Rewatching the Clone Wars

[Commander_Rob]

A problem I see with Grievous, especially in Duel Of The Droids, is that in close combat he never makes use of his full potential, never fights with four lightsabers and arms spinning like on Utapau.

Jar Jar, well, I don`t see why Padmé is being so stupid and continuously takes him with her, she must KNOW by know that that will mean instant failure of whatever they will try to do.

Oh and by the way, Padmé`s ship is an H-type Nubian yacht.

I guessed correctly.

[Roderick]

I really can't stand the voice actor voicing Padme. She gives her an awful lisp.

And the idea of clones suddenly having independence makes absolutely no sense to me at all. It just seems a rip-off of another series of books, but it makes much, much less sense.

As I recall the basic clone troopers had little to no independence, while the commandos were slightly more independent, and the ARC Troopers were plain raw Jango Fett genome. To say that suddenly the first tier becomes the third tier, and vice versa, is too confusing to take in at once.

Otherwise, aside from the clear and present flaws (which you basically nailed down one at a time), it's a fairly good show if you just block out the load of dirty laundry that is Feloni tampering with canon to create an idea for a show.

EDIT: @ Rob: Good point: he could've easily cut off something of Ahsoka's... something.

Edited August 6, 2009 by Roderick

[def]

Oh and by the way, Padmé`s ship is an H-type Nubian yacht.

I guessed correctly.

Many thanks, the post is updated

[Go Cubs Go!]

I agree with you in your first topic where you said you want TLC to make hair for the clones.

From, Go Cubs Go!

[def]

Episode 9: Cloak of Darkness

Viceroy Gunray captured! Senator Padmé Amidala has scored a victory against the Separatist Alliance on the remote world of Rodia, securing the arrest of the diabolical Confederate leader, Nute Gunray.

The Jedi Council has dispatched Master Luminara Unduli and Anakin Skywalker's Padawan Ahsoka to escort the Viceroy to Coruscant under heavy guard. Once there, he will face trial for his many war crimes....

And so it is, the potential for this series is revealed. This episode focuses almost entirely on characters either not in the movies, or only in cameos. But, they all have character and personality. Continuing where episode 8 left off, Nute Gunray is in transport to Coruscant, in care of Master Luminara and Ahsoka, in her first speaking part that I can recall. Meanwhile, Count Dooku dispatches Asajj Ventress to retrieve Gunray from them. It's noted that Asajj has been less than effective up to now, and she must succeed in order to become Dooku's apprentice. The friction on the Separatist side in the past few episodes has really added tension, keeping things unexpected.

A Separatist fleet of Vulture Droids and boarding ships is sent which quickly assault the Venator and get a platoon of Super Battle Droids and Asajj inside. The droids are for the most part a distraction so Asajj can do her stuff, and do her stuff she does. She is ninja like in her stealth, quickly taking out the first wounded clone trooper she comes across and putting on their communicator. She then hits the vents and sneaks through the ship, placing bombs and homing in on the captive Gunray. The Jedi fight her off, and Asajj escapes, so Luminara goes off after her, following her through the wreckage, clone corpses and droid debris. Ahsoka questions whether she should follow her instinct to help Luminara rather than do as ordered and watch Gunray, and she's given advice about doing what's right, not what's ordered, by Captain Argyus of the Senate guards. He says that this separates people from droids. Ahsoka follows after her. While Luminara and Ahsoka duel with Asajj, it's revealed Argyus is a traitor. Argyus takes out the rest of his own battalion, but before he does so he has a great little interaction with a clone trooper. Asked why he did what he did, Argyus tells him that a clone like him would never understand, and that he didn't want to have a life of servitude. Argyus, Gunray, and Asajj all rendezvous on a stolen Republic Cruiser. In the last scene she's in, Asajj stabs Argyus in the back so that she will get the sole credit for the success.

