Clone Watch - Episode 7

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 everybody. We are ah back for the next episode of our Clone Watch on Casual Nerdy. I am Daryl. I'm Lauren.

Speaker: Not Nick. Just like we always are. Naturally. and yeah but I mean, yeah sometimes I'm somebody else. sitting Yeah. I know that the voices in my head aren't real, but sometimes they have some really good ideas. You know how dissociation is. Yes. But yeah anyway, up this episode,

Speaker: Normally we do four or five. We've got a packed episode this time. We have six episodes of co Clone Wars that we're going at because of just how the various storylines fall. um So this time up, we have Holocron Heist, season two, episode one. Cargo of Doom, season two, episode two. Children of the Force, season two, episode three. Bounty Hunters, season two, episode 17. Big jump.

Speaker: The Zillow Beast, season two, episode 18, and The Zillow Beast Strikes Back, season two, episode 19. All right, we better get to it. Yes, yes, we must. But before we start, we gotta explain to us why we have such differing episodes numbering.

Speaker: That's because we're doing... because Because you're evil. That's obvious. But to be more precise, it's because we're doing a chronicle logical re -watch, and down in the the description below, we'll have a link to the official StarWars .com page that you can watch along with us. Naturally. Because it started off kind of all over the place.

Speaker: ah timeline -wise before it settled into doing things. The original idea was to be kind of an anthology, but you storylines just kind of took over the show.

Speaker: And in case you're not aware, uh, this is my first time watching the series. So this is exciting. That's why we're doing this whole thing. Yep. Because it's your first time watching. So you are coming at this fresh as opposed to, you know, the jaded grumpy old fan mindset that Nick and I have. This is true.

Speaker: Yeah, this is this is very true. i and it results i a lot of fun It results in me having the most enlightened takes possible, obviously. Sometimes, absolutely. like There are some that I will genuinely say that like I didn't see that that way before. Yeah, me either. So you know it this is fun for all of us. Yeah.

Speaker: And so we're going to start off, dive right in with Holocron Heist, Season 2, Episode 1. The official synopsis is Cad Bane infiltrates the Jedi Temple and attempts to steal an ancient Jedi Holocron. It's up to Ahsoka, Anakin, and Obi -Wan to stop the bounty hunter from escaping with the valuable Jedi artifact.

Speaker: So we get another opening just tossing us right into the heat of battle. And this one is a battle both above and on the planet Felucia. And things don't seem to be going terribly well for the Republic, but Ahsoka doesn't want to leave because even though the Republic is outnumbered on the ground, the group that she's fighting are backing off.

Speaker: and because they're going to rejoin the group that's overpowering Obi -Wan and Anakin's forces. Naturally, this leads to rebellious Ahsoka. Yes. Yeah. Were you about to say Nick? I think that that's queued up for our first clip. Yes, our our very first clip here. You are putting your troops lives in danger, young one. You will get on the gunship when we arrive. Where's Ahsoka? Following your teachings. Is she willing? For now.

Speaker: And that's, I had a feeling that you were going to enjoy this as one of your favorite things in this series is both Ahsoka and more importantly, the Obi -Wan Anakin banter. Yes. Yes. These are both excellent elements and we've got both of them here. Yes. It's beautiful. And you know i I love Obi -Wan's energy of young lady, we're going to go home right now. Yeah.

Speaker: we kind of don't We don't get as much Obi -Wan and Ahsoka interaction as much. So it's it's neat when we see them We see them interact through but not usually directly to each other. so if If we were to give them, and of course, you know, there is definitely a family dynamic here. Obi -Wan's the dad.

Speaker: Anakin is, you know, Ahsoka's older brother, who is just like, screw it, I'm going to do whatever I think this is the right thing to do. And he started as like, Procosus, Goody to Sue's, to his little sister and is now entering As you said, her rebellious phase. Yes, her her rebellious teen years where she is emulating her older brother. So in all of this, to get her to to actually listen, Anakin lands their landing craft in between Ahsoka and the battle droids that she's fighting to make her leave. And then they they drag her in in front of the school board. i mean

Speaker: in front of the Jedi Council. Ahsoka, in front of the Jedi Council, as we say often on this show, foreshadowing is a literary tool.

Speaker: um And they pull her from the battlefield for a while. She's on double secret probation. She is on double secret probation. She is going to be guarding the Jedi archives. Yes. so Which were a Padawan who's literally leading armies in a war It's got to be like the worst reassignment. That is being assigned to detention. um you know she She is being told, no, you you're sitting this out. You're not good enough. You need to come back and guard the library. You are on library duty. Yes.

Speaker: oh And this this introduces us to the holocron vault, where all of the holocrons are stored. Now let's explain what a holocron is, because to most people, that sounds like a made up word, which it is. yeah words in In the words of Thor Odinson, all words are made up. but Yes. A holocron is a repository of Jedi knowledge. It could be anything from teachings to full on sort of sort of messages or even sort of complex artificial teachers. And they they were created back in the early 90s as in the the first Dark Horse comics. And they just they they've stuck if as a part of the lore and

Speaker: and canon, and if you want one, you can buy one at Galaxy's Edge. Yeah, you know, in this episode only the Jedi Council members can access them, but now you can go to California or Florida and just walk into the gift shop and buy one.

Speaker: Probably enough Lord of the Rings Looking at the one holocron as it were I always envisioned it more as like a ah hollow pad Which is clearly something that also exists in Star Wars but this is the first time that I actually saw what a holocron actually looked like and was and it was a lot ah less technological a lot more mystical than I expected overall yes, and Well and that slight digression there is

Speaker: a Jedi holocron, like he's not here that if you want to get really technical, they kind of look like the lament boxes from Hellraiser. oh Kind of, especially with how they open. Yes. um Well, and even the visual design of them, they look like the designs that are on the lament box. And so so the Jedi will tear your soul apart. ah But then there are also Sith ones which are Pyramidal. I see. Less cube. yeah Got less sides to them. A simpler design. But also a a slightly more aggressive point design. they're They're pointy and they're red instead of nice bright glowy blue. I call it more of a cyan, but yeah.

Speaker: But clearly this means that now we need a circular pink one, because Kirby, ah to to fill out the triangle -square -circle dichotomies. Trichotomy? Either way. I guess you could call what happens but later on, we could discuss the relationship between those two objects, but that might be later on. but maybe Maybe later on, further down the timeline, if if we feel like rebelling.

Speaker: okay But yes, we also get to meet the constant dude, the the library, the head librarian of the Jedi Temple. All right. Previously seen an attack of the clones and yeah she's just as snooty here as she was an attack of the clones. But as hindsight is 20 20.

Speaker: She does get some awesome moments in some comics later down the line. Yes, yes, she does. That really makes it like, okay, she's cool. Mm -hmm, mm -hmm. Yes.

Speaker: And Nick, I think you have the next... Yes. Enter the bounty hunter, Cad Bane. Or as I better know him as, the coolest bounty hunter in the close.

Speaker: He's basically famous American Western film star, including that the classic The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Lee Van Cleef in space. yeah yeah He is a gun -slinging cowboy duro. And definitely has that Western vibe. the if If he weren't an alien, he would fit right in in Firefly with the rest of the space cowboys.

Speaker: Oh, I think he out cowboys them. You're probably so. You're probably right. um And what what's interesting here is that Sidious is hiring him directly. Usually, he has an underling do this. Usually, it's Dooku who's farming out the work to someone. But this is apparently - Just as close to Sidious getting his wrinkly, mysterious fingers here's dirty is Mm -hmm. And we we also meet, we also meet Cad Bane's droid, Seth Green. I like the Seth Green droid.

Speaker: Yes. I like that he's named Toto. I like most of the droids, of course, but you know. I do remember, and you you are, and I do remember saying that, yes, he is a character. Yeah. This one's a character, y 'all. Yes, yes, he is. but didn't i remember But then I remember your follow -up question as I always ask, does he survive? Yeah. And I didn't answer you. yeah yeah Oh, no.

Speaker: And so Cad Bane brings in some help in this because because he's going to need help getting into the the Jedi temple. It's like an, is it outrageous heist plan? Yes. This is like, you know what, let's see, he's not going to be, I'm going to break into the Pentagon.

Speaker: But the Pentagon is staffed with with magic wielding future predicting lightsaber holding guards on every floor.

Speaker: But I'm going to break into the Pentagon on my own with one other person's help. andnna and a droid. And my Seth Green droid. Yes. It's like, either Sidious is like, I want Cad Bane to die this episode, or he has so much faith in this man. Yeah. Without a doubt, because I believe that's your note. Yeah. the So when when he brings in the shape -shifting bounty hunter to... Kato Parasiti.

