tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119895146518285852024-02-20T02:19:24.953-08:00Star Wars: The Poli-Sci JediMusings on law and politics in a Galaxy Far, Far Away...Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-72241144204344219802015-12-12T08:20:00.000-08:002015-12-12T08:20:00.268-08:00Pop Culture in the 2016 Presidential Election<div>
At the risk of getting too political, the 2016 Republican primary process has been a low point for civil debate, but a high point for pop culture references in social media. After Republican candidate Donald Trump announced a controversial plan to ban all Muslims from traveling the United States, <i>Harry Potter</i> author J.K. Rowling <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/674196610683940864">tweeted</a>:</div>
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Facebook and Twitter soon exploded with comparisons between Trump and Voldemort, such as this one:</div>
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As well as photos blending Trump and Voldemort's images:</div>
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In some ways, <i>Harry Potter</i> is a natural vehicle for opponents of Trump's plan to express their frustration. <i>Harry Potter </i>has become popular enough that Potter references have almost become a lingua franca online. We all know what Rowling means when she refers to Voldemort. </div>
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Furthermore, <i>Harry Potter</i> is especially concerned with issues of tolerance and diversity. Voldemort's main goal is to eradicate muggles, i.e. those magicians with non-magical blood. In <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DTTWGWY/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1">Harry Potter and the Millennial</a></i>, political scientist Anthony Gierzynski claims that reading the <i>Harry Potter</i> books correlated with greater levels of acceptance for minorities and higher political tolerance (see <i><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/08/19/harry_potter_s_influence_did_the_beloved_j_k_rowling_series_shape_millennials.html">Slate</a> </i>for a summary of the book's main findings).</div>
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As the controversy rages on, other internet users have started to incorporate references from other pop culture villains, including the Sith from <i>Star Wars</i> and the xenomorph from <i>Alien</i>:</div>
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Even Lovecraft gets some love:</div>
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Most of these references use pop culture to highlight the perceived bizarreness of our political discourse. It's as if many people feel Trump's proposal so contrary to our values that only comparisons to comic book villains can express the scale of his immorality.<br />
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Even Trump seemed to blend reality and fiction in a recent interview with <i><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/us/politics/voters-worried-about-terrorism-look-for-leaders-at-home-on-silver-screen.html">The New York Times</a> </i>when talking about Harrison Ford's movies:</div>
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<i>My favorite was Harrison Ford on the plane [referring to Air Force One]. I love Harrison Ford -- and not just because he rents my properties. He stood up for America.</i></blockquote>
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In response, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/11/entertainment/harrison-ford-donald-trump-air-force-one-feat/index.html?sr=fbCNN121115harrison-ford-donald-trump-air-force-one-feat/index.html%201249PMStoryGalLink&linkId=19498270">Ford noted</a>, "It's a movie, Donald. It was a movie. It's not like this in real life. But how would you know?" </div>
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Ford has a point. As funny as I find these memes, I'm starting to worry if they're doing more harm than good. Pop culture isn't reality; it presents an exaggerated or fantastical world that reflects some aspects of reality, but we should never conflate the two. Trump isn't as evil Voldemort and American presidents don't get into fistfights with terrorists. If pop culture in fact encourages us to view reality through a distorted lens, then it could serve to polarize Americans to even greater extremes. </div>
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Perhaps it takes somebody like Ford, who has played several pop culture icons and experienced movies from the soundstage, to remind us that "it's not like this in real life."</div>
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Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-8581321951077982172015-11-11T14:16:00.001-08:002015-11-11T14:16:40.324-08:00Star Wars: Battlefront (Veteran's Day)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, November 11, is Veteran's Day. I thought I'd mark the occasion by discussing how Star Wars has treated warfare and soldiers throughout the saga. Despite the name "Star <i>Wars</i>," the saga actually has very few prominent characters who are soldiers. The main characters tend to be Jedi, Sith, smugglers, or politicians. Moreover, in the Prequel Trilogy, the opposing armies consisted of Clone Troopers and battle droids, not ordinary men and women in uniform.</div>
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That changed somewhat with <i>The Clone Wars </i>animated TV show. The series started to individualize the clones, allowing them to develop unique personalities. The clones came across more like regular men than exact duplicates of bounty hunter Jango Fett. The fact that they're clones does mean they can identify more closely with each other, and as a result they exhibit a high degree of camaraderie. There's very little grumbling in the clone ranks (although there are a few cases of defection and desertion).<a name='more'></a></div>
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<i>The Clone Wars</i> also explored how and why clones disobey orders. In the Umbara arc, rogue Jedi Pong Krell tries to covertly sabotage the Republic war effort. The Clones initially obey his orders, as they are programmed to do. Interestingly, the tipping point leading to their decision to openly turn against Krell comes when the Jedi tries to trick one Clone squad into attacking another. This attempt at forcing them to commit fratricide was the final straw. </div>
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In fact, the show depicts the Clones as so loyal to each other and to the Jedi that it might have conflicted with how easily the Clones turned on the Jedi in <i>Revenge of the Sith</i>. <i>The Clone Wars</i> solves this problem by revealing that Palpatine used a biological chip to program the Clones to obey Order 66. In other words, the government robbed them of moral agency. This can be seen as analogous to the way that some armies attempt to brainwash and indoctrinate their troops into committing atrocities. Fortunately, despite Palpatine's best efforts, some of the Clones, including Rex, discover the chip and remove it before it activates.</div>
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The new novel <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Battlefront-Twilight-Company-Star-Wars/dp/0345511212/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447276572&sr=8-1&keywords=star+wars+battlefront+book">Star Wars Battlefront: Twilight Company</a></i> is one of the first tie-in media to focus primarily on ordinary soldiers in the Star Wars universe. This is a new approach for the franchise and one that serves it well. The book explores the darker side of war, not only the inevitable deaths but also problem of keeping up morale in the ranks. There are times when the soldiers of Twilight Company are short on supplies and even shorter on leadership. It's probably the most realistic depiction of the life of an ordinary soldier in the Galaxy Far, Far Away we've gotten so far.</div>
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Author Alexander Freed obviously did his homework in terms of understanding what motivates soldiers to fight. Star Wars has typically portrayed soldiers as idealists fighting for a cause. However, <i>Twilight Company</i> provides us with a diverse set of motives. Some of the soldiers are idealists. Others just want revenge for past wrongs. Still others view military service as a way to escape downtrodden conditions back home. The book follows Twilight Company Sergeant Hazard Namir, who in a refreshing twist isn't particularly committed to the Rebel cause. War is simply a way of life for him. He cares about protecting his men and women, but is skeptical of the politicians leading the Rebellion.</div>
<br /><i>Star Wars: The Force Awakens</i> also looks likely to provide even more characters who serve in uniform, either for the Resistance or the First Order. From the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGbxmsDFVnE">trailer</a>, Finn seems to be an Imperial soldier who deserted. Poe Dameron, an X-Wing pilot, is captured and tortured by Kylo Ren. On the other side, Captain Phasma has already become a popular character, which is fascinating because thus far most Imperial soldiers have remained nameless and faceless. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until December 17 how these men and women of the galaxy's armies are portrayed on screen.<br /><div>
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Until then, take a moment to thank our veterans (and those in the Galaxy Far, Far Away) for their service.</div>
Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-29840270242614543352015-09-12T07:10:00.000-07:002015-09-12T07:10:37.356-07:00Legendarium Media<div>
Recently, I joined <i><a href="http://www.legendariummedia.com/">Legendarium Media</a></i> as contributing writer for all things Star Wars. It's been a great opportunity to share my love of Star Wars with a different audience. I'll be posting a new article roughly every week. My current articles include:</div>
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<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.legendariummedia.com/2015/09/10/the-expanded-universe-as-low-pulp-star-wars/" style="border: 0px; color: #ff4b33; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The Expanded Universe as “Low Pulp” Star Wars” (September 10, 2015)</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.legendariummedia.com/2015/09/01/the-star-wars-expanded-universe-as-corporate-storytelling/" style="border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The Star Wars Expanded Universe as Corporate Storytelling” (September 1, 2015)</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.legendariummedia.com/2015/08/13/how-to-integrate-diversity-into-star-wars/" style="border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“How to Integrate Diversity into Star Wars” (August 13, 2015)</a></li>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Bitstream Charter, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">I just finished a review of Chuck Wendig's <i>Aftermath</i>, so look for that soon as well.</span></span></div>
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Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-51456704549076715412015-07-06T07:53:00.000-07:002015-07-06T07:53:10.870-07:00BOOK REVIEW: "Dark Disciple" by Christie Golden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The latest canon </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Wars</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> novel, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dark
Disciple</i> actually comes from a script written by Katie Lucas,
Matt Michnovetz, and Dave Filoni for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Clone Wars</i> animated TV show before it was canceled. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dark Disciple</i>, the Jedi Council sends Quinlan Vos on a mission to
recruit Asajj Ventress to help assassinate Count Dooku. I’ll try not to
reveal too many spoilers, which is especially difficult for this book, and will focus on plot developments that happen during the first quarter of the novel.<br />
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Although Quinlan Vos and Asajj
Ventress are both fan favorites, I’d never imagined that they’d appear together, much less in a Clone Wars novel. Yet, after having read the novel, the pairing seems
natural. They’re both strong, sexy - yes, sexy - characters who have touched the Dark Side. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dark Disciple</i> is a character
study of how these two learn to trust and respect one another.</div>
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Before I go on, I want to reassure
readers about Quinlan Vos. Both Vos and Ventress initially appeared in <a href="https://www.comixology.com/Star-Wars-The-Clone-Wars/comics-series/37266?ref=c2VhcmNoL2luZGV4L2Rlc2t0b3Avc2xpZGVyTGlzdC9zZXJpZXNTbGlkZXI">DarkHorse’s Republic comic series</a> (no
longer considered canon). Ventress became a key character on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Clone Wars</i> TV show, showing more depth and nuance than the
comic version. By the end of Season 5, she had turned her back on Count Dooku and had become a bounty hunter who sometimes worked with the Jedi. By contrast, many fans were disheartened by Quinlan Vos’ single
appearance in “Hunt for Ziro” because he came across as a shallow beach bum
rather than the brooding, sensual Jedi who had flirted with the Dark Side.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fortunately, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dark Disciple</i> does much to rehabilitate Quinlan’s character. The
Quinlan Vos in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dark Disciple</i> isn’t an exact copy of the one from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Republic</i>
comics, but it’s clear that the comics inspired Katie Lucas and Christie
Golden. In fact, the novel is an interesting example of how, after Disney
rebooted the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Wars</i> continuity,
authors can take themes or characters from the old Expanded Universe and
repurpose them for the new canon. As the saying goes, “History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes.” So, if you'd been frustrated by Quinlan's portrayal in <i>The Clone Wars</i>, I highly suggest reading <i>Dark Disciple</i> to put your mind at ease. At the same time, the book is accessible enough so that readers unfamiliar with the comics can follow the story (although
readers should at least have watched all six seasons of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Clone Wars</i>).<br />
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One facet of<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Quinlan Vos from the <i>Republic </i>comics that plays an important role in the novel is
his sexuality. In the comics, Quinlan was depicted as an epitome of masculinity. The comic artwork typically emphasized his physical body, making him possibly the first <i>Star Wars</i> beefcake. Quinlan was the only Jedi to pursue passionate romantic relationships openly. All this makes him an
excellent foil for Asajj Ventress, who is also a sexually charged character,
albeit in a very different way. Even in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Clone Wars</i>, Asajj Ventress had a creepy way of flirting with her enemies,
especially Obi-Wan Kenobi (remember when she kissed a Clonetrooper just as she killed him). Yet, Quinlan’s flirting stems from a desire to be
closer to people, whereas Asajj’s puts a distance between her and other people.
Quinlan sought intimacy, whereas Asajj feared intimacy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVC_nggmO6rgWXDi6fOEjH4fM2dxWgHoT6OnjyrGhXbqaq26DQO2Lo7M9LLK6w7AvScHv_x8ae_rm3EuqrZ_l-3pdETF3wizIYEDwubq2KjJpB6oMEBC4pVeI-83wwRhFvyvO5M9rPOPtL/s1600/Swr69cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVC_nggmO6rgWXDi6fOEjH4fM2dxWgHoT6OnjyrGhXbqaq26DQO2Lo7M9LLK6w7AvScHv_x8ae_rm3EuqrZ_l-3pdETF3wizIYEDwubq2KjJpB6oMEBC4pVeI-83wwRhFvyvO5M9rPOPtL/s320/Swr69cover.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This guy is back!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The banter between Quinlan and Asajj in <i>Dark Disciple</i> is as witty as the best encounters between Asajj and Obi-Wan in the show. Quinlan's first
encounters with Asajj are often awkward. He tries flirting with Asajj to put her off
guard, and she views him as a meddling beach bum (indeed, the book explains that Quinlan sometimes acted like a beach bum to put others at ease and because he enjoyed his work as a Jedi). But they soon become partners, and then something more. Although they don’t agree on much, they soon realize that they enjoy the other’s company and even develop affection. Fortunately, the book doesn't rush to get to the action; it takes its time to allow their relationship to grow naturally. The narrative alternates between
their points of view, allowing readers to see how each perceives - and misperceives - the other. </div>
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<i>Star Wars</i> doesn't do romance particularly well. Aside from Han and Leia in <i>Empire Strikes Back</i>, most <i>Star Wars</i> romances feel forced or too sudden. In the old Expanded Universe, Luke Skywalker proposes to Mara Jade out of the blue. Yet, p<span style="text-indent: 0in;">erhaps because they’re both strong,
sensual characters, the relationship between Quinlan and Asajj works. I
truly believe that Quinlan is the one man who could get Asajj to lower her
defenses. And Asajj gives Quinlan a much more tempting reason to leave the Jedi Order than the </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Republic</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> comics
ever did. Like many relationships, there are times when their love is selfless, and other times when an unhealthy attachment blinds them to deeper problems. Having been in a serious relationship, I could identify with the way a small gesture or look might make all
the difference.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m tempted to call <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dark Disciple</i> the first <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Wars</i> romance novel, but that would
minimize the rest of the novel (and evoke unwanted comparisons with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fifty Shades of Grey</i>). As much as I
would love to have seen the produced episodes, I actually think this story
works better as a novel. The ability of the narrator to get inside the
characters’ heads helps to convey the complex emotions they’re processing.