This episode was quite fantastic, in it's pacing, direction, and in characterization. It happened to be written by Paul Dini of Batman: TAS fame, so that may have pushed it up a notch. Asajj has had appearances in the cartoon and Clone Wars movie, but she was the star of this episode, and you can see what she's capable of. She's quick, deceptive, and cutthroat, exactly how one would imagine a Sith to be from their description. Even a cool character like Darth Maul was kind of bullish in his action. I think Asajj' more calculated attacks are more Sith-y, in that Sith should fight like cowards. It makes them scarier and more hateable, in that love-to-hate-you way. And Argyus' interactions about following orders brings up a lot of questions of how noble these clones can actually be since they're just following orders, like Order 66. Ethical issues in a kids show. Great. Rating: 9/10

Luminara Unduli is an unexplored character who had very brief roles in Episode II & III of the films, and for me this was the first major appearance I'd seen. She's not an exciting Jedi, not too weird or anything, but she would be a must have if you want to have enact a Battle of Genosis set.

Luminara Unduli

Asajj Ventress gets her first big appearance here. She was in the first episode, but was incompetent, and didn't make much of an impression. Here she is a character of interest, and makes me quite like her. The way her Lego figure came out, I'm a little disappointed.

Asajj Ventress

She looks quite dramatic here.

Not so much here.

To give some kudos to TLG, here are clone pilots, who were done quite well by TLG

Clone Pilot

Captain Argyus is an interesting design, a kind of open-faced Senate guard. With his helmet off, he has a fantastic coiffure. He dies in the episode, so no expectations for his figure, but since the Senate guards have already appeared, he'd be an easy alteration.

Captain Argyus

From Bricks' review

The only new appearance is by this droid, a Treadwell, which I suppose appeared in the Sandcrawler set, but this would be a little different design.

Treadwell droid

This ship, the boarding ship, was quite excellent. It's the same as from episode 2, Rising Malevolence, but functions in a completely different way. These giant drills that penetrate the hull of their victim, which at that point they spread open and spit out a pile of Super Battle Droids ready to attack. These are simple, but a really fun design. They fly so fast I couldn't even do a decent screen grab. Loved 'em though.

Boarding Ship

Lego ships appearing: Vulture Droid, Venator

Added to the Lego wishlist: Luminara Unduli minifigure, Captain Argyus minifigure

Episode 10: Lair of Grievous

Viceroy Gunray escapes! En route to Coruscant to stand trial for war crimes, evil Separatist leader Nute Gunray has broken free of his Jedi escort. With the help of Count Dooku's sinister agents, the villainous viceroy has made a daring getaway.

Alerted to the bold prison break, Jedi Master Kit Fisto has traced the stolen ship to a remote system, hoping to recapture Gunray and return him to justice.

I loved this episode. Grievous is the star, the way aliens were the star of Alien or a predator in Predator. The action picks up shortly after the last episode, with fishy Jedi Kit Fisto picking up Gunray's tracking beacon from a planet in a remote system. He meets up with his old Padawan, Mon Calamari Jedi Nahdar Vebb (of Admiral Ackbar's species) and some clones. Immediately, Nahdar shows off his force power, to impress his old master it seems. Fisto is very calm and deliberate in his actions, as much as Nahdar is aggressive. They enter a massive fortress, dark and foreboding. At the end of a long hall they hear Gunray's voice. But when they attempt to apprehend him, it is a hologram, which is then replaced with a hologram of Dooku, welcoming them. If only Nahdar had yelled "It's a trap!" Shortly it's revealed that they are in the titular lair of Grievous. Meanwhile, on his way home, Grievous has an argument with Dooku, while Grievous (justifiably) complains that he can't do anything with just battle droids. Inevitably the Jedi and Grievous meet. Grievous kills off the anonymous clone fodder, while the Jedi cut Grievous in half. Shots of the four-armed Grievous crawling across the floors and walls are hypnotic. He's not just fast, his body works in inhuman ways. Grievous manages to slink his way to his control room, setting up the second half, where Grievous becomes the hunter.

Grievous meets up with his doctor droid (droid doctor?) who informs him that his magnaguards had been remotely turned off. Grievous restarts them and sends his magnaguards and a monster named Gor after the survivors, while Grievous gets put together again. Grievous' scream and expression as he gets his face peeled off is chilling. When only the two Jedi are left to fend for themselves, they have another encounter with Grievous. The Jedi have a chance for retreat, but Nahdar wants to fight. Due to circumstances, he must fight one on one with Grievous. This is a great fight, and Grievous' final blow shows a great character moment for Grievous. In the middle of a light saber dual, Grievous shoots Nahdar with a pistol. Fisto is wiser, and fights when he has to, which is not today. As he escapes the lair and has a final confrontation with Grievous and his magnaguards, he fights stealthily, shutting off his light saber and making use of the planet's fog before flying off.

