‘Star Wars’ Celebration Europe 2023 #Throwback – 5 Things I Love As A First-Timer

A throwback to my first ever Star Wars Celebration in London last April
The world’s biggest Star Wars event has much to see and enjoy for any Star Wars fan

It was exactly a year ago this month that I attended my very first Star Wars Celebration held in London, England from April 7-10, 2023.

It was an absolute thrill as me and the BFF had been trying to get tickets for previous Star Wars Celebrations (held mainly in the USA and once in Europe) for almost six years to no avail.

In June 2022 however, we managed to nab 4-Day passes and it was all systems go in booking flights, accommodation, and many other things to ensure we got the most out of the world’s biggest Star Wars fan event.

These include entering the lottery for panels, reserving a ticket for the Celebration store and Funko Pop booth, booking a photo op with a Star Wars star, etc.

Tickets for the next Star Wars Celebration—which will be held in Asia for just the second time in Makuhari Messe, Japan from April 18-20, 2025—will go on sale in 2024 on Thu May 2 at 7pm EST (US Time) and Fri May 3 at 7am (JST, Japan time).

And trust me, they will sell out faster than 12 parsecs!

If you are a first-timer as I was last year, check out the things you should know about before embarking on your Star Wars Celebration journey via my article below:

* ‘Star Wars’ Celebration: 5 Things To Know If You Are A First-Timer.

Meanwhile, here are 5 things I love most about Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023:

**5 Things I Love Most About Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023**

1. Awesome Cosplayers

One of the best things of being at a Star Wars convention is seeing hundreds of amazing cosplayers!

There was Rey Skywalker by her Jakku speeder, while Din Djarin and Bo-Katan Kryze stood proudly next to an elongated billboard for The Mandalorian.

There was this super cute mini Ahsoka complete with twin lightsabers and sassy specs, and an uncanny Qui-Gon Jinn lookalike complete with an off-camera Liam Neeson doppelganger!

Kudos too go to this couple who came as Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the adorable Frog Lady from The Mandalorian!

There were stormtroopers aplenty but this trooper looked mighty fine being framed by an on-site cafe’s flowery logo.

2. The Andor Panel

We didn’t win a single seat via lottery for any of the 12+ panels at SWCE2023 and it’s arguably the only thing I’m still miffed about!

So, able to get into the Andor panel after queuing for over two hours for “unclaimed” seats was truly memorable because (1) Andor is truly a great Star Wars series, (2) the Season 2 trailer was exclusively shown here, and (3) not only did we get to be in the same room as Andor star Diego Luna and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, we also got to see a fabulous flash mob display by cosplayers as Narkina 5 prisoners shouting “One way out!” in the auditorium!

3. Celebrity Photo-op with Ming-Na Wen

Celebrity photo and autograph ops are a big thing at Star Wars Celebration. Wanting the experience, we decided on the lovely American actress Ming-Na Wen who not only plays Master Assassin Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Star Wars: The Bad Batch, but also someone whom we have admired since The Joy Luck Club (1993), Mulan (1998) and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-2020).

Friendly and super sweet, the moment Ming-Na saw my Hot Toy Cosbi Fennec Shand figure, she immediately took and posed with it as we flanked her on both sides. We were warned that you only get 10 seconds max in a photo op but there was enough time to tell Ms Wen that we were fans since The Joy Luck Club to which she replied, “Aw, thank you!”

4. ‘Star Wars Rebels’ Mural

There were many exhibitions held in the massive venue that is ExCel Centre London – life-size props and sets, fan-made droids, fan art booths, etc. One exhibit I really love though was this life-size replica of the mural honoring the heroic Ghost crew of Star Wars Rebels.

Seen in the Rebels (2014-2018) final episode, it appeared again in the first two episodes of the live-action Ahsoka (2023), which continued the story of the Rebels. As a big fan of the animated series, it was a thrill to see the gorgeous mural in real-life!

5. Star Wars Swap

Prior to attending Star Wars Celebration Europe, we learnt the word “swap” as in trading Star Wars memorabilia such as stickers, photo cards, badges and so forth with other Star Wars fans.