Also, there are some very sensual moments, including kissing, that might not
have survived the censors at Cartoon Network. Christie Golden chooses to play the story straight, as a romantic tragedy, and downplays the sometimes over-the-top nature action scenes it inherited from <i>The Clone Wars</i>.</div>
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I’m reluctant to talk much more about
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dark Disciple </i>because I
don’t want to spoil the novel. I’ll simply say that this is easily the most
meaningful of the new canon novels in terms of character development and its
impact on the overall saga. Indeed, Christie Golden has set a high standard for
characterization in the new <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Wars</i>
novel line. I enjoyed learning about - caring about - Quinlan Vos and Asajj Ventress. I was also fascinated to see how the story incorporated elements of Quinlan and Asajj's stories from the <i>Republic </i>comics - almost as if adapting the comic to a new medium. If you cared about either of these characters - or just like reading about strong characters, I highly recommend <i>Dark Disciple</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Overall score:</i> 5/5 Asajj Ventress death kisses</div>
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<i><a href="http://starwars.com/">StarWars.com</a> has posted some of the <a href="http://www.starwars.com/news/swca-the-untold-clone-wars-panel-liveblog">concept art</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5mumsqnozc">animatics</a> designed for the unproduced </i>The Clone Wars<i> "Dark Disciple" episodes. I recommend checking them out before reading </i>Dark Disciple <i>as they’ll help crystalize some of the imagery
in the novel. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-48981142232209091302015-06-09T12:09:00.000-07:002015-06-09T12:09:00.162-07:00Star Wars course at Mythgard!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQSVdTCbelmCo1FpBrVbfaza6rldvvDEwAEFFbMjgzEoEMjpgymAaT4fqt5GzZFVtZ5xV_0n99iJR4C1bW_lAyKgmAW4MkyR79gZZDgtQ5nwCvlPMdSvdn8x6ILlTnG2xes72jUMiYCYQ/s1600/MythgardLogo_400x400.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQSVdTCbelmCo1FpBrVbfaza6rldvvDEwAEFFbMjgzEoEMjpgymAaT4fqt5GzZFVtZ5xV_0n99iJR4C1bW_lAyKgmAW4MkyR79gZZDgtQ5nwCvlPMdSvdn8x6ILlTnG2xes72jUMiYCYQ/s200/MythgardLogo_400x400.png" width="200" /></a></div>
One of the reasons I created the <a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/">Poli-Sci Jedi website</a> was because I believe that the <i>Star Wars </i>saga is worthy of serious academic study. Although I haven't always had the time to use this site to engage in that sort of critical inquiry, it definitely remains a part of my long-term plans for my own personal fandom.<br />
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Fortunately, <a href="http://www.mythgard.org/">Mythgard Institute</a>, an online university specializing in speculative fiction, is making that easier by offering <a href="http://www.mythgard.org/academics/fall-2015-courses/the-force-of-star-wars-examining-the-epic/">an online course</a> about the <i>Star Wars </i>saga this fall. I've followed Mythgard since its beginnings and am a big fan of its classes. The professors take science fiction and fantasy literature seriously, but don't overanalyze it (as so many high school teachers are prone to do).<br />
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Although the course isn't free, it definitely sounds worthwhile. Dr. Amy Sturgis, a professor of literature who focuses on the history of science fiction, will be teaching. Personally, I plan to take the course and write a paper about political institutions in Star Wars (what else?).Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-8692016960476320202015-04-27T23:59:00.000-07:002015-04-28T05:53:20.489-07:00 BOOK REVIEW: "Lords of the Sith" by Paul Kemp<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTSDngfvQMfehvVFo0326IxEA9mnbfwV2YjEyAKEqnFgV8xpNzaemxCVu_RACC75RW-6XDpVNxouvQAd0EvLkdezXig3MRELPcC1cNr8LqgikGRacmDRiODYy_bMy8zTMbgo94odlmn4T/s1600/Lords_of_the_Sith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTSDngfvQMfehvVFo0326IxEA9mnbfwV2YjEyAKEqnFgV8xpNzaemxCVu_RACC75RW-6XDpVNxouvQAd0EvLkdezXig3MRELPcC1cNr8LqgikGRacmDRiODYy_bMy8zTMbgo94odlmn4T/s1600/Lords_of_the_Sith.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a>Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine flex their Force muscles in Paul Kemp's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lords-Sith-Paul-S-Kemp/dp/0345511441/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426648885&sr=8-2&keywords=kemp+star+wars" style="font-style: italic;">Lords of the Sith</a>, but the real stars of this book are Cham Syndulla and his rebellion on Ryloth. According to the publisher's summary:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>On Ryloth, a planet crucial to the growing Empire as a source of slave labor and the narcotic known as “spice,” an aggressive resistance movement has arisen, led by Cham Syndulla, an idealistic freedom fighter, and Isval, a vengeful former slave. But Emperor Palpatine means to control the embattled world and its precious resources—by political power or firepower—and he will be neither intimidated nor denied. Accompanied by his merciless disciple, Darth Vader, he sets out on a rare personal mission to ensure his will is done.</i></blockquote>
<a name='more'></a>In his previous <i>Star Wars</i> books, Paul Kemp impressed me with his memorable characterizations and willingness to slow down the action to focus on the little details. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Republic-Deceived-Legends/dp/0345511395/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1427465590&sr=8-2&keywords=paul+kemp+star+wars">Deceived</a></i> took a generic Sith from <a href="http://swtor.com/"><i>The Old Republic</i> MMO</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOLANti8UCY">trailer</a>, Darth Malgus, and gave him some real depth and emotions. In <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crosscurrent-Star-Wars-Legends/dp/0345509056/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1427465590&sr=8-4&keywords=paul+kemp+star+wars">Crosscurrent</a></i> and <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Riptide-Star-Wars-Paul-Kemp/dp/034552246X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1427465590&sr=8-3&keywords=paul+kemp+star+wars">Riptide</a></i>, Kemp added small character quirks for Jaden Korr and the crew of the <i>Junker</i> that made them stand out. I still remember the fact that Khedryn Faal had a lazy eye and Marr Idi-Shael had a chipped tooth.<br />
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Kemp brings that same type of character development to <i>Lords of the Sith</i>, especially with the Twi'lek rebels. Cham Syndulla first appeared in <i>The Clone Wars</i> episode "Liberty on Ryloth," but came across as simply a lofty idealist. <i>Lords of the Sith</i> shows his strategic acumen, as well as his internal doubts. He's not above using blackmail and sending people to their deaths. His colleague Isval has her own inner demons from the time she was kept as an Imperial slave. If anything, I was a bit surprised and disappointed that Kemp didn't take this character to darker places as it seemed like she was being set up for a "<i>Heart of Darkness</i>" style arc.<br />
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Kemp's new Imperial characters also get some unique quirks. Moff Mors is the Imperial leader on Ryloth. The <a href="http://www.bigshinyrobot.com/58601/star-wars-introduces-lgbt-character-canon/">media</a> made a big deal of the fact that she is officially the first lesbian character in <i>Star Wars</i>, but what's more interesting is that she starts the book depressed, having given up on her career. It's rare to see a <i>Star Wars</i> character who suffers from genuine depression and it made her character arc more meaningful. She cedes most of her authority to her assistant, Colonel Belkor. Belkor finds himself enmeshed in a conspiracy partly of his own making. The character is forced to make difficult choices and seeing him slowly slip into insanity was a treat.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJZPYckVmYN7TiQJ3hX7u1sIVL3TNsFKizUANdM8WcZ5pY2V_t75_5r30m3-FDMgnjYFp2aDqEY33gRP_yXU9XWbhejwVQx142UPIuteJBVD00pGjAF3Ec8o2vm2CLmn8gT5FWokubcCo/s1600/ChamSyndullaHS-SWE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJZPYckVmYN7TiQJ3hX7u1sIVL3TNsFKizUANdM8WcZ5pY2V_t75_5r30m3-FDMgnjYFp2aDqEY33gRP_yXU9XWbhejwVQx142UPIuteJBVD00pGjAF3Ec8o2vm2CLmn8gT5FWokubcCo/s1600/ChamSyndullaHS-SWE.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cham Syndulla - not just an idealist</i></td></tr>
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It was good to see Kemp give these characters their due because - through no fault of his own - the plot of this book contains little suspense or surprise. Anybody who has seen the Original Trilogy knows that Vader and the Emperor survive. Their fate is never in doubt. Moreover, the official publisher's summary spoils the plot of about 50-60% of the book (I took the liberty of removing the last paragraph of the summary so as to not spoil readers). If you've read the publisher's summary and seen the movies, you know what's going to happen here.<br />
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All too often in <i>Star Wars</i>, the heroes are more lucky than skilled. This is particularly egregious in the <i><a href="http://www.starwars.com/tv-shows/star-wars-rebels">Rebels</a></i> TV series, where the main characters regularly barge onto Imperial ships or bases with no plan, relying on Imperial incompetence to save the day. In <a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/11/book-review-tarkin.html">my review of <i>Tarkin</i></a>, I noted that the ragtag rebels in that book never seemed like worthy adversaries. Not so in <i>Lords of the Sith</i>. Cham's Twi'lek rebels come across as competent and careful. Cham has carefully cultivated resources and personnel. His team has to think carefully about where and when to use them. Nobody would ever accuse them of just being "lucky." I dare say it's probably the most realistic depiction of an insurgency we've ever gotten in <i>Star Wars</i>.<br />
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The rebels use their resources to attack the Star Destroyer <i>Perilous</i>, which is carrying Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, and Senator Orn Free Taa. I appreciated that Kemp makes this into a Big Deal. Ever since <i>Return of the Jedi</i>, it's become something of a trope in <i>Star Wars</i> that starfighters can destroy Star Destroyers by taking out the two shield towers and then hitting the bridge. In <i>The Clone Wars</i> and <i>Rebels</i> TV shows, one gets the sense that capital ships are pretty expendable. By contrast, Cham and his rebels have to commit a lot of resources to an attack with multiple phases. Kemp also doesn't shy away from the death toll; both the Twi'leks and Imperials recognize that hundreds, likely thousands, of officers died. By the time the rebels actually destroy the ship, you feel like they've earned it.<br />
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Despite its title, I was less interested in Vader and the Emperor in <i>Lords of the Sith</i>. The publisher's summary states that their relationship will be "tested as never before," but I didn't find that to be the case. Both characters are so overpowered that they could easily destroy any obstacle that stood in their way. Obviously, I knew neither character would die, I never felt like they were seriously threatened or even stressed. Vader had a few nice character moments, particularly when he's haunted by his past, but it never seemed to me like anything they faced truly tested their relationship. Perhaps it's because in the old Expanded Universe/Legends we had so many stories in which the Emperor "tests" Vader and I've become inured to the concept.<br />
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I've noticed that the newer <i>Star Wars </i>novels seem to struggle to deliver a fitting denouement. Unfortunately, this is the case with <i>Lords of the Sith</i> as well. The events in this book should have important consequences for both Ryloth and the galaxy at large. The Twi'leks hope that their actions will ignite a spark of rebellion throughout the galaxy. Does the Empire cover up the destruction of the Star Destroyer, as they fear, or does news of their victory spread? We simply never find out, which ironically means we don't know if the protagonists were successful in their ultimate mission. We also never get a closing scene for Moff Mors explaining her fate, which is a shame because her character underwent considerable growth and this is probably the last we'll see of her (although there are <a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/rumor-lgbt-star-wars-character-movies-tv/">rumors</a> that she will appear in the <i>Rogue One </i>spinoff film). We don't even find out what happened to Senator Orn Free Taa. Admittedly, he doesn't play a large role in this book, but he had been a prominent character in <i>The Clone Wars</i>.<br />
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Kemp's <i>Lords of the Sith</i> is easily the best of the four canon novels out there. The characters are memorable and defy predictable stereotypes. The destruction of the Star Destroyer is probably the most epic moment in the new canon thus far. And I enjoyed seeing the way this band of rebels operated. I just wish there had been a bit more payoff at the end.<br />
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<i>Overall</i>: 4 Ryloth Gutkurrs<br />
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Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-19034557475202290932015-03-10T10:15:00.004-07:002015-03-10T10:15:56.818-07:00What's wrong with the economics of sci-fi?<a href="https://domnardireviews.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/dune210106-101.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://domnardireviews.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/dune210106-101.jpeg?w=198" /></a><br />
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[This article was reposted from my main blog, <a href="https://domnardireviews.wordpress.com/2015/03/10/whats-wrong-with-the-economics-of-sci-fi/">NardiViews</a>]</div>
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Economist David Berri has an article in <a href="http://time.com/3731977/science-fiction-future-wrong/">Time</a> criticizing the depiction of economics in science fiction. In particular, he argues that sic-fi stories frequently depict technologically advanced galactic empires despite the fact that, in the real world, autocracy sniffles economic growth. Historically, empires have seized private wealth, making citizens more reluctant to invest in technology and innovation. By contrast, inclusive governments, such as democracies, allow people to reap the rewards of their investments, thereby encouraging investment in technologies that stimulate economic growth.<br /><br />I know something about both political economics and science fiction, and unfortunately Berri gets both wrong.<a name='more'></a>First, the economics. Berri relies heavily upon Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Why-Nations-Fail-Origins-Prosperity/dp/0307719227"><i>Why Nations Fail</i></a> (which I've read). Acemoglu and Robinson argue that in closed political systems economic elites often use political power to stifle technological developments that threaten their vested interests. For example, an oil tycoon will probably try to block progress in renewable energy technologies. By contrast, inclusive political institutions give capitalists and investors a political voice. Institutions can place constraints on elites to reduce the risk of expropriation and encourage "creative destruction." In other words, despite the oil lobby, the government cannot arbitrarily prevent renewable energy companies from profiting off their work.</div>
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<br />This distinction is crucial. Acemoglu and Robinson don't make an argument about democracy per se, but rather about constrained government. In general, democracies are more inclusive than other types of governments, but empires and authoritarian regimes vary drastically in their political arrangements. 20th century China's history provides a telling example. Maoists not only prohibited private enterprise, but also arrested and attacked anybody labeled a "capitalist." Since Mao's death in 1976, China has progressively implemented laws and institutional changes to protect property rights and contracts. China's political system is far from inclusive, but it has expanded to allow capitalists to join the Communist Party.<br /><br />As for the science fiction, I think Berri simply goes about his analysis the wrong way. He uses the political economy literature as a measuring stick for a fictional world. This defeats the point of science fiction. Of course <i>Dune</i> deviates from our world. The spaceship pilots use drugs (spice) to travel faster than light and Paul has psychedelic prescience powers. If you read <i>Dune</i> and think it accurately predicts our future, then I have a magic 8-ball to sell you. Rather, as I argue in an article about Tolkien's Middle-earth in a <a href="http://www.mythsoc.org/mythlore/mythlore-125"><i>Mythlore</i></a> article, the important question is whether the story has an internally consistent logic. Politics and economics in a sci-fi subcreation might work differently from our own, but good world-building should be able to explain why.<br /><br />In this case, I think there's a relatively simple explanation. Isaac Asimov's Foundation and Frank Herbert's <i>Dune</i> both depict galactic empires in a state of relative stagnation or decline. In <i>Dune</i>, it's quite clear that Emperor Shaddam IV is not trying to promote technological innovation. The Great Convention actually banned "thinking machines" after the Butlerian Jihad and society seems to fear technological progress. Presumably, the main technological developments in the <i>Dune</i> universe came before the galaxy's descent into quasi-feudalism. A better analogy might be our own Dark Ages; Western Europe didn't completely abandon Roman technology, as evidenced by the use of arches in castles and churches.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://domnardireviews.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/5554513311_cd27f6db32_b.jpg"><img src="https://domnardireviews.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/5554513311_cd27f6db32_b.jpg?w=640" /></a><br /><br />We actually saw this process play out in <i>Star Wars</i>. Fans often complain that the technology in the Prequel films looks more advanced than what we saw in the Original Trilogy. This is by design. Lucas <i>deliberately</i> depicted the Republic in The Phantom Menace as an advanced society, with pristine starships and armies of battle droids. The last of the Republic's glory days. When the Empire takes over, the galaxy enters the "Dark Times." Starships look run down and droids are covered in dirt, as if inhabitants couldn't afford to maintain their technology. Control panels have more knobs and CRT screens and fewer holographic displays. Notably, the only major technological innovation we see under the Empire was the Death Star, a product of the Empire's military research rather than of private investment.<br /><br />Now, what I'd really like to know is how the Federation economy works if there's no money in 24th century <i>Star Trek</i>...</div>
Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-68285968440658859742015-03-03T00:07:00.000-08:002015-03-03T00:07:59.318-08:00BOOK REVIEW: "Heir to the Jedi" by Kevin Hearne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are some nice character moments in Kevin Hearne's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MKZ3VMW?btkr=1" style="font-style: italic;">Heir to the Jedi</a>, but I can't shake the feeling that it's not the same Luke we saw in the films...<br />
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From the publisher's summary:<br />
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<i>A brilliant alien cryptographer renowned for her ability to breach even the most advanced communications systems is being detained by Imperial agents determined to exploit her exceptional talents for the Empire’s purposes. But the prospective spy’s sympathies lie with the Rebels, and she’s willing to join their effort in exchange for being reunited with her family. It’s an opportunity to gain a critical edge against the Empire that’s too precious to pass up. It’s also a job that demands the element of surprise. So Luke and the ever-resourceful droid R2-D2 swap their trusty X-wing fighter for a sleek space yacht piloted by brash recruit Nakari Kelen, daughter of a biotech mogul, who’s got a score of her own to settle with the Empire.</i></blockquote>
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<a name='more'></a>Of the three adult <i>Star Wars </i>novels released since the EU relaunch (including <i><a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-star-wars-new-dawn.html">A New Dawn</a> </i>and <i><a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/11/book-review-tarkin.html">Tarkin</a></i>), I think <i>Heir to the Jedi</i> is the most interesting. But it also has the weakest plot. As the publisher's summary notes, Luke goes on a mission to retrieve an Imperial cryptologist. It's the same premise as last year's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Empire-Rebellion-Thieves-ebook/dp/B00F1W0DFE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421569727&sr=8-1&keywords=star+wars+corey">Honor Among Thieves</a></i>. Luke and Nakari basically bounce from one planet to another on a series of small adventures, but that seems more like the backdrop for the story rather than the story itself. I doubt anybody will be surprised at the ending of the book. Certain things have to happen. However, <i>how </i>it happens actually becomes interesting. This is definitely a book more interested in characters than in plot or action.<br />
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At its core, <i>Heir to the Jedi</i> is about Luke's relationship to the Force and to other people. Most of the old EU stories set in between <i>A New Hope</i> and <i>Empire Strikes Back</i> seemed content to treat Luke as already a fairly skilled Jedi. Hearne realizes that at this point Luke had not had any training in the Force other than Ben Kenobi's instructions on the Millennium Falcon. In <i>Heir to the Jedi</i>, we get to see Luke struggle with basic Force skills. For example, we see the first time Luke uses telekinesis. It's a worthy payoff not just because it's a significant accomplishment but is also so humble. The ending provides an important payoff of a different sort, both in Luke's relationship with the other characters and his relationship to the Force. It subtly contrast Luke's decisions with those of his father.<br />
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That said, something about Luke's characterization in this novel feels off. In the <i>Star Wars</i> mythos, Luke Skywalker is the archetypical quest hero. He fights with a "laser sword," directly echoing medieval knights. He's also a fighter pilot, echoing the view of jet fighter jocks as the modern form of knights (at least during the 1970s and 1980s). Luke seems ill suited to "cloak and dagger" missions. In <i>Heir to the Jedi</i>, the Rebellion sends Luke to act as an arms buyer, but that seems more like Leia's area of expertise. I couldn't help but ask why the Rebels wouldn't send a professional retrieval team to rescue the cryptographer (incidentally, they do so for the cryptographer's family). Luke even talks about how he could find enjoyment in planning recon missions, which seems very different from the character we see in<i> Empire Strikes Back</i>.<br />
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Much has been made of Hearne's decision to write this novel from a first-person perspective. The only other <i>Star Wars </i>novel narrated in first person is Michael Stackpole's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jedi-Star-Wars-Michael-Stackpole/dp/0553578731" style="font-style: italic;">I, Jedi</a>, but even that novel featured Corran Horn, a character who did not appear in the movies. Some fans were worried about the use of first person for a major character, whereas others thought it would provide for an exciting change.<br />
