Clone Watch - Episode 6

Transcript

Speaker: Casual Nerdy is a podcast celebrating and discussing the 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: latest episode of the casual nerdy podcast and our Clone Watch series. This time around we have an additional voice in the mix. We have our friend Betsy. Hey, Betsy. I realize this is a podcast, but I started waving anyway. Hey, so did I. So did I.

Speaker: hopeful yeah We are super glad to have you here. So fill everybody in. What is your history with Clone Wars? And what made you want to join us for this particular batch of episodes? Well, the way I usually describe to people is that I like the Star Wars a normal amount, a completely normal amount. Just ignore the fact that I have a tattoo on my arm about it. It's fine. Don't worry about it. Of course. ah But yeah, I watched the Clone Wars like off and on a little bit way back in Yielden days when it was on Cartoon Network.

Speaker: Granted that was kind of hard to do because the watch times were like all over the place. oh yeah ah But back around like, what was it, 2015 -ish something around there? Like I actually went back and watched it like from start to finish all the way through. And I'd already like started falling back into my Star Wars phase. And at that point I was like, okay, I'm sucked in, let's go. And and then you met us and that,

Speaker: ah came into my gaming group, the Star Wars role -playing game. And it's been downhill ever since. Yeah. yes but not Now you're stuck with all of us. Yep. Am I stuck with all of you or are you stuck with all of them or are you all stuck with me? See, I would consider us being stuck with you to be a win. So you being stuck with us is the bad one. Or is it that they're all stuck with you and me, Daryl, and they have to deal with our shenanigans?

Speaker: Well, there is that sometimes too, yes. But the reality is that all of you are stuck with me because one day I'm going to start talking about Kirby and I will not stop talking about Kirby. And none of you will know what I'm talking about. We are kind of connected to Lauren in that they have not watched the Clone Wars. Indeed. This is my first one of several several several Star Wars role -playing games that I have been running. And that brings us into the reason of how are we watching the Clone Wars, Daryl? We're watching it in the method made in hell of chronological. Ah, come on. You know what makes more sense when you watch it chronologically? Even if that's not how we all got to watch it. High five feet to you, Betsy.

Speaker: Thank you. It did not, not really, but we talked about that in some of the earlier episodes. So you can just go back and listen to my thoughts on that. Oh, I've heard your thoughts. You've shared them. I heard of multiple multiple occasions yeah it's i don't like having to skip around in the menus on Disney Plus or flo swapping out discs if I'm using my physical media. And there there's stuff that... Blame it on Dave. Yeah. yeah kind of yeah there's There's stuff that really only makes sense contextually in the later episodes that come earlier chronologically.

Speaker: if you watch them in release order, I think. But that's me. No one who wants release order is like, I remember arguing online about like, where does this fit? How does this fit? For like several seasons, it'd be like, yes, it's much easier to watch it sit in the actual chronological order than the actual release order. Oh, and and But you introduce but do can also blame me. I know you're going to do it, Daryl. Yes, I am. Which which reminds me, yeah we've introduced half of our cast of characters with Betsy and Lauren. But you for some reason, if this sixth episode is your first episode, hi, I'm Daryl. Hi, Daryl. Hi, Daryl. And I'm Nick.

Speaker: Hi, Nick. Hi, Nick. Hi, Dr. Nick. Oh, I do wish I was one. See see that smudge on the x -ray that looks like my fingerprint? That's trauma.

Speaker: But but we we have a lot of good stuff to cover. This episode, we've got the next batch of episodes up for Lauren's first watch of Clone Wars. Today, we're going to be discussing Blue Shadow Virus, which is season one, episode 17. Mystery of a Thousand Moons, season one, episode 18. Storm Over Ryloth, season one, episode 19.

Speaker: Innocence of Ryloth season one, episode 20 and Liberty on Ryloth season one, episode 21. Yeah. they They are conveniently both chronological and release order. It's a miracle. good Yeah. They started doing that a lot more as the thing went on. Oh yeah. And they eventually got arcs and they eventually got completely, you know, synced up then and i want we're a bit away from that. Yeah. We haven't quite gotten there yet.

Speaker: We'll get there when we get there. And you'll probably be there too. Yay! First up, Blue Shadow Virus season 1 episode 17. The official episode description Padme and Jar Jar are captured while searching for a secret Separatist bioweapons lab, sparking Anakin, Obi -Wan, and Ahsoka to try and save their friends and halt the release of a deadly virus.

Speaker: so So and the reason Padme and Jar Jar are called in is this secret base is on Naboo. And they they get a they get hold of a tactical droid and the the Republic is good with basically torturing droids to get information. Yeah, and Padme decides the best way to do that is to, you know, make 3PO party to what is it called when you vivisect something that's not technically alive?

Speaker: I mean, for yeah, good question. oh Evisceration. Yeah, but also, technically, Frippio is just interrogating someone by asking questions by omitting its its faction. Hey, I didn't say he did the Viva section. I just said he was party to it. Yeah, right. And so, yeah, this one of the one of the spare C Frippio's. He's out a war criminal.

Speaker: He's made this offer, it's his lot in life. not I'm sure we can fix that by the end of the series. Yes, but sooner or later, 3PO will become a war criminal. if okay He's not even going to start rapping up the kind of body counts that we'll see later on from others. This is true. I mean, he even if there are more and you'll get there. Oh, I believe so. Even if his war crimes are in deleted scenes, three becomes a war criminal. Of course, because he's very he's more saint than it is a Star Wars hell for droids. There is a special place for certain droids. We all know which one except for you, Laura, because you'll get there.

Speaker: yeah love to see it I'm sure I will. We'll get there. Unfortunately, I'm now your Star Wars custodian. to so that the part of the information that they find out is oo there's a virus and some of it has leaked out And while all of this is going on, hey, hey, it's time for Jar Jar Hijinks. Oh, boy. And he's fumbling around this lab where they're torturing the tactical droid, which yeah as as as you do, and I can't say that I'm totally opposed to that. A long gaming story there. The tactical droids are evil. um But he's fumbling around. the biass But I understand it.

Speaker: he Jar Jar is preoccupied fumbling around this lab trying to eat a bug that crawled out of the tactical droid. Classic slapstick, which I will say this, as we were talking about like redeeming Jar Jar, this is kind of the fun that they were trying to convey in episode one. And like ah a bumbling sort of like, he's helpful, but also kind of ah kind of just causes problems. A minutes. A minutes. Yeah. Actually, there was an episode of the Star Wars show like forever ago where Laura Jane Grace came on and she talked about how she got a new perspective on it from her daughter who, you know, as a very young kid thought that Jar Jar was the most hilarious thing she'd ever seen. Oh, yeah. kid The kids loved her. I like the Ewok thing.

Speaker: Yeah, you know i i was I was late 20s when Phantom Menace came out. So Jar Jar was not targeted to me. yeah and i But also you was savvy enough to recognize that. And I'll admit that when I grew up with Phantom Menace, I did appreciate low brow humor. But I'd also been introduced to a lot of high brow humor by my um my family. So I didn't get it.

Speaker: and this elite, but Clone Wars maybe come around and be like, oh, that's classical humor. And someone who works with kids on the regular, like, yeah, that kind of how humor still kills. I made a blue figurine sit on a plastic toilet earlier today, and one of my kids lost his mind. Nice. But Jar Jar's preoccupation with this bug, he knows what it is. And so it helps them find where the Separatist lab is.

Speaker: Again, it's the comedy, but leads into a into the story bit, which I do feel is like what separates it from Phantom Menace, where it's like pure comedy, just for comedy's sake. Right. Basically the same shtick as Mr. Magoo. Yes. Yes. Mr. Binks. Yes. That's a great analogy.

Speaker: analogy But yeah, so basically there's some Jar Jar tongue torture in here. It sure does happen. It does happen. And then Padme going on a lab search adventure in some really cool hazmat suits. I mean, is there anything that Padme can't make look good? No. Yeah. well there Yeah. You got a point there.

Speaker: I mean, it's just there. like Well, OK, maybe there's one thing because I'm still bitter about it, but that's a whole other deal. Are we going to get to that or is that like foreshadowing? I mean, it's not really foreshadowing, I guess, because everyone kind of knows how she ends up. Oh, OK. Oh, Padme Amidala and the berry deserve better. That's all I'm saying. So in any case, yet Jar Jar's luck stat ends up finding the base.

Speaker: And inside this base is a scientist who really puts the mad in mad scientist. Like checks every single box it's possible to check. Oh yeah. He's got the outfit. He's got the accent. He's got the whole viruses don't kill people. People kill viruses. They're the real monsters thing. And then, you know, when he's about to unleash something horrible, he says, good news. So no yeah, he's basically got big O.