This was a fantastic episode, showing a lot of character in Grievous and Fisto. While I liked Nahdar, I would much rather his arrogance wasn't advertised quite so much, or that they had given him a dozen episodes to build up his character before taking him out. The tenseness between Grievous and Dooku is quite interesting, and it's easy to see that the Separatist's are barely held together at all. On top of that, the animation and set design are top notch. Great episode, great atmosphere, great characterization. Rating: 9/10

I love Kit Fisto. I remember him vividly from the first Clone Wars cartoon, and he was awesome then. Now, he's a bit more Jamaican sounding, voiced by Hermes from Futurama, Phil LaMarr. The Jedi Starfighter with Hyperdrive Ring is worth buying just for this cool little green guy. Thank you Lego!

Kit Fisto with R6-H5

Kit Fisto's starfighter appears, and looks a heck of a lot like Ahsoko's. If I end up getting her ship, it'll quickly become his. It has a hyperdrive ring too.

Delta 7-B

Nahdor Vebb is an interesting but underused character. And he is voiced by Spongebob Tom Kenny . Still, any new Jedi is a treat in the Star Wars Lego universe. Since Mon Calamari's have been made in the Home One set this year, it wouldn't be impossible to bring this minor character to life.

Nahdor Vebb

Again, Grievous' ship Soulless One appears, and we have to give a lot of credit to TLG for their job with it.

Soulless One

In Grievous' layer, the troops need their light beams to see in the darkness. I've been getting these little plastic pieces with my clones, and I realized where they go, but didn't know what they were for. Now I know.

Clone lights

The star of the episode, other than Grievous and Fisto, is the building itself. This was a fantastic setting, and if the series was more famous, would be the best of the best deluxe playsets.

Entering the Lair

The owner is revealed when they enter his room of spare parts. Ominous and very interesting. You can imagine a set with ten sets of Grievous parts. It would destroy the Grievous minifigure market, but it would be awesome.

Grievous' Parts Room

The set would also come with Grievous' doctor. Multiple arm attachments for surgery on Grievous.

EV-A4-D

And last, it would come with Gor, a rare monster addition to the Star Wars Lego universe. A modified dragon would do the trick, with a newly sculpted head. I don't need another monster but it would be needed for the set.

Gor

Lego ships appearing: Republic Attack Shuttle, Soulless One

Added to the Lego wishlist: Grievous' Lair playset, with clones, Grievous, Kit Fisto, Nahdar Vebb, Gor and doctor; Kit Fisto with Starfighter and R6-H5

Next: Pirates!

[Commander_Rob]

And more reviews.

But as good as before, though I must say I didn`t like `Cloak of Darkness` as much, a little unexplained continuity loophole on how the Separatist boarding party appears out of nowhere and Argyus is just an idiot with stupid hairdo.

[Snake...SNAKE...SNAAAAKE?!]

Great reviews! The Clone that had the showdown with Argyus was actually Gree With having the dubious honor of being decapitated by Yoda

[legolandia]

The design of Captain Argyus seems to have been inspired by Greek mythology. Everything screams ancient greek soldier (helmet, name, hair style...)

[def]

The design of Captain Argyus seems to have been inspired by Greek mythology. Everything screams ancient greek soldier (helmet, name, hair style...)

I was trying to think of the inspiration for it, and I think you got it. He reminds me a bit of the Disney Hercules movie from some years back.

[def]

I'm trying to up the Lego quotient of these, I hope you like it

Episode 11: Dooku Captured

Manhunt! After a long and perilous search, the Jedi finally track down Separatist leader, Count Dooku.

During a heroic attempt to capture the Count, Anakin Skywalker has gone missing. Having lost contact with Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi heads towards his friend's last known location, a lone Separatist frigate in the far reaches of the Outer Rim....

