which we also saw that once Ahsoka burned her hand Skoll immediately got the strength advantage.)
Yes, I believe she was trying to go for a single powerful kill strike (like she used with Marrok), but Baylan had his defense locked down. I also belive that she needed a 2 handed grip, to defend against such powerful strikes he was landing.
I love dressing as a jedi and talking with my non dolphin allies.
Great acting, cool armor, cool fighting style and an interesting personality and goals.
Rest in peace Ray Stevenson. He made Baylan Skoll an iconic character with his superb acting.
This video comes just at the right moment. Thank you for this, very insightful.
Just makes me so effin' sad we won't see more from this man.
Its his acting that steals the show, not the writing. This guy simply nailed it
I feel like she used 1 blade for the simple reason that she was dueling a huge opponent, he could have smashed through a blade held in one hand. She needed the leverage.
She probably was planning to use the free hand to grab the artifact but Baylan's assault was just too heavy and powerful plus she lost focus with the whole Sabine situation.
More than that, she was facing a competent huge opponent who isn’t fighting at a handicap.
Vader may have been big, strong and competent but he was also slower and clunkier than he could have been at full potential. Plus Ahsoka knew his style even if he’d altered it to adapt to his cybernetics.
5th Brother was big and strong but inept, hobbled by his Inquisitor training. He relied on ferocity and fear to overwhelm his opponent instead of honing his skills.
Baylan is more competent than 5th Brother, faster than Vader and probably almost as strong as either of them with the Force enhancing his physical abilities. The right combination to make it so Jar’Kai is too risky. The fact that she doesn’t use it despite having used it against fighters it should have been weak against spoke volumes of how Ahsoka viewed him.
Im really enjoying the free-flow nature of your videos lately, Allen. Great job. Keep up the good work.
I predicted that Baylan would be the Jetstream Sam of this show, and I was right. He's a charismatic mercenary with a red blade who's far from being a blind accessory to evil.
And Ahsoka lost because she denied her weapon its purpose; it yearned to bathe in the blood of her enemies, yet she held it back, and used it as a tool. Well, this is what happens when you bring a tool to a swordfight. :)
That, and Ahsoka only used one blade to focus all her strength on it. If she used two blades, Baylan would knock them out of her grasp.
My thought as to why ahsoka used one saver is simply that she saw his size, and his long hilt and concluded that he will be using great strength and leverage. Ahsoka herself is a bit small, so she decided to focus her strength for defense. Notice when she lost the use of one of her hands she was being knocked around like a doll
I like the good Lord Baylan because he is so well written. He actually made me think we should destroy to make new.
He broke the fourth wall, he used his powers to get in MY head, and I'm pro Light side.... I was, I am... I think, I don't know.
We need more characters like him with his depth and width... oceans over puddles.
The dark side is better and more powerful. Don’t listen to yoda and his propaganda. If you can control and direct the dark side it’s the most powerful tool you’ll ever have
@@LightsaberGoBrrrrrr Yeah and I heard they have cookies.
@@LightsaberGoBrrrrrryou guys a bunch of schizophrenics hearing Star Wars characters
"Oh wow. I guess I'm on this side of the perspective now."
Probably the funniest line I've heard out of all your videos!
He has been refreshing and great. Reminds me of how Kreia was written for KotOR 2 and if the writing is well enough and the person delivers it great... can be much better. The small facial expressions he has when talking about things. As you pointed out, regret and a smugness when he goaded Ahsoka into attacking with power over speed. Manipulation of Sabine was one thing but than he for the most part kept his word so far.
You are a philosopher, I appreciate your commentary so much!
it was awesome that Baylan was looking more Jedi like than Ahsoka in this duel.
he was trying to reason, while she was dead set on violence in name of stopping Thrawns return - at all costs (absolutes Sith anyone?)
he looked like genuinely sad when he said "it didnt have to end like this!"
and he finally spared Sabine from Shin's wrath, providing he keeps his word, a good quality in a mercenary...
Most salient observation: “I gotta’ stop saying everything that comes into my head. Or at least stay away from the spice before hitting record. LOL
Seriously, love your videos, man!
Ahsoka uses single lightsaber because with a very strong opponent as Baylan it would be very difficult to stop his attacks using just one hand. She's smart, the guy looks like a medieval knight, his lightsaber is also unique and I bet she knows everything about that lightsaber thanks to Huyang and acts on that knowledge. A very Thrawn-ish thing to do I must say.
I did feel like the video was personalized to me, since I'm also an Allan (regardless of how you spell yours), and I appreciate that. Thanks Generation Tech!
My theory for the single blade is that Skoll’s lightsaber seems to be wielded with a lot of weight and force behind it, as such to fully block it she may need both hands on a single blade. So maybe not a skill disparity, but just a bad matchup for Ashoka
It could be but forcé powers sometimes are as strong as the plot dictates. She was blocking general grevious strikes when she was less experience and he was literally a lightsaber flailing machine.
