Transcript
Speaker: Casual Nerdy is a podcast celebrating and discussing pop culture that we love. Movies, TVs, comics, books, games, you name it. Are you missed to talk about the good, what worked, and yeah, sometimes what didn't. All with an eye towards building up, not tearing down. Thanks for joining us.
Speaker: Welcome back to our Clone Watch. I'm Daryl again. And I'm Lauren.
Speaker: and died Oh, no, Nick died. yeah How you doing you two? I'm doing good. Awesome. Awesome. and fine Excellent. Excellent. Well, ah we've we've got some good episodes to look at this time.
Speaker: we are going to be taking a look at season one episode two rising malevolence season one episode three shadow of malevolence one four destroy malevolence and season one episode five rookies bringing up to the end of the episode ah ah Let's remind everybody really quickly what we're doing here with our Clone Watch. Do you want me to play this one for first? Yeah, sure, I can handle it. so yeah We're doing a chronological rewatch of the Clone Wars. Sorry, Daryl. Well, hey, I mean, this this one the ones that we're looking at this episode, it all works out. But we're watching with an official playlist from Star Wars. our
Speaker: content we're going to have linked below of the official chronological Clone Wars rewatch. And why are we watching Clone Wars and talking about it on a podcast? Yes, why? But that's something that our good friend, Ms. Game and Pie, better known as Lauren, ah can say. Indeed. Yes, I am primarily familiar with the original trilogy of Star Wars, but I joined these guys, Tabletop Role -Playing Group, and great they play a lot of Star Wars in the Tabletop games. It's a bit. Don't know what you're talking about. Don't know what you're talking about. And so basically they are introducing me to a greater understanding of the series through this watching of the of in the chronological order. And so so far you're liking what you're seeing? Oh yeah, absolutely.
Speaker: wait you're You're not saying, okay, forget these guys. I'm never even playing ah any role playing game with them ever again. i'm never go reasonable little person Forget this. I leave my room for the first time in five years. and This is what I end up with. No, I'm never leaving my room ever again.
Speaker: but ah but That's technically me because you guys come to play in my game room. and i have it yeah well that you know that that's that's what sent me I left my room for the first time in five years, so I'm going back to being you again, Nick.
Speaker: Congratulations. Well, let's go ahead, because we we've got four episodes to cover this time, so let's dive in. Yes. Going in to where Ahsoka shows up, y 'all. She's here.
Speaker: yes i feel like no one's excited about that yes rising malevolent season one episode two the first well i guess technically this was the first three -parter of the show it is because the movie even though it was basically three a three -part episode cut together
Speaker: yeah And ah Cartoon Network has a three ball. But it's its own separate thing. Yes. yeah so te what's ah what's rising malevolence about, Nick? Rising malevolence is about a mysterious, separatist super weapon that has been attacking and destroying Republic fleets. In fact, we start off the episode with Jedi Master Plo Koon leading a Republic fleet.
Speaker: think and encountering it and being completely destroyed by a mysterious ion weapon. I like this Jedi Master's look. I like how he has like the face mask sort of thing going on. the Spoiler alert, this is Dave Filoni's favorite Jedi character after Ahsoka. Cool. um when when When a certain legacy character was going to show up in the Mandalorian, in all of the scripts, Filoni had it as Plo Koon. Nice. Yeah, ah seeing seeing General Grievous here for he gets to see for the first time. And he's and he's only got two arms. It's two -armed Grievous. I did not realize that he only had two arms ah in certain circumstances. What's inside? I have only ever seen four -armed Grievous before.
Speaker: In fact, like I think the miniatures I use in my games whenever I pull them out is Forearm Grievous. Yeah. So that that was a surprise to me. It was expensive to buy.
Speaker: what's so what What's the story with Two Arm versus Four Arm? like i've I've seen Four Arm Grievous show up in the series. you know we've We've been watching ahead of ah stuff. Well, the main factor is he has he always has the option for Four Arm.
Speaker: they they they can separate and make more. He had like six fingers on his hand, but his arms can split up ah vertically into two, three fingered hands. Yes. it the It's a benefit of a droid body. Right, right. Because That gives him more lightsabers and also he can spin his wrists around. He can do the Rob's side special. and And just be a show off. Yeah. Grievous is extra. Grievous is very extra. And it's beautiful. I think you had a great opinion about Grievous. I think he's sincere. I'm going to share that a little bit later. I've got a different point for that. Specifically in Destroying the Netherlands. Oh.
Speaker: yes yeah And so shenanigans occur and Anakin is ordered, yet no, we we can't spare you you. You need to stay over here and do the job you're supposed to do. Don't go try to to rescue anyone from - Meanwhile, Sohra's like, no, and we should do something.
