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Inside The Holocron

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: The Gungan General

Welcome to a look inside The Holocron. A collection of articles from the archives of *starwars.com no longer directly available.

(*Archived here with Permission utilising The Internet Archive Wayback Machine)

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: The Gungan General

Episode Air No.: 12
Original Air Date: January 9, 2009
Production No.: 20

Written by Julie Siege
Directed by Justin Ridge

Key Characters: Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Count Dooku, Hondo Ohnaka, Turk Falso, Jar Jar Binks

Key Locales: Coruscant; Florrum

Cast:
BJ Hughes as Jar Jar Binks
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi | Weequay Henchman
Dee Bradley Baker as clone troopers/Pirate Guard #2
Jim Cummings as Hondo Ohnaka
Corey Burton as Count Dooku | Senator Kharrus | Pirate Guard #1
Greg Ellis as Turk Falso
Ian Abercrombie as Chancellor Palpatine
Catherine Taber as Padmé Amidala
Tom Kane as Narrator
David Acord as Kowakian Monkey

Episode Brief: While negotiating Count Dooku’s ransom, Anakin and Obi-Wan are taken prisoner. The Jedi and Sith form an unlikely alliance in a bid to escape, with Jar Jar Binks as their only hope.

Full Synopsis

“Fail with honor rather than succeed by fraud.”

Newsreel:
Dooku held for ransom! After
escaping capture by Jedi Knights
Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan
Kenobi, the villainous Count
Dooku fell into the clutches of
pirates led by the brigand Hondo
Ohnaka. Eager to get custody of
Dooku, the Republic agreed to
pay Hondo a hefty sum in exchange
for the Sith Lord. But Anakin and
Obi-Wan had not counted on the
treacherous cunning of Ohnaka and
his band….

ACT I

Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi groggily awaken in a prison cell at the Weequay pirate compound on Florrum. They’ve been drugged and are now tethered together by a charged line. What’s worse is that they are in turn shackled to Count Dooku. The pirates have tossed aside any notions of alliance and are greedily seeking to triple their pay for three hostages.

Meanwhile, Hondo Ohnaka and Turk Falso discuss their incoming ransom, eager to get a shipment of spice from the Republic. Turk still feels that the Separatists would have offered a bigger payout, but Hondo is certain the Separatists would have simply dispatched their droid army to wipe out the pirates. Ohnaka shrewdly follows his own plan, leaving Turk in charge of procuring the ransom from the Republic diplomatic envoy when they arrive.

Turk confers with an eye-patch-wearing lackey. Falso got his own plans: he orders the other pirate to intercept the Republic shuttle and bring it down with the spice shipment intact. Turk plans to tell Hondo that the ship and its valuable cargo was destroyed while steals the ransom.

On Coruscant, the holographic form of Senator Kharrus checks in with Chancellor Palpatine, Yoda and Mace Windu. He is about to arrive at Florrum with the junior diplomatic representative (and second-in-command), Jar Jar Binks. They have yet to make contact with the Jedi, but will endeavor to do so upon landing.

The Republic shuttle enters the atmosphere of Florrum, and Kharrus and Jar Jar are advised to take their seats. Jar Jar, though, has difficulty unhitching the restraints. This becomes problematic as a disc-shaped pirate ship drops in behind the shuttle and begins opening fire. The one-eyed pirate henchman is carrying out Turk’s dirty work, and the shuttle jinks and bobs to avoid getting blasted. Inside the shuttle, Jar Jar is thrown to and fro, and even ends up in the cockpit. A missile impacts with the shuttle and it drops from the sky, slamming violently in to the desert flats.

Meanwhile, at the pirate compound, Dooku uses the Force to lift a discarded plate of food toward his cell door. He maneuvers a carelessly left behind knife into the key slot, tripping the door open. Dooku and the two Jedi are free.

The shuttle has crashed in the Doshar fields, a stretch of desert pockmarked by smoldering sulfuric geysers. Herds of burly skalders — four-legged burly creatures with thick hides — wander the flats. The clone troopers and Jar Jar emerge from the wrecked craft. The pilots and Senator Kharrus have died. This leaves Jar Jar in command.

Back at the pirate base, the one-eyed henchman reports his success to Turk. Though he has shot down the shuttle, he did not collect the spice. The cowardly henchman believed there to be Republic survivors, and he didn’t want to risk a fight. Turk is furious. He gathers a gang of six bikers, and they speed off into the wastes on their heavy speeder bikes.

Dooku, Obi-Wan and Anakin skulk through the pirate compound, having to stay close out of necessity due to their shackles. Dooku recalls the path he was taken when he was captured, and subdues a guard. The crafty Kowakian Pilf Mukmuk spots them as they make their way towards the hangar. The Jedi open a door only to stumble upon seven slacking pirate guards. More pirates summoned by Pilf rush in from behind. The Jedi escapees are now surrounded.

ACT II

Dooku and the Jedi are once again placed in a cell, as a frustrated Ohnaka tries to figure out what to do with the troublesome prisoners. He places a guard outside their cell at all times. Obi-Wan tries to use the Force to trick the guard’s mind, even though there’s not enough mind there to work with. Still, he convinces the guard to open the cell and then wander away.

At the crash-site, Jar Jar has buried Senator Kharrus under a cairn of rocks, while Clone Commander Stone oversees his troops in trying to repair the shuttle’s homing beacon. The clones advise leaving the Doshar fields, as the geysers are spitting out corrosive acid. Jar Jar observes that the movement of the skalders coincides with the eruption of the geysers.

Just then, Turk Falso’s raiding party arrives on their speeders. The pirates open fire, and the clones form a circle around Jar Jar. The pirates cut the clones off from the shuttle. With little cover, the clones are sitting ducks, but Jar Jar leads the way to a geyser crater where they find refuge. The pirates ignore the clones, thinking them as good as broiled, and instead concentrate on raiding the shuttle wreck for the spice. They attach energy couplers to the spice crates, and tow them away on their bikes.

The clones don’t feel confident in Jar Jar’s choice of shelted, but he points out that they’ll be safe as long as the skalders are still grouped outside. When they run, it means the geyser is about to explode.

The clones and Jar Jar leave the crevice just before it erupts with acid. They return to the shuttle wreck to find the ransom stolen. Stone advises that the team wait for a Republic rescue party, but Jar Jar disagrees: Anakin and Obi-Wan are waiting for the spice. With the pirates on speeder bikes, it doesn’t seem like the clones will be able to catch up, until Jar Jar suggests an alternative: riding the skalders.

The skalders offer a unique advantage — as they are instinctively attuned to the geyser fields, they can run full bore without worrying about eruptions. The speeder pirates aren’t so lucky. The skalders catch up with the thieves and the clones open fire. They blast the bike hauling the crates, knocking the ransom free. The clones reclaim their prize, but Turk Falso escapes.

The Jedi are once again free to sneak around the pirate compound, but an alarm sounds and they need to move quickly. They make it to the outside of the compound and must scale the perimeter wall. Anakin grabs a nearby pipe and pole-vaults through the air — not an easy feat while connected to two other men. All three-Force users are vaulted onto the wall’s edge, but only Anakin reaches the wall’s rim. He’s left dangling, with the weight of Obi-Wan and Dooku pulling him down. This makes them easy targets to the sniping pirates. As the Jedi try to twist and turn to avoid incoming fire, a blaster strike snaps the bond connecting Obi-Wan to Dooku, and Dooku almost falls but Kenobi catches him. It’s no use. This escape is botched, and Hondo Ohnaka looms on the wall’s edge, looking disappointed in his captives.

ACT III

The clones load the spice containers onto the skalders and prepare to move out. They spot a set of power lines that point to direction of the pirate compound.

At the compound, Turk reports to Ohnaka, lying that the Republic dispatched an army instead of the ransom. Turk advises that Ohnaka counterattack with tanks. Ohnaka is disappointed. He believed the Republic to be more honorable than this. He approves Turk’s plan to mount an armored counterassault.

A pirate attack group of three heavy repulsortanks closes in on Jar Jar and the clones. Commander Stone asks Jar Jar to step out of cover and negotiate with the pirates as a Senate Representative. Jar Jar doesn’t like this idea, but does it to honor the memory of Senator Kharrus.

His hand forced, Ohnaka must now deal with the Jedi. They are still in shackles, but at least they are not bound together or to Count Dooku. Weequay guards march Obi-Wan and Anakin out of their cell and into the main hall where the Weequays are once again gathered as if for a party. But it’s no party for the Jedi, as they are suspended from energy shackles. After betrayal from the Republic and repeated disorder caused by these Jedi prisoners, Ohnaka has no choice but to mete out punishment. He sends jolts of painful current through the energy shackles, zapping Obi-Wan and Anakin, much to the amusement of the assembled pirates.

Jar Jar stands before the approaching tanks, unarmed and alone. The tanks roll to a halt, and the Weequays are bemused. This is no army. Seeing an opportunity to capture yet another valuable hostage, the Weequays take Jar Jar aboard. Jar Jar clumsily trips up and bumps into a Weequay driver, sending the tank skidding askew and slamming into another vehicle and into the power lines. Taking advantage of this distraction, Commander Stone then leads the clone charge against the tanks.

The battered power lines overload and disrupt, cutting off power to the pirate compound. Kenobi and Anakin’s electric torture ceases, and Count Dooku’s cell door unlocks. The count strangles the Weequay cell guard with his shackles. In the main hall, Obi-Wan and Anakin call their lightsabers to them and cut their way free. Anakin holds his blade to Ohnaka’s throat and uses him as a shield as the other Weequays draw their firearms.

Jar Jar has commandeered his tank and rides it haphazardly, firing off its prime cannon as it slides along the ground. The other pirates blast Jar Jar’s tank, sending the Gungan flying, but the clones rush in and take the Weequays prisoner.

Meanwhile, Turk Falso and his eye-patch-wearing henchman make their way to a waiting starship. They intend to leave, since it’s only a matter of time before Ohnaka discovers their treachery. Falso stops mid-stride, clutching at his throat as some invisible force strangles him. Suddenly impelled by this unseen influence, the struggling Falso also pulls out his blaster and kills his henchman. Dooku emerges from the shadows, holding Falso in a firm telekinetic grip. He casts aside the pirate’s dead body and walks aboard the prepped pirate ship.

With Ohnaka as hostage, the Jedi back their way to the parked Twilight. Ohnaka tries to bargain for his life, but Anakin has it with these pirates. Just then, two pirate repulsortanks arrive, but rather than carrying Weequays, they are filled with clones and Jar Jar. The Republic envoy has finally arrived with the spice, but it’s too late. The Jedi sense through the Force the sudden departure of Count Dooku as a pirate saucer lifts off from the compound and disappears into the sky. Their prisoner has escaped.

At Obi-Wan’s request, the clones board the Twilight and fire up its engines. To Anakin and Ohnaka’s surprise, Obi-Wan release the pirate leader. Ohnaka now has nothing the Republic wants, and the Jedi are no longer prisoners. Kenobi wants to end this and leave on even terms. Ohnaka is impressed; the Republic and the Jedi do indeed have a sense of honor. Kenobi departs with a word of warning. Count Dooku has no such scruples, and the pirates have made a powerful enemy in him.

Trivia & Details

  • Serving as guards at the pirate compound are R5-units affixed with blaster rifles on their heads.
  • Count Dooku makes a rare reference to a deity by referring to Florrum as “Godforsaken.”
  • Turk Falso’s speeder bike has a silhouette of a shapely Twi’lek on it that resembles the type used by truckers on their mudflaps in our universe. Also, the bike garage has a Twi’lek pin-up poster on its wall.
  • The top of Senator Kharrus’ staff resembles the headpiece to the Staff of Ra from Raiders of the Lost Ark, as mentioned in the video commentary.

Memorable Quotes

“It’s bad enough we have to be in the same cell, but could you spare me the sound of your constant chatter!” — Anakin Skywalker to Count Dooku

“As my sweet mother always said, ‘son, if one hostage is good, two are better, and three, well, that’s just good business!’ Heh heh.” — Hondo Ohnaka

“That nitwit couldn’t kill a nuna. He depends on me for that.” — Turk Falso, describing Ohnaka.

“The last time I went on one of these ransom missions, I spent three weeks in a dungeon.” — Senator Kharrus

“I don’t want to kill you…. per se. In fact, you seem like decent fellows. Even you, Count.” — Hondo Ohnaka to the Jedi.

– “You should be more patient, Master. After all, the Count is an elderly gentleman and doesn’t move like he used to.”
– “I suppose you’re right.”
– “I would kill you both right now if I did not have to drag your bodies.” — Anakin, Obi-Wan and Dooku

“Der be some bombad clankers comin’ dis way!”
“Er… uh… what? Bombad clankers?” — Jar Jar and Commander Stone

– “That can’t be right.”
– “Are you calling me a liar?”
– “Isn’t that kind of what you do for a living?” — Anakin and Hondo Ohnaka

“Kill him! Kill him! He’s no representative! He’s a plague!” — Weequay pirate after dealing with Jar Jar.

– “Jedi! After everything, you’re just going to walk away?”
– “We have no quarrel with you and we seek no revenge.
– “Indeed. Very honorable, Master Jedi.”
– “Oh, Captain, you will find that Count Dooku does not share our sense of honor… and he knows where you live.” — Hondo Ohnaka and Obi-Wan

Inside The Holocron

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Dooku Captured

Welcome to a look inside The Holocron. A collection of articles from the archives of *starwars.com no longer directly available.

(*Archived here with Permission utilising The Internet Archive Wayback Machine)

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Dooku Captured

Episode Air No.: 11
Original Air Date: January 2, 2009
Production No.: 16

Written by Julie Siege
Directed by Jesse Yeh

Key Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Count Dooku, Pirate Chief Hondo Ohnaka; Turk Falso

Key Locales: Coruscant; Vanqor; Florrum

Cast:
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Jim Cummings as Hondo Ohnaka
Corey Burton as Count Dooku
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
Ian Abercrombie as Chancellor Palpatine
Tom Kane as Yoda/ Narrator
Terrence “TC” Carson as Mace Windu
Greg Ellis as Turk
Dee Bradley Baker as Pilf Mukmuk

Episode Brief: During their own attempt to kidnap Count Dooku, Anakin and Obi-Wan discover that the Sith Lord has already been captured by pirates.

Notable: Series debut of pirate chief Hondo Ohnaka

Full Synopsis

“The winding path to peace is always a worthy one, regardless of how many turns it takes.”

Newsreel: Manhunt!
After a long and perilous search, the
Jedi finally track down Separatist
leader, Count Dooku. During a
heroic attempt to capture the Count,
Anakin Skywalker has gone missing.
Having lost contact with Skywalker,
Obi-Wan Kenobi heads towards his
friend’s last known location, a lone
Separatist frigate in the far reaches of
the Outer Rim….

In the depths of space, a lone spacesuited figure is dwarfed by an enormous Separatist frigate. Propelled by a rocket pack, he skims the surface of the warship and comes to land near an airlock. We see through the transparisteel helmet dome that it is Obi-Wan Kenobi who is entering the enemy vessel. Inside the ship, he skulks past inattentive battle droids, making his way to the detention center. After mistakenly opening a prison cell filled with surly yet surprised Nikto thugs, he finds the correct cell: the one holding Anakin Skywalker.

Kenobi hands Anakin his lightsaber and the two quickly confer. Anakin’s capture is a ruse. He was purposely captured by the Separatists, unarmed, to be drawn aboard this ship. Anakin has confirmed that it is the flagship of Count Dooku.

The Jedi make their way to Dooku’s quarters, where they find the Sith Lord serenely meditating in a cross-legged pose. Skywalker and Kenobi ignite their lightsabers, but Dooku does not budge. Suddenly, the ship starts to rock. It is being barraged by enemy fire from a Republic destroyer that has entered the area. It’s the Resolute, and aboard its bridge, Captain Rex and Ahsoka Tano command the assault.

The Separatist ship is outgunned and targeted for boarding. Anakin orders Dooku to surrender, but the Sith Lord instead trips a trap door open and vanishes through an escape hatch. Anakin impulsively dives through the open hatch to give chase, while Obi-Wan sets off toward the hangar in a bid to head Dooku off at the pass.

Sliding through the ship’s interior, the Count sends a blast of Force lightning at Anakin to ward off pursuit. Anakin blocks the incoming bolts with his lightsaber, but the glare is such that he loses sight of Dooku. This gives the Count a few extra moments to twist his way into the hangar, where he promptly boards his solar sailer. Kenobi arrives at the hangar just in time to see the exotic vessel slide through the magcon field, flanked by vulture starfighter escorts.