Speaker: Yes, everyone know it was like the underground lab was the space. This just so ah classic evil laugh. and This was an evil laugh. He was a freak and stuff. He said, Dr. Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein, almost not. Is that separate? Is it Frankenstein or Frankenstein? Yes.

Speaker: It's Frank and Stein. but Or Frank and Furtur. Ooh. Ooh. That's a separate entity, but. You know, I would love to see if they appear to the Star Wars. I'm definitely sitting here in Antisa. Say it. Say it. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. It was right there. It was. I was just saying, as a literature guy, it's like he is a caricature of Dr. Frankenstein.

Speaker: and not of Frankenstein's monster. That's separate. And I'm just one of those guys who's like, it's it's obvious if if you read the book. No, I hear you. I hear you. In this house, we love and respect Mary Shelley. Yes. Yes. So yes, we've got some more Geneva Conventions broken with bioweapons. Because the Star Wars has always cared about the Geneva Convention or whatever. Yes.

Speaker: but as i i bring that kind of them account be In the movie, they bring up the theory. It's a code of war that Obi -Wan did break. oh and and anikin it it That code of war is kind of like the Prime Directive on Star Trek. They bring it up only when they're about to just toss it out the window. My opinion is that Anakin saw that code of Republic Code of Warfare and said like. That sign can't stop me because I can't read. No, he said like, OK, that's the achievement list. Yep, challenge accepted. It's that you know, and he said Anakin, yes. Which is, you know, the entirety of the Star Wars franchise. shouldn't Do any of this is like Anakin was like.

Speaker: I can and I will. And I will post it on a score seat. But I need help. I'm going to that platinum trophy Obi -Wan. Small child! Help me with my achievement.

Speaker: I suppose he did. I suppose yeah small children did. Yes.

Speaker: Yay. Ahsoka is helping him get that achievement list this entire series. Yes, indeed. And Anakin's got - And badly. And Anakin's got that whole, oh, it's my people. My people are in danger.

Speaker: Yep. He's just making scared, angry noises like everyone is a danger. They're all going to die. And he's yelling at Obi -Wan like, why aren't you on edge? Aren't you on edge? And you've got Obi -Wan who's, you know, Obi -Wan. I'll keep up all my feelings right here. And then one day I'll die Kenobi going, oh, I'm just better at hiding it. And like, yeah, that's it. That's the both of them in a nutshell. I have a healthy I have a response to this. Oh, no, it wasn't healthy. No, no.

Speaker: And so Anakin goes aggro for his wife. And it's a day ending and why? Yes, why yes let's let's take a listen at them. hadd may maybe be lost ane don't risk the mission trying to rescue her i'll take care of the bombs you focus on the doctor i know what's at stake here

Speaker: And you know, it's like Obi -Wan may as well just say, hey, Anakin, I know. Or you know at least I have a pretty strong idea. But I know. And so does you know basically the entire rest of the galaxy. I'll be amongst not special. Yes. It's about as subtle as a freight train blasting through a wall at high speed.

Speaker: And so meanwhile, another plot point that's been happening in this episode that we haven't brought up yet is that ah there's this female Gungan who's been showing up throughout the episode and they've repeatedly told her to just stay behind, but they bring Jar Jar along. Is is is there like a sexism thing going on here? yeah there's women do anything Well, there's a couple of ways that you can look at that. One is Jar Jar signed up for this. She didn't. He's also a senator.

Speaker: Well, he's a representative. A representative working with the senator. And he's taking points on how to be a senator from Padme, Nabarian, Madala. So, you know. The other way to look at it is, you know, Anakin and Obi -Wan and the rest can be saying,

Speaker: If anything happens to him, would it really upset us all that much? Oh no, one that got us into this war in the first place by granting those emergency powers died! Aw, man! Oh no, we killed the real Sith Lord, dar Darth Jar Jar. Darth Jar Jar, Lord. Lord for the new Legos battle.

Speaker: Oh, please. We've all known for years that Darth Darth thinks is the key to all of this. Yes. And um so, you know, they everything, every everything kind of doesn't really go pear shaped, but they go about the way a a mission um including these characters would be expected to go. Yeah. i gets scattered and here hear here and and And who is it that comes in, you know, kicking ass and taking names? That's my baby. It's your girl. That's my baby.

Speaker: And, you know, just love her. She is my precious perfect daughter who has never done anything wrong in her life. Show up about those other things. Those don't count. Yeah, totally.

Speaker: and so definitely clear to with time And just a something in general, I realized as I was watching this is I really could have sworn that this story was somewhere like in season two or three. I thought it was further down the line because it's pretty high stakes, potential galaxy -wide biological warfare And it's the first season where it's still kind of anthology -like and still aimed at a younger audience. See earlier RE Jar Jar shenanigans. And the start of an arc. Yeah. ah But then as they're as they're going through the lab and trying to capture Dr. Vindy,

Speaker: And his his little leppy robot, leppy droid. When I say this, almost never gets kind of part of the fact that it's still a lot more kitty, because that's a lot more slapstick with that. Yeah. And and they're they're trying to stop the virus, and you get a lot of viral hot potato tropes running through the climax of the episode. You know, like, oh, oh, oh. i' somebody's dropping the vial oh no will we catch oh we caught it just in time oh wait there's one more vial oh no we gotta catch that oh no i mean it's good drama because like the stakes are so high but the amount of the hop it's like okay it's a little silly

Speaker: Yeah, Ralph's are all charge our shenanigans. Yeah. I mean, as much as the show can get very like dark and serious, it still is very much for your child audience too no to the to the virus was that it think got into the water supply and a whole lot of Shax died. Yes. Yeah. You know, whole like hot zone event and whatever. I just realized how silly it is to say the whole bunch of Shax died when they that's that's the name of the big cow things.

Speaker: that Yes, these are animals. These have no relation to Shaquille O 'Neal. No. That is correct. The basketball player who was defeated by Aaron Carter. What it wasn't meant to be like, this is the proof to us. It's like, oh, this is deadly and dangerous. No basketball players were harmed in the making of this completely computer animated episode. And, you know, Disney pop stars. Rest in peace, Aaron Carter.

Speaker: ah But it For the most part, things are wrapped up, but it does lead into the next episode, which is Mystery of a Thousand Moons from Season 1, Episode 18, which has the description of the fatal blue shadow viruses released infecting Ahsoka, Padme, and many clone troopers and giving Anakin and Obi -Wan just 48 hours to find the antidote on a mysterious planet from which no visitor has ever returned. Dun, dun, dun. Uh -oh. But, you know, it just - We're in front of us wrong because we had a role -playing game where you guys did visit and returned. Well, and - Well, you know, this was later in the timeline, arguably. Yeah, yeah. But - They figured it out. But Anakin,

Speaker: As a nine year old, you know, putting the moves on Padme mentioned deep space pilots coming back. Are you an angel? I've heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They're the most beautiful creatures in the galaxy from the moons of Iago.

Speaker: Yeah, I can say the whole line. out Normal amount. Normal Normal amount. You just rids me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry you rids me. because that' line That line is the ultimate, the ultimate rids. But we we have some. No one can resist it. Lauren, Lauren, did you do not feel? Oh, I'm really feeling it.

Speaker: I don't know, is it better than you're in my very soul tormenting me? I'm haunted by the case that I shouldn't have taken that i shouldn't have stolen or whatever. Oh no, that sounds strange. No, i think I think the only thing that can beat that line is I killed them all, not just the men, but the women and children too. They were animals and I slaughtered them like animals. ah At which point Padme said, I am in.

Speaker: i made that but also like yeah Now the question is, is that what got her or was she thinking I can fix him? who Yes, the answer is yes yeah he was like but mean the answer is yes. Full stop. yeah the answer is i can make him genocidal i can make him worse but we we start off pretty much with some of our favorite obi -wan anakin banter that was close i know how would i do like that that virus escaped everyone on nabu would be dead now oh well just another boring day saving the universe

Speaker: um It's beautiful. Obi -Wan is amazing in this series. He is. yes Oh yeah, it's beautiful. Yeah, Jason and Taylor did just like an awesome job just getting so much right about the character. Took everything that was Obi -Wan from both the prequels and the original trilogy and was like, I'm going to make it with the ultimate sassy bits of all time. Yup. Yes.

Speaker: and you know in the live action obi -wan series i had i got a sense that you and mcgregor was like you know that's a fun take on this character oh he hit that and i am i am gonna run with it i have again like that again i have some i have my critiques of the obi -wan series but ian mcgregor's like return like He took everything that came before and did definitely get some Arnold Taylor in there. Yes. like There's no denying it, especially when... it's not a It's not a spoiler, but for those who know, it's like, goodbye, Dorf. If you know, you know.

Speaker: yeah yeah know I'm fine. I am perfectly fine. I don't have any feelings about this at all. Yeah, right that was an Arnold Taylor line. Mixed with, you know, the original line from the original movie. given much more poignancy from that moment. He puts the sass in. Yes.

