Join the Marks on episode 250 of Fantha Tracks Radios Making Tracks as they hitch up four wampas and go chasing Mando and Grogu. They look at the Super Bowl advert featuring the two Dins, discuss the 94th birthday of the Maestro John Williams, look at how Gollum inspired The Acolyte and return to Surrey Star Wars Weekend where Mark Newbold spoke with Michael Jenn from Andor and Paul Naylor chatted with Paul Warren from the sequel trilogy. There’s more in this one than a Mando Happy Meal on episode 250 of Making Tracks.
Join the Marks on episode 249 of Fantha Tracks Radios Making Tracks as they take on a couple of deep-dive questions regarding the future of the saga; does Star Wars always need to replicate the past, and how does Star Wars move beyond the shadow of Andor? Two hefty topics, along with conversations with Joplin Sibtain from Andor and Michael Carter from Return of the Jedi, all on episode 249 of Making Tracks.
Remember to tune in to Good Morning Tatooine, LIVE Sunday evenings at 9.00pm UK, 4.00pm Eastern and 1.00pm Pacific on Facebook, YouTube, X, Instagram and Twitch and check out our Fantha Tracks Radio Friday Night Rotation every Friday at 7.00pm UK for new episodes of The Fantha From Down Under, Planet Leia, Desert Planet Discs, Start Your Engines, Collecting Tracks, Canon Fodder and special episodes of Making Tracks, and every Tuesday at 7.00pm UK time for your weekly episode of Making Tracks.
Thanks to James Semple for the Fantha Tracks intro, Blues Harvest for our Making Tracks opening music and Mark Daniel and Vanessa Marshall for our voiceovers.
Cast:
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi and pirate trooper
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker and Muk Muk monkey
Anna Graves as Sugi and Rumi
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano and village child
Jim Cummings as Hondo Ohnaka
Greg Baldwin as Casiss, Seripas and Gwarm
Stephen Stanton as Dilanni and pirate scout
Dave Filoni as Embo
Tom Kane as narrator
Full Synopsis:
“Courage makes heroes, but trust builds friendship.”
Newsreel:
The death toll rises! As the battles intensify, and threaten a growing number of Republic worlds, planets are left to survive on their own. While the Jedi struggle to fight a war
on many fronts, a series of medical stations have been established as a lifeline for those in need, but the facilities are easy prey for Separatist attacks. After losing contact with
the medical station orbiting Felucia,
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano are sent to investigate….
ACT I
A Jedi shuttle pops out of hyperspace high above the florid world of Felucia, and immediately stumbles upon an automated vulture droid deployment station. The orbiting holder blossoms, revealing six vulture droids that immediately scramble and pursue the Jedi craft. Aboard, Anakin Skywalker jinks and jukes the vessel to avoid enemy fire, but a lucky blast cripples the shuttle. It plunges through the atmosphere, and its crew is forced to eject. Their spheroid survival capsules bounce through the Felucian wilderness, coming to rest in the thick of the alien jungle.
Avoiding a herd of jungle rancors, the three Jedi set aside their bickering and wander to a nearby spice farming village. It appears abandoned, until a closer look reveals that is valuable nysillin crop is ready to be harvested and all the supplies are still present. Anakin snoops in the barn, finding a rugged starship that seems out of place. Investigating one of the homes, Ahsoka and Anakin find Felucians cowering in the cellar. The Jedi are soon surrounded by heavily armed bounty hunters.
The hunters are lead by a lithe Zabrak female named Sugi, who orders the Jedi to drop their weapons. Accompanying her is the fearsome Embo, a Kyuzo with a heavy bowcaster, a rifle-toting female Frenk named Rumi Paramita, and a silent, armored hulk named Seripas. When Obi-Wan enters, blade extended, it turns into a more even standoff, which is interrupted by the pleas of Casiss, the Felucian village elder.
The Jedi discover that the Felucians have hired these bounty hunters as protection against pirates. The brigands routinely raid the village, demanding tribute. Defenseless, the Felucians have turned to mercenary protection. Cassis hopes with the Jedi bolstering their ranks, they can drive off the pirates for good.
Kenobi’s first priority is securing transport off Felucia and reporting to the Republic the status of the missing Felucian medical station. He fears if the Jedi linger here, they may draw the attention of the Separatists, bringing far more worse trouble down upon the heads of the farmers.
The pirates suddenly arrive and confront the villagers. Obi-Wan and Anakin are surprised to see a familiar face: these are the Weequay pirates they previously faced on Florrum, led by the oily Hondo Ohnaka.
ACT II
Hondo acts all chummy with the Jedi, but he’s here to collect the nysillin. He offers to buy off the bounty hunters if they step aside, but Sugi will not renege on her deal. Kenobi tries to buy transit off Felucia from Hondo, but the Weequay has no interest in Republic credits. He makes his demands clear, ordering Cassis to harvest the crop so he can collect it the next day. The Weequay pirates then leave the village.
Kenobi and the Jedi begin studying the tactical layout of the village, advising the Felucians and their bounty-hunter protectors. One particularly pessimistic farmer, Dilanni, frets that four hunters will not be enough. Anakin realizes the best option is to train the villagers to defend themselves.
The next morning, the Felucians harvest the nysillin and place the bushels in the barn, while Anakin instructs a group of villagers in the use of improvised pole-arms. Ahsoka helps others master the slingshot. It’s a long process — the villagers have much to learn. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Sugi discuss tactics, and the use of the barn as a fallback position.
The well-armored Serapis clears some vegetation, but is suddenly pinned by a falling tree. Ahsoka rushes to his aid to discover that Seripas in truth a tiny, frail alien piloting an armored suit.
ACT III
With practice, the villagers get better. A pirate scout spots this activity. Sugi sees the spy, and dispatches Embo. The hunter destroys the pirate’s speeder bike, avoids enemy fire, and kills the Weequay. Kenobi realizes that when the scout fails to report to Hondo, the pirates will return in force. The farmers get into position while the Jedi activate an energy fence around the village.