Obi-Wan races aboard a Neimoidian shuttle, and is quickly joined by Anakin who emerges in the hangar. The ungainly transport pulls away from the frigate, chasing down the fleeing Sith Lord. Anakin takes over the controls while Obi-Wan mans the shuttle’s cannons. Kenobi radios Ahsoka for reinforcements while Anakin closes the distance between the Jedi and Dooku. A blast from the cannons wings Dooku’s sailer, and its flight path begins to curve toward the nearby planet of Vanqor. The vulture escorts turn around to harry the shuttle. One the vultures collides with the shuttle’s wing. Now both hunter and hunted are diving toward the planet.

Both crippled ships enter the atmosphere and come in for crash landings not far from each other. The overcast planet is marked by smoky crystalline formations. Kenobi and Skywalker emerge from their crashed shuttle, and spot the similarly downed sailer. Cautiously approaching the craft, they find it abandoned, but affixed with a homing beacon calling for help. Anakin destroys the beacon with his lightsaber while Obi-Wan surmises that Dooku isn’t going anywhere and can’t be far.

The Jedi start their search in nearby caves. They sense much life inside, including the unmistakable presence of Count Dooku. Using their lightsabers for illumination, the Jedi spelunk the alien interior, but are nearly covered by a cascade of crashing stalactites. Elsewhere in the shadows, Count Dooku grins at his handiwork.

ACT II

Dooku uses the Force to pull Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber from the debris. Adding it to his belt, Dooku triumphantly walks out of the cave, and uses the Force to collapse its entrance. He returns to his sailer to find that it is joined by a massive saucer-shaped ship of unknown origins. A party of over a dozen Weequay pirates is pillaging the Neimoidian shuttle and sailer. The pirate leader, Hondo Ohnaka, spots the confident Dooku striding toward the landing area. Dooku sniffs disdainfully as the assembled scum, demanding to know who they are, but Ohnaka does not seem intimidated by Dooku’s stately manner. He’s instead covetously eyeing the sailer, realizing the wealth of this stranger.

Dooku lies, saying his ship was damaged in an asteroid collision. He welcomes the pirates to take anything they wish; he’s above such notions of material wealth. Ohnaka, playing the helpful type, offers Dooku transport to the nearest planet, Florrum, six parsecs away. Dooku accepts, concealing his lightsabers from the pirates. Ohnaka orders his men to return to the ship; they are heading home with their new “guest.”

Meanwhile, inside the cave, the collapsed pile of crystalline rock parts as Anakin emerges from its crushing weight unscathed. He has used the Force to create a shelter. He hurriedly calls for Obi-Wan, but there is no sign of his friend. More rocks fall from above as the whole cave has been unsettled. Skywalker instinctively reaches for his lightsaber, but it is not there. Kenobi casually emerges from the shadows, dusting himself off, not seeming any worse for wear. He chastises Skywalker for once again losing his lightsaber. But Kenobi loses a bit of his airs when he attempts to ignite his own weapon, which has been damaged in the cave-in. Something stirs in the darkness; an angry gundark suddenly drops from the cave ceiling, lunging toward the Jedi! The beast chases Anakin while Kenobi fiddles with his damaged weapon. Obi-Wan belatedly uses the Force to pelt the gundark with rocks. Anakin joins in, and the beast is repelled.

The Weequay saucer craft arrives at the sulfurous world of Florrum. Dooku emerges from the ship, and realizes his lightsabers have been snatched by the pickpocketing talons of Pilf Mukmuk, a green-furred Kowakian monkey lizard loyal to Ohnaka. Dooku is unarmed, and surrounded by dozens of pirates. Over thirty rifles point at Dooku’s back as Ohnaka relishes in his prize: the leader of the clanker army, in his possession! He hopes to ransom the Sith Lord to the Republic.

Inside the Vanqor cave, Anakin and Obi-Wan continue using the Force to build a barricade between them and the gundark. A collapse of rock opens a fissure in the cave, and noxious green gas begins filling the cavern. The Jedi try to dig their way out of the collapsed opening, but the gas is overwhelming them. They collapse just as the cavern entrance explodes from outside. Ahsoka Tano and her clone forces have blasted the cave open. They also take care of the angry gundark by collapsing the entrance once more.

On Coruscant, Chancellor Palpatine and his staff review a holographic message from Hondo Ohnaka. The Weequay pirate chief is making his demands: a million credits worth of spice delivered by an unarmed diplomatic ship. Palpatine demands proof of Dooku’s capture, and Ohnaka produces his distinctive curved lightsaber handle. Yoda senses the truth behind Ohnaka’s unbelievable claims. Palpatine is still skeptical, and Ohnaka suggests that the Separatist Council would likely be willing to meet his price.

Padme Amidala realizes that this may be their only chance to get Dooku. She suggests that the Republic dispatch two Jedi to confirm Dooku’s capture. Ohnaka agrees, if the Jedi arrived unarmed. He assures the Senator the Jedi will be safe. The pirates have no interest in getting involved in the Republic’s war. Mace Windu suggests sending Kenobi and Skywalker, as the Jedi are nearby.

ACT III

Aboard the Resolute, Obi-Wan and Anakin are brought up to speed by the holographic avatars of Mace Windu and Yoda. Kenobi has reservations about entering a pirate’s den unarmed, and Skywalker can’t believe a bunch of small-time crooks have captured a Sith Lord. Still, they cannot turn down this opportunity.

The Twilight lands at the pirate outpost on Florrum. The Jedi are greeted at gunpoint by the wary pirates who run their scanners over them to ensure they are unarmed. Content that the Republic envoys are carrying no weapons, the Weequay escort them to see Hondo. Ohnaka graciously greets the Jedi, and Obi-Wan congratulates him on his capture of Dooku. Ohnaka goes on about the great battle that saw Dooku defeated, inflating the tale of his pirates’ performance. Anakin isn’t listening — he’s surprised to spot his lightsaber in the claws of a Kowakian monkey-lizard. He uses the Force to call it to him, a move that is answered by blaster rifles pointed to his head. In the interests of diplomacy, Skywalker gives up the weapon to the pilfering Pilf Mukmuk.

Ohnaka arranges a meeting between the Jedi and Dooku, so the Republic can confirm the count’s capture. Suspended splayed in a containment field is the count. Kenobi and Skywalker grin at the Sith Lord’s turn of misfortune. Dooku remains defiant, confident that he won’t remain a captive for long. He also chides the Jedi for their naivety, for he warns them that the devious Weequay may overstep themselves and target the Jedi next.

Anakin and Obi-Wan stroll into a marketplace. Skywalker is tired and ready to move on, but Kenobi remains vigilant. He doesn’t trust the pirates. A Weequay invites them to the main hall for a banquet.

Kenobi returns to the Twilight to contact Coruscant. He confirms Dooku’s presence to the Chancellor, who agrees to send Senator Kharrus and Represenative Binks as the diplomatic envoy to deliver the ransom.

At the Weequay party, revelry abounds, with drunkeness, food, dancing and merriment. Kenobi and Skywalker are still on their guard, but Hondo insists they have a drink. It is tradition. A Weequay server sprinkles an unknown substance into their drinks, but the Jedi are wary. They use the Force to telekinetically swap their drinks with those of the flanking Weequay, who fall unconscious after imbibing. Skywalker still doesn’t understand how these pirates could have pulled off the capture of Dooku, but Obi-Wan tries to get him to not question such an unexpected gift.

Trivia & Details

  • Kenobi’s discomfort and inexperience with space travel is evident as he doesn’t recognize the capabilities of a Neimoidian shuttle.
  • In the original script, the ship that Anakin and Obi-Wan discover in the hangar bay was a Sabaoth starfighter, a vessel from the 2002 Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter videogame.
  • A Jawa at the Weequay marketplace fails to get out a complete “Utinni!” before getting kicked in the ribs.
  • Originally, there were going to be two Kowakian monkey lizards as part of the pirate group — twin brothers Pikk and Pilf Mukmuk, but their role was consolidated into Pilf’s. Pilf “pilfers” the lightsabers from Dooku off-camera.
  • The sound and rotation of the Weequay pirate ship is very evocative of old style 1950s ideas of UFOs, like those seen in Earth Versus the Flying Saucers. Retro-saucer ships have been part of the prequel concept art since Episode I — either as Trade Federation craft or most recently as Alderaanian vessels — but have not made it to the screen until now.

Memorable Quotes

– “How come I’m the one getting caught all the time? It doesn’t look good.”
– “When you’re a Jedi Master, you can make the plan.”
– “That’s just it. How can I become a Jedi Master if I’m always getting caught?”
– “At least you’re a master? at getting caught.” — Anakin and Obi-Wan.

“Obi-Wan Kenobi. I thought I sensed an unpleasant disturbance in the Force.” — Count Dooku

“Let’s try not to blow up the ship before they get off this time.” — Ahsoka Tano to Rex.

-“You should have gotten us a fighter.”
-“Isn’t that what this is?”
-“No, this bucket is heavier than a fighter and a lot slower.” – Anakin and Obi-Wan.

– “Jump in any time!”
– “Oh, you’re doing fine. She seems to like you.”
– “Yeah. Lucky me!” – Anakin and Obi-Wan versus a gundark.

“You don’t survive in the Outer Rim by being stupid!” – Hondo Ohnaka

“So which part of the situation did you have under control? The blocked entrance, or the poison gas, or that gundark behind you?” – Ahsoka Tano to Anakin

“Even a Sith Lord is no match for my warriors. Put up quite a fight! Blasters. Cannons. That glowy thing. Vmm! Vmmm!” – Hondo Ohnaka

– “They are devious and deceitful and most importantly, stupid.”
– “It’s a wonder you don’t get along with them, Dooku. You have so much in common.” – Dooku and Obi-Wan.

Inside The Holocron

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Lair of Grievous

Welcome to a look inside The Holocron. A collection of articles from the archives of *starwars.com no longer directly available.

(*Archived here with Permission utilising The Internet Archive Wayback Machine)

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Lair of Grievous

Episode Air No.: 10
Original Air Date: December 12, 2008
Production No.: 12

Written by Henry Gilroy
Directed by Atsushi Takeuchi

Key Characters: Jedi Master Kit Fisto; Mon Calamari Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb; Viceroy Nute Gunray; General Grievous; Count Dooku; caretaker droid A-4D

Key Locales: Vassek

Cast:

Phil LaMarr as Kit Fisto
Matthew Wood as General Grievous/ battle droids
Tom Kenny as Nahdar Vebb/ Nute Gunray
Dee Bradley Baker as clone troopers
David Acord as droid A-4D
Corey Burton as Count Dooku
Tom Kane as Yoda/ Narrator
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
Terrence ‘TC’ Carson as Mace Windu
Olivia d’Abo as Luminara Unduli

Episode Brief: General Grievous must prove himself worthy of the Separatists when Count Dooku leads Jedi Master Kit Fisto and his former Padawan, the Mon Calamari Jedi Nahdar Vebb to Grievous’ villainous enclave

Notable: Series debut of Kit Fisto.

Full Synopsis

“Most powerful is he who controls his own power.”

Newreel: Viceroy Gunray escapes!
En route to Coruscant to stand trial
for war crimes, evil Separatist leader
Nute Gunray has broken free of his
Jedi escort. With the help of Count
Dooku’s sinister agents, the villainous
viceroy has made a daring getaway.
Alerted to the bold prison break,
Jedi Master Kit Fisto has traced the
stolen ship to a remote system,
hoping to recapture Gunray and
return him to justice.

ACT I

The tentacle-headed Jedi Master Kit Fisto sits in his Delta-7B starfighter in orbit around the fog shrouded third moon of Vassek. He prompts his astromech droid, R6-H5, to inform the Outer Rim Command Center that he has traced the beacon of the stolen Republic frigate. Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and Padawan Ahsoka Tano appear in holographic form before Kit. Unduli updates Kit that his old Padawan, Nahdar Vebb, has also honed in on the tracking signal and has already reached the moon’s surface. Kit is pleased at the notion of reuniting with Vebb, whom he has not seen since the Jedi trials.

Fisto lands on a stark promontory in a landscape marked by craggy moss-covered canyons filled with dense fog. He spots a Republic attack shuttle parked nearby, and the goggle-eyed Mon Calamari Jedi Knight, Nahdar Vebb is conferring with his clone troops. Fisto never saw Vebb ascend to Knighthood, for the war kept Kit occupied. Clone Commander Fil has pinpointed the Republic tracking signal to the south end of the gorge, and the Republic team leaves to investigate. Vebb uses the Force to part the fogbank, a more outward display of Force talent than what Fisto would ordinarily deem necessary.

The clear air reveals a set of massive, vaulted doors set into the rock-face. Commander Fil orders troopers Niner and Bel to stay behind and set up camp to watch over the parked ships while he and three clone troopers follow the Jedi to the sealed gate. The troops are ready to break out thermal detonators to blast their way through, while Vebb instead brandishes his lightsaber, ready to hack his way into the doors. In contrast, Fisto takes a closer look at the paneling of the door and spots a trigger switch. The door opens at his command.

The Jedi and the clones enter the dank passageways made of strangely fluid architecture, marked by wan glow globes and permeated by a strange odor. The clones switch on their headlamps, but they do little to illuminate the cloying darkness. In the distance, something shrieks. It is an unsettling location.

They approach the only lit chamber in the maze of passageways, the sanctum overlook. Nute Gunray’s unmistakable voice emanates from within, barking out orders to battle droids. The Jedi and the clones skulk in the shadows, spying into the chamber. A high-backed chair faces away from them, and five battle droids attentively listen to the viceroy’s commands. The Jedi enter and ignite their blades. The battle droids open fire, but are quickly cut down. Nahdar especially slashes apart droids with zeal, Force-pushing their already segmented fragments. Kit looks upon this with concern.

The Jedi spin the chair around only to find that Gunray isn’t there — instead, they stare at a cackling hologram of the slippery Neimoidian. The Republic tracking beacon rests on the chair; the Separatists clearly knew they were being followed. Gunray’s hologram is replaced by a projection of the stately Count Dooku. Though Gunray has escaped the Jedi’s clutches, the count instead offers an alternative prize. Without elaborating, the hologram vanishes, leaving only a flashing indicator on the chair. With no options, Vebb presses the switch.

Another chamber slowly creaks open. A dark corridor leads to still more eerie rooms, filled with statues of a glorious alien warrior. The last chamber opens to suspended armored carapaces belonging to General Grievous — the Jedi have unwittingly penetrated the Separatist warlord’s most private sanctuary.

In space, Grievous’ starfighter soars toward the Vassek moon. Count Dooku’s hologram appears before the general, expressing his dismay at the ongoing stalemate in the war. He voices concern that Grievous has lost his focus, and that Lord Sidious demands results. Grievous is insulted and angry; he can only do so much with the incompetent battle droids under his command.

Back in the lair, Nadhar pauses to examine the severed Padawan braids and other grim trophies of Grievous’ victory against the Jedi. Kit Fisto meanwhile puzzles over Dooku’s motives — why would the Separatist set up a trap against his best general? Fisto’s comlink beeps for attention; the clones outside report that Arsix is tracking Grievous’ incoming starfighter. Nahdar realizes the opportunity — capturing Grievous could turn the tide of the war.

Grievous’ fighter slices through the fog and flies through a hinged opening in the vaulted gates. Before long, he is marching through the corridors of his lair, calling for his guards, or his “pet,” Gor. He is confused by the silence. Suddenly, the Jedi and their clones spring from the shadows and surround Grievous. Kit Fisto demands that Grievous surrender.

ACT II

Grievous does not give up without a fight. He doffs his cloak and extends two lightsabers. Immediately, Fisto and Vebb are upon him, held off by these two blades. Grievous then separates his arms and produces two more lightsabers to further ward off and occupy the Jedi. The clones fire their ascension cables at the general, latching onto his legs. They pull with all their might, cutting Grievous’ mobility. Now the general redirects his blades, attempting to cut his way free, but Vebb and Fisto deflect his sabers. Grievous extends his mechanical might, and the clones’ strength starts to waver.

Kit sees this and slashes laterally across Grievous’ limbs, hacking off the general’s legs below the cables! His upper body topples to the floor as his legs fall to the side. Grievous attempts to scurry away, clambering on all four arms like some twisted robotic arachnid. He still parries an incoming attack from Vebb and then springs to the air, brachiating from the wall and ceiling fixtures. One clone loses his footing and snaps toward Grievous via his ascension cable. Grievous grabs the clone by his throat, and uses the trooper to bat aside Fisto. The general then throws the dead body of the trooper at Vebb while he brachiates away. He plows into the other two clone troopers, knocking them over, before disappearing into the gloom.