Speaker: And Anakin, being Anakin, says, okay, it tells the - The council. Yeah, it tells the council, okay, my my fleet will stay on task. And he and Ahsoka promptly get in the twilight and fly off, oh leaving the fleet on task. Which he didn't even tell Ahsoka, and see if he calls it out on it. like Wait, so I kid this can't disagree with it, Council, but you can't? Well, you you did it in front of them. Yeah. I'm doing it against behind their backs. Anakin, bending the rules. Yeah, the this... Anakin is just openly teaching Ahsoka the whole certain point of view thing. And yeah this this is...
Speaker: them taking off in the twilight yeah you remember that i said in our first episode that i thought the twilight was going to be a bigger deal that movie this this is the kind of thing was like yeah this is going to be a big deal they're always going to be going off in this ship to to get into hijinks and shenanigans and yeah not so much it's especially in ah in season one Well, we'll get to that point and you'll get your yeah get your big moment once we get to a certain season. Yeah. yeah But yeah, then they get to the pod peeler where the droids are taking out the escape pods and I like the pod peeler. It's pretty cool. Yeah, it's a cool design. It's basically like a...
Speaker: Like a big like sort of painting machine. Yeah. But also it's terrifying. Oh, yeah. And no, no lie. When I brought up that maybe we should have like this sells for kids counter. The ah no no lie. you We've made plenty of references to our role playing group.
Speaker: throughout our episodes here. But this show is great as providing Game Master material. It's like, oh, pop oh, oh, there's something, something that can go after escape pods. Gimme, gimme, gimme. Yeah. You know, all kinds of, all kinds of toys to pull from. I think that's also the literal toy, the expanded universe. Like, oh, if you read something they's like ah There's so many things and so many things that if I introduce you to do, Stephanie would want them as pets, especially in the high Republic. Yes. I mean, I've fired reading dogs. He would want that. I was about to say I want a char hound. Oh, boy. I need I need to find a character to give a char hound and you
Speaker: um I'm I'm gonna make you make that happen for me as my GM on a char hound Well put on you to put to make up the stats and then I have to approve them I mean I'm working on some high Republic homebrew books So I'm already working on a char hound nice if you can justify firing You want to give me sass that I approved and fine Okay, then. um and And we have this recorded - We did not have to fight between you and your wife together, because then obviously you would want one too. And we have this recorded that anyone listening to this episode is my witness that you said this.
Speaker: It's true. But again, it was between you having one, or would your wife want one? I mean, I'm more familiar with them than she is, because she hasn't read the High Republic books, so. the South City before. Anyway. If you want something, you see wants something. Anyway. yeah And you know what's between of you, I fear. Oh, no. um as As the clones are are bantering back and forth, you we get them saying,
Speaker: This one goes there, that one goes there, so I just kinda have to wonder, does Han have a little clone in him? i never I never saw the Han Solo movie, so I don't know what his backstory really is. It's not from Solo, it's from Empire Strikes Back. When he and Chewie are working on the Falcon. It's more like I don't know what his character would be. Oh, I see what you're saying. yeah It's good to be a reference to that rather than like an actual. like I understand. but yeah understand I I'm making a witty rejoinder. Yes.
Speaker: um And then kind of along some of you continuing with the early themes of the show that are heavier than you would expect for a kids show, but ah that are going to be expanded on as it goes along.
Speaker: One of them saying, we're just clones, sir. We're meant to be expendable. Yep. And this this became a huge meme on Reddit for a while. It's like, not to me. Oh, yeah, I believe that. I believe that in the mean potential with that line.
Speaker: Absolutely. and It's just like, yeah.
Speaker: ah Especially since this comes from immediately after the Yoda stuff. It really sounds like the heart of the Jedi. Oh, yeah. They care for the clothes. They aren't expendable soldiers to them. They are unique beings that they are. They're not droids. It's a war. And that they will lose soldiers.
Speaker: But if they can, they will do everything they can to keep them all alive. Yeah. So yes, being of keeping them alive, ah they get rescued. And then they get on the ah the ship, the twilight. And basically, Anakin has this medical droid working on the clones. But then they go to the cockpit and the the giant death ah machine is going to try to scale it. yeah And they're like, all right, we got to turn R2 off so that they can't detect our droid. And I was like, you wait a second, but wasn't there like a medical droid earlier? what What's going on there? and then And then it becomes relevant. And I'm like, yeah, I predicted that they were going to get screwed up. And I don't think they droid. This did play out like how like a role -playing game system would work with if us. is like
Speaker: the Did you turn off everything on the sim? You didn't actually. Oh no!
Speaker: yeah I believe that is something that both of us would pull as GMs. I think we've done that twice on certain games. Nice. yep I gave like, okay, you turned off this, this, and this. Is that everything on the ship? I wouldn't recommend that wouldn't say the thing that you didn't turn off. yeah But because like I would want you to think like, this, is this, is this, this, this, this. And I'm fairly... soft but ah More often than not, it is the droid that most players think it's in.