For some reason, when these two episodes came out, I was hyped up to see them. Maybe it was that the last episodes were so good, or the unique situation of Anakin and Obi Wan teamed up with Dooku, but I wanted to see them and remembered them well enough.

The first episode opens well, and in the tradition of the old movies, starting in the middle of an adventure. This is a great writing technique, cutting right to the chase. As it opens, Anakin is being held prisoner by Dooku on a frigate, and Obi Wan infiltrates to release Anakin and hopefully capture Dooku. This leads to a space chase between Dooku in his Solar Sailor and the Jedi in a stolen Separatist Shuttle. They both crash land on an inhospitable planet. One thing leads to another, and Dooku traps the Jedi in a cave, but as he leaves, he encounters some pirates scavenging their ships. These characters would be right at home in Mos Eisley. Outnumbering Dooku, they capture him, but rather than ransom him to Separatists who might retaliate, they choose to sell him to the Republic. Anakin and Obi Wan fight a gundark and escape the cave, whereupon they're sent to check that the pirate offer is legitimate. There, they question the pirates' hospitality. The pirates live in a scuzzy complex, drinking and indulging themselves. Anakin and Obi Wan say cheers and have a drink. That's pretty much it for the episode.

As an episode, it doesn't work. As part one of two, it's a little better, but I'll get more into it the next episode's review. The animation was great, the pirates are very interesting, but it's not the best. Rating:7/10

The Weequayan pirates led by Hondo Ohnaka are quite charming bad guys. You'll recall the species as the same as Jabba's reptilian guards. Their accents are hard to place, but their music is definitely Indian flavored. I'm glad Hondo made a Lego appearance, and looks quite good Lego-fied.

Hondo Ohnaka

From Jansued's review

For traveling between planets, the pirates use full-on flying discs, the likes of which I haven't seen in the Star Wars universe. Though it might look nice as a MOC, it would be a pretty dull set.

Weequay pirate ship

And inside the disc ship? A smaller disc ship! This has a little more style to it, but again, I think it'd make a dull set.

Flarestar-class Weequay ship

Another new addition is Obi Wan's space gear. This is really stylish, and would be an excellent mini-figure... but it only appeared for 30 seconds, so I won't look for it any time soon.

Space gear Obi Wan

Dooku's Solar Sailor makes an appearance. Hondo makes a funny meta-commentary, or at least it seems that way, when he says something like, "This is an rare ship, and expensive too." Hondo must be a Lego collector! While the Lego version looks good, if the size was a little bigger it would've been a better set, maybe 50% bigger, enough that they could stand in the ship.

The Solar Sailor

From Svelte's review

Lego ships appearing: Separatists Shuttle, Solar Sailor, Twilight, Republic Attack Shuttle

Added to the Lego wishlist: Spacesuit Obi Wan

Episode 12: The Gungan General

Dooku held for ransom! After escaping capture by Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, the villainous Count Dooku fell into the clutches of pirates led by the brigand Hondo Ohnaka. Eager to get custody of Dooku, the Republic agreed to pay Hondo a hefty sum in exchange for the Sith Lord.

But Anakin and Obi-Wan had not counted on the treacherous cunning of Ohnaka and his band....

This episode starts off on the wrong foot. It's supposed to continue where the last left off, with Anakin and Obi Wan in a pirate cell, after having been drugged. But the last scene of the last episode showed them being too smart to fall for drugged wine. Anyway. Well, the Jedi have been double crossed by the pirates who plan to sell them back to the Republic along with the already captured Dooku. They get locked up with Dooku, and half the episode is Anakin and Dooku acting like the Odd Couple as they try to escape. Meanwhile, the ransom of spice is being delivered by senator Binks and another senator, but head pirate Hondo's number two man plans to double cross Hondo and steal the ransom first... complicated set up. There are five sides fighting.