Grievous arrives at a sealed chamber and touches its door panels in a specific sequence, unlocking the passageway. The door slams shut behind him. Vebb is furious. He had Grievous (he’s convinced), but the clones got in the way. Kit Fisto doesn’t like what he sees in his former apprentice, and advises that they take care of their wounded.

Grievous swings his way to an inner sanctum — a secret control room — demanding to see his doctor, A-4D, a modified supervisor droid with all manner of repair attachments. A-4D vocally laments Grievous’ current condition, and fetches the general’s spare parts. As Grievous follows the doctor, he notices that his MagnaGuard droids hang limply on their charging racks. A-4D explains the droids were remotely deactivated for recharge; he assumed Grievous did it. Grievous reactivates his guards and sends them to lock down the perimeter.

Sitting down in his control room, Grievous calls up a holographic feed of the intruders. Nahdar is determined to strike down Grievous, but Kit advises retreat. Grievous remotely seals their exit, and Fisto realizes they’ll have to fight again.

Fil radios Watcher Base, the designation for Bel and Niner who are outside guarding the ships. He orders them to contact the Republic outpost on Bestine for reinforcements. Before Bel and Niner can power up the long range transmitter aboard the shuttle, though, a MagnaGuard fires off a missile, destroying the vessel. Arsix witnesses this, and is soon surrounded by droids. The little astromech starts up the Jedi starfighter’s engines and rockets away. A tenacious MagnaGuard clings to the fighter’s hull, but Arsix spins the ship, shaking off the stowaway.

Grievous appears as a hologram in the corridor where Kit, Vebb and the clones stand. He taunts the uninvited guests before triggering another trap. The floor drops from underneath their feet. The Jedi avoid the pitfall, but two clones plummet below. Commander Fil stops his fall by firing off an ascension cable, but the other clone is not so lucky. He lands in a molten incinerator vat and is vaporized. Fil climbs to the surface. Kit cuts through one of the visible holocams recording their movements for Grievous. Undeterred, Grievous springs his next trap: releasing the ravenous pet roggwart, Gorr.

The monstrous armored creature enters the corridors. The Jedi and Commander Fil try to stand their ground. Grievous chuckles with delight, but is pulled away from his sport from A-4D, who is ready to begin his medical administrations. Extending his various manipulators, A-4D begins replacing Grievous’ severed limbs and his scarred faceplate.

ACT III

The massive horned creature stalks the Jedi. It lunges, knocking Kit Fisto’s weapon from his hand. Commander Fil tries to blast at its unarmored neck, while Nahdar drives a lightsaber into its well muscled back. This only serves to aggravate Gor, who wraps up Commander Fil in his sinewy tail and flails him around, slamming him against the ground. Nahdar lops off Gor’s tail, while Fisto, who has retrieved his weapon, cuts off the creature’s arms. In agony, Gor collapses to the ground, and Fisto puts the dimwitted beast out of its misery by driving his lightsaber into its neck.

Vebb cradles Commander Fil’s lifeless body, all the more determined to destroy Grievous. Fisto reminds him of his teachings: revenge is not the Jedi way. Vebb doesn’t hear him. He believes the rules have changed in this time of war.

Grievous returns to his control room, only to find his pet slain. Dooku contacts Grievous to check on his progress. Grievous realizes that Dooku is testing him. The count was the one who had deactivated his droids and led the Jedi here. Enraged, Grievous cuts off communications with Dooku.

Despite still recovering from his injuries, Grievous emerges from his sanctuary, determined to face the Jedi. Fisto and Vebb spot Grievous lock the entrance to his control room with a specific touch pattern. As Grievous leaves, Fisto rushes out and repeats the pattern, opening the door. A-4D sees the infiltrators, and alerts Grievous, who returns to face the Jedi. Fisto orders Nahdar inside, but the young Mon Calamari impulsively chooses to stay outside and hold Grievous off. The door to the control room slams shut, separating Fisto and his former apprentice.

Nahdar springs into action, slicing through Grievous’ team of bodyguard droids, and then faces off against the general. Kit Fisto breaches the control room, cutting down A-4D. Fisto watches the monitors helplessly as Vebb duels Grievous. With two lightsabers Grievous pins Nahdar’s blade, and then uses one of his extra arms to pull out a blaster pistol, with which he shoots Nahdar twice in the abdomen, killing the Mon Calamari. Fisto watches the fall of his apprentice, but has little time to mourn. Arsix reaches him on his comlink. Fisto tells the little droid to meet him on the south landing platform. Grievous cuts through the control room’s workstation, and flees.

On the fog-shrouded landing platform, Fisto arrives and calls for his droid to pilot the starfighter in. Grievous emerges at the lip of the platform, climbing to the surface to confront Kit. Grievous extends all four arms and spins a quartet of lightsabers into deadly fanblades of energy. Fisto holds off the general, using the fog to his advantage as he disappears into the mist between blows. Fisto shears off one of Grievous’ hands, reclaiming that lightsaber. He then begins to overpower the general, at which point Grievous’ bodyguards enter the fray.

Fisto is outnumbered. But just then, Arsix arrives in the Jedi starfighter. Kit leaps aboard the fighter as it flies away.

Grievous returns to his lair, and informs Dooku that the Jedi have been defeated. Dooku is not impressed; victory over the clones and young Jedi was expected. That Fisto escaped, though, is a failure.

Back on Coruscant, at the Jedi Temple, Fisto reports to Mace Windu and Yoda, informing them of Nahdar’s fate. Yoda cautions that in this war, the Jedi risk losing their ideals and their identity.

Trivia & Details

  • According to the script, the captured lightsaber that Kit Fisto examines within the lair once belonged to Jedi Master Neebo; she went missing while defending refuges on the moons of Sanjin.
  • As an indicator of his youth, Vebb has only a single barble on his chin, as opposed to the numerous ones Admiral Ackbar has.
  • Vebb is shown using the Force when simpler solutions exists; first with parting the fog bank, and also spinning Nute Gunray’s chair.
  • The buzzing, sputtering noise that accompanies the MagnaGuards appears to at least partially emanate from the droids themselves, and not just their electrostaffs.
  • The holocams in Grievous’ lair are the same model that Jabba the Hutt employs in his palace in Return of the Jedi.
  • Dave Acord’s vocal performance as A-4D is patterned after the distinctive speaking style of actor/comedian/Hollywood Squares-fixture, the late Paul Lynde

Memorable Quotes

– “Have you ever killed a Jedi?”
– “No, never.”
– “Me neither.” — Battle droids

“Those who have power should restrain themselves from using it.” — Kit Fisto

“We specialize in making entrances.” — Clone Commander Fil

“You expect victory over Jedi, but all you give me to fight them is battle droids! Bah!” — General Grievous to Count Dooku

“Don’t be upset with me, master. If you were a better fighter, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” — A-4D

“I have a bad feeling about this.” — Nahdar Vebb

“Master, the armor patches are getting cold, and contrary to your belief, I do have other things to do.” — A-4D

– “Sometimes I wonder why you submitted to the changes.” – “Improvements! I submit to no one. I chose them! Now get on with it.” — A-4D and General Grievous

– “But in this war, strength prevails. The rules have changed.”
– “Perhaps you are the one who has changed.” — Nahdar Vebb and Kit Fisto.

“I will rest when the Jedi are dead.” — General Grievous.

“I will kill you all! Do you hear me, Jedi? Do you hear me?” — General Grievous

“You may have been a proud warrior once, but now you’re just a pawn in Dooku’s game!” — Kit Fisto to General Grievous

“To answer power with power, the Jedi way this is not. In this war, a danger there is of losing who we are” — Yoda.

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Inside The Holocron

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Bombad Jedi

Welcome to a look inside The Holocron. A collection of articles from the archives of *starwars.com no longer directly available.

(*Archived here with Permission utilising The Internet Archive Wayback Machine)

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Bombad Jedi

Episode Air No.: 8
Original Air Date: November 21, 2008
Production No.: 5

Written by Kevin Rubio; Henry Gilroy; Steven Melching
Directed by Jesse Yeh

Key Characters: Padmé Amidala, Senator Onaconda Farr, Viceroy Nute Gunray, Jar Jar Binks, C-3PO

Key Locales: Rodia

Cast:
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks
Catherine Taber as Padmé Amidala
Matthew Wood as General Grievous | battle droids
Dee Baker as Onaconda Farr | clone troopers
Tom Kenny as Nute Gunray | Silood
Ian Abercrombie as Chancellor Palpatine
Tom Kane as narrator

Episode Brief: Jar Jar Binks is a Jedi Knight? So thinks the Separatists when comically heroic Gungan and C-3PO fight to save Padmé Amidala from doom at the hands of evil Viceroy Nute Gunray.

Notable: Series debut of Jar Jar Binks, Gunray, and Farr.

Full Synopsis

“Heroes are made by the times.”

Newsreel: The Clone War threatens the
unity of the Republic! As battles
rage across the galaxy, more
worlds succumb to the
seductive lure of the Separatists
and leave the Republic. On a
vital mission of peace, Senator
Padmé Amidala journeys to the
Outer Rim world of Rodia,
desperate to ensure its loyalty
remains to the Republic….

ACT I

The silvery needle-like Naboo yacht darts toward the verdant world of Rodia. Aboard, Senator Padmé Amidala, Representative Jar Jar Binks and protocol droid C-3PO prepare for landing. Padmé is speaking to the holographic form of Chancellor Palpatine, who is concerned with the Senator’s travel through enemy territory to the Outer Rim. Senator Onaconda Farr of Rodia has personally requested an audience with Amidala, and she could not turn down such an entreaty from a dear family friend.

Rodia is imperiled, its supply lines ransacked by pirates and its people starving. The situation is dire. Palpatine would feel more comfortable had Amidala been accompanied by a clone escort, but she insists this is a diplomatic mission of peace. Palpatine is also concerned about Jar Jar’s unpredictable presence, and discreetly advises Amidala to make sure only those qualified to represent the Republic be present during the talks.

The yacht flies through the defensive dome surrounding the Senatorial residence on Rodia, and sets down within a hangar. Jar Jar is eager to visit a world teeming with swamps like his native Naboo, but Amidala diplomatically requests that Binks remain behind to keep an eye on C-3PO. Amidala disembarks, and is greeted by Silood, Senator Farr’s aide, who takes her inside the citadel. Amidala extends a heartfelt hello to Farr, or “Uncle Ono” as she affectionately calls him. Farr is a longtime friend of the Naberrie family, and had even previously worked closely with Amidala’s father.

Though Farr is happy to see Amidala, his sentiments turn bitter when talking about the Republic’s neglect for Rodia. The planet was left to fend for itself when waylaid by pirates. Amidala tries to insist Rodia is an important world, but she realizes that the Senate’s failure to act weakens her argument. Farr reveals that he has reluctantly made a deal with Nute Gunray for a relief effort. Gunray is offering food, ships, and protection. Amidala is outraged. Gunray cannot be trusted, but Farr has no choice. Battle droids suddenly rush in and surround Amidala. Her capture was part of the deal Farr has made.

Back at the Naboo yacht, Jar Jar Binks is intrigued by the loud — and occasionally rude — sounds coming from the swamp underbrush. Convinced he can talk to the swamp-dwellers, Jar Jar begins chattering to the reeds, and some unseen creature responds by spitting up slime at C-3PO.

The hangar doors open and battle droids suddenly appear. Jar Jar scurries back into the ship and closes the ramp, but poor C-3PO can’t shuffle aboard fast enough. Jar Jar reaches out to pull C-3PO in, but underestimates the protocol droid’s weight and is instead dragged outside as the entry ramp closes. Stuck in the hangar, Jar Jar and Threepio scurry to take cover as the battle droids open fire. Jar Jar leaps behind a control panel and accidentally triggers the switch for a large overhead magnetic hoist. The magnet picks up Threepio, pinning the droid to its surface. Trying to maneuver the magnet, Jar Jar instead bowls over the battle droids with the heavy contraption.

Next, a Separatist crab droid comes scuttling into the hangar, its guns blazing. Jar Jar scrambles for cover, but is cornered by the droid and ends up riding the automaton. Jar Jar’s antics cause the droid to hop and spasm wildly, until both it and the Gungan tumble off the end of the hangar platform. C-3PO watches with shock. Has he witnessed the end of Jar Jar?

ACT II

Turns out, no: Jar Jar climbs up the edge of the hangar, shaken but all in one piece. The Gungan correctly deactivates the magnet pinning C-3PO, but then follows up by slamming the hoist down on the Naboo yacht, flattening the silvery ship.

Jar Jar and C-3PO inspect their ruined vessel. C-3PO advises either somehow calling for clone reinforcements or hiding. Jar Jar opens a closet that holds a Jedi cloak. He realizes that if the battle droids attacked them, then Padmé is likely in trouble. Jar Jar is determined to save her, and grabs the robes, seeing them as the perfect disguise.

Elsewhere, Padmé is led to a holding cell in the detention tower and chained to the wall as Farr regretfully looks on. Silood announces that Gunray’s shuttle approaches. Farr asks about the status of Amidala’s friends, but Silood reports there are no signs of them. Assuming that they fled into the jungle, Farr leaves to prepare for Gunray’s arrival.

A Neimoidian shuttle settles at the main hangar bay and Nute Gunray emerges. Wasting no time for pleasantries, he demands to see Senator Amidala. Jar Jar and C-3PO hide nearby, and overhear that Amidala is in the tower. Suddenly, a battle droid catches sight of Jar Jar and identifies him as a Jedi. Nute Gunray orders his troops to attack, and the battle droids charge. Jar Jar runs while C-3PO attempts to surrender. Binks slips through a floor grate into the swamp water beneath the hangar. Nute Gunray demands the “Jedi” be found, and that C-3PO be taken to the dismantling center.

In the water, Jar Jar’s stirring agitates an enormous swamp slug creature called the Kwazel Maw, which gives pursuit. Jar Jar surfaces at the grate leading to the hangar. He uses the native vines to climb up the side of the detention tower.

In her detention cell, Padmé uses a concealed lock pick to undo her shackles. She overhears the battle droids outside commiserating about a Jedi on the loose. Amidala runs with it, talking loudly as if a Jedi had entered her cell and rescued her. The confused battle droids open her cell to investigate and Padmé kicks the droid down, grabbing its blaster and firing away at the prison guards. She has escaped.

Padmé crosses paths with the battle droids escorting C-3PO and blasts them too, freeing the protocol droid. Threepio brings her up to speed, informing her anpit Jar Jar’s rescue attempt, that the battle droids mistook him for a Jedi, and how her ship is now a pancake. Padmé sees this as a chance to capture Nute Gunray, and orders Threepio to find a communications center to call for clone reinforcements.

Viceroy Gunray and Senator Farr cross the walkway leading to the detention tower, and Farr inquires about the status of his relief supplies. Gunray feigns surprise that the supplies have not yet arrived, and says the request will be taken into consideration after Senator Amidala’s execution. Farr is shocked. Gunray is altering the deal now that Rodia is under his protection. Despondent, Farr’s only hope is in the “Jedi” reported to be on the loose on Rodia.

ACT III

At the apex of the detention tower, the battle droid guards report to Gunray that Senator Amidala has escaped. Just then, Jar Jar climbs to the top and is spotted by the droids, who open fire. Jar Jar falls but is tangled in the vines. He lands back down at the lower deck and once again retreats into the swamp water below. Padmé spots Jar Jar, but is in turn seen by the droids. The battle droids open up the grate to the swamp water and drop thermal detonators.

Jar Jar swims to safety, but a super battle droid fires a homing torpedo at him which twists through the murky water at the Gungan. Swimming at great speed, Jar Jar once again crosses paths with the kwazel maw which also gives pursuit. The mighty beast gulps Jar Jar into its mouth just as the torpedo strikes.

The explosive report shakes the surface, knocking Padmé off her feet. She realizes Jar Jar must be dead, but her mourning is interrupted by the arrival of Viceroy Gunray and Senator Farr.

C-3PO reaches the communications center and distracts the battle droid guards with news that the Jedi has been spotted nearby. Taking the controls, C-3PO contacts the clones on a restricted military frequency and calls for immediate help for Senator Amidala on Rodia. The battle droid guards return and take C-3PO under arrest.

Underwater, the evidently torpedo-proof Kwazel Maw spits out an unharmed Jar Jar Binks. The creature seems peaceful, and Jar Jar proclaims the helpful beast his new friend.

C-3PO is marched to Amidala’s side, where she is held at gunpoint by Gunray’s droids. Droidekas roll into the scene and unfurl into their combat modes, ready to act as executioners on Gunray’s orders. Farr begs for her life, but Gunray is determined to see this through, relishing his moment of revenge.