Speaker: to to help him infiltrate, you find out that Bane has already taken out a Jedi on his own. And a knight, no less. A knight on his own. So he would would see off screen. Off screen. So that's how quickly it went. So Bane appears to be pretty formidable.

Speaker: But, you know, going back to that, ah the Shapeshifter species shows up again. They're called Claudeites, but that was the same species as the sniper from the Clones. Yeah, and it's it's kind of interesting how, um in all of y 'all's notes, y 'all didn't bring her up ever so I didn't know where to put her. because You put her in the right spot. You put her in the right spot.

Speaker: ah yeah um you after You know, other sci -fi franchises having long traditions of shapeshifters. This was our first official one in Star Wars. the kaladdi And even then in ah episode two, it was mentioned, but not really well portrayed. Yeah.

Speaker: Because it's kind of, even when I was a kid, I was confused, like, how is he a change thing? It's like, how does her clothes change? Is that just a thing? Are we not going to? Oh, she's dead now. Yeah. Her Sam Wessel's clothes didn't, though. Yeah. um And one thing that I did like that this particular you nice little touch that I saw whenever she would change into someone new and her clothes did change.

Speaker: You got the same kind of you like visual ripple effect that holograms give. Yes, the holographic disguise over. Yeah, the close holographic disguise.

Speaker: over the actual shape -shifting. Yes. I also like the fact that this shape -shifter isn't going to die immediately. So we actually get to sheet to see her species in action. And do stuff. Yeah. And it's not like weirdly cloaked under shadow for some reason in ah several shots as if they were like not proud of the effect that they made. Yeah. And yeah one one thing to note too, yeahre this is you the first episode of the second season.

Speaker: And this season was heavily marketed around bounty hunters. Mainly because the reason like the opening mentions Cad Bane so prominently is because due to the actual release order of episodes, Cad Bane was introduced at the end of season one in an episode that we have not reached yet. Yes. Because chronologically, it hasn't happened yet. Nick is evil.

Speaker: um which is why season one is still technically not finished. Right. um we So it was very heavily marketed around the bounty hunters. um All of the advertising included like group shots of Cad Bane and other bounty hunters. The co Clone Wars logo was in red and the season was given a subtitle of you know the bounty hunters.

Speaker: Uh, because the ending involved bounty hunters to a great degree of the season one finale. And so, yeah, and it was popular. Like it online, there was, there was a lot of discussion that I like how cool that was. Yeah. No, I'm pretty sure that I still haven't actually watched these episodes myself, even though we're, we're, we're several episodes ahead of the, you know, podcast. Well, there's only one more.

Speaker: episode to go from season one, the way it aired. And we are still probably at least maybe three or four episodes from that. I see. So yeah, I haven't I haven't seen what they're talking about yet. Right. But we're given the context of why like this, it makes sense why this is the opening arc of season two. Right. too And why the it didn't try like say I bounty hunter tries to break into and Cad Bane. Yeah, there there's so At the time, they're assuming that like all right -minded people that you were watching them in the order that they came out, that you weren't waiting years for the chronological list to watch in that order. Yes. But yes, back on track. So infiltrates the Jedi temple as the dead bounty hunter. And to cast the news, Sos is out immediately.

Speaker: Yeah, Jocasunu is not dumb. She's not to be messed with either. She puts up a bit of a fight. Yeah, she puts up a bit of a fight. She's she's not dumb. She's snippy. She's sassy. yeah She is very much convinced of the infallibility of the Jedi archives. But she's not stupid.

Speaker: Yeah. But unfortunately, the the bounty hunters are the protagonists of this episode. So we get an old lady knockout followed by a freaky shapeshift. Yes. And arguably, that is something I didn't. It's one of those those insights that this is one of the first episodes that really focuses on the antagonists much just as much as if not more than the protagonists. Yes, the ah the big infiltration by Cad Bane and his assistant here are, ah they're they're the major focus of the episode. That's a driving force of the plot. In many ways it's the opposite because normally if you have Obi -Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka in the same breathing space, who it's theirs all about them. Yeah.

Speaker: But not this time. Not this time. So that is a good observation that I didn't think of. Yeah. But so yeah and but ah our shapeshifter pal, ah she she doesn't she doesn't manage to hide away forever. She ends up encountering another Jedi, I believe, if I recall correctly. and Typically, that would be a... so Ahsoka when she tries to get into the vault because, well, that requires the force. Yes, yes, that's it. And so she has to use some untrained lightsaber skills against Ahsoka. Right. So he doesn't, you know, do too terribly badly, but, you know, you have. Ahsoka is also a kid. Also by comparison,

Speaker: Like you see that they see is clumsy with it. She's using it like a regular sword when. Do the nature of lightsayers, which we'll get into future episodes about that. She's using it like Luke does in the original trilogy. Yeah. Bring it around with with force and not with the force. Yes.

Speaker: So yeah, and then and then I've also got in here, Obi -Wan and Anakin misdirected, which I believe is refers to something that Cad Bane does as he's running away from them. As Cad Bane's committing this sort of he Heist. He is able to send them on a wild, wild ban for Chase to chase after Toto, who is misdirected to the command center where but both Yoda and Mace Windu are while he's working on Kraken the safe. Yes. Right. And you know so Bane gets into

Speaker: the vault takes the holocron that he's after. And yeah just seeing all of those holocrons, it's one of the I've probably had this thought before and then forgot that I have, but you just can't help but wonder what happened to the holocron vault after the Clone Wars when the Emperor turned the Jedi Temple into the Imperial Palace.

Speaker: Which is still one of my favorite decisions in all of the canon. To be like, that is definitely what the evil emperor of the Galactic emperor Empire, whoever he is, he's totally not related to. Oh yes, yes. I have no idea who that person is. But what he would do do to really just rub it in.

Speaker: who your Your temple, it's mine now. It's my house. It's my house. I live here. I live here now. And so, as part of sending Toto to that command center though, you can't even put a bomb on Seth Green, man. He betrayed his robot buddy. And I i didn't remember that happening because, spoilers,

Speaker: ah we We haven't gotten there yet. yeah But there's also, this isn't the, again, it's due to the nature of the timeline, I was equally confused once we get to a certain episode, but that was most of the episodes until we got to what I call the the evening out of the episodes. Yes.

Speaker: And so, yeah, Cad Bane gets away with the Holocron as ah as our protagonists lament the future of the Jedi. That's your point? Well, go ahead. Because of the importance of this Holocron. That Holocron, when used in conjunction with a crystal that another Jedi off -planet has,

Speaker: has a list of Force -sensitive infants earmarked to be recruited as Jedi younglings once they're a little bit older and a little more manageable. So you know at least they at least the Jedi don't snatch them as infants. smooth And we'll get to that process once later in this arc. but Yes. At the very least, it seems that the Jedi actively have individuals that are just going around, seeing like likely hearing reports of ah my kid my kid lifted up his porridge and threw it at the wall. What do? we Well, and dear we we have the line from Phantom Menace where Qui -Gon tells Shami, well, you know if Anakin, if you guys were in the Republic,

Speaker: We would have noted Anakin's abilities long, long ago. It's like you almost get the sense that part of the standard hospital stuff when a kid is born in the Republic is, okay, let's do a blood test and see if they look like they're force sensitive. If they are - You said that directly to the government organization of monks. Yes.

Speaker: because

Speaker: It happened to the before in the timeline, so it's kind of fair game to mention, even though it's not part of this watch. In the Acolyte, we find out that the Jedi apparently have the legal right and obligation to test children. Regardless of status as part of the Republic.

Speaker: so Yeah, that that's not problematic at all. No, totally not. Not at all. The Jedi are a completely reputable or organization. The Jedi are the good guys. There's yeah ah no nothing nothing to question about that at all. none Nothing whatsoever. Completely infallible. it This is just a story of good versus evil.

Speaker: So that that wraps up this episode and then takes us directly into the follow -up, Cargo of Doom, Season 2, Episode 2. Anakin and Ahsoka intercept Cad Bane's warship, hoping to recover the stolen Jedi Holocron, but the Jedi underestimate the bounty hunter's cunning tactics.

Speaker: So yeah, remember how we said that Cad Bane needed another piece to activate the holocron? He needed a crystal on some Jedi. Right. He's he's got it now. And the Jedi. Between episodes. Yeah, the in this episode is doing a lot of heavy lifting again. because But also, I would argue, is going to a previous point, proving the confidence of this guy? ah Yeah, I mean, I guess there's that.

Speaker: But yeah yeah, I mean, I guess so. Because in between episodes, he's he's captured that Jedi, gotten the crystal, and is back in charge of a small Separatist fleet to get away with it. And the Republic is waging an all -out attack on him to get the Jedi and the crystal and the holocron back. Once again, this is technically, if it wasn't for him being on like a Separatist warship,

Speaker: he probably wouldn't have responded this big of a response because it'd be hard to justify even with the Jedi being like, this is ah more of an internal matter. ah and Like their list. I mean, how much easier might he have gotten away if instead of taking that whole separatist warship and small fleet, he didn't just take his ship?