Speaker: I'm pretty certain that in the campaign that you and I code GM that oh we have pulled that kind of thing on them at least once. I think once. You didn't do this, did ye you? pull it off We pulled it off once the other time they they picked up on it.
Speaker: but yeah
Speaker: We think it's an off -the -art for that one. But after that, the group escapes. And overall, I feel like this feels more indicative of what the series as a whole will be. Perhaps it would be a better intro to the series in some respects because of that. um Oh, I've talked with people that are like, maybe the melodins arc could have been a better movie?
Speaker: Because it is, again, a three -part episode, so so roughly around, like, 90
Speaker: um as no you get ahead of result here And youre class a lot of classic Star Wars tropes all built into it. Oh, yeah. yeah marked A lot of hope and stuff like that. A lot of great character development has a whole lot of recognizable characters.
Speaker: Yeah, like ah getting a little bit ahead of myself here, but episode four in particular reminded me of A New Hope a lot. Like yeah it felt like it was hitting basically all the same beats as the climax of that movie, essentially. Yeah. Yeah. oh like I can see the I remember making that argument when I first saw it, but One second. even Even after my second Watts, this is my first chronological Watts. I was still feeling it, but now that this is like, I believe this is my four full Watts. I sit i think that, yeah, the it's more important to introduce Ahsoka how she was. Yeah. Because otherwise, this there's no way to fit her back in, especially in a chronological re -Watts.
Speaker: Yeah, I mean, i would I would not argue to make this the movie. I would argue to make episode two, three, and four episodes one, two, and three instead. Yes, that would work. as As important as the Yoda episode is, I think that that fits better as standalone. Yeah.
Speaker: And maybe after this episode arc, but this episode arc would definitely galvanize people who have not seen this stuff. Like right Star Wars, I came into, again, I came into it as a Star Wars fan or most of my life at that point. yeah So I appreciated and understood the importance of the Yoda episode. Yes, yes, absolutely. It is an important episode. It's just not necessarily an episode that is indicative of what the series is as a whole. If I wanted to, like, portray the series as a whole, especially assuming that people watched, which not a lot of people did, the actual Clone Wars movie. This three -episode arc would be like, no, no, this. This will get them in. Yeah, yeah. It's got the characters that we introduce. It's got the characters that they know.
Speaker: Boom. And then that episode leads directly into the next shadow of malevolence. Oh boy. And yes, so Nick, how about how about you explain shadow of a malevolence to us? Yes. Shadow of malevolence.
Speaker: I have both historical context on what this episode with this whole arc is about, but like let's get into like what it is.
Speaker: Now that they've retrieved Master Cloakoon, Anakin plans to use these long range wide wing bomb bombers to lead a bold strike against General Priebus before he attacks a clone medical facility.
Speaker: using the incredible power of the Belovedless Battleship. Yes. Now this actually, this whole arc is actually based off of an actual event that happened in in the Second World War. o
Speaker: But who wants to continue the discussion before I go into like a ah quick spiel about like - Go right ahead. Yeah, sure, go for it. Oh.
Speaker: and Okay, this is about the German battleship known as the Bismarck. The largest battleship in the German fleet during World War II. Incredibly powerful. Huge guns. Honestly, the second most powerful battleship in the entire entirety of the war.
Speaker: the the more powerful one and was just about like a couple hundred feet longer and had larger guns and that was fielded by the Japanese Navy. But this was considered immensely powerful. yeah kept meant to Meant to decimate the bravest his fleet, which had been keeping keeping the German armory from crossing glass go over.
Speaker: And it took a staggering amount of um'm out of not just regular naval ships, but even volunteer ships and even volunteer planes to take it down. It's honestly as close as we've ever had to like a actual like death star situation where a single say go biplane flew over and got it scored a lucky shot with a dive bomb that took down this massive battleship. Nice.
Speaker: It is closest to like the real life like considering like Luke Skywalker taking down the Death Star.
Speaker: And that's the basis of the beloved ones. A massive balance if there was kept in secret that none who had fought it until those that did eventually were able to escape from it had survived and seen.
Speaker: and was taken down by a bombing squadron.
Speaker: There's a lot more, more parallels and stuff like that, but I don't wanna bog you down with like foreign history. Makes sense, makes sense. But that's, even though the cliff notes, you can see why it's,
Speaker: And again, also George Lucas faced all of Star Wars roughly around World War II, so it makes sense. He built his Vietnam allegory around World War II imagery. Beautiful.
Speaker: But yeah, so in talking about the episode, I made a good note here that Ahsoka's been good so far. Like, i've been really I've really been enjoying her as a character, essentially. Like, ah she makes good points.