Just then, Jar Jar appears in full Jedi robes, terrifying Gunray. Binks orders the Senator released. Gunray’s droidekas open fire instead on Jar Jar, but the Kwazel Maw erupts through the floor, and begins trashing droids left and right as it flails about on dry land. Jar Jar rides the beast through the battle, and the impervious monster bodily pushes Gunray’s shuttle off the hangar platform.

The tables have turned. Padmé picks up a discarded blaster and holds it at Gunray. Senator Farr, too, has grabbed a blaster. Gunray calls for the Rodian Senator to blast Amidala and the Jedi, but Farr refuses. Padmé, recognizing what Farr has been through, gives him an opportunity to save face. She suggests that Farr had never intended to leave the Republic, and Farr concurs, putting Gunray under arrest.

Just then, Republic destroyers arrive overhead. Gunships land in the hangar bay, and Clone Commander Gree reports to the Senators, taking possession of Gunray. Chancellor Palpatine appears via hologram and commends the capture of the Viceroy. Palpatine has also pledged relief efforts to Rodia.

Trivia & Details

  • Amidala mentions that she has been friends with Senator Farr since she was a little girl, when he was her father’s “strongest ally in the Senate.” It is unclear what previous association Ruwie Naberrie may have had with the Galactic Senate, though his careers as educator, builder and relief worker may have caused him to work side-by-side with Senator Farr.
  • Amidala’s turban-like headdress is a purple variation of a white shroud that was designed but not used in Episode II.
  • A Rodian salute of greeting appears to be open hands, palm-down, crossed over the chest.
  • At episode’s end, Senator Farr refers to Jar Jar as “Master Bombad,” but the dialogue that would have identified that as Jar Jar’s ersatz Jedi name was cut from the final episode.
  • The Kwazel Maw design is based on unused Ralph McQuarrie design for a swamp slug creature on Dagobah.

Memorable Quotes

“I put my faith in diplomacy. We can’t solve all of our problems by throwing troops at them.” — Padmé Amidala.

“There’s always a choice! To live in fear is no life at all!” — Padmé to Senator Farr.

“Jar Jar, you great webfoot! You’re squooshing my circuits!” — C-3PO.

“Oh lookie! Here’s a button that’s still workin!” — Jar Jar Binks inspecting the ruined Naboo yacht.

-“Dat’s a lookin like a Jedi robe. Whosa you supposin dis belongs to?”
-“I wouldn’t, um, know. Hm.” – Jar Jar Binks and C-3PO finding a Jedi robe aboard Padmé’s ship.

“Wait! Mesa eyeball stuck in the sleeve!” — Jar Jar Binks, getting dressed.

“The battle droids will surely capture you! Or worse, me!” — C-3PO, attempting to reason with Jar Jar.

“I have a very bad feeling about this.” — C-3PO.

“There’s a bad boogie monster down dere, you betcha.” — Jar Jar Binks, describing the kwazel maw.

  • “Go back to the ship and call for help.”
  • “I regret the transmitters on the ship are out of order.”
  • “What?”
  • “The ship has been destroyed.”
  • “Battle droids?”
  • “No.”
  • “Jar Jar?”
  • “Jar Jar.” — Exchange between Padmé Amidala and C-3PO.

Inside The Holocron

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Duel of the Droids

Welcome to a look inside The Holocron. A collection of articles from the archives of *starwars.com no longer directly available.

(*Archived here with Permission utilising The Internet Archive Wayback Machine)

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Duel of the Droids

Episode Air No: 7
Original Air Date: November 14, 2008
Production No: 6

Written by Kevin Campbell; Henry Gilroy
Directed by Rob Coleman

Key Characters: General Grievous; Anakin Skywalker; R2-D2; Ahsoka Tano; R3-S6; Gha Nachkt; Clone Captain Rex

Key Locales: Skytop Station; Ruusan moon

Cast:
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
Dee Bradley Baker as clone troopers
Matthew Wood as General Grievous | battle droids
Ron Perlman as Gha Nachkt
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Tom Kane as Narrator

Episode Brief: Anakin, Ahsoka and replacement droid R3-S6 embark on a dual rescue/sabotage mission when they discover R2-D2 is being held at General Grievous’ secret enemy listening post.

Full Synopsis

“You hold onto friends by keeping your heart a little softer than your head.”

Newsreel:

Missing in action! Anakin
Skywalker’s heroic droid
navigator R2-D2 was lost in
battle. When a desperate
search fails to locate Artoo,
Anakin is forced to take on
a new navigator, R3-S6.
Now the Jedi embark on a
dangerous new mission, to
find a secret enemy listening
post. Meanwhile, R2-D2 has
fallen into the hands of a
vile droid smuggler and is
on his way to General Grievous
who will surely plunder the
Republic’s secrets hidden
within him….

ACT I

Gha Nachkt’s salvage ship, Vulture’s Claw approaches the storm cloud-covered moon of Ruusan and opens communications with General Grievous. The slimy Nachkt is insistent on getting paid promptly for his services. Sealed within a cargo hold, the captive R2-D2 cuts his way into an electronics trunk with a circular saw, exposing wiring connected to the communications system. He blurts out a brief beep over the open comm before Gha Nachkt detects his sneaky maneuver and debilitates the droid with an ion prod.

Elsewhere, the Twilight scours nearby space for Grievous’ secret station. Aboard, Ahsoka Tano intercepts Artoo’s brief outburst, and Anakin Skywalker recognizes it as his droid’s whistle. He orders Captain Rex to trace the signal. Ahsoka reminds Anakin that their orders are to find the Separatist listening post, but Anakin justifies his shift in priorities by suggesting that perhaps R2-D2 is at the listening post. Rex locks onto the coordinates, and the Twilight leaps into hyperspace.

In the skies of the Ruusan moon, Gha Nachkt’s vessel lands at Skytop Station, a Trade Federation core ship converted into a listening post. Nachkt marches the captive R2-D2 past surveillance posts manned by Aqualish technicians and is met by General Grievous. After getting a taste of Artoo’s characteristic defiance, Grievous orders the little droid torn apart and sifted for information. Gha Nachkt then takes the droid to a terrifying disassembly chamber.

The Twilight emerges in the Ruusan system and detects the presence of Skytop Station. Anakin recognizes it as a Separatist installation. He orders R3-S6 to contact Obi-Wan Kenobi, using scramble code 1477. Skywalker reports to Kenobi, who advises that Anakin hold off until reinforcements arrive. Anakin reveals that he thinks R2-D2 may be aboard and Obi-Wan changes tactics. He instead tells Anakin to sneak aboard the station and destroy it before the lost astromech’s systems could be scoured for valuable intelligence. Above all, Kenobi reminds him, this is not a rescue mission.

Skywalker, Ahsoka, Rex and a team of four clones prep for the insertion mission, and they’re taking R3-S6 with them to help maneuver past the station’s computer systems and sealed passageways. Rex gets the job of carrying the droid during their insertion drop. Using the moon’s turbulent atmosphere and the Twilight‘s sensor jamming as cover, the strike team jumps from the spice freighter and freefalls to the station. The clone team uses rocket packs to slow their descent, while the Jedi rely on the Force.

Secure on the station’s surface, Anakin cuts through the hull with his lightsaber. The troops enter through the hole and quickly subdue a battle droid patrol. They arrive at a control panel, and R3-S6 plugs in. A holographic projection of the station reveals that the station’s reactors are 30 levels below. Anakin orders Ahsoka to lead the squad in destroying the reactors while he searches for R2-D2. The plan is to cripple the station’s repulsorlifts, and let gravity do the rest.

ACT II

R2-D2 has been dissected! His splayed body parts lay strewn atop the chopshop table while Gha Nachkt probes the little droid’s protected files. Images begin to coalesce in Artoo’s holoprojector as Nachkt uncovers some sensitive Republic data. The Trandoshan scavenger excitedly calls Grievous with news that the droid’s mission memory has never been erased. Gha, pleased with himself, demands an increase in his fee. All Grievous offers, however, is a lightsaber stabbed through Gha Nachkt’s back. The Trandoshan is instantly killed.

As Ahsoka leads her troops deeper into the station, R3-S6 opens a transmission to General Grievous — the little gold droid is a double agent! Goldie informs Grievous of the Jedi intruders, and the general orders the astromech to delay them. Ahsoka comes looking for R3 as Grievous sounds a general alarm. Grievous leaves to deal with the trespassers, assigning a quartet of MagnaGuard droids to watch over the disassembled R2-D2. He later orders his guards to take R2-D2 to his ship.

Rex and Ahsoka find the reactor room, but the general alarm has triggered a ray shield that prevents them from entering. Ahsoka tasks Goldie with bypassing the shield but the droid seems to have little luck — in fact his lackluster slicing triggers a secondary blast door to slam down. Battle droid reinforcements arrive from either end of the corridor and open fire, forcing the clones to scatter for cover. Rex and his troops throw droid poppers — EMP grenades — that detonate and incapacitate the enemy.

Grievous arrives at the corridor, unimpressed by Ahsoka and the clones. He ignites his lightsaber; Ahsoka does the same and charges the general. Grievous quickly overpowers her, tossing her aside. Rex and the boys open fire but Grievous leaps into their midst, cutting through and bowling over several clones. Trooper Denal is thrown into a bulkhead and Rex is knocked out cold. As Grievous is about to plunge his lightsaber into the clone captain, Ahsoka stops his blade with hers.

Grievous ignites a second blade and forces Ahsoka back. She is nimble enough to avoid his swipes and she runs away with R3-S6 following. Grievous alerts his troops about a second Jedi in the station while he continues to pursue the young girl. In a darkened storage room, Grievous stalks Ahsoka.

Rex and Denal awaken and realize they’re the only two clones left. He contacts Ahsoka, asking if the mission is still a go. She orders him to continue to plant the charges in the reactor. R3-S6 shines a spotlight on Ahsoka, giving away her location to Grievous.

Elsewhere, Anakin crosses paths with the MagnaGuards transporting R2-D2. He cuts past interfering super battle droids while giving chase. Anakin confronts the bodyguards, who discard Artoo while they engage in combat with the Jedi. Unnoticed, Artoo begins to pull his body together while Anakin cuts the MagnaGuards apart. R2-D2 even manages to zap a particularly stubborn bodyguard droids before it could lay a hand on Skywalker. Reunited with Artoo, Anakin then radios the Twilight to rendezvous at the south landing bay for extraction.

ACT III

As Ahsoka hides from General Grievous, the cyborg confers with the treacherous R3-S6, who updates Grievous on the Jedi mission. Ahsoka overhears this and realizes that Goldie has been a spy and saboteur all this time. Grievous dispatches R3 to interfere with Anakin’s escape efforts.

The Twilight docks at the south landing bay, but Anakin and R2-D2 are dismayed that no one else has seemed to have made the rendezvous. Before long, R3-S6, Rex and Denal arrive. Rex reports that the reactor explosives have been placed. Anakin asks about Ahsoka and is shocked to hear that she engaged General Grievous alone. Anakin is determined to find her. Rex agrees to lead Anakin to her, but the blast doors to the hangar slam shut, tripped by R3. The traitorous little droid also shuts the external hangar bay doors, and activates a trio of vulture droids suspended from their ceiling recharge racks. Another hatch dispenses super battle droids. Anakin realizes his suspicions about R3’s true loyalties were correct. A firefight erupts in the hangar, and Anakin and the clones scatter for cover behind docked P-38 fighters.

Back at the supply room, Ahsoka carelessly drops her guard and is plucked into the air by Grievous, who lifts her bodily off the ground by her throat. He grabs her lightsaber, eager to add it to his collection.

In the hangar bay, Anakin orders Rex to trigger the explosives, even though none of the team has yet to leave the station. Explosions erupt deep in the station, blossoming along the lower curve of the massive sphere. The whole structure shakes with repercussions, and Ahsoka takes advantage of the distraction to push Grievous’ ignited lightsaber blade into his own wrist, severing his hand. Ahsoka rabbits into a nearby air duct, calling her lightsaber back to her with the Force, and scurrying away from the enraged cyborg. Grievous makes his way to his hangar, and leaves the dying station aboard his personal starfighter.

Anakin then orders Artoo to get the hangar bay doors open by venturing through an access hatch to an exterior maintenance catwalk, and unlocking the doors from the outside. R2-D2 braves the winds of the Ruusan moon as Skytop station plummets through the clouds. Behind him is R3-S6, who has followed him outside. The deceitful droid rams into Artoo, and the two begin to spar. They extend a variety of tools and appendages as they fight.

Ahsoka cuts her way into the south hangar, and leaps atop one of the vulture droids, severing its head with her lightsaber. She is reunited with their master, and they fight back-to-back defending against the droids. Skywalker then uses the Force to toss one of the hangar bay’s fuel cells at the droids as Rex fires at the impromptu missile. The cell detonates, wiping out most of the droids.

R2-D2 momentarily incapacitates R3-S6 with an electro-jolt, and then opens the outer hangar bay door. Goldie awakens soon enough to once again pick up the fight against Artoo. Artoo douses Goldie with oil, and ignites a trail of fire with his booster jets. Goldie keeps his distance, but as the Separatist astromech falls off the catwalk, he fires a towline at R2-D2 and tries to pull the droid down with him. R2-D2 cuts the cable loose with his circular saw, and R3 falls off the catwalk. He is sheared into tumbling fragments by a piece of debris that has broken off the doomed station.

The Twilight lifts off from Skytop, departing the crashing sphere. Anakin boards his starfighter and blasts away from the freighter’s hold, returning to the station to rescue R2-D2. Skywalker matches speeds with the station and flies up to the catwalk. R2-D2 powers up his boosters and leaps into the droid socket. Anakin’s starfighter then lifts away, leaving Skytop Station to die far below.

Later, as the Twilight flies away from Ruusan, Anakin reports into Obi-Wan Kenobi who is incredulous at the risks Skywalker took to save R2-D2. But Anakin has no regrets: Artoo is more than a droid. He’s a friend.

Trivia & Details

  • Though not named in the episode, the script establishes that Skytop Station is within the atmosphere of a moon of Ruusan. Ruusan is an important world in the expanded universe of Star Wars fiction, the site of a critical battle between the ancient Jedi and Sith.
  • The Vulture’s Claw has seats similar in design to those found aboard the Millennium Falcon.
  • R3-S6’s gold and black color scheme is based on Dave Filoni’s hometown favorites, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  • Those fishing around for hidden Aurebesh messages in Artoo’s data screens are in for challenge. The text is gibberish.

Memorable Quotes

“You sneaky little scrap pile! You better be worth all this trouble!” — Gha Nachkt to R2-D2.

“So defiant! No need for fear. We’re all droids here!” General Grievous to R2-D2.

“Follow me, boys!” — Ahsoka Tano to the clones.

“Those 631s are not the brightest lights on the ship.” — Battle droid complaining about inferior battle droid models.

“Next time, you’re lugging this astromech around!” — Clone Captain Rex.

“Go up to Level Eight. Get your head adjusted. It feels great.” — Battle droid chatter.

“There’s your bonus.” — General Grievous, stabbing Gha Nachkt in the back.

“They sent a child to destroy my station? The Republic must be running out of Jedi!”

“Sorry to interrupt your playtime, Grumpy, but wouldn’t you prefer a challenge?” — Ahsoka Tano to Grievous.

“You have something that belongs to me.” — Anakin Skywalker to MagnaGuard droids.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this, sir.” — Captain Rex, staring down vulture droids.

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The Mandalorian Chapter 22 | Guns for Hire Episode Review

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Bo-Katan and Din start their quest to unite more groups of Mandalorians to their cause. But first they need to solve a mystery for some surprising characters on a new world. Here is our review for the latest chapter of The Mandalorian, Guns for Hire.

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Inside The Holocron

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Downfall of a Droid

Welcome to a look inside The Holocron. A collection of articles from the archives of *starwars.com no longer directly available.

(*Archived here with Permission utilising The Internet Archive Wayback Machine)

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Downfall of a Droid

Episode Air No: 6
Original Air Date: November 7, 2008
Production No: 2

Written by George Krstic
Directed by Rob Coleman

Cast:
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
Matthew Wood as General Grievous | battle droids
Ron Perlman as Gha Nachkt
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Dee Bradley Baker as clone troopers
Tom Kane as Admiral Yularen | narrator

Episode Brief: R2-D2 is lost during a fierce space battle — and Anakin must find him before the Separatists discover the Jedi military secrets locked in his memory banks.

Full Synopsis

“Trust in your friends, and they’ll have reason to trust in you.”

Newsreel:

After suffering a series of
disastrous defeats at the
hands of General Grievous,
the Republic’s foothold in the
Outer Rim is in jeopardy.
Commissioned to protect the
strategic world of Bothawui,
Anakin Skywalker and his
weary battle group are all that
stands between the system
and domination by the
droid army….