Speaker: So yeah, this episode, ah dealing with a virus outbreak, kind of following off of what you said about the last episode, Daryl, this is pretty intense, especially for how early it is in the series. Definitely, definitely. And then Vindy's droid, the little rabbit droid, sets off a bomb with a vial of the virus down in the lab.

Speaker: And then the aesthetic of of the episode takes a major jump with the blue gas, which makes for a really cool environment for most of the episode. Oh, it does. it it's It's a great, great look. It really does. Never mind that you know everyone's like slowly dying. It looks yeah cool. And that's what's important. It's worth the nap. Exactly. But since... So he wants this episode before I saw the alien. It's kind of has that alien aesthetic of like the blue gas on the ground. Yeah, yeah, definitely. So does have like a sort of fun like classic sci fi film like aesthetic.

Speaker: and Ahsoka and some of the clones, so that they're in a safe room. Awesome, yay, safe room, safe room is safe, right? Oh no, some of the virus got into the safe room with Ahsoka and the clones. Why must my daughter be so noble and wait till she makes sure everyone is in the room? Because the that's just her. It is. And now, and they came up with a bad cop with what's his face to try to figure out how to make a cure.

Speaker: yep and so Obi -Wan and Anakin are now off to Iago to find the component for an antidote. you know I completely forgot how this planet was pronounced. Looking at the notes, I thought you kept saying Lego.

Speaker: And it's like, I don't remember Lego showing up in this. Oh, you'll get there. You'll get there. That's their own whole series of specials and video games. Yep. And an entire TV series. If you want to, you can do a premaker thing with Lauren. I mean, Lauren, in one of our campaigns, you've bet some of those characters. Yes.

Speaker: Yes, you have. You don't remember it maybe, but you have. You don't necessarily know that you have because you have don't have the frame of reference. but ah

Speaker: but so yeah you You have a ah note here, Betsy, I think, about Anakin's response to ah them being exposed.

Speaker: Yeah, especially once he finds out that Padme is also gotten gassed. He's like, no, my padawan is down there and so is my wife. I mean Padme, I mean Senator Amidala. I know if I was just sitting here like facepalming like, dude, bro, really? I still need to maintain some level of plausible diode deniability and you're killing me here. and you wont If I know that I can't pretend I don't anymore, come on, dude.

Speaker: and now let's yeah um with all each other's minds like all the time withs sounds terrible but And now, for frame of reference, you know we we do play but try as much as we can to play by the rules that if it hasn't happened chronologically in the timeline, we don't know about it. But by this point in the timeline,

Speaker: um you roughly market eight over on any more more More people see the movies than watch the TV shows and more people watch the live action shows and watch the animated and more people watch both the live action and animated shows than read the books and more people read the books than read the comics. In one of the novels set right after Attack of the Clones. So before this, after the whole secret wedding, Obi -Wan pretty much figures it out. he yeah he He puts a lot of the clues together. Nice. And it wasn't that hard. It really wasn't that hard. Yeah, in in the novel Brotherhood, you know, the there's all sorts of stuff that Obi -Wan is basically like, there's something going on here. If I don't know

Speaker: for sure, then I don't have to call him on it. As long as he doesn't explicitly come out and tell me, hey, by the way, I got a secret wife that I married and, you know, all this is going to happen. He'd be like, oh, no, Jedi Council members, I'm sure everything is fine. He just cares deeply for the people of the galaxy. Yep, yep, totally. No, I know nothing about any sort of relationship behind the scenes. I have seen nothing. I have heard nothing. ah I would say this makes a lot more sense. We learn a bit more about Obi -Wan going down the series. right hey As we go down, down, down the road, down the Jedi's road. Perhaps we'll understand why Obi -Wan is so accommodating.

Speaker: like so I have a lot of things to say about this. especially how it lines up with the whole infinite sadness thing. He's fine. He's fine. He's fine. How do you feel about foreshadowing? Oh boy. I mean, you know, I, I've definitely experienced some infinite sadness in my day. Oh, this is going to be some next level stuff. Just you wait. and boy I can even go back and bring up stuff that technically didn't happen anymore. However, you know, it still adds to it. Oh boy.

Speaker: the whole deal horses. But yeah, we we get Padme infected. um Yeah, I can super normal about it. As always, as always. And we we get to Iago. Iago. I can never remember exactly how to pronounce it. It's Iago.

Speaker: But we get to Aiego and there they're confronted by some battle droids. Oh boy! they just ah the deoids They're just walking up to him. Yeah, because they have been commandeered by a Wizkid. Yeah! Some sort of yeah cool kid is it's the most pimp kid in all of Star Wars.

Speaker: In another life, Anakin probably would have gotten all of Bruce Wayne and adopted that child on the spot. This kid is so cool. He's almost even as cool as Dave Strider himself. No one is as cool as Dave Strider. You know this. It's true. He's a cool school kid. He's basically like, yeah, I hacked a hack. I went into the network. He hacked the mainframe. He hacked the planet. Now, I'm going to say even the first time that I saw this episode rewatching it now,

Speaker: I had this clear moment of deja vu that I was like, oh, wait, is this like the the Jeff Loeb, Ed McGinnis new version of Toy Man from the Superman Batman series of the early 2000s? Like the Toy Man of Batman, Superman,

Speaker: yeah they have like Yeah, the title that the comic that had note that the title was expressed simply as a logo without text. Yeah. yeah so and The one that tried that. The one that made the extra go was to look at Power Girl. Yes. Thank you for reminding me of that. I mean, he did it, not me. Mm hmm. It is Toy Man. There was that version of Toy Man.

Speaker: but But yeah, i just I had that vibe for this character. It just reminded me of that. Young genius that didn't really care that he has an army of armed droids at his command. is like They're going to fan me and and bring me like food and stuff.

Speaker: Another character in the future will say that he's not thinking big enough. Yes. Or possibly too big by having a whole army. Yeah. And, you know, that has the the GM in me thinking, hmm, maybe I might want to bring him in and into some game at some point. Please do. I am you. I want to see him. Challenge accepted. Good. I didn't have grand ideas. And that's why when I brought to you guys to Eigo and Well, that was me and Robert, but we didn't have, like, grand ideas for that. We just we had better ideas. Yeah, you know, the dragon. The dragon thing. Yeah, it was cool. maybe a Maybe he'll set up his droids as a rival band someday.

Speaker: Oh no, only the one we're talking about is the front man. Maybe the dragon's gone, so that could be the new faction. Oh no, Robert, don't listen to the podcast.

Speaker: It's sad jokes. And, you know, the we keep cutting back and forth between Hayego and Naboo. Yep, and Ahsoka gets to kick some butt against the bubble droids. I love the bubble boys. They're back again. And I love Ahsoka kicking butt. You go, baby! That's my daughter. You're doing amazing, sweetie.

Speaker: the this story rights They're really serious business. Every time the bubble boys come up, I gotta to bring it up. I love the bubble boys.

Speaker: I'm guessing by bubble boy or bubble boys, you mean the destroyers, the - Yeah, the droidekas. Yeah. Thank you. I think of the word for droideka. I call them the bubble boys. Honestly, I like that name.

Speaker: and And then yeah we we keep cutting back and forth. ah you You've got a few notes here, Lauren. ah Yeah. Well, I mean, the next one is actually Betsy's note.

Speaker: Oh, yeah. Well, we find out about how people are getting blown up anytime they try to leave Diego. And, you know, the most recent pilot that tried to escape was named Takedo. So I just put Riff Takedo gone too soon. Nice. And yes, it actually is Takedo. I double checked it on Wikipedia. That's just, you know, how they spell his name. I love it. They spell his name like the food. Like the food. Good for him. I had to look it up right now. Yeah, that's true. I had to look it up. And yes, so the Rhodian's name is spelled Takedo. Nice.

Speaker: So yes, and then as Anakin and Obi -Wan are going around on Yego, they run into the Plant Gang! Which, you know, in ah in Super Smash Brothers, Piranha Plant is the playable character, and people who like Piranha Plant, they're the Plant Gang! And we've we've basically got Piranha Plants. It is a bunch of plants that are on the cliff side, trying to get a different type of plant.

Speaker: but there are carnivorous plants that are trying to like, crawl towards them. But you're saying it's part of the episode is brought to you by Plant Gang? Yes, yes, this episode, this this part of the episode is brought to you by the Plant Gang. But it is similar to a similar type of plant that is in the, uh, Jedi Fallen Order game on, on Kashyyyk. There are a lot of plants that like to kill you in the Star War.

Speaker: I believe it. Yes. There's a whole planet of them. There's almost everything in the Star Wars universe. It is just plain murderers for no reason. yeah And then you then you get, you know, you toss High Republic into the mix and you get the drain gear. It never ends. And they are absolutely malicious. he i said Everything else is like.

