Clone Wars Debriefing: “Friends And Enemies”

This was an episode full of violence, pain, angst, and Easter eggs.

It’s going to be hard to list all of the eggs, but I noticed the shout-outs to Nal Hutta, the Lady Luck, and the Hounds’ Tooth. I noticed the Indiana Jones hat in that Hispanic Rodian’s shop and the McQuarrie-type prototype helmet Obi-Wan (still in disguise) uses. I noticed the bottle on the bar (where Anakin chokes the bartender) is a Skywalker Ranch wine bottle. I noticed Sy Snootles being carried out of the bar. And I probably missed a bunch more. Whew!

Cad Bane, Eval, and a disguised Obi-Wan make their way to Nal Hutta and crash land there. They pick up some disguises–Cad just gets a new hat–and Obi-Wan is told to secure a ship. While chatting with Mace Windu and Yoda, Obi-Wan tells them to lift the bounty on the three escapees. That way he can find out more about the kidnapping plot against Palpatine. The Jedi agree and tell the Supreme Chancellor.

As soon as Palpie ends his conversation, he addresses one very ticked off Anakin Skywalker, who’s just hanging out in his office. Anakin is p*ssed that Obi-Wan’s killer is on the loose and nobody is doing anything about it. Palpatine, that sly bastard, tells him he’s got it on good word the killer is on Nal Hutta. Anakin leaves and brings Ahsoka with him to Nal Hutta. Palpatine sneers at the camera, twirls his mustache, and laughs maniacally.

Meanwhile, Cad and Eval betray Obi-Wan as soon as he gets a ship, spray him with some green gas, and leave him behind. Pablo the Hispanic Rodian, who had been assaulted by Cad Bane, leads the authorities to Obi-Wan. They knock an already woozy Obi-Wan out and when he comes to, they beat him some more. Season of Pain! Eventually, Obi-Wan and his two new “pals” make up and form up a team again.

Anakin and Ahsoka arrive on Nal Hutta. Anakin’s still in a bad mood. He charges into a bar and goes into Darth Vader mode, tussling with a Gammorrean and then Force-choking a poor bartender to get info out of him. And you know the crazy part?

Ahsoka watches all of this and doesn’t say a word.

The inevitable chase and confrontation occur. Anakin knees Obi-Wan in the nuts (I swear!) and Obi-Wan gets to punch Anakin in the face several times. It’s kind of like a ROTS preview. Cad Bane jumps in the fray, then it all ends with Obi-Wan doing a choke hold on Anakin. Just before Anakin passes out, Obi-Wan whispers to him, “Anakin, don’t follow me.”

Ahsoka defends Anakin’s unconscious body; fortunately for her and Anakin, the bad guys are simply interested in escaping. But it kind of does reveal why Ahsoka remained silent while in the bar. It’s her own attachment to/affection for Anakin (not in a romantic way, natch). She’s very devoted to him.

Things are really getting jacked up, aren’t they? The Jedi have really effed this up. Anakin realizes at the end Obi-Wan is alive. He can still feel their connection and he vows to get to the bottom of the mystery. Yeah and when you do, it’s going to get ug-lay. I think this is going to put a huge rift between Anakin and the Council, especially Mace Windu.

By the way, it is fitting that tonight’s episode featured quite a bit of the late Ian Abercrombie as Palpatine. He will be missed.

Next week: The deception continues as the fugitive bounty hunters compete in a cross between the Borg cube and Thunderdome for Count Dooku.

More Info On TPM Opening Weekend Giveaways

The L.A. Times’s Hero Complex blog is highlighting the giveaways and events to mark TPM’s opening weekend. What’s new here is the Darth Maul 3D glasses giveaway at all theaters showing the film in Real 3D. Since I’m going to a theater that’s both AMC and showing the film in 3D, I’m going to double-dip. Yay!