Speaker: maybe he started Maybe he started out just taking his ship, but then he had to call in the fleet as they were like you know getting up on him or something. he had That's entirely possible. They could have had like a huge fight down there on that planet. Who knows? We don't know. It's like there's an episode that doesn't exist or something. Right. And so then we yeah we find a Jedi. ah He kills that Jedi through torture.

Speaker: Yeah, it keeps trying to get the Jedi to open the holocron and they do it. Do it. Open it up. Open it up. No, I'm not going to. And it's just so it's. It's amazing that the battle droids still sound very comedic, even when they're saying like he's dead, sir. o And and also like that was one of the few times that campaign kind of messes up, it's like.

Speaker: It's like, he's too good at murdering people. He's like, but not good at interrogating. And we'll get to see who the better interrogator is in another episode. Yes. Well, better is a relative term. ah More successful. There we go. Yeah. So they they figure out which ship that Bane is on.

Speaker: and Also, this so is for kids, but I got literally tortured to death. yeah and This was not the last time it will happen. No, it it's not. um It is kind of a running gag.

Speaker: so there Anakin's like, okay, so we need to board the ship and get him. But for some reason, despite what their mission profile is, they have no boarding craft on the Republic ship.

Speaker: So we have another patented Anakin Skywalker half -baked idea. Oh boy. Since they don't have any boarding crafts, they're going to use the walkers that they have on board because they're pressurized and have magnetic feet. Which calls back to an earlier episode so earlier in the timeline where they used that on asteroids to attack Grievous' fleet. Right.

Speaker: and so with this plan, you know they they drop the walkers out of the the ship like bombs. And so I just want to ask all of the m air quotes fans who wind that bombs can't drop in space because there's no gravity to in response to the last Jedi if they screamed about dropping the walkers on the Cadbains ship in this episode. And even then, like, it makes sense because without air resistance, magnetism is a lot more powerful. Yeah. And it's like, plus if it would, it would literally that's ah that's how I even explained to a friend of mine is like, they likely are magnetized. They're being dropped and they're just drawn to the largest piece of metal in space.

Speaker: And they're they're being dropped in an environment that does have gravity and momentum and inertia are a thing. Objects in motion stay in motion. No way.

Speaker: um But anyway, so they're boarding Cad Bane's ship and he's understandably getting a little nervous. And so he starts issuing some orders.

Speaker: weird'd defending the bridge along

Speaker: hate this

Speaker: Great droid humor, but also great reminder that his voice is amazing. Oh, yeah. It fits the sort of grizzled, grizzled old gunslinger, slinger who's like living on his last prayer. And he's got the skill to make that that last that last round of his life count. Yes. And so there's another wonderful droid humor scene that almost immediately follows it. I just didn't want to do two clips in such short succession. Obviously, because we have a log episode. Right. But the clone troopers get onto the bridge and one of the droids see open. Don't shoot. I'm not the commander and points at the one who is the co clones. Pew pew. Blow down the commander.

Speaker: Guess I'm the commander now. Pew pew. And then they shoot him. Yes. That was fun. And to note, now that I've been thinking about it a little bit, you know, we've been talking about how, going a little bit off script here, we've been talking about how Cad Bane is like, he's like a cowboy, he's cowboy themed. And then of course the Jedi are samurai themed.

Speaker: And of course, Cowboys and Samurai are kind of counterparts to each other narratively in a lot of stories, a lot of - And we'll get to that in a certain episode in this episode. Yeah. ah well respond We've got a little bit of, okay. But yeah, I'm just knowing how - Knowing that fact is fun. Yeah, yeah. The fact that Cad Bane can effectively take on the Jedi in these episodes does make him feel like a counterpart.

Speaker: in which feels appropriate given the uh inspirations yeah Lucas draw upon to create both sort of ideas of his outlaws and his uh and the jedi knights in any case we've got a zero gravity scene now yeah and that's just wicked cool it's so much fun just you don't get to see it yeah in the movies i'm surprised you don't considering it's star wars yeah well it it's much harder to successfully pull off in live action. That's true at the time. But ah just a quick shout out to a different franchise, Alien Romulus did a really good job with that. Oh, yes, yes it certainly did. And that was 14 years later. but Just saying, it can't be done. I'm not saying it can't. It was just much more

Speaker: It was a much easier process to do in animation in 2010. Yes. Yeah. yeah um But I'm expecting something impressive from future Star Wars projects. Star Wars 10, we're going to get that anti -gravity scene. But Ahsoka then you know decides to chase off after Cad Bane herself. Very Anakin move. Yes, very Anakin move. It's almost like she's Padawan or something.

Speaker: right? almost like she It's almost like she's learning a bunch of the wrong lessons from him. um And, you know, Yularen is back on on the republic ship and he's he's messaging Anakin, hey, stuff's starting to blow up and and go pear shaped over there.

Speaker: um you you need to come back over and Anakin's like, I seem to have misplaced my Padawan. And Yalaran's follow up to himself is just, and everyone's starting to get in on the snarky banter. I think that's because by now it's season two, the cast has been around each other in in the in the recording booths. And Yalaran comes up with, of all the Jedi, why did I have to end up with Skywalker?

Speaker: which is a Which is a fun four -setter thing, considering how he ends up on and his last time with Skywalker. Yeah. And so Ahsoka starts kicking butt, but she gets zapped, leading to - He owns that fight, but also Cappane holds his own for being non -four -sensitive, but just relying on gadgets and gear. Mm -hmm.

Speaker: Right. Gadgets and gear, that would make an awesome Star Wars role -playing game sourcebook title. Oh, man. And so thus, it leads to a hostage situation. Yes, Bane threatens to kill Ahsoka if Anakin doesn't open the holocron for him. Because even with the crystal and the holocron, it still requires the force, which is, as you mentioned, you imagine the holocron being more technological, but is a lot more that mist. It's a sort of inner queen. Yeah. Mystical and technology. It has to have those both components. Yes.

Speaker: And so Anakin agrees, he opens up the holocron and then yeah decides that, okay, no, i i'm I'm doing what he says, but then I'm going to, you know, trounce him. yeah And I'm going to trounce him, I'm going to save Ahsoka and I'm going to be the big damn hero.

Speaker: move And i've got I've got a note here, I don't remember why, it says Ahsoka in quotes, patience. Anakin tells her that because she's like, no, don't do what he wants. Yeah. Because he he's threatening to, Bane is threatening to you airlock Ahsoka. Yes. Which will kill her eventually by Star Wars logic. Yes. Star Wars space is not as dangerous as all forms of space are.

Speaker: And so they don't get the Holocron. You'll at least be able to scream in Star Wars space. Yes. And so they don't get the Holocron back, but the ship is blowing up around them. They escape, last minute escape on a Separatist shuttle that's on the ship. A bunch of the clones escape with them. Except for one, one more clone is It is lost, but another clone gets a clean kill on Cad Bane. Oh, yes, yes, of course. Yes, and and you know the the the ship blows up and you know they there's like a quickie little debrief between Yularen and Anakin when they get back over to the ship. So, did you manage to recover the Holocron or capture the bounty hunter?

Speaker: Um, no and no. I see. So the mission was your usual version of success then? If by success you mean I won, then yes.

Speaker: And I had to keep little Mark Simpson. Yeah. I love you, Lauren. And I love how this just turns. I can just feel him growing older. Yeah. Three interaction with Anakin. He has. Yes. Especially after Ahsoka nearly got him killed that one time. So that that he's aging like decades every every interaction with them. Yeah.

Speaker: So that that takes us into direct, i mean and when I say directly, I mean directly, we back up a few seconds, and into the next episode, Children of the Force, season two, episode three. So Darth Sidious has a new dark assignment for bounty hunter, Cad Bane. Kidnap Force -sensitive children from across the galaxy and bring them to Mustafar. Yeah. So - Sometimes foreshadowing is,

Speaker: is ah It's obvious. And so yeah we back up a few seconds. you know we We have another angle on the conversation between Ahsoka, Yularen, and Anakin, and the clones disembarking from the shuttle. And their parents are on the back. They won the battle. they They won the battle. And one of them appears to be injured. And Ahsoka's like, hey, buddy, are you OK? And he's completely ignoring her. And the clones that are still on there look down and is like, hey, wait a second. This ain't right.

Speaker: There's blood, but it's green. And our blood's not green? Hmm.

Speaker: So yes, Bane escaped by posing as a clone trooper. and so that would nice just have He lost his hat. That's where he keeps his stats. Oh, I mean, you joke. But it's its it's this kind of... it There's a running gag later on.