Speaker: She makes important observations throughout the series. Anna can listen to her and she also learns from him. They've been having a great dynamic. it's ah it's it's been She's been great. At at the time, and we we mentioned this a bit in our first episode, at the time, the reaction to her was still, what a Mary Sue. Oh, no.
Speaker: Not one of those. We hate her. What a Mary Sue. Get her out of there. what What's that little girl doing, bossing Anakin around? Oh no. Can't can't have a woman in Star Wars. Not unless she's in a gold bikini. Oh no.
Speaker: technically a sub is in slightly more revealing than that yeah yes kind of Yeah, but but then you have to you know face the yeah oh they did team yeah yeah there there is definitely that a woman I Don't admittedly I don't grow a whole lot about the episode But so I'm looking at my notes here and I don't remember almost any of this like I'm for some reason I wrote parsec is a unit of space and
Speaker: I don't know why I wrote that. but well and yeah i mean that yeah That does open up ah um i pay that one it does open up ah a fun little, you know, in the original movie when Han is bragging to Obi -Wan and Luke, you know, you never heard of the Millennium Falcon. She's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs. Yeah. That doesn't make sense.
Speaker: Yeah, the the context of that is just that it's a fast ship. And it's like, well, how distant?
Speaker: I was seven when it came out. I didn't know any different. I was just i was like, wow, it did. And and then you know later as you grow up, you know there have been quite a few different rationalizations within the old legends continuity ah to explain why Han said that to indicate that the Falcon is fast. um And we now have a filmed canon answer to that with solo. Yeah. let's swallow that cause yeah seen so yeah We have a filmed canon answer, which adapts some of the old legends rationalizations. Well, the main idea is that it's even in continuity, it's considered like Hong
Speaker: basically spewing bullshit. Nice. Han spewing bullshit and neither Obi -Wan nor Luke calling him on it. Obi -Wan because Obi -Wan now knows, oh yeah, this guy's just full of it and Luke because Luke is the naive farm boy. But he also knows ships. It's like, that's not how that works. Yeah.
Speaker: So yeah, I don't know about that within the context of this episode though. I don't really know why. That's ah that's an old mod to that. And also because Anakin's quoting old old Spice Pirates. Which proves that just like Han Solo, they've been doing this for decades. Yeah.
Speaker: Um, and, uh, you know, as, as everything is all, uh, as the malevolence is approaching the medical station, I got to wonder about their triaging process. It seems to be a little bit backwards because, uh, they're like, okay. Um, the, the patients who can walk and everything and who are mobile, bring them on over, but.
Speaker: the ones who are in critical condition and and can't move on their own, yeah, we might have to leave them on the ship. They're probably using back to tanks. They did mention back to tanks, but still, it's like shouldn't triage procedures put the most vital injuries first?
Speaker: If they're already dipped in into tanks, then like that's a lot harder to move. Well, we didn't see what kind of tanks, so not necessarily. Yeah, we didn't see that. They could be the back to tanning beds like Boba Fett has. and Honestly, I think that's like something that came out like much later. Similar to how Finn had the back to transparent suit.
Speaker: but but Lauren's next note is something that I thought was cool too. I didn't make a note of it, but I i like when Star Wars gets weird. Yeah, the giant manta rays that look like there's a big tin noll void. Yeah, I like when Star Wars gets weird and stuff like that. dia Again, like you know you know that I love the Star Wars when it gets weird. Oh yeah, it's the best.
Speaker: When Star Wars gets weird, that's the that's peak Star Wars. It's beautiful. It's beautiful and it's like, you know, why are you loud people yelling demanding realism in your in your movies about space wizard? Laser swords. and if So it was like, do you not want to see the giant mantas in that freaking nebula that they ah sort of come around from? Was that not the coolest thing you've ever seen? It was indeed the coolest. Yeah, I mean, it is absolutely up there. How can you not say that like, how can you not? Deep down.
Speaker: every leap down that anyone that even the most like ivory tower tower like critic be like it would be sipping on their tea with their pinky extended like oh wow that's fucking cool speaking of trying to ensure that we get our e yeah speaking of cool i also put down excellent ion cannon explosion yes once we get to the actual like it's all oh this is what I had to explain to Lawrence the cardinal of rule of the Clone Wars because there is one rule for every episode Anakin Skywalker and General Grievous must never meet right yes
Speaker: Otherwise the entire series falls apart. Yep. at At least certain people would have you believe so. And yet somehow there are a great many, especially in season one episodes where they are dazersly close to that meet and greet. Very much so.
Speaker: But yeah, and I think that's everything that I have to say about this episode. Yeah, and yeah there there wasn't a lot plot -wise going on in this episode. And even the epi the episode like sort of lesson about Anakin being too aggressive is like, he's not going to learn that lesson. I mean, that that that's not a lesson that he can learn. No. He's not allowed to learn that lesson.
