Fashion Illustrator Marilee Heyer on Her Stunning Leia Concepts
Star Wars artwork aficionados who browse the pages of 1983’s The Art of Return of the Jedi are often inspired by the illustrations of pioneering Star Wars artists Ralph McQuarrie, Joe Johnston, and Nilo Rodis-Jamero, among others. Readers might be struck, though, by a pair of stunning profile illustrations of Princess Leia on page 49 that appear unlike any other artists’ work seen in the book. The portrait illustrations, which depict Leia’s iconic hairdo while aboard Jabba the Hutt’s sail barge, appear to be done by a talented fashion artist with an eye for elegance and detail. While the book illustrations were initially credited to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi hairdresser Paul LeBlanc, they were actually composed and finished by artist Marilee Heyer, whose attribution was missed through an unfortunate oversight in the first 1983 edition (but restored in the 1997 reprint)…
From a Certain Point of View: What’s the Best Moment in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi?
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi arrived in theaters on May 25, 1983, bringing an end to the original trilogy in memorable fashion. Marking its 40th anniversary, StarWars.com presents “Jedi at 40,” a series of articles celebrating the film that brought us Jabba’s palace, Ewoks, Luke Skywalker’s final confrontation with the Emperor and Darth Vader, and so much more.
One of the great things about Star Wars is that it inspires endless debates and opinions on a wide array of topics. Best bounty hunter? Most powerful Jedi? Does Salacious B. Crumb have the best haircut in the saga? In that spirit, StarWars.com presents From a Certain Point of View: a series of point-counterpoints on some of the biggest — and most fun — Star Wars issues. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, streaming on Disney+, two StarWars.com writers argue in favor of what they see as the best moment in the final film of the original trilogy…
It’s not a trap! Revisit some of the best lines from Episode VI.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi arrived in theaters on May 25, 1983, bringing an end to the original trilogy in memorable fashion. Marking its 40th anniversary, StarWars.com presents “Jedi at 40,” a series of articles celebrating the film that brought us Jabba’s palace, Ewoks, Luke Skywalker’s final confrontation with the Emperor and Darth Vader, and so much more.
Great quotes and Star Wars go hand in hand, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi is filled with wonderful lines that are as entertaining as they are profound. It’s hard not to feel a swell of emotion hearing Luke’s resolve to save his father. We also can’t keep ourselves from smiling as Han, Leia, and Lando snark their way into saving the galaxy. Then, of course, there are the Emperor’s fantastically menacing taunts. To paraphrase Yoda, “When 40 years old most other movies reach, be this quotable they will not.” Here are 40 of the most memorable Return of the Jedi quotes…
A Guide to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi’s Deleted Scenes
They may have been cut from the final film, but you can watch them all on Disney+.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi arrived in theaters on May 25, 1983, bringing an end to the original trilogy in memorable fashion. Marking its 40th anniversary, StarWars.com presents “Jedi at 40,” a series of articles celebrating the film that brought us Jabba’s palace, Ewoks, Luke Skywalker’s final confrontation with the Emperor and Darth Vader, and so much more.
It’s always a good time to revisit Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, especially when the film is enjoying its 40th anniversary. But while many scenes are fun to watch on repeat — from searching the shadows of Jabba’s Palace to discover new creatures to attempting to identify all the Ewoks on Endor — if you’re watching Return of the Jedi on Disney+, don’t overlook the moments that didn’t make the film’s final cut. These five sequences feature footage of the main heroes and villains of the film, lesser-known characters like Moff Jerjerrod, and extras who never made it onscreen…
Will we see the creation of Huyang in the Dawn of the Jedi movie? Will we ever see a Star Wars Sith video game? Was Kelleran Beq involved with the Hidden Path? These questions and more answered in this week’s Q&A!
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!
Join Cal Kestis and the Stinger Mantis crew on an epic adventure that takes place between Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and the highly anticipated Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. After escaping the clutches of the Empire and rebuilding his life, Cal has found a new family in the crew of the Stinger Mantis. Together, they have taken down ruthless bounty hunters, battled Inquisitors, and even outsmarted the menacing Darth Vader himself.
With the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance, the Mantis crew becomes bolder with each victory against the Empire. But when they meet a stormtrooper who wants to defect and start a new life, they are presented with a dangerous opportunity. The stormtrooper reveals the possible location of a powerful weapon that could turn the tide of the war. To obtain it, however, they must face one of the Empire’s deadliest enforcers – the Inquisitor known as the Fifth Brother.