@@lorpuz4664you mean blocked for like 3 seconds and got ass kicked and had to retreat?
Everyone seems to forget she fought Vader and that dude hits like a truck. He would make Baylan his bitch
In Dave Filoni we trust!
Also Ray does and amazing job, all those subtle hints you mentioned are amazing
We should all exist together.... except dolphins. Dolphins are the worst
My 8 year old and I love watching this channel together. Right now he's sitting in front of the TV and he can't watch this very video will he's eaten his vegetables. Thank you Alan for creating family friendly content.
I really enjoy morally grey characters because it is more true to life. We have heard Baylan say to his apprentice that when they find Thrawn some will have war, some will have a new beginning, and they will have unimaginable power. His motives are not yet clear but the singular pursuit of power is never good or beneficial in real life or the galaxy far away. Don't forget he slaughtered that ship crew to achieve his goals. He's not more relatable and reasonable than Ahsoka. He's still a murderous villain; a regretful murderous villain and a more true to life depiction, but a villain still. He obviously used to be a descent person because he was a Jedi and though heavily flawed they are still "do gooders". I like the character but lets not go overboard.
Right on bro' Why can't we all just get along? Another great video and perspective. Very much enjoying Ahsoka and the wider "Rebels" characters. Keep up the great work :)
This character was a great character for Ray Stevenson's final role.
I was watching Ashoka with my dad, and he insists on calling Baylan Skoll “Darth Santa” 💀
I love him because he’s so imposing physically, but extremely calm and cool tempered, not to mention slow and calculating in his lightsaber combat. He’s just a great villain, who obviously has a backstory full of trauma and respect for the Jedi and the Empire alike.
That's why he's so different from the typical Sith or Dark Jedi - no megalomania or temper tantrums, just cool professionalism and thoughtful introspection.
Out of all the Ashoka recap videos I've seen, this is the one I'm truly interested in.
Your videos are brilliant, thanks mate
Great take, and I welcome how you leverage your platform to encourage people to think critically.
Major props to Dave Filoni for creating such great villain whose already more intriguing than Moff Gideon, Snoke, Capt Phasma and Kylo Ren. Ray is killiing it! RIP
his character has depth, he's not an open book the viewers dont understand within 5 minutes. he also doesnt seem to be the generic bad guy who just kills kills kills, he seems to have a genuine nurturing approach to Shin. then theres his charisma.
I think the most important takeaway from this whole show is that the Jedi didn't give their Padawans Riddlen to help them wield the force.
He was truly amazing. Left us way too soon.
Baylan is my favorite character in Ahsoka. Its heartbreaking that he passed away. RIP Ray Stevenson.
I enjoy the hell out of your videos my dude I'm really happy I found this channel 🤘
I honestly hope he gets some award season consideration. He knocked it out of the park and could easily win a best supporting actor Oscar.
This video strayed a bit towards the end. It has finally earned my sub. Thank you.
Nice to hear your thoughts today! Thanks for the video
He’s written very well. His character isn’t just evil and makes a great argument for his beliefs. He’s a smart character, calm and badass.
Visually - a Darth Vader without the suit
I really enjoyed how the more I saw of him, the more convinced I was that he wasn't bad or evil. He's just a mercenary, and we all know Star Wars is basically a western. Most of the fights he's in, he doesn't start - he goes straight for that diplomacy first.
This is one of my favorite videos from you of all time. I found that i have been unsubscribed to your channel. resubscribed!
Bwahahahahaha the cut aways when you were discussing talking with your wife SENT me 😂
Godspeed, mr Stevenson. May the force be with you.
Man did his final acting and by the looks of it, it has been more than golden.
Baylan gives me Count Doku vibes, though their goals were entirely different.
Amazing character and a great actor, the force will be with him. Thank you Ray
Excellent brakedown of an excellent character. U ring up a lot of really good points that I don't think I have heard anyone else recognize. Also, pointing out that Ahsoka betrayed Sabine instead of the other way around... Nice job
Fun Fact. Baylan Skoll is the master of padawan Shin Hati. In nordic mythology There are two wolf brothers called Skoll and Hati. Skoll is the wolf pursuing the sun to eat it, while Hati is pursuing the Moon for the same reason. Maybe just a reference maybe not.
During the first two episodes, I commented that Baylan just has this presence that makes you take notice. And he has only increased that since then
Fun fact: republican credit IS A CRYPTOCURRENCY!
And he (Palpatine) is The dealer. Learned from Muun banker Hego Damask also known as Darth Plagueis the Wise.
Lol Alan is a trip. The opening had me lol. Then the one about not saying everything that comes to mind haha. Love it bro
*Allen
Baylan and shin are hard carrying this show