Speaker: Fizz got to eat said he in hungry plants got it like devour said he and beings and the drag gear are like now we're just evil yeah

Speaker: So yeah, and then after plant gang, an angel arrives. Are you an angel? The most beautiful creatures in the galaxy. Mm -hmm. Which just didn't, which reveals why this entire arc exists to finally sow and portray that one line. To pay off on the nine -year -old's pickup line. Mm -hmm. Yes. That somehow worked.

Speaker: Well, I mean, yeah you know, but it kind of worked. It made it made an impression on her that she remembered him 10 years later. But 10 years later, it was the massacring of of an indigenous people. Especially the children. Because, you know, that's the guy you want to have to follow. That's what sealed the deal. It began with that one pickup line.

Speaker: But what really sealed the deal was genocide. Yes. And so ah apparently the reason people can't leave Iago except for the deep space pilots that told Anakin about angels to set up his pickup line is there's a laser array around the planet.

Speaker: that is keeping people in, keeping people from leaving. And then they obliterate the laser array. So it wasn't a ghost? No, was it wasn't a ghost. Yes, I never would have guessed.

Speaker: And they, you know, Anakin and Obi -Wan help take out the laser array so that the planet is opened up for for everyone again. And yeah, that whole adventure seemed completely disconnected from the plague story. Yeah. much Yeah, basically. And it's a time of purpose seem to be like. Let's try to explain the fact that how Anakin even came up with this. This pickup line, which again, it wasn't the ultimate selling point. But why? And I can totally get that because

Speaker: let Let's be honest, us Star Wars fans love having minutia explained. We love it. that This is our our bread and butter. We love this. I feel called out. I'm called out as well, but i'm like yeah that's true.

Speaker: but um But in truth, like, yeah, it's it's it's it has nothing to do with the storyline just tangentially because it's like, oh, the cure is on this planet. Right. That happens to pay off on a line from, you know, 1999. Right. Entirely like seems like it's more in terms of that than because but that's the line that people only remember because it's achieved meme status. But, you know, I i would I have no problem with them deciding they want to explain that. There wasn't really a need or reason to tie it to this particular storyline. for finding this Consider the stakes. It was like the first episode was like galactic stakes and now it's like personal stakes and like the actual like payoff is like, oh, they solve that. And now we had to say on how.

Speaker: and a king god and ummit You know what would have been super funny though? When the angel showed up, if Anakin had looked at the angel and said, are you a senator?

Speaker: so Yeah, yeah. Honestly, they missed their opportunity. If you're hearing this and we know you are. i mean I made this joke to a friend that I watched it with because I would watch it him with a couple of friends sometimes. it's like so like What if he said that the Azer was hideous? But no, no, you don't understand this episode. It wasn't made for any of that. It was made for plant gang.

Speaker: ah But, you know, this so they get the antidote component and the day is saved. And I know we're getting something. I don't know, are we?

Speaker: Yeah, we are. The reason why the epitome is infected with the virus is because charger screws up again. who Fair, fair. and And her suit gets ripped.

Speaker: ah But the the day is saved. And I know, spoiler alert, ah this is something that we don't know yet. But I know that Padme's pregnancy doesn't come along till later in the timeline. And Anakin didn't know she was pregnant until she told him at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith. But which well get to lauren yeah but I do kind of have to wonder how much more drama

Speaker: might they have been able to wring out of the virus story if it came later in the timeline when Padme was pregnant and was like, oh, these there's there's there's extra extra danger here. let um But I can't tell anybody because this is a secret. ye But secret secrets are no fun unless you tell everyone.

Speaker: Well, you know, they more or less almost do. Yes. But did didn't the Andrew Garfield, Peter Parker, teach us that the best secrets are the ones that you can't keep? I know this is about those are the best promises. Sorry. Oh, yeah. Sorry. Sorry. And that that is like positively perfect.

Speaker: Yep, that that didn't go wrong at all. and No, everything turned out fine. Just like it's gonna turn out fine here. and Emma Stone didn't put on, it didn't result in Emma Stone putting on an outfit that made me say, oh, they're about to do it. Yeah, you know, the skirt and the headband and - And the jacket and - We all knew. We're going to go into the next arc. Well, no, we've got a couple more notes in a clip here. yeah um Go ahead with yours, Lauren. It it works a little better before Mike gets set up. Jar Jar gets praised for doing mostly nothing. And I wonder what Rex thinks of Jar Jar. Yep. I heard you were quite brave sending off the battle droids, Jar Jar.

Speaker: Really? Senator Armadol has suggested we offer you training to help hone your skills with a blaster. Really? Really? Oh boy, I'm going to be trained. I am not training him. Yep. Any one of those images, all of Star Wars, all of Star Wars of Jar Jar had a gun and it's like six times the length.

Speaker: ah

Speaker: So that that does then take us into the next episode, the beginning of a three -parter. Storm over Ryloth, Season 1, Episode 19. Ahsoka disobeys Anakin's orders and loses most of her squadron, prompting Anakin to help give his Padawan a lesson in respect for authority and the opportunity for redemption.

Speaker: Yes, and as we go into this episode, we have a new R unit, R7. And of course, as always, as we wish if we have a new R unit, I've got to ask, is R7 a character?

Speaker: it in As with most of the answers to this question, in that R7, is in the story and has a name, yes. Does R7 become significant? and No. so be vi Lauren, the thing you need to understand is that it doesn't matter how insignificant a background character is in the star, where they have a name and a backstory. yeah They have a name, they have a backstory. They have a fandom behind them. they go

Speaker: that There is, I can guarantee you that of all of the Astromech home builders out there, and there are lots of them. um a A friend of mine who is a co -host of the Movie Defenders podcast has built an R2 unit. Nice.

Speaker: um Someone in one of the Astromech Builders groups has built an R7. And r seven perhaps even at Star Wars you guys, they have a void building. So they can have built. You too can build your own R7. We've got to find the person who has R7 as their favorite R unit though.

Speaker: The big other seven stairs. I guarantee you that they are out there. They exist. I i promise you. one Once we get everything set together, we we can put a call out post. this i don't think I don't think you're using that term quite correctly, Nick. but to So Ahsoka is put in charge of a full fighter squadron.

Speaker: of named clones that we've never heard of before. ah I have a bad feeling about this. Oh, well now you said the line. I said the line. You said the thing. Yeah. So she gets to be the leader. And what is, what does Anakin tell her? its It's kind of a miracle. Anakin tells Ahsoka to not take a risk. So what does she do?

Speaker: You taste the risk. Yes, or and we cut back to the the bridge of the Venator and Admiral Yular and is like, did you train her not to follow orders? And and and he asked that and I'm sitting there like, well. See, that's where a so we can come in and say, I learned it by watching you, Sky Guy, OK? I learned it by watching you.

Speaker: which she did. um getting Unfortunately, Ahsoka was too slow.

Speaker: Yes, the her her squadron may as well have crossed franchises and been wearing red shirts. ah ah game was Again, clark this is still early Clone Wars. For kids, but this was rough. But, even though this is Cartoon Network and a kids show, since the Clone Troopers are all wearing helmets so you can't see their faces, it's okay to kill them on screen. Remember this, foreshadowing is a literary device.

Speaker: We'll get there. Yes, we will learn. We will i would scream about it. I believe. But it's like, yeah, they they all perished and. But but unlike a animated series. So it was actually taking like responsibility, I feel like. Oh. i I messed up, I.

Speaker: I cost the lives of actual people. Yeah, like, honestly, that's something I like about the Clone Wars as a show. It's like she disobeyed orders and, you know, bucked the chain of command and did whatever. And the show, the show is just like, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, that happened. But she got people killed. And the show takes something to let you sit there with that, that knowledge that her choices cost the lives of actual human beings, like actual people.

Speaker: and This is the first time we've ever met these people. This episode has less than 30 minutes to spend showing us all of this, and they still take that whole section of time out to show that everyone is upset that people died. Like, command, her master, other clones, herself. like yeah it It hits everybody.

Speaker: And like a lot of shows would have something like this and it's like, yeah, we're gonna acknowledge it so we're not ignoring it, but we're gonna immediately move on with the plot. They let you sit with it. But no, this is the plot. The plot is her learning this lesson. And it's not often that we see the Separatists win and the Republic lose and the Republic gets their butts kicked. Badly, very badly.

Speaker: Like Admiral Yularen is put into the med bay, and like we lose a whole Vanadyr -class destroyer. And those are, that's thousands of clothes, none if not dead. Nick, I think you had a a small fun fact to point out about the sequence. Fun fact.

Speaker: Fun fact, in the Star Wars Battlefront, front two video game that came out in 2017.

Speaker: This whole scenario was the basis of one of the stars starfighter assault business since you could play. Including the the same like amount of ships and the main antagonist being a large Luger -Hulk battleship. Right on.