For those who hate Jar Jar, this is not the episode for you. In the first few minutes, as his shuttle is being shot at, Jar Jar bumbles his way into the cockpit, and distracts the pilot from his evasive maneuvers. His shuttle is shot down, the pilots and the other senator die. So, indirectly, Jar Jar is responsible for three people dying. Yes, the blood is on his hands. Pirates on speeders come and take the spice from the ship remains, and Binks and the clones chase them down on local beasties, leading to their final fight outside the pirate headquarters. While all this happens, Dooku and the Jedi try to escape twice and fail. Finally the two Jedi are held in electric restraints, and Dooku conveniently is off on his own. And so it is, the final scenes of Jar Jar against pirate tanks. Jar Jar accidentally takes command of one, helps disable the other and causes a blackout in the pirate compound. Way to go Jar Jar! So the Jedi take the chance to get their light sabers, Dooku escapes, and everyone goes home, with Obi Wan noting that that Dooku will come and take revenge later.

Anakin and Dooku quibble like high school rivals, there are no repercussions from the shuttle being shot down and a senator killed, and Jar Jar accidentally saves the day. And Jar Jar indirectly killed that senator. The only bright spot of the episode is Dooku's escape, where he strangles a guard with his chains, kills another pirate by force controlling his partners gun, and lastly force choking said partner and throwing him down like crumpled paper. In those last two minutes, Dooku was a man to fear. Really disappointing episode since the pirates were so lovable. A lot of wasted potential. Rating: 6/10 (if not for the charming Hondo, it would be 4 or 5)

As this was part two of two, there wasn't a whole lot of new stuff this episode. But a few things of note. First was this senator, Kharrus. While I don't need a Lego of this character specifically, I'd really like a Lego of this species, the Gran.

Senator Kharrus

The pirate speeder bikes were quite nice, especially the detailing on each. The center guy has one like those sexy silhouette truck flaps. Nice touch in a kids show! A pirate battle pack with multiple decals would make a lot of people happy. If the pirates make a second season appearance, this would be a great set, and a change of pace from the clone/droid packs.

Swoop bikes

They only appear for a moment, but the pirate R-series droids made me smile. They look like the pirates modified them.

R-series droid (?)

The last and welcome addition to the episode was the pirate tank. A great design, and I think Lego did a good job with their design, proportion and all, but the back thrusters should be wider.

pirate tank

From Jansued's review

Lego ships appearing: Twilight, Republic Attack Shuttle, Pirate Tank

Added to the Lego wishlist: pirate swoop, Gran mini figure, pirate r-series mini figure

Next: space peaceniks

[hollisbrick]

Wow, your doing a great job

This is really good and informative. Also, you have good point of views. Mainly because I agree with them

Keep up the great work!

[Penitent Tangent]

Good to see more of these, again, I pretty much agree with everything you've been saying about the show.

The Gungan General inparticular confused me a lot, at the end of the previous episode it shows Anakin and Obi-Wan switching their drinks to avoid being drugged, yet the next episode completely ignores that. Was there ever any sort of explanation for that? Being in the UK, I can't watch any of those special commentaries or anything on the official website.

I also have to point out that allow begining in the middle of the action can be a great technique.. I don't think it worked so well here, it only made me feel like I'd missed an episode, and actually had to stop it a few minutes in, just to go and make sure I didn't.

[XimenaPaulina]

The Gungan General inparticular confused me a lot, at the end of the previous episode it shows Anakin and Obi-Wan switching their drinks to avoid being drugged, yet the next episode completely ignores that. Was there ever any sort of explanation for that? Being in the UK, I can't watch any of those special commentaries or anything on the official website.

I think it ain't that confusing. Yes Obi-wan and Anakin did switch their drinks to avoid getting drugged, but what they drank still knocked them out. During the next episode, if I remember right, Obi-wan acknowledged that the drinks were "stronger" than they expected/or that they might have drank too much.

Well, just goes to show that Jedis are too serious in life and don't know how to take a drink or two...

Edited August 18, 2009 by KielDaMan

[def]

I think it ain't that confusing. Yes Obi-wan and Anakin did switch their drinks to avoid getting drugged, but what they drank still knocked them out. During the next episode, if I remember right, Obi-wan acknowledged that the drinks were "stronger" than they expected/or that they might have drank too much.

Well, just goes to show that Jedis are too serious in life and don't know how to take a drink or two...

Unfortunately, that wasn't what happened. According to Lucasfilm, the little Kowakian monkey-lizard drugged the whole room through the ventilation system.

http://www.starwars.com/clonewars/comic/#/?page=91

I'm enjoying the show, but I have issues with a TV show that requires the internet to fully make sense of. It does play up to a Star Wars geek's desire to have an encyclopedic knowledge about stuff.