Speaker: No, even if he even if he experiences, yeah, he doesn't learn from that. But at least Ahsoka talks him out of like breaking can and then meeting Grievous. Yeah. But one thing just about the episode overall.
Speaker: In a lot of places, it really draws heavily on the imagery of the original trilogy. Oh, yeah, like the whole like ion cannon shot. It's just one for one for the for the Death Star. Oh, yeah. the The malevolence is just the Death Star basically on a functional level and meant to be so. And you have, you know, the Y -Wing squadron you know behaving like the Y -Wings in the original Star Wars. A lot of images. A lot of her because I was doing my workout at the time. You know, ah a lot of imagery that that it was drawn on. Yeah. And the whole fact is like a small fighter group going up against a larger vessel because they can't target it as well. Yeah. It's very much in old mods like again, like. I can see how this could have been conceivable, like as a TV movie. Mm -hmm But I can see like and also see why this could have been a better like opening to the whole series yeah, and it has so many classic elements the same way that like I love the force awakens because it's basically a be telling um of a new of a new hope in a way. Yeah, yeah and that that takes us on into
Speaker: The closing episode of this trilogy, Destroy Malevolence. This was definitely my favorite of the three episodes. Oh, and it's it's it's a great episode. And it has a lot more moving parts. Oh, yeah. which honest like When I look back, it's like it's amazing how many moving parts it has and different characters. But it doesn't. It doesn't stretch the runtime too long.
Speaker: But yeah, it's the first C3PO appearance and Padme appearance, which means that Jar Jar showed up before those two within the chronological viewing. Well, I would say that the they did show up in the movie. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Which came first chronologically. It's true. And release. Yeah. But but not counting the movie. Hoku and Ahsoka, but they are shelved. Mm hmm.
Speaker: But on the upside, what's you like? But let me tell you, what is your favorite part about this episode? And I think I know what it is. Me? my life My favorite part? Yeah. Well, I mean, it's obviously got to be General Grievous, you know, showing up and being like, ah I mean, he goes in there doing the whole hello there. But also this is where I really saw General Grievous as ah George Lucas envisioned him, essentially. Like, in contrast to the first time that we saw General Grievous as... Yeah, in in contrast to that version where he's emphasizing Grievous being the Jedi Killer. ah Grievous in the the actual character
Speaker: as he's shown throughout most media as far as I can tell. But so not very well conveyed to anyone else. He's less of a Jedi killer and more of a Jedi wannabe, essentially. where yeah he He's got this pathetic element to him where he clearly wants to be more than he actually is. He has ambitions that cannot be effectively met.
Speaker: And so that's that's why he is a droid person, essentially. that's That's why he does what he does. And you know this this episode really helped me understand him better as a character overall, as he goes to confront Obi -Wan. And it's it's cool. It's a very interesting character dynamic, I'd say.
Speaker: Very interesting observation. Yeah. Honestly, when he pried up there and was like, I actually had bought bars and was like, yeah, I can see that. Yeah, I had never considered that before. Really? Yeah. go ahead Wait, this is news to y 'all? My big note on this episode is ah that I forgot how much the early episodes hit the remember this button, like the line, somebody has to save our skins. Yeah. And then of course there is also spinning as a good trick.
Speaker: yeah Yeah, so mean that that was my big, and I'm just gonna shut off my mic now and let you take over. Honestly, yeah. but i Honestly, like that was one of the more insights. Again, that that's why I kind of feel that like this was a great idea. yeah yeah You came in with a... like Fresh eyes. yeah We've intrigued Grievous for a long time. A lot of people have tweaked Grievous for a long time, both for Lucas's lackluster introduction to him, how Jenny Carter -Carson created like the most iconic evil villain of all time, and then was not May Cannon. Without even seeing the movie, he shows up and not only pinned it down, but
Speaker: figured out what they were going for. Yeah, basically. And. Articulated with just a couple of scenes. Like his his hello there. Yes. Way he he uses his lightsaber is how he uses a gun. Oh, yeah. It's like. I didn't even have to bring those up. You brought those up yourself. Yeah. I was like.
Speaker: it's like It was right in front of us. He's a Jedi wannabe. That's his deal. that that that That's why he does almost everything that he does as far as I can tell. And you've brought that up several times. We'll get into it. Especially once we get the Lair of Grievous. There's another episode that like emphasizes it a whole lot more, even more than this. But like this this is where this is the episode where I figured it out, really.
Speaker: And you vocalized it. I was like, I didn't, I even was like silent for that. I was like, he's like, you were right. yeah I figured it out. I cracked the code. And, and again, that that's the fun of this. That's the fun of this series. Like coming with someone that Daryl and I have had not near decades of Star Wars experience. Yes. Of different varying degrees. I was there at the beginning.