ACT I

A flotilla of three Jedi cruisers, led by the Resolute float beyond the inner rim of the rocky ring surrounding Bothawui. Admiral Yularen advises the fleet not to approach too closely to the asteroids as they await the appearance of enemy forces.

Within the Resolute‘s hangar bay, Anakin Skywalker and R2-D2 tinker with his yellow Jedi Delta-7B starfighter, modifying its thrust ratio to become the fastest ship in the fleet. A surly Treadwell droid gives Artoo some electronic guff, and the astromech droid returns the favor by igniting the ion engines when the Treadwell is caught within the backwash. Anakin chastises a giggling Artoo just as Ahsoka Tano rushes to tell Skywalker of an urgent transmission.

Anakin, Artoo and Ahsoka join Captain Rex on the bridge, where a holographic Obi-Wan Kenobi reports some grim news. The Republic continues to get hammered, losing a battle group at Falleen. Grievous’ fleet is now headed towards Bothawui. Noting that Anakin is outnumbered, Kenobi advises retreat, but Skywalker refuses to give up such a strategic point in the sector. He has a plan up his sleeve.

Separatist frigates emerge from hyperspace and approach the planetary rings. Aboard the lead vessel, General Grievous orders the fleet to enter the asteroid field to engage the Republic warships, an unorthodox approach that strips the advantage from the Republic. The warships ease through the swarm of rocks with full power to the forward shields. Their undefended aft sections are covered by the asteroids.

The hangar decks on the Republic warships open and disgorge Gold Squadron’s V-19 Torrent interceptors, with Gold Leader — Anakin Skywalker — in command aboard his Delta-7B. Anakin grins to Artoo that Grievous is falling into his trap. The Separatist ships emerge from the ring and open fire.

Cannonades pelt the Resolute and its sister ships while the Republic starfighters zoom to intercept. One of the Venators is crippled by the barrage, and a clipped V-19 spirals out of control, taking out a wingmate. Anakin orders the Torrents to take evasive action, but he and Artoo use the overpowered thrusters of the Delta-7B to push forward. Anakin notes that the Separatists are in position, and orders Ahsoka to unveil their surprise. She radios to Rex to join the party.

The asteroids directly behind the Separatist frigates are crawling with AT-TEs. Rex leads the walkers in outflanking the Separatists, and the rock-hugging walkers open fire, blasting the warships in their unprotected aft sections. As the frigates struggle to redistribute their shields, the Venators open fire, catching Grievous’ fleet in a deadly crossfire. Anakin weaves his fighter through the enemy fleet, darting past an unprotected bridge tower and blasting it apart. Grievous orders a retreat and storms off the bridge.

The frigates are effectively boxed in. Grievous boards his personal starfighter and leaves his doomed flagship. Anakin spots him retreating and gives pursuit. Grievous starts to power up his hyperdrive and Anakin presses his ship even harder. Unfortunately, a shrapnel hit is bleeding power from the ship’s systems. He redlines it, causing a catastrophic system failure. Something aboard his ship explodes and it spins out of control into the asteroid field.

ACT II

Anakin awakens in a medical bay with a 2-1B droid looming over him. Rex and Ahsoka inform Anakin that his plan saved the day: Grievous has fled but his fleet was destroyed. Any rejoicing over the victory is short-lived, however, when Anakin discovers that R2-D2 did not return from the battle.

Later, Obi-Wan holographically congratulates Anakin, but Skywalker is distracted by the loss of R2-D2. Obi-Wan doesn’t see the importance of that particular astromech, however, and simply suggests Anakin get another, but Skywalker won’t have it. He’s insistent on recovering Artoo. Anakin reveals a secret about R2-D2, however. After all their time together, after all their missions, Anakin never erased Artoo’s memory. The little droid is programmed with tactics, base locations, and other vital information that could be exploited by the Separatists. Obi-Wan is livid. He orders Anakin to find the droid.

A short time later, the Twilight is prepped for departure. Anakin finds Ahsoka aboard with a new astromech droid, R3-S6, which Ahsoka has nicknamed “Goldie.” Ahsoka is a little too enthusiastic about the new droid for Anakin, who is still glum about Artoo’s absence.

The Twilight inspects the debris field of the space battle, its illuminator probing the wreckage-filled void. Anakin spots his derelict Delta-7B, but its droid socket is distressingly empty. Anakin’s convinced that R2-D2 must have somehow escaped, but the scanners only reveal another vessel in the debris: a Trandoshan scavenger ship, Vulture’s Claw. The Twilight docks with the other ship.

Anakin and Ahsoka don simple peasant ponchos and board the foul-smelling scavenger vessel with R3-S6 in tow. An electronic eyeball probes the newcomers’ intentions; Anakin explains that he is looking to buy a droid. The entrance hatch irises open, and out climbs a fat, flatulent and lazy-eyed Trandoshan, Gha Nachkt. His stench is enough to actually knock over Ahsoka.

Anakin says that he is looking for an R2 unit. Nachkt explains that the R series are hard to find due to war shortages. Gha eyes the credits that Anakin flashes. He lets the customers into his unkempt cargo hold, but warns them to be careful around some of his more “unique” collector’s items.

As they explore the hold, Anakin and Ahsoka discover a pair of deactivated IG assassin droids. Anakin orders R3 to access the ship’s computer and find the inventory manifest. R3 plugs into a terminal. Anakin’s keen hearing detects a familiar sounding whistle from another part of the hold: he thinks he hears Artoo, but Ahsoka is not convinced. Anakin orders R3 to open a blocked hatch, but Goldie instead turns on the hold lights and, somehow, activates the IG assassins.

The cylinder-headed droids begin attacking. Anakin and Ahsoka ignite their lightsabers to defend themselves as the agile, relentless assassins press their assault. The two Jedi cut through the droids and sheath their blades. Anakin scolds R3 for his inappropriate actions, but Ahsoka defends the little droid. R3 finally opens the door, and Anakin finds Gha Nachkt eavesdropping.

Anakin confronts Gha Nachkt, demanding the return of his droid but his command is met with silence. Ahsoka insists that Artoo is not aboard. Anakin, realizing he has nothing to go on, leaves the indignant Gha Nachkt and his pungent ship behind. As the Twilight flies away. Gha Nachkt opens a channel to General Grievous. He has R2-D2, and is en route to rendezvous with the Separatist general.

ACT III

Anakin and Ahsoka once again report into Obi-Wan Kenobi via hologram. The case of the missing droid is pretty much shut; Obi-Wan tells Anakin to assume that R2-D2 has been destroyed. There are more pressing matters: Republic intelligence has confirmed the existence of a Separatist listening post. Kenobi orders Anakin to split his forces, seek out the base, and destroy it.

Anakin will take point in the sweeps, scouring the outer corridors of suspected space while the remainder of his forces concentrate along a more central path. Ahsoka insists that Anakin take R3-S6 aboard his starfighter, though Skywalker is skeptical of “Goldie” and his abilities. In space, Anakin docks his fighter into a hyperspace transport ring and rockets away.

Meanwhile, aboard the Vulture’s Claw, Gha Nachkt’s guard is down as he naps and snores loudly. R2-D2 takes the opportunity to remove his restraining bolt by rubbing it against a bulkhead. His attempt to escape is intercepted by an IG droid, whom Artoo lures into an airlock and blasts into space. But Gha Nachkt awakens in time to catch Artoo.

Anakin emerges from hyperspace in an area of suspected Separatist activity. He orders R3 to activate long-range scanners; the droid instead activates the long range tracking beacon. Back at the fleet, Ahsoka detects Anakin’s signal and realizes that something must be wrong. She tells Rex to gather some troops. She’s going to get to the bottom of this.

General Grievous, aboard a Separatist frigate, also detects the Jedi tracking beacon. Grievous relishes the turnabout: Skywalker has fallen into his trap. Anakin deactivates the signal just in time to see a Separatist fleet emerge from hyperspace in front of him.

Anakin hurriedly orders R3 to prep the hyperdrive engines for escape, but the droid instead drops the engines. The transport ring disengages and is blown to smithereens by Separatist cannon-fire. Anakin is now stranded, and furious at the glitching astromech.

Grievous launches a swarm of vulture starfighter droids to pursue Skywalker. The droids fire multiple volleys of missiles at Anakin’s fighter, but Skywalker cuts engines and spins around, opening fire at the incoming warheads. Anakin then has trouble getting R3 to start up the engines again. The droid also reports the fighter’s laser cannons aren’t functioning.

It seems quite dire, until incoming laser blasts from the Twilight take out the droid fighters. Ahsoka radios to Anakin to fly his fighter into the Twilight‘s open cargo bay, but Anakin bitterly reports that R3 is having trouble with the engines. Ahsoka sweetly asks R3 if everything is all right, and the little golden droid cooperates, firing up the Delta-7B’s ion engines. Rex and his clone troops serve as gunners aboard the Twilight, offering cover fire as Anakin docks with the freighter.

With Anakin safely docked, Ahsoka plots an escape course directly between the Separatist warships. She retracts the ship’s outrigger pylon and squeezes past the closely spaced frigates, scraping hull plates and leaving a trail of sparks in her wake. The pursuing vulture droids aren’t so lucky, as they collide with their mother ships. Rex then takes the Twilight into hyperspace, successfully escaping from Grievous’ reach.

After Goldie’s lackluster performance under fire, Anakin is now more determined than ever to find R2-D2.

Trivia & Details

  • Ahsoka has a pet name for Rex, too: Rexter.
  • This was the second Clone Wars episode produced. Given that the first episode became part of the Clone Wars movie, this now represents the earliest animation that will be seen as part of the series.
  • In the original production order of episodes, Ahsoka’s foolhardy maneuver between the Separatist frigates would explain Anakin’s hesitance about her flying ability seen in the later-produced “Shadow of Malevolence.”
  • Obi-Wan’s use of the phrase “dime-a-dozen” now reveals that there are dimes in the Star Wars galaxy. The word “dime” means, literally, a tenth, suggesting that a dime is analogous to the previously established “decicred,” worth a tenth of a credit.
  • An earlier iteration of this episode’s “Jedi fortune cookie” read as follows: “Friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, impossible to forget.”
  • The ATTE RUL3Z text seen in “Rookies” appears once again (though, technically, this one came first… and fits the context quite well), this time on Ahsoka’s tactical screen aboard the Resolute. There’s some additional text underneath too that says “TAKE THAT GRIEVOUS”.

Memorable Quotes

“Artoo, he didn’t deserve that.” — Anakin Skywalker, chastising R2-D2 for carbonizing a Treadwell droid.

  • “You should listen to your Padawan.”
  • “As you listened to yours, my old Master?” — Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.

“We’re outgunned. We’re not going to last a mynock minute out here.” — Ahsoka Tano.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” — Anakin Skywalker, redlining his ill-fated starfighter.

“And best of all, Master? He’s gold! A gold droid for Gold Leader of Gold Squadron!” — Ahsoka Tano, trying to sell a reluctant Anakin on the merits of R3-S6.

  • “Ugh. What’s that smell?”
  • “Trandoshan. That’s Huttese for snuff and poodoo.” – Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker.
  • “Pookums here really has her heart set on another R2. She lost the last one.”
  • “Pookums? Oh brother.” — Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano, bluffing their way past Gha Nackht.

“Back at ya, piston-head!” – Ahsoka Tano to an IG assassin droid.

“As for you, stubby, you’d make a poor excuse for a light switch.” – Anakin Skywalker to R3-S6.

“I know! I know! Missiles… I hate missiles.” — Anakin Skywalker.

“You know, if this ship blows up, you go with it.” — Anakin Skywalker to R3-S6.

“Did somebody call for help… again?” — Ahsoka Tano to Anakin.

Inside The Holocron

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Rookies

Welcome to a look inside The Holocron. A collection of articles from the archives of *starwars.com no longer directly available.

(*Archived here with Permission utilising The Internet Archive Wayback Machine)

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Rookies

Episode Air No: 5
Original Air Date: October 24, 2008
Production No: 14

Written by Steve Melching
Directed by Justin Ridge

Key Characters: Captain Rex, Commander Cody

Cast:
Dee Bradley Baker as the clone troopers
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Matthew Wood as General Grievous | Battle Droids
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker
Tom Kane as Narrator | Admiral Yularen
Nika Futterman as Asajj Ventress
Gwendoline Yeo as Hologram VJ

Episode Brief:Alone on a distant outpost, clone officers Rex and Cody must inspire their rookie unit to believe in themselves to stave off a Droid Commando invasion.

Notable: All clone | droid episode.

Full Synopsis

“The best confidence builder is experience.”

Newsreel:

Clone forces rally! As the war
escalates in the Outer Rim, the
Jedi Knights are spread thinly
across the galaxy. Many new
clones are rushed into service
to support their Jedi generals.
Unfortunately, because of the
relentless demands of battle,
many young clones must join
the struggle before their
intensive training has been
completed. These clones,
manning a vital network of
tracking stations are all that
stand between the Republic
and invasion…

ACT I
The setting is the tracking station on the Rishi moon, located on the wispy borders of Republic space, not far from the cloning facilities of Kamino. A clone sentry, CT 327, reports the skies are clear of any suspect activity — an all too common report heard by the rookie clones within the station. Though genetically identical, they are different in personality and outlook. Hevy is the impetuous and impatient one that vocally laments his posting. He whiles the time away arm-wrestling with trooper Cutup. Echo is all about regulation manuals and protocol. New to the station are Fives (CT 27-5555), Nub (named after the non-flattering acronym “Non-Useful Body”) and Droidbait.

The distracted troops snap to attention at the arrival of their commander, Sergeant O’Niner. He informs them that clone officers are due for an inspection of their outpost, one of the most important tracking stations safeguarding this quadrant of the Outer Rim.

Back at the Republic fleet, Anakin Skywalker examines data to find any trace of General Grievous, who has vanished for weeks. Obi-Wan Kenobi, visiting the Resolute, comments on Anakin’s readily apparent weariness. Commander Cody reports in, noting a successful check of the tracking station in the Pastil system. The next destination for Cody and Captain Rex is Rishi.

At the tracking station, long range sensors detect an incoming meteor shower. The clones raise the defensive shields, which block any meteors that land too close, but several strike in the outlying crater plain. The lookout CT 327 spots something peculiar through his electrobinoculars. Within the craters are droid landing pods from which emerge sleek and stealthy droid commandos! The agile droids incapacitate the lookout and begin slicing into the door locks.

When CT 327 fails to report in, a concerned O’Niner sends Nub and Droidbait to investigate. They discover the infiltrating commando droids and are cut down by enemy fire. The clones attempt to activate the alert beacon, but the droids have disabled it. O’Niner orders a message dispatched to the fleet, but he too is killed by droid fire, leaving only Fives, Echo, Cutup and Hevy behind to carry out the mission.

The rookie clones seal the ops center and escape through a ventilation shaft before the commandos cut through. The commandos contact General Grievous and the Separatist fleet with news of their success. The droids have hard-wired the all-clear signal, thus preventing the Republic from knowing of the Separatist incursion toward their cloning centers. Asajj Ventress has already infiltrated Kamino and all is in readiness: Grievous will be able to cripple the Republic’s cloning facilities for good.

Just then, Republic attack shuttle Obex arrives at the Rishi outpost. Rex and Cody contact the tracking station, and are greeted by a visual of droid commando wearing a clone trooper helmet while doing a vocal impression of a clone. The commando tries to get Rex and Cody to call off their inspection, however, the odd delivery of dialogue — punctuated by an affirmative “roger roger” no less — raises their suspicions.

ACT II
The four rookie clones emerge in the crater-filled crags beneath the tracking station, but find no safety. They are stalked by an immense Rishi eel that chomps down on Trooper Cutup, dragging him away screaming. The remaining three clones spot Cody’s shuttle coming in for a landing. The rookies have to somehow warn the officers.

Rex and Cody emerge from the Obex, not at all impressed by the lack of deck officer on duty. The doors to the station open, and out emerges a fully armored trooper with an oddly mechanical gait. The clone tries to bluff Cody and Rex into leaving without doing an inspection. Just then, an alert flare lights up the night sky — fired by the rookie clones. Rex impetuously fires point-blank into the clone’s head. After the body falls, he pulls off the helmet, revealing the scorched cranium of a commando droid. Cody realizes the flare must have come from the outposts’ survivors.

Blaster fire erupts as the remaining commando droids charge the platform from within the station. The droids lob thermal detonators that destroy the Obex. Under cover of the explosion, Rex and Cody rappel off the platform’s edge, and the droids mistakenly assume the officers were killed.