Hondo’s pirates show up riding speeder bikes, while Hondo himself is aboard an armored repulsortank. The battle erupts, first as the bikers strafe the village. Embo leaps atop one of the bikes, commandeering it. Felucians riding atop tee-muss beasts charge the bikers, knocking them off their mounts with their polearms. Felucians use their tractors to push over weakened trees atop other bikers.
Serapis’s armored suit is blasted by an incoming pirate, forcing the tiny alien to abandon it. Even still, Serapis leaps atop a speeding bike and batters a Weequay pirate, tripping the bike’s brakes and sending the pirate tumbling away.
From atop the bluff, Hondo opens fire with the repulsortank. The explosive blasts knocks out Embo, the hunters’ most formidable warrior. With heavy fire raining down on them, the Jedi, hunters and villagers retreat to the barn. Anakin Force-leaps atop the bluff and lands on the tank. Hondo holds him off with an electro-staff, while the pirate chief’s monkey lizard distracts the Jedi. Skywalker kicks Hondo off the cliff, but the tenacious Weequay clings to the ledge. The other pirates see their leader in trouble and retreat.
Hondo pleads for help. Anakin pulls Hondo up, but the treacherous Weequay shoves the Jedi into the path of the tank’s heavy cannon. Hondo’s loyal monkey lizard opens fire, forcing Anakin to leap to safety. This gives Hondo the time he needs to escape. His pirate forces pick him up aboard their retreating flying saucer.
With the pirates gone, Casiss thanks the Jedi for their efforts. Anakin deflects the praise, telling the Felucians that they have saved themselves. Sugi offers Kenobi and his companions a ride off Felucia.
Trivia & Details
In the script, some of Embo’s dialogue was presented as English. His first words to Anakin were “You’re outmanned, laserblade.” This prompts Anakin’s reply, “It’s not always about the numbers.”
The episode begins with an unusual title card, specifically mentioning Akira Kurosawa, an influential film director greatly admired by George Lucas. The original Star Wars was very much inspired by the works of Kurosawa, particularly the 1958 movie The Hidden Fortress . Another Clone Wars episode, “Lightsaber Lost,” is a nod to Kurosawa’s work — the 1949 film, Stray Dog. “Bounty Hunters” is the clearest tribute yet to Kurosawa, and his legendary movie The Seven Samurai. Its tale of a beleaguered village hiring mercenaries for protection against brigands has inspired a host of movies — most famously the American remake, The Magnificent Seven, as well as comedies like ¡Three Amigos! and A Bug’s Life. An early storyline in the Star Wars Marvel Comics series in 1978-1979 has a similar story, with Han Solo leading a group of hired guns to protect a village threatened by bandits.
The Aurebesh text on the escape capsule reads: “CAUTION – Explosive Extrusion”
If Sugi’s blaster pistol looks familiar, it’s no accident. It’s the same type of weapon brandished by Boba Fett in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.
Memorable Quotes
“Why do you even ask for my opinion? We never do things my way.”
“We crashed the ship your way.” — Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi
“Well there’s one thing I learned where I grew up: if you want to know what a farmer’s up to, look in the barn.” — Anakin Skywalker
“Don’t look! I’m — I’m having a… a suit malfunction!” — Seripas
“You know what I always say… speak softly, and drive a big tank.” — Hondo Ohnaka
“This effort… is no longer… profitable!” — Hondo Ohnaka, retreating with dignity
This Article was Originally posted 2023-06-17 12:00:10.
Episode No.: 66 (Season 3, Episode 22) Production No.: 318 (Season 3, Episode 18) Original Air Date: April 1, 2011
“A great student is what the teacher hopes to be.”
Written by Bonnie Mark
Directed by Dave Filoni
Cast:
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
Sunil Malhotra as Jinx
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker | Clutch
Cam Clarke as O-Mer
Jeff Anderson as Smug
Zach Hanks as Garnac
Dee Bradley Baker as Sochek | Goron
James Arnold Taylor as Lagon | Plo Koon
Richard Green as Lo-Taren | Krix
Tom Kane as the narrator | Yoda
Anna Graves as Sugi
Chewbacca as Himself
Special thanks to Peter Mayhew for being the heart and soul of Chewbacca
Synopsis: As Ahsoka and her youngling allies struggle to evade the Trandoshan hunters, their efforts receive an unexpected boost when a new captive — Chewbacca the Wookiee — arrives. Chewie scrounges parts from a wrecked Trandoshan slave ship, assembling a communicator to send out a distress signal. Help arrives in the towering, shaggy form of Wookiee warriors led by General Tarfful. Freed from captivity, Ahsoka returns to the Jedi Temple and is reunited with Anakin Skywalker.
Rather than a beach, the original script described new prey being dropped off within a canyon.
The Trandoshan slave ship pilot carries a shotgun, a rare example of a projectile weapon in Star Wars seen in the Republic Commando video game.
When Chewbacca says his home world is very close, he’s not kidding. According to the Expanded Universe, Kashyyyk and Trandosha are in the same star system.
The critter that attempts to pounce on the birds (convorees) outside of the youngling camp is a momong, a Trandoshan monkey.
The side of the Halo has a painting of a rather demented looking Tooka doll holding a knife with aurebesh text that reads: “Nice Playing With Ya”
Many of the background Trandoshan characters have interesting sources for their (usually) unspoken names: Gilas is named after the Godzilla Monster, Angilas. Ratter is named after a rattlesnake. Some are named after famous fictional reptiles: Goron is named after the Gorn from Star Trek, Lagon after The Creature from the Black Lagoon and Smug after Smaug, the dragon from The Hobbit. Ramy is named after Mary Franklin, known to Star Wars fans as the editor of Bantha Tracks and a huge fan of Trandoshans.
Among the trophies in the Trandoshan hunting lodge are wampa and Wookiee pelts; stuffed and mounted heads of an Ithorian, a Gungan, a Gran, a Skrilling, a reek, a rancor, a dragonsnake; an ancient Mandalorian Neo-Crusader helmet; teeth that may or may not belong to a Zillo beast, a fully mounted gundark and narglatch; and a suspiciously familiar-looking crystal skull.
