Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 12, The Gungan General

The Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 12, The Gungan General sees Representative Jar Jar Binks in the thick of things and is the conclusion to Episode 11 - Dooku Captured. The episode has the Moral, "Fail with honor rather than succeed with fraud".

Dooku held for ransom! After escaping capture from Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, the villainous Count Dooku fell into the clutches of Pirates led by bridged Hondo Ohnaka. Eager to get custody of Dooku, the Republic agreed to pay Hondo a hefty sum in exchange for the Sith Lord. But Anakin and Obi-Wan had not counted on the treacherous cunning of Ohnaka and his band.

The episode starts with Anakin and Obi-Wan waking up in a Pirate holding Cell. Despite their evasive actions to prevent it, it appears they were drugged at the previous nights banquet after all. To make matters even worse, the pair are shackled to the evil Count Dooku.

Ohnaka's plan is once he receives the Republic ransom for the Sith, he will then set up another ransom for the Jedi. His colleague, Turk, thinks he has a better way to make money, but goes along with Ohnaka or... so it seems.

The Republic arrive in Florrum air space in the form of Senator Kharrus from Malastare, Representative Jar Jar Binks and an attachment of Clone Troopers led by Commander Stone. They are here to exchange Count Dooku for the ransom of narcotic spice.

Pirate Turk has other ideas and decides to double-cross the leader Ohnaka and take the spice for himself. He orders some of his trusted group to intercept the Republic ship. They do so and shoot it down, forcing a crash-landing. Senator Kharrus is killed in the crash, effectively leaving Jar Jar as the highest ranking one amongst them.

Turk is desperate to capture the Spice. On hearing that there are survivors of the Republic ship, he and his small gang, decide to take Speederbikes to the crash site and eliminate them.

Meanwhile, Count Dooku, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-wan Kenobi have been trying to escape their cell. The first attempt is engineered by Dooku when, using the force, he takes a knife and springs the door locking mechanism. They are quickly recaptured when the pirate's pet Kowakian monkey-lizard raises the alarm. The second attempt, Kenobi uses his favoured Jedi mind trick to control the Weequay guard into letting them escape unchallenged. Unfortunately this second effort is again unsuccessful and almost gets them killed when Anakin attempts to vault a high wall to the outside. Ohnaka warns them not to complicate things by breaking out again.

At the Republic crash site, a clone troop is trying to repair the ship's homing beacon to aid in a possible rescue. The planet is dangerous. Numerous obnoxious geysers are periodically spouting plumes of corrosive acid. Jar Jar Binks is now technically in charge and the mission objective is in serious jeopardy. With no ship, they will have no way of safely holding onto Count Dooku if any exchange is made.

Binks spots Turk's renegade Pirate group approaching on Speederbikes. Any hopes they are here to provide an exchange for Dooku are quickly dashed when the advancing Pirates open fire on them! Outgunned, the clones form a defensive circle, before retreating into a Geyser crator. As soon as it goes off however, they will be completely fried by acid! Sensing it may be about to erupt very soon, they decide to leave and head back to the downed shuttle. The Pirates are nowhere to be seen. They have made off with the Spice and jointly towed it away. Bink has an idea how they can catch up with them.

If you remember the Kwazel Maw from the episode Bombad Jedi you will be aware that Jar Jar Binks always seems to have a way with dumb animals. He and the Clones hitch a ride on some fat looking hog beasts native to the harsh planet. Using these, they are able to catch the Pirate Speeders and engage them in a fierce fire fight. Some of the lasers fired set off a number of acid geysers, taking out a percentage of the bikers. A few get away including the traitor Turk, but Binks and the clones retake the Spice ransom.

The Clone Troopers and Jar Jar make their way toward the Pirate Base by following a trail of power-lines.

Turk meets with Hondo Ohnaka after his failed attempt to grab the spice for himself. He lies that the Republic had set a trap and a huge army was waiting for him. Ohnaka believes him. He agrees to let Turk go back against them with their tanks while he himself will deal with the troublesome Jedi.

Dooku, Kenobi and Skywalker are back in their Cell. Weequay guards arrive and lead the Jedi to the waiting Ohnaka. The Count is left alone with a single weequay on guard.

On their way to the Pirate base, Jar Jar is the first to notice the Pirate tanks coming their way. The Clone, Commander Stone, instructs Binks to go and negotiate with them... maybe he remembers how Binks fared against the Droid Army tanks on Naboo seen in The Phantom Menace. "He's probably going to get himself killed," comments a Clone Troop. Commander Stone answers, "Don't worry, he's smarter than he looks"... yes, well, that isn't exactly hard is it?

Ohnaka has the Jedi suspended on an electrical torture device in the Main Hall. Unaware of Turk's treachery, he feels betrayed by the Republic. He tells Anakin and Obi-Wan that the Republic sent a large army. Anakin doesn't think this can be right, but Ohnaka is in no mood to discuss things any further. He activates the torture device and force-like lightning is sent painfully through the Jedi's suspended bodies.

