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Continuity & Analysis

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Dooku Captured (2009) [S1E11]
The winding path to peace is always a worthy one, regardless of how many turns it takes.
"Manhunt! After a long and perilous search, the Jedi finally track down Separatist leader,
Count Dooku. During a heroic attempt to capture the Count, Anakin Skywalker has gone
missing. Having lost contact with Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi heads toward his friend's
last known location, a lone Separatist frigate in the far reaches of the Outer Rim..."
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Gungan General (2009) [S1E12]
Fail with honor rather than succeed by fraud.
"Dooku held for ransom! After escaping capture by Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and
Obi-Wan Kenobi, the villainous Count Dooku fell into the clutches of pirates led by
the brigand Hondo Ohnaka. Eager to get custody of Dooku, the Republic agreed to pay
Hondo a hefty sum in exchange for the Sith Lord. But Anakin and Obi-Wan had not
counted on the treacherous cunning of Ohnaka and his band..."
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Jedi Crash (2009) [S1E13]
Greed and fear of loss are the roots that lead to the tree of evil.
"The Republic fleet is on the defensive and pushed to the brink! As war rages in
the much contested Outer Rim Territories, chaos and fear mount as the Separatist
army wages an epic battle against heavily outnumbered Republic ships in the far
reaches of the Quell system. Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan Ahsoka race
across the galaxy to aid Jedi Knight Aayla Secura who is in the midst of a fight
for her life as the sinister droid army closes in..."
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Defenders of Peace (2009) [S1E14]
When surrounded by war, one must eventually choose a side.
"Republic forces in retreat! While rescuing General Aayla Secura from certain defeat,
Anakin Skywalker has been seriously injured. After a narrow escape, our heroes
crash-landed on the remote world of Maridun. Stranded, and with no way to
contact the Republic, the Jedi receive medical aid from the peaceful Lurmen
colonists. But even on this tiny planet, the war threatens to follow the Jedi..."




CONTINUITY
These four episodes are two storylines consisting of two episodes each, which are inversions of the same theme.
The chronological order of episodes is as given by Lucasfilm, and follows their release order.
The planets Vanqor, Florrum, Quell, and Maridun are seen for the first time. Five worlds are seen in these episodes:

Both storylines are about Force wielders important to the conflict who become stranded in action in the Trans-Hydian region of the Outer Rim.
The situations and the ethics involved in the first storyline are inverted in the second storyline, exploring the other side of the same themes.

- The Jedi succeed in locating Dooku, about eight or nine months after he escaped arrest on Geonosis in Episode II. Anakin was apparently
involved in the mission to capture him, and risked being killed to allow himself to be captured, apparently as part of ploy by the Jedi.


How did Obi-Wan get close enough to Dooku's frigate to jet over without the ship that dropped him off being detected?
Why is the frigate alone and immobile? Possibly because a remote ship at an unknown location is a safe place to
coordinate from, but is Dooku holding Skywalker here as a trap? He has to know it is possible Anakin will be found
through the Force, and yet doesn't seem to be setting a trap. Also, did Anakin have some sort of beacon hidden on him?
If not, how did they find the ship in the first place? It seems it was the plan for him to get caught, so it seems also likely
the Jedi could track him, but this is never discussed. Dooku's strategy of sitting around after having captured a valuable
Jedi prisoner without preparing an effective trap seems similarly questionable. Ultimately, the only reason Dooku gets
caught at all is because of his uncharacteristic lack of planning. Dooku's motivations here are unclear or confusing.


- Anakin couldn't sense Obi-Wan was on the ship, even after he entered the cell Anakin was in. Other times Jedi who are well-connected can sense each
other from great distances, or even when one enters orbit of a planet another is on. Certainly this isn't a given, but considering that Anakin was waiting
to pounce on whoever entered, and was presumably concentrating, it seems like this was done for the purpose of the dialogue they wanted to use.

- Dooku is constantly belittling Anakin, in earlier meetings, in this storyline, and in the future. In this storyline, first he insults him in person, which is typical
of the intimidation tactics of the Sith, but again when Anakin isn't even there to see him taking Anakin's lightsaber. It's clear that Dooku is both threatened
by and jealous of the 'Chosen One', and yet also understandably feels himself superior in power to any Jedi as inexperienced as Anakin.