[Commander_Rob]

Despite their faults (Jar Jar being on the ransom mission for no reason at all and him saving the day ) I kind of liked these episodes, even the little continuity problem doesn`t bother me much, if the drinks were stronger than thought, that might have lowered Anakin`s and Obi-Wan`s attention and they might fall for it next time.

On these Astromechs: I`d say they are R5s modified into some form of Blastromech.

[Forresto]

Despite their faults (Jar Jar being on the ransom mission for no reason at all and him saving the day ) I kind of liked these episodes, even the little continuity problem doesn`t bother me much, if the drinks were stronger than thought, that might have lowered Anakin`s and Obi-Wan`s attention and they might fall for it next time.

That's exactly what I think also. It's very likely that they Weequayan alcahol is extremely strong for humans, even jedi, so that even a regular drink would knock them out.

[Oky]

The last and welcome addition to the episode was the pirate tank. A great design, and I think Lego nailed it with their design, proportion and all. Maybe the back thrusters could be a little wider.

pirate tank

From Jansued's review

Maybe? I'd say definitely. Just look at that reference pic! Those engines are almost as big as those of a podracer! I was rather disappointed by this. If I should ever end up getting this set, I'll definitely have to mod it.

[Captain REX]

I love your reviews but i disagree with the last two ratings. You rated dooku captured higher than gungan general and you even rated it 7/10 i would of rated it 4/10 as it didnt really keep me interested at all and it lacked a good plot. The gungan general gave that and good action moments.

[def]

Maybe? I'd say definitely. Just look at that reference pic! Those engines are almost as big as those of a podracer!

I think you're right. I will update the review, thanks

[def]

After taking the weekend off for my birthday, I'm back, and on schedule. We should be able to get these done by mid-September.

Episode 13: Jedi Crash

The Republic fleet is on the defensive and pushed to the brink! As war rages in the much contested Outer Rim Territories, chaos and fear mount as the Separatist army wages an epic battle against heavily outnumbered Republic ships in the far reaches of the Quell system.

Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan Ahsoka race across the galaxy to aid Jedi Knight Aayla Secura who is in the midst of a fight for her life as the sinister droid army closes in....

Another two-parter, right after a two-parter. And again, the episode borrows the structure of opening in the middle of the action, then taking a right turn to the actual plot halfway through.

The opening is quite exciting, some venators led by new Jedi Aayla Secura are on the ropes from a Separatist attack, and Anakin and Ahsoka lead the cavalry to the rescue. The action is fast and uncontrollable, with the Jedi barely escaping a venator as it collapses into the atmosphere of a nearby planet.

From there though, it gets much less interesting. Anakin is hurt in the escape, the ship makes an error with a hyperspace leap, and crashes on a rural world. There they encounter some monsters that only kill no-name clones, and find a village of little lemur-people that come from Scotland by the sound of it. Through it all, Aayla gives Ahsoka Jedi advice about attachment (to Anakin). These lemurs, the Lurmen, are deep pacifists, and oppose all weaponry in their village. Their leader in no uncertain terms declares Jedis are not peacekeepers. Despite all this, they help Anakin, and that's how the episode ends.

Of all the episodes so far, this seems to be the most targeted at kids. For the third time in four episodes, some new monster fights them and it's getting boring. The new Lurmen are a few degrees reoved from Ewoks. And there is no suspense with Anakin's injury, it's just a simple hurdle to get over and get back to a regular storyline. Most of the episode feels like it's just killing time until the second half. If not for the opening sequence, this episode would be a total write off. Rating: 6/10

The Jedi featured in this episode, Aayla Secura, is Jedi enough; calm, effective, and clever. But her design is embarrassing; push-up bra, midriff-bared, hip huggers. You would think the target audience is hormonally raging man children . Since Ahsoka already is wearing the equivalent of a Jedi bikini, I wasn't impressed with a second half naked lady Jedi. I have nothing against sexy female bodies being shown off, but it is jarring, and since I've never seen a shirtless male Jedi uniform, it seems out of place. I would say less cleavage on a Jedi. I did like her French accent though and would like a Twi'lek Lego head in any case.