Speaker: or not really a gag, but a running bit where you i want a hat. The man requires a hat. He he needs the hat. Yes, he he likes his hat. Fortunately, he does escape, but whenever he gets home, he has a spare at home.

Speaker: But they did it's ah is a fun escape sequence where they like take advantage of the fact that at this time in Star Wars and technology -wise, small ships don't have a hyperdrive, so they have to use a hyperdrive ring. And so there there's a little you know race against the clock, like shut down the hyperdrive ring so that he can't get away, and they don't quite do it. no But it's a fun bit of tension using the technology established for the for the era,

Speaker: it's just it a bit of fun and so <unk>ious contacts spain and And he wants Force -sensitive children as test subjects. That's not ominous at all. no No. I mean, this guy is Sidious. He obviously has some sort of dark, in true god what's the word I'm looking for? Some sort of insidious plot oh my for these children. And so Bane poses as a Jedi.

Speaker: to take the kids. And you know, so he okay can I make a moment of to just make fun of the fact that they've been making fun of this joke since like the olden days of Star Wars of like Obi -Wan hides out on Tatooine. How does Obi -Wan hide out? He wears a Jedi robe. And so Tat Bane, this guy that's of a Jedi, he just puts on a robe. It just puts on the outer robe.

Speaker: So he goes to Rhodia, and he's telling this Rhodian child's mother that you know all their there's children in danger across the galaxy. There there are bad people posing as Jedi to take the kids. And I mean, he's not wrong. He's telling the truth. He's the bad person.

Speaker: He's telling the truth from a certain point of view. No, he's telling the truth explicitly. There is no certain point of view, TMCR, yeah involved here. He is outright telling the truth. He's just not saying that he's one of the bad people. Yeah, that is stealing the children. And while while this is going on, Anakin and Ahsoka go in to boo.

Speaker: to help keep a Gungan child safe. And I believe this is the point where the ah they in they they encounter Cad Bane once more. At least I think that's where this, yeah. And and they get him, and Ahsoka gets her braid back, because that was the thing that happened. He took and took her braid. That is her padawan braid, it represents her break in the order.

Speaker: Yes, and you know, part of the tradition is, you know, when a Padawan reaches knighthood, then they cut off their Padawan braid. Yes. And species that don't have hair to actually braid hair into a braid, they wear some sort of artificial braid. Yes.

Speaker: um So then they take him and they they they take Cad Bane and they basically try to interrogate him to figure out like where where he took the kid. youre Right. And you know they're like, well, du we we could deal we could try to to you know should i mind trick him. Well, he's pretty strong -willed, I don't know. So Mace, Obi -Wan, and Anakin all team up to mind frack Bane and force him.

Speaker: that's mind gang wreck yes and force him to take them to the holocron jedi masters and why is it jedi knight proposedly the chosen one yes and they are constant warning mind break yes Oh, and it looks painful. Oh, yeah, it is an incredibly creepy scene. Very intimidating. But remember, as we noted a few moments ago, the Jedi are the good guys. Yes, yes, this is this is all just a good versus evil story. There's no shades of gray at all. Exactly. They would never do this against a strong willed, independent individual in the Republic, obviously. about A bad criminal. It's fine. Yeah.

Speaker: No, it's perfectly morally acceptable. And so you know there they send Anakin and Ahsoka to fill Palpatine in on what's going on. Even though it's an internal Jedi matter, Anakin's like, hey, we are working with the military, so the Republic needs to know what's going on.

Speaker: So he goes and Palpatine shmoozes him a little bit. He's a good, respectable man for from Naboo. I will not accept so, Slander. Would a good, respectable man from Naboo slam the door in Ahsoka's face like he did? Apparently, yes. Well, yes, to speak with speak confidential information with his friend in a war effort, obviously.

Speaker: And so we we cut back to what's going on on Mustafar and Sidious wants to make the kids into Sith spies. This is your first time seeing Mustafar. What is your opinion of Mustafar? Bowser's castle.

Speaker: Yep. Fair assumption. Evil lava planet. It's ah pretty standard overall.

Speaker: and This is the final level of a Mario game, y 'all. Lava everywhere, floating citadel plays. like Yeah, I can see what you mean like that. Yeah. And so Bane takes Mace and Obi -Wan to the hideout where he's got the holocron. Assumely one of many. Right. like the type And so as they're leaving, it's pointed out to them, you know that he's walking you into a trap and Mace is like, oh yeah, definitely it's a trap. So they get there, the holocron is across the room and Mace starts going over to pick it up and trips

Speaker: all kinds of security measures that start attacking them. And I can't help but wonder, Mace, you said you knew you were walking into a trap. Why didn't you just use the force and float the holocron over to you? but here's the I have the actual answer to that. if If you pull out his lightsaber and really zoom in on it, it says B -A -M -F on there.

Speaker: um and no No lie, the prop really does, Lauren. It does. Oh, it does. Nice. The the prop is inscribed with BMF. Whether it's just the initials or the entire phrase, I don't know.

Speaker: It's kind of hearsay because only he has it because he did take, like a lot of the characters did take their lightsabers or these replica ones from the set. Nice. Like Qui -Gon Jinn is like, written like Liam Neeson is very proud that like, yes, I have my lightsaber. The one I used on set. I have that. They didn't allow me to take it. I took it.

Speaker: the note it does make me wonder you know they they had so they had you know like a a sensor for somebody walking around but like what if what if they had some sort of sensor for somebody using the force like is that a thing that exists in Star Wars motion track motion trackers could have been a thing I mean specifically like a force detecting device or something like if somebody ever are some things that could and horribly be used for that and there's some both in cannon and out of cannon Hmm, but I think most of the out -of -cannon ones were developed during the time of the Empire Oh, yeah, cuz I mean, you know, this is Darth Sidious if anybody's gonna have a device that can detect somebody using the force It's it's gonna be this guy yeah Especially considering he's willing to be like no. No, I gotta call this guy the wreck. Mm -hmm Here's some cool tech that I'm working on. Yeah, if you die you die, but if I if not, I know it works. Mm -hmm

Speaker: Yeah, it does activate a really cool laser trap. Yeah, the laser trap's really cool. Mm -hmm. And of course it leads up to a really cool Indiana Jones lightsaber grab as they're escaping. Yes. Classic, and yeah that's a classic like nod back to Indiana Jones was like door coming down, gotta grab the thing that I left behind. Yes.

Speaker: yeah I'm pretty sure Darth Sidious also has like these droids taking care of the younglings. and they put They put them into these evil cribs for imminently evil babies. as their i mean as i mean they they they They have the soothing view out at the viewports of just like lava just exploding up.

Speaker: Yeah just it's perfect for Bowser Jr. It's what Bowser Jr. saw as he was growing up. And Sidious orders them to evacuate the children to my secondary facility since the Jedi have tumbled to the location of Mustafar. And I wonder where that secondary facility could be. I wonder if we might see it um in a show involving a batch that wasn't quite right. Perhaps dealing with some sort of some kind of mastery over death concept, maybe. That's crazy talk.

Speaker: That's crazy talk, Nick. but It's totally not connected. It's totally not connected with the same through line of the writer, director, show creator. No way. Totally not. Well, tech strictly speaking, at this point, it wasn't. but But you can see where threads can be drawn. Yes. Like red red conspiracy board yarn.

Speaker: um So then we we go into the next episode, aptly titled Bounty Hunters Season 2 Episode 17, which has absolutely nothing to do with Cadmaine. Anakin Skywalker, Obi -Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano form an uneasy partnership with four deadly bounty hunters.

Speaker: to help protect a local farmer from Hondo Onaka and his band of pirates. Okay, I will say that this is one of the episodes I have a problem specifically with that because I do believe all of the Disney plus ones are from Netflix. The synopsis is for I am actually not I have I'm not pulling the ones from the from the for Deep Life anymore ah because I have found that Wookiepedia has the original synopses. Okay, because those would to be from the actual guide on like TV guide from like direct TV and whatever you right other ones are. Okay, I i still have a problem with that revealing Hondo Inaka reveal in my opinion.

Speaker: Just saying pirates would have been a lot of fun, especially because In a chronological rewatch, you don't know if you're going to see Hondo again. Right. Yeah. um Now, before the titles in this episode, we get a dedication to Akira Kurosawa, who is one of George Lucas's biggest influences. ah He was the director of films like Hidden Fortress, which heavily inspired the original Star Wars and Seven Samurai. The idea of like C -3PO and RTV2 would not exist without Hidden Forces.

Speaker: nice And he also directed Seven Samurai, which is the direct inspiration for this episode. As well as the direct inspiration for the classic Spaghetti Western, the Magnificent Seven. Right. And this isn't the first time that there's been a Seven Samurai -inspired Star Wars story. ah The first was way back in 77. Mainly because Lucas was very on the nose, like, when people ask, like, what's your inspiration?