Speaker: And a lot of it is aired swines, but they hear a fresh, actual fresh, like, Oh, I got to bring up but that line from Attack of the Clothes.
Speaker: Such wonders. This idea is the mind of a child. Ah, yes, of course. But yeah. about So this this is our third episode in the second time that Nick has called me old. yeah Hey, I'm old as well. we' likeck Nick, you and I are the same age.
Speaker: I don't feel that way. Nick, I'm going to remember this. Nick, I'm going to remember this. No, I'm not, because I'm old, right?
Speaker: But yeah, going past Grievous in general, this ah this episode feels very much like A New Hope. Just the the the Death Star scenes of A New Hope in particular. Well, it's very much is that, like,
Speaker: driving through hallways, lightsaber fights, droid shenanigans with R2 and C -3PO. Oh yeah, R2 and C -3PO, they're working together again, it's beautiful. Yeah. And yeah, also Padme, she's the regular human character here, so she doesn't she doesn't actually get to hit droids with her gun. she She suits a lot, she doesn't hit much.
Speaker: But she is girl -bossing. She is. She is, in fact, girl -bossing. This is true. But ah not not as much to as as her daughter. Leia is the girl -boss. She is. This is true. And i I didn't notice it as much in the movie as as here, but the the model scene, it could just be my imagination from the movie.
Speaker: But the model here seems to resemble Natalie Portman a lot more. It does. Interesting. It does look a lot more. It could just be the fact that she's wearing a tighter pantsuit now. I was talking face, Nick. Get your mind out the gutter.
Speaker: but
Speaker: But yeah, usually. yeah Yes, usually it's my mind in the gutter, but you know. get Get out of my spot. I need to go back to what I was thinking.
Speaker: But also, that's everything that I have to say about the episode, really. Probably they blow off the malevolence. It's beautiful. It's on his spaceship, and Dooku is about to call him, and he ghosts him. Yeah. And all in all... This is actual foreshadowing. Yeah.
Speaker: All in all, it was a pretty solid three -part opening to the regular series. I say opening, even though there was one episode before it. Yeah. But it does feel like it it could have easily been the opening. goes was Even in the end of a classic, all the heroes start So that is the final scene with with the classic fan there. Yes. And, you know, solid, even if it was, you know, pretty straightforward, but we did get seeds planted for a few of the deeper themes that the show is going to end up exploring. But it it's a pretty solid standard Star Wars story. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: ah he yeah it This is a star. This was a Star War. There was in fact a war in stars. Both of them were happening.
Speaker: And so that then takes us into the last episode we're talking about today, which is Rookies, Season 1, Episode 5. Yep. And what's this one's capsule, Nick? Alrighty.
Speaker: Star Wars, season one ever survived. And again, for those who are following along with us in the Chronicles of Order, thank goodness we are in that that chronological, school is like, big move. yeah We're gonna be in here a while.
Speaker: But yes, rookies, on a different, on a distant outfits, some, some clones that we may know from Domino Squad sell up. And they're expecting clone officers Rex and Cody to inspect them.
Speaker: But there might be some trouble on the way. Uh -oh. And so this takes us, and since this is audio only, you can't see me, as I say, air quotes, back to Domino Squad. Yes. let's say back Because this, you know,
Speaker: The way it aired, this is our first introduction to Domino Squad. The conventional introduction to Domino Squad. Yes. Quite literally the fifth episode after we've gone through one, two, three, and four. Yep. And yeah, it's a pretty cool episode overall. they're ah but there's There's a lot of death involved in this one, y 'all. Yep. I did not expect ah so many characters to die off.
Speaker: after seeing all of them introduced in the in the in the stuff that we talked about last time. Honestly, that's kind of the kind ah bizarre fact that they're like, this episode was so popular, they made Domino Squad more interesting. But they're like, wait, we have to give them a backstory. And to do that, we have to give those characters names if we didn't give them names and then kill them off.
Speaker: But yeah, I think that's like that that makes chronological order more impactful. Because since I had seen all of their backstories, I didn't expect most of them to die. And you're like, that's what made it so strange when I watched it. It was like, wait. Oh, no. Because again, I watched it as on release order. Yeah. And I was like,
Speaker: When I got to see the series, I was like, oh, cadets? Oh, here's some interesting new clone characters. Oh, I know these. Oh, no. Yeah. Oh, no. Most of them are going to die. Yep. But yeah, other than just the deaths, I really liked how The droids still have vocal ticks, even when trying to impersonate the clones, how they're going, Roger, Roger. lex to The commando droid. Yes. Those are pretty cool. And commando droids make for interesting characters in the RPG too, or interesting adversaries. I see. In the RPG. They also make for interesting PCs when you have a a a a rather
Speaker: good player who plays it properly and murders kids. ah piece I have an NPC in Whisperbase that was like a former commando droid turned into a janitor that's like possibly like depressed. Wow.