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Surprisingly, for most of the book, the first person narration did not really affect my reading of the story. For better or worse, it's generally not intrusive. The narrative and action flows pretty well, with a few observations and insights from Luke. So if you don't like the idea of reading a story in the first person, I wouldn't worry too much. Near the end, there are a few excellent character moments in which Hearne takes advantage of the first-person narration to tell us how Luke feels. At a few points, seeing Luke's thought process helps explain why he ultimately did not fall to the Dark Side like his father.<br />
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Overall, I'm glad I read this book, mostly for the payoff at the end. I wish the book had created an original character rather than use Luke in order to avoid some of those character inconsistencies. However, if you can overlook a few moments here or there, there's actually a decent coming of age story in <i>Heir to the Jedi</i>.<br />
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<b><i>Overall</i>: 3.5 Lightsabers</b><br />
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[I received an advance version of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]</div>
Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-37230471241640383092015-01-04T09:46:00.000-08:002015-01-04T09:46:39.506-08:00REBELS REVIEW: Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A new year, a new episode of Star Wars: Rebels. Unfortunately, I don't have time to write full reviews for each episode. However, I wanted to comment on the general direction of the show, especially because I have revised my opinion of the show since <a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/10/review-star-wars-rebels-spark-of.html">reviewing "A Spark of Rebellion."</a> Overall, the show is getting much, much better. The characterizations, story arcs, and animation have all improved.<br />
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There's one change in particular that has elevated Rebels from kiddy fare to real Star Wars. In my original review, I'd complained that Ezra Bridger came across as too cocksure for a young teenager facing the Empire. The episode "Gathering Forces" shook Ezra's confidence, but did so in an important way. Ezra used the Force to compel a giant creature to attack the Inquisitor. After the attack, Ezra seems shaken by his actions, especially by the fact that he had touched the Dark Side. Ezra isn't a character who struggles to defeat external opponents, but rather one who must confront internal demons.<br />
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"Path of the Jedi" continues Ezra's journey as he confronts illusions in an abandoned Jedi temple on Lothal. Ezra admits that he fears being alone and not being accepted by the crew of the <i>Ghost</i>. I love the scene in which he overhears phantom versions of Hera, Sabine, and Zeb expressing doubts about him. Their comments reflect Ezra's deepest insecurities (Sabine pities him. Ouch!). When the episode ends, Ezra hasn't completely overcome his fears; he admits to the phantom Inquisitor that he fears letting his friends down.<br />
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In these two episodes, we finally see Ezra become vulnerable. Yet, he doesn't fear the Empire because confronting the Empire simply puts his life and liberty at risk. Rather, Ezra becomes afraid of himself when other characters start to depend on him. Ezra still has a certain brashness, but he's becoming a much deeper character. This character is maturing.<br />
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I don't think my initial impressions of Ezra were wrong. Filoni's storytelling modus operandus seems to rely upon creating a relatively unsympathetic archetype and allow him or her to change dramatically over the course of the series. Think of how annoying Ahsoka was in Season 1 of <i>The Clone Wars </i>compared to how wise she'd become by Season 5. I'm just pleasantly surprised we've seen so much growth from Ezra so early in Rebels!Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-41134604089707056942014-11-04T20:11:00.000-08:002014-11-04T20:11:00.424-08:00BOOK REVIEW: Tarkin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDir1IKSLuuzJgNSCy8WuXZtP0FtExXbBnV5MgEbOXQTLBlR8fowfsisa7hZQeQVnasXEbYMsGzPeq4B4S9UQfUrhzFoFu4REzX3etHWQvhlOq4uR-EqPgDV2PLRKYmrqrQPFR8rM38k8/s1600/Tarkin.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDir1IKSLuuzJgNSCy8WuXZtP0FtExXbBnV5MgEbOXQTLBlR8fowfsisa7hZQeQVnasXEbYMsGzPeq4B4S9UQfUrhzFoFu4REzX3etHWQvhlOq4uR-EqPgDV2PLRKYmrqrQPFR8rM38k8/s1600/Tarkin.jpg" width="263" /></a><br />
As a big fan of James Luceno’s “Darth Plagueis,” I was excited to hear that Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin would be getting the Luceno treatment. Unfortunately, “Tarkin” isn’t quite the equal of “Darth Plagueis” in that it doesn’t provide a sweeping backstory for Tarkin. It’s more a story in which Tarkin is the central protagonist. However, we do get some great background information about Tarkin, especially about his upbringing on Eriadu. And there are some wonderful treats for fans of the old EU.<br />
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*** MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD**<br />
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The novel takes place about 5 years after “Revenge of the Sith.” Wilhuff Tarkin is in command of a base overseeing the construction of the Death Star. The Empire is busy hunting down former Separatists and others who oppose Palpatine’s New Order. The story starts with an unexpected attack on Tarkin’s base by a group of dissidents using advanced Holonet technology. The Emperor sends Tarkin and Darth Vader on a mission to track them down, but they in turn fall into a trap. The dissidents end up stealing Tarkin’s ship and attacking Imperial targets. <br />
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This is a novel in which the context is more interesting than the text. The actual story isn’t particularly interesting or epic. Vader and Tarkin track down a bunch of dissidents who steal Tarkin’s corvette and go on a joyride. It almost seems like a task below these two iconic villains, if not for Tarkin’s personal connection to the ship and the dissidents. Nor does Tarkin rise to the occasion to display any particularly formidable investigative or tactical skills during his mission. I had been hoping to see Tarkin emerge as a larger than life character akin to Grand Admiral Thrawn in Timothy Zahn’s novels. Instead, he seems mostly along for the ride.<br />
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A big part of the problem is that Tarkin’s adversaries don’t provide much of a foil. The dissidents aren’t particularly interesting characters. Even though the book spends quite a bit of time with them, I felt like I never really got to know them and had trouble telling them apart. Their motives were pretty basic. I think Star Wars characters work best when they’re based on bold archetypes (i.e., “the smuggler,” “the princess,” etc.), but the dissidents were mostly low-key individuals who had similar motives. A great hero needs a great villain – or, in this case, a great villain needs a great hero – but Tarkin just didn’t have a worthy adversary in this novel.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Let's take a walkabout in the outback, mate."</td></tr>
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That said, there is still much to enjoy in this book. Luceno takes the opportunity to delve into Tarkin’s upbringing on the planet Eriadu. Luceno portrays the Tarkin family as akin to early Australians or Afrikaners, whites who colonize a new land and develop a healthy respect for it, but also take great pride in taming nature. Eriadu itself has a sort of outback feel. Many of the scenes on Eriadu show Tarkin struggling against nature, but not outright destroying it. Instead, he learns how to tame nature through fear and manipulation. Thematically, it’s a nice echo of the “man versus nature” themes in “A New Hope.” I probably would have enjoyed the novel even more had it spent more time in this period of Tarkin’s life.<br />
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“Tarkin” also answers a few questions fans have long had about the character. For example, we finally learn if and to what extent Tarkin knows Darth Vader’s true identity. We also learn – much to my shock – Palpatine’s first name. For fans of politics, we get to see the Imperial Ruling Council in action during this era for the first time. However, as with much of the Prequel-era of Star Wars, sometimes the fan service goes too far. We see familiar characters like Admiral Motti, Colonel Yularen, etc., but they hold the same exact rank that they do in “A New Hope.” It is simply not plausible that they would hold the same rank for over 15 years, especially for Motti, whose character in “A New Hope” was relatively young (the actor was only 30 at the time of filming). <br />
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For Star Wars fans disappointed by Disney’s relaunch of the EU, Luceno goes out of his way to bring some of the stories from his previous novels into continuity. I won’t give any spoilers, but let’s just say that we see a few old EU characters reemerge in this novel. They’re not the focus of the story, but it’s a nice signal to fans that some of those stories and characters live on in the new continuity. <br />
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As I said above, “Tarkin” is not nearly the equal of “Darth Plagueis.” There story isn’t particularly epic. That said, I did enjoy it, both as an adventure tale and for what we learn about Tarkin himself. I would definitely recommend the novel to Star Wars fans, but temper your expectations.<br />
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Overall: 3.5 Death Stars.<br />
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[I received an advance version of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]</div>
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I don't feel that I can review the show adequately without discussing key plot points in depth, so there are SPOILERS below.<br />
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The story is pretty simple, even simplistic at times. A ragtag bunch of Rebels piloting an old freighter, the <i>Ghost</i>, arrives on the planet Lothal to steal some equipment from the Empire. While there, they meet Ezra Bridger, a young human who shows some potential with the Force. The rebels take him along, but after a botched sabotage mission on an Imperial cruiser he gets captured. The rebels rescue him, and then in turn go to the spice mines of Kessel to rescue a group of Wookiee slaves. One of the Rebels, Kanan, reveals himself to be a Jedi and saves the Wookiees. The show ends with Ezra joining the crew under the tutelage of Kanan.<br />
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The tone of Rebels has been a source of considerable controversy amongst Star Wars fans, so it's worth addressing. <a href="http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/02/everything-you-need-to-know-about-star-wars-rebels">Filoni and others </a>have described Rebels as hearkening back to the spirit of the Original Trilogy, but I don't feel that's quite right. Although the Original Trilogy was made with kids in mind, at their best, the movies had an epic or mythological tone. Not unlike the original Grimm's Fairy Tales, they were fantastical stories in which heroes overcome overwhelming odds, but also confronted darker truths. "A New Hope" didn't shy away from showing the brutality of the Empire - just think of the burnt Jawas or the Lars family. George Lucas himself was concerned that revealing Darth Vader to be Luke's father might scar some kids. In "Return of the Jedi," we even glimpse the possibility of Luke, nominally the hero, joining the Dark Side.<br />
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Nobody would ever confuse the Original Trilogy for Game of Thrones, but to simply call it a whimsical adventure is to miss much of what made the films resonate so deeply. In fact, part of the genius of those movies is how they touch upon so many emotional cues without feeling disjointed. The sombre scene of Luke staring at the destruction of his homestead and the hilarious banter between Han and Leia in the Death Star detention block both feel like part of the same movie and in fact complement each other. Without the suffering, the catharsis of the Rebellion's victory would seem hollow; without the humor, we would be less attached to the characters. In fact, in his commentary for the blu-rays, Lucas notes that the real threat to Luke was always internal rather than external. That threat of "darkness" made Luke a much more interesting character than he would have been had he simply charged at his enemies blindly.<br />
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Based on "Spark of Rebellion," as well as public comments from Dave Filoni, Rebels is more of a whimsical adventure and won't venture into the darker territory that we got in the later seasons of "The Clone Wars." Indeed, the heroes seem to rush around without a plan and survive every scrape without a scratch. To its credit, their exploits are generally fun to watch. That said, I do think the show needs to give the story and characters more weight. Right now, it seems like it's all fluff, no meat. It's not that bad things don't happen to the characters in "Spark of Rebellion," but rather that the viewer is never given the opportunity to experience the danger and sadness that such situations <i>should</i> evoke.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gotta keep one step ahead of the Empire</i></td></tr>
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One moment stuck out to me as tonally dissonant. After the failed boarding raid on the Imperial cruiser, the Rebels flee and leave Ezra behind. Ezra had just risked his own life to board the cruiser in order to warn the boarding party about a trap. As they're fleeing, Zeb sees Ezra get captured right outside the hatch of the <i>Ghost. </i>Zeb closes the hatch when he realizes that he couldn't save Ezra alone. Initially, I thought this had the potential to become a really powerful character moment. Zeb had found the kid frustrating, but he seemed genuinely sorry to see Ezra get captured. Unfortunately, the scene is played for laughs and not consequence. When Zeb talks with the other members of the crew, he obfuscates what actually happened to Ezra. Rather than say something like, "I felt bad but he got captured and I had to close the door before the Imperials stormed our ship," he pretends not to know and tries to shift the blame. Unintentionally, the comes across as horribly callous.<br />
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It turns out not to matter though because Ezra is apparently never in any danger. The Imperial Stormtroopers apparently didn't bother to search him before throwing him in a cell because Ezra still had the holocron he'd stolen from Kanan. He then proceeds to trick the entire crew using the intercom unit in a helmet. The entire time it feels like Ezra is just having a blast running circles around the Empire. Now, we all know Imperials aren't the most competent villains, but this scene made them comically buffoonish. I obviously don't think we should have seen Ezra getting tortured - this is after all a kid's show. But I do think the show missed an opportunity to build his character by showing him in a moment of vulnerability. The kid doesn't have to be "Jedi Aladdin" all the time! After all, he initially refused Hera's entreaties to warn the boarding party about the trap because he was afraid for his life, but that fear seems to disappear once he's captured. It would have been nice to have seen him overcome those fears rather that for the episode to just forget about them.<br />
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Despite my complaints about the tone, I did enjoy the characters. We don't learn too much about them in this first episode, but they definitely are multidimensional characters. Orson Scott Card once said that a good character must have unique relationships with different characters. In other words, Character A's relationship with Character B should be of a totally different nature and type from his/her relationship with Character C. To some extent, I think Rebels achieves this. We see Ezra interact with the other members of the <i>Ghost</i>, and he's already developed unique relationship with different characters. Kanan is more like a distant uncle who wants to push and train Ezra, while Zeb is more like an older teen who doesn't want an annoying kid around. Hera's conversations with Ezra are almost exclusively about lofty ideals, while Sabine's are much more personal. We don't know much about the characters yet, but I eagerly anticipate learning more about their backstories.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Read </i><i style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Dawn-Star-Wars-ebook/dp/B00IWTSGKC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412349804&sr=8-1&keywords=star+wars+new+dawn">A New Dawn</a></i><i> to learn more about Kanan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I know a lot of fans have been excited to hear music from the Original Trilogy featured so prominently in the trailers for Rebels, but in the actual episode I thought it was overdone. It's as if the score was a mashup of the best of John Williams without any consideration as to whether or not it fit with the story. At other times, the cuts between various themes was very abrupt. For example, when the <i>Ghost </i>first flees from Lothal, it is pursued by TIE Fighters. It's a relatively brief skirmish, yet the soundtrack plays cues from the Battle of Yavin track, which I thought sounded far too epic for what was being shown on screen. In "A New Hope," Williams wisely saved the more epic themes for the climax of the film and used a less bombastic track for the Millennium Falcon's first battle with TIE Fighters. Ironically, I know Kevin Kiner <i>can</i> compose a good original soundtrack based on his record with "The Clone Wars." This just goes to show George Lucas' wisdom in restraining him from using too much of John Williams' music in that show.<br />
<br />
This review probably sounds harsher than I'd intended. I focused on the tone of the show because that seems to be the most controversial aspect thus far. There is still room for a lot of improvement, but the fundamentals are relatively sound. The cast consists of entirely original characters. Not only do I not miss Anakin and Luke, but I actually find these new characters interesting. Rebels promises to be a fun ride. Whether or not it manages to tell great stories is another question. I think the biggest problem is that the show seems afraid to make Ezra vulnerable. I don't mind having a kid as the protagonist in this show, but at least let him behave like a real kid.<br />
<br />
Overall, I'll give "Spark of Rebellion" 3 out of 5 AT-DP helmets:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF3yIgeOeRDi3uuDcW9rrKd1ILfXnE2UyFqdGdiU-hN1aNArEurV4JC7te8qVUNDKiKHogsM8iCSRW707bxApb4nDWcC8J3xQUbYu95mv5Xfprh-QTtxH4sqpC31cFRjG9tP-gM9GFOmr/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF3yIgeOeRDi3uuDcW9rrKd1ILfXnE2UyFqdGdiU-hN1aNArEurV4JC7te8qVUNDKiKHogsM8iCSRW707bxApb4nDWcC8J3xQUbYu95mv5Xfprh-QTtxH4sqpC31cFRjG9tP-gM9GFOmr/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" height="97" width="400" /></a></div>
Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-74424859227684478642014-10-02T13:36:00.002-07:002014-10-02T13:36:39.588-07:00BOOK REVIEW: How Star Wars Conquered the Universe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNM5CMbiHsuo2ZaL59SLJZ6REfkVEKwI584NTXQS5QhboRMdwQdmYTCvCWG6ZXuTQKY2Y6ra8091E0ehb6vxY6xCAGS6ANBOGlaO2YPrduOod-BiDXUUHrVIYLKSuX_q0mKRqSkKEaELO/s1600/book-review-how-star-wars-conquered-the-universe-b52b7025c3769f6b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNM5CMbiHsuo2ZaL59SLJZ6REfkVEKwI584NTXQS5QhboRMdwQdmYTCvCWG6ZXuTQKY2Y6ra8091E0ehb6vxY6xCAGS6ANBOGlaO2YPrduOod-BiDXUUHrVIYLKSuX_q0mKRqSkKEaELO/s1600/book-review-how-star-wars-conquered-the-universe-b52b7025c3769f6b.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a><a href="http://farfarawayradio.com/">Far, Far Away Radio</a> has published my review of Chris Taylor's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JZBA9ME/ref=pdp_new_dp_review" style="font-style: italic;">How Star Wars Conquered the Universe</a>, a book about Star Wars fandom. Check it out <a href="http://farfarawayradio.com/2014/09/30/guest-review-star-wars-conquered-universe/">here</a>!Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-70325456710073776812014-09-01T23:30:00.000-07:002014-09-01T23:30:01.010-07:00BOOK REVIEW: Star Wars: A New Dawn<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span><img height="320" src="http://www.starwars7news.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/star-wars-a-new-dawn-cover11.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="210" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Dawn-Star-Wars-ebook/dp/B00IWTSGKC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408821434&sr=8-1&keywords=new+dawn+star+wars">Star Wars: A New Dawn</a>” is an important entry into the Star Wars library for a few reasons.
First, it is the first book in Disney’s new Star Wars canon. In other words,
this book is just as much a part of the Star Wars saga as any of the movies.
Second, this book introduces readers to a few of the main characters in the
upcoming animated TV show “Star Wars: Rebels.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">To be perfectly
honest, I had not been particularly excited about “Rebels.” I had some issues
with “The Clone Wars” and the same creative team is heading “Rebels.” From what
I’d seen thus far, it seemed like the beginning of the Disneyfication of Star
Wars. So I was initially somewhat skeptical of this book. That said, John
Jackson Miller is one of my favorite Star Wars authors, so it had that to its
credit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">WARNING: MINOR
SPOILERS AHEAD.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I was pleasantly
surprised by the main protagonist, Kanan Jarrus. In the trailers for the TV
show, Kanan appeared to be just a “cowboy Jedi” (Dave Filoni’s words, not
mine). However, in “A New Dawn,” Kanan comes across as a character with real
depth. To some extent, he’s another “smuggler with a heart of gold,” but the
novel takes that trope much further than we’ve seen in Star Wars before. Kanan
is an inveterate womanizer. I am pretty sure that he’s the biggest “player”
we’ve ever seen in the Star Wars galaxy. He has some great lines. Yet, it’s
also clear that he’s hiding real pain as he tries to cope with the loss of the
Jedi Order. JJM uses point of view in interesting ways to contrast Kanan’s
self-perception – that he’s hard-edged and cynical – against the reality – that
can’t help himself from helping others. I’d go so far as to say that he’s
potentially the most interesting Jedi in the current Star Wars canon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Hera Syndulla, the
main pilot of the “Rebels” TV show, also gets some nice characterization. She’s
not quite as interesting as Kanan, but I appreciated her competence and wit. I
love how she regularly cuts through Kanan’s flirtations and other nonsense with
a quick barb. We don’t learn as much about her background, but it’s clear that
she has deep and personal reasons for hating the Empire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Unfortunately, the
villains don’t fare nearly as well. The primary antagonist, Count Vidian, is a
business executive and management consultant working for Emperor Palpatine. Although
having a businessman as a villain could have provided for some unique and
interesting scenarios, in practice Count Vidian comes across as mix between
Mitt Romney and General Grievous. Like Grievous, Vidian is a cyborg who kills
subordinates for flimsy reasons. Unlike Darth Vader, Vidian never really
acquires much depth. He is a sadist who uses his brawn rather than his brain.