Speaker: But it's like one of the one of the big of the post -Lukas era, including a in the Disney era.

Speaker: acknowledging a major event for the global wars as a part of a major video game. Yeah. And so we then, you know, like we said, we, we spend some time on Ahsoka basically saying, okay, I'm done. I'm done. I give up. I'm done. And Anakin, you having to mentor her through this.

Speaker: Anakin actually being a pretty decent mentor. but Yeah. We got some Ahsoka regret and some Anakin comfort. We got, we got that hurt comfort fit going on over here. so so i am a self for of comfort Always save here, but also like something that you very much like yeah was expecting a lot of, but oh yeah we're finally, we're we're getting it. It's happening. And While talking to Ahsoka, she makes an offhand remark in trying to dismiss some of what he's saying, which gives Anakin a wonderful idea on on how to proceed with their mission.

Speaker: He has an idea. An awful idea. An awful idea. He has a wonderful, awful idea. Oh, boy. Yeah, he's just going to crash a Venator into the Separatist fleet to break the blockade. As you do. As you do. It worked. True. True. But you know.

Speaker: And yes, it looks like, Nick, you have a thing to say about this particular maneuver. Yes. Oh, yes. Because this is a particular maneuver.

Speaker: Well, first, Ahsoka takes command. After Anakin decides to set a system to sort of fly his ship and then escape an escape pod, hoping for her to rescue him.

Speaker: in what seems like a really bad plan.

Speaker: And put all the responsibility on Ahsoka, which questionably is like, yes, he's putting full trust in her, but also - She's 14. The whole responsibility of this military campaign. She's 14. On his

Speaker: reckless near suicide side mission. And Betsy, welcome to one of our themes of pretty much every episode. Child soldiers. Yay. Exactly. I mean, arguably the clones are all child soldiers too, which makes it even better. Yeah, we bring that up decently enough. Oh, good. Okay, so you discussed it. yeah Yes, but the main factor here is like,

Speaker: He's hedging the entirety of the campaign on this. If they don't break through this through this blockade, liberating Rylof is, it's not going to work. But Ahsoka comes through with a brilliant strategy.

Speaker: The idea is.

Speaker: to tactically call for her warship since we're in space to turn its hangar bay away from the enemy and allow the hangar bay to deploy its fighters while maximizing armaments and defense forwardly. Taking advantage of the fact that space is a three -dimensional space. Now that is called The Marg Sibyl Maneuver.

Speaker: Now, in current canon, that is reflective of and derived from the name of Tugrata and Flower. Tugrata is the species that Ahsoka is, but it actually originates from an earlier work. Heir at the Empire, nineteen 91 attributed to the infamous Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Speaker: But, in canon, a new book called Thrawn Alliances in Twenty Seven Ting allowed them to learn of this Ahsoka maneuver and use that in future works.

Speaker: He knew my daughter created a work of art. Mm -hmm. And you know how Thrawn likes works of arts? Yes. It may not make sense to you now, Lauren, but the grand hour of Thrawn's a big thing. Gotcha. He's a big deal. Well, all right. And he can learn all about your military by looking at your child's macaroni art on the fridge. Mm -hmm. Mm -hmm.

Speaker: at this Acknowledgement is part of how, like, Dave Filoni is a big part of, like, Star Wars lore, and has brought it back into art, and also brought it back to original sources. We'll get more into that once we eventually meet Grand Arbolthon. Once we drag you down the Rebels Road. Yes, yes, of course. Kicking and screaming all the way. that's That's me, because apparently I just...

Speaker: We're going to be watching Star Wars for a long time, Lauren. I don't realize. Yes, one no that one love us i found that find that very daunting was like there's a lot we

Speaker: But anyway, um so it works. Get a migraine over here. Obi -Wan and his forces come in and there's even Anakin and Obi -Wan banter when Anakin isn't part of the conversation. I won't even ask where the rest of Anakin's fleet is or why he's in an escape pod. That's probably for the best.

Speaker: Yes, yes it is. Obi -Wan knows better than to ask questions he doesn't want the answer to. That is exactly right. He's learned. And then Ahsoka takes responsibility by taking up much more defensive strategy.

Speaker: and yeah we yeah anekin He's done the thing. He's crashed the Venator into the Trade Federation ship that is leading the blockade. He's saved the most Skywalker method of all. Massive crash. The most Skywalker method possible to save the day.

Speaker: Yes, which breaks the blockade and then takes us into our next episode. It's here. Innocence of Ryloth, season one, episode 20. It's time. It's time.

Speaker: To sabotage a powerful separatist weapon, Obi -Wan and a small clone force enter an occupied town and discover that its residents are being used as a living shield. Now, I could be wrong here, but I think Betsy's excited for this episode. Yeah, you know, this may or may not be the entire reason I bullied my way into this specific episode. Oh, you asked nicely.

Speaker: I literally sent you the list of things I wanted to guest on by saying my demands. I entitled it demands. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that she was going to start firing off laser rays if we didn't let her in. It's true. If it were a physical note instead of digital, it would have been cut out of newspapers and magazines. It would have been covered in blood. Yes. Not my blood, though. Yes, of course. What a big kidnap for this. Don't worry about it. Yeah. Don't worry about it.

Speaker: So which one of us would have been like strung up is like in like like so sort of like a song. Don't worry about it. ah but That's all I'm going to say. Don't worry about it. It wouldn't have been me because you're we're we're both too LGBT. You wouldn't have done that to me. It's true. It's true. We got to stick together. Yeah. Nick keeps worrying about it. So I think Nick has an idea. ah I can neither confirm nor deny. I understand.

Speaker: because you know this is going to be broadcast on the internet so I need some kind of plausible deniability. Exactly. Let's get into the episode. Yes yes please. So Obi -Wan gives the co clones a mission briefing as they're on their way to the surface of Ryloth and we set up a character arc for this episode.

Speaker: Mm -hmm, and so the the enemies here, they're using the prisoners as shields. Geneva Convention's broken again, everybody! I feel like we need to start keeping a tally. You guys should start keeping a tally. We should. Well, I mean - We made that joke before, yeah. Nick and I have considered making a tally. But the thing is, do we have enough sheets of paper to keep that tally? No. No, we do not.

Speaker: There are not enough sheets of paper in the galaxy.

Speaker: I did not know there were this many war crimes in the whole galaxy. Give it an event like new crimes throughout the whole series. Oh yeah, in Star Wars they're they're yeah they're doing war crimes that we haven't even conceived of yet. Right, but let's let's take a quick listen to to what goes on there in that landing craft.

Speaker: We need to remember why we're here. We came to aid the Twi 'leks, not destroy their home. Cody? That means we'll be taking it back the hard way. Minimal destruction with blasters and droid poppers only. No rockets or detonators. Check your aim. Keep an eye out for the locals. Am I understood? Sir, yes, sir! If we're here to free the tailheads, the least they can do is get out of our way.

Speaker: e Mm hmm. I have a lot of thoughts about this. I have thoughts about that, too, but I have a little bit of a thought as well. Yeah. So one thing I noticed that, you know, the only one that's making the racist remarks over there is Boyle Baxter just kind of is silent. And in my head, it's like he doesn't even bother summoning up the energy to roll his eyes because he can't be ours to because this is just, you know, boils back on his shit again. He's on his bullshit.

Speaker: But I got to say that when it comes to, you know, the way they're explaining this, I feel like Cody really gets it because you really got to look at like, you know, the bigger picture of the story. Trying to read what I wrote.

Speaker: Yeah, the show doesn't pull as punches when it comes to the dichotomy between how the clones see other beings, you know, like as living beings and how everyone sees the clones. But it adds a lot of context to Boyle's racism because a lot part of me has to wonder, like, how much of that is important by his own experiences? You know, the show brings it up later where they say that they're not meat clankers. So much of the galaxy, specifically the Republic, doesn't see the clones as people. They see them as, you know, automatons that are there to fight their battles.

Speaker: And I have to wonder if, you know, he's dealing with his own experience of dehumanization and coping with it by lashing out at the locals they encounter. Like he's trying to get into episodes. We, we dealt with episodes of that yeah yeah product, not living beings. And also they are.

Speaker: grown and have like at least a mental impression of their clone host, Jango Fett. How much of that is him? Like how? or Yeah, where's the line between nature and nurture? Where did this sort of xenophobic dy disgust or like disrespect of Twi 'leks come from?

Speaker: But see, one thing I have to wonder is if it's almost like he's trying to distance himself from and devalue all of them first before they can do it to him. Nothing has ever made him stop long enough to consider who exactly he's talking shit about. I mean, you could argue a lot of it, like. Again, like nature versus nurture that did Jango Fett's harbor. So I'm like distrust or dislike of Twilight sort that he hear it from like a person on chorus.