And that’s all folks for this incarnation of The Clone Wars Episode Guides. After this, the format changed. I will be doing a couple of Video Galleries covering the Episode Guides up to and including the final season, so expect them very soon.
This Article was Originally posted 2023-07-18 12:00:47.
Join the Marks on episode 248 of Fantha Tracks Radios Making Tracks as they grab all the sporks from Docking Bay 7 and tuck into the weeks news. They look at the news that Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland is having a makeover, taking visitors to the Return of the Jedi era, the arrival of the trailer for Maul – Shadow Lord, take two listeners questions and welcome guests Ben Bailey-Smith (Lieutenant Supervisor Blevin in Andor season 1) and Callan Tavener (a stormtrooper in Andor season 2, chatting with Paul Naylor). All on episode 248 of Making Tracks.
Remember to tune in to Good Morning Tatooine, LIVE Sunday evenings at 9.00pm UK, 4.00pm Eastern and 1.00pm Pacific on Facebook, YouTube, X, Instagram and Twitch and check out our Fantha Tracks Radio Friday Night Rotation every Friday at 7.00pm UK for new episodes of The Fantha From Down Under, Planet Leia, Desert Planet Discs, Start Your Engines, Collecting Tracks, Canon Fodder and special episodes of Making Tracks, and every Tuesday at 7.00pm UK time for your weekly episode of Making Tracks.
Thanks to James Semple for the Fantha Tracks intro, Blues Harvest for our Making Tracks opening music and Mark Daniel and Vanessa Marshall for our voiceovers.
The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Season Five – Part 4
As I said in the previous post, the format changed for the Episode Guides, so I have created two Featurettes covering clips and interviews from The Clone Wars – Season 5 so I hope you enjoy them.
Expect the same for the rest of the Seasons and expect Season 6 soon.
The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Season Five – Part 4
This Article was Originally posted 2023-08-03 13:45:17.
Join the Marks on episode 247 of Fantha Tracks Radios Making Tracks as they react to the biggest news of the Star Wars year so far; Kathleen Kennedy stepping down as president of Lucasfilm, to be replaced by Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. What could this mean for the future of Lucasfilm, and the saga? How will they work together, what could we be getting in the future, and what do they think of the past 14 years of Kennedy in charge? All of this and more on episode 247 of Making Tracks.
Remember to tune in to Good Morning Tatooine, LIVE Sunday evenings at 9.00pm UK, 4.00pm Eastern and 1.00pm Pacific on Facebook, YouTube, X, Instagram and Twitch and check out our Fantha Tracks Radio Friday Night Rotation every Friday at 7.00pm UK for new episodes of The Fantha From Down Under, Planet Leia, Desert Planet Discs, Start Your Engines, Collecting Tracks, Canon Fodder and special episodes of Making Tracks, and every Tuesday at 7.00pm UK time for your weekly episode of Making Tracks.
Thanks to James Semple for the Fantha Tracks intro, Blues Harvest for our Making Tracks opening music and Mark Daniel and Vanessa Marshall for our voiceovers.
Episode No.: 59 (Season 3, Episode 15) Production No.: 309 (Season 3, Episode 9) Original Air Date: January 28, 2011
“Balance is found in the one who faces his guilt.”
Written by Christian Taylor
Directed by Steward Lee
Cast:
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
Lloyd Sherr as Father
Adrienne Wilkinson as Daughter
Sam Witwer as Son
Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn
Pernilla August as Shmi
Dee Bradley Baker as Rex
Tom Kane as the narrator
Synopsis: A mysterious force draws Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka to a distant planet, and its inhabitants — a family of exceptionally powerful Force-wielders — in an attempt to determine whether Anakin is truly the Chosen One. The patriarch of this family, known only as the Father, has spent ages maintaining the balance between his Daughter, who is strong with the light side of the Force, and his Son, who aligns with the dark. The Father reveals his days are numbered, and he seeks Anakin to take his place as the fulcrum of this balance. A series of tests proves that Anakin is capable of controlling both offspring, as the Father does, but Skywalker refuses to take the Father’s place.
This trilogy of episodes dives into concepts of the Force and ancient Jedi prophecy like never before, and represent an unusually deep exploration direct from George Lucas of some of the saga’s biggest concepts. While there will undoubtedly be questions about how much that is experienced in the Mortis realm can be defined as “real,” the answers will surely depend on your own point of view.
The Mortis monolith seen at the start of the episode is over five kilometers tall, wide and deep.
As the keeper of the balance, the Father quite literally sits at the center of a scale-like statue, with gong-like discs emblazoned with icons representing the daughter (to his right) and the son (to his left). Flanking this are statues of their beast forms: the griffin and the gargoyle.
In addition to notable guest appearances by Liam Neeson and Pernilla August, this episode also stars veterans of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed in key roles. Sam Witwer, who played Starkiller, plays the Son, while Adrienne Wilkinson, who played Maris Brood, plays the Daughter.
The Father describes his family as anchorites. Lest anyone think this is a proper term for a species or culture, it isn’t. This uncommon word, never before spoken in Star Wars, an anchorite is someone who has withdrawn from society to become somewhat of a religious hermit. The only term that so far describes the Mortis beings are “Force-wielders”.
Although the Force-wielders are intentionally depicted as vague and mysterious, their animation models nonetheless have the following definitions: The Father is 2.48 meters tall, the Daughter is 2.13 meters tall, and the Son is 2.2 meters. The Daughter’s griffin form stands 2.58 meters tall, while the Son’s gargoyle form is 4.79 meters tall. They both have wingspans over 11 meters.
Slight refrains of John Williams’ Episode I score can be heard during Qui-Gon’s appearance, as well as the Force theme when Obi-Wan speaks of Anakin
The Republic fleet officer seen during the newsreel is not named in the episode. He is Admiral Tenant.