Aayla Secura

Aayla is accompanied by Clone Commander Bly, who is just Rex and Cody done in yellow. Looking him up in Wookieepedia, we see that he is the one who carries out Order 66 against Aayla in Episode III, but it has little bearing on this story, and only faint dramatic undertones when she rescues him in the next episode. If not Bly, then some other clone would have carried out the command.

Commander Bly

The Lurmen are a fine design, if a bit tossed off, since everything from their movements to their markings to their names scream lemur. I like their houses, but I have no clamoring to get this as a set. For the most part they come across as whiny and principled to the point of stupidity. They could have been alright, but they were poorly written. I'll be fine to never see one again. Take a look at those clouds though, like a work of modern art. Amazing art direction here.

Lurmen

The monster here is very so so. The design seems borrowed from the Phorusrhacidae, but not enough is done with it. I don't want this in Lego either. Too many monsters in this series.

Mastiff phalone

In the initial battle, the Separatists are led by a robot captain, who I did like. He orders the venator shot down, no matter how many droids are on board. A cold-hearted droid who effectively takes out a Republic crew. Yes!

Tactical Droid

The commander makes use of seemingly upgraded super battle droids, called rocket droids in the episode. These would be a nice little change from the regular super battle droids.

Rocket Droid

Here is a lovely moc of these by Commander Rob

To bring it back to Lego a bit, the beloved Republic Gunship makes an appearance again, and I wanted to take a moment to appreciate how nice this ship is. TLG knocked it out of the ballpark on this ship, and you need to save up for it if you haven't gotten it already.

Republic Gunship

From Pr0visorak's review

Lego ships appearing: Venator, Republic Attack Gunship, Vulture Droid,

Added to the Lego wishlist: Tactical Droid, Rocket Droid, Aayla Secura, Commander Bly

Episode 14: Defenders of Peace

Republic forces in retreat! While rescuing General Aayla Secura from certain defeat, Anakin Skywalker has been seriously injured. After a narrow escape, our heroes crash-landed on the remote world of Maridun. Stranded, and with no way to contact the Republic, the Jedi receive medical aid from the peaceful Lurmen colonists.

But even on this tiny planet, the war threatens to follow the Jedi....

Starting where last episode left off, the three Jedi and some clones are on rural Maridun with some Scottish lemurs. Immediately, a Separatist landing craft arrives. The Lurmen leader proclaims he would rather die than fight since they are a peaceful race. Low ranked Separatist Lok Durd, a Nemoidian like Nute Gunray, comes to the village, claiming it under Separatist protection as the Anakin's group ducks out of the village. This plot is really frustrating as it's hard to feel sympathy for a group (the Lurmen) that offers zero resistance. If the Lurmen don't care whether they should live or die, why should we?

Lok sets up a battle fortress to test a new weapon, a weapon that destroys living things, leaving droids untouched. Though the Lurmen have in no uncertain terms stated they want no help, Anakin insists on protecting them. This leads to an interesting night time raid on the fortress, with the clones and Jedi doing a ninja infiltration. This is one of the things this show does great, show the Jedi being effective in different situations, something the movies didn't really do. The Republic team swipes a shield generator and a Separatist shuttle (third time appearing in this series, I didn't remember it once the first time watching ) and head to the Lurmen village, where again the Lurmen leader states that if they all are to be destroyed, so be it. He has principles!

The Jedi put up the barrier, and this leads to a skirmish against a few battalions of battle droids. Anakin single-handedly dismantles the Separatist super weapon and captures Lok, while the battle droids overpower the village. Just when things are looking bad, a group of Lurmen led by the leader's son join the fight, learning that sometimes you must fight for what you believe in. Like the Ewoks, the Lurmen fight with ropes and primitive means. The final scene shows the Lurmen leader grudgingly giving thanks, but asking "at what cost?" as he looks up to see venators in the sky above him.