Speaker: sound Where he was like, where did he get learned this? Like, where did he learn the slur of tailhead? It's like an interesting concept. I mean, I imagine the clones have access to the holonet and they've been to 79s. Yeah.

Speaker: It's just an interesting concept that they are like, they are tabula rasa with some acknowledgement, mostly conflict and warfare, but hatred is like. And it seems pretty ingrained in him too.

Speaker: he But I find it interesting that, you know, meanwhile you have Cody and several of the other troopers that don't say a word about it and don't really even consider it. they professional And maybe it's just they're being professional about it, but it's, you know, there's not even really any like thinking twice about, oh, do we have to do this for the tailheads? It's just, okay, yep, we're going to do it. Boyle's the only one that shows like active resentment. And clearly like, again, like he says tailhead as a slur. and so its It's not like, it's not a term of endearment. It's not a referment to that. It's like, yeah, it is an ending for slur.

Speaker: For lack, for lack of a better term, it's a hard R. Yeah. Yeah. It seems, seems to like have like a clear, like, I don't want to help these guys. Where did that come from? Is that like ingrained learned? Again, it's part of the arc, but it's very interesting. Like how.

Speaker: Again, we're not terribly long into the Clone War. It's only three years and this is like roughly around like month, five or six. Yeah. Cause we, we've got seven seasons where the TV that we're cramming three years of events into. Yep.

Speaker: I just have found it like a really interesting part of the story. like Not just because it's about the character arc, but just thinking of the larger implications as far as like you know he's talking all this shit, but you know how often do people talk shit about him in the exact same way? I would imagine Meat Clankers as its own slur in that case. Oh, yeah. And we'll get into that like in like later seasons when we see how like the average like core world or deals with clones and stuff like that. Like it's an interesting level of hypocrisy. Yes. But it's interesting to see that like even like xenophobia, it's something the clones could get into. But in a lot of ways, most racism is filled with hypocrisy. Oh, yeah. So. But also to remind you, Lauren, that Star Wars has no apologies.

Speaker: Oh, yeah. There's no politics in the Star Wars. Zero percent politics. there is my everyone There's no politics in Star Wars. There's no politics in passing safe. There's no there's no politics. um There's also no women and no, you know, anything else. Yep. Yep. If they were to introduce such such elements, then it would be the end of the franchise.

Speaker: yes because you know that's when they did it when they went hashtag woke they killed star wars yep come to the real star wars yes star war like they land on rylife and we get some wars And within that war, well let's your well, one of the things that I noted is that with the tactical droid, he downloads Jedi files for the commander to use, which is like the second episode in a row now where they do that. I didn't mention in the previous episode because it didn't seem notable. But now that it's happening at two episodes in a row, it's like, oh, this is a thing that they can just do now.

Speaker: for shadowing is a literary device. Well, I wonder how they're able to access to my files. It's almost like someone in the Separatist and. Well, it's just be because, you know, Dooku took a bunch of that information with him when he left the order. Right. And the explanation, the explanation. Mm hmm. Don't worry about it.

Speaker: And then we have girl stealth. Yes. Which leads to a doll moment. It's her. I put in the notes here. I've only had Numa for a few minutes, but if anything were to happen to her, Waxer and I would kill every droid on this planet and then ourselves. And Boil too, he's just not ready to admit it. ah so And they're with you, but... ah Yeah, I'm there with you. And so Boyle and Waxer find Nuna or Numa, and they debate the movie soldier trope of taking the child that they find in the wreckage with them. And then they leave her behind. So of course, she follows them. The reluctant clone dads. In theaters this fall, Warren never prepared them for the real battle, fatherhood. Yeah.

Speaker: And then we get some. I'm going to find your fan, aren't I? Probably. So that you don't deny it. I would never. Yeah, why would she? You don't want to know how many AO three tabs I have open in my other browser right now. I'm not answering the question. Not the AO three tabs. So then we see some good old sadistic droid wackiness.

Speaker: ah The tactical droid has starved some beasts and then tests whether or not they'll leave the droids alone by letting it attack a B1 and then spit it out because it's not tasty.

Speaker: Well, I mean, that means they can just keep testing it on the same B1 over and over again. He's recycling. Yeah. that That is quite efficient and effective. Environmentally friendly tactical droid. I mean, tell me, you know, effective and efficient is not par for the course with a tactical droid. This is true. You know, when they're not busy, she's talking you to death. it' It's only to to make sure that they find, like, the best way to, like, utilize something to murder something. Is it a B1 battle droid?

Speaker: And you know, when they're not busy murdering you with their words. Right. That only happened a couple times. A couple times. That they times in a row happened a non -zero number of times. I had a nickel for the number of times a tactile droid has shit talk so into death. I would actually have more nickels than you would consider or than you would believe. ah At least five. At least five.

Speaker: But yes, Boyle is beginning to accept his fated role as the reluctant grizzled father figure to a young girl. Yes. and It's all really well done. Mm -hmm. It is. It's very well done. and And the Beasties are coming after them. Yep. And they're in the little girl's home. And that's when she reveals secret hole. Secret hole. Secret hole. And the village.

Speaker: I made the same two. Good. Good. You should. and then That's why I wrote down the note. See, we're all on the same page here. And then I don't know if if the three of you noticed this or not, but when the tactical droid is doing what is supposed to be an evil laugh, it's to the tune of the of the Terminator music. It really is. Yes, it's ha ha ha ha ha.

Speaker: oh da du du da ah did man I did make reference that every tactical droid has like their own unique like sort of thing. I was talking about that this one is like this especially sadistic but like I didn't notice that one. Interesting. yeah but Yeah, they all do have like their own like little like quirks. Yes. Yes. Because their own voice were the same guy but they all have like each and every one of them has like an individual like sort of like little lilt or to their voice or quirk that they do. Yeah and then ah then as the creatures start attacking more of the group Obi -Wan uses creature control. Yes he

Speaker: He gets them tamed and calmed using the force and leads them into an alleyway and then shuts them in by having the clones shoot a bridge overhead. And it's it's a fun sequence and it's also showing that like yeah the force is like the whole like mind trick thing is not just like Yeah, it's on the weak mind. It can affect animals and sort of like draw them in and then use that ability to sort. of He didn't kill the creatures because they aren't enemy combatants. They're just star of the angry monster. Mm hmm. And he understood that. I mean, he literally got inside their heads. Yeah. Yeah. He's like, I don't want to hurt them. I know they want to hurt me, but that's because they've been hurt.

Speaker: and I can't do much to help them, but I can at least prevent them from hurting anyone else. Also in general, Obi -Wan Kenobi put a lot of skill points into animal handling. Yes. Oh, don't forget about the skill points into like, to enhance, just so you can like do those flips to get over there. Oh yeah. But yeah, and then we have a moment where as they're invading the little droid base, one of the droids gets locked away very sadly.

Speaker: He is so sad whenever he gets locked up into that cage. He's so disappointed. Yes. He is. He's like, aw. But anyway, he's alive. like For now. Aw. Aw. I just, I love that moment. Okay. The droid humor just gets better and better every, every episode. It does. It really does.

Speaker: It's subtle and it's like, we also get to see like how scary the droids are, but it's like the not an equal measure, but definitely we get higher like a droid humor, but battle droid actual like scariness grows like throughout the series, but yeah much slower. But it's also fun to just listen to them talk to each other. Yes.

Speaker: And then - I'm not saying it's not serviced there. It would sound like prefer battle droid conversations or stormtrooper conversations. o I think I typically prefer the battle droid conversations so far. The stormtroopers don't say Roger, Roger. No. yeah That's already a point against them. Yeah. All the stormtroopers ever talk about is, you know, the new modelist Peter. Yeah.

Speaker: Yeah, and then ah they're using the enemy cannon. Yes. I don't remember what that specifically refers to at this point. Oh, they just, you know, stole one of the Separatist cannons and started blowing up their own ship with it. Yeah, it's a proton cannon that prevented them from landing their main force. They're like big AA cannons. Yeah, yeah. And they're like, yoink, mine now. Yep. Finders keepers.

Speaker: And the girl craves violence. Yep, Obi -Wan's like, I must protect the innocence of this tiny child. I can't let her see this. And Numa's like shoving his hand away going, Mr. Jedi, I wish to see my people commit graphic violence upon this droid so I may sink my bloodlust. She's so real for that. fact The technical short is like, ha ha ha ha.

Speaker: I am in the tank. It's like, wait, they're climbing on the tank. And they rip him limb from limb in the most vicious way possible. Yeah, that's you Numa's like, oh no, I do not crave the minds. I crave the violence that totally won't impact future development.

Speaker: Don't worry about it. It's fine. It's definitely not force sensitive and this definitely won't have an impact on how she uses the force in the future.