This Article was Originally posted 2023-07-11 12:00:31.
Are you ready to be transported to a galaxy far, far away? Join the adventure with the official novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by none other than J.J. Abrams. This epic blockbuster comes with a bonus: two tie-in short stories, “The Perfect Weapon” by Delilah S. Dawson and “Bait” by Alan Dean Foster.
Get ready to immerse yourself in a world that first captured our hearts over thirty years ago. The Force Awakens brings back beloved characters such as Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Luke Skywalker, while introducing us to exciting new ones.
But don’t be fooled, this adventure is not for the faint of heart. Evil does not easily relent and peace can be fleeting. However, the simple belief in good can empower ordinary individuals to rise up and meet the greatest challenges.
New York Times bestselling science fiction master Alan Dean Foster has created a thrilling novel adaptation that goes beyond the movie experience. With additional scenes and insights into the characters’ thoughts, he paints a broader picture of the galaxy.
The Washington Post raves that Foster not only evokes entire onscreen worlds but also gives us glimpses of an even more vast, unseen universe. And Coffee with Kenobi confirms that Foster captures the spirit of the film while presenting additional information that helps answer some of the questions that linger.
So, what are you waiting for? Get ready to experience the thrill of Star Wars: The Force Awakens novelization and let the Force awaken within you.
Join the Marks on episode 246 of Fantha Tracks Radios Making Tracks as they carve their way through the weeks Star Wars news like a Knight of Ren through a Mustafarian defence force. We look at the potential appointment of Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan to the role of co-president of Lucasfilm, the reveal that no less a legend than Tom Cruise filmed a scene from Starfighter (and it was a lightsaber battle), look at the new LEGO SMART Play releases and hear Paul (‘Good Morning Tatooine’) Naylor chat with Robert Emms (Lonni Jung) and Jacob James Beswick (ISB Supervisor Heert) on Making Tracks.＜
Remember to tune in to Good Morning Tatooine, LIVE Sunday evenings at 9.00pm UK, 4.00pm Eastern and 1.00pm Pacific on Facebook, YouTube, X, Instagram and Twitch and check out our Fantha Tracks Radio Friday Night Rotation every Friday at 7.00pm UK for new episodes of The Fantha From Down Under, Planet Leia, Desert Planet Discs, Start Your Engines, Collecting Tracks, Canon Fodder and special episodes of Making Tracks, and every Tuesday at 7.00pm UK time for your weekly episode of Making Tracks.
Thanks to James Semple for the Fantha Tracks intro, Blues Harvest for our Making Tracks opening music and Mark Daniel and Vanessa Marshall for our voiceovers.
Cast
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker
Catherine Taber as Padmé Amidala | Angel
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Matthew Wood as battle droids
James Mathis III as Captain Typho
Michael York as Dr. Nuvo Vindi
David Kaufman as Jaybo Hood
BJ Hughes as Jar Jar Binks
Phil LaMarr as Amit Noloff
Tom Kane as the Narrator
Episode Brief: The fatal Blue Shadow Virus menace is still at large, infecting Ahsoka, Padmé, and many clone troopers — and giving Anakin and Obi-Wan just 48 hours to find the antidote on a mysterious planet from which no visitor has returned.
Full Synopsis
“A single chance is a galaxy of hope.”
Newsreel:
Hard-pressed Jedi and their valiant
clone troopers have thwarted an
insidious Separatist plot to plant bombs loaded with the deadly Blue Shadow Virus in key Republic systems.
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker have captured the vile scientist behind the nefarious scheme: Doctor Nuvo Vindi. Now the Jedi plan to transport Vindi to the Republic capital for trial….
ACT I
Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi load a cuffed Dr. Vindi into his waiting shuttle for transport to Theed. Far below, in the subterranean laboratory, a clone trooper notes that the last bomb defused has its virus vial missing. The assistant droid must have taken it. Padmé orders a red alert. Dr. Vindi hears this ruckus and gloats that the Jedi’s efforts have been for naught.
The little assistant droid inserts the vial into one of the inert bombs in the preparation room, and primes the explosive. Two clones spot the droid and try too late to stop it. The explosive detonates, spreading a cloud of Blue Shadow Virus into the lab. Emergency bulkheads begin slamming shut. Captain Rex and his clones race to make it to a safe room, but it seems too late. The hermetic blast doors are slamming shut. Ahsoka uses the Force to hold the doors open long enough for the clones and her to jump through.
Elsewhere, Padmé and Jar Jar are secure in another safe room and within their hazard suits. Anakin receives an update from within the compound. The laboratory is sealed, but any remaining droids are sure to attempt to break out and thus release the virus into the Naboo ecosphere. Padmé is determined to stop them.
Anakin questions Vindi at lightsaber-point about a cure to the virus. The crazed scientist snickers, for there is no such thing. Short on time, the shuttle blasts off to Theed, where there are those much better equipped to search for an antidote.
In Ahsoka’s safe room, at the end of complex B, the clones discover that some of the virus made it past the sealing doors. They have all been exposed to the contaminant. Rex is still determined to stop any droids from leaving the compound, even if it’s the last thing he does.
Vindi’s shuttle lands at Theed, and he is marched into custody. Typho, meanwhile, has been researching the first outbreak of Blue Shadow Virus and has found a possible antidote in the historical archive: a little known extract made from reeksa root, a vine found only on Iego, world of a thousand moons. Iego, unfortunately, is deep in Separatist-controlled space. Anakin is not deterred. He and Obi-Wan will venture into the heart of enemy territory. Skywalker is determined to save Padmé and Ahsoka. The Jedi team blast off in the Twilight and launch into hyperspace.
Padmé and Jar Jar work their way to the end of complex B and arrive at Ahsoka’s safe room, avoiding droid patrols along the way. Ahsoka greets Padmé, and the young Padawan is still set on carrying out her mission of destroying the droids, even though she is now terminally infected. They split up — Padmé, Jar Jar and two clones will take the north corridor, while Ahsoka and Rex will take the south.