Speaker: Yeah. Kurosawa. Kurosawa, Seven Samurai. He's like, he gave he gave receipts. He's like, yeah, I'm taking all these stuff and I'm putting it in a gumbo bot. Yeah. Issue seven of the original Marvel Star Wars comic, which was the first issue to tell a story after the movie. The original expanded universe. It was a Seven Samurai story. And it's probably most notable today for the introduction, I think we've mentioned him before, of Jackson, the Greenford humanoid rabbit space hopper that George Lucas hates, but author Kevin Scott loves. nice I kind of dig Jackson too. I'm a fan of Jackson as well. And it won't be the last seven Star Wars samurai.

Speaker: either. Oh, boy. I mean, it it's it's appropriate that we keep revisiting it. And like future projects that we might do stuff with like, Star Wars Visions did an entire anime entire entire Japanese anime style, like non -canon, canon is Star Wars stories. But very much Star Wars has worn its inspirations on its sleeve. And it's not afraid to like acknowledge the fact that, yeah, we got this from here and there. And like, I think that's kind of honorable of them. Nice.

Speaker: And so here's where chronological order really highlights some disconnects. So we're just three episodes removed from when our heroes retreated from Felucia because the separatists were overwhelming them. And now they seem surprised that the Republic has lost, country has con ah excuse me, has lost contact with an orbiting medical station and that vulture droids are attacking them, apparently having destroyed said medical station. well The vulture droids aren't just like out there because like similar to Thai fighters, they don't have their own independent power. right They have a whole like miniature space station meant to like deploy them. Right. But it's like this since this episode in production was like four

Speaker: teen after the opening episode of the season. It's a longer time that you don't you don't really notice that disconnective. They were just here like, you know, two days ago. It's like the main factor is like, as someone who grew up watching it on real time in on Cartoon Network at the ungodly time of 1130 every Friday for some reason. who I would then spend the next Saturday morning on a forum and be like, okay, where where does this fit in the timeline?

Speaker: Nerd. and yeahre We're called casual nerdy. We had a whole intro in all of that. I know. that I'm speaking ironically, Nick. We're all nerd here.

Speaker: um and so there They're being attacked. their Their ship is under attack as they're heading into the atmosphere. And even Ahsoka is getting in on the banter now. You're thinking what I'm thinking? Almost certainly not. Looks like we're doing this the hard way. Starting ejection sequence. How come every time we fly, we crash? It's not my fault. It's the ship.

Speaker: Yes. yeah I mean, you if you think about it, how many times in the prequel trilogy did Anakin successfully land a ship? m He successfully fought in space. As as a nine -year -old and he got lucky and just started mashing buttons,

Speaker: It brings me back to Obi -Wan saying that your father was one of the best pilots around. Yes. Oh, you can't forget. He was a cunning warrior, the best star fighter pilot, and a good friend. And, well... None of those were accurate. Well, those are some rose -in -the -glasses he has. Yeah. What he told him was true. From a certain point of view. He was created flying, technically. He just wasn't great at landing, is the thing. I mean, those are two separate skills. So they eject out of the ship and instead of parachutes, the ejection system puts bouncy balls around their seats. it's It's more effective for like a space vehicle. So someone in the Republic Design Group really has a sense of whimsy.

Speaker: But after years of people coming up with different ways that X -Wing pilots in the original Death Star battle could eject despite having open face helmets because they were they were being told to eject, eject. This is my head cannon for X -Wing ejection systems too. They get bouncy balls with an oxygen supply.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean, these these things are designed to be flying in all sorts of different atmospheres. so and and a certain gra was And a circular design would increase your both. It would increase velocity, but would also increase your decreasing of ah moment masss as momentum as you come in through atmosphere.

Speaker: Yeah, basically it seems like these are designed to be able to effectively protect you regardless of what the atmosphere and like the the scenario on, regardless of what planet it is. Because naturally, planettiff was planets with very little atmosphere, a parachute wouldn't do much. Right. And so yes, I've got a quote here. We crashed the ship your way. Yes.

Speaker: It's beautiful. yes so just i all all of the but Give me all of the banter. Yes. Well, this episode has plenty of banter. And then Ahsoka takes charge with logic over vibes. I don't remember what the specifics of that seem like. It's more that she's trying to trying to keep everyone calm and to find civilization which he realizes is nearby. Yes. There's a farm.

Speaker: They get to a farming village, and it's being extorted by pirates, and the village has hired bounty hunters to fight the pirates off. And the pirates show up, and as the episode description says, it's Hondo's group. eleven And Hondo is already making his shift towards Captain Jack Sparrow, but it's still early Captain Jack Sparrow, like you were saying in the previous Hondo episodes, Nick.

Speaker: ah It's an affectation to disarm opponents. It's like the idea that, again, like to those that haven't watched the Pirates of the Caribbean, the Curse of the Black Pearl in a while, it's like, Jack Sparrow's ignorance is more like him like being playing of a part. He's like, oh, you've heard of me. It's like it's he's using reputation. But you have heard of me.

Speaker: Yeah, he's he doesn't have to show strength. He just has to project it. I have reputation that you can't confirm or deny. But if you want to try me, you could you could find me at my best or at my worst. And so we we have a nice little back and forth here between the Jedi and Hondo and the bounty hunters that that kind of brings all of that forward.

Speaker: andby guy walk on i can't believe you came old this way to see me and Oh, his voice actor is great. of course we do tell them how far back we go ken willby too far i'm afraid and here i thought we were friends if you're truly interested in friendship hondo might i suggest you stop threatening these farmers threatening them. Oh, please tell me you have not been listening to this bounty hunting scum. Scum? We're just here to help them protect what's theirs. Oh, gum, gum, my dear. How much are they paying you? B -b -b -b -b, does not matter. Whatever it is, I will double it. And all you have to do to earn it is step aside.

Speaker: Yeah, then he's still a and again.

Speaker: Me and Daryl know on those character where it goes to, but I do want to say like it does have like an actual arc to it. All right. To that place that we know him more as like more Jack Sparrowy, more friendly, more ally. Mm hmm.

Speaker: But this is still when he is still firmly a playful antagonist. Yes. Still threatening, very much threatening, because he has a tank. Well, we don't know that yet. Well, we'll find that out. But Obi -Wan offers to pay Hondo more to transport them back to the Republic than Hondo can get selling the crops.

Speaker: But Hondo won't accept Republic credits and just he he wants the crop. This is nice. It's a healing crop which in a war torn galaxy. Kind of important. That's a moneymaker. Yeah.

Speaker: And so now the Jedi and the bounty hunters, they have to work together and we get some cool bounty hunter characterization as they all interact with each other. Except for one, but we'll get to that. Yeah, we'll we'll get to that. But so in particular, I really liked the character, I think ah Serpius? Serapis? Serapis. Serapis, yeah. I really liked that character, how he has like his mech that he's going around in, but he's like a really small guy inside. really I really liked that character design, that that element that didn't. I like that idea. i can't I do kind of wish we did a little bit more of that, but it's kind of, again, like this is more of an Omaze than like a... not not Not to diminish the fact that it's a great Omaze to a classic like story, but...

Speaker: It does sacrifice the fact that these, since it doesn't have the length of a feature film, we don't get to know those characters as much as you know in the original Seven Samurai or the Magnificent Seven. Or even like the remake Magnificent Seven, which not as good as the original, but still gave time and credit to like these characters. Yeah.

Speaker: And with the bounty hunters we also have a little bit of small galaxy syndrome, and it's not this episode's fault. It's novels fault later on.

Speaker: but ah sugi the zabbra bounty hunter leader um is later made the aunt of Joss Semare, another bounty hunter who is featured in the Aftermath trilogy of novels. And also included in at least two images in the Bounty Hunter source book for the Star Wars role -playing game, Bounty Hunter Book.

Speaker: There's two images of her like mentoring her. um yeah So it it is connected to that, but it's like, yeah, there's a bit of a small galaxy syndrome. Yeah. And then here's where we we find out you what Hondo has, because Hondo says to speak softly and drive a big tank. Nice.

Speaker: And apparently an added his mother taught him. Hmm. Yes. Yes. And then which makes it makes it was just like the Hondo family tree. What is that like? Whatever. What is the Hondo family dynamic? They're all dead. Whenever whenever they go get together on life day. what What's that dinner table look like?

Speaker: Well, I have it all right think arrived with tanks. yeah

Speaker: Whatever it looks like, wherever it is, it's one that the Stephanie would want to bomb. ah Okay, now you're tempting me with making a whole session for Stephanie, whatever characters you want, to interrupting the Onaka family.