As maybe a little predicted, Jar Jar's discussion with the Tank Commander has led to a crazy and bizarre cascade of slap-stick accidents. Two tanks have collided causing multiple explosions and one has crashed into the Power-line cutting off all the Pirate Base's power. The Base is powerless. Shocked and battered, the Clone Troops defeat the remaining Tanks.

Without power, the torture device holding the Jedi is now useless. Anakin and Obi-Wan rapidly escape, force-grab their lightsabres from the Kowakian monkey-lizard and take the surprised Hondo Ohnaka hostage before he has a chance to move.

Dooku has also taken advantage of the Power-Cut to escape from his cell and kill the guard outside. He plans to escape before the Jedi and Republic can get hold of him.

Sensing things are going badly, the Pirate Traitor Turk also decides to leave. He doesn't get the chance. An arriving Count Dooku force chokes him several feet off the ground. He falls down dead, but not before he's also inadvertently shot his number two thanks to Dooku's manipulation. Dooku takes Turk's ship and escapes the Republic's grasp.

Binks arrives with the captured tanks to joig Anakin and Kenobi and from here their escape is easy. They release Ohnaka as taking hostages or seeking revenge is not the Jedi way. Ohnaka seems genuinely impressed by this show of honour. Kenobi warns him, Dooku does not share this kind of honour and now knows what he lives.

Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 11, Dooku Captured

The Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 11, Dooku Captured, introduces us to Ohnaka's Pirate Gang. The episode has the moral, "The winding path to peace is always a worthy one regardless of how long it takes".

Manhunt! After a long and perilous search, the Jedi finally track down Separatist leader, Count Dooku. During a heroic attempt to capture the Count, Anakin Skywalker has gone missing. Having lost contact with Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi head towards his friends last known location, a lone Separatist Frigate in the far reaches of the Outer Rim.

Kenobi secretly boards the Separatist Frigate and moves stealthily through the ship looking for any trace of Anakin. He finds and releases him from his holding cell. It is revealed that Anakin's capture was their deliberate plan in order to capture the Count.

All seems to be going very easily when the pair walk in on Dooku who is sitting on the floor of his cabin in meditation. As a Republic Warship starts firing upon Dooku's ship, Anakin orders his immediate surrender. Dooku escapes downward through a trap door tunnel. Making chase, Anakin jumps down the tunnel, determined to stop the Count's escape. Realising he is being followed, Dooku fires force lightning back at his pursuer. The Jedi blocks it with his sabre, shields his face from the bright light and in doing so loses which way his prey went at a critical junction.

Meanwhile Obi-Wan Kenobi has raced to the ship's hangar. He sees Dooku leave in his Solar Sailor with a number of Vulture Droid Fighters either side. The Jedi takes a remaining ship and lifts off to make chase, a rapidly arriving Anakin just makes it aboard in time.

The Jedi pairing manage to shoot Dooku's ship down and the burning craft ditches on some barren moon. Unfortunately, in trying to eliminate the accompanying Vulture Fighters, their ship also takes critical damage and they are forced to crash-land on the very same moon as the Sith Lord.

On the rocky moon, Anakin and Kenobi find Dooku's damaged ship already abandoned. Skywalker lightsabres its exterior Homing Beacon. Determined to bring the Count to justice, the Jedi further explore the terrain. They enter some caves. Kenobi is a little uneasy, he senses many lifeforms present. It's a Trap! Dooku is hiding, waiting for them. Using the force, he brings down a rock slide at their location. He takes Anakin's dropped lightsabre, calmly leaves the cave and seals the entrance with another force-induced rock slide.

Dooku heads back to his wrecked Solar Sailor to see a band of Weequay Pirates looting it. They are Ohnaka's Pirate Gang led by Hondo Ohnaka.

Anakin and Kenobi have thankfully survived the rock slide, but Kenobi's lightsabre has been critically damaged. They will not be able to use it to cut out an escape. To make matters worse, they are suddenly attacked by a Gundark! Anakin distracts the creature whilst Kenobi tries to repair his sabre, but to no avail. Eventually they knock it unconscious by force pushing large boulders into its large body.

Back at the downed Solar Sailor, Dooku's talks with the Pirates are not going well. The leader Ohnaka, senses that the Count must be worth quite a high ransom to the Republic. The Pirates takes him to their home base at Florrum. In the interim, light-fingers have also stolen his lightsabres from him. Dooku has been captured.

In trying to break a way out from the sealed cave, Anakin and Kenobi inadvertently release a pocket of poisonous gas. It looks like they are in serious trouble until the entrance is blow open by the familiar sight of Ahsoka and a group of Clone Troopers.