For the first two days, we didn’t meet anyone swapping bar a sweet cosplaying family of four. Then on the third day, we by chance entered an exhibitor’s room where a Collectors Trading event was taking place! Woo-hoo!

It was so fun, meeting fans from all over just happily greeting each other and exchanging stuff. Arguably one of our most fun moments during the 4-day convention!

PLUS! Meeting Longtime Fellow Star Wars Collector & Fan Artist!

Regarded as one of the top 10 Star Wars collectors in the USA and co-author of a few books on Star Wars collectibles, Duncan Jenkins (above left) and I have been friends for over 25 years, helping each other collect Star Wars stuff between Asia and the Americas. It was truly a joy to finally meet the American—and his lovely wife—in person in London where he was also an exhibitor and speaker.

Over at the Japan booth, I was also thrilled to meet Yuki Shibaura (above right) whom I follow on Instagram and X (@shibaura_sw). A fan artist and cosplayer—she usually dressed up as Obi-Wan Kenobi—Yuki does fabulous paper art illustrations. She was amazed that I knew her work and proceeded to show me all her new works and give me a few as souvenirs too. Sweet!

So if you are planning to go to Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, do look out for Yuki and a whole lot of amazing Star Wars stuff all in one place. There will be pros and cons but it will definitely be a once-in-a lifetime experience.

May the Force be with you on your Star Wars Celebration journey!

Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 will be held in Makuhari Messe, Chiba prefecture from April 18-20. Tickets go on sale in 2024 on Thu May 2 at 7pm EST (US Time) and Fri May 3 at 7am (JST, Japan Time).

All text and photos by Marguerita Tan.
Not to be used without permission from the blog author.

5 Binge-worthy Series Of 2023: From ‘Blue Eye Samurai’ And ‘The Wheel Of Time’, To ‘Ahsoka’ and ‘Only Murders In The Building’

Dec11

From stunning animation to stirring epic fantasy, pulsating space drama to LOL murder mysteries, 2023 has been a great year for binge-watching.

A jaw-dropping fight scene in Blue Eye Samurai. [Netflix]

A swashbuckling samurai with blue eyes. Stirring battles and performances in The Wheel of Time Season 2. The animated Star Wars Rebels crew appearing live-action in the latest Star Wars drama, Ahsoka. Yet another mystifying murder in that one New York City building solved by an unlikely trio, to way-out murders happening in Mid-America solved by a kooky lie-detecting bohemian in Poker Face.

There were many engaging series in 2023 that made binge-watching a pleasure, or even make one follow every weekly-released episode religiously, but the following five shows were the ones that really stood out for their excellent acting, writing and production values.

Covering a diverse range of genres, these are highly recommended if you are looking for the next cool series to binge-watch.

1. Blue Eye Samurai (2023, Netflix)

Revenge is on Mizu’s mind in *Blue Eye Samurai* [Netflix]

Arguably 2023’s best animation series, with some viewers even hailing it as Netflix’s best series of the year. Created by Blue Spirit Studios, Blue Eye Samurai tells the story of Mizu, a warrior with blue eyes who is on a revenge quest in Edo-period Japan. Beautifully illustrated and action-packed with some of the best fighting scenes ever seen in animated format, the eight-episode adult animated series keeps you captivated from episode to episode with great writing and intriguing characters.

Voiced by a primary Asian-American cast led by actress/writer Maya Erskine as Mizu—while British director/actor Kenneth Branagh plays the main antagonist—Blue Eye Samurai slays on all levels in terms of drama, entertainment and sophisticated animation.

For an in-depth review, read:
* ‘Blue Eye Samurai’ – A Visually Stunning, Action-Packed Adult Animated Series From Netflix

2. The Wheel of Time Season 2 (2021-present, Prime Video)

Donal Finn in *The Wheel of Time* Season 2. [Prime Video]

I enjoyed The Wheel of Time since its first season which I found to be more absorbing and enthralling with characters you truly care for than Prime Video’s other higher-profile, bigger-budgeted epic fantasy series, The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power (2022-present). With its sophomore season, The Wheel of Time took it up a notch with even more stirring performances, goose-bump-raising battles, and exotic eye-popping locations.