Speaker: but But then what one of the other bounty hunters, Embo, has the this large shield hat that he throws around ah as as a weapon. And to quote a certain wall crawler from another franchise. That thing does not obey the laws of physics at all. I mean, yes, sir. Yeah. Damn, is it cool? It's basically Captain America's shield. Yep.

Speaker: But, a hat. And, you know, sidebar to, you know, our our beloved role -playing game. I've seen several people online say, like, you know, how would I stat out, like, a Captain America with his, and how would I do his shield? And this shield hat is actually statted out in one of the books, and people just say, like, that. Yeah. In no disintegration, it's the bounty hunter book that I was mentioning early. Mm -hmm.

Speaker: now As Anakin is fighting one -on -one with Hondo, he was about to just straight up slice and dice Hondo's Kawaki and Monkey Lizard. Oh, yeah. Oh, he so was. And it's a notable thing that a lot of people have like a problem with Kawaki and Monkey Lizards because they are kind of annoying and that they do the laugh. Yep.

Speaker: but it's like But in this case, he's like a parrot in this case. and Yeah. it It fits the pirate motif so well. Yes, yes it does. It does.

Speaker: So, thinking about the overall setup of the episode here, you know, the ah the the Darth Maul lady, Suki. Which is a Zobrak, that's her name. she ah She doesn't get a combat scene, even though she's like the main bounty hunter character as far as characterization is concerned. And implied that it's the one that's like, she has...

Speaker: it's like her ship and she's like in charge of the contract. It's her crew. Yeah, we don't actually, we don't see her fight, but conversely, the sniper lady who does, she does get a combat scene, she doesn't get a characterization scene. And so it kind of makes me think. Or even her like name in episode. Yeah, were these two characters originally meant to just be one character for an even three Jedi to three bounty hunter counterpart set?

Speaker: But then they were like split into two characters for the purpose of a seven samurai parallel. Well, again, my proof to that is after that episode, I went back to I mentioned that the niece of this character is mentioned in further canon. But in the bounty hunter book where she actually makes her first like visual appearance, it's her being taught how to use a sniper rifle.

Speaker: Hmm, so I think there might be some credence to your theory that these two initially were The cyber character and sugi were the same character but to match the vibe and not over Do anything with the runtime? split them It's very interesting Again, that's not really a place to know unless someone Someone in my game room is listening to me right now. Where I'm recording this podcast. Hey, episode writers, did you split the character? Good question. I hadn't even thought of that before, but it makes sense. It makes sense. And that one tidbit in that one source book makes sense because that's the only appearance that we see her and the niece is described as a sniper.

Speaker: food for now it now my brain won't let that go.

Speaker: After being thoroughly trounced, Hondo decides that this transaction is no longer profitable and bugs out on his flying saucer ship. If you get to see those again, those are nice. And Sugi offers the Jedi the ride that they had requested from her earlier and they they part they part ways on good terms. Yeah. And you know that this just occurred to me, that that plateau that Hondo was standing on top of when his flying saucer came up over it. Was that an intentional Close Encounters thing? one That could be. It's been a while since I've seen Close Encounters, but I can see that being it.

Speaker: Considering how much this literal episode is like literally wearing its inspiration on its sleeves, I wouldn't be surprised. It's entirely possible. I mean, even like the therapist reveal is the same as like the little alien inside of the human in from Men in Black. Oh, yeah.

Speaker: and it

Speaker: like For an episode, they kind of went all in on like what their like references and stuff were on. and

Speaker: so that's a good argument it could be yeah yeah could be yeah so then that that takes us into the next episode which is one of my favorites of the entire series um i have a soft spot for it too the zillow beast season two episode 18 the republic's new super weapon awakens the fearsome zillow beast of malistair now the jedi must devise a way to contain the deadly creature And I'm just going to say, I freaking love the Zillow Beast episodes. These are pretty cool. They're so much fun. I love the Zillow Beast. It's the ziest. Oh, we're going to be talking about its design. Oh, yeah. But it's like in general, like the five, the story, all of it as a long term Godzilla fan. And I'll get that thing to my point. It really, it really is. But let's get, let's get this started.

Speaker: Oh, yeah. Well, I mean, go right ahead. I mean, speaking of episodes of Star Wars wearing their inspirations on their sleeves. I mean, this one has, you know, like a great big Godzilla patch series of patches all down both sleeves. Oh, it is. It is true. It as a long term Godzilla fan, this episode feels authentic to the franchise is paying Obaz to. Mm hmm.

Speaker: creature design, and initially I, hearing Zillow Beast, honestly came back to mind, but seeing how they designed a giant monster, a kaiju, for those that recognize that as part of the genre,

Speaker: Yes. In a Star Wars setting and making it feel authentic. in It doesn't feel like, oh, they transported Godzilla in the Star Wars. it so This is a Star Wars Godzilla. Yes. And that' that's what That's, and it truly feels like that. the The size, the scale, but we'll get into that. I believe it's your point now, Lauren. Yeah, yeah. As we get to the actual how we are inciting incident. Yes, yes. Starting off the episode, we have a Republic doomsday device, the Electron Proton Bomb.

Speaker: and uh just just knowing you're the republic they're the good guys you know they're they're absolutely good guys no good old question about that the good guys absolutely have doomsday devices um i i i'm not going to say fat man and little boy but um and but appropriately enough for a godzilla inspired episode the republic is about to drop basically a droid nuke yep on malastare And when they do, a lot of the imagery of the detonation is very on point, or nuclear detonation imagery. These are the good guys. Yeah, I mean, the shockwave, the ring of dust and dirt pushed from the shockwave. The electromagnetic pulse. Yeah, it's all

Speaker: very, very, you know, on the nose for a nuclear detonation. It even seems like a physical bomb. So instead of your traditional proton torpedo, which is like an energy sphere. Yeah. And initially, initially it appears to work, but then the earth gives away. but It does work. Yeah. Yeah. It's just that there's unexpected consequences.

Speaker: the for what Right, and it you know creates a giant sinkhole crater after detonation. And then we see the ah the and ah the addition of species to this planet as they're ah having to deal with the crater. And they're they're they're called the Dougs. I like the Dougs. The Dougs look neat. Oh, Dougs are a really cool design for an alien species. it's It's simple. It's like kind of weird face, but the main thing is like, OK, we decided

Speaker: arms or legs, legs or hands. Yep. And that's simple but effective creature design. It is a neat look.

Speaker: Yeah, it's it's, it's a good look. It carries over well from Phantom Menace. ah it and Are they from Phantom Menace? Yes, what we're going to do a rewatch at some point. yeah I haven't seen Phantom Menace, so that this is my first time seeing the dogs. ah I didn't know you didn't see Phantom Menace. knew hadn't seen ah Attack of the Clones in a while.

Speaker: yeah Yeah. Anakin's main rival in the pod race is a Doug. Oh, you know, since we're getting close up, maybe next week we'll do the Phantom Menace rewands. All right. That sounds good. um And then I think we have, we have your note up next here, Nick. Yeah. But yes, just like the original Gojira, the first Godzilla film from 1954 and

Speaker: as well as the recent Godzilla minus one. It's a weapons test that results in the creation and or in this case awakening of this ancient monster from his long slumber. er Basically reflecting how using unknown technology of war without foresight can cause calamity.

Speaker: Yes. But I believe a certain band, and I quote them later on, will put that more succinctly. All right. And so Palpatine is in communication with them. And he and Anakin, they're pretty blatantly transparent talking to the Duggs about wanting Mount Listerre to join the Republic,

Speaker: just because you you have fuel that we need. have something they're They're not even you know putting up much pretense of, well, you know we're we better and stronger together and we would make a valuable ally for you and you would make a valuable ally for us. like No, we just we need this treaty signed because we want your fuel.

Speaker: um and as all of these always has no politics whatsoever. None. Zero percent politics. And so there they're trying to rescue you know anyone who fell into this sinkhole and oh, here here's a great big giant monster. And its design is Amazing. Oh, yes. and again' It's very much, yes, fits the Godzilla mold, reptilian eye, the movement, but it has those unique Star Wars charm that I can't really properly describe. And I wish I had the words too, but I can just feel like this isn't like, oh, he's transplanting Godzilla into Star Wars. So this is a Star Wars Godzilla, as I said before.

Speaker: Yes, I've got some elements about its design later on. And Anakin ends up down there, you know, his his ship gets, as he puts it later, eaten yeah by i the Zillow Beast. or creative different cra And he's running up on the back of it and he swings with his lightsaber. Oh yeah, he's got some Shadow of the Colossus nonsense going on over there.