As they embark on this perilous mission, the crew must grapple with a looming question: can they trust the Imperial defector? And with each close call, the stakes grow higher as they wonder how many times they can cheat death and evade the Empire’s grip. Don’t miss out on this heart-pumping adventure that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Which sequel trilogy characters do we hope to see in the New Jedi Order movie? Who will be the antagonists in the film? These questions and more answered in this week’s Q&A!
Step into a galaxy far, far away where the rebels were facing a dark and perilous time. Han Solo, the fearless pilot, had been captured and frozen in carbonite by the malicious Jabba the Hutt. The rebel alliance was resolute in their mission to rescue him, and Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Lando Calrissian were prepared to embark on a treacherous journey to Jabba’s Tatooine stronghold. The Rebel commanders knew that they needed to summon all the warships of the Rebel fleet to form a single colossal armada to conquer the battle ahead.
Meanwhile, the ominous Darth Vader and the Emperor were cooking up a nefarious plan to crush their enemies once and for all. Construction had already begun on a new and even more powerful Death Star, and the Rebel Alliance was at the mercy of the dark side. Will the rebel alliance be able to save Han Solo and defeat their enemies or will they face an uncertain future? Only time will tell in this epic battle between good and evil.
Step into the riveting world of Star Wars and uncover the enigmatic history of the feared Count Dooku in the original script of the thrilling audio production! Known as Darth Tyranus, Count of Serenno, and the leader of the Separatists, he wields a red saber that glows ominously in the dark. But before he became the right hand of the Sith, who was he? As Dooku seeks a new apprentice, the hidden truth of his past as a Sith Lord slowly emerges.
Dooku’s life started in luxury, born within the imposing walls of his family’s estate. The Funeral Moon, where the bones of his forefathers rest, orbits around it. But as his Jedi potential becomes apparent, he is whisked away from his home to undergo rigorous training under the guidance of the legendary Master Yoda.
With each passing day, Dooku’s skills with the Force sharpen, and he climbs the ranks of the Jedi Order. He befriends Jedi Sifo-Dyas and takes the talented Qui-Gon Jinn as his Padawan, attempting to forget the life he once knew. However, his fascination with Jedi Master Lene Kostana and her mission to scour the galaxy for ancient Sith relics draws him in, and he finds himself caught between his former life, the Jedi Order, and the temptation of the relics’ power.
As the darkness creeps closer, Dooku struggles to keep to the light and prevent himself from falling to the seductive pull of the Sith. Will he be able to resist the allure of the past and stay true to his Jedi beliefs, or will he succumb to the darkness and become a feared Sith Lord?
Prepare to experience the Star Wars universe like never before with a thrilling new adventure that takes place between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. This time, you’ll get to see everything through the eyes of none other than Luke Skywalker himself!
Luke’s heroic destruction of the Death Star has made him a legend among the Rebel Alliance, and his skills as a pilot are unmatched. That’s why Princess Leia Organa and Admiral Ackbar have chosen him for a daring rescue mission that could turn the tide of the war.
A brilliant alien cryptographer has been captured by the Empire, and the Rebels need her skills to gain an edge. But to pull off the rescue mission, Luke and R2-D2 must team up with an unlikely ally: Nakari Kelen, a bold young pilot with a score to settle against the Empire.
As they race against the clock, Luke will face ruthless Imperial bodyguards, deadly battleships, and even brain-eating parasites. He’ll need all of his training as a Rebel fighter and budding Jedi to survive. But with the Force as his guide and his friends by his side, Luke is ready for anything.
Critics are raving about Heir to the Jedi, praising its rich characters, thrilling action, and emotional depth. Whether you’re a die-hard Star Wars fan or a newcomer to the galaxy far, far away, this book is a must-read. You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of who Luke Skywalker is and a renewed admiration for his heroic journey. May the Force be with you!
Episode Air No.: 13 Original Air Date: January 16, 2009 Production No.: 22
Written by Katie Lucas Directed by Rob Coleman
Key Characters: Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Aayla Secura, Captain Rex, Commander Bly, Tee Watt Kaa, Wag Too
Key Locales: Quell; Maridun
Cast: Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano Jennifer Hale as Aayla Secura Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker Dee Bradley Baker as Clone Troopers Tom Kane as Narrator/Admiral Yularen George Coe as Tee Watt Kaa Alec Medlock as Wag Too Matthew Wood as Battle Droids/Tactical Droid
Episode Brief: When Anakin is gravely injured in battle, Jedi General Aayla Secura must teach Ahsoka the Jedi philosophy of having no personal attachments — while they brave the hostile planet in search of medical help for the Jedi Knight.