Below the platform, the officers discover the remaining rookies, who prove their true allegiance and status by removing their helmets, revealing that they aren’t droids. Just then, a Rishi eel strikes again, but Rex fells the massive creature with one well-placed shot. The rookies briefly marvel at Rex’s marksmanship, but quickly snap to attention as Cody takes command of them. The young clones, particularly Hevy, are determined to retake their outpost.

Back at the fleet, Admiral Yularen is unable to raise the clone officers on the communicator, but Kenobi and Skywalker are too concentrated on tracking Grievous to be alarmed.

At the outpost entrance, commando droids 07, 08, and 09 are met by an oddly shuffling and robotic-acting clone at the gates. It’s Captain Rex, posing as unit 26 posing as Captain Rex. To complete the charade, Rex holds a decapitated droid head into the security camera frame when the commandos demand visual identification. Despite Cody’s doubts about this rather unorthodox plan, the gullible droids open the blast doors, and are immediately shot apart by the clones.

Rex takes point and storms the ops center. In the gunfight, Fives is wounded, but the clones successfully wipe out the commandos. Cody examines the controls and detects the Separatist fleet invading Republic space. Aboard the Separatist flagship, Grievous receives a status update: the Rishi base is still transmitting an all-clear signal, but the commando droids are not responding. Not willing to leave anything to chance, Grievous dispatches reinforcements to Rishi.

The clones discover that the station’s communications system has been sabotaged and that the all-clear signal is hardwired. They spot the incoming Separatist landing craft and realize that their situation is growing worse.

ACT III
The landing craft sets down on the platform and disgorges battle droids. Rex improvises a new objective: the clones must destroy the outpost. When the all-clear signal stops broadcasting, the Republic will be alerted to the invasion. Echo suggests using LT — liquid Tibanna — a fuel source used to keep the lunar outpost warm during its freezing cycle. The clones plan to collect the Tibanna tanks and rig them for detonation, but also stock up at the armory to defend against the battle droids while they do that. Hevy naturally gravitates to the Z-6 rotary blaster cannon, which he uses to mow down the first wave of battle droid reinforcements.

While Yularen continues his attempts to contact Rishi and Grievous’ fleet continues its incursion, the clones retreat deeper into the station, holding off the droids long enough for their explosives to be set. The Tibanna tanks are actually three plunk droids wired together to explode, but Rex is having trouble with a faulty detonator. Hevy takes over demolition duty, telling Rex and the rest to evacuate through the vent shaft.

Hevy has little luck with the detonator. As battle droids enter the ops center, Hevy seeks cover. Hevy is determined to manually detonate the explosives. He is blasted by the droids, but goes down fighting, limping back to the fuel tanks. Dying, he uses his last ounce of strength to trip the explosives, ripping the entire station apart in a fireball that sends the landing platform — and the droid lander — crashing into the crater.

There is an immediate result — the all clear signal stops. The Republic fleet realizes an invasion may be underway. Republic ships immediately surround the Separatists, who turn tail and retreat. Republic gunships land on the Rishi moon, picking up the surviving clones.

Later, aboard the Resolute, the clone rookies are commended for their service and their sacrifice. They receive medals directly from Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker and are absorbed into the 501st. When the Jedi leave, Echo voices regret. He still views their mission as a failure — the tracking station was destroyed. But Cody and Rex instead explain the bigger picture, and the crucial role these rookies played in defending Republic space.

Trivia & Details

  • The fauna of Rishi includes another re-use of the neebray manta model — the fourth so far for the series. It can be seen as a tiny creature on the moon of Rugosa in “Ambush,” deep space leviathans in “Shadow of Malevolence“, and fluttering over Tatooine in the feature film.
  • Drop-pods used to deliver droids is an idea that echoes the deployment of probots in The Empire Strikes Back. The model of the commando pod is a re-use of the pod-hunters seen in “Rising Malevolence” and the boarding craft that will appear in “Cloak of Darkness,” suggesting a modular, versatile design.
  • CT 327’s identifying number uses the very common digits 327 — numbers that conspicuously appear throughout the Star Wars saga. Among other things, 327 is a docking bay number aboard the Death Star in Episode IV, a landing platform in Cloud City in Episode V, and a Naboo ship type in Episode I. Though George Lucas has remained coy on the subject of explaining the number’s origins, many have noted that it is a popular car engine type, invoked by name in his feature, American Graffiti.
  • Careful inspection of the backgrounds in the ops section of the tracking station shows some Twi’lek model pinups photos on the work station walls.
  • Rex and Cody briefly mention a previous dire situation on Tibrin. Tibrin is the Ishi Tib home world.
  • Cody, a commander, outranks Rex, a captain.
  • Rex touches Echo’s armor after killing a Rishi eel, leaving a handprint of eel blood on his armor that remains throughout the rest of the episode, making Echo easier to identify.
  • The holographic VJ hosting the music broadcast is a BD-3000 droid, nicknamed a “Bettie Bot”
  • The text on Hevy’s detonator screen says, in Aurebesh, “ATTE RUL3Z SOME TEXT.”

Memorable Quotes

“You’re listening to the Grand Army of the Republic broadcast, the voice of the Outer Rim. This next one goes out to the Mud-Jumpers of the 224th, slugging it out on Mimban. Keep your heads down and your seals tight, boys.” — Bettie-Bot VJ

“Leave him alone. They kept him in his growth jar too long.” — Cutup, defending Echo from Hevy.

“Ooo. Meteor shower.” — An ironic Hevy, expressing “concern.”

“Now that was an eel. That’s why we have the regulation not to go outside.” — Echo, quoting procedure after Cutup is devoured.

“I have a bad feeling about this.” — Clone Commander Cody

“Hands above your heads. Take your sun bonnets off.” — Clone Captain Rex

  • “They should have checked in from the Rishi station hours ago. It appears your captain follows orders as well as you do.”
  • “Hm. Perhaps Cody is boring Rex with standard procedures and protocol.” — Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, discussing their clone officers.

“Looks like we got ourselves a batch of shinies, commander.” — Clone Captain Rex

“Not so tough now, are ya, Sparky?” — Hevy, to a blasted commando droid

“All right, listen up. There’s only one target of interest in this sector: Kamino. It’s the closest thing we clones have to a home. Today we fight for more than the Republic. Today we fight for all our brothers back home, understood?” — Clone Captain Rex.

Inside The Holocron

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Destroy Malevolence

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The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Destroy Malevolence

Episode Air No: 4
Original Air Date: October 17, 2008
Production No: 11

Written by Tim Burns
Directed by Brian Kalin O’Connell

Key Characters: Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, C-3PO, General Grievous

Cast:
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi | Plo Koon
Catherine Taber as Padmé Amidala
Matthew Wood as General Grievous | Battle droids
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
Dee Bradley Baker as the clone troopers
Tom Kane as Admiral Yularen | Narrator
Corey Burton as Count Dooku
Olivia d’Abo as Luminara Unduli

Episode Brief: Padmé Amidala and C-3PO are taken hostage by General Grievous, leaving Anakin and Obi-Wan to save the Senator and complete the destruction of the Malevolence.

Notable: Series debut of Padmé Amidala and C-3PO.

Full Synopsis

“A plan is only as good as those who see it through.”

Newsreel:

Grievous in retreat! Before the
battleship Malevolence could
destroy an Outer Rim clone
medical base, a Republic strike
force, under the command of
Jedi General Anakin Skywalker,
crippled the warship, disabling
its dreaded ion cannon. Now
the Jedi relentlessly pursue
the Malevolence….

ACT I
The smoldering warship Malevolence limps away from the barrage of turbolaser fire from a trio of pursuing Republic Star Destroyers. Its primary stabilizer and hyperdrive are damaged, and its forward drive begins to fail, but the ship is so immense, it can nonetheless continue to absorb the pounding the Republic vessels deliver. Aboard a flagship, Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi, Plo Koon, and Anakin Skywalker convene for a tactical update. Skywalker has attempted to contact Luminara Unduli for additional support, but she is tied up dealing with Separatist reinforcements nearby. Kenobi orders all cannons to target the Malevolence‘s bridge.

Count Dooku contacts Grievous holographically. The count has arranged a trap that will give Grievous an advantage over the Jedi: an important Galactic Senator is heading towards the Malevolence. Grievous is to take this representative hostage in order to stop the Republic attack.

A silvery Naboo yacht hurtles through hyperspace with Senator Padmé Amidala and C-3PO at the helm. She in on a diplomatic mission to secure a potential separate peace with an executive from the Banking Clan that supposedly contacted Chancellor Palpatine with overtures of alliance. Emerging from hyperspace, the ship nearly collides with the fleeing Malevolence.

Ahsoka Tano picks up the incoming vessel on the Republic flagship’s scanners. The Jedi desperately try to contact Padmé’s ship while the Republic taskforce holds its fire. The Malevolence snags the yacht in its tractor beam and reels the unarmed ship into its hold. Padmé demands that the Jedi continue their attack, but Anakin cannot bring himself to order fire to resume with his beloved trapped within the Malevolence. Anakin decides to mount an infiltration mission to rescue Padmé, and Obi-Wan accompanies him.

General Grievous orders a repair crew to resume work on the ship’s hyperdrive while he traverses the huge distances within the ship via its rail system in order to arrive at the main hangar. There, Padmé begins overloading the yacht’s power systems and flees the ship with C-3PO. Grievous spots the explosive trap before it is too late, and leaves the captive yacht before it erupts in flames. Firefighting battle droids try to douse the flames while Grievous orders an alert to capture the stowaways.

ACT II
Within the Malevolence, Padmé attempts to rig a comm panel to contact the Republic fleet, but her work is cut short when she and Threepio need to hide as Grievous and his troops approach. She overhears that the warship’s hyperdrive was not as badly damaged as originally feared, and the ship should be able to achieve superluminal flight in good order. Grievous leaves to contact Dooku.

Obi-Wan and Anakin leave the Resolute‘s hangar bay aboard the Twilight, and Kenobi is less-than-impressed with Anakin’s plan to dock with the Malevolence‘s emergency airlocks. Skywalker correctly assesses that those aboard the warship are too occupied with the ship’s catastrophic damage to detect the spice freighter. The Jedi pass through the airlock, cut through some hapless battle droids, and enter the ship. Anakin orders Artoo to stay behind.

Meanwhile, back at the Republic fleet, Ahsoka and Plo Koon have contacted Luminara Unduli, who pledges her forces as reinforcements. Yularen reports that they’re receiving a transmission from Senator Amidala. Ahsoka patches the signal through to Anakin. Padmé reports from the lower levels, and she is surprised to hear that Obi-Wan and Anakin are also aboard the Malevolence. Working from data gathered from scans, Ahsoka advises the infiltrators to rendezvous within a large open area that runs through the center of the ship.

The central channel of the ship is dominated by an extensive rail jet system. Padmé and C-3PO and Anakin and Obi-Wan are on opposite sides of the chasm. With battle droids in pursuit, the intruders leap onto approaching rail jet cars. A super battle droid launches a warhead at the rails ahead, knocking out a bridge in front of Padmé. She leaps towards Anakin’s train, and he uses the Force to carry her over the distance and into his arms. As the train enters a tunnel, the two share a brief private moment of affection.

Poor C-3PO has fallen onto another car and into a crate. Obi-Wan Kenobi tries to lift him to safety using the Force, but the droid instead is intercepted by another rail jet car, taking him deeper into the ship. Padmé informs the Jedi that she overheard that the hyperdrive was nearing reactivation, so Kenobi agrees to venture towards the ship’s engineering station and ensure that it remains offline. Grievous overhears this communication, and plans to intercept Kenobi.

Anakin contacts Artoo and asks him to help find Threepio. R2-D2 plugs into the Malevolence‘s computer network and stops Threepio’s train.

Kenobi arrives at the engineering station, only to be surrounded by battle droids, super battle droids and droidekas. Then, General Grievous emerges from the shadows, itching for a fight.

ACT III
Grievous orders his droids to open fire. Kenobi leaps his way past their fire, and uses the force to shove the droidekas into wheel form, bowling over his attackers. Kenobi then flees engineering. Grievous orders the droids to guard the hyperdrive while he gives pursuit.

Elsewhere in the ship, Anakin and Padmé outrun battle droids. Contact with Obi-Wan is cut off by jamming. Skywalker hatches another plan. Meanwhile, C-3PO and R2-D2 are reunited within another section of the Malevolence.

Skywalker storms the bridge, where battle droids near completion of bringing the hyperdrive back online. He cuts through the guards. Then, as Padmé clears the battered droids to hide their presence, Anakin hotwires the ship’s guidance systems to give General Grievous “a little surprise.”

The reinforced Republic Star Destroyers achieve attack position. Plo Koon is unable to contact Skywalker or Kenobi. Ahsoka urges Master Plo to give them more time, but the chrono is ticking… the Malevolence must be stopped.

Kenobi flees to a rail-jet tunnel, but Grievous dogs his leaps and bounds. Their lightsaber duel is cut short and Obi-Wan dodges an attack by jumping onto an opposite train.

R2-D2 and C-3PO return to the Twilight, and Anakin, Padmé and Obi-Wan all reunite at the spice freighter. The ship undocks from the Malevolence and flies away. Grievous is determined to catch these Jedi, so he leaps aboard his starfighter and lifts off, accompanied by vulture droid wingmates. Padmé mans the turret guns, blasting away at their pursuers.

The Star Destroyers open fire, pelting the Malevolence. A battle droid reports to Grievous that the hyperdrive is repaired. Grievous orders the ship to flee to Separatist space; he will rendezvous with them in Sector Four.

The Malevolennce begins its jump sequence… but something is wrong. The ship is aiming toward a dead moon. Grievous orders the hyperdrive to reset, but it is too late. Just then, Count Dooku contacts the general for an update. Grievous cuts off all communication as the Malevolence slams into the moon. The threat of the Malevolence is over. Grievous flees into parts unknown.

Trivia & Details

  • Of the three Republic warships pursuing the Malevolence, the lead ship is General Skywalker’s Resolute. As a flagship, it has red conning towers.
  • The original script had Padmé and C-3PO rushing to the battle site to aid in the evacuation of the Kaliida Shoals Med Center (you may recall mention of Naboo relief ships being dispatched in “Shadow of Malevolence.” The story was changed to instead have Padmé tricked into becoming Grievous’ hostage.
  • The specialist battle droids in the hangar have reflective paint strips that resemble firefighter’s uniform.
  • In the script, Anakin’s original plan to board the Malevolence included a foolhardy hyperspace micro-jump that would have deposited the Twilight just centimeters away from the enemy ship’s hull.
  • Grievous’ greeting of “hello there” to Kenobi is a callback of Obi-Wan’s “hello there” to Grievous in Episode III, which itself was a callback to Obi-Wan’s “hello there” to Artoo in Episode IV.
  • The design of the rail-jet car draws inspiration from the Trade Federation MTT tanks from Episode I.
  • If you listen carefully to the disembodied rail-jet conductor voice, you’ll note that it advises travelers to “mind the gap.”
  • The final frame of the heroes is the first time all these prequel characters have ever been thus depicted; the final frame from Episode I did not have C-3PO while Episode II and III had them scattered across different planets.

Memorable Quotes

“Do not compound your failure this day by allowing our prize warship to fall.” — Count Dooku to General Grievous.

“I will not be made into a Separatist bargaining chip! Continue your attack! ” — Padmé Amidala to Anakin Skywalker.

“We’re doomed.” — C-3PO

  • “There he goes again, craving adventure and excitement.”
  • “You get used to it.” — Plo Koon and Ahsoka Tano about Anakin

“Hey, that’s just rude.” — A knocked over battle droid to General Grievous.

“But do we have a plan B? Every operation needs a backup, Anakin.” — Obi-Wan

  • “Everything I know I learned from you.”
  • “Oh, if only that were true.” – Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi

“Somebody stop this contraption, please! (train stops, sending Threepio flying) I suppose I did ask for that.” – C-3PO

“Hello there.” — General Grievous

“R2-D2, oh my, you are a sight for short circuits!”

  • “Ever since I’ve known you you’ve been playing with droids.
  • “I used to put them together. Now I only take them apart.” – Anakin and Padmé

Inside The Holocron

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Shadow of Malevolance

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The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Shadow of Malevolance

Episode Air No: 3
Original Air Date: October 10, 2008
Production No: 9

Written by Steve Melching
Directed by Brian Kalin O’Connell

Key Characters: General Grievous, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Jedi Master Plo Koon
Key Locales: Balmorra Run

Cast:
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
Tom Kane as Admiral Yularen | Narrator
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi | Plo Koon
Dee Bradley Baker as the clone troopers
Matthew Wood as General Grievous | battle droids
Corey Burton as Count Dooku
Gwendoline Yeo as Nala Se

Episode Brief: With the help of his Padawan Ahsoka and Jedi Master Plo Koon, Anakin utilizes new long-range Y-wing bombers to lead a bold strike on General Grievous’ warship, the Malevolence, and its destructive weapon.