Speaker: But yeah, there is definitely like You do recognize that they have similar quirks to the regular B1s, but definitely like they're a lot more competent. But clearly some of some of those quirks are just a function of the base programming that they all get. Also, a regular sword shows up. like but well' There's just a regular sword in there.
Speaker: It's played well. It's actually a Vibro story. Yeah. But the Vibro part isn't exactly evidence, visually. We wouldn't actually feel like a proper Vibro weapon until the Mandalorian. Yeah. This might be a major part of the series for a large part. Yeah, whenever I saw that, I was like, oh, there's just a sword.
Speaker: it's this this series just has like regular swords it's not always lights savers that's kind of weird feels wrong why is there a sword in star wars have weirder when we see a very unique weapons oh boy and i I am currently in the process of reading The Princess and the Scoundrel about Han and Leia's marriage right after Return of the Jedi. oh yeah yeah And a traditional sword or a traditional sword that no longer exists, believe it or not, plays a very
Speaker: strong emotional beat in Leia's experience during the actual wedding ceremony. Alderaanian wedding customs among the royal family, ah you know the the same sword that Leia had to carry when you know making her proclamation as a younger person to take on the mantle of the heir apparent of Alderaan from her mother,
Speaker: ah is a basically a a royal family heirloom that... Is that on Audible? Yes. And Audible now! I remember the slurs on that. On the day on the day of Leia's wedding, um Bria would be expected to strap that sword to Leia's waist as part of the ceremony.
Speaker: that yeah oh And dirt you know of course, spoiler alert, Alderaan was destroyed. yeah ah What? No!
Speaker: But during during the ceremony, you know Luke is officiating the ceremony. and you he he oh that's so cool nice and And he calls for a moment of silence. And Leia notices, you know even Han has his eyes closed. So she closes her eyes. And you know she's you know not really expecting anything.
Speaker: and then you
Speaker: the wording basically tells you that you know without even knowing to do how to do so, she opens herself up to the force and she feels something around her waist and feels a weight at her side and recognizes it as the weight of the sword. oh who And then she feels, bails. So we, so the preface says like spoilers.
Speaker: yeah Yeah. I mean, that this this is like one chapter in the first 10th of the book. And she she feels Bale's whiskers on her forehead as he kisses her. ah well that and And opens her eyes, and you know of course, they're not there, and the sword's not there, but she knows that it was real. Yeah.
Speaker: And i i yeah i'm listening you I'm listening to it on Audible. And I'm in the car as this happens. And I'm like wiping away tears as I'm driving from work. Again, I know you folks. Part of this is getting you involved in Star Wars. There's so much more Star Wars than this. Oh, yeah. There's so much. Quite literally, it would be impossible to do a podcast about all of it. Naturally.
Speaker: man, because honestly, it's best, a lot of it's best just to explore it on your own time. Yeah. But in this case, like animation is thing that we both care about. It's something that me and Daryl both experienced. So it's best to go for this. So let's, so yeah. So back, back into the episode though, after my little rabbit hole. Speaking of emotional moments, the heavy sacrifice was really cool.
Speaker: whenever he goes in there to set off the bombs but again. I remember I watched it and Daryl as well watched it without the context. We did not know the heavy backstory. Yeah. It was like, wow, that it was such a good moment. With the heavy backstory.
Speaker: Without any sense of pun whatsoever. I mean, it hits heavy. oh yeah No pun intended. No pun intended. and And this is definitely, you Clone Wars in particular among the Star Wars property as a whole is one of those those things that definitely grows with its audience. Because yeah we've we've mentioned a couple of times in the last couple of episodes now, this is ostensibly a kids show. Yeah.
Speaker: um But we're starting off with some fairly serious stuff, nothing that is inappropriate for the age level that's what watching it and then it's targeted to. Yeah. um But as we go through the entire YouTube compilation, it's like the Clone Wars for kids and not Sorry, that's like heavily skewed towards like the later half. Clone Wars really set the pattern for all of Star Wars animation in that it starts off as absolutely, this is a kids show. Yeah, know we yeah we've we've got PG, PG -13.
Speaker: content. You know, we've got characters who die and stay dead. But as the series progresses, and it's target audience that comes in at a large age, in terms of it continues to mature as that audience is watching over the course of the next few years of the show. Similar to a certain series that we just finished, Lawrence. Yeah. About Magic and friendship? Yes, yes, of course. Yeah, the the audience matures and it's so great. Yes, this definitely makes sense. Of course, for me, I never watched Star Wars as a kid. every every Almost all of my Star Wars experience has been as an adult. So growing up with Star Wars is not something that I ever really did.