Full Synopsis
“Greed and fear of loss are the roots that lead to the tree of evil.”
Newsreel The Republic fleet is on the defensive and pushed to the brink! As war rages in the much contested Outer Rim Territories, chaos and fear mount as the Separatist army wages an epic battle against heavily outnumbered Republic ships in the far reaches of the Quell system. Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan Ahsoka race across the galaxy to aid Jedi Knight Aayla Secura who is in the midst of a fight for her life as the sinister droid army closes in….
ACT I
High in the rarified atmosphere of the cerulean planet Quell, a trio of Jedi cruisers is pelted by concentrated cannonades from a cluster of Separatist frigates. The occupants of the command ship’s bridge are shaken by the repeated attacks. A bridge officer reports to Aayla Secura that the shields are gone. Before long, the command ship is the only Republic vessel still maintaining altitude. Its flanking cruisers are ablaze and being tugged into the clouds by gravity.
High above the atmosphere, the Jedi cruiser Resolute snaps out of hyperspace. A determined Anakin Skywalker orders the gunships to scramble. Meanwhile, aboard the lead Separatist frigate, a calculating tactical droid surveys the battle and dispatches rocket pack-equipped super battle droids.
The cloud of airborne droids spans the distance between Separatist and Republic vessels in no time. The super battle droids begin landing on her ship’s battered hull, exploiting its breaches to board the perforated warship. Aayla orders her clone officer, Commander Bly, to repel invaders. The ship starts to list and enter further into the atmosphere.
The Resolute arrives at the site of battle, and heavily armed gunships stream from its docking bays. They streak toward Aayla’s flagship, leaving the sky littered with contrails. The rocket droids spot the newcomers, and some blast off to intercept. One droid lands atop Anakin’s gunship, and begins to tear apart the cockpit canopy. Anakin orders Rex to save the pilot, while he impetuously leaps out the open door and into the sky.
Anakin lands on a rocket droid, riding the out-of-control automaton down to Aayla’s cruiser. Meanwhile, the gunship pilot bails from his compromised cockpit, landing in the gunship’s open troop bay. Anakin lands his rocket droid in a hull breach, and continues his fight aboard Aayla’s ship, not missing a single step as he cuts down battle droids. The pilotless gunship slams into the hull breach moments later, and its occupants — Ahsoka, Rex and more clones from the 501st, spill onto the scorched deck,
The tactical droid is growing impatient and changes plans. He orders his gunners to blow the cruiser out of the sky, regardless of the hundreds of rocket droids now crawling over its surface. Inside the ship, Ahsoka and Rex catch up to Anakin, and they in turn find Aayla and Bly. Anakin reports to Aayla that he’s ordered a ship to dock in the lower hangar.
The plummeting cruiser’s ventral hull begins to glow from atmospheric friction. A Republic frigate matches speed and eases into the belly hold, extending the docking port. The Jedi arrive at the lower hold, extending the gangway. Just then a series of explosions tear through the corridors, consuming clones and droids alike. Anakin alone spots the growing fireball. He uses the Force to push his fellow escapes into the gangway airlock, which seals shut. He then turns as the blast doors close on the explosion, but he knows the bulkheads won’ t be enough to contain the blast. He offers what reinforcement he can through the Force, but the hatch buckles, and the force of the blast knocks slams him against the airlock.
Ahsoka won’t leave Anakin behind. She tries to open the blast door, but it will budge only enough for her to peer through and see him unconscious and gravely wounded. She uses her lightsaber to slice through the door. She pulls Anakin’s inert form, but time is running out as the plummeting cruiser continues to convulse and shudder around them. The make their way onto the frigate, which drops from the cruiser’s hold and rockets away toward the Resolute. Admiral Yularen advises against docking in the middle of a battle, but Aayla insists since Anakin needs immediate medical attention beyond what the frigate can provide.