Aside from a few consulting catchphrases (“Forget the old way!”) there’s really
nothing that distinguishes him from other generic Star Wars villains. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140215113118/starwars/images/a/a7/KananJarrus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140215113118/starwars/images/a/a7/KananJarrus.png" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The galaxy's biggest playa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">This is all a bit
disappointing because JJM is usually excellent at creating memorable multidimensional
villains. The Sith Lords in “Knight Errant” remain some of my favorites in Star
Wars. Ironically, the book seems almost self-aware of this problem as several
characters comment that they’d expected Vidian to be more reasonable or unlike
other Imperials. Given that much of the plot later in the book focuses on
Vidian and secrets of his identity, the fact that I just didn’t care about him
ended up being a real drag on the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">We’ve seen a bit of
the Dark Times in comics but haven’t had many stories set in this era of Star
Wars. JJM does a great job setting up the context, showing readers why it’s
called the “Dark Times.” The Empire appears omnipotent and omnipresent. It
trammels on individual lives carelessly and casually. JJM clearly took
inspiration from real-world dictatorships to describe the Empire’s security
state. We even get some insight into the people who work for the government
through a Zaluna, a Sullustan who works at a surveillance firm. It’s
fascinating hearing her attempting to justify her actions spying on ordinary
citizens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The plot itself is
a bit less exciting. In short, Count Vidian wants to mine more resources from a
moon, but doing so risks its destruction. The protagonists set out to stop him.
Seems like a standard story akin to Avatar or Fern Gully. Yet, the book never
really engages with those types of environmental themes. One is never really
given a reason to care for the moon (aside from the general fact that we don’t
like Imperials blowing up moons). We hear that the moon has a nature reserve
but never get a sense of its beauty. I found myself more interested in seeing
Kanan and Hera interact than in how the plot unfolded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">If this book were
an advertisement for the “Rebels” TV show, I’d say it’s mostly a success.
Mostly. The book is stronger on characters context than on plot. The
protagonists are much more interesting than I’d expected and I’ll be interested
to see where they go from here. Count Vidian might not appear in “Rebels” so I
don’t know if he is typically of the villains we’ll see in the TV show (hopefully
not). This is not the best Star Wars novel by JJM, but I’m definitely more
excited for the TV show than I was before. I do hope it matches the tone and
characterizations found in this book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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[I received an advance version of
this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]<o:p></o:p></div>
Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-65636255941881871212014-08-05T19:56:00.003-07:002014-08-05T19:56:51.141-07:00Far Far Away Radio podcast episode about politics<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I just finished recording a podcast episode about politics in Star Wars with <a href="http://farfarawayradio.com/">Far Far Away Radio</a>. Look for it soon!</span></span></span>Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-43191655811795371432014-06-01T07:18:00.002-07:002014-06-01T07:22:32.220-07:00Revising politics in Attack of the ClonesIn <a href="http://farfarawayradio.com/2014/05/21/need-politics-star-wars-dom-nardi/">my article</a> for the <a href="http://farfarawayradio.com/">Far, Far Away Radio blog</a>, I mentioned that many critics attacked the political scenes in the Prequel Trilogy. I had mentioned that the Prequels sometimes failed to connect the political story with the characters' arcs. Of course, criticizing is one thing; doing is another. So, as an intellectual exercise, I thought I would take one political scene from <i>Attack of the Clones</i> to see if I could retain the substance of the scene but add more of a character moment.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>As an example, I took the scene from AOTC in which Anakin and Padmé frolic in the fields of Naboo and talk about the benefits of democracy versus dictatorship. Here is the dialogue from the <a href="http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Star-Wars-Attack-of-the-Clones.html">AOTC script</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: You really don't like politicians, do you? </i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>ANAKIN: I like two or three, but I'm not really sure about one of them. (smiling) I don't think the system works.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: How would you have it work?</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>ANAKIN: We need a system where the
politicians sit down and discuss
the problems, agree what's in the
best interests of all the people,
and then do it. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: That is exactly what we do. The
trouble is that people don't
wlways agree. In fact, they
hardly ever do. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>ANAKIN: Then they should be made to. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: By whom? Who's going to make them? </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>ANAKIN: I don't know. Someone. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: You? </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>ANAKIN: Of course not me. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: But someone. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>
ANAKIN: Someone wise. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: That sounds an awful lot like a
dictatorship to me.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>[A mischievious little grin creeps across his face. ]</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>ANAKIN: Well, if it works...</i></blockquote>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's not a bad scene. There's a lot I like. I've heard people express sentiments very similar to Anakin's in real life, in Indonesia for example where some express fondness for Suharto's New Order regime (see my <a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2013/02/indonesia-part-iii-was-george-lucas.html">earlier article</a> for more about the Indonesia-Star Wars comparison). </div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjbd3K54DPlyJAo6K7n-Zee0uxmxN1dSu29jvGKh670BKVwZMu_TLa3sW2QIYfO4dTSt8zQzamAr3KhN-Dcdrqc3cHptxnVZbkByg4QX4aLJdNEiEWNvkARot2zQ7P1597JLfG9lznqMY/s1600/padme_bg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjbd3K54DPlyJAo6K7n-Zee0uxmxN1dSu29jvGKh670BKVwZMu_TLa3sW2QIYfO4dTSt8zQzamAr3KhN-Dcdrqc3cHptxnVZbkByg4QX4aLJdNEiEWNvkARot2zQ7P1597JLfG9lznqMY/s1600/padme_bg.jpg" height="202" width="400" /></a></div>
However, I have heard many complaints about this scene, and I think I understand them. We never really get any motivations for either Anakin and Padmé's views. In fact, one could imagine that they would have come to the opposite conclusions. Anakin was a slave, so he should appreciate the value of freedom. Democracy failed Padmé in <i>The Phantom Menace </i>when the Galactic Senate refused to intervene. The characters' viewpoints are written to service the plot, but what does the plot do to the characters themselves?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So how would I revise it? I'm not a professional scriptwriter, so take this <i>cum grano salis</i>. I do think it would be possible to link each character's views with some sort of motivating factor. Here's a rough attempt (bold text is new or tweaked):</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: You really don't like politicians, do you? </i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>ANAKIN: I like two or three, but I'm not really sure about one of them. (smiling) I don't think the system works. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: <b>Of course it has its problems. Don't you think I was frustrated when the Senate didn't intervene to help Naboo against the Trade Federation. But what's the alternative? Dictatorship?</b></i></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>ANAKIN: <b>If it means that we get decisive leadership, then who cares what you call it?</b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: <b>Don't you understand what that means? Under a dictatorship, we'd lose all of our rights. We'd effectively become slaves to whoever is in power.</b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>[Anakin, visibly angry, touch of sarcasms] </b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>ANAKIN: <b>Democracy hasn't done much to stop slavery. You know how many corrupt politicians profit from the slave trade! </b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>[Padmé, visibly shaken but not frightened, more sympathetic] </b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: <b>Anakin, did the Jedi Council ever approve your request to rescue the slaves on Tatooine?</b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>[Anakin, voice softening slightly, looking down as if ashamed to stare Padmé in the face after his outburst] </b></i></blockquote>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>ANAKIN: <b>The Council says the Senate has to authorize any mission. The Senate says Tatooine lies outside Republic jurisdiction. [Pause] If we just had somebody who could make all the Senators agree...</b></i></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: Who? Who's going to make them? </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>ANAKIN: I don't know. <b>Someone young enough to be free from corruption, but powerful enough to push through reforms.</b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>PADME: You? </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>[A mischievious little grin creeps across his face. ]</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>ANAKIN: <b> What, you don't like the sound of "Supreme Chancellor Skywalker"?</b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>[Padmé laughs, scene continues as written]</i></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54oboF6EqNCikGiv03eJXmziBWMxLLNs2ZZmf9nXYniqeaq97zCpNGD5Cl6mSSlhgz71ctHttztqP33QeFFawbd39Ex5FnLCMl9qm501DbmJfvyz0uki5pIgPRzWAcpzHK4xluF7DFdTn/s1600/Padme_Anakin-Naboo_waterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54oboF6EqNCikGiv03eJXmziBWMxLLNs2ZZmf9nXYniqeaq97zCpNGD5Cl6mSSlhgz71ctHttztqP33QeFFawbd39Ex5FnLCMl9qm501DbmJfvyz0uki5pIgPRzWAcpzHK4xluF7DFdTn/s1600/Padme_Anakin-Naboo_waterfall.jpg" height="256" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
What I tried to do here is show through the dialogue how both characters arrived at their convictions. Anakin cares that the system is broken because it frustrates his goal of freeing the slaves (remember his promise in <i>TPM</i>), and by implication his mother. Padmé clings to democracy because, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others. Padmé worries that a dictatorship would undermine human rights. Anakin sees rights being violated and thinks stronger government is needed to protect people. Their concern about politics transcends the abstract and is deeply ingrained in their characters.<br />
<br />
Moreover, as a character moment, Padmé sees Anakin's anger, but also understands its roots (his childhood as a slave, concern for his mother, etc.). When he brings up slavery, she refuses to respond in kind and turn their conversation into a political debate. Rather, she shows him kindness. That's why Anakin's relationship with Padmé is so important: she can steer him from the Dark Side by getting to the root of the problem, whereas Obi-Wan and Yoda can only address the surface issues with Jedi platitudes.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Writing a good script is hard. I'm not claiming I'm good or that my rewrite is better than what actually appeared in the movie. I just thought it would be worth playing around with different ways of combining politics and character in Star Wars. Like my revisions or not, I found this to be a healthy thought exercise to make sure I'm not simply playing "Monday morning quarterback" when I engage in critical analysis of politics in the Star Wars films. If you have any thoughts, please feel free to share in the comments.</div>
Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-398500698898929582014-05-22T11:57:00.001-07:002014-05-22T11:57:36.512-07:00WHY WE NEED POLITICS IN STAR WARSThe <a href="http://farfarawayradio.com/">Far, Far Away Radio</a> blog kindly published an <a href="http://farfarawayradio.com/2014/05/21/need-politics-star-wars-dom-nardi/">op-ed piece</a> I wrote about politics in Star Wars. I discuss why politics is essential to the saga, as well as how it works best on screen. I then propose a few ideas for the Sequel Trilogy. You can read it <a href="http://farfarawayradio.com/2014/05/21/need-politics-star-wars-dom-nardi/">here</a>. Thank you again to the team at FFAR for sharing my work!Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-87179903063347855252014-05-19T22:13:00.000-07:002014-05-19T22:13:17.566-07:00Got to sink the Malevolence!Historian and teacher Cole Horton has posted an interesting <a href="http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/2014/05/15/from-world-war-to-star-wars-malevolence-and-bismarck/">article</a> about the uncanny comparisons between the Confederacy of Independent Systems flagship <i>Malevolence </i>and Nazi Germany's <i>Bismarck</i>. Horton shows how in both cases a seemingly invincible enemy flagship was destroyed by long-range bombers.<br />
<img src="http://nloriel.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/malevolence_strzela.jpg" height="323" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="640" /><br />
I'd be curious if Lucas and Filoni based this Clone Wars arc on World War II history or the 1960 film <i>Sink the Bismarck!</i> based on those events. The movie cottons some historical inaccuracies, but probably nothing that would have been translated into the show.<br />
<br />
Read the full <a href="http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/2014/05/15/from-world-war-to-star-wars-malevolence-and-bismarck/">article</a> at <a href="http://starwars.com/">StarWars.com</a>.Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-61542968517103468972014-04-25T12:11:00.001-07:002014-04-28T09:45:14.410-07:00The EU is dead, long live the EU!<i>UPDATE (4/28/14): Subsequent announcements from DelRey and other sources have now stated that the announcement signals the end of </i><b style="font-style: italic;">all</b><i> EU material that had been published up to this point. Thus, the only stories in the canon are now the six theatrical films, The Clone Wars, and </i>Sons of Dathomir<i>, a comic coming out soon wrapping up the Maul arc from The Clone Wars. This is somewhat more disappointing than I'd hoped. Still, I hope to have an article up soon about where politics in Star Wars might go from here.</i><br />
<br />
Disney and Lucasfilm have just announced on the <a href="http://starwars.com/news/the-legendary-star-wars-expanded-universe-turns-a-new-page.html">Star Wars website</a> that Episode VII will <i>not</i> follow the post-<i>Return of the Jedi </i>Expanded Universe. While the announcement mentions that Star Wars will continue to draw upon the EU for ideas, this essentially amounts to a reboot.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmowTqctLZhgKh-8FKUmXda2elvw42RUh96zasejsquDoVGgFuYlQygNvoNCREAKGMuOBkEK2b1Ir5qPYoAWwQvfEKI6YLk-qCpCAS71tgoCCotRIdudWfBVgu_5d-wwoxYtGXh65bqsp6/s1600/star-wars-7-solo-kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmowTqctLZhgKh-8FKUmXda2elvw42RUh96zasejsquDoVGgFuYlQygNvoNCREAKGMuOBkEK2b1Ir5qPYoAWwQvfEKI6YLk-qCpCAS71tgoCCotRIdudWfBVgu_5d-wwoxYtGXh65bqsp6/s1600/star-wars-7-solo-kids.jpg" height="247" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of these characters never existed...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm sure the Internet will be flooded with commentary about this. But a few points are worth keeping in mind:<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<ul>
<li>The announcement only mentions the post-ROTJ EU. It seems safe to assume at this point that the rest of the EU, including KOTOR and <i>Darth Plagueis</i>, is safe. For now...</li>
</ul>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The announcement only mentions that the movies "will not tell the same story." This does not necessarily imply that all stories will be invalidated. Presumably, books like <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Truce-Bakura-Star-Wars/dp/0553568728">Truce at Bakura</a></i>, which takes place days after ROTJ and has little impact on the larger canon, could be safe. Same with the X-Wing novels, which do not feature Luke, Han, or Leia. It's not clear if Lucasfilm will take the time to distinguish between post-ROTJ stories that directly contradict the movies versus those that do.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>That said, Lucasfilm could have used a scalpel to remove contradictory material (i.e., if you want Chewbacca in the films, invalidate everything from New Jedi Order on). That's obviously not the approach taken here. The announcement thus suggests we're likely to see <i>major</i> differences between the EU and Sequel Trilogy. The announcement justifies this as necessary to give the script writers more creative freedom, but I suspect Lucasfilm preferred a reboot because it wants to get new readers into the EU but worries the existing catalogue of 40+ books would have been too intimidating.</li>
</ul>
While I mourn the loss of the post-ROTJ EU, this reboot does open the possibility of creating a stronger story arc for Leia. As I've said before <a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2013/01/is-leia-action-hero-or-political-hero.html">here</a>, I think the EU did a grave disservice to Leia by cutting her political career short and halfheartedly trying to turn her into a Jedi. I'd love to see the new movies fix this by making Leia a senior stateswoman and leader.</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
So... it was a decent run, with some highs (<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heir-Empire-Star-Thrawn-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00513HX7Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398452882&sr=8-1&keywords=heir+empire">Heir to the Empire</a></i>) and some lows (<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Fate-Jedi-Outcast-ebook/dp/B001NLL8RO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398452874&sr=8-1&keywords=Fate+of+the+Jedi">Fate of the Jedi</a></i>). I can't say this was my favorite period of the EU, but many of us older fans have invested quite a bit of time and effort into these characters and stories. Now, it is time for us to reflect upon the enjoyment we got out of those stories and, as Yoda would advise, to let go of our attachment.</div>
Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-28637819413771639502014-04-25T09:06:00.001-07:002014-04-25T10:55:09.163-07:00Nixon in Star Wars<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtB6Q1lHv8qJi1XC6VnJGYfzE4FiLUCWAsc4PmDlVsF5-WqQb9qY0T6PLFLw_n-dhFOREl8rlqECvboqT6HDhOPBAqD0aDVQ-CjnDvUSCzCs4m1kJmqW6aNe73qlBvi9V-6V6rdU9OZfC/s1600/palpatine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtB6Q1lHv8qJi1XC6VnJGYfzE4FiLUCWAsc4PmDlVsF5-WqQb9qY0T6PLFLw_n-dhFOREl8rlqECvboqT6HDhOPBAqD0aDVQ-CjnDvUSCzCs4m1kJmqW6aNe73qlBvi9V-6V6rdU9OZfC/s1600/palpatine.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a>I have been reading J.W. Rinzler's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Making-Star-Wars-Return-Enhanced-ebook/dp/B00DQQSD3G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398436227&sr=8-1&keywords=making+return+jedi">The Making of Star Wars Return of the Jedi</a> </i>and came across a great quote about George Lucas' early conception of politics in Star Wars. In one the July 13-17, 1981, story conference with Richard Marquand, Lawrence Kasdan, and Howard Kazanjian, Lucas explained about Emperor Palpatine:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>... he was a politician. Richard M. Nixon was his name. He subverted the senate and finally took over and became an imperial guy and he was really evil. But he pretended to be a really nice guy. He sucked Luke’s father into the dark side.</i></blockquote>