Speaker: For better or worse. Ask them when you watch Star Wars. But that's not a topic for now. Whenever I was watching the original trilogy for my Let's Play, I was already an adult. I was already in my 20s.
Speaker: But you were a kid at heart. I mean, this is true. I still am. and harry come I'm still a kid at heart. Not watching as a kid. one One of my peers at at work who used to be my boss, you know according to her, I'm 12 because every time i I make a joke or or a pop culture reference, you know her her response to me is, what are you, 12? Beautiful. oh My best friend says, that like are you still 13? It's like a little bit, yeah. Yeah. When when did you become 50?
Speaker: Because he can't he doesn't understand the joke. It's like, it's like, what are you, a kid? It's like, yeah, when did you become an adult, man? We're the same age. And Nick, is is is the end of this episode the first on screen anywhere mention of the 501st? Yes, I even mentioned that to him as well. Yeah.
Speaker: so The 501st is a reference to do an actual cosplay. Right. One mean one specifically that does Stormtrooper costumes. and is actually It was adopted into the Expanded Universe as part, as an actual Legion of Stormtroopers. And this was their first introduction into the new canon.
Speaker: And they have also they have also started appearing on screen in Star Wars. You're supplementing extras yeah because they have costumes. In filming part of season one of The Mandalorian,
Speaker: John Favreau was like, oh, wow, we need more stormtroopers than there are costumes for. What are we going to do? And Dave Filoni said, let me make a call. And he called the Five -O first. Nice. They showed up. They showed up. And a nice little side effect is in the realm of costume collecting,
Speaker: and And so movie costume collecting and things like that, if something has been worn on screen, it is more valuable and more sought after. Yeah, that makes sense. So those members of the 501st now have screen worn costumes. Nice. But also they are screen worn costumes that they made. Yeah. From scratch. So likely those are heirlooms now. Yes.
Speaker: i am I am sure those members of the 501st retired those sets of armor and started work immediately on new sets. I imagine some of those are now official. They're no longer, oh, we hobby sets. It's like, no, no, no. That's on screen. Oh, yeah. And yeah what once that shoot was done, that they were after the episode aired, they were all sent a picture that they took gathered on the set with Filoni and Favreau. And they were told not to tell anyone. Nice. Yeah, they had to sign an NDA. Yeah, of course. Because I know this because they revealed that at Star Wars celebrated 2019 during the during the ah for that during the displaying of like the first and initial images of the Mandalorian. Yeah.
Speaker: So that means I was, and there is a, it's Star Wars celebration. So there's a heavy, heavy presence of them. So I was likely walking among them. They were there. Nice. They could not tell anyone. They were there. Because otherwise they would spoil the entire season. Yeah. I think we've hit all the notes that I have for rookies. Yup. Me too. We got to hit all my notes as well. So let's,
Speaker: Let's put it to you, your final thoughts. Oh, man. Well, these this has been an excellent set of episodes. We're finally getting that Ahsoka and Anakin action that I've been looking forward to. Don't forget the one Anakin banter. Oh, yeah. And of course, you know i i'm I'm glad that I got to share my enlightened interpretation of General Grievous with y 'all. Honestly, I feel that a lot of people feel the same way. like Yeah, like, um I don't mean it in a bad way, but there's, there is kind of a stagnation in discussion in Star Wars. There's so many people that have grown up with it, who've experienced it for a long time and speak about it. You don't get a whole lot of new opinions and voices. Makes sense. Makes sense. With, with such a large franchise, a lot of people do get into it young and thus
Speaker: form their interpretations at a very young age. But 30 are forming my interpretations for the first time. We're not the only ones that speak about Star Wars. So others are informed that you are truly coming into it, that fresh face and busy tail. Yeah. Yeah. An excellent set of episodes.
Speaker: Like, see, see, I like seeing a fresh face and I feel that's, that's what honestly, what I feel makes this podcast even more special. Yeah. Yeah. Getting that fresh perspective where being there all from different, different, but more experienced members of the fandom can speak ourselves about it, but it's great hearing someone new. Totally.
Speaker: Well, I think that wraps it up for this episode then. Sounds like it. and So we we thank everybody again for for listening.
Speaker: We hope that you will join us next time as we go into the next handful of episodes. from you At this point in Chronological Rewatch, we are are going through a stretch of season one still. There there might be some more representative binks. Oh, boy. mean There might be some droid shenanigans. Oh, we're going to have an episode that your wife can't watch. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, actually three episodes. Yeah, that's coming up. Oh, boy. ah But maybe, or should we guess, we'd have to make it make it am rated, wouldn't we? Oh, yes yeah. Yeah, probably. yeah It would definitely be E. It would definitely have an E next to the episode. Yeah. yeah But thanks thanks again, and we hope everybody joins us back next time. Until then, peace. See y 'all then. May the force be with