Speaker: This is true, but yes, they the the proton cannons are destroyed and now the Republic is ready to launch their full full attempt to free the planet. Yes.

Speaker: But before we do that. Before we do that, they're bidding farewell to Numa. Mm -hmm. Mm -hmm. And Waxer's all affectionate with her walking away. Boyle's just like, yeah, see you later, kid. But then she just runs over and tackle Hubs' leg. And it's adorable. It's everything. It is. And then we we get thee the wonderful Coda here. Hey, Numa. Stay out of trouble.

Speaker: That's the hug. Yes. Nara!

Speaker: Nara! Nara! Sir, what is that she keeps calling us? Nara. It means brother.

Speaker: ah I love that the tel the tackle hug is audible. Yes. But yes, I just love this episode. I love the things that are just like little character pieces, like little character vignettes. And this one was definitely one that stuck with me. ah yeah like i have I love the Clone Wars, but I will say like there's a lot of episodes that I feel like could be skipped or not important.

Speaker: But this one, despite that, having like it is part of an arc, but it does what I feel like a lot of episodes should have done that I felt like were missable. Give us like types of like connected pieces of like clones learning stuff or how the galaxy works.

Speaker: Yep, I have like three whole paragraphs and then notes that we have that I wrote. Hit us. Hit us. So I know it's the old like, can't dehumanize someone once you figure out they're actually human trope, except, you know, they're to be like, it's not humans, but Again, it's like really interesting when you juxtapose it with how the clones have constantly been on the receiving end of that exact same treatment. It really shows how bigotry is a cycle and how easy it is to keep that cycle rolling even when you're getting crushed under the same wheel too. And you know while the trope plays out in a super by the numbers way, there's also some really good moments of subtlety there.

Speaker: Like when they remove their helmets since, you know, makes them looks like droids, the buckets hide their faces. So it's pretty easy for the rest of the galaxy to overlook or, you know, literally not notice. Oh, yeah, that's a person inside that armor, not a droid. But I think there's also some evidence that that barrier kind of works both ways.

Speaker: Like, I think Boyle's hesitation to take off his helmet while Waxer doesn't think twice about taking it off to show Numa his face is ah pretty telling. It's like he realizes that as soon as he loses that barrier, he can't remain aloof anymore. And there's the feeling that that could come back to bite him because the people that he's you know putting that faith in are a lot of times the same people that are telling him he is a machine and doesn't matter and doesn't deserve any humanity.

Speaker: But you know he's realizing that he has to recognize the very literal common ground that he and p Numa occupy. And it just kind of makes you think, like how do you reckon with the knowledge that you share common ground with the people you're fighting for when you don't know if any of them would ever fight for you? Or worse, you know for a fact that as soon as the day is saved and everything goes back to business as usual, it'll go do so with prejudice intact. How does the fight still feel worth it?

Speaker: again it's just like as much as they're following orders like you get into the emotional side of things and how they're constantly forced to fight all these battles for people that don't give two shits about them and now he's finding that maybe you know he's kind of taken a page from that and how he's treating the people that he's saving and not all of them are like that and there is connections to be made especially that's That's beautiful. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about this show and this episode. I have absolutely no way to follow that. Indeed.

Speaker: Yeah, i that that is all like... Excellent. Excellent analysis. Yeah, that was amazing. Yes, and and trying to add anything to it is is zo a futile attempt.

Speaker: Media analysis is something I do for fun. yeah me too I don't know how to turn my brain off, it just happens, and then I have lots of things to say. I feel the same way, but I wish I had like the amount of depth and width that you had right there. that I mean, Betsy, you've seen my Toho post. You've seen my Toho post. You know how I can get about these things. Exactly. You understand me.

Speaker: I've written character - I've written paragraphs about character analysis. Mm -hmm. I've done character analysis and like, but it - Especially for Yuri purposes. I mean, are there any more noble causes than Yuri? In a way, you are i'm sorry this yeah well this this is more of a Yowie purpose, but you know. But in a way, that too can be Yuri, can it not? Yes, yes, yes it can. It's more hearing it, like you're able to speak with such conviction, like - Oh yeah.

Speaker: Because I have a lot of feelings about it. Yes. And that takes us into the final episode of the arc and our episode, Liberty on Ryloth.

Speaker: Season 1, Episode 21. With his forts stretched thin, Mace Windu must convince Twi 'lek freedom fighter Cham Syndulla to help him save the capital city from the droid's destruction.

Speaker: And this episode dives straight into the action as befits Mace Windu. They're riding around. They're riding around on Austin. They're riding around on Austin's vehicles. Yes. Yes. They look cool. What are they called, gang? I can never remember. I'm pretty sure they're ATRTs. I have no idea. OK, good. I was right. Yeah.

Speaker: They're fun. All of the personal scale ATs, I'm all like, oh, yeah, it's a little personal. well terra ri require Yeah, Yeah, not to me if you you like the ATP or, you know.

Speaker: Yes. There's a lot of AT type things. Yes, there are. The ATHDs. There was it. Honestly, I would not be surprised if someone created that. They do exist, but they're in Legends and in the Legacy era.

Speaker: And so this brings us to something that is kind of known with Mace Windu. What are those? Shatterpoints! Yes, Shatterpoints. Nick, tell us about Shatterpoints. Well, I was going to bring it up, but thank you for bringing that up, Betsy. Because it's cool as hell to see it done this way too. Yes.

Speaker: because this is a reference both to a legend's novel starring Mace Windu of the same name and it's just a force power of the same name. The power is different here in that in Legends a shatter point is that you can see a weak place in the opponent's shatter points where the unbreakable can be broken.

Speaker: which is more generally shown as him able to crack open open the ah transparency or like cockpit of the ATTE, where he could take out the clone trooper. But it is a direct reference to that.

Speaker: Shatter points are just for figuring out when the timeline is gonna go wonky. That's right. And so, Mace is going to recruit Cham Syndulla. So, Lauren, jot that name down, remembering for the future. Okay, okay. He's a surprise tool that'll help us later. We've got a Syndulla on the board. Yes. Ace Syndulla. Yes. there Very, very, very appropriate that you chose that wording. Spoilers! I've given you a ah fist bump through the internet.

Speaker: Nice. Nicely achieved fist bump. And then we we get this little exchange that I'm going to play here that we were talking during the last episode discussion about or a couple episodes ago about you. know

Speaker: Material in Clone Wars kind of answering some of the, well, what about this story element in the Grand Star Wars mythology? And we have some confirmation here of evolution of battle droid programming. Nice. I don't see anything. Look, it's RB551. No wonder he got blasted.

Speaker: He's one of those older models programmed by a central computer, not us. We're independent bankers, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger,

Speaker: the bias one of the best yeahs of the entire series

Speaker: yes

Speaker: Roger And like I say, it was one of those lore patches because in episode one, the entire battle droid army in that movie was entirely controlled by a singular computer.

Speaker: It was the whole high five. So they got to do the whole Independence Day thing where you shoot the one thing and then it takes everything down. But this proves later also borrowed by Avengers and but this is true and many other. But it's true that they in the era of the Clone Wars mistakes 10 years after episode one. They have given them independent computers and which is likely why they have such quirky personalities.

Speaker: And why they can banter. But also are still relatively dim -witted. But aren't we glad they can have that dim -witted banter? Yes. Of course. Of course. Especially when we get to, like like, Jedi Survivor. The banter in that game is great.

Speaker: And so that, that brings us to, you know, some of the greater group, the larger group of Twi 'leks here that we can see. And some of them have outrageous French accents. Which is a deliberate choice by George Lucas, who is still a major point of like inspiration and development of the Clone Wars. This is deliberate

Speaker: it reference to the French resistance movement during World War two but you know since some of them have outrageous French accents will they tell you to go away or I shall taunt you a second time what happens if they throw cows at the separatists oh no they they would win I was gonna say, at that point, it's all over. Aw, but they don't have cows and pigs. But they have something better. But they do have those things that died from the blue shadow virus a couple of episodes ago. They got blurged. But that was on the bigger world on Rylof now. They got blurged. They could import them. Yeah, but they ride those. They like those things. Obviously. I'm not gonna throw them at them. Blurged. Experience the power that eats.

Speaker: We have just figured out how the separatists were able to take Ryloth because the TwiLects were reluctant to throw the blurgs at the separatists. so the That was their trump card and if they just let it pass by because they like their blurgs. I think the blurgs are pretty cool.

Speaker: um I want to ride one. And so Dooku orders, oh wait, yeah that this is about to go wrong. Glass the planet, please. Yeah, story everything. And then Wat Tambor's just kind of like everything. All right, you heard him, boys. We got a genocide the planet. Remember, the children first. my de boy yeah do And my my turn for another little, little fun observation. One of the items that Wat Tambor is having loaded onto his shuttle.

