The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.
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Added by Hextor · 5 months ago
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🎙️ SYSK Episodes
#121225
SYSK's 12 Days of Christmas… Toys: What Makes a Must-Have Christmas Toy?
"I think it was Return of the Jedi, Maybe Empire Strikes Back."
— Josh
Mentioned when discussing which Star Wars film featured the emperor's red-cloaked guards.
Dec 12, 2025
#052523
The Semi-Recent History of Exercise
"the only other two movies on VHS were Beverly Hills Cop and the Empire Strikes Back"
— Chuck
Chuck cites Empire Strikes Back as one of only two movies on VHS when Jane Fonda's workout tape topped the charts.
May 25, 2023
#010122
Selects: Horoscopes: Written in the Stars?
"Two of the bounty hunter characters seen in the Empire Strikes Back."
Listener email discusses Star Wars action figures and a labeling mistake on Kenner toys for characters from this film.
Jan 1, 2022
#121821
Selects: Star Wars Holiday Spectacular
"the empire strikes back was a couple more years out"
— Chuck
Explaining why George Lucas wanted to create the holiday special to keep audiences engaged while working on the next Star Wars film.
Dec 18, 2021
#120821
Short Stuff: Funny Bone
"It was like Empire Strikes Back. It was very strange."
— Josh
Josh compared the sensation of his hand clenching during a massage to a scene from Empire Strikes Back.
Dec 8, 2021
#100119
Guardian Angels: Behind the Red Beret
"John: Han Solo and Carbonite"
Han Solo in Carbonite prop mentioned as part of Adam Savage's workshop collection.
Oct 1, 2019
#040718
SYSK Selects: Sherpas: Warm, Friendly Living
"It's more like the abominable snowman in the Rudolph Christmas specials. They look kind of like the thing in Empire."
— Chuck
Chuck compares the appearance of the Yeti to the creature from Empire Strikes Back (the creature on Hoth).
Apr 7, 2018
#122317
SYSK Selects: The Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978
"he knew the Empire Strikes Back was a couple more years out"
— Josh
Explaining Lucas's motivation to create content between Star Wars movies.
Dec 23, 2017
#120616
Horoscopes: Written in the Stars?
"two of the bounty hunter characters seen in Empire strikes back"
Referenced in listener mail discussing Star Wars action figure character name mix-ups
Dec 6, 2016
#110316
A Partial History of Action Figures
"I think return of the Jedi, maybe Empire Strikes Back? I don't know."
— Josh
Josh mentions Empire Strikes Back when discussing the Emperor's red-cloaked guards in Star Wars figures.
Nov 3, 2016
#050516
How LSD Works
"But I care about characters in a very familiar world, but I'm happy to care about characters that I've never seen before."
— Chuck
Part of original Star Wars trilogy discussed when talking about nostalgia in science fiction films.
May 5, 2016
#121715
The Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978
"he knew the Empire Strikes Back was a couple more years out"
— Josh
Josh explains Lucas needed something to keep audiences engaged before the sequel.
Dec 17, 2015
#102512
Exoskeletons: How's it coming?
"You're thinking of the tauntaun. No the tauntaun is like the beast. No the ad at was the big four legged."
— Josh
Discussing Star Wars vehicles while comparing them to exoskeleton designs.
Oct 25, 2012
#110111
How the Autobahn Works
"Empire Strikes Back obviously falls in that category as well"
Included with other great films of the era that are morally nebulous and dark.
Nov 1, 2011
#040511
Sherpas: Warm, Friendly Living
"It's like in Empire, like on Hoth"
— Josh
Josh was comparing the Yeti/abominable snowman to creatures in the Star Wars movie when discussing the cold, snowy environment.
Apr 5, 2011
Cast
Mark Hamill
Luke Skywalker
Harrison Ford
Han Solo
Carrie Fisher
Princess Leia
Billy Dee Williams
Lando Calrissian
Anthony Daniels
C-3PO
David Prowse
Darth Vader
Peter Mayhew
Chewbacca
Kenny Baker
R2-D2
Frank Oz
Yoda (Voice)
Alec Guinness
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Jeremy Bulloch
Boba Fett
Jason Wingreen
Boba Fett (voice - uncredited)
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