ACT II
Scouting the blue-cloud filled corridors, Padmé, Jar Jar and the clones come across a team of battle droids attempting to cut through the sealed doors. Padmé and the clones open fire, picking away at the droids. Ahsoka and Rex come running in from the other end. A lone battle droid makes it all the way to the upper hatch, but it is stopped before it can make it to the surface.
The Twilight arrives at Iego. In addition to the swarm of moons and asteroids around the planet, there is a dense debris field filled with fragments of wrecked starships. Yet there is no starship traffic at all. The Twilight weaves its way through these obstacles before making planetfall and landing at the spaceport city of Cliffhold amid the basaltic spires of Iego’s spaceport.
A strange collection of reprogrammed battle droids greet the Twilight. Anakin impulsively charges into the horde and cuts down 18 droids before he realizes they are no threat. Many of the droids are cobbled together from spare parts, and some of them are oddly defaced with childish scribbles and crude paint jobs. One of the droids introduces Anakin and Obi-Wan to “the venerable” Jaybo Hood, a 10-year old kid responsible for reworking these droids. Anakin is impressed with his handiwork, if not his stature.
Jaybo’s been tinkering with these droids for nine months now. He’s living the life of a ruler, fawned over by the repurposed automata. When the Separatists left Iego, they left behind a whole warehouse of inactive droids that Jaybo commandeered. Kenobi and Skywalker try to steer the conversation to the matter at hand: the urgent need to recover the reeksa root. But any claims of urgency don’t seem to affect Jaybo. He tries to tell the Jedi that they’re not going anywhere — nobody gets off the cursed world Iego, haunted by the destructive spirit of Drol. Fifty of the best star pilots have attempted to outrun the curse, and all died.
Back on Naboo, Ahsoka cuts down a pair of droidekas, but as Padmé tackles Jar Jar to save him from incoming fire, she tears a hole in her hazard suit. She is now exposed to the Blue Shadow Virus.
On Iego, Anakin and Obi-Wan climb down the sheer cliff face to the lower canyon floors. Jaybo offers them some survival tips — do not touch the reeksa vines. And watch out for flying xandus. A huge bat-like xandu almost immediately flutters past Anakin, knocking him off the cliff face. He grabs the xandu’s talon, and gets an idea. Anakin shouts for Obi-Wan to do the same, so Kenobi leaps and grabs the xandu’s other leg. The combined weight of the Jedi weigh the leathery winged creature down. It drops down to the canyon floor in a controlled fall — a much faster descent than climbing.
In the sealed lab complex, Ahsoka cuts down more droids, but her skin has become mottled and her strength is starting to leave her. She is succumbing to the virus.
Kenobi and Skywalker tumble to the canyon floor. Skywalker pulls a spade from his backpack and begins digging for a root. The reeksa vines start writhing, revealing themselves to be enormous, ravenous carnivorous plants with sharpened spikes for teeth and deadly thorns along their length. The plants begin snapping at the Jedi, but Anakin secures the root quickly enough for them to retreat back to the cliff-face. The Jedi slash back at the plants, narrowly escaping back to Jaybo’s ledge.
ACT III
With root in hand, the Jedi accompany Jaybo Hood to what passes as the meeting hall at Cliffhold. The urban sprawl looks a bit decrepit, and Jaybo explains that the planet has been neglected since the spice convoys dried up and transit to and from the world has ceased. A seemingly crazed Quarren official, Amit Noloff, decries Drol, the spirit of the thousand moons — the world’s protector and destroyer — for the fate that has befallen the inhabitants of Iego. Skywalker, though, remains skeptical. The Quarren produces a holographic recording of a Rodian star pilot, Taquito, whose ship was destroyed as he tried to leave.
Skywalker is not deterred. The Jedi board the Twilight and fly the spice freighter up into the debris field. Suddenly, laser beams begin lancing forth from some of the rocks, forming a web of deadly energy. From the surface of Iego, it looks as if a lattice of fire spreads across the sky. Drol may not be a ghost, but whatever it is, it is a real and deadly threat guarding the skies of Iego. The energy web is too dense, so the Twilight returns to the spaceport. Kenobi surmises that the Separatists must have installed the laser field to keep anyone from leaving Iego.
Padmé and Ahsoka make contact with Anakin. They are quite visibly weakened. They have destroyed all the battle droids inside the compound. Naboo is safe, though it looks as if neither has much time to live. Anakin won’t give up. He’s determined to run the laser gauntlet again, but Obi-Wan thinks that plan is too impetuous and dangerous. He has another idea, though he has difficulty calming Anakin down.
Kenobi calls forth the Iego council. He explains that Drol is no ghost, but rather a Separatist security system. Noloff refuses to believe this. Kenobi asks if anyone inhabited Iego’s moons prior to Drol’s destructive rise. A strikingly beautiful, willowy, phosphorescent humanoid enters the chamber — an Angel. She explains that they were driven from their homes by the Separatists, who stole their moon of Millius Prime.
Anakin realizes the primary node of the laser web must be near Millius Prime. Obi-Wan recruits Jaybo to donate a number of remote-controlled vulture droids in a bid to escape the laser web. R2-D2 will control the vulture droids as a distraction for the laser field, while the Twilight targets the hub on Millius Prime.
On Naboo, Padmé does what she can to alleviate the suffering of the infected clones. Ahsoka collapses, overcome by the virus.
The Jedi carry out their plan. The Twilight leads the way with a squadron of four vulture droids in tow. The laser field activates. R2-D2 pilots the vultures to intercept the lasers, while the Twilight opens fire on the primary node. A chain reaction erupts as the laser web unbalances, and emitters overload, sparking a series of explosions throughout the debris field. The laser web collapses. The people of Iego are free. With no time to waste, the Twilight leaps into hyperspace, en route to Naboo.
A short time later, Anakin and Obi-Wan arrive by gunship into the eastern swamps, where medical droids are tending to the infected. The virus has been neutralized, and those afflicted will make a full recovery. Skywalker confers with Padmé, who never lost faith in Anakin. Anakin also sees to Ahsoka, praising her for her devotion and success.