Speaker: her is the Ark of the Covenant. Oh boy. Yep. Little Lucasfilm nods. So we've we've had the Staff of Ra a few episodes back and now we have the Ark of the Covenant. I want my Indiana Jones Han Solo crossover and the Star Wars Tales comic issue doesn't count. Oh no.

Speaker: Okay, but the question is black be into thatsqua Bigfoot.

Speaker: and so however If we do that, Afra needs to be there. Well, yeah. I mean, she's going to invite herself anyway. Yeah, she will. She would. and I was to say, what the problem here is what?

Speaker: Except she's gonna she's not going to be able to seduce Han Solo because she's going to be like, oh no, there's not a single brain cell bouncing around in that head of his mouth. Done. so So the question is, when Aphra shows up for this crossover, it is she played by by Chloe Bennett or Aquafina? Oh, that is a good question.

Speaker: Aquafina has has the the the vibe of the character, but Chloe Bennet looks more like her. terms of like liveva and has cases like by

Speaker: Yeah, it it's got it's settled. we yeah Mr. Filoni, we know you that that you're totally yeahre not listening. you know you can hear us totally do not cast Awkwafina as as live -action afra we beg you it would be the worst thing ever. Yeah don't steal that idea from us either you know along with the other ones you've definitely stolen or definitely haven't stolen anything. Oh I'm sorry he I'm sorry he's been like like circling that like the the Marvel story group is like can I take afro it's like no like can I can I please please how about now how about now now

Speaker: it' see by now well I would love to see Afra in live action. what One of the things that... guys yeah we're gonna keep going that We gotta to keep going. after but we We're We're very fair. Mace doesn't understand why Cham doesn't want to help the Republic for your Ryloth from the Separatists.

Speaker: And Cham doesn't trust what Senator Oranfreeta, or the Republic at large, might have in mind for the planet after the war is over. What? Oranfreeta looks super trustworthy. Right. And he definitely has been in the past.

Speaker: And, you know, definitely hasn't sold his citizens out for slavery. That's never happened. Yeah. Right. Don't worry about it. It's fine. We're all fine here. How are you? We've got Sedula being confrontational, leading to political tension. Yeah. let's Let's take a listen. I hope you don't mind this. A little distraction goes far to ease the burden of the war on my men. You have provided well for your men, all your people.

Speaker: so why won't you help me free them from this occupation i don't trust senator teta his plans for a world after the war the republic will help you rebuild won't abandon you your troops will stay for security for a while to keep the peace another armed occupation is not a free rlo how long before i am fighting you Sometimes foreshadowing is... ...obvious.

Speaker: not just a literary device. Yeah, and I, the delivery, I know it's not Samuel L. Jackson. But he does a good job. In the series. Oh yeah, I kill yeah i can and hear Jackson delivering that. i like for For a time, for security. I've never been a fan of Jackson's performances, Mace Windu, this feels like what he should have been going for. This is my personal opinion. Yeah, ah yeah i I can hear full Nick Fury in this conversation. That's a better performance. It would be more and like i I just never bought ah Sam Jackson's Mace Windu. It just felt too aggressive at times.

Speaker: this feels like what should have been like what we should have been hearing i acknowledge that ryloth has made a decision but given that's a stupid decision i have to ignore it yes yeah governors is it i mean is that not yeah me do listen to the word of the council unless it's me you have to listen in which case never mind yeah yep um no they've there's this cool plasma it's amazing separating the city from the rest rest of the land and it's yeah pure star wars purely impractical but it's super cool and and not at all osha compliance osha does not well until the acolyte osha did not exist and then she turns to the dark side

Speaker: Oh no. It's more than that for the Acolyte. But do you know what that is? Assisting us, spoilers! But when... Well, technically it did come before in the timeline, so we do know it.

Speaker: Blooring alert that eventually, because... Oh god, I'm gonna be i goingnna be guiding the Lord through the whole of Star Wars or the rest of my life, am I? Yeah, yeah probably. You have the whole range forever. with With the Plasma Bridge,

Speaker: And the Republic coming across, you know sneaking across in in Separatist ships and the Separatists find them, the Separatists do the smart thing when they find Mace and the clones are and the Twilight Resistance infiltrating on that plasma bridge.

Speaker: They turn it off. At least in one of the yeah coolest sequences. Yeah. An excellent escaping the bridge deactivation sequence. Dead silent. And and all Windu has to do is give them that look. Oh yeah. He doesn't say a word. Who needs to get the entire raid when you have the, I am going to kill you where you stand. Oh no, he's like half like, I am a badass motherfucker.

Speaker: He's got the stair. He has the wallet. He does. And and it's etched in the lights. It is for realsies.

Speaker: who And so they they managed to escape the bridge deactivation. And we we see some old friends. Friends.

Speaker: m yeah And none of them are wearing trench coats. The commando droids come back and they are absolute menaces.

Speaker: Yes, and we love that for them. Yes, but even if they're annoying to fight, they they're still you know, they're still not cool enough. Yeah, that's it. It'll take some time. They haven't earned the trench coat, but they are like They are literally just like punching clones, clones down and like actually just destroying them. But they are able to take down and being taken down by groups. But they've been watching the 212 too much and they've realized, oh, yeah, we can just haul off and punch things in the face, except they won't break their hands. But it's still like it's it's impressive to see that, like, yeah, the Clone Wars is not just getting more advanced, but getting more violent.

Speaker: like Oh, yeah. Mm hmm. Yeah, they won't just blast you. Now they will drop kick and like sort of like just punch you into the ground. And getting into the fight. We're getting this has been like a close. This whole arc has been like a full campaign of the Clone Wars. Yes.

Speaker: And a pretty good look at the escalation of tensions too, how it starts with the far removed space battle and then you get into the civilian cost right down until you get here where you literally see the all out battle where things are getting blown up left and right. And also as befits Mace Windu, this episode is pretty light on dialogue and heavy on the act. I honestly feel that is a direct reference to the Mace Windu episodes.

Speaker: the we have talked about earlier, Betsy. We talked about the, for the micro series. Yeah, that was some good shit. I loved that episode. so was That entire army. But and I feel this is a direct like, homage and bringing that into it. And it also brings a vibe of another Samuel L. Jackson property. Wouldn't you say Betsy?

Speaker: yep In fact, Mace Windu is tired of these motherfucking droids on this motherfucking planet. Oh yeah. Yep. And yeah they they get through, they they take back the capital city. But at what cost? Yes. I mean, you know that the Ark of the Covenant was lost.

Speaker: I mean, we know the super tactical droid got out of there. Meanwhile, a lot of timbers like seems I may have miscalculated and the super tactical droid that stole his ship is just like skill issue. OK, bye. Bye. And we do know the location of the Ark of the Covenant, but that's only revealed in like a sourcebook for the sequel trilogy. Nice. Yes. But and That, that takes us to the end of that episode. And the end of Rylophus is free! For now. Sort of. For like, you know, five minutes. We'll talk about that later. Before someone's like, oh, I need some more slaves and some spice.

Speaker: I need slaves and I need spies and oh yeah. If you have a problem with that, you can go to the Bright Lands. Bye. Oh no. We'll get into that because oh no, I just realized you were talking about that earlier. yeah We're going to have to get into the bad bats. We are. we' We're going to have to get into the dad batch. They are in fact the dad batch. yeah if You think last episode was was ah a group of clones as reluctant father figures. and you You got three whole seasons of that in the bad match.

Speaker: and entirewa of clo we're gonna be doing this so we're ninety

Speaker: Nick, I'm going to have to move in with you so we can speed this up. You're going to be doing this till you're 90. You know, the same age that Marvel is going to keep. That's what I'm misreferencing, because that was on on now Let him rest. We're going to be doing this forever, Lauren.

Speaker: Well, that means that our friendship will have to last forever, Nick. Oh no, friendship. Wait, this isn't a fuck friendship moment, is it? Hopefully not. Not yet. Are we cursing the podium? It's already cursed. Because it's in your house. And and the people listening right now are are thinking, what? But that's a good time for us to call it.

Speaker: yes yeah so first of all we would like to thank our special guest betsy for joining us thank you for having me so i can rant about how much i love clone dads and we would love to have you for features for future recordings yes i made a lot of demands yes and i made a lot of demands there was a list and and when we get to the dad batch you know if If you need to talk about Clone Dads some more, there's three whole seasons. Oh, I will not just be talking about Clone Dads, because there's also dominoes in the Dad Batch. Oh, Dad Dads, Dad Dads, Dad Dads. That's foreshadowing. So, you know, these are very relevant to my interests. Wait, what do you call this? Some kind of foreshadowing? Ooh. Is it still a littering device? It might be.

Speaker: But ah thank you, Betsy, for joining us. Thanks, everybody else listening for joining us. And we we will see you the next time around for our next episode of The Clone Watch on Casual