Tuesday, July 7, 2015

The Clone Wars: Downfall of a Droid

My friends and I are embarking on an exploration of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.  Every Tuesday, we will be featuring an episode from the series which began in 2008 (as opposed to the one that started in 2003).  All are welcome to join us for all or parts of the fun.

Episode: "Downfall of a Droid"
Series: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Season 1, Episode 6
Original Air Date: November 7, 2008
via Wookieepedia
Star Wars just wouldn't be Star Wars without R2-D2.  No replacement will do.   We fans all know it and Anakin does, too.  When Anakin loses Artoo during a space battle, the Jedi is determined to retrieve the droid.  Obi-Wan warns Anakin against sentimental attachments (What about our sentimental attachments, Mr. Kenobi?) but the reckless youth conveniently remembers he forgot to wipe the droid's memory.  Now that it's a security matter, Obi-Wan gets all scoldy and Anakin has to go after all.

(Doesn't the old man realize how important Artoo is going to be to future stories?  Oh right, he doesn't even remember owning a droid...)

Meanwhile, the replacement droid, R3-S6, is woefully incompetent.  He mistakenly wakes up two IG-86 assassin droids which then attack Anakin and Ahsoka.  He accidentally turns on a tracking device that draws Grievous to Anakin's position.  It's almost as if he's undermining the young Jedi intentionally...
via Wookieepedia
General Grievous is Anakin's nemesis.  The character first appeared in Tartakovsky directed Clone Wars microseries in 2004.  George Lucas wanted the cyborg villain to be introduced ahead of the theatriacal release of Revenge of the Sith in 2005.  Papa George intended Grievous - 80% machine in Lucas's estimation - as foreshadowing of Anakin's own future.

Like Vader, Grievous always seems to have an escape plan when the mission goes awry.  He also shares Vader's lack of regard for his underlings, beheading battle droids with one sweep of his robotic arm when they annoy him.  The most meaningful revelation of Grievous's character so far came at the end of "Destroy Malevolence."  Ashamed of his own failure, he cuts off communication with his master, Count Dooku, before he scampers away via hyperspace.

*****
via The Disney Wiki
Matthew Wood is the voice of Grievous.  Wood was born August 15, 1972 in Walnut Creek, California.  While he does have acting credits, including appearances in all three Star Wars prequel films, he is primarily a sound engineer.  He has received two Oscar nominations for Sound Editing: There Will Be Blood in 2007 and Wall-E in 2008.  He currently holds the position of Supervising Sound Editor at Skywalker Sound.

If you would care to join us for all or part of our travels, sign on to the list below.  Please visit the other participants today.  Next week: "Duel of the Droids."



6 comments:

  1. Nice!
    R2 has always been my favorite droid. I think it is the fact that he actually has a personality. The new show Star Wars Rebels has a great droid that is similar named chopper. He is basicly a grumpy version of R2.

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    1. R2 is one of my favorite characters period, on a short list with Yoda and Chewie. I think a grumpy version is a great idea, a la Hitchhiker's Marvin, perhaps?

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  2. He doesn't remember "owning" R2, but he does call him his friend.

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    1. Perhaps he'd come around on droids by that age... or at least that particular droid.

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  3. It's so true that Star Wars wouldn't be the same without R2-D2. He went from voice actor to Supervising Sound editor. Very nice! Great job with such a cracking review, and hope you have a primo rest of the day. See you at 12ET maybe?

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    1. Yes! Thanks for the reminder, though. I was just on the verge of forgetting completely.

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