#13 Undeniable Fact About TPM

#13–TPM Boosted Toy Sales In 1999

Once TPM finished its run, Hasbro scaled back its offerings. As the Star Wars aisle at the store got smaller, so did profits. Hasbro’s earnings dropped 11%, Grand Toys International’s net sales dropped $6 million, and Toys R Us’s earnings dropped 9.5% in the second quarter of 2000. Sales had shot up during the TPM frenzy in 1999 and there just wasn’t anything equal in scale that came along the next year.

R.I.P. Ian Abercrombie

Just saw a few moments ago a Tweet from Dee Bradley Baker saying that the actor who voices Palpatine on Clone Wars passed away yesterday.

I don’t have a news article or anything just yet but someone did update his Wikipedia page with the info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Abercrombie

I’m sure whatever work was needed for Season 4 has been completed, but the search may be on for a new Palpatine soon.

Abercrombie had an extensive t.v. resume. Seinfeld fans might remember him from Elaine’s stint as a personal assistant to a rich guy, Mr. Pitt.

Cool New Earrings From Her Universe

To go with the fabulous Queen t-shirt coming soon from Her Universe…earrings!

They’ll go on sale soon on HerUniverse.com

Star Wars Celebration Survey

Speaking of Celebration, the Celebration official site is running a fan survey on what we’d like to see at the convention. Even if you aren’t going or it’s iffy for you at this point, go ahead and fill it out.

Clone Wars Poster Charity Auction

You could have as your very own a Clone Wars poster signed by George Lucas, Dave Filoni, Daniel Logan, and Corey Burton (the guy who voices Cad Bane, Count Dooku, and the late lamented Ziro the Hutt)!

The poster features art by Dave Filoni and it was originally printed as an exclusive for the fans who got Jedi Knight and Jedi Master passes at Celebration V.

The auction lasts just three days (two days and fifteen hours as of writing) and proceeds go to the AIDS and Breast Cancer Emergency Fund of San Francisco.

#14 Undeniable Fact About TPM

#14–TPM Spawned Star Wars Celebrations

The reason why Star Wars have their own conventions with girls in Slave Leia outfits, enough stormtroopers to occupy a planet, enough Jedi to restock the Order, the opportunity to stand all day in line to get their fave stars’ autograph, and of course the chance to spend LOTS of money is that the con originally was conceived as a pre-TPM release pep rally.

Originally held April 30-May 2, 1999 at an aviation museum outside of Denver, CO, it drew tens of thousands of fans. The downpours, mud, and chaos made it kind of a Star Wars Woodstock, only without the LSD or mass nudity. At least that’s what I was told. I missed the Great Denver Mud Party. But the conventions remained with the release of every subsequent prequel and three (including the one this summer) since ROTS’s release.

Lightsaber Master Class In Vegas

Nick Gillard and Kyle Rowling are back again to teach eager students the Jedi way!

Nick (assisted by Kyle Rowling) will teach a light sabre master class at Combat Con in Las Vegas July 6th, 2012. After the great success of this class last year you won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn light saber fighting from the man who created it for Star Wars I, II and III.

In this master class Nick will teach a complicated run from Revenge Of The Sith which covers all of the Jedi moves while explaining the rules involved in Jedi fighting. He will also teach how to write it yourself. This World Premiere master class lets you learn it the same way Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen learned it!

This special master class will be a separate charge, but only participants registered for Combat Con will be able to attend. You can register for Combat Con at any level (General, Premium or VIP) to be eligible. In fact, there is only 6 days left of the January only discount of 1/3 off, so register soon! – http://thecombatcon.com/register

The Jedi Fighting master class will be $150 above the cost of Combat Con registration. It will be two hours and there are three sessions to choose from (9-11am, 12-2pm or 3-5pm). Special registration for it will open in Feb/March and currently registered CombatCon participants will have first chance to register.

James Luceno Chat Recap

Missed James Luceno’s Q&A on Facebook today? TFN has a recap that’s easier to read than the actual chat.