As the frigate begins docking with the Resolute, vulture droids fire at it. A hit shakes the cockpit, throwing the pilot forward into the controls, accidentally activating the hyperdrive. Bly can’t shut it down. With the ship gearing for lightspeed while still in the Resolute‘s hold, it risks severe damage to the cruiser. Yularen orders evasive maneuvers. The Resolute turns away from the volatile frigate just as the smaller ship’s hyperdrives engage, rocketing away from Quell at unimaginable speeds. Yularen orders the frigate’s trajectories plotted, though he knows the odds of their survival are slim — a jump like that through a gravity well is extremely dangerous.
ACT II
The crippled frigate tunnels its way through hyperspace. Ahsoka will not leave Anakin’s side as he lies in the ship’s abbreviated medical suite. Aayla arrives, ordering her and Commander Bly to the bridge. Aayla suggests to Ahsoka that her greatest help to Anakin would be getting the ship to safety. Bly arrives with grim news. The result of the overhasty jump has plotted the ship on a direct collision course with a star.
The crew returns to the bridge, desperately flipping switches to revert the ship from superluminal velocities. Aayla orders a complete power down of the ship, but Ahsoka objects: such a move would shut off Anakin’s life support. Regardless, Ahsoka carries out Aayla’s command.
They cut power, and the frigate drops out of lightspeed. Its forward momentum still hurtles it towards the star. Aayla switches the power back on in time for the ship’s drives to fire up, and it begins to vector away from the searing stellar furnace. Ahsoka slingshots the ship around the star, sending it hurtling towards a nearby grass planet.
The ship plows into the plains, bursting into flames. The clones and the Jedi blow the escape hatches and flee the burning wreckage. Ahsoka and Aayla carry Anakin’s limp but living form. The twisted metal eventually burns itself out, and the Republic castaways erect a makeshift shelter to tend to Anakin. His condition is worsening. He will need help that night if he is to make it to morning.
Ahsoka suggests Aayla and Bly head to the south while she and Rex stay with Anakin. Aayla disagrees; the Jedi must work together, even if that means Ahsoka must leave Anakin behind. With difficulty, Ahsoka concurs.
Bly’s cursory search of the surrounding area has uncovered a carved tablet with a crude illustration of a humanoid fending off a predator. There are intelligent inhabitants on this grassland planet. Using the tablet as their only clue, the Jedi head out to seek the giant trees depicted in the carving. Captain Rex stays behind at the camp to watch over Anakin while the rest of the team leave to the west. Aayla tries to console Ahsoka, and offers her advice about dealing with attachments. Aayla can sympathize. She felt a similar connection to her master, whom she had to eventually let go.
Night falls. The scouting party arrives at an enormous tree. Enormous falling seedpods nearly crush them, but Aayla spots a path in the grass suggesting that an intelligent culture has found use for the pods and has dragged them away from the tree. The team continues along this new direction.
Meanwhile, the sound of animals stirring in the grass keeps Rex on alert. Anakin begins to awaken just as a mastif phalone, a deadly turkey-headed quadruped, lunges at Rex. The wicked animal pins Rex, but he manages to squeeze off a blaster shot that startles the monster and causes it to run away into the grasses.
ACT III
Aayla, Bly, Ahsoka and the rest of the team continue their trek through the tall grasses. Two mastif phalones lunge at them, bowling over the Jedi and tearing into the clones. Bly shoots one dead, and the other scampers away, but the damage has been done. The clones Cameron, Lucky and Flash are dead. The team, now half their previous size, keeps moving. Meanwhile at camp, Rex continues his vigil.
Dawn breaks. Bly, Ahsoka and Aayla discover a clearing with a village made of enormous seed pods. Lurmen villagers — small, furred bipeds with huge, expressive eyes — warily watch the outlanders as they approach. The village elder, Tee Watt Kaa, greets them not with hospitality, but with suspicion. He asks to know their business; Aayla responds that they are peacekeepers in need of medical help.
Tee Watt Kaa begins lecturing that violence breeds violence; he doesn’t believe the Jedi are peacekeepers, but instead those who perpetuate war, fear and death. The Lurmen colonized Maridun, this grassland world, in an attempt to escape the Clone Wars. Tee Watt Kaa asks the Jedi to leave, for only destruction will follow in their wake.
The Jedi try to appeal to his compassion, but Tee Watt Kaa is looking out for the best for his people. With Ahsoka’s heartfelt plea, Tee Watt Kaa agrees to send his son, Wag Too, a healer, to help Anakin. But he insists that a Jedi stay behind as a gesture of faith, and to insure Wag Too is not kidnapped. Tee Watt Kaa also specifies that the clone and his blaster cannot stay. Ahsoka, Wag Too and Bly then hastily depart, rushing to save Anakin.