- Vanqor is a terrestrial planet located in the Sertar Sector, in the Trans-Hydian region of the Outer Rim. It is temperate and has a breathable atmosphere,
but has a barren and rocky landscape, with significant crystalline formations throughout its surface and crust. The atmosphere's appearance is the result
of silica-dust storms related to the unique mineral composition of the planet. It is notable as the home of the fearsome gundarks, so it obviously has
an ecosystem of a unique variety. Based on the gundarks preference for caves, much of this life may be subterranean.


- This storyline is the first appearance of a living Gundark, a much mentioned creature in SW, usually in metaphors which suggest they are formidable.
They are rarely seen alive on screen, however their bones and skeletons are more often seen as part of the scenery or decor. Their appearance in action
shows why they are considered so dangerous, and are used as a metaphor for an apex opponent.

- The flying saucer style Corona-class frigates were based on an original concept for the Trade Federation ships in Episode I. This was their first appearance
on screen. It was not only a logical continuation of the infinite starship geometry SW loves to explore, it is also a conceptual sci-fi nugget: the idea that
a flying saucer seen on Earth might be nothing more than small group of outlaw pirates seeing if there is anything of value then flying off after observing
the lack of advanced technology. This is not meant as a direct implication, just as something interesting to consider.

- Florrum is an unremarkable desert planet located in the Sertar Sector, in the Trans-Hydian region of the Outer Rim. It is a hot and sulfurous planet, but with
a breathable atmosphere. The only known civilization on the planet at this time is the pirate stronghold of Hondo Ohnaka's horde.


- Dooku is open about being Sith, at least to this group of pirates. Given that the Jedi know he is a Sith, he need not be concerned about keeping it secret,
however it is unclear just how widely known this is. It is clear he is mentioning it here to attempt to intimidate the pirates into standing down. Hondo seems
to know what a Sith Lord is, at least it is something he has heard of before, although he only seems interested in that it might make Dooku more valuable.
Main Article: Awareness of the Jedi and Sith

- Dooku could potentially defeat the pirates even without a lightsaber, but the potential risk of dying is not worth an impulsive act. Despite their reliance on anger
for generating their power through the dark side of the Force, the Sith are characteristically patient, due to their lack of fear and confidence in their powers.

- Obi-Wan and Anakin take the Twilight for their mission to verify the pirates have Dooku, in part because an old spice freighter is less threatening, and
they were supposed to come unarmed. Anakin has obviously repaired and presumably modified his ship after the issues of his previous adventures.

- The containment field which holds Dooku is the same type Obi-Wan was held in during his interview with Dooku in Episode II. The technology seems similar to
the ray shields used to contain people, but the immobilizing technology it uses may be related to tractor beams, or this is a possible combination of technologies.
Main Article: Shields, Deflectors, and Ray Shields

- The pirate brew is either very strong, or it was all drugged, or it contains something intoxicating to Humans but not Weequays. Obi-Wan and Anakin swapped
their obviously drugged drinks for two others, but as the scene zooms out it does seem other pirates than the ones sitting next to them are seen passed out.
These pirates may have passed out from over consumption, having been drinking longer, but it may also be something was added to all drinks to ensure they
got them, or something that would knock out Humans but not Weequays. Anakin and Obi-Wan observe all these points, but exactly what went on is unclear.

- The value of Sith Lords, and of Jedi, has gone up considerably. Not only are the different sides of the war offering great monetary rewards for their killing or capture,
but their importance to the war makes them intelligence assets of unequaled value. The position of Palpatine after the capture of Dooku is a dangerous one for
him. If Dooku is captured by the Republic, it would obviously be a great threat to him and his plans. He is likely confident of Dooku's ability to escape, but if Jedi
arrive the chances of his loss increase considerably. As the Chancellor, Palpatine must appear to want to capture Dooku, but were he to be captured, or taken
out of the war, his plans would be seriously damaged, even if Dooku didn't reveal anything. Dooku's very presence as a powerful Sith Lord leading what is basically
a revival of the ancient Sith empires, is the only threat capable of distracting and thinning out the Jedi in a way in which they will be vulnerable to his plan.
Main Article: Darth Sidious and The Plan


- Jar Jar is again the vehicle of destiny, as his clumsy accident leads to ship being shot down where and when it does, which puts them in a specific situation that
ultimately leads to success. Jar Jar's plan recovers the spice, then his hapless blundering leads to thwarting the pirate tank ambush, knocking out the power,
and helping to save Anakin and Obi-Wan. Additionally, he served the will of the Force by allowing Dooku to escape and complete his destiny.

- Obi-Wan's chief concern about not escape seems to be that they will look foolish if the Republic arrives while they are still prisoners. It's unclear why Obi-Wan is so
vain and lacking in humility about this. This type of obsession with excellence and reputation is typical of Anakin, but seems a bit unusual coming from Obi-Wan.


When Obi-Wan and Anakin are trying to escape, they take their lightsabers off of the pirates, who had previously taken
possession of both Dooku and Anakin's sabers from Dooku. Without explanation, the pirates have Obi-Wan's saber as
well. As the Jedi were told to come unarmed, it is possible Obi-Wan left his in the ship, and that after being captured,
the pirates took it from the ship, but this is not explained and is probably a mistake and a continuity error.


- The Sith goal of killing Jedi is greatly aided by the circumstances of the war they have engineered. The Jedi usually fight on the front lines against droids, which
are expendable under most circumstances, but all the more so if the result will be the death of Jedi. Separatist leaders will often turn their guns on segments
of their own droid army when Jedi are locked in battle with their troops and droids, hoping to eliminate all in the battle.

- Quell is planet located in the Rolion Sector, in the Trans-Hydian region of the Outer Rim. It is a blue and obviously watery planet, as it features a dense cloud
cover. The surface of the planet has not yet been seen, however it does have a breathable atmosphere.


- When the hyperdrive on the escort cruiser is accidentally activated, the ship is still attached to the destroyer. They hurry to detach because the destroyer will
be taken into hyperspace with them. It is unclear if the ships will enter hyperspace safely or if it will be a disaster. Clearly, the size of the object being taken
into hyperspace requires a hyperspace generator of appropriate size. We have seen destroyers have huge hyperspace generators, while starfighters
obviously have much smaller devices. It may be that a Consular-class escort cruiser has a generator powerful enough to take the destroyer into hyperspace,
or that the insufficient power would lead to the damage or destruction of the destroyer. The other major concern is that without coordinates given to
the navicomputer, travel through hyperspace in a straight line and blind is very dangerous. In order to get out of hyperspace, the cruiser must power down,
dropping them out of hyperspace, allowing to reset their navicomputer.
Main Article: Hyperspace Travel

- Maridun is terrestrial planet located in the Rolion Sector, in the Trans-Hydian region of the Outer Rim. It has an agreeable climate, mountainous terrain,
and large regions of plains and grasslands. The planet's native species include some large predators, and Maridun is also the homeworld of the Amani,
who are sentient but not very advanced, but are still a part of the interstellar community. The planet also hosts at least one Lurmen colony.


- General Lok Durd is an ambitious Neimoidian warleader who is also leading the development of the defoliator weapon, a radiation weapon which destroys
living tissue but leaves inorganic matter unharmed. This weapon is a figurative expression of Sith philosophy, using power and knowledge to destroy
the natural in favor of the unnatural. Nevertheless, Dooku complains about the expense, which combined with the loss of the prototype and its designers,
is likely why this technology is not widely implemented by the Separatists later in the war. The testing of weapons on unarmed civilians is one of many
examples of why the Separatists and the Republic are not simply different versions of an imperial state. The Republic may be willing to accept the death
of Separatist civilians to accomplish what it considers necessary strategic goals, but it still would not sanction atrocities against civilian populations,
most especially people under their own authority.


- The Separatist deploy a portable fortification from their landing craft, which is set up fairly quickly, and is relatively formidable. It's deployment and
assembly are not shown, but the design is reminiscent of more substantial and permanent Separatist military structures seen in other episodes.

ANALYSIS
Almost a year into the Clone Wars, the surge of piracy and criminal activity has already accelerated, particularly in the Outer Rim. Pirates like Hondo
Ohnaka, with a large gang, a fleet of ships, and a fortress base, are powerful enough to take full advantage of the chaotic and destabilized situation,
but are usually too insignificant of a threat to warrant the attention of the Republic, or the Separatists. The chance meeting with Dooku leads Hondo
to stick his neck into the affairs of the major powers, with the hope of great reward. The consequences for him and his band of getting noticed by
the Sith will ultimately lead to their diminishment and eventual destruction. In the absence of law and order, pirates and criminal gangs can become
petty local tyrants and eventually even regional despots. At this stage in the Clone Wars, the growth of the power of the underworld is still limited,
and yet will accelerate as the war progresses. Much of the power they gain in this period will only be strengthened in the lawlessness of the Empire,
where repressive and despotic criminal structures that keep the galaxy enslaved and under control are protected or even encouraged. In the period
immediately following the Empire, these criminal empires are in many ways as powerful as the states that declare them criminals, making them
de facto legal authorities. Hondo and his gang could have occupied such a position, if they hadn't happened to make Dooku's hit list.

Despite having established some parity and effective lines against the Separatist advance, Republic forces in the Outer Rim continue to be outnumbered
and hard-pressed by ferocious Separatist attacks. While the situation in the southeastern part of the Outer Rim has become less dire for the Republic,
the situation in the northeastern part of the galaxy, in the Trans-Hydian region, and along the Perlemian Trade Route, have not yet stabilized for Republic
forces. This region, where all four of these episodes are set, is not only key to galactic trade and travel, it holds many populous and politically significant
worlds, and is very near to the Tion Cluster and the Separatist capital of Raxus. This region's importance to long term victory leaves it in conflict almost
continuously throughout the Clone Wars. At this point in the war, the still outnumbered Republic fleet in the region is losing the battle in the sky, leaving
surface forces in a disadvantaged position. As a result the Republic routinely has to withdraw forces and retreat rather than face annihilation.

The Lurmen the Jedi find on Maridun are a kind of utopian community of Lurmen pacifists. The Lurmen on their homeworld of Mygeeto aren't known
for violence, but it is a technologically advanced planet that is politically involved in the galaxy at large. These Lurmen seem to eschew technology, and
certainly wish to be isolationists. Many of the points made by self-righteous Lurmen leader Tee Watt Kaa about the Jedi are accurate, but are massive
exaggerations or misrepresentations. He says, "what difference does it make who started the war and who only wants to end it", which fits with his
extreme philosophy, which embraces a total idealism rejecting all pragmatic realities. It makes a big difference who starts and wants a fight, and those
who only struggle to stop the fighting, and to equate all who fight for something as equal in their fault, regardless of their intentions and desires, is
a huge over simplification. He later says that "mounting a defense is still engaging in battle. If we sacrifice our beliefs, we are no better than they are",
once again reducing anyone who stands up against violence as equal to those who desire to use violence, or are ambivalent about its use. He seems
to think liberty might be worth fighting for, but he also questions if liberty is worth killing for, saying "fighting for something doesn't mean you have to
destroy everything in your path." The Jedi don't destroy everything in their path, and 99% of those they are fighting and destroying are droids, which
isn't killing living beings. These statements are ignorant of the Jedi's actual tactics, beliefs, and actions. He does make one point successfully, that only
when you stop fighting can you claim to be peacekeepers. The Jedi are knights of the Republic, Force-wielding warriors who fight for what they believe
to be right. The Jedi attempt to fill the role of peacekeepers, but once fighting has been joined, they become peacemakers, by using their abilities to fight
in combat to resolve the battle quickly, and disarm those intent on fighting. The Jedi's insistence that what they are doing is peacekeeping is a semantic
argument, but also shows the Jedi have become somewhat delusional about their own function as a paramilitary organization of warriors. They Jedi
have never believed in the kind of extreme pacifist philosophy these Lurmen follow, since they argue that true pacifism means letting tyrants conquer
you, and letting them kill or enslave you if they wish. Wag Too is constantly making these legitimate criticisms of his father's philosophy, but also says
they "were raised under a very strict code. We must respect it even if we don't agree." That they feel they are somehow obligated to follow whatever
specific philosophy their small group has raised them to believe, even if it leads to their death, is typical of the power which childhood teachings have
to limit the imagination of potential other ways of being and acting in otherwise intelligent beings. These Lurmen do show the Jedi who has the moral
high ground in one instance, in that they don't constantly murder animals. The Jedi are often very cavalier about killing non-sentient animals, many of
whom seem quite intelligent, which is very strange considering their attachment to nature and the living Force. Obviously, like any animal, the Jedi have
a natural right to defend themselves if attacked by another animal, but the Jedi are powerful and intelligent enough to stop many creatures without
killing them, and yet don't seem to prioritize this or have many ethical concerns about it. This crash landing among simple beings who are in touch with
nature and love peace, but are threatened through no fault of their own, are the kind of interludes in the war which help keep the Jedi in touch with
their core beliefs. There is great advantage in being able to refresh their spirit and ethics by doing what they are supposed to do, putting themselves on
the line to protect the innocent and the defenseless. This helps Jedi keep some perspective on their role in the war, and the way they conduct it.


FURTHER ANALYSIS
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