Notable: Introduction of the Y-wing bombers.

Full Synopsis

“Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by themselves”

Newsreel:
A deadly weapon, unleashed! The
Separatist battleship, Malevolence
advances unopposed through Republic
space, tearing apart any ship that
stands in its path. After a daring rescue
and narrow escape, Anakin Skwalker
prepares a counterattack on the
enemy and its diabolical droid
commander, General Grievous….

ACT I
Within the hangar bay of the Resolute, Anakin Skywalker and Admiral Yularen brief the assembled clone pilots of Shadow Squadron on their strike mission against the Malevolence. As the bulk of the fleet is engaged elsewhere, this strike mission will operate on its own. The Malevolence‘s primary weapon is geared against capital ships, so Anakin believes a small squad of bombers could outmaneuver it and target the warship’s bridge, knocking out the ship and General Grievous. The clones — including Matchstick and Broadside — are eager for a fight. Jedi Master Plo Koon, however, expresses his reservations about Anakin’s aggressive attack strategies, an opinion that Ahsoka Tano shares.

In the Ryndellia system, the Malevolence continues its assault, blasting apart another Republic convoy. A lone medical transport flees the carnage, but it is overtaken by the weapon’s ion plasma blast. Even its escape pods are targeted for annihilation. General Grievous relishes the destructive power of his weapon, but continues to be frustrated by the incompetence of his battle droid troops. He smacks one to pieces out of anger, and gets a brief chastisement from a holographic Count Dooku, who notes that these droids are pricey and the Republic are never so callous with their soldiers.

That is precisely a weakness the Separatists plot to exploit by targeting the Republic’s secret Outer Rim medical station. The Kaliida Shoals Med Station, not far from Naboo, is unprotected and treating over 60,000 wounded clones. Once destroyed, the Jedi in the Outer Rim theater will have no place to send their wounded troops.

Back in the Resolute‘s hangar, Shadow Squadron’s Y-wing bombers undergo preparation, and Anakin assigns Ahsoka as his tailgunner. Admiral Yularen reports in with news of the Ryndellia attack. Anakin theorizes that Grievous will likely target the Kaliida Shoals station. Stellar densities in that area of space limit the Malevolence‘s hyperspace capabilities, giving Shadow Squadron the opportunity to intercept it via a shortcut. Plo Koon decides to join Anakin’s squadron flying fighter escort.

At the Kaliida Shoals station, Kaminoan administrator Nala Se receives a warning from Admiral Yularen. It is impossible to evacuate all the wounded from the station. Obi-Wan Kenobi also chimes in via holocom. He has contacted the Naboo, who are sending ships to assist in the evacuation, and he plans to arrive as well aboard the Negotiator.

The Y-wings depart from the Resolute‘s central hangar deck, tailed by master Plo’s Delta-7B fighter. They check in, and then blast off into hyperspace. The nimble fighters will take Anakin’s shortcut to Kaliida Shoals, while Obi-Wan’s warship will take the longer route.

ACT II
The Malevolence travels through hyperspace at a velocity well past lightspeed, but it’s not fast enough for the impatient General Grievous. The navicomputer has had to calculate a complex course sidestepping the Kaliida nebula. The Y-wings, however, can negotiate the dust cloud, so Shadow Squadron emerges from hyperspace to traverse the nebula: a short cut dubbed the Balmorra Run that Anakin Skywalker learned from smugglers in his youth. Entering the cloud completely obscures the fighters’ scanners. Ahsoka is increasingly concerned by this dangerous course of action.

At Kaliida Shoals, the evacuation proceeds slowly, with the stabilized patients being moved to medical transports first. The more critically wounded and those in bacta tanks cannot be moved just yet.

The Malevolence is in its last parsec of travel when Count Dooku reports in. He has received intelligence from Lord Sidious: the Republic has launched a small strike force led by Anakin Skywalker to intercept and attack the Malevolence. Grievous fears nothing, for his ship is unstoppable.

In the heart of the nebula, Shadow Squadron suddenly stumbles upon a swarm of giant neebray mantas, deep space leviathans. The annoyed hulks begin to swim around the Y-wing fighters, and Anakin orders evasive maneuvers. Shadow Two (Matchstick) grazes a neebray wing as he flies by, causing damage to his portside thruster stabilizer. Anakin orders bantha formation — a single-file flight pattern that allows the squadron to thread its way past the beasts. The fighters emerge from the nebula, where the neebrays will not follow.

At this point, half of the Kaliida Shoals facility has been evacuated. Still not enough, to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s thinking, as the Negotiator plies through hyperspace. Kenobi hopes Skywalker will intercept Grievous in time, or else 30,000 clones still lie at risk.

ACT III
The Malevolence bursts into realspace and is immediately swarmed by Anakin’s squadron. Grievous orders the ship brought about, and vulture droid fighters launched. A group of medical transports flee the Kaliida Shoals station, and Grievous targets them with an ion blast, followed by a turbolaser volley. The battle is joined.

Grievous next targets the jumble of dogfighting fighters, even though his vulture droids are in the mix. Anakin orders his fighters to fly to the edge of the incoming disc of crippling energy. The Y-wings pour on all the speed they can, but Shadow Two’s crippled stabilizer slows him down. Matchstick’s engine blows, and he spins out of control, plowing into trooper Tag’s Y-wing. Both fighters erupt in flames. The rest of the squadron crests the ion wave, though three other fighters, Shadows Six, Seven and Ten, are caught in the blast and immobilized. Anakin is now down to almost half his original squadron, possibly not enough for him to continue his mission.

The remaining Y-wings close in on the Malevolence, and the warship’s point defense batteries create a withering curtain of anti-starfigher fire. As another Y-wing is blasted out of the sky, Ahsoka urges Anakin to abandon this course of action: they need a new plan. “Master, you can make it, but everyone else is getting shot down!” she urges. Meanwhile, Grievous charges up the ion cannon to target the medical station. Anakin realizes his Padawan is right: he abandons his bid to destroy the bridge and General Grievous, and instead targets the prime weapon.

The remaining fighters of Shadow Squadron change course, and fly toward the starboard ion cannon. Volley after volley of proton torpedoes launch from the fighters and strike the disc emitter as it builds up its ion charge. A cascade of explosions rock the Malevolence. The ion cannon fires, but the blast loses direction and expands outward, backfiring and crippling both ion emitters and disabling the vessel’s hyperdrive. Kaliida Shoals is saved, but the Malevolence lives on, defanged and limping away.

Just then, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s taskforce emerges from hyperspace. The Negotiator continues pursuit of the Malevolence while Anakin’s Y-wing fighters head to the medical station.

Docked at the medical station hangar, Plo Koon congratulates Anakin on his successful run. Anakin meets with Nala Se, who thanks Skywalker for the lives he saved. Skywalker, though, remains focused on the lives he has lost.

Trivia & Details

  • The “Crumb Bomber” — the Republic gunship with the Kowakian monkey lizard illustration on its side — was stationed within the Resolute hangar.
  • The four-legged power droid is called a plunk droid, and sure enough, that’s what it says as it shuffles about.
  • The chairs at the briefing are basic office chairs with casters, just like the chairs aboard the original Death Star.
  • An as-yet-untold adventure has established that Anakin is wary of Ahsoka’s piloting (see episode guide for “Downfall of a Droid” on November 7th for more information).
  • Deep space leviathians within a dust cloud have been seen before in the expanded universe, in the novel Lando Calrissian and the Starcave of ThonBoka, with the massive Oswaft living within the ThonBoka nebula.
  • After Grievous callously beheads a battle droid gunner, there is a replacement one ready to take its place.
  • The script and earlier versions of this episode had the Jedi fortune cookie read: “Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by ego.”
  • The look of the Clone Wars-era Y-wing bombers stems directly from the design of the original Y-wing and speculation from Episode IV Visual Effects Art Director Joe Johnston that the Rebel Alliance Y-wing was a “chopped” version of an older craft. An earlier idea of a skinned or fully faired Y-wing appeared in the Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections book from DK, but that design differs from the final look of the Y-wing bombers seen in this episode, which more effectively bridges the design aesthetic of the prequel and original trilogies.

Memorable Quotes

“Minimal casualties, maximum effectiveness. That’s us.” — Broadside, describing Shadow Squadron’s motto.

“Boy, this is a lot more fun when they’re not shooting back!” — Battle droid gunner aboard the Malevolence.

“The care these Jedi show for their troops is a weakness.” — General Grievous

“Target those escape pods! I have a reputation to uphold!” — General Grievous

“Cut the chatter, Ahsoka.” — Anakin Skywalker, Squadron Leader

“Broadside, we make it through this one, drinks are on me.” — Matchstick

“Does anyone care what the Padawan thinks?” — Ahsoka Tano

“This is old fashioned flying. You have to feel your way through to stay on course.” — Anakin Skywalker

  • “That one looks hungry!”
  • “Nah, it’s just smiling at you.” – Ahsoka and Anakin, regarding a neebray

“I have a bad feeling about this.” — Battle droid gunner.

  • “That’s kind of true, Snips.”
  • “From a certain point of view.” — Anakin Skywalker and Plo Koon, responding to Ahsoka taking credit for changing the final attack plan.

 

Inside The Holocron

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Rising Malevolance

Welcome to a look inside The Holocron. A collection of articles from the archives of *starwars.com no longer directly available.

(*Archived here with Permission utilising The Internet Archive Wayback Machine)

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Rising Malevolance

Episode Air No: 2
Original Air Date: October 3, 2008 (Premiere episode)
Production No: 7

Written by Stephen Melching
Directed by Dave Filoni

Key Characters: Jedi Master Plo Koon, General Grievous, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano
Key Locales: Abregado, Coruscant

Cast:
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi | Plo Koon
Dee Bradley Baker as the clone troopers
Tom Kane as Yoda | Admiral Yularen | Narrator
Corey Burton as Count Dooku
Terrence “TC” Carson as Mace Windu
Ian Abercrombie as Chancellor Palpatine
Tim Brock as the medical droid
Matthew Wood as General Grievous | battle droids

Episode Brief: An attack by a devastating new Separatist weapon leaves Jedi Master Plo Koon and his clone troopers struggling to survive until Anakin and Ahsoka can find them.

Notable: Series debut of Anakin, Ahsoka, Grievous; introduction of Plo Koon; revelation of secret enemy weapon

Full Synopsis

“Belief is not a matter of choice, but of conviction.”

Newsreel:
The clone Starfleet is under siege!
Dozens of Republic warships have
been destroyed in merciless surprise
attacks that leave no survivors.
Rumors spread of a terrible new
Separatist weapon. In the face of
growing fear, the Jedi Council sends
Master Plo Koon to hunt down the
menace before it strikes again….

ACT I
In the Abregado system, Plo Koon’s flotilla of three Republic attack cruisers close in on a silhouetted enemy vessel. Aboard the Triumphant, Plo Koon orders his first officer, Commander Wolffe, to contact Coruscant and relay their position prior to attack. Master Plo makes contact with Anakin Skywalker’s fleet stationed in the nearby Bith system, and warmly greets Ahsoka Tano. There is little Skywalker can do to support Plo Koon, as he has been ordered to protect the staging area. Just then, the communications are cut off — jammed from the Separatist warship, Malevolence.

Ahsoka is gravely concerned about her old friend, Plo Koon, and urges Skywalker to launch a rescue. Anakin demands patience and silence from her as he contacts the Jedi Council. The holographic avatars of Mace Windu, Chancellor Palpatine, Yoda and Obi-Wan are discussing the predations of General Grievous’ mystery weapon, which has managed to strike in over a dozen systems and disappear without a trace. Anakin updates the Council of Master Plo’s entrance into the Abregado system.

Meanwhile. the Triumphant and the Malevolence close distance. At Count Dooku’s order, General Grievous fires the vessel’s primary weapon, an immense ion cannon that blasts a disc of disruptive energy that washes over the three Republic ships. As lightning dances across their hulls, energy is leeched from the warships, leaving the taskforce without shields or weapons. The Malevolence opens fire, blasting apart the defenseless ships. Plo Koon orders all hands to the escape pods. Master Plo enters a pod with Wolffe, and the clone troopers Sinker and Boost. Wolffe reports the grim news that their power grid has burned out, limiting life support and communications.

Aboard the Malevolence, Grievous relishes the destructive power of his new weapon. Count Dooku orders pod-hunters dispatched into the wreckage to ensure that there are no survivors who could report on the weapon’s location or capabilities.

Anakin continues his report to the Council. Plo Koon’s taskforce has vanished, and the absence of distress beacons suggests that the vessels were wiped out. Given the precedence set by the previous Malevolence strikes, Plo Koon is believed to be dead. Mace Windu assigns Skywalker’s taskforce to protect vital convoy missions, but Ahsoka speaks up, urging the Council to search for Plo Koon. Anakin chastises her for speaking out of turn. Anakin orders Admiral Yularen to deploy the task force to protect against any enemies who may threaten the convoys, while he and Ahsoka scout ahead aboard the Twilight.

The air in the pod is beginning to thin. Trooper Sinker points out that, strategically, it makes little sense to come looking for a missing pod over looking for the Malevolence, but Master Plo stresses the value of the troopers’ lives. Suddenly, the clones spot another pod floating in the wreckage. It has been sliced open, and the clone troopers within float lifelessly. Something is out there… something that can breach escape pod hulls.

The Twilight lifts off from Anakin’s flagship, Resolute, and Skywalker orders Artoo to input coordinates. The spice freighter blasts into hyperspace.

ACT II
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s flagship, Negotiator, does its part in protecting the vital Republic convoys. Kenobi radios Admiral Yularen to check on Anakin’s progress, and Yularen reveals that Skywalker has “redeployed” himself.

The Twilight emerges in the Abregado system, and rather than search for the Malevolence, Anakin orders Artoo to calibrate the sensors to look for life-forms. Ahsoka is surprised to find that Anakin has bent the rules to look for Plo Koon. Skywalker explains that he had always intended to look for survivors, but how he dealt with the Jedi Council is what he was trying to teach to Ahsoka. Rather than be directly confrontational, as Ahsoka was, Anakin instead is choosing to creatively interpret his mandate.

Meanwhile, aboard the escape pod, Sinker and Boost restart the power grid. Wolffe intercepts a signal from Pod 1977, currently under attack. Elsewhere in the debris field, the pod-hunter vessel latches its pincers onto Pod 1977. A squad of four rocket-equipped battle droids emerges from the pod-hunter and uses built-in torches to cut into the pod. Plo Koon and his clones listen in horror at the sounds of men suffocating to death in cold vacuum as the droids breach the Pod 1977’s hull.

The Twilight’s scanners probe the debris field with little luck. Ahsoka explains to Anakin that Master Plo was the Jedi Master who found her and brought her to the Jedi Temple. Obi-Wan Kenobi, sounding tired of once again dealing with Anakin’s maverick stunts, communicates with Skywalker to get his position. Ahsoka tries to take the blame, but there are more pressing matters. Obi-Wan urges Anakin to return to the defensive escorts. The Republic needs him at the rendezvous point. Anakin agrees, and starts to turn the Twilight around. Suddenly, R2-D2 picks up a signal on the emergency channel.

The battle droid hunting team spot Plo Koon’s escape pod and close in. Its pincers enclose the pod. Plo Koon, whose Kel Dor physiology can withstand vacuum for a brief time, decides to face the threat head-on. He orders Boost and Sinker to accompany him. They done their helmets and leave the pod, just as the pod-hunter’s pincers squeeze their tiny lifeboat. Wolffe stays behind to keep the emergency communication signal alive.

Plo Koon and his clones intercept the battle droid team, while the Twilight searches the wreckage to pinpoint the source of the weak emergency signal. The pod-hunters pincers start to squeeze the pod, which immediately begins venting its precious atmosphere.

ACT III
With Sinker and Boost covering him, Plo Koon cuts through the pod-hunter’s heavy arms with his lightsaber. Using the Force, Master Plo shoves the pod away, causing it to collide in the debris field.
On Coruscant, Palpatine continues conferring with the Jedi Council. Obi-Wan reveals that Anakin — on his own authority — is searching for survivors amid the wreckage of Plo Koon’s fleet. Mace and Yoda grouse about Anakin’s reckless decisions.