Rosamund Pike, as Moiraine Aes Sedai, remains the star attraction but the younger cast members, especially Madeleine Madden as Ewgene, stepped up to the plate including a few new ones such as Natasha O’Keeffe as the devious Forsaken Lanfear and Donal Finn as (the recast) Mat Cauthon. Season 2’s Episodes 5-8 arguably delivered some of the best fantasy drama ever seen on television. Season 3 is expected in late 2024 or 2025.

3. Poker Face (2023, Peacock)

Natasha Lyonne in *Poker Face*. [Peacock]

What do you get when you cross Knives Out/Glass Onion filmmaker Rian Johnson with Russian Doll co-creator/actress Natasha Lyonne? You get Poker Face that’s what. This enchanting comedy murder mystery series is a real hoot with the delightful Lyonne playing a casino worker with a gift of detecting lies who, while on the run, entangles herself with many strangers’ mysterious deaths along the way.

The hilarious (sorry) premises of the various deaths, coupled with Lyonne’s eccentric but thought-provoking character, makes each “case-of-the-week” episode a joy to watch. Not forgetting the amazing guest stars such as the likes of Oscar winners/nominees Adrien Brody, Hong Chau and Chloe Sevigny. Lyonne is deservingly nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, whilst Judith Light (who plays an aging revengeful activist) gets a nod for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. Bring on Season 2!

4. Only Murders In The Building Season 3 (2021-present, Hulu/DisneyPlus)

Main cast of *Only Murders in the Building*. [Hulu]

With its third season, Only Murders in the Building still doesn’t disappoint. Even though yet another person clumsily dies in their Upper West Side building, our misfit trio of true crime podcasters still manage to find a way—after quarrelling and fighting each other along the way—to unravel the mystery (albeit the prime suspect was kind of clearcut even before the reveal in the finale.)

The success of Season 3 is probably because the premise is not only centered on a musical with great songs written by award-winning songwriters Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Sara Bareilles, they are also sang and acted by a brilliant guest cast including Meryl Streep, Paul Rudd, Ashley Park and Matthew Broderick.

5. Ahsoka (2023, DisneyPlus)

Rosario Dawson is *Ahsoka*. [DisneyPlus]

As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I love Ahsoka in animated form from The Clone Wars (2008-2020) to Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018), and in live-action in the form of the brilliant Rosario Dawson in The Mandalorian (2019-present) and The Book of Boba Fett (2021). So, any new adventures featuring the former Jedi Knight is fine with me but when I learnt that the 8-episode Ahsoka will continue the storyline depicted in the Rebels’ final season finale, it was yippee-aye-yea my young Padawan!

Seeing most of the Rebels‘ Ghost crew in live-action was truly great—with Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren a standout—but that the long-awaited quest to find Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi) eventually materializing in a canonized Star Wars TV series is nothing short of awesome. Including Hayden Christensen reprising his Prequel Trilogy role as Anakin “pre-Vader” Skywalker, Ahsoka also provided some of the best lightsaber duels ever seen in the Star Wars cinematic universe.

Special Mention:

Spy x Family Season 2 (2022-present, Netflix/Prime Video/Crunchyroll)

Waku-waku is the word for *Spy x Family*. [Netflix]

At time of blogging, Spy x Family Season 2 is still running but I cannot not mentioned just how great and bingeable this Japanese manga-based anime series is.

From its vibrant opening and closing sequences to all the new episodes thus far, the new season of Spy x Family has been a blast — from Yor’s superhero antics on the Cruise Ship Arc to Anya’s embarrassing tactics to gain favor among her schoolmates at the prestigious Eden Academy, to Loid’s ever understated facade to remain the best spy there is while becoming a better family man. All to prepare us for a totally new action-packed storyline by Tatsuya Endo in the upcoming Spy x Family Code: White (Christmas 2023) movie.