Speaker: and but there's no hit point there's there's no weak points no he doesn't have a big glowy spot for him to stab with his lightsaber because oops the zillow beast is impervious to lightsabers oh no and that's why i say like similar to the godzilla films of old they would display godzilla's strength by showing off advanced military technology Also, in fact, the Japanese ability didn't really have that much expansion build technology at that time period, oh post -World War II. But ultimately, it was meant to show the uselessness against this monolithic titan representing the advancement of nuclear war. And it's been sort of part of it through many arrows. But also, the syllabi scales is now added to the list of lightsaber -resistant or blocking

Speaker: substances, which is a small list. Yes. Yep. And so but something to keep in mind that anyone would be interested in knowing like how to deal with a lightsaber. Yeah. And so Mace wants to relocate the Zillow Beast. The Duggs want to kill it. and um And Palpatine orders the Jedi to help the Duggs kill the Zillow Beast until Once again, we we have a moment of what happened and why is Anakin the most level headed one in the room? When Anakin proposes, how about we just make the dogs think that we've killed it, and then we can relocate it. Also, I will say like the most reasonable maze window, usually he'd be like, Anakin's set up. Yeah.

Speaker: Yeah, when, I mean, you know, it's Samuel L. Jackson, you'd think Mace would be like, let's kill that M .F .R. Oh no, he's supposed to be a Jedi Councilman. So members so he would say like, let's save this M .F .R. But, you know, once Anakin comes up with that idea, Palpatine's all for it because, hmm, lightsaber impervious hide.

Speaker: That certainly should come in handy just for for the troops, for the troops. Yes, yes, of course. I think he specifically said like spaceship development is like, OK, when this effort is fire, lightsabers at will be fine. I'm sure they have. Oh, we haven't gotten there yet. No, yeah.

Speaker: And so they start using stun tanks. You think I'm joking. Yeah. Oh, I know about the lightsaber gun. They start using stun tanks on the Zillow Beast. Which I will recognize are designed very similarly and never used again. Now that I look back on it, they were never used again in the Clone Wars. But they are very much based off of the Mazur cannons.

Speaker: from the Toho films, specifically the Godzilla films, as like a weapon that still failed, but as one of the larger weapons that they fielded against Godzilla. And so eventually, after being ah bombarded by these lasers for quite a while, the Zillow Beast goes unconscious.

Speaker: Yes. And after after that, you once it's stunned, the dogs sign off on the treaty. And everybody's ready to relocate the Zillow Beast. And then Palpatine's like, oh, not so fast. Let's not relocate it off somewhere where it can scamper and frolic and and live its life.

Speaker: bring it here to Coruscant so that we can study it and what can possibly go wrong with that. And this is like and this is possibly go wrong. And this is on top of him also getting like, oh yeah, and that now you're part of the Republic. Guess what? Fuel rights, mine, mine, all that fuel. The fuel they were you literally using trying to kill the monster. so Guess what? That's my fuel now. Yeah, I own it all. I own it all.

Speaker: But yes, the there was lots of action in this episode, which I thought was pretty cool. And I just, I really love the rubber hose limb look. I know. that low piece that That's my favorite element of its design, how it doesn't have joints. It has, the well, it's like it's rubber hose limbs. That's makes it a Star Wars creature to me. It's like like the armored hide and like,

Speaker: It's like if you just, if they didn't have the rubber house limbs and how they move, especially in the next episode. Yeah. Yeah. I'm i'm going to be going more into detail than this in the next episode. but's just Even by seeing it in this episode, I was like, okay, this is not a Godzilla ripoff. is This isn't like a reptar from Rugrats or stuff like that. Yeah. Or or a 98 Godzilla. This is,

Speaker: A unique being that is based on for Godzilla and that came from like a Star Wars and fun, like storytelling element. Yes. But that gets us into the next episode. Yes. The Zillow Beast Strikes Back, season two, episode 19.

Speaker: Republic forces bring the Zillow Beast back to Coruscant for study. When it escapes, the Jedi must choose between saving millions of lives and destroying the Zillow Beast, the last of its kind. Allow me to add the dot dot dot. What could go wrong?

Speaker: Yes, so as we start out the episode, the Zilla Beast is constrained and I like how the Zilla Beast has like six limbs essentially, three legs, well two legs and a tail and then three arms. And I like the way that it's three arms are constrained where it's like two of its arms are constrained in like a normal sort of way. But then the third arm has to be constrained and it's like its own little separate section essentially.

Speaker: yeah And as it takes an entire transport, like a transport can contain literally several hundred thousand clones as they have won for this guy. And as they're unloading it from that transport, the music is very reminiscent of the Godzilla theme. It very much is. It has the yeah ratan da da -da -da -da -da.

Speaker: in there, but lower minor key. And Kevin Kiner is just brilliant. And he is. He is. But I guess as a Godzilla fan, I recognize every sort of like Godzilla. There's several like themes that like eight themes for Godzilla. And this one I could tell like it was definitely working out for the 80s era. Nice. But in a minor key. Right. And but yeah.

Speaker: Nerd alert. I'm a nerd. What? No. I never would have believed it. No, not at all. I don't know if I could be a casual and nerdy man. Maybe I'm professional nerd. No, that's me. I'm a let's player.

Speaker: That's true. So tell tell us a little more about the episode's inspirations, Nick. Yeah, but yes. This two -part arc is double -diffing in its inspirations of giant monster films. The first one was Clear Omaze to Godzilla. This is one of Omaze to America's classic monster flick, King Kong. And to a lesser extent, ah the 1998 American Godzilla by Roman Eorick, which ah we we call him

Speaker: Zilla, not Godzilla. Yeah, that that's the one that got shot down by the U .S. military, isn't it? Yes. Yeah, and kind of a counterpoint to what you were talking about last time, how conventional weapons don't work on Godzilla. I mean, hence the things in and how it sort of fits into this episode. yeah one alert And did to draw a little, you know, there is a Star Wars connection there. That Godzilla movie came out in 1998 and infamously it's there was a huge ad campaign that they had for it that posters and and plus side signage and things like that. Don't forget Taco Bell. Had

Speaker: had signage that just said, size does matter. the And after after a kind of lukewarm audience reception to it, as Lucasfilm was spinning up the promotion for the Phantom Menace for 1999. We've already had a whole lot of spin in general because it's a Star Wars movie.

Speaker: yeah being made in the era. I mean, the first new Star Wars movie in 16 years. Yeah. And so Lucasfilm did release one particular ad that using the same imagery and the same font and coloring said plot does matter. Wow.

Speaker: Just to the side as someone that was around during that time. I've watched the review with by, at the time, well -respected. And regardless of what you feel, that they were kind of the big names, Roger De Niebert, critics of film. ye And they had critiqued Roland Elmerich's previous films as bad. And he had had direct like lookalikes in the Godzilla film playing like the mayor and vice mayor of New York. Oh, yeah, I think I remember hearing about this. And they said, and you didn't have us get squished by the monster. ah If you're going to critique us, get us get killed by the monster. Yeah.

Speaker: But as set off track but that's part of the Kaiju influence here. But as as Palpatine is given giving Dr. Ball, which I can never hear her name and not think of the robot chicken sketch. I'm surprised you did not put that here. And honestly, I think you should put that in post.

Speaker: and um yeah have Have you ever seen that sketch, Lauren? I don't think so. So, Robot Chicken did a sketch where the Imperial Interrogation Droid, which is a spherical droid that has like syringes and torture devices on it. It's what made us lay in her interrogation room. Oh, yeah. they They did a sketch where it was the star of a medical drama called Dr. Ball.

Speaker: MD, MD. Dr. Ball, MD. Oh my goodness. And so every time i it's spelled differently, it's B -O -L -L. But it's pronounced the same. Honestly, it's probably they put that as a clip. And every time they say this character's name, I just think of paging Dr. Ball, paging Dr. Ball. But Palpatine lets the facade slip a little bit because he's telling Dr. Ball everything that he wants or to do and like you know what wouldn't it just be easier for you to to test this thing by killing it and she she pushes back you know she's like it would take to what's well first things like it would cause the creature so much pain to take off the scales for testing well then kill it

Speaker: Yeah. did that do it It's the last of its kind. I said kill it. And he kind of lets the facade slip just a little bit, threatening her that if you don't do it, I'll find somebody who will. And you know for those who are watching Clone Wars after they've seen everything and know everything,

Speaker: You know, it's like, oh, he he's peeking out there a little bit. Yeah. And even even if you don't like the syllabus shows a sense of intelligence as is like gives him a bombastic side eye. Oh, yeah. As the kids say these days. Yes. Is that what the kids say these days, Nick? Perhaps. I don't I don't know.

Speaker: I'm sorry, I did not mean to call you old. No, I'm fine. I'm safe and call myself elderly.

Speaker: And so what what kind of parallels do you see here, Nick? Oh, parallels to to ah the to what they're trying to sort of go since, again, I mentioned. Last one is Godzilla. This is King Kong, and this is a, the Zillow Beast has been taken from his home, cruelly in its captivity, and chained and tortured.