Meanwhile, Kenobi congratulates Jar Jar for his bravery in the face of such danger, and says he will recommend one of his troops gives Representative Binks some marksmanship training. Rex, though ailing, makes it clear that it won’t be him.
Trivia & Details
Anakin calls Dr. Vindi a “sleemo,” which is Huttese for “slimeball.”
The series debuts some fully realized Ithorian and Quarren models in this episode. Previously, the Clone Wars movie used cobbled together figures to represent these background aliens. In Jabba’s palace, the Ithorians were made of a crudely modeled head stuck on Palpatine’s body, and the Quarren was a simple head stuck on Obi-Wan’s body.
The Angel went through a number of revisions, with some much more human than the end result.
Originally, the xandu was to have been devoured by the reeksa vines.
The city of Cliffhold is based on old Doug Chiang designs from The Phantom Menace. It is filled with aurebesh graffiti, including incidents of Jaybo Hood’s name scrawled on the walls or simple illustrations depicting droids and clones. One building is marked with a large aurebesh marquee that reads “KRISTAL SKULL.”
Memorable Quotes
“Oh well, just another boring day saving the universe.” — Obi-Wan Kenobi
“Patience, Anakin. There’s more than one way to skin a womp rat.” — Obi-Wan Kenobi
“We may be dead men, but we could still stop those droids.” — Clone Captain Rex
“Welcome to Iego. Roger roger.” — Jaybo Hood’s battle droids
“I have a bad feeling about this.” – Obi-Wan on Iego
“If you ask me, sounds like a load of –“
“Superstition?”
“That’s one word for it.” — Anakin and Obi-Wan discussing Drol.
“A great leap forward often requires taking two steps back.”
“And sometimes all it requires is the will to jump.” — Obi-Wan and Anakin
This Article was Originally posted 2023-05-26 18:10:07.
Join the Marks on episode 245 of Fantha Tracks Radios Making Tracks as we kick off 2026 and dive into the latest news and reviews. This week they discuss the missing Bespin battle scene from The Force Awakens, look at a bold escape as Indiana Jones loses his boulder, hear Daisy Ridley as she once again promises the Rey film will be worth the wait, look at Steve Evans recent Hasbro poll and how readers are rating The Black Series, The Vintage Collection and Retro, and welcome Andor season 2 star Pierro Niel Mee to talk Erskin Semaj on Making Tracks.
Remember to tune in to Good Morning Tatooine, LIVE Sunday evenings at 9.00pm UK, 4.00pm Eastern and 1.00pm Pacific on Facebook, YouTube, X, Instagram and Twitch and check out our Fantha Tracks Radio Friday Night Rotation every Friday at 7.00pm UK for new episodes of The Fantha From Down Under, Planet Leia, Desert Planet Discs, Start Your Engines, Collecting Tracks, Canon Fodder and special episodes of Making Tracks, and every Tuesday at 7.00pm UK time for your weekly episode of Making Tracks.
Thanks to James Semple for the Fantha Tracks intro, Blues Harvest for our Making Tracks opening music and Mark Daniel and Vanessa Marshall for our voiceovers.
In a dark, cavernous underground sound stage, two women crouch, their eyes riveted to a giant movie screen. Projected in front of them, frame by frame, is the final cut of Star Wars: Episode I. Like musicians in an orchestra pit playing to a celluloid score, they take their cues from the movements of the images flickering in front of them. The duo of performers creates a sound to match the movement onscreen wielding mysterious metallic instruments. Highly sensitive microphones record the specialized work of these two women. Lithe and highly focused, Dennie Thorpe and Jana Vance are the foley artists of Lucasfilm. Together with their partners, Foley Recordist Frank “Pepe” Merel and Foley Mixer Tony Eckert, they provide the ambient sound effects of Episode I.
These subtle yet essential foley effects – the footsteps, the cape movements, the rattle and hum of everyday life – provide all of the natural sounds that exist between the remaining layers of sound in a film. Many films utilize a foley track because sound as recorded on the set is often unusable. Background noise like a plane flying overhead or the toot of an automobile horn can obscure dialogue. Sometimes live sound recorded on a set must be replaced because sets created to look like real environments are actually fake. For example, when Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Liam Neeson (Qui-Gon Jinn) faced Ray Park (Darth Maul) in Episode I’s climactic lightsaber battle, they were actually performing on a set constructed of plywood made to look like metal. The live sounds recorded during this scene consisted of a series of heavy footsteps on plywood, the clack of prop lightsabers and the breathing of the actors as they performed the complicated fight choreographed by Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard. To create the necessary illusion of realistic sound, Dennie and Jana recreated the scene foley-style by running, jumping and occasionally falling on a special square of marble “spaceship” surface. The other sounds, like the lightsabers and doors opening and closing, were created by Ben Burtt and his sound editing team.
The Episode I foley team has worked together for over three years, though Dennie has been part of the Lucasfilm foley team since she walked in both Darth Vader’s and Luke Skywalker’s footsteps in Return of the Jedi. “It was my third or fourth job and I was scared to death,” says Dennie, “because I was doing it by myself. Yet it was fun.”
The well-knit team works closely with Sound Designer Ben Burtt. At the beginning of Episode I production, the foley team and Burtt watched an early cut of the entire film. They made a scene-by-scene analysis to determine which foley effects were needed. After foley work for each 10-minute reel was completed, Burtt returned to the foley stage to evaluate a playback. The group then discussed the sounds and determined what needed to be altered, enhanced or simply redone. Each day the busy team created approximately 200 different “sound events,” which are unedited recordings that will eventually be crafted into finished sound effects.
Their huge sound stage is full of real-life objects – ancient vacuum cleaner canisters, the battered hood of a car, a mini-swimming pool, and cabinets of stuff that most would be hard put to identify. “Very low tech stuff sounds great when used in creative ways,” says Jana. Yet, though the foley cupboards were packed, the team decided that they would need a set of truly unusual sounds for the production of Episode I. “Often,” says Tony Eckert, “the real movement doesn’t sound as real as you’d want it to and the artist must find a more suitable object with which to create.