It is well known that Lucas based parts of the Original Trilogy on political events in the 1970s, with the concept of primitive natives defeating a technologically superior army taken directly from the Vietnam War (as discussed <a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2013/03/images-of-power-part-iii-radical-or.html">here</a>). Nevertheless, I was taken with how directly Lucas equated Palpatine with Nixon. To what extent does Palpatine really reflect Nixon?<br />
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I have recently been reading Rick Perlstein's magisterial history of America's conservative movement. His latest two books, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nixonland-Rise-President-Fracturing-America-ebook/dp/B0013TTKL2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398436764&sr=8-1&keywords=nixonland">Nixonland</a></i> and <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Bridge-Fall-Nixon-Reagan-ebook/dp/B00HXGD5CE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395955594&sr=8-1&keywords=Rick+Perlstein+Reagan">Invisible Bridge</a></i>, cover Nixon's presidency and the Watergate scandal. Many people believe that Watergate was about Nixon's "cover-up" of the break-in at the Democratic Party's offices in the Watergate Hotel. However, as Perlstein explains, the Senate and House of Representatives committees investigating the scandal focused on the possibility that Nixon managed and supported a criminal conspiracy to undermine the Constitution. How so?<br />
<br />
The committees were concerned that Nixon authorized and ordered illegal activities, especially in the run-up to his 1972 reelection campaign. In response to Daniel Ellsberg's release of the Pentagon Papers, Nixon told aides to break into the office of Ellsberg's psychiatrist in order to find embarrassing material. His attorney-general, John Mitchell, was involved in a scheme to solicit contributions from the dairy industry in return to fix the price of dairy products. His campaign interfered in the 1972 Democratic primary, undermining potentially stronger candidates with "dirty tricks." During the investigation, Nixon was criticized for invoking "executive privilege" to justify his refusal to turn over documents. Congress also criticized Nixon's expansion of the Vietnam War, particularly his decision to bomb Cambodia without congressional approval.<br />
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Of course, the "cover-up" was disturbing, not because Nixon covered up the illegal activities of his aides but rather because he illegally misappropriated government power in order to do so. During the summer of 1972, soon after the Watergate break-in, Nixon asked aides to see if the CIA could pressure the FBI to stop investigating the break-in. Soon after that, on August 8, Nixon announced that he would resign the next day, in order to avoid formal impeachment charges.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0ZyTeJbngPlgzumTvlruJyJ5j-onh0AT5UpLlpSI1MqgS7itK9Pp-YPGRdcUP-MhJYeSshTqB9GeLcP2CW5bMiMFwng_kTKopFRmsTycL4tmI_5FEeHg80-3FUqs_pVC_0tbwceTnRJa/s1600/Richard-Nixon-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0ZyTeJbngPlgzumTvlruJyJ5j-onh0AT5UpLlpSI1MqgS7itK9Pp-YPGRdcUP-MhJYeSshTqB9GeLcP2CW5bMiMFwng_kTKopFRmsTycL4tmI_5FEeHg80-3FUqs_pVC_0tbwceTnRJa/s1600/Richard-Nixon-003.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a><br />
After his resignation, Nixon's disregard for the law became even clearer. Insider accounts reported that Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger, worried that Nixon would seek to remain in power through unconstitutional means, instructed the armed forces to disregard any orders from the president not channeled through the Secretary's office. Years later, when British journalist David Frost interviewed Nixon, the former president <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejvyDn1TPr8">famously remarked</a>, "When the President does it, that means it is not illegal."<br />
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Lucas clearly focused on the image of Nixon as a man obsessed with power who willfully flouted the law. However, some key differences stand out. Obviously, Nixon did not - and did not seek to - become dictator. He broke the law in order to gain an advantage in the 1972 election, but there is no evidence that he sought to remain in office after the end of his second term in 1976. Perhaps more importantly, Nixon's actions arose out of his personal insecurities. He knew he would never receive the popular adoration of a Kennedy and worried about his reelection prospects (it turns out he need not have worried as he won over 60% of the vote). Palpatine, by contrast, never exhibits any insecurity during the Prequel Trilogy. As Luke observes, one of Palpatine's defining characteristics is his overconfidence.<br />
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Unlike in the Nixon administration, in Star Wars we see relatively little of Palpatine's aides. Nixon relied heavily on his aides and his reelection campaign apparatus. Frequently, aides did not brief him about illegal activities so the president could preserve "plausible deniability." By contrast, in the Prequel Trilogy, one gets the impression that Palpatine acts largely alone. He is a Sith Lord and keeps that secret from most of the government. We see Palpatine confer with Mas Amedda, as well as various couriers in <i>Return of the Jedi</i>, but they play no role in the story. Palpatine is the puppet master and seems to arrange for most of his plotting on his own. Interestingly, the Expanded Universe does seem to fill this gap by introducing a coterie of aides, such as Sate Pestage, who do much of Palpatine's dirty work.<br />
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In the end, despite Lucas' quote, Palpatine is much more than a Richard Nixon clone. Palpatine also contains elements of Hitler and Augustus Caesar in his scheming to overthrow an elected government. Palpatine's name also evokes ancient Rome, particularly the Palatine Hills. Moreover, Palpatine in his Sith incarnation has elements of Satan, especially in <i>Revenge of the Sith</i>, where he plays the role of tempter to Anakin Skywalker. Lucas' equation of Palpatne with Nixon was partly a sign of the times and his formative experiences as a young man during the 1970s. Nevertheless, it provides a fascinating into Lucas' original conception of politics in Star Wars, especially as it suggests that he initially saw the Republic as similar to American democracy. Star Wars is not an explicit political allegory or treatise, but it clearly contains echoes of American history.Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-69643502522754761642014-03-16T09:41:00.001-07:002014-03-16T09:41:08.214-07:00The Clone Wars reviews (compiled list)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKFiOKYf4nqp_fjviVcJRwSV04PkWKMM6ESXaqrxE0Ni342zA8EWWeXUecDDYDluuNUawQ8lVuIqiveLLeRXGXsC2eo-LfFm1nUY_SZaE4LhCIzviHnERgFXQco0jLlcuj1Hvs3Q6Xrxg/s1600/600full-star-wars--the-clone-wars-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKFiOKYf4nqp_fjviVcJRwSV04PkWKMM6ESXaqrxE0Ni342zA8EWWeXUecDDYDluuNUawQ8lVuIqiveLLeRXGXsC2eo-LfFm1nUY_SZaE4LhCIzviHnERgFXQco0jLlcuj1Hvs3Q6Xrxg/s1600/600full-star-wars--the-clone-wars-poster.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>For ease of navigation, here are my reviews of Season 6 of The Clone Wars:<br />
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<a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/03/clone-wars-review-order-66-arc-season-6_8.html">Order 66 arc (Season 6, Episodes 1-4)</a><br />
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<a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/03/clone-wars-review-order-66-arc-season-6.html">Order 66 arc (Season 6, addendum)</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/03/clone-wars-review-clovis-arc-episodes-5.html">Clovis arc (Season 6, Episodes 5-7), Part I</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/03/clone-wars-review-clovis-arc-episodes-5_11.html">Clovis arc (Season 6, Episodes 5-7), Part II</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/03/clone-wars-review-disappeared-i-ii.html">Disappeared I & II (Season 6, Episodes 8-9)</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/03/clone-wars-review-yoda-arc-season-6.html">Yoda arc (Season 6, Episodes 10-13)</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/03/clone-wars-review-yoda-arc-addendum.html">Yoda arc (addendum)</a>Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-37549914077734768732014-03-14T08:00:00.000-07:002014-03-14T08:00:04.120-07:00CLONE WARS REVIEW: Yoda arc (addendum)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SVegyAVnOfVa-bEh9FKNTsKDW9cKp6DAwG5duTbjICg6fxY0e5l-khQeOpm8XvjyKL-X7FVFiENaoRqjbRvmTfsU0oAYpo27AC6p2VMKQYIeCl_DOA_HnI8gMutxDSYY4LKRwbxB7aTB/s1600/Sidious_vs_Yoda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SVegyAVnOfVa-bEh9FKNTsKDW9cKp6DAwG5duTbjICg6fxY0e5l-khQeOpm8XvjyKL-X7FVFiENaoRqjbRvmTfsU0oAYpo27AC6p2VMKQYIeCl_DOA_HnI8gMutxDSYY4LKRwbxB7aTB/s1600/Sidious_vs_Yoda.jpg" height="320" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>That is why you fail, Yoda</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I realize that I was quite tough in my <a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/03/clone-wars-review-yoda-arc-season-6.html">review</a> of the Yoda arc yesterday. I felt my questions were justified given the high standards set by the The Clone Wars. That said, I feel like the Yoda arc is an overly complicated attempt to explain 1) the differences between Yoda's in the Prequel Trilogy or the Original Trilogy, and 2) the phenomenon of Force Ghosts. This is a noble goal, I think it only fair to explain how I would have approached these issues. After all, it's easy to be critical but harder to be constructive.<br />
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One of the most important principles in science is Occam's Razor, the strategy that scientists should choose the simplest explanation that best fits the available evidence. I also think this principle applies to storytelling. Simpler explanations tend to work better.<br />
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I think Matthew Stover's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Sith-Star-Wars-Episode-ebook/dp/B00513HWJI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1394679973&sr=8-7&keywords=revenge+sith"><i>Revenge of the Sith </i>novelization</a> provided a relatively simpler and more satisfying explanation for Yoda's pacifism in <i>Empire Strikes Back</i>. In short, Yoda begins to doubt himself and what he can achieve through violence when Darth Sidious defeats him in <i>Revenge of the Sith</i>. He realizes that, when it comes to fighting, the Jedi simply cannot compete with the passionate hatred of the Sith. They must choose another way. That is why in <i>Empire</i> Yoda seems to take a more lighthearted approach to life and looks down upon war. He has been humbled and realizes war does not - cannot - solve all problems. Clear and simple.<br />
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As for Force Ghosts - I admit, this never posed a problem for me. Before seeing <i>Revenge of the Sith</i>, I had always assumed that becoming a Force Ghost depended upon how you died. If you died at peace with yourself and the Force, if you accepted the inevitability of your physical death, you could transcend the bounds of the Force. If you died without the proper preparation or in a state of passion - fear, anger, or hate - you were not at peace and would not survive in the Force. It seemed to draw upon the Japanese Zen philosophy that seemed to have influenced George Lucas and Irvin Kershner's original understanding of the Force.<br />
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In the Original Trilogy, we clearly see Ben Kenobi power down his lightsaber and adopt an almost meditative pose before Darth Vader strikes him down. Yoda is also at peace, knowing he has taught Luke all he could learn. Even Anakin Skywalker has reconnected with his son and atoned for his past misdeeds. By contrast, the Jedi in <i>The Phantom Menace </i>and <i>Attack of the Clones</i> who die all do so during the midst of battle. They were not prepared to die and not at peace with that thought. Sadly, their last thoughts were full of fear, anger, or even - for the Sith who died - hatred.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61Y3sD1MwqKN4xCPdzlvCZJUbW2koQEraLH322zqluECMnG8OF09GBYztx7HvD9ktW-20AXIzYo4su_b8flRBHQvSK7gU6B6icCdYIShYoo1K-Qw1skObceb4ztShTlRlXcyutjZlmz9A/s1600/JediGhosts-ROTJ.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61Y3sD1MwqKN4xCPdzlvCZJUbW2koQEraLH322zqluECMnG8OF09GBYztx7HvD9ktW-20AXIzYo4su_b8flRBHQvSK7gU6B6icCdYIShYoo1K-Qw1skObceb4ztShTlRlXcyutjZlmz9A/s1600/JediGhosts-ROTJ.png" height="171" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Good to see you got the memo, Ben, but where's Qui-Gon?"</i></td></tr>
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Obviously, <i>Revenge of the Sith </i>changes this. Yoda specifically says Qui-Gon survived and had instructed him on how to survive past death. This scene always bothered me in the film because it seemed so out of place and random. As I asked in my <a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/03/clone-wars-review-yoda-arc-season-6.html">review</a> yesterday, if Yoda knew how to do Force Ghosting earlier, why would he not have distributed that knowledge more broadly within the Jedi Order - or at least the Jedi Council? Nevertheless, I don't think The Clone Wars Yoda arc answered <i>that </i>question. It also doesn't answer how Anakin becomes a Force Ghost - surely Qui-Gon didn't teach him.<br />
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So what would I have done? I would have introduced some sort of risk or danger inherent in Force Ghosting. It should not be simply a ticket to immortality in the Force. Rather, there should be some price to pay. Perhaps a Jedi can only cross over into the Force if they sacrifice themselves in a nonviolent way. Perhaps Jedi who become Force Ghosts are destined to forever serve the Force as servants (importantly can after all be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuck_Everlasting">its own curse</a>). I think The Clone Wars could have explored these themes and shown Yoda struggling with the knowledge that crossing into the Force would mean abandoning everyone and everything he knows. There's a terrible cost. There's a reason why he would not want to give this knowledge to every Jedi and why he would only resort to it under the most desperate of circumstances.<br />
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That way, Force Ghosting is not a magic bullet, but rather a sacrifice. What I also like about this approach is the thematic parallels to the biblical story of how Jesus Christ allowed himself to suffer on the cross to allow mankind to reach Heaven. It would add an extra dimension to Yoda and Ben Kenobi's characters. It would also explain why Anakin appears as a Force Ghost, for Anakin suffered greatly on his long road to fulfilling the prophesy of the Chosen One and saving the Galaxy.<br />
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I am not going to claim that my way is the "right" way. There are no "right" ways to do art. However, I do think that my explanations for both Yoda and Force Ghosts fit better with the movies and have the added virtue of simplicity.<br />
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Thoughts? Should I write for <i><a href="http://disneyxd.disney.com/star-wars-rebels">Rebels</a></i>? Or should I be banned from ever penning a work of fiction ever?<br />
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Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-56947052386679297732014-03-13T07:30:00.000-07:002014-03-13T15:02:24.095-07:00CLONE WARS REVIEW: Yoda arc (Season 6, Episodes 10-13)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiaIOkAe1J5RKqMES_yZ_YNJnlGOdOyb96fhm4B8MSVLVirpW3FKxCMKxva8gYXw_MdQEHhJTGG4jXErYojdavSD1INMvy0iF4VEXjgmlvzcENKfcY-PRZhoagSktd6xmam497_oA8NNa/s1600/yoda-clonewars-nature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiaIOkAe1J5RKqMES_yZ_YNJnlGOdOyb96fhm4B8MSVLVirpW3FKxCMKxva8gYXw_MdQEHhJTGG4jXErYojdavSD1INMvy0iF4VEXjgmlvzcENKfcY-PRZhoagSktd6xmam497_oA8NNa/s1600/yoda-clonewars-nature.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yoda, in touch with nature</i></td></tr>
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<i>In honor of the release of <a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/">Star Wars: The Clone Wars</a> on <a href="http://www.netflix.com/">Netflix</a>, I've decided to review Season 6, the previously unreleased "Lost Missions." Overall, this is some of the best we've ever seen in the series. Even when I had complaints about plot elements, the characterization is rich and animation gorgeous. These reviews are meant more to think critically about the plot and character elements in the episodes, so there are spoilers - I strongly recommend readers watch each episode before continuing. With that said, on to the Yoda arc...</i><br />
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I know many fans are already calling the Yoda arc - "<a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/ep610/">The Lost One</a>", "<a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/ep611/">Voices</a>", "<a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/ep612/">Destiny</a>", and "<a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/ep613/">Sacrifice</a>" (Season 6; Episodes 10-13) - one of the most important stories of The Clone Wars. For me, it seems a case of style over substance. I get the sense that The Clone Wars team wanted us to believe that these episodes explained key aspects of Yoda's character and the Force, but there were just too many plot holes and questionable choices for me to become fully invested. However, ignoring the story, the episode features some interesting abstract imagery and symbolism, as well as some innovative ways to allow viewers to see fan-favorite characters one last time.</div>
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SUMMARY<br />
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Master Plo Koon finds the remains of Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas' lightsaber in a wrecked shuttlecraft. Remembering that Sifo-Dyas ordered the creation of the Clone Army, the Jedi Council investigates by sending Obi-Wan and Anakin to the homeworld of the Pyke Syndicate to find one of former Chancellor Valorum's aides who had accompanied Sifo-Dyas on his last mission. However, Count Dooku kills the aide. After Dooku escapes, the Jedi return, but Master Yoda begins hearing the voice of Qui-Gon Jinn. When the other Jedi cannot hear the voice, they send him to a medical facility for examination. Yoda escapes and goes to a nebula rich in the Force for answers. He lands on a planet, where he is greeted by Force spirits. Yoda undergoes several trials and is then told that beings can survive in the Force after death. He is told that his last trial awaits on the Sith homeworld of Moraband. On Coruscant, Darths Sidious and Tyranus attempt to influence Yoda through the Force, but Yoda overcomes the Dark Side trials there. He then returns to the Jedi Temple and suggests that there is an alternative to war.<br />
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A WARNING<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRF_tjiiHWuF8rHlx_SZBawR5OMAIqoG9HxYDp9cDsBHwB2sVRDkLWFWpyg_0GMHosCkRVboHa3EgW8GNfSOCtfygr25SqJqw1LAfQPY63TmSCoRE0ECHHLqPXoI6FlvY0bzBgIBMuAFro/s1600/YodaPalpsduel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRF_tjiiHWuF8rHlx_SZBawR5OMAIqoG9HxYDp9cDsBHwB2sVRDkLWFWpyg_0GMHosCkRVboHa3EgW8GNfSOCtfygr25SqJqw1LAfQPY63TmSCoRE0ECHHLqPXoI6FlvY0bzBgIBMuAFro/s1600/YodaPalpsduel.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><i>Yoda could have prevented all of this...</i></td></tr>
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As mentioned above, I thought there were many problems with the plot in this arc. I will list several questions and why they bother me so much. However, before I continue let me make three important points.<br />
