Death Trap - Episode 20 - The Clone Wars Season 2

Who my father was matters less than my memory of him 

Calm before the storm! A rare and welcome respite from endless battle awaits Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Mace Windu as they travel through deep space aboard the Jedi cruiser Endurance.  Preparing to rendezvous with a Republic frigate, the Jedi remain unaware of a deadly peril lying hidden in their midst....

After all the hype of Boba coming back, I have to tell you I'm so pumped for next week and watching Death Trap again right now!  Our first look at Boba since holding the helmet of his recently beheaded father.  Boba is touring the Republic Battle Cruiser Endurance with a team of other training troopers.  Boba's Clone Nickname?  Lucky.  He begins the episode sabotaging Mace's quarters with a motion sensor bomb, that would have killed Mace, but was triggered by another helpless victim.  Boba is aided by Bounty Hunter Aurra Sing as well as Bossk the Trandoshan from Empire Strikes Back.  You can tell Boba has a hard time with turning his back on his "brothers" as well as the grown up Clones, which unmasked appear to look just like his father.  

Aurra Sing is finally on screen, you may have seen her for 5 seconds in Phantom Menace hiding in the cliffs during the pod race, but I'm so happy to see her bad ass being used more than just the comics and in Coruscant Nights II.  She appears to be the authority figure to Boba and is pushing all his buttons and helping fulfill his to be destiny as the Galaxy's most ruthless bounty hunter and future Mandalore.  Aurra is a cut throat force to be reckoned with, and has killed her fair share of Jedi's.  Aurra was a Jedi Padawan Learner, until at age 9 she was kidnapped by pirate's (we'll see how much of that is shown in the Clone Wars of her Force Sensibility).

Next week promises to blow the mind!  1 hour long season finale.  The story is to good to go into any more detail,watch it Saturday morning, or Monday on www.starwars.com

Star Wars Hitchhiker

The Zillo Beast Strikes Back - The Clone Wars Season 2 Episode 19

The most dangerous beast is the beast within.

A calculated risk! Following a costly victory on the planet Malastare, Chancellor Palpatine orders Jedi Knights Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker to transport a fearsome Zillo beast captured during the battle Back to Coruscant.

After seeing that not even a lightsaber could harm the beast, Chancellor Palpatine hopes to unlock the secret of its invulnerability to create new armor for the Republic's clone troopers. Tensions run high as the most dangerous life form in the galaxy touches down on its most populous planet....

A great back to basics Clone Wars Episode.  I love the appearances of the characters you only get to know by vering away from the Movies.  Aayla Secura is one of my favorite female Jedi's that never gets the appearances she deserves, you see bits and pieces of her is Episode 2 & 3, along with a very sad display of her death during the Order 66 execution on Felucia.  She has a great back ground with multiple Jedi Masters, one turning to the dark side, and is a strong Twi'lek role model, because the species is commonly perceived in the EU as, well lets just say "Eye Candy".  The Hilary Clinton of Star Wars, but with alot less clothes!

Zillo Beast Strikes back explored the strong feelings Mace has for leaving the beast alone and take it to another planet, but Palpatine has other idea's.  We see his plot unfold at the end of this episode, but not before the fury of the Beast is Unleashed on Coruscant.  Anakin, Mace, Aayla, Obi-Wan, and Yoda have their hands full, as well as another assist by the Astro-Mech Droid we all owe our servo's too!  Enjoy the Zillo Beast Strikes Back, available to watch at http://www.starwars.com/ .

Star Wars Hitchhiker

The Zillo Beast - Clone Wars Season 2 - Episode 18

Choose what is right, not what is easy.

Anakin riding R2????

Desperate times call for desperate measures! In one of the longest and fiercest battles of the war, Separatist forces are on the verge of claiming the planet of Malastare. If the Republic loses this planet it will cost them vital fuel resources necessary for maintaining their armies. In a final effort to turn the tide of this battle, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine has authorized the use of the Republic's newest weapon: the ELECTRO-
PROTON BOMB.

Now, at the Imperial palace of Doge Urus, the leader of the Dugs, the Jedi count down the minutes until the detonation of their doomsday device....

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Pinpointed in the Imperial Palace of Malastare, Republic Forces, the Dug Army, and Jedi's Mace Windu and Anakin attempt to fight of the largest swarm of Separatist Droids.  The Grand Army of the Republic tries out the newly developed ELECTRO-PROTON BOMB, a bomb to destroy all non human life forms.

In the destruction of the Separatist troops, the Republic awakens another beast.  The Zilo Beast....