This search for unique sounds led Dennie and Jana on a foley shopping spree to several scrap yards in the Bay Area with a special mission to find the perfect droid parts. While imagining the movement of the battle droids, Dennie had a brainstorm. “I was a foley artist for the T-1000 on Terminator 2,” says Dennie. To capture the chilling metallic footsteps of the T-1000 she had had a pair of perfectly ordinary boots resoled with metal plates. Planning the droid movement in Episode I, she continues, “it occurred to me that those monstrous boots I used in T2 would work perfectly.” Soon afterward Dennie and Jana were each fitted with a pair of specially made boots – Dennie’s combat boots were soled in brass while Jana’s cowboy boots sported thick steel soles. They were then able to create a sound unique to the battle droids: a heavy and metallic footstep, with a bit of a slide. “The droid sounds in the final battle scene took meticulous prep time,” says Jana, “and although each sequence only lasts 2 minutes on-screen, it probably took us about half a day to create it.”
Once Dennie and Jana have walked a character for one reel of film, they can anticipate a character’s every movement. At this point they don’t need to look at every cue. “It’s because we have them ‘muscle memoried’,” explains Dennie. Dennie performed the parts of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Padme Naberrie. Jana “walked” the parts of Qui-Gon Jinn, Jar Jar Binks and Darth Maul. Of Ray Park who played Darth Maul, she says, “he was incredible – he was more like a dancer than an actor.”
Although Dennie and Jana performed their characters individually, there were some effects they created as a team: the big battle scenes, and the movements of the larger creatures. Together they did the saddles and bridles of the kaadu, a giant beast used by the Gungans, and modeled these sounds on everyday equestrian equipment. “We’d been doing horses for years,” says Tony, who had assumed that the job would be a straightforward one. But what made the kaadus unique is that they’re enormous in size and completely computer-generated. The team began their approach as they would for a horse, using leather straps and clinking metal parts. Then Tony laid special microphones to pick up the deepest frequencies, enlarging Dennie and Jana’s human movements so that they would sound massive.
On Episode I, almost every reel the foley team worked on had 24 tracks of different sounds. Foley Editors Bruce Lacey and Marian Wilde would determine the foley effects to be recorded each day, creating a cue sheet that looked like a musical score – with movements set to time. This cue sheet was then passed to the Episode I foley team who would read, for example, that at the thousand feet marker of a particular cue sheet, a battle droid would walk on a marble surface for ten feet. Because of this system, the team was able to perform and record each scene in a very efficient manner.
After the foley sounds were recorded, they were handed to the editors who examined each movement on every track to determine whether the foley work had been done in synch with the picture. Then the editors used a computer to cut and nudge each sound into place. Once this initial composition was complete, it was passed on to a pre-mixer who mixed the bulky 24 tracks of foley down to either 3 or 6 tracks. At this point the Episode I audio existed as groups of pre-mixes – a music pre-mix, a foley pre-mix, an effects pre-mix and a dialogue pre-mix – which were combined during a final mixing session overseen by George Lucas.
The foley track can cue the audience to pay attention to certain characters or actions. Just as music can sway your emotion, foley influences where you focus your attention. When done well, foley enhances individual characterizations. Some in the business consider foley to be the glue that holds a picture together. “It’s just like life,” explains Tony. “If you sit with your eyes closed and start to listen you’ll hear the scuffing of cloth, or someone dropping a glass. You don’t really think about it – you just accept it. But you’d miss it if it wasn’t there.”
This Article was Originally posted 2022-08-02 13:30:13.
Episode No.: 50 (Season 3, Episode 6) Original Air Date: October 15, 2010 Production No.: 226 (Season 2, Episode 26)
“Those who enforce the law must obey the law.”
Written by Cameron Litvack
Directed by Giancarlo Volpe
Cast:
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
Whit Hertford as Cadet Korkie
Julian Holloway as Prime Minister Almec
Anna Graves as Satine Kryze
Omid Atbahi as Cadet Amis
Ryan Templeton as Cadet Lagos
Ashley Moynihan as Cadet Soniee
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker | Secret Service officer
Tom Kane as narrator | Secret Service officer
Synopsis: Ahsoka is assigned to teach a class at a leadership academy on Mandalore. Soon after she arrives, Duchess Satine’s zealous nephew — Korkie — and his classmates uncover a nefarious plot. Prime Minister Almec is revealed to be an active part of the black market conspiracy on Mandalore, and he attempts to permanently silence Duchess Satine and the cadets before they expose his corruption. Ahsoka and the cadets defeat Almec before he can succeed.
Returning Characters: Ahsoka Tano, Duchess Satine Kryze, Prime Minister Almec, Anakin Skywalker, Clone Captain Rex
New Characters: Cadet Korkie, Cadet Amis, Cadet Lagos, Cadet Soniee
Secrets Revealed
Ahsoka’s theme, a musical composition created by Kevin Kiner for The Clone Wars movie, can be heard during her arrival on Mandalore.
Prime Minister Almec makes mention of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s recent visit, which sets this episode (as well as the previous, “Corruption”) after the events of the Mandalorian three-parter from Season Two. Ahsoka’s more confident use of the Jedi Mind Trick also sets this episode after “Sphere of Influence.”
The Mandalorian prison guards are based on the same character design as the Mandalorian police, but with darker colors. The crest upon their shoulder reads “In Defense of Mandalore” in a Mandalorian type-face developed for the Slave I display screens in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones.
Prime Minister Almec’s office is a re-use of the Mandalorian palace throne room occupied by Duchess Satine, but with slight modifications. The darker tinted windows carry on to the end of the room, and it is dressed with unique furniture and props, including glass busts of previous prime ministers.
During her lecture, Ahsoka stands before a jagged and steep graph with the legend “this graph represents corruption-related crimes on Mandalore.”
