Liucasfilm historian Lucas seastrom joins the team at Young Indy Chroniclers to delve headfirst into the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles episode Benares, January 1910, an episode of some depth and importance that look at the ‘real-life story of Jiddu Krishnamurti — the Indian boy discovered on a beach in Adyar by occultist and Theosophical Society leader Charles Leadbeater‘. There’s a lot more to this story than meets the eye, and as they explain, it could be seen as a prequel of sorts to the chronological first Indy adventure, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
A deep-dive discussion on Young Indiana Jones Chronicles episode Benares, January 1910 — one of the most philosophically ambitious hours of television George Lucas ever produced, and arguably the most underrated episode in the entire series.
We’re joined by returning guest and Lucasfilm Historian Lucas Seastrom for a wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the episode itself. We trace the remarkable real-life story of Jiddu Krishnamurti — the Indian boy discovered on a beach in Adyar by occultist and Theosophical Society leader Charles Leadbeater, groomed alongside fellow candidate Hubert Van Hook as the next World Teacher, and who, in 1929, stood before thousands of followers and told them to stop following him. We explore the extraordinary relationship between Krishnamurti and Annie Besant — the British suffragist and President of the Theosophical Society who became his legal guardian — and why George Lucas was drawn to this story. We also discuss how Krishnamurti’s philosophy echoes throughout Lucas’s entire body of work — from Young Indiana Jones to Star Wars to The Phantom Menace — and why this episode may be essential viewing before any rewatch of Temple of Doom.
We also discuss the remarkable event that brought all three of us together at Skywalker Ranch — the 30th anniversary screening of Attack of the Hawkmen, organized by Ben Burtt, and almost certainly the first time a Young Indiana Jones episode has ever been projected in a full-size theater for an audience. We discuss what it was like to see the newly remastered 16mm and 35mm footage on the big screen at the Stag Theater — and why it confirmed that this series deserves a full HD restoration.
Plus: Lucas Seastrom shares exciting news about the brand new partnership between Lucasfilm and the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, bringing original lesson plans based on the Young Indiana Jones historical documentaries into classrooms.