Thought to be extinct, the Dug's aim to destroy this tyrant as a prophecy was told, it was be reawakened and destroy all life on Malastare.  The Jedi wish to honor this unique life form and preserve its life, while they wage in a political to save its life against the Dugs.  This Episode was not just the struggle to destroy the Separatists and save the Republic, it was about the sanctity, preservation, and continuity of all life......the story of the Jedi way.

The Clone Wars this year has really delivered, and I'm sad for its wrapping up.....but you can always pick up a book and enjoy it any time!

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Allegiance - Novel - Rise of the Empire

When the battle lines are drawn, and the enemy engaged, 

pledging your loyalty may mean laying down your life.… 

Five idealistic but fed-up Imperial storm troopers led by Daric LaRone share the stage with young Rebel Alliance crusaders Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca in this politically fraught but still rollicking early years Star Wars adventure Zahn. Emperor Palpatine's favorite Sith, Darth Vader, has a new rival, the 18-year-old Countess Mara Jade Claria, whom Palpatine has schooled in the Force to assume the special agent role of "Emperor's Hand." Zahn depicts the intrepid Rebel quartet and the turbulent development of the Alliance while revealing the Human faces behind the storm trooper armor of Daric and company, who become unexpected allies of Han and friends once the troopers are on the run after killing a superior officer. The author also underscores Mara Jade's tough-girl charm and blossoming Imperial clout against the background of Palpatine's dedication to Imperial domination and his insidious influence on his minions. This episode will please fans wondering about events between the first and second movies in the original Star Wars trilogy.

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After the destruction of the first Death Star, our adventure begins.  Timothy Zahn has created the novel foundation that is the creation of Mara Jade.  We begin our journey with Mara investigating corrupt politicions with potential rebel involvement.  Mara Jade is referred to by Palpatine, Vader, and the rest of the Empire as the Emperor's Hand.  She is force sensitive and is the emperor's hand of judgement through the galaxy.  She is an associate, but not equal to Vader, and if she would have only known that the man behind the helmet would eventually be her father-in-law.   As most SW stories, this carries the same three sides told at once.  Five storm troopers kill a superior officer in the beginning of the story and hijack an Imperial Luxury ship and roam thru the galaxy known as the Hand of Judgment.  They are known as deserters to the Empire, but still try and live by their sworn oath to serve the Empire.  Leia is held captive on a planet seeking their support for the alliance, and being hunted down by none only, Darth Vader.  Han, Luke and Chewbacca are investigating pirate activity when their journeys meet with the five renegade storm troopers and work in harmony towards the princess's rescue.

The story is mostly based on the storm troopers and their teetering Allegiance to the Empire, but also their assistance to the aid of the Rebel Alliance.  Mara Jade and the Rebel's never cross each others paths, but more or less runs on the parallel path in our story.  I enjoyed this novel more than I've enjoyed any other of Timothy Zahns and would highly recommend this book.  Mara Jade, although serving the Empire, has a more humane approach to justice and peace, compared what the Emperor and Darth Vader have turned the galaxy into.

Star Wars Hitchhiker

Bounty Hunters - Clone Wars Season 2 Episode 17

"Courage makes heroes, but trust builds friendship."

The death toll rises! As the battles intensify, and threaten a growing number of Republic worlds, planets are left to survive on their own. While the Jedi struggle to fight a war on many fronts, a series of medical stations have been established as a lifeline for those in need, but the facilities are easy prey for Separatist attacks. After losing contact with the medical station orbiting Felucia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano are sent to investigate....

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Our journey to Felucia starts with yet another controlled crash by none other than Anakin Skywalker.  Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan end up diverting Vulture Droids and fall into the Felucian wilderness.  After much debate the trio stumbles onto a what appears to be a deserted Felucian farm.  After investigation are confronted with a group of hired bounty hunters, gone mercenaries for the Felucian farmers.

The Jedi aid the Bounty Hunters in training the Felucians to fight there own battles against the Weequay pirates.  Led by a familiar face in Hondo Ohnaka, bully the Felucian farmers for their crops, as the Bounty Hunters have served as guards to the farmers. 

This episode had may new faces in the hired Bounty Hunters as did old known characters.  Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan assisted the Bounty Hunters and farmers in what was another great episode, full of action and suspense.  Working together thru their political differences and moral opposition, the Jedi and Bounty Hunters taught and learned a valuable lesson in trust....

Watch the full episode online - http://www.starwars.com/video/view/000990.html - Only working for 2 weeks!

Star Wars Hitchhiker