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First, I love Yoda. I have two versions of Sideshow Yoda figures sitting on my desk, as well as the Dagobah hut. Moreover, I think The Clone Wars has generally done right by him. Unlike the Prequel movies, which tended to focus on Yoda's fighting prowess, The Clone Wars seemed to capture the wizened mystic we saw in <i>Empire Strikes Back</i>. My favorite all-time episode of The Clone Wars is "<a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ambush">Ambush</a>" (Season 1; Episode 1). In short, I had been eagerly anticipating the Yoda arc.<br />
<br />
Second, if you think you have an interesting or satisfying answer to any of these questions, <i>please</i> e-mail me or leave a comment on this post. If there <i>is</i> a deeper meaning to this arc, I would much prefer to know. I have no desire to dislike this arc and would gladly change my review if it turns out I overlooked something.<br />
<br />
Finally, I apologize if this review upsets or annoys anybody. I feel my job is to provide an honest review, not to engage in "fanboyism" and "geek out" over all of the not-so-subtle references to classic scenes in the Star Wars saga. And I do not think I am holding a kid's show to an unfair standard. This arc perhaps more than any other in the series was clearly designed as a "love letter" to older fans, not kids.<br />
<br />
QUESTIONS<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why did it take the Jedi so long to realize that the Separatists were involved in the creation of the Clone Army?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
The Jedi had more than enough evidence to strongly suspect Separatist involvement in the creation of the Clone Army by the end of <i>Attack of the Clones</i>. Obi-Wan knew Jango Fett was the clone template; Jango Fett then mentioned a "man called Tyranus"; Jango Fett then fled to Geonosis and served as Dooku's bodyguard<i> in full view of hundreds of Jedi.</i> Even if they could not connect the dots, at the very least the Jedi should have opened an investigation into the matter. Before watching "The Lost One," I had assumed the Jedi did just this but could not identify Tyranus and so used the Clone Army despite its origins. I never even considered the possibility that the Jedi were too dense to realize the provenance of the clones.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why does that discovery evince little reaction from the Jedi?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
At the end of "The Lost One," the Jedi Council decides to keep secret the fact that the Separatist role in creating the Clone Army because doing so would undermine public trust in the war. Yoda points out that the Clone Troopers had performed admirably. True, but besides the point. By this time, the Jedi already had ample reason to be worried about the clones. Just a few episodes earlier, a clone had turned into a zombie and killed a Jedi (<a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/03/clone-wars-review-order-66-arc-season-6_8.html">the Order 66 arc</a>). During Season 4's Umbara arc, the clones mounted a coup against Jedi General Pong Krell and killed him (yes, that Jedi went rogue, but it is not clear that the Jedi had any evidence of that). At the least, the Jedi should have been suspicious.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoM78mMM9O981kIaPpvXBcZKtWYMxVVBdlFDCM9iV9ReKbI926j7TPUP3NlSopO3vegeGfy5Lk7TeZleEy3nb9NMCfhSM0R1VYzA6dtBlp_IaCLoxa7_wE8UrcqW_4-qlbrq9DZQZZIok/s1600/Jango-Count.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoM78mMM9O981kIaPpvXBcZKtWYMxVVBdlFDCM9iV9ReKbI926j7TPUP3NlSopO3vegeGfy5Lk7TeZleEy3nb9NMCfhSM0R1VYzA6dtBlp_IaCLoxa7_wE8UrcqW_4-qlbrq9DZQZZIok/s1600/Jango-Count.JPG" height="170" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>What is the template for the Clone Army doing with the Separatists?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To put this in context, imagine if the Pentagon discovered that the entire U.S. Marine Corps was filled with soldiers trained by Al Qaeda? There might be an initial cover up, but there would also be an intensive investigation figuring out which soldiers were still loyal to Al Qaeda. I guarantee you it would entirely change how the U.S. conducts of the War on Terror.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why did the Jedi not investigate Sifo-Dyas' death earlier?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
Sifo-Dyas died 10 years before <i>Attack of the Clones</i>. It seems that the Jedi had not bothered to investigate until "The Lost One." It's not just that they investigated but came to a dead end, but they did not bother to conduct even the most preliminary investigation. This is evident when they have to consult Jocasta Nu about the basic facts surrounding his death. Nobody apparently bothered to check with Chancellor Valorum because he reveals to Yoda that he had sent Sifo-Dyas to investigate the Pyke Syndicate - something Yoda admits the Jedi did not know. One would think that the death of a Jedi Master would elicit more concern, especially after finding out that he had commissioned the creation of the Clone Army.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why does it take longer for Yoda to reach Chancellor Palpatine's office than it does for Obi-Wan and Anakin to go to Felucia and conduct a complete investigation?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
In the Jedi Library, we see Obi-Wan and Anakin present at Jocasta Nu's briefing. Yoda orders them to Felucia. It is clearly nighttime outside the Jedi Temple. The scene then cuts to apparently the next day with Yoda in Chancellor Palpatine's office. As soon as Yoda finishes talking with Palpatine, he receives a comm message from Obi-Wan and Anakin reporting that they spoke with the Felucian tribal leaders and uncovered more details about Sifo-Dyas' death.<br />
<br />
To be clear, this means that Obi-Wan and Anakin were able to travel to Felucia - an Outer Rim planet far away from Coruscant - and interview several Felucians within at most 12 hours (assuming Coruscant rotates at approximately the same speed at Earth). I can't imagine any other explanation except that the writers were not paying attention to details.<br />
<br />
[Yes, technically it is possible that Yoda had to wait several days or even weeks for an appointment with Chancellor Palpatine. That seems unlikely. Everything we've seen thus far suggests Yoda has pretty regular access to the chancellor's office. Moreover, for an issue this important, it seems hard to imagine Yoda would wait so long.]<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why does Dooku admit to the identity of Tyranus and Sith influence over the Senate?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdRLRXAOCCeHNF4PW0qdZZfI-dYuJMkYnwT71G2HIeVDEGBr1ocgUCsocPTHrKvsnCTClV7gZmhW9tcv0n6sMdUaaN0_W85vmPslizAEuCvWIlFXWZ84d73_MvY64O_J6X7QC1qvlyakL/s1600/Yoda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdRLRXAOCCeHNF4PW0qdZZfI-dYuJMkYnwT71G2HIeVDEGBr1ocgUCsocPTHrKvsnCTClV7gZmhW9tcv0n6sMdUaaN0_W85vmPslizAEuCvWIlFXWZ84d73_MvY64O_J6X7QC1qvlyakL/s1600/Yoda.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><i>Deja vu, R2?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In <i>Attack of the Clones</i>, Dooku tells Obi-Wan that a Sith lord called Darth Sidious had gained influence over the Senate. That scene worked because Dooku was trying to convert Obi-Wan to his cause. However, at the end of "The Lost One," Dooku reminds Obi-Wan of that conversation during the heat of battle when there's no serious chance that he'll join Dooku. In doing so, he also implicitly confirms that Dooku is in fact Tyranus. I would think that Dooku would want to keep that fact secret as long as possible.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why does R2-D2 not recognize Yoda or Dagobah?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
When Yoda escapes from the medical center, he steals a starfighter and flies to Dagobah with R2-D2. But in Empire Strikes Back, R2-D2 never tells Luke that he recognizes either Yoda or Dagobah. Until now, I had simply assumed R2 and Yoda had never met, but that is definitely not the case after "Voices." Recall that at the end of Revenge of the Sith Bail Organa orders a memory wipe for C-3PO but not for R2-D2. In other words, there is no reason for R2 not to tell Luke, "Hey, Yoda and I took a little roadtrip to Dagobah a few years ago. Just so you know, he's a little green minch." And why does R2-D2 insist on pulling the candle away from Yoda if he knows that the latter is a revered Jedi Master? This is a small point, but again highlights the lack of attention to detail that I found so frustrating throughout this arc.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Since when does Yoda have a problem with hubris?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
Yoda has many problems. As I've described above, he shows a startling lack of curiosity. He is complacent and, as head of the Jedi Order, takes a very passive approach to management. He also treated Anakin like a problem rather than as a person. He is not perfect, even if he is a great character.<br />
<br />
But <i>never</i> did I get any hint that one of Yoda's fundamental problems was hubris. In fact, of the major Jedi characters, he seemed to be one of the few who demonstrated humility. In <i>TPM</i>, he realized that the Jedi might not be able to provide Anakin the training he needs. In <i>AOTC</i>, he notes that more Jedi are becoming arrogant. In "Ambush," he realizes he cannot win on his own and places his trust in his Clone Trooper squad. Moreover, he takes the time to appreciate the natural world on the planet Rugosa, demonstrating an acknowledgement of something greater than himself.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYBOBaVYYzCI65iSdFwVNdAVBMOnKl6A4rkxa1Q837qddJacGf8T4XvnjU5UFz99XFEw8NWG8_9ReMfE_k4VK_cJpyp8aiLUZMinqpqSsDGrAdktWZcK9o594HKaueXNvNpn5QGw96cQf/s1600/yoda-fight-clone-wars-612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYBOBaVYYzCI65iSdFwVNdAVBMOnKl6A4rkxa1Q837qddJacGf8T4XvnjU5UFz99XFEw8NWG8_9ReMfE_k4VK_cJpyp8aiLUZMinqpqSsDGrAdktWZcK9o594HKaueXNvNpn5QGw96cQf/s1600/yoda-fight-clone-wars-612.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yoda vs. Shadow Yoda</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Yet, in "Destiny," one of Yoda's tests is to confront a Shadow Yoda who is meant to represent his hubris. The "shadow" only disappears when Yoda acknowledges that it represents a part of himself. Why?<br />
<br />
I think there's a simple explanation, and it has nothing to do with Yoda. The scene was almost certainly inspired by Ursula K. LeGuin's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthsea"><i>Wizard of Earthsea</i></a>. In that novel, the young wizard Ged releases a Shadow from the world of the dead using a forbidden spell. The Shadow takes his form and flees across the Earthsea archipelago. Ged only conquers the Shadow when he realizes that it represents his inner hubris and is a part of him. He defeats it by saying its true name, "Ged."<br />
<br />
In <i>Earthsea</i>, this motif works because Ged clearly displayed hubris in thinking that he could master forbidden spells even though he was only a student. The entire story deals with the consequences of Ged's hubris. The Shadow killed several people and left Ged permanently scarred. In later books, we see that Ged has become much humbler. He had a lesson to learn and he learned it. I get the sense that somebody on The Clone Wars writing staff was trying to think of possible trials for Yoda to face and thought about that scene in <i>Earthsea</i>. Unfortunately, like a student who plagiarizes but forgets to change the copied text to fit the class assignment, the writers used the Earthsea scene in a context where it does not quite fit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAzOsScKw8pBKNvyxT2guKZHKCwXjPwXjVmUNUdYuA1EMpjr6YHV6sI3eLAM4Osi1CMualhsc1cU_gXOK9n5cTHkBMmec3D1iWYJb3ZD3E7lqVhgXQodLO-tW5TxAawKunJGO8_AIQeCC/s1600/719984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAzOsScKw8pBKNvyxT2guKZHKCwXjPwXjVmUNUdYuA1EMpjr6YHV6sI3eLAM4Osi1CMualhsc1cU_gXOK9n5cTHkBMmec3D1iWYJb3ZD3E7lqVhgXQodLO-tW5TxAawKunJGO8_AIQeCC/s1600/719984.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ged from </i>A Wizard of Earthsea <i>fights his shadow</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I do love the imagery of Yoda confronting a shadow version of himself and confronting his inner flaws. It's about time for an <i>Earthsea </i>homage in Star Wars. However, I think there was a much more interesting option here. Rather than representing hubris, that shadow could have represented Yoda's willingness to resort to violence and warfare. This is clearly a problem for Prequel-era Yoda as fans have noted ever since seeing Yoda's fight scenes in <i>AOTC </i>and <i>ROTS</i>. That type of aggressive fighting <i>is</i> out of character for the Yoda we saw in <i>Empire</i> who told Luke, "Wars not make one great." Confronting this shadow self would compel him to recognize that Yoda resorts to fighting too easily. The scene should unnerve Yoda but not transform him immediately because he still displays that willingness to resort to violence in <i>ROTS</i>. His defeat in <i>ROTS </i>would be the ultimate trigger to starting Yoda down the path of pacifism, but the confrontation with the shadow could have laid the foundation.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>If Yoda just learned a "lesson" in hubris, why does he show hubris in asking</i><i> to see the Force spirit's face</i><i>?</i></span></b></li>
</ul>
<br />
The whole point of the "Shadow Yoda" trial was to compel him to confront his "hubris." Yet, he does not learn the lesson very well. Soon after this scene, he confronts one of the Force spirits and says, "I <i>must</i> see your face." Note that he does not <i>ask </i>to see the spirit's face, he <i>demands</i> it. In Greek mythology, asking to look upon a god directly was one of the classic signs of hubris. Mere mortals who did so often suffered serious consequences. Ridley Scott's movie <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446714/">Prometheus</a></i> captures this message when Peter Weyland asks aliens whom he assumes to be humanity's creators to grant him more life. Yet, Yoda's behavior in this scene makes Weyland look downright humble. Yoda is not only demanding to look upon the face of the Force, but also wants the key to eternal life as a Force Ghost. Again, what was the point of Shadow Yoda if this is how Yoda behaves?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">If Yoda sees visions of Darth Sidious and Order 66 on both Dagobah and Moraband, why does he not take any action to stop them?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
In the cave on Dagobah, Yoda sees a vision of Jedi being killed en masse, seemingly while fighting with clones. On both Dagobah and Moraband, he sees visions of Darth Sidious. These are not mere passing glimpses but entire scenes, including one in which Yoda engages in a prolonged duel with Sidious. <br />
<br />
So why did Yoda not do anything upon his return with this new information? The vision clearly shows that Sidious was an elderly white human male. Yoda hears Sidious speak and laugh several times. Yoda also learns that Sidious is on Coruscant (in the vision, Yoda leads a mission to capture Sidious and Dooku in a Coruscant industrial zone). Even if Yoda could not recognize the visage as Palpatine's, this seems like more than enough information to drastically narrow down the range of potential suspects. Combined with Obi-Wan's report from Geonosis that Sidious had influence over the Senate, Yoda should have immediately ordered a massive manhunt upon his return to Coruscant. At the very least, why not warn the Jedi about all of these premonitions? Even if not certain, given the specificity of the visions wouldn't it make sense to take some precautious?<br />
<br />
The only explanation I can give is that Yoda did not recognize Palpatine as Sidious because Tim Curry's voice acting for Palpatine sounds nothing like the character's voice in the movies.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">If Yoda sees visions of the future that come true, why does he later become skeptical of visions of the future?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
As noted above, Yoda essentially sees visions of the future. Some of the visions are scenes taken directly from <i>Revenge of the Sith</i>, such as Sidious' fight against the four Jedi in his office. His visions of the future were <i>accurate.</i> Why then does he tell Luke in <i>Empire </i>not to trust his visions of the future? If Yoda had paid attention to his own visions, he might have averted a genocide of the Jedi and captured Darth Sidious. Wouldn't that have been preferable? What causes Yoda's skepticism?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWM_2IiDhywGtFZeFtzdm5IaN5grr5TdIPImhoHKXYYnXwfMdPtitSB9VzZB_qYxXko7XqCSvxWAQKb27JmnMMDVPF09NG9uKUbSmaasF6osP_jqMHAK2d-EaPZpaBdx1mcn0n7_hF01o/s1600/cwrs_pds_006_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWM_2IiDhywGtFZeFtzdm5IaN5grr5TdIPImhoHKXYYnXwfMdPtitSB9VzZB_qYxXko7XqCSvxWAQKb27JmnMMDVPF09NG9uKUbSmaasF6osP_jqMHAK2d-EaPZpaBdx1mcn0n7_hF01o/s1600/cwrs_pds_006_h.jpg" height="166" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><i>Yoda and the Force spirits</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">What were Sidious and Dooku trying to do on Moraband?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
In "Sacrifice," while Yoda arrives on Moraband, on Coruscant Darths Sidious and Dooku engage in some sort of Sith ritual to force Dark Side visions onto Yoda. First, it seems a bit convenient that the Sith can toy with somebody from so far away. Even accepting that premise, it's still not clear what their goal was. Did they seek to convert Yoda? If so, they never really provided anything that would actually tempt him. Did they seek to destroy him? If so, where was the threat? Why did they use a vision revealing their actual location on Coruscant in real life? Might that not risk cluing Yoda into his location or identity? Then again, Palpatine has been living right next to these clueless Jedi for years, laughing at them behind their backs, so he apparently likes living dangerously.<br />
<br />
At a symbolic level, setting up this episode as a more mystical confrontation between Yoda and the Sith had potential, but the plot points all seemed too contrived.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">How many times do we have to watch Yoda resist attacks from illusions?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
Granted, this is not a plot hole or continuity error so much as just boring. The plot essentially tests Yoda no less than four times by requiring him not to flinch in the face of an illusory enemy: 1) Dooku in the Jedi Temple vision when he swings his lightsaber; 2) the serpent on Moraband; 3) Darth Bane's Balrog-like spirit; and 4) during the final confrontation with Sidious. We get it, Yoda doesn't flinch.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why doesn't Yoda teach the other Jedi to survive after death as Force Ghosts?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
Apparently, somewhere in this arc, Yoda learned how a Jedi can survive after death as a Force Ghost. It was a bit vague as to what and how he learned it, but it is said that he gained that insight. Given that the Jedi are in the midst of fighting a major war and that Yoda just had a vision of Jedi being massacred, why doesn't he teach this method to all Jedi <i>immediately</i>? This should be his highest priority. Tell each Jedi to take half an hour out if their busy schedules to practice this method. He has just learned how to prevent all of his friends and colleagues from dying, but doesn't share that knowledge - talk about selfishness!<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">What does Master Yoda learn from this entire experience?</span></b></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
All of this brings me to the most important question of all. What exactly does Master Yoda learn from all of this? The end of "Sacrifice" seems to suggest that Yoda learned the values of pacifism and that the Jedi would have to go through a Dark Times before overcoming the Sith.<br />
<br />