Speaker: And though not displayed before Coruscant, Coruscant is basically the New York of Star Wars. It's the capital. It's the place of power.

Speaker: So it's very much following the script of King Kong and well, we know how that goes. Oh, yeah. Yep. And so they they're They're trying to say, OK, well, yeah know but we got Obi -Wan, Padme, and Anakin running support for Palpatine. Right. And so they're all like, we don't want to let him. you Killing is going a bit far. So we we need to advocate for this thing. and So they they figure their best chance of convincing Palpatine is having Anakin do it.

Speaker: yeah So Obi -Wan brings in Padme to convince Anakin to advocate for the Zillow Beast. But sure, Obi -Wan doesn't know anything, wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more. Yes, Anakin, the man who is completely in control of all of his emotions and is not being able to be read by a literal mind reader. Totally, totally. It's like Anakin,

Speaker: where ah your Your wife has something to say. but like I don't want to say it's your wife, but I've literally I've heard you in my mind because I am a Jedi Knight. just so And every other stra stray thought from you, which I have to pay attention to because you're my padawan, my former padawan, my knight. It's like every other thought is like of your wife.

Speaker: yeah And it's like, wife, capital, it's like, but I gotta to pretend for your sake, man. I have to, I have to pretend I have plausible deniability. I mean, well, honestly, that's just, Chris, question this, this, wait, no, Panama doesn't know.

Speaker: hu so We know that. Yeah, we know that Admaine doesn't know that Obi -Wan knows. Oh, that's even more funny now that I think about it. So, Balgast is the Zilla Beast and it breaks free and it gets out into Coruscant and we go full Godzilla.

Speaker: Oh yeah, and I've got a couple things to say about this scene. And I have what I have to say. I gotta just refresh my vocal chords for it. Yeah, like ah the rubber hose limbs work really well in the city scene to sell the chaos of the moment. The way that they all just sort of, its arms and its legs flail about.

Speaker: as it's crashing through these cars and these bridges and stuff. It really works. Another element of about the Zilla Beast design that I like is I mentioned how its two legs and tail alongside its two arms and then its third back arm, it gives it like this rotational symmetry.

Speaker: so that as as it's crushed it does that cool spin yeah yes it does spin and the way that it essentially has like three legs and three arms the the way that it spins around it it makes it a really effective look it looks like a top basically And just... It recognizes destruction in a three -dimensional structure like Coruscant. Yes, exactly. And speaking of big, the large environments also, it kind of makes the Zillow Beasts look normal sized in a couple shots. Oh, definitely. The absolute massive size of the buildings as it's climbing them. It almost looks like it was made for this environment. And again, the fact that... Which I think is a really cool effect.

Speaker: fact that This whole scene takes place on the upper portion of Coruscant. There is like a thousand plus levels down. Yeah. That are likely suffering from like. Yeah, someone's car got knocked out of the air and some upgrades got knocked out and maybe a couple. fast Floating, floating science and stuff getting knocked around. But all that going down is going to affect the

Speaker: the lower down to go is the less the the ghettos the uh the ah ah poor and they're getting a destroyed as trash from the surface is just coming down at terminal velocity yep i think it's bad on top several thousand at like level like 13 13 it's getting rough they're getting wrecked oh yeah

Speaker: It's yeah, it looks like yeah you've got another note here, Nick.

Speaker: and Let me see here. A particular quote. Yes. Yes. A quote I wanted to say, but here it is. History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of man. To quote the blue oyster car cult.

Speaker: And then we have for for a final clip for us today, more banter. Yep. Sir, looks like the general's up to something. What is Skywalker doing? It appears to be one of Anakin's improvised plans. How can it be a plan if it's improvised? Not to worry, just catch them when they fall.

Speaker: A lot of the general's plans involve falling. I love that. Anakin's improvised plan. I don't know which one is the best. Improvise plan or discuss them when they're falling. Yeah. good And that I know it was it's a it's not Samuel L. Jackson as the voice actor.

Speaker: But I can so hear Samuel L. Jackson say, oh i if improvised, how can it be a plan? Yeah. I was just saying it, but I will accredit that this VA does a great job. Oh, yes. Yes, he does. And honestly, again, I do criticize like ah Mace Windu's actual live -action performance.

Speaker: But I feel like every other voice actor working with it hits the point that they wanted to do, but I just don't think he ever hit it. Just my personal opinion. Fair enough. Yeah. Yeah. And then we ah we we kind of go King Kong again. we yeah but the Yeah. But instead of, we'll we get to that point.

Speaker: Well, we're on yours. Yeah, we we are, in fact, on your point now. Oh, yeah. Just like King Kong, ah it's the is defeated by an aerial force. But unlike in the classic film, it's a beauty that kills the beast. Well, you you also had wanted to say something about Kong climbing a high structure to capture a person.

Speaker: Mm hmm. Oh, yeah. I mean, that's classic. clean calm Yeah. And just in this case, it just happens to be. You know, the mild -mannered Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, who the Zillow Beast seems to be pretty cued in on... I won't want to hurt him. Yeah. it's It's kind of an interesting counterpart, how, you know, in King Kong, King Kong grabs the lady because he's into her, like, romantically, sort of. But here, ah the Zillow Beast is not ah swayed by romance. He's swayed by hatred.

Speaker: And so they they do kill the Zillow Beast using the poison gas. Yep, the the green gas. And Palpatine orders Ball to clone the Zillow Beast. Oh, wow. And we this episode is called, what was it called again? ah The Zillow Beast Strikes Back. Oh, I can't wait for the return of the Zillow Beast.

Speaker: ah I wonder if we'll ever find out what happens with that idea of cloning it. Surely it won't take them it wouldn't take them 14 years to tell us. Yeah, certainly not. you know they They'd get around to it eventually. i mean that is thats That's not an oddly specific number of years or anything. i mean Exactly. like ah good like We should expect like the Zillow Beast returns. always We could get like a... The Phantom Zillow Beast. ah Attack of the Zillow Beast. Revenge of the Zillow Beast. Return of the Zillow Beast. The Zillow Beast Awakens.

Speaker: Um, Rogue Zillow. The last Zillow Beast. No, no, before that. Rogue Zillow. A Star Wars story. Then the last Zillow Beast. And then Zillow. A Star Wars story. A new Zillow. and And then the rise of Zillow Beast.

Speaker: Well, I mean, it only will take us like 14 years to actually understand this story arc. And it's amazing that Lucasfilm hasn't hired us yet. Yeah. But yeah,

Speaker: the Zillow Beast arc as a whole is a pretty good thing to have on here. It was pretty cool. Yep. A lot of fun. And so I asked this at the end of every episode, Lauren.

Speaker: how How are you liking Clone Wars? What'd you think? oh i i enjoyed its I've been enjoying this stuff so far. I really like the Zilla Beast episodes. I really like the animation on the creature in particular. Yeah. i am They are amazing. I'm sure it will come as no surprise to you that the Zilla Beast episodes are fan favorite episodes. Oh, yes. I believe it. Not not just from from Godzilla fans, but just like fans in general. It is a is a real fun cats like along with Cad Bane these are like some highlights oh yeah the the first three Cad Bane episodes excellent stuff right there and uh you know i want i want to see uh Cad Bane and Hondo fight each other Cad Bane versus Hondo when does that happen you know i don't think it does it doesn't

Speaker: and the the Oh, it doesn't. Oh, man, never that would have been fun. Look at Cad Bane versus Hondo that that feels like such a such a cool matchup. That feels like but you got to put those characters together. But let me ask you this ah oh between Cad Bane and Hondo, which one do you think has made it into live action? Hmm. Let's see here. You know, I'm.

Speaker: I'm going to say Cad Bane because I feel like Hondo would be too direct of a um of ah of a reference to an actor. you you are correct cabain has made it into live action hondo has made it into animatronic form at Galaxy's Edge. And so there are people who are like, which live action series is going to have Honda? We need Honda in live action. You have to pull the costume off the freaking animatronic at Galaxy's Edge. Daryl, do you want Stephanie to just

Speaker: just angrily assault everyone at Lucasfilm. You know her feelings on Hondo. They are rather militant. It's perfect because, you know, live -action Hondo will get killed by live -action Cad Bane. And so then she'll be justified. Women!

Speaker: spoilers. that That's a whole other story. andgie And if we get to a particular live action series, you'll understand why. All right. But I think we should probably end this episode and yeah we have it. Yeah, this is a good place for us. Yeah, this is a big episode. This is a big episode. And next up we have next up, we will be looking at five episodes that make up one complete story arc as the Clone Wars hasn't gotten into full chronological order yet, but there's car a they're starting to adopt larger story arcs at a time. So we will catch every everyone then. Thanks for listening. We hope you're still enjoying listening, that you're still coming back and we will see you next time.