Later, in his seedpod hut, Tee Watt Kaa offers Aayla a cup of tea. She sits cross-legged on the hut floor, and the two discuss the war. Aayla reminds the village leader that the Jedi did not start the conflict, but it makes no difference to Tee Watt Kaa. No side is free of fault, as it takes two to fight. Aayla defends the Jedi, stating that liberty is worth fighting for, but to Tee Watt Kaa, the destructive nature of violent solutions undoes any claims of peacekeeping on the Jedi’s behalf.
Two mastif phalones stalk the campsite, and Anakin can feel their approach. He cannot rest. He alerts Rex and the two draw weapons to defend themselves against the rapacious creatures. Rex guns one down, but the other charges, smashing apart the campsite. Anakin is tossed aside and collapses in the dirt. But before the mastif phalone can turn to attack, it is suddenly circled by Wag Too, who trails a rope around the creature’s legs. Ahsoka lights her blade, ready to strike the creature, but Wag Too tells her to stop. Even now, in the face of such a dangerous beast, the Lurmen are seeking a non-violent end.
Ahsoka and Rex join Wag Too in tugging at the rope, tripping up the mastif phalone. Wag Too ties its feet up. Meanwhile, Bly tends to Anakin. Wag Too stabilizes his condition, and the clones prepare a gurney and carry the fallen Jedi back to the Lurmen village. Wag Too applies rags drenched in healing oils from the seedpods over Anakin, and he rests to recover.
As the sun falls once more, Ahsoka realizes that Aayla’s wisdom prevailed. Had she stayed with Anakin, the Jedi would probably have not found the Lurmen village in time to save him. Anakin will recover, but the Jedi are still stranded on Maridun.
Trivia & Details
The original “fortune cookie” in the script read, “For one to not become attached is the greatest gift.”
The script described the battle over Quell as happening in space, but it was moved to the upper atmosphere for dramatic effect as the show entered preproduction. Of course, such an altitude shift creates all sorts of problems for a hyperdrive, according to established lore on how such devices operate near planets.
The display screen that Bly uses to inform Aayla and Ahsoka of the ship’s impending collision with a star has the rather stark label on it, “IMPACT”, written in Aurebesh.
If you listen carefully to Anakin’s ventilator while he’s recovering aboard the frigate, it’s the same breathing effect as Darth Vader’s famous breathmask.
The Aurebesh legend on Anakin’s medical status screen reads STAND BY FOR PROGNOSIS.
Though Aayla never names her master, she is referring to Quinlan Vos, a Jedi character featured extensively in the Star Wars: Republic comic series. He seemingly abandoned the Jedi path when he went on an extended undercover mission for the Republic.
The design of the grass planet Maridun stems from Ralph McQuarrie paintings and illustrations originally produced for Return of the Jedi. An earlier draft of the Jedi story depicted a grassland planet named Sicemon. Years later, the Sicemon concept art was resurrected to depict the grasslands of Alderaan in a 1995 coffee table book, The Illustrated Star Wars Universe. The structures seen in the grasslands became “Killik mounds,” large abandoned termite-like hives from a supposedly vanished race. These structures became the basis of the seedpod designs seen used by the Lurmen in this episode.
Memorable Quotes
– “Hey, kid!” – “I know! I know! I’m hanging on!” — Rex and Ahsoka, during a typical rough landing
– “Are all Jedi so reckless?” – “Just the good ones.” — Admiral Yularen and Aayla Secura
– “I’m just glad he wasn’t awake to see that landing!” – “He would’ve been proud.” – “I’ve certainly perfected the art of demolishing ships and almost getting my master killed.” — Ahsoka and Aayla, discussing Anakin and landings
Dr. Lydia Kang, author of the new High Republic book Cataclysm, discusses stepping into Phase Two of the High Republic initiative and pushing the Jedi to their limits in the golden age of the Republic!
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.
If you love LEGO Star Wars and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, the answer is yes. Revealed just ahead of Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023, the LEGO Group has created two dynamic new releases celebrating the 40th anniversary of Episode VI: the Endor Speeder Chase Diorama and the Emperor’s Throne Room Diorama, building sets immortalizing two of the film’s most iconic sequences in LEGO bricks. They arrive May 1 and will be available for pre-order soon.
