The Clone Wars: Monster

My friends and I are watching 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: "Monster"
Series: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Season 3, Episode 13
Original Air Date: January 14, 2011

via Wookieepedia

Obviously, if there are Nightsisters, there are going to be Nightbrothers, too!  In "Monster," the second episode of a three-part arc, we accompany Asajj Ventress as she ventures to the far side of Dathomir, where the males of the planet live, in order to find a suitable new apprentice for Count Dooku.  Darth Maul, Darth Sidious's first apprentice, emerged from this community, a major selling point for those in the market for young and promising evil henchmen.  In reality, the new guy will be loyal to Asajj, central to her plan for revenge upon her former master.  She sets the best young bucks on a three-stage challenge, the survivor to become her new minion.

The big winner is the subtly-named Savage Opress.  Savage distinguished himself from the other candidates by being protective of his younger brother, Feral.  In true Dark side fashion, this devotion is ultimately used to test his loyalty to his new master.  Once Asajj gets him back to the Nightsisters' abbey, they use their powers to bulk him up.  His emergence from this transformation is highly reminiscent of the birth of Lurtz, the first of the Uruk-hai created in the film version of The Fellowship of the Ring.

Savage is voiced by Clancy Brown, born Clarence J. Brown III on January 5, 1959 in Urbana, Ohio.  His mother was a professional classical musician.  Both his father and grandfather were Congressmen so he spent much of his childhood in Washington, DC.  He graduated from St. Albans School, then went on to Northwestern University.

via Wookieepedia

Brown has had a long, esteemed career playing the heavy.  He is almost certainly best-known as the sadistic prison guard Captain Hadley in The Shawshank Redemption.  Other films include Highlander, The Adventures of Burckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension and The Bride.  On television, he was the ultra-creepy Brother Justin Crowe in Carnivàle.  Other voice credits include Lex Luthor in various media and Mr. Krabs in SpongeBob SquarePants.

Despite what his characters would lead one to believe, he is apparently a very nice guy, active in numerous charities.  He and his wife Jeanne Johnson have been married since 1993.  They have two children, a boy and a girl.

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: "Witches of the Mist."