But that is <i>not</i> how Yoda behaves in <i>Revenge of the Sith</i>. After Order 66, Yoda goes to Sidious' office and attempts to assassinate him (yes, it's assassination). He does not do so with the calm zen of somebody resigned to his duty, but rather comes across as cocky, taunting Sidious and tossing aside the Royal Guards like expendable furniture. So much for respecting life. By taking these actions, Yoda has clearly not given up on the idea that the Jedi can win through force of arms. He is not willing to wait through a Dark Time for "another Skywalker." He explicitly tells Sidious that his reign will be short. He demonstrates hubris by believing that he can defeat Sidious alone, without Obi-Wan's help. The Yoda we see in the movie simply does not seem like a character who has learned any of the lessons in these episodes of The Clone Wars.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaH9Jes0oDcqn2RC0Fr5SPep8PX8ctd5uKpuCxe7ep4fmz8Bdav5yAoIHx83utgjTWTcbskXis7MJ8ZhxWLenHKIDD9T82F16gU7pCosEqdnpKVjl8kdI7J4wZxvl0Mxwo56fEp71hEJw/s1600/yoda_guard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaH9Jes0oDcqn2RC0Fr5SPep8PX8ctd5uKpuCxe7ep4fmz8Bdav5yAoIHx83utgjTWTcbskXis7MJ8ZhxWLenHKIDD9T82F16gU7pCosEqdnpKVjl8kdI7J4wZxvl0Mxwo56fEp71hEJw/s1600/yoda_guard.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Is this the behavior of a pacifist?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In <i>ROTS</i>, Yoda seems shocked and physically ill when he feels the Jedi die in the Force. Yet, he is clearly faking because he foresaw all of this but did nothing. He could have warned the Jedi. He could have outed Sidious. He could have spread knowledge of Force Ghosting. Based on this arc, the only logical conclusion is that for some reason Yoda wanted all of the Jedi to die. Perhaps he was sick of managing the entire Jedi Order for 900 years and wanted to take an extended vacation on Dagobah. Perhaps he had come under the impression that only a Skywalker could defeat the Sith and needed to wait for one to appear. I don't know the answer, but this arc of The Clone Wars does not provide it.<br />
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OVERALL</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
Although I am not a genius, I consider myself intelligent enough to understand the basic points of a movie or TV episode. Yet, each time I watched the Yoda arc, it made less sense. There were potentially some great concepts and images, such as "Earthsea Yoda" and putting Ahsoka in one of Yoda's visions. Unfortunately, the symbolic elements seemed disconnected from the plot and character development. I simply do not see how the events of this arc fit with Yoda as we see him in either the Prequel Trilogy or the Original Trilogy. All too often, I felt like the writers were just throwing in "fan service" rather than providing a story. Again, if I am wrong, please (politely) tell me why. In the meantime, I'll generously give this arc 2 out of 5 Yodas.<br />
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<i>Rating:</i> 2/5 Yodas<br />
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Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-90470365441962991452014-03-12T07:30:00.000-07:002014-03-12T08:30:10.322-07:00CLONE WARS REVIEW: Disappeared I & II (Season 6, Episodes 8-9)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlvH6PrejxFaFbxtku9pDLDXDYfbRfa5varyw_0kGNdPoaPFjUK9-DQnkcnXNIPOiajgeGUgTr36d-DAqcI-2amB0vrpF4LSilOi9Nmh0KzTOHRUo7SvJbOBljNOvmOi4R9GGmilZo9_b/s1600/Jar_Jar_BombadJedi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlvH6PrejxFaFbxtku9pDLDXDYfbRfa5varyw_0kGNdPoaPFjUK9-DQnkcnXNIPOiajgeGUgTr36d-DAqcI-2amB0vrpF4LSilOi9Nmh0KzTOHRUo7SvJbOBljNOvmOi4R9GGmilZo9_b/s1600/Jar_Jar_BombadJedi.jpg" height="320" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jar Jar Binks, superhero?</i></td></tr>
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<i>In honor of the release of <a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/">Star Wars: The Clone Wars</a> on <a href="http://www.netflix.com/">Netflix</a>, I've decided to review Season 6, the previously unreleased "Lost Missions." Overall, this is some of the best we've ever seen in the series. Even when I had complaints about plot elements, the characterization is rich and animation gorgeous. These reviews are meant more to think critically about the plot and character elements in the episodes, so there are spoilers - I strongly recommend readers watch each episode before continuing. With that said, on to the Disappeared arc...</i><br />
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* * * * *</div>
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The Disappeared arc ("The Disappeared" <a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/ep608/">Part I</a> & <a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/ep609/">Part II</a>) does not have a complex plot or character developments. It features Jar Jar Binks, which is ordinarily enough to doom it from the start. However, "The Disappeared" is a fun ride in the style of Indiana Jones. The arc uses Jar Jar well and even gives him some nice character moments. Visually, this episode is a treat and highlights how far animation techniques have progressed in this show. Ironically, I found myself enjoying this pair of episodes more than any other arc in Season 6. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>SUMMARY<br />
<br />
The Galactic Senate receives a distress call from Queen Julia of <a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Bardotta">Bardotta</a>, who requests of Jar Jar Binks' help in solving the mystery of disappearing Bardottans. Jar Jar, along with Jedi Master Mace Windu, arrives on the planet, where it soon becomes clear that Jar Jar is romantically involved with the queen. The Queen Julia is soon abducted by Frangawl cultists who conduct ritual Force sacr. Jar Jar and Mace uncover their underground complex and rescue the prisoners but several Frangawls escape with the queen and flee to a moons. On the moon, Jar Jar and Mace fight through thugs in a marketplace to reach a sacrificial grounds, where they uncover <a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Talzin">Mother Talzin's</a> plot to steal the Force essence of a Dagoyan Master to increase her own power in the Force. While Mace Windu fights Talzin, Jar Jar destroys the contraption designed to drain Force energy, which causes Talzin to wither away.<br />
<br />
JAR JAR BINKS<br />
<br />
<a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2013/01/why-i-want-book-about-jar-jar-binks.html">I've said before</a> that although I don't hate Jar Jar Binks I do think the Prequel Trilogy horribly misused him. He was often used as a gag rather than as a character. In <i>The Phantom Menace</i>, he has a lot of screen time but contributes almost nothing to the actual story (Obi-Wan's disdain for Jar Jar certainly did not help). He only seems to help the heroes by accident, not because he takes a proactive stance or finds his courage. At his lowest moment in <i>TPM</i>, he surrenders to the battle droids rather than fight on for his friends. It's always hard for audiences to respect somebody who won't even try to defend himself or his friends. Moreover, his jokes often fell flat or were blandly immature.<br />
<br />
Earlier episodes of The Clone Wars, including "<a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Bombad_Jedi">Bombad Jedi</a>" (Season 1; Episode 8), have done a better job of both making Jar Jar actually funny and giving him a proactive role in the story. The Disappeared arc takes this to the next level. In these episodes, Jar Jar Binks becomes a full character.<br />
<br />
First, Jar Jar has a history, something we haven't seen aside from a vague reference in <i>TPM</i> that he had been exiled from the Gungan city for being clumsy. In Part I, we learn Queen Julia requests Jar Jar for the mission to Bardotta. While it's shocking enough that a galactic ruler would trust Jar Jar with such a mission, it's even more surprising that he seems to have developed a relationship with a character outside the Anakin, Padmé, C-3PO, and, arguably, Mace Windu. This immediately forces the audience to view Jar Jar slightly differently than we had in previous episodes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01cYh75c33_wu057Ks1iKfBSD4CfePmdtUvXwAooInJF3iI7j6ZXkhtCmOVC2b1A-MT8dGrZfBtQzAbsxTqJFJrI4tIFIn66gRibfqAAv2Unxlt1KRLTL_CFolzqXoRshdV54c8keeRCk/s1600/jar-jar-julia-kiss-clone-wars-608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01cYh75c33_wu057Ks1iKfBSD4CfePmdtUvXwAooInJF3iI7j6ZXkhtCmOVC2b1A-MT8dGrZfBtQzAbsxTqJFJrI4tIFIn66gRibfqAAv2Unxlt1KRLTL_CFolzqXoRshdV54c8keeRCk/s1600/jar-jar-julia-kiss-clone-wars-608.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bow Chicka Wow Wow!</i></td></tr>
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The episode takes this even further when Queen Julia calls Jar Jar "My Love." Jar Jar was romantically involved with a hot alien queen! The episode wisely does not reveal too much of this backstory (because it could get ridiculous quite quickly). However, even these bits hint at a fascinating and potentially hilarious story of interstellar romance. The episode plays upon this in funny - and even risqué - ways. When Mace Windu asks Jar Jar what he was doing the previous night, Jar Jar responds, "Doing? Meesa love the Queen Julia. What's the matter with dat?" I burst out laughing at the implicit double entendre. This setup gives Jar Jar's character more depth <i>and</i> manages to be humorous at the same time!<br />
<br />
The Disappeared arc shows Jar Jar taking a proactive role in the story. He's not a peripheral gag machine but rather becomes a genuine hero. When Mace Windu disturbs his meeting with Queen Julia, Jar Jar gets upset and admonishes him. It is Jar Jar, not Mace Windu, who reassures the Bardottan council. In Part II, Jar Jar is the one who manages to keep track the queen, even showing thoughtfulness as he tries to deduce where her captors will take her next. Soon after Jar Jar engages in some klutzy behavior that activates war droids, but then defeats them by shooting a rather large gun that fell from one of the droids. He later uses the same gun to destroy Talzin's sacrificial shrine.<br />
<br />
There are dozens of smiler moments in which we see Jar Jar not merely as a clumsy victim of fate, but a character who takes action to protect himself and his friends. Nobody will ever mistake Jar Jar for Rambo, even with his massive gun and his romance with the queen, but he's clearly an integral part of the story. More importantly, he's suddenly a character I can begin to respect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXXR8fdiXmvEQnQMsJx1zoKTlB-Pg_Wc3-PAz0zDZ9_D8YQcza38M6CfU3xvQMNC5flfH42jsetYwS2aozwkKmGufEQ8MHRDbABD-5USi33UPLAGwAouXMHOmz-GzzYJDK1cyoyUwQqbl/s1600/jar-jar-escape-clone-wars-608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXXR8fdiXmvEQnQMsJx1zoKTlB-Pg_Wc3-PAz0zDZ9_D8YQcza38M6CfU3xvQMNC5flfH42jsetYwS2aozwkKmGufEQ8MHRDbABD-5USi33UPLAGwAouXMHOmz-GzzYJDK1cyoyUwQqbl/s1600/jar-jar-escape-clone-wars-608.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jar Jar actually fighting...</i></td></tr>
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The writers seem very conscious of how they've improved upon the character because the other characters seem to treat Jar Jar like more than a semi-sentient dog. Of course, Queen Julia's romantic interest in Jar Jar helps elevate the character. The Bardottan council trusts Jar Jar's promises and takes his advice. Mace Windu slowly begins to realize Jar Jar's value and compliments him when he contributes to the mission (by the way, Mace Windu's stoicism makes for a great contrast with Jar Jar's clumsiness). The other characters' respect feels entirely natural because we as the audience are also beginning to respect Jar Jar more.<br />
<br />
Finally, Jar Jar is genuinely funny in this arc. When introducing Mace Windu, he calls the Jedi his "loyal helper." When the Frangawls try to drain his Force essence, Jar Jar responds, "Meesa not big with the Force." The fight scenes are well choreographed to combine both humor and excitement. I laughed out loud several times during this arc (an I am several times older than this show's target demographic). In short, if we saw <i>this</i> Jar Jar on screen in 1999, I suspect the backlash against the character would have been much less.<br />
<br />
ARTISTRY<br />
<br />
Visually, the Disappeared arc is some of the best work The Clone Wars team has ever done. The lighting effects are absolutely stunning, from the creepy tunnels of the Frangawl crypts to the starlit markets on the moon. I'm typically not somebody who is impressed with animation, but found myself unable to tear my eyes away from the screen during this arc. Rather than talk about it any further, I am simply posting larger pictures throughout this review.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFQz3et_gpVJ0JmpT_Q-gnOWIBb-zc_sZxDrH8_SP0aEdAF3nDsYh0R4UXYpkqKBSa13Tg3-fT6NhaiQCtiJ9zW4XGbxhLZWWgnrTxslvgMRYlvLaTZj7QFlZQyWszLeIDuYFXMfTcNIR/s1600/talzin-vs-mace-clone-wars-609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFQz3et_gpVJ0JmpT_Q-gnOWIBb-zc_sZxDrH8_SP0aEdAF3nDsYh0R4UXYpkqKBSa13Tg3-fT6NhaiQCtiJ9zW4XGbxhLZWWgnrTxslvgMRYlvLaTZj7QFlZQyWszLeIDuYFXMfTcNIR/s1600/talzin-vs-mace-clone-wars-609.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Beautiful lighting effects!</i></td></tr>
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This episode features some of Kevin Kiner's best music throughout the entire series. The odd, alien chanting really adds to the atmosphere throughout the episode. The soundtrack subtly interacts with key elements of the plot and visuals. For example, during Mace and Jar Jar's battle with the droids, the music rises whenever Jar Jar knocks down another droid. It could just be a coincidence, but it was a nice touch.<br />
<br />
Finally, this arc demonstrates how Star Wars should do homages. The Clone Wars has done several homages, to Godzilla in "<a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/The_Zillo_Beast">The Zillo Beast</a>" (Season 2; Episode 18) to the Godfather in "<a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Evil_Plans">Evil Plans</a>" (Season 3; Episode 8). Yet, these have tended to be too heavy-handed because they directly mimic plot points and visual imagery from the source material. Homages work best when they capture the feel and spirit of the source material in such a way that the source is recognizable but not distracting.<br />
<br />
In "The Disappeared" Part I, the Frangawl cult clearly resembled the Thuggee cult in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087469/"><i>Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom</i></a>. There was also an homage in the market chase scene on the Bardottan moon, similar to how the Nazis avoid Indiana Jones in the streets of Cairo in <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082971/">Raiders of the Ark</a></i>. Finally, the last scene shows Mace, Jar Jar, and Queen Julia riding off into the horizon in the same way the heroes did in <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097576/?ref_=tt_rec_tt">The Last Crusade</a></i>. These scenes all seemed to fit within the Star Wars universe and serve the story, but also managed to elicit recognition from viewers familiar with the Indiana Jones films. Perhaps more importantly, the arc manages to balance humor with adventure, which is the hallmark of the original Indiana Jones Trilogy. <i>That</i> is perhaps the greatest homage of all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHQlL_BmZSlfBEAPkNZP2x62CgFc6sP5GB3e8nsXo_J0YPxhhlmD5sVD7RXdsMKGgTDpzDaeSugWrvwK6Gju96AcnRL67w3Ql2AV8ZH0RSZRz6G7V1-cLJih-cWf8OhKiLcOYl9rbRh8k/s1600/cultists-clone-wars-609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHQlL_BmZSlfBEAPkNZP2x62CgFc6sP5GB3e8nsXo_J0YPxhhlmD5sVD7RXdsMKGgTDpzDaeSugWrvwK6Gju96AcnRL67w3Ql2AV8ZH0RSZRz6G7V1-cLJih-cWf8OhKiLcOYl9rbRh8k/s1600/cultists-clone-wars-609.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Thuggee - er, Frangawl - cultists</i></td></tr>
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I also detected a possible homage in Mother Talzin's fate. Mother Talzin was a witch who had seemed poised to open a second front in the Clone Wars but by this arc seems doomed to trying to dominate a backwards world seemed. This mirrors the fate of Saruman in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Return-King-Lord-Rings-Part/dp/0345339738" style="font-style: italic;">The Return of the King</a>, a wizard who had grand ambitions but lowers himself to lording over the Shire. Moreover, like Saruman, when Talzin dies she seems to simply dissolve away into ashes. I don't know if <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> was a direct inspiration for this scene, but somehow it seems fitting for Talzin.<br />
<br />
OVERALL<br />
<br />
"The Disappeared" arc is certainly not the most important story arc in The Clone Wars. It's not Star Wars storytelling at its greatest. However, like Indiana Jones, it manages to be both a fun adventure and humorous. Jar Jar becomes a subtly more interesting character, one I am finally beginning to respect. I also found Mother Talzin's defeat to be surprisingly satisfying. Most important of all, I was entertained.<br />
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<i>Rating:</i> 4.5/5 Jar Jar heads</div>
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Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-84872607470479409402014-03-11T06:30:00.000-07:002014-03-11T22:01:01.472-07:00CLONE WARS REVIEW: Clovis arc (Season 6, Episodes 5-7), Part II<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6icviC-1PnU3hlhyQ4-L3x-7vQZZ1S6XwTSW4sxlcfDrU51gektnbjbUKuiYIwV4Xa6iKm_wCi6mOr9PqBKyLjXwcXb5oshf_HlJnECjuYQcsCBp3kOfCx1ScZNs59xjkQEV1GtWEY_La/s1600/Padme_and_Rush.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6icviC-1PnU3hlhyQ4-L3x-7vQZZ1S6XwTSW4sxlcfDrU51gektnbjbUKuiYIwV4Xa6iKm_wCi6mOr9PqBKyLjXwcXb5oshf_HlJnECjuYQcsCBp3kOfCx1ScZNs59xjkQEV1GtWEY_La/s1600/Padme_and_Rush.png" height="135" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><i>The most interesting politician in Star Wars</i></td></tr>
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<i>In honor of the release of <a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/">Star Wars: The Clone Wars</a> on <a href="http://www.netflix.com/WiHome">Netflix</a>, I've decided to review </i><i>Season 6, the previously unreleased </i><i>"Lost Missions."</i><i> </i><i>Overall, this is some of the best we've ever seen in the series. Even when I had complaints about plot elements, the characterization is rich and animation gorgeous. These reviews are meant more to think critically about the plot and character elements in the episodes, so there are spoilers - I <b>strongly</b></i> <i>recommend readers watch each episode before continuing</i><i>. </i><i>With that said, on to the Clovis arc...</i><br />
<i></i><br />
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* * * * *<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The Clone Wars has had a mixed history with telling stories about politics, but the Clovis arc ("<a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/ep605/">An Old Friend</a>", "<a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/ep606/">Rise of Clovis</a>", and "<a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/ep607/">Crisis at the Heart</a>"; Season 6, Episodes 5-7) finally gets it right. While stories about intergalactic politics will never be the most popular amongst fans, the political decisions in this arc actually seem to matter. More importantly, this arc keeps the focus where it should be: on the characters, particularly Clovis. The relationship between Anakin and Padmé get some much needed development. We also get a few fun chase scenes with everybody's tenth-favorite bounty hunter, Embo.<br />
<br />
I split the review into two parts. <a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2014/03/clone-wars-review-clovis-arc-episodes-5.html">Part I</a> was posted yesterday; Part II is below...<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
ANAKIN & PADMÉ<br />
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The relationship between Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala is less about selfless love than about fulfilling their own needs. Anakin views Padmé as the idealized woman (upon meeting her, he asks, "Are you an angel?"). He needs a mother-figure, especially the Jedi forced him to leave his mother - the only woman with whom he had a close relationship - on Tatooine. When Shmi was killed by the Tusken Raiders, Padmé suddenly became the only available substitute for Anakin's mother. In mourning for his mother, Anakin becomes obsessed with his fear of losing that mother-figure a second time. In <i>Revenge of the Sith</i>, he views <i>his </i>power and control, rather than trust in his friends, as the only viable means to preventing Padmé's death.<br />
<br />