Both sets were designed for adult fans and make for great display pieces, while still allowing for interactivity. The Speeder Chase set consists of 608 pieces, and includes three LEGO minifigures (Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker and a Scout Trooper), two removable speeder bikes with transparent stands (allowing the bikes to tilt, conveying movement), two buildable trees, and more forest elements. The Throne Room, an 807-piece release, includes Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Emperor Palpatine minifigures (complete with lightsabers and Sith lightning), rotating throne, and more. Both sets also feature a plaque with the Return of the Jedi 40th anniversary logo and a memorable quote from each scene. For fans of the last film in the original trilogy, it is pointless to resist — as Darth Vader himself says in the movie…
Sam Maggs joined me to talk about her new book, Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars, and was a dang delight! She was so fun to talk to as we both loved on the whole cast of the Star Wars Jedi side of the universe.
It should be a time of peace and exploration, as Phase II of Star Wars: The High Republic finds the Jedi Order and the Republic working to unite a vast galaxy.
In the upcoming novel, Cataclysm by Lydia Kang, the sequel to Convergence by Zoraida Córdova, the once warring planets of Eiram and E’ronoh are on the cusp of an armistice when news breaks of a disaster at the treaty signing on Jedha. Together, the royal heirs of both worlds — Phan-tu Zenn and Xiri A’lbaran — must work alongside the Jedi to uncover evidence of the true culprit.
In StarWars.com’s exclusive excerpt of the book, which arrives April 4, Princess Xiri attempts her first negotiation. But first, the Path representative demands a token of goodwill, and it’s up to Jedi Enya Keen to produce a gift almost as valuable to her as her own life…
What stood out to us about the new Star Wars Jedi: Survivor footage? What do we think of the new Qi’ra book, Crimson Climb? These questions and more answered in this week’s Q&A!
Your little ones can soon take their first steps into a larger world of reading — with Star Wars.
StarWars.com and This Week! In Star Wars are excited to reveal a new series of books for kids based on the upcoming all-ages animated series Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. The collection of titles has been designed for ages 3-5 and 3-7, and ranges from readers to Little Golden Books, all fully-illustrated in the art style of the show.
Young Jedi Adventures is the first full-length animated Star Wars series created for preschoolers and their families. These original stories will follow younglings as they are swept off into adventures, and start their journeys on the path to becoming Jedi Knights, learning valuable skills for our galaxy and the galaxy far, far away. The Jedi-in-training will tackle topics of compassion, self-discipline, teamwork, patience, and friendship. StarWars.com and This Week! In Star Wars also revealed the premiere date, cast, and new images from the series today.
Young Jedi Adventures will be part of the era known as the High Republic, set centuries before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and currently being explored in the New York Times bestselling series of books and comics for all ages, Star Wars: The High Republic.
Get a first look at the Young Jedi Adventures books below, along with story descriptions and release dates!
This May the 4th will see the start of a new Star Wars adventure for fans of all ages.
Today, Disney+, Disney Junior, and Lucasfilm announced that Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures will premiere on Disney+ and Disney Junior on May 4, 2023, also known as Star Wars Day. Set during the High Republic era and the prime of the Jedi Order, the animated series follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way…
When an organization isn’t challenged for nearly a thousand years, it becomes stagnant and closed minded. I believe the Jedi Order would’ve greatly benefited from oversight and checks & balances on its power. This would allow for the organization to grow and evolve to face the many challenges the galaxy was facing.
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
Why were Wookiee Jedi such a rare sight in the Star Wars galaxy? We’ve got a behind the scenes reason, as well as some in-universe speculation to discuss today.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the sequel to the modern classic video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, is just a few months away. But what happened between the two tales?
The upcoming novel Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars, arriving March 7, will tell that story. The book from Sam Maggs, created in collaboration with Lucasfilm, Electronic Arts, and Respawn Entertainment, follows Jedi Cal Kestis and the Mantis crew as they meet a stormtrooper determined to chart her own course. The Imperial deserter knows of an object that could aid in the fight against the Empire, but acquiring it will bring Cal and the gang into the crosshairs of the Inquisitor known as the Fifth Brother.
In StarWars.com’s exclusive excerpt from Jedi: Battle Scars, Cal works to infiltrate a hidden base belonging to the nefarious Haxion Brood crime syndicate. Getting there, however, is the real challenge…