Once Soniee slices through the lock on the warehouse, her computer screen says “ENTRARE,” which is Italian for “enter.”
Lagos has a “bad feeling about this,” a sentiment expressed often in Star Wars. Someone has a “bad feeling” in every Star Wars movie.
The Peace Park seen in “The Mandalore Plot” is again seen in this episode, cleaned up but still in ruins from the terrorist Death Watch attack.
For those wondering, “Master Jedi” is the formally proper address to a Jedi of any rank by a non-Jedi — even a Padawan.
This Article was Originally posted 2023-07-02 12:00:22.
WhatCulture Star Wars is dedicated to all things Star Wars. We’ll have all the usual lists, features, and news, plus there’ll be Ups & Downs for all the latest shows and new Star Wars movies. The force is with us!
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Revenge of the Sith, StarWars.com looks back at a golden age of online Star Wars film promotion, when Lucasfilm’s Pablo Hidalgo reported in from the set of the final prequel film.
By Pablo Hidalgo
Ah, the memories!!
It was every fan’s dream to spend the summer on the set of Episode III. Beginning in May of 2003 — a full two years before the release of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith — StarWars.com Hyperspace members lived the next-best thing through the daily journal of the life of the production of a Star Wars film.
In celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, StarWars.com takes a fond look back…
Looking Back at Episode III Online
It was an audacious idea; I can’t take credit for it, but I was tasked to execute it. It completely altered my trajectory at Lucasfilm as well as my relationship with Star Wars and made Revenge of the Sith a unique and major experience in my life. Looking back, 20 years after the release of that chapter, I am still amazed at what we pulled off.
Back at the beginning of 2003, my title was “Internet Content Developer.” If asked, I’d simply say I was a writer at StarWars.com — one of two at the time. It was a very small operation, and the internet of 2003 was a very different place compared to being online today. Text was king. Video was a chore. Information was one-way, and interactions were rare and hardly social…
Some of the absolute best Star Wars ever came out last night. Today we’re talking about the latest three episodes of Andor season two: Messenger, Who Are You, and Welcome to the Rebellion
Did you catch the brilliant hidden Skywalker lightsaber detail in Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith?
#starwars
WhatCulture Star Wars is dedicated to all things Star Wars. We’ll have all the usual lists, features, and news, plus there’ll be Ups & Downs for all the latest shows and new Star Wars movies. The force is with us!
The first three episodes of Andor Season Two have arrived! Here is my full review of the entire arc, including One Year Later, Sagrona Teema, and Harvest.
In the finale, the children must convince their parents to fight back against the pirate threat.
By StarWars.com Team
At Attin may look the same as when Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) left it, but it certainly feels different after their adventure. Although they are finally back home and reunited with their families, Jod (Jude Law) and his pirate crew threaten all they have fought so hard to return to.
The great and powerful Supervisor we’ve heard so much about has granted an audience with Jod, Fern, and Fara. And he is…not what we expected. A massive droid with one unblinking receptor eye, the Supervisor has been watching over the people of At Attin for many years.
The Supervisor has shepherded his people, providing safety and security. But with the stab of a well-placed lightsaber, the Supervisor, his legion of Safety droids, and the entire power grid are all deactivated, leaving the planet defenseless against Jod and his invading crew….
In the penultimate episode, the pirates and the children brave a maelstrom on their quest for At Attin.
By StarWars.com Team
The ship is the key.
The Onyx Cinder is no ordinary ship. First mistaken for a Jedi temple, then revealed to be a pirate vessel, the crew has now learned the ship is from their home world of At Attin, and the key to getting them safely through the Barrier surrounding their planet. But with Jod and the pirates closing in, this isn’t exactly the homecoming our heroes expected…
Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel’s (Robert Timothy Smith) parents execute their plan to send a message beyond At Attin’s Barrier in the hopes of helping their children return safely home….
If you’re not crying over KB and Wim this week, we are not the same.
By StarWars.com Team
Remember when KB (Kyriana Kratter) seemed hesitant to go down into the steamy underbelly of the spa because her augs might get corroded? Well…
This week, things go from bad to worse for KB and the rest of the gang, who find themselves stranded and alone after Jod’s shocking betrayal. With the whole crew pushed to their limits, Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Neel (Robert Timothy Smith), and KB have to dig deep to find their way back to their ship….
In the latest installment, Jod and the children make their escape and find an old friend on a distant moon
By StarWars.com Team
Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law) is proving himself to be quite useful, if rather un-Jedi-like in his methods. That’s probably because, at least according to one former colleague, he’s actually the pirate Captain Silvo. Or is he Crimson Jack?
Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) will have to untangle who they can really trust before it’s too late. But an Observatory Moon provides some clues to get them back home and help them find an ally in the wider galaxy….
WhatCulture Star Wars is dedicated to all things Star Wars. We’ll have all the usual lists, features, and news, plus there’ll be Ups & Downs for all the latest shows and new Star Wars movies. The force is with us!
In the latest episode of The Acolyte, we return to Brendok to see the events from episode 3 from a new perspective — through the eyes of the Jedi.
By Kristin Baver
It would seem that what we saw in the third episode of The Acolyte was true…from a certain point of view.
This week, the penultimate episode of The Acolyte pays homage to the Akira Kurosawa classic Rashomon, returning to Brendok and the past to reexamine the events of the twin’s separation from the perspective of the four central Jedi: Jedi Knight Sol (Lee Jung-jae), Master Indara (Carrie-Anne Moss), her Padawan Torbin (Dean-Charles Chapman), and Master Kelnacca (Joonas Suotamo). As we rejoin Mother Aniseya’s (Jodie Turner-Smith) coven, we gain new insights into how the Jedi perceive the witches and their ritual as well as their treatment of young Osha (Lauren Brady) and Mae (Leah Brady). An examination of the nature of truth and an interrogation of justice, the more we learn, the more questions remain….
The twins have swapped masters! Episode six of The Acolyte wasn’t as action packed as Night was, but it had some really great explorations into the Force, especially the dark side. Here is my review for Teach / Corrupt!