The Weequay Pirates transmit a Holo-message to Palpatine and the Jedi concerning Dooku. "If you want the Sith Lord, the ransom will be a million credits!". Padme answers, they will send two Jedi to confirm the prisoner actually is Dooku before sending the ransom money. Of course, Skywalker and Kenobi are near the Pirate planet Florrum, so they send them. As part of the arrangement, the pair are instructed to go there unarmed. Kenobi is a little hesitant about meeting a band of unlawful pirates he doesn't even know without a weapon. "Well, this should be fun," he quips.

Taking the Twilight, they land on Florrum. On departing the ship, the Weequays immediately scan them for any hidden weapons. Seeing that the visitors have none, they are escorted to Honda Ohnaka at a rowdy Pirate tavern.

Kenobi comments, "Congratulations on your capture of Count Dooku, very impressive". Ohnaka answers,"Even Sith Lords are no match for my warriors". Very bold words.

All they want to do is confirm that the Pirate are indeed holding Dooku then to leave as quickly as possible. Something doesn't feel quite right. They are escorted to a room and instantly recognise Count Dooku suspended helpless in bonds.

Happy of Dooku's identity, Kenobi sends back message to the Republic confirming the Pirates have him and to send the agreed ransom.

The Weequay Pirates are a drunken disreputable bunch. To celebrate the deal, they invite the Jedi to a drink in the tavern. For some strange reason, maybe to keep things running smoothly, they agree. Suspecting their drinks have been drugged however, they each quickly swap them with the Pirate either side of them. The drinks were indeed drugged as suspected. The Pirates are scheming something.

But, for now, all looks well. The Republic finally looks like they have Count Dooku. Could this be an important turning point in the Clone Wars?

Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 10, The Lair of General Grievous

The Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 1, The Lair of Grievous introduces us to Jedi Master Kit Fisto and his former Mon Calamari Padawan, Nahdah Vebb. The episode has the Moral, "Most powerful is he who controls his own power".

Vice Gunray escapes! En route to stand trial for war crimes, evil Separatist leader, Nute Gunray has broken free of his Jedi escort. With the help of Count Dooku's sinister agents, the villainous viceroy has made a daring getaway. Alerted to the prison break, Jedi Master Kit Fisto has traced the stolen ship to a remote system, hoping to recapture Gunray and return him to justice.

Kit Fisto tracks the homing beacon of the stolen Republic ship to the Vassek system. He lands his ship on the Vassek planet. His astromech R6h5 remains aboard in his station while Fisto rendezvous with his former young Padawan, Nahdar Vebb and a party of Clone Troopers.

Fisto, Nahdar and the Clones follow the beacon signal on the dusty rock planet. They come up to a sealed entrance gate in the rock. Fisto finds a secret panel to push and the entrance-way obligingly opens. The party venture inside. The stone structure is badly lit and has a very eerie feel to it. It looks deserted, but Fisto senses there is something there.

They hear the Viceroy Nute Gunray's voice! Nahdar and Fisto calmly walk into a chamber. There are several battledroids and a chair with its back facing them. Gunray is presumably in it. Rapidly and with much aggression, Nahdar takes out all the droids with his lightsabre. Fisto frowns, "Those who have power should restrain themselves from using it," he tells the young Mon Calamari.

On turning the chair, Gunray is not there! Just a Hologram of his image! "I welcome you to your doom!" he laughs. The tracking beacon of the stolen ship has been used to lure them into a trap!

The Holo image changes to that of Count Dooku, "While the viceroy is unavailable for capture, let me offer you an alternative prize". A trap has been set and the Jedi believe they are the bait... but to what? All becomes quickly apparent. While searching the building, the party pass a shrine to a form of warrior. "This is the Lair of General Grievous!" says Fisto to the others.

Meanwhile Grievous is in his personal ship heading for the planet. He is unaware that the Jedi are there. He receives a Holo-transmission from Dooku who informs him that he is under performing and he expects more dead Jedi.

The Clones on the outside of the building communicate to Fisto that General Grievous' ship is coming in. Nahdar Vebb comments, "Capturing Grievous will turn the tide of the war."

Grievous arrives at a very quiet looking base. He wonders where all his droids are and calls out to Gor, his pet. Oddly, nobody is around. Jumping from the shadows, the Jedi take him completely by surprise. A lightsabre fight breaks out, but Grievous is halted, when the clones hit both of his legs with tow cables holding him in place. As the cyborg struggles, Fisto cuts both his mechanical legs off. Damaged, Grievous somehow breaks free and tries to crawl away, moving now a lot like a spider. He kills one of the Clone Troops then flees further into the base using handholds in the ceiling to aid his escape.

Grievous makes his way to the Lair's medical centre and a EV series Doctor droid. The doctor reveals that his Bodyguard Magna Droids were deactivated for recharge, he