The episode is generally well done, but I was really apathetic about everything. The Lurmen are not compelling, Lok doesn't seem like much of a threat, and the outcome is never in doubt; they may kill off clones in this series, but they will never kill off big eyed furry creatures. The show resonated with me though, especially in the last scene, because I live in Okinawa, Japan and there are lots of parallels with the history of this island. The island suffered a lot during World War II, and the locals just had to sit through it, there was nothing they could do when faced with two global powers. So, there was a depth the story could have achieved by increasing the tension and pathos, but in the end, the Lurmen suffered nothing, just a few pod houses were wrecked and they came across as blindly principled. A missed opportunity. Rating: 5/10

As part two of two, there wasn't so much new stuff to see. One time character Lok Durd would make a nice figure, a fat Nemodian, and since he was voiced by George Takei, he's got star power. Unfortunately, I can't see a a new mold being made for a cowardly has been like this, but I'd love to see a fat mini figure mold, maybe a covering to the regular torso, like the knight's armor. But, for a character as ugly as him, he shouldn't have a name so similar to turd.

Lok Durd

The Jedi are tracked by a probe droid, smaller than the Empire one. These would be great done in Lego, and probably not too hard to MOC.

Scout Droid

Lok's special weapon is on a modified AAT, but doesn't even look particularly good. I suppose it doesn't need to be color coordinated, and it certainly wasn't. This is the first ship I've seen in the show where I have zero interest in a Lego version.

AAT

The existing Lego AAT is dead-on, and while it's not my favorite Lego ship, it is perfectly crafted for its size.

From Erdbeereis' review

Lego ships appearing: Venator, Separatist's Shuttle, AAT

Added to the Lego wishlist: Lok Durd, Scout Droid

Next: freecos!

[HumanPackMule]

Great blog, and I look forward to the next installment. But I do have one qualm. You stated that there haven't been any shirtless male Jedi, but if you've watched the original Clone Wars cartoon, Kit Fisto appeared shirtless in the battle of Mon Calamari, and Anakin appeared shirtless during the last story arc involving a native people referring to him as ghost hand. On top of that, Aayla looks too hot to not have some skin showing.

A Lok Durd minifig would be hilarious. I can see it now: set includes Lok Durd!

Edited August 26, 2009 by Arthas

[def]

Great blog, and I look forward to the next installment. But I do have one qualm. You stated that there haven't been any shirtless male Jedi, but if you've watched the original Clone Wars cartoon, Kit Fisto appeared shirtless in the battle of Mon Calamari, and Anakin appeared shirtless during the last story arc involving a native people referring to him as ghost hand. On top of that, Aayla looks too hot to not have some skin showing.

Fisto was swimming at the time But yeah, Anakin was shirtless. Still, that's not his Jedi uniform.

Aayla seemed to have gotten some implants since Episode II and has been doing pilates. So, since the target audience is teen boys, her uniform had to be that way. I used to read a lot of Marvel comics as a young teen and the same skimpy costume principle holds true there too. I probably wouldn't have read so many comics back then if the women didn't show so much skin.

I know Star Wars isn't above such characterization, especially in the EU, but I don't have to like it.

[Forresto]

Fisto was swimming at the time But yeah, Anakin was shirtless. Still, that's not his Jedi uniform.

Aayla seemed to have gotten some implants since Episode II and has been doing pilates. So, since the target audience is teen boys, her uniform had to be that way. I used to read a lot of Marvel comics as a young teen and the same skimpy costume principle holds true there too. I probably wouldn't have read so many comics back then if the women didn't show so much skin.

I know Star Wars isn't above such characterization, especially in the EU, but I don't have to like it.

Implants , not really, she's always looked pretty much like that, maybe slightly skimpier in this show. Anyways the Clone Wars's animation slightly exaggertes everything which is mainly the case with her hips. She's probably my favorite jedi not because I think she's Hot but because she's a pretty cool jedi and she's blue! I really hope they make a minifigure of her and Bly.

[Oky]

Nice work again. But why do you call him Tok Durd? His name is Lok Durd.

Lego ships appearing: Venator, Republic Attack Gunship, Vulture Droid,

Added to the Lego wishlist: Tactical Droid, Rocket Droid

You want droids but neither Aayla nor Bly?!

Also, no Republic Cruiser in neither of these categories?

[Forresto]

You want droids but neither Aayla nor Bly?!

Also, no Republic Cruiser in neither of these categories?

I just noticed that too, that's crazy Def!