Tuesday, September 27, 2016

The Clone Wars: Shadow Warrior

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: "Shadow Warrior"
Series: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Season 4, Episode 4
Original Air Date: September 30, 2011
via Wookieepedia
It would seem we have a theme for season 4: two intelligent species coexisting on the same native planet and the Separatists playing one against the other.  This week, we're on Naboo.  Rumors are flying that the underwater-dwelling Gungan are planning an attack on Theed, the surface dwellers' capital.  Wouldn't you know, Count Dooku has a hand in all this.  His Gungan agent, minister Rish Loo (Rish Loo, Richelieu, I get it), is influencing Boss Lyonie with the aid of a mind control necklace.

Once Lyonie is freed from the necklace by Anakin, he confronts Rish Loo.  Rish Loo stabs him, not killing him but knocking him out of commission for the rest of the story.  Fortunately, Anakin and Padmé recognize the physical similarities between Lyonie and their old pal Jar Jar.  So, they stick Lyonie's hat on Jar Jar and send him first to talk his own people down from their eagerness to attack, then to confront General Grievous.

Gungan General Roos Tarpals plays a crucial role in the story.  The character made his first appearance in The Phantom Menace, voiced by Steven Speirs.  In The Clone Wars, he is voiced by Fred Tatasciore.
via Wookieepedia
Fred Tatasciore was born June 15, 1967 in New York City.  He is the voice of the Hulk in several animated series.  In video games, he has contributed to Mass Effect, Gears of War and StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.  On the big screen, he voiced the character 8 in Tim Burton's 9.  Tatasciore has done some independent animation work himself and has also worked as a stand-up comedian.
via Prince of Persia Wiki
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: "Mercy Mission."

 

8 comments:

  1. I liked Tarpals. He wasn't quite a Wedge, but he was about as close as the prequels got.

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    1. At some point after all this, I should go back and watch the prequels. I'm sure I'll see the story differently after Clone Wars.

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    2. TAS: It does give the prequels a lot of depth. Especially after some of the events in the 6th season.

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    3. I have definitely gained a better appreciation for the prequel story already. I'm still unwilling to say I like those movies for themselves but I've gained appreciation for the story.

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  2. I've said it before but the Gungans have the potential to be a major alien race in the Star Wars universe since they live underwater and open up whole new possibilities for stories. Plus they're awesome warriors. Unfortunately you have Jar Jar and he's hard to ignore. I'll have to look for this one too.

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    1. Here is a something worth discussing further: underwater stories are inherently tricky. They are often just as far-fetched as space adventures and yet they rarely have the same lasting appeal. I like Aquaman and Sub-Mariner but neither has ever been as popular as other comic book characters. The Star Trek: TAS underwater episode was decent, but there was only one. I know special effects are a challenge but that's not an issue in animation.

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