Palpatine contacts Anakin, relaying the disappointment among the Council. Palpatine implores Anakin to return to the fleet. Ahsoka, meanwhile, reaches out with the Force, and senses a connection to Plo Koon. Before the Twilight can depart, she takes control of the ship, and charges into the debris field. She finds Plo Koon’s pod, and launches a tow cable, reeling the lifeboat into the Twilight’s cramped hold.

Exhausted, Plo Koon, Boost and Sinker are inspected by the Twilight’s 2-1B medical droid. Master Plo asks if there were any other survivors, but Anakin confirms there were none.

As the clones recover in the hold, Plo Koon follows Anakin and Ahsoka to the bridge of the Twilight for debriefing. He explains that the mystery weapon is an ion cannon. The sensors detect a massive vessel approaching. Plo Koon quickly orders them to shut down all power systems before they are detected. Reluctantly, Ahsoka shuts down R2-D2. In their haste, however, they forgot about the medical droid tending to the clones.

The droid sensor operators aboard the Malevolence detect the 2-1B’s energy signature. The Twilight is found! Dooku wants no witnesses; General Grievous orders the warship to attack. Anakin hurriedly restarts the Twilight, and attempts to flee through the debris field. Plo Koon reactivates Artoo, and the little droid must program the navicomputer to jump… anywhere! The Malovelence fires its ion cannon.

Anakin twists and turns the vessels through the debris field, narrowly outrunning the ion blast. R2-D2 delivers a viable set of coordinates at the last instant, and the ship clears the wreckage, leaping into hyperspace. Grievous has failed Dooku: the Republic now knows the nature of the superweapon threat.

At the Republic rendezvous point, the Twilight lands aboard the Resolute. In talking with Wolffe, Anakin credits Ahsoka for their rescue. Plo Koon and Skywalker then head to report to the Council. Anakin insists Ahsoka accompany him, because, after all, if he’s getting in trouble for this, she should share in the blame as well.

Trivia & Details

  • Commander Wolffe’s clone troopers have stylized wolf muzzles painted on their helmets.
  • The entry hatchways to the escape pods aboard the Triumphant have the Republic “cog” logo on it.
  • Booster and Sinker’s attempt to restart the escape pod’s power grid uses dialogue directly lifted from The Empire Strikes Back when Han Solo and Chewbacca are trying to fix the Millennium Falcon.
  • The second escape pod, Pod 1977, is named after the release year of the original Star Wars.
  • The firing channel shot of the ion cannon is a nod to the shot design of the Death Star firing in Episode IV.

Memorable Quotes

“From what I hear, Skywalker’s always ready for a fight.” — Commander Wolffe.

“Koh-to-ya, little ‘Soka.” — Plo Koon

“Don’t look at me. It’s Boost, sir. He only takes a bath when he’s on leave.” — Sinker

“I value your life more than finding that weapon.” — Plo Koon

“Anakin has just redeployed himself… again.” — Obi-Wan Kenobi

“Artoo, set up the scanner. Modulate for incoming… mystery weapons.” — Ahsoka Tano

“Doing what the Jedi Council says, that’s one thing. How we go about doing it, that’s another. That’s what I’m trying to teach you, my young Padawan.” — Anakin Skywalker

“No, that’s not it. This one goes here, that one goes there.” — Boost

“When you ask for trouble, you should not be surprised when it finds you.” — Plo Koon

“Let’s cut this can open!” — Rocket battle droid

“Time to put the squeeze on ’em!” — Rocket battle droid

“In this war, a step ahead of us Dooku always seems.” — Master Yoda

“That is one big cruiser-crusher!” — Ahsoka, seeing the Malevolence for the first time.

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Star Wars – Episode II – On Location – 26 – Smile for the Camera

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Welcome Ahmed Best in his On Location videos for Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones

In February of 1999, Annie Leibovitz’s Episode I photography that appeared in Vanity Fair knocked many a sock off. Now, she’s back, snapping pics of Episode II’s production. Ahmed Best and the on location crew talked to Annie, to find out what makes this photographer click.

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The Bad Batch Season Two FINALE | The Summit and Plan 99 Episode Reviews

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Well THAT didn’t go how I expected it to AT ALL. I am not okay. Let’s talk about The Bad Batch season two finale, the pain it brought, and how there had BETTER be a third season announced at Star Wars Celebration!

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The Mandalorian Chapter 21 | The Pirate Episode Review

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It’s time for some of the best Mandalorian action we’ve had in this series so far! The pirate king Gorian Shard attacks Nevarro, so Carson Teva and the Mandalorians team up to take him down! Here is our episode review for Chapter 21: The Pirate!

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StarWars.com

All Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 Episode Guides Now Available!

Here’s the latest from: StarWars.Com

By StarWars.com Team

Dive into every episode of the shocking second season, and read up on new entries in the official Databank.

Nothing will ever be the same.

The second season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, which reached its shocking conclusion today with “The Summit” and “Plan 99,” was filled with action, laughs, heartbreak, and more than a few surprises. And you can explore Season 2 of the Disney+ series with StarWars.com’s official Episode Guides, available now for every episode, featuring story galleries, trivia, concept art, and the best of StarWars.com’s interviews and coverage.

We reunited with Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Echo, and Omega, in the two-part premiere “Spoils of War” and “Ruins of War,” which took us back to Serenno in search of Count Dooku’s war chest. In “The Solitary Clone,” Commander Cody and Crosshair went on their own mission for the Imperial regime. This season, Clone Force 99 has been on several heart-pumping missions in “Faster” and “Entombed,” and “Tribe.” With the latest episodes taking us back to the heart of the Empire, Coruscant, for “The Clone Conspiracy” and “Truth & Consequences,” the season takes a tumultuous turn for the galaxy at large and the fate of every clone soldier.

In the last half of Season 2, the Batchers went on a risky mission to secure ipsium in “The Crossing,” and crossed paths with the cybernetically-enhanced gang boss Mokko in “Retrieval.” In a story tying back to Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the team encountered a zillo beast clone in “Metamorphosis,” while Crosshair saw the evil of the Empire in “The Outpost.” “Pabu” saw the Bad Batch head to a potential new home, and “Tipping Point” saw the return of Echo and an escalation leading to an unforgettable two-episode climax in “The Summit” and “Plan 99.”

To learn more about Dr. Royce Hemlock, the majestic Mount Tantiss, and other new characters, weapons, vehicles, and locations, check out more than 40 new and updated entries in the Star Wars Databank, from AT-AC walker to the modified zillo beast…

…Read the Full Article @ The Official Site

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The Bad Batch Season 2 | Tipping Point Episode Review

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It’s time to follow up on what happened to Crosshair at Mount Tantiss! We are closing in on the finale of season two, and the stage is being set VERY nicely! This is my review for episode fourteen, Tipping Point.

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The Mandalorian Chapter 20 | The Foundling Episode Review

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We finally know who took Grogu from the Jedi Temple during Order 66, and the answer to that question made me SO happy! But this chapter also explored the Mandalorian covert in a way that helped me see them from a new perspective that I loved writing about. So here is my review for The Mandalorian Chapter 20, The Foundling!

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Star Wars – Episode II – On Location – 25 – Transforming Caserta

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Welcome Ahmed Best in his On Location videos for Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones

What does it take to transform the Caserta Palace in Italy into the Royal Palace of Naboo? Well, it takes a skilled visual effects supervisor like John Knoll to make sure all the blue is in the proper place and to figure out what needs to be painted out of the final shot. It’s a good bet that Ahmed Best and the on location crew will be digitally removed.

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Inside The Holocron

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Ambush

Welcome to a look inside The Holocron. A collection of articles from the archives of *starwars.com no longer directly available.

(*Archived here with Permission utilising The Internet Archive Wayback Machine)

The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Ambush

Episode Air No: 1
Original Air Date: October 3, 2008 (Premiere episode)
Production No: 8

Written by Stephen Melching
Directed by Dave Bullock

Key Characters: Yoda, King Katuunko, Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress
Key Locales: Rugosa

Cast:
Tom Kane as Yoda | Narrator
Dee Bradley Baker as the clone troopers
Brian George as King Katuunko
Corey Burton as Count Dooku
Nika Futterman as Asajj Ventress
Matthew Wood as the battle droids

Episode Brief: Jedi Master Yoda and three clone troopers — Jek, Thire, and Rys — must face off against Count Dooku’s dreaded assassin Ventress and her massive droid army to prove the Jedi are strong enough to protect a strategic planet and forge a treaty for the Republic.

Notable: Yoda in action; series premiere; series introduction of Ventress

Full Synopsis

“Great leaders inspire greatness in others.”

Newsreel:
A galaxy divided by war! Peaceful
worlds must choose sides or face
the threat of invasion. Republic and
Separatist armies vie for the allegiance
of neutral planets. Desperate to build
a Republic supply base on the system
of Toydaria, Jedi Master Yoda travels
to secret negotiations on a remote
neutral moon….

ACT I
On the dried coral moon of Rugosa, the Toydarian monarch King Katuunko and his retinue await the arrival of their Jedi envoy. They are met instead by Asajj Ventress, who brings a holographic message from Count Dooku. The Separatist leader hopes to sway Toydaria to his cause by illustrating that the Republic offers little protection — as they cannot even protect themselves.

In space above, a Republic frigate carrying Yoda and his troopers are suddenly surrounded by Separatist warships. Cannonades pummel the frigate, forcing Yoda and his troops to escape their ship aboard life pods. The frigate launches all pods, and while the battleship blasts a few of the lifeboats, Yoda makes it to the colorful moon’s surface alongside three clones: Lieutenant Thire, Rys and Jek.

The Republic frigate leaves the system, a move that Asajj Ventress spins to the king as a sign of weakness. Her attempts at persuasion are interrupted by a holographic call from Yoda: the Jedi Master has survived.

Asajj suggests a deal. If Yoda survives Ventress’ attempts to capture him, then Katuunko is free to join the Republic. But, should the Separatists prevail, Toydaria’s allegiance is theirs. Though Katuunko does not like this turn of events, Yoda agrees.

Yoda and his troops march through the coral underbrush as a Separatist landing ship carrying a full battalion of droids arrives. Yoda leads the clones away from the enemies and the rendezvous point he had agreed to reach by nightfall.

ACT II
In the thick of the coral, the battle droid armored column has difficulty negotiating the tight confines. The infantry droids proceed on foot, and the clones outflank them. Sniping from the underbrush, Thire and his men blast through several droids, splitting up the squads.

Yoda hops around them, cutting the droids down one by one. A squad of super battle droids pushes the clones back. Thire is wounded in the cross-fire, and the clones are pinned. Meditating on the Force, Yoda lifts one of the advancing droids into the air, and spins him about, causing it to open fire on its fellow droids. This gives Yoda and the clones the time they need to retreat, narrowly avoiding pursuing droidekas.

Though the battle droids report their successes to Asajj, Yoda too resumes communication with Katuunko, indicating he’s not having any trouble at all. Yoda and the clones make it to a dried gulch lined with caves to rest and recover.

Inside a cave, the clones take stock of their grim position: low on ammo, Thire wounded, with only two grenades and one rocket for the launcher against a battalion. Yoda’s spirit never flags, however, and he speaks to each clone in turn. He advises Rys to take inspiration not from wanting to crush the enemy, but from himself and his comrades. He tells Jek that his most powerful weapons are not the hardware he lugs, but rather his mind. He tells Thire to have patience, rather than rush headlong into battle. The clones meditate on Yoda’s counsel, but the sound of approaching droids interrupts them.

Yoda ventures into the canyon to confront the armored column. He sits, cross-legged, right in the path of the imposing tanks that aim all their weaponry straight at the little Jedi Master.

ACT III
The battle droids report in to Ventress, who orders them to open fire on Yoda. Dispatching Yoda is no easy task. He darts past the enemy guns, cutting down hapless battle droids and slicing through tank armor. Katuunko grins at this reversal, but Asajj will not give up; she orders a reinforcement squad of droidekas to tumble into the gulch. Yoda is too occupied with the main column to spot the droidekas in time, but the clones see them from atop the ridge.

Thire fires the squad’s last rocket into overhanging bluff, sending an avalanche of rock crashing down on the droideka reinforcements, saving Yoda from the attack. Yoda is proud of his troops, and they move on to rendezvous with Katuunko.

The Toydarian king, impressed by Yoda’s performance, opts to join the Republic, and tells Count Dooku so. He is further disgusted by Asajj’s breaking of her promise of a fair fight. The holographic Dooku orders Ventress to assassinate the king, but the would-be regicide is stopped mid-swing as Yoda uses the Force to telekinetically freeze Asajj’s strike. Yoda greets Katuunko and dismisses Asajj with a simple display of Force. Rather than surrender, Ventress triggers an explosion that causes a rockslide, distracting Yoda while she escapes in a solar sailer.

Katuunko pledges his loyalty to the Republic, and Yoda vows not to fail their new allies.

Trivia & Details

  • The targeting display screen for the Republic frigate appears to have a tried and true Corellian design; it’s the same orange-against-red grid seen aboard the Millennium Falcon in A New Hope.
  • The aurebesh legend at the bottom of Thire’s macrobinocular viewplate reads “infrared mode”. The top reads “regular mode.”
  • The little creature that perches on Yoda’s finger on Rugosa is a baby neebray.
  • The script and earlier iteration of this episode had this as the “Jedi Fortune Cookie” message at the start of the episode: “Great leadership comes in all sizes.”

Memorable Quotes

“Ah well. It’s my programming.” — Battle droid gunner

“Okay clankers, suck lasers!” — Trooper Jek

“He’ll be the small, shriveled green one… with a lightsaber!” — Asajj Ventress

“Smaller in number are we, but larger in mind.” — Yoda

“Die, Republic dogs!” — super battle droid

“Left behind, no one will be.” — Yoda

“Deceive you eyes can. In the Force, very different each one of you are.” — Yoda, to the clones

“Get out of the way, all of you! I’m having a serious malfunction! Don’t shoot! I’m on your side.” — A super battle droid spun about through the Force by Master Yoda

“That’s a lot of smoke for a surrender.” — King Katuunko

“But I just got promoted!” — Ill-fated battle droid

“In the end, cowards are those who follow the dark side.” — Yoda

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Star Wars – Episode II – On Location – 24 – Father Figure

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Welcome Ahmed Best in his On Location videos for Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones

Some 20-odd years ago, Graeme Blundell took his kids to see Star Wars in the theater. It’s pretty fitting that he’s now set to play a father figure in Episode II. In this first on location report from Italy, Ahmed Best sits back and chats with Blundell about his role in the upcoming movie, and which three words were cut from his dialogue the day of the shoot.

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The Bad Batch Season 2 | Pabu Episode Review

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The latest episode of The Bad Batch was not what I was expecting to see after The Outpost, but I still thought it was a beautiful and moving episode. A nice rest before the final three episodes, that could have ramifications for the end of the entire series.

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WhatCulture Star Wars

20 Things You Somehow Missed In Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

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Cheeky cameos, familiar-sounding Wampas, and everything else you probably missed in Episode V.

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!

WhatCulture Star Wars

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The Mandalorian Chapter 19 | The Convert Episode Review

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Let’s head over to Coruscant to check in on Doctor Pershin and the New Republic! But don’t worry, we’ve also got plenty to talk about with Din, Bo-Katan, and the events following her sighting of the mythosaur on Mandalore! Here is our episode review for The Mandalorian Chapter 19: The Convert.

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Star Wars – Episode II – On Location – 23 – Don Bies

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Join Ahmed Best in these quick soundbites from the Making of Attack of the Clones

Ahmed Best was given a mission… and he chose to accept it: infiltrating the bustling cubicles of the production offices of Episode II. This is the brain of the entire Episode II production, the command center where all activities are coordinated. The assistants and production people are so good at their jobs that not even an intrusive guerilla-style documentary can disrupt the workflow of this finely oiled machine

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The Bad Batch Season 2 | The Outpost Episode Review

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The Bad Batch is CRUSHING it lately! The latest episode, titled The Outpost, quickly became a new favorite episode of the series for me, once again centering on Crosshair and another new, great clone named Mayday.

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The Mandalorian Chapter 18 | The Mines of Mandalore Episode Review

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THIS EPISODE WAS HUGE! Quite literally, considering how it ended. I’m so thrilled we are zipping right along through Din’s mission instead of spending time doing side quest after side quest on Tatooine. The return to Mandalore was nerdy and fun but also meaningful and emotional with some great reveals…The Mines of Mandalore was a fantastic chapter of The Mandalorian!

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The Bad Batch Season 2 | Metamorphosis Episode Review

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The Bad Batch is convinced to go on another job for Cid. And it involves the answer to a question Star Wars fans have had for YEARS! This was the perfect example of how this series can pull off a standalone adventure of the week that still connects back to the larger story.

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