Padmé is usually seen as the victim, but she brings her own baggage into the relationship. As made clear in the <i>AOTC </i>deleted scene mentioned above, Padmé is always in search of the a charitable cause. She places too much faith in the fundamental goodness of people, even to the point of naiveté. She does not suspect her former senator, Chancellor Palpatine, until much too late. She pursues peace with the Separatists without preparing for the risk of sabotage ("<a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Heroes_on_Both_Sides">Heroes on Both Sides</a>"). In the case of Anakin, she overlooks his darker side, even after he admits that he killed a tribe of Tuskens. She doesn't see a murderer, she sees a charity case. While she is ultimately proven correct in <i>Return of the Jedi </i>that Anakin still has good within him, her willingness to trust makes her unprepared for both the downfall of the Republic and of her marriage.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfkAo2T7hmRyiIW6ADLLnNspsrad4SL4v4wG_cyXwffXVQJ6CorPFbJCPGAh_o-dujxqUNAv-UauqFPUTOFXMFrihwe2YX9NjV-DpH0E9I0HSE5A1GRU4SwhYRAoabcSNgylnxvWgeJoc/s1600/bridal+jazz+04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfkAo2T7hmRyiIW6ADLLnNspsrad4SL4v4wG_cyXwffXVQJ6CorPFbJCPGAh_o-dujxqUNAv-UauqFPUTOFXMFrihwe2YX9NjV-DpH0E9I0HSE5A1GRU4SwhYRAoabcSNgylnxvWgeJoc/s1600/bridal+jazz+04.jpg" height="273" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clearly, they need couples counseling...</i></td></tr>
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It would probably be unfair to say that Anakin and Padmé have an abusive relationship, but they do have an unhealthily dependent one. It is apparently not a happy marriage, save for a few brief moments. In <i>Revenge of the Sith</i>, when Padmé tells Anakin that she's pregnant, for a brief moment Anakin looks angry and Padmé looks terrified. Later, Padmé dismisses Anakin's fears about her death despite knowing that he had similar premonitions about his mother's feather. While they both need each other, they do not seem able to give themselves over to the other.<br />
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In Clovis' earlier appearance ("<a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Senate_Spy">Senate Spy</a>", 2:4), the potential love triangle between Padmé, Anakin, and Clovis was played for laughs as it was clear Padmé remained loyal to Anakin. In this arc, Anakin is visibly jealous (the fortune cookie is, appropriately enough, "Jealousy is the path to chaos"). Granted, the plot uses a few contrivances to elicit Anakin's jealousy, including a scene in which Anakin walks in just as Clovis tries to kiss Padmé. Anakin furiously attacks Clovis and is only stopped when Padmé's guards enter the room.<br />
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Despite the obvious and almost ridiculous contrivance, this scene mostly works because it has consequences. First, it is clear that Clovis has been injured. He is visibly bruised and in a later scene is examined by a medical droid. In other words, this is not cartoon violence where characters survive severe beatings unscathed. The episode makes clear that Anakin behaved improperly. More importantly, the incident sours Anakin and Padmé's relationship. She tells Anakin, "This marriage is not a marriage, Anakin, if there isn't any trust." One gets the impression that their relationship will never be the same. Moreover, it takes Anakin's saving Padmé's life in the final scenes of the arc to get the two to reconcile. However, the Padmé does not just forgive and forget, which helps explain some of the darkness shrouding their relationship in <i>Revenge of the Sith</i>.<br />
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THE SIDIOUS TROPE<br />
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If the episode had a major weakness, it's the reliance on the "Sidious the Manipulator" trope. I love Darth Sidious/Palpatine as a villain, but both the Prequels and The Clone Wars overused him. It seems that <i>every single </i>event of political significance happened because of him or at his urging. It's a wonder that he has time to go to the bathroom, much less run a galactic government. Palpatine's scheming in <i>Attack of the Clones</i> is so convoluted that many viewers simply didn't understand what was happening or why (I'd argue we only received a full explanation in 2012 with the publication of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Plagueis-James-Luceno/dp/0345511298">Darth Plagueis</a></i>). As a rule, as a plot becomes more complicated, there are more points at which it could possibly fail. The <a href="http://theskepticalstatistician.blogspot.com/2012/11/quantifying-star-wars-part-3-episodes.html">Skeptical Statistician blog</a> actually counted the number of times in <i>Revenge of the Sith </i>when Palpatine's plan requires audiences to suspend disbelief and compares it to Palpatine's plan in <i>Return of the Jedi </i>(see chart below). Far from making Palpatine/Sidious look like a brilliant politician, it takes what could have been an interesting character and reduces him to a plot contrivance.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><i>From the Skeptical Statistician</i></td></tr>
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The Clovis arc begins and ends with Palpatine/Sidious plots. We see that Sidious hired Embo to shoot at Clovis. For what reason? It's not clear. Sidious seems to consider Embo's mission a success even though he fails to kill Clovis. Apparently, the goal was to drive them off Scipio and away from the Banking Clan Main Vault. But wouldn't they have left soon anyways to return to Coruscant? It would have made much more sense if the Muuns had hired Embo because they <i>did</i> have an incentive to thwart the corruption investigation. Later in the arc, Sidious (through Dooku) manipulates Clovis, whose downfall eventually gives the Republic an excuse to nationalize the banks. Yet again, there are far too many points at which Sidious' plan could have fallen apart. Even if he was assured that the Republic Senate and Separatist Parliament would vote to confirm Clovis' appointment, it's less likely that he could have predicted Clovis' every move, including his untimely sacrifice. In an arc that had otherwise subtle character moments and plot twists, I just didn't think this necessary.<br />
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There's also a moment that's out of character for Palpatine. After he announces the nationalization of the banks, he enthusiastically cheers, "Long live the banks!" Palpatine at this point is very old and has always acted as an elderly statesman. Indeed, a key part of Sidious' plot was to hide behind the mask of a kindly old man. Ian McDiarmid captured this brilliantly in <i>Attack of the Clones</i>,<i> </i>where Palpatine looks tired but firm as he accepts emergency powers. He has never publicly expressed strong emotions, much less lead a chant. I can't tell if this is simply bad voice acting (I'm not a fan of Tim Curry's Palpatine voice, especially when compared to Ian Abercrombie's) or bad writing. It doesn't undermine the larger story but was an unforced error.<br />
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OVERALL</div>
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The Clovis arc is a solid if not terribly exciting set of episodes. Clovis became the most fully realized politician in Star Wars. We also saw some necessary development of Padmé and Anakin's relationship. The arc relied a bit too much on the "Sidious the Manipulator" trope but otherwise had some incredibly adult storytelling for a "kid's show."<br />
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<i>Rating:</i> 3.5/5 Embo hats</div>
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Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1711989514651828585.post-75271700046010032232014-03-10T10:00:00.000-07:002014-03-11T22:00:53.795-07:00CLONE WARS REVIEW: Clovis arc (Season 6, Episodes 5-7), Part I<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5KcnOPueNLzWM6DrVzP1cT8wa1K7lT1FiOj462M_o75CH00xmEGry9_tDvT0jg9iQev1IND_vN4QuiYVYRiv1l_404bkSXFdxfgiDBFCZMr43wgu7EGALC0UZudzD6bOrAKUcQotiJX8/s1600/RushClovis-SS.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5KcnOPueNLzWM6DrVzP1cT8wa1K7lT1FiOj462M_o75CH00xmEGry9_tDvT0jg9iQev1IND_vN4QuiYVYRiv1l_404bkSXFdxfgiDBFCZMr43wgu7EGALC0UZudzD6bOrAKUcQotiJX8/s1600/RushClovis-SS.png" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The most interesting politician in Star Wars</i></td></tr>
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<i>In honor of the release of <a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/">Star Wars: The Clone Wars</a> on <a href="http://www.netflix.com/WiHome">Netflix</a>, I've decided to review </i><i>Season 6, the previously unreleased </i><i>"Lost Missions."</i><i> </i><i>Overall, this is some of the best we've ever seen in the series. Even when I had complaints about plot elements, the characterization is rich and animation gorgeous. These reviews are meant more to think critically about the plot and character elements in the episodes, so there are spoilers - I <b>strongly</b></i> <i>recommend readers watch each episode before continuing</i><i>. </i><i>With that said, on to the Clovis arc...</i><br />
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The Clone Wars has had a mixed history with telling stories about politics, but the Clovis arc ("<a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/ep605/">An Old Friend</a>", "<a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/ep606/">Rise of Clovis</a>", and "<a href="http://starwars.com/explore/the-clone-wars/ep607/">Crisis at the Heart</a>"; Season 6, Episodes 5-7) finally gets it right. While stories about intergalactic politics will never be the most popular amongst fans, the political decisions in this arc actually seem to matter. More importantly, this arc keeps the focus where it should be: on the characters, particularly Clovis. The relationship between Anakin and Padmé get some much needed development. We also get a few fun chase scenes with everybody's tenth-favorite bounty hunter, Embo.<br />
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I split the review into two parts. Part I is below; Part II will be posted tomorrow...<br />
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SUMMARY<br />
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Senator Padmé Amidala goes to the Banking Clan Main Vault to negotiate a transfer of funds to for war refugees, but is taken aback when the Banking Clan negotiator turns out to be Rush Clovis. After an assassination attempt, she accepts Clovis' help in inspecting the banks for corruption. After exposing the corruption in the Banking Clans, Clovis seeks to become the new chairman. He wins the support of both the Republic and Separatists, but only after making a deal with Count Dooku. Meanwhile, Anakin sees Clovis working closely with Padmé and becomes jealous, leading to a brief fight. Dooku attempts to call in his debts by ordering Clovis to raise the interest on Republic loans, and Clovis is forced to comply. Dooku then attacks Republic ships sent to investigate. After a droid fighter crashes into the Banking Clan building, Padmé and Clovis nearly fall off. Anakin can only save one and so Clovis willingly falls to his death. Back on Coruscant, Chancellor Palpatine announces that the Republic has nationalized the banks.<br />
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POLITICIANS IN STAR WARS<br />
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While Star Wars has always been about politics implicitly (why else would <a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/">Poli-Sci Jedi</a> exist?), it wasn't until <i>The Phantom Menace </i>that fans actually saw formal political institutions in action. The response was, to put it mildly, mixed. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_joDNOpeWWo">Some fans</a> of the Original Trilogy have gone so far as to say that politics has no place in Star Wars. I have argued <a href="http://poliscijedi.blogspot.com/2013/01/jj-abrams-to-direct-episode-vii-whats.html">before on this site</a> that politics is very much at the core of Star Wars and explicitly urged J.J. Abrams not to shy away from political themes in Episode VII. That said, I do think critics have a point in that the political storytelling in the prequel era has not always succeeded.<br />
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Good political stories have a few elements. First, the stakes must be clear and important. It takes an exceptional storyteller to make audiences care about a vote on renaming the local post office. More importantly, the political controversy should matter to the plot and to the characters. One problem with previous TCW episodes is that the plot focused on a peace initiative or other proposal we knew was doomed to fail (e.g., "<a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Pursuit_of_Peace">Pursuit of Peace</a>"). With high stakes comes controversy. If the characters aren't arguing about it, then why should the audience care? The political scenes in the Prequel Trilogy and The Clone Wars often gloss over the controversy. Padmé is the audiences' window into the "liberal" point of view, but there is no character set up in opposition to her so the opportunities for actual debate between important characters is limited (obviously Chancellor Palpatine does oppose Padmé, but he conducts his plots mostly in secret). The closest we saw on screen was the picnic scene in which Anakin and Padmé debated democracy and dictatorship.<br />
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I think the Clovis arc succeeds more than not. The episode begins with a negotiation for a bank transaction, but an assassination attempt raises the stakes. Later on, Embo shoots and kills Teckla, who gave a moving speech about the effects of the war on ordinary civilians in "<a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Pursuit_of_Peace">Pursuit of Peace</a>" (3:2). It's clear that somebody has something to hide, and the show informs us that this is important by killing off a character we had already met before (and frankly one of the most sympathetic in the entire series). Adding Embo, a fan-favorite bounty hunter, also makes this episode stand out as more important than just a story about bank transfers.<br />
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After exposing the Banking Clan's corruption, Rush Clovis seeks Senate approval to become chairman of the Banking Clan. Unlike many political choices in Star Wars, this is actually portrayed as difficult. It's not just a vote for "war" or "peace," in which the warmongers are clearly under Palpatine's nefarious sway. Rather, Clovis is distrusted as a former Separatist sympathizer, but also seems genuinely committed to reform. Clovis seems to have a personal interest in banking reform, partly due to his being adopted by a Muun family when he was younger. When he says, "I hope to right the wrongs that I have done," he actually sounds sincere.<br />
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We later learn that the character himself is genuinely torn. In a scene that takes place in his office, outside of the public eye, he tells Dooku that he will manage the bank fairly, despite the Separatists' help in electing him to the chairmanship. Clovis realizes that he's made a deal with the devil, but also has regrets. Politicians make compromises all the time to ascend to higher office and it's nice to see this episode address the dilemmas that real politicians face. The conversation between Dooku and Clovis mirrors the types of conversations that Boss Tweed or Tom Pendergast must have had with his political cronies. In fact, out of all the political characters in Star Wars, Clovis feels the most true to life.<br />
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This ambiguity is highlighted by the Senate scenes. Unlike the films, which portrayed Senate debates as senators mindlessly chanting in the background, the brief Senate debate in this episode actually shows individual senators exhibiting individual and unique reactions. While Clovis speaks, the camera pans to a Gran senator shaking his head in dismay and then a Bith senator cheering Clovis on. It's a nice touch that implies these senators are individual characters with their own interests rather than just set pieces in the background. We even get more dramatic music playing as the senators cast their votes. It's not <i>West Wing</i>, but it's an improvement.<br />
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However, I was disappointed that Padmé's original goal, helping the war refugees, got lost in all of the shooting and scheming. In one of the <i>Attack of the Clones </i>deleted scenes, it's clear that Padmé has a passion for helping refugees. I thought it unlikely Padmé would abandon that goal so quickly. Moreover, it would have been a great opportunity for The Clone Wars to show Padmé as a leader who does <i>not forget</i> about the costs of war. She could have even said that Teckla's death renewed her commitment to helping the poor. Instead, her actions in this episode seem to confirm Teckla's speech in "<a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Pursuit_of_Peace">Pursuit of Peace</a>," that the Republic has forgotten about ordinary citizens. Many fans have criticized The Clone Wars for not doing much for Padmé's character and I unfortunately don't think this episode helps. It's telling that between the two I found Clovis to be by far more interesting character.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sf9x7jUc4taxnnzRfNZMPPNa5DeMTSpZtymwhskQOm3eXqUmgcRRC65J4f1sh2AT1mPXAAdfJB4kxQ506bzeGp7Uzs4M-Fxr4CTKgATR34lDIhPI7RelCeyfq5zrc6c6bxzPainIg9fp/s1600/front-padme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sf9x7jUc4taxnnzRfNZMPPNa5DeMTSpZtymwhskQOm3eXqUmgcRRC65J4f1sh2AT1mPXAAdfJB4kxQ506bzeGp7Uzs4M-Fxr4CTKgATR34lDIhPI7RelCeyfq5zrc6c6bxzPainIg9fp/s1600/front-padme.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>An ineffectual leader?</i></td></tr>
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The Clovis arc also makes the Separatists a bit more sympathetic. Season 3's "<a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Heroes_on_Both_Sides">Heroes on Both Sides</a>" (3:10) showed us the Separatist Parliament and several sympathetic Separatist senators. We got the sense that many Separatists did indeed want peace but the peace initiative was sabotaged by Dooku, Grievous, and other warmongers. In "Crisis at the Heart," Separatist delegate Bec Lawise arrives at the Banking Clan Main Vault to bear witness to Clovis' assumption of the chairmanship. When Count Dooku tries to manipulate Clovis, Lawise objects, saying that the Separatist Parliament would never approve. It's a rare moment in which a Separatist behaves honorably.<br />
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Unfortunately, Dooku's response is to use the Force compel Padmé to shoot Lawise But the episode takes some care to show that Dooku isn't simply a thug - like Darth Vader - who kills subordinates at the slightest whim. Dooku kills Lawise and attempts to frame Padmé for the murder. The Clone Wars has not done much for Dooku's character and he often does come across as a one-dimensional villain, but at least in this instance there was a method to his cruelness. Unfortunately, it turns out that the framing attempt doesn't play any further role in the episode.<br />
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The fate of the banks also raises an interesting question about the political economy of Star Wars. Chancellor Palpatine announces that the Republic will nationalize the banks to ensure proper management. Not surprisingly, we haven't heard much about commerce and economics in Star Wars. However, we almost did. In an earlier cut of <i>A New Hope</i>, Lucas had included <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xs9sum_star-wars-episode-iv-deleted-scenes-luke-biggs_shortfilms#start=259">a scene</a> in which Biggs tells Luke, "You know, they've already started to nationalize commerce in the central systems" and warns that Uncle Owen's farm might be seized. The scene clearly implies that the Empire had only started nationalizing industries relatively recently by the time of that movie. The Clovis arc potentially changes the situation drastically and implies that the Empire had achieved much greater control by the time of <i>A New Hope</i>.<br />
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<i><b>Stay tuned for Part II of the review, including the final rating...</b></i></div>
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Enjolrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06019117387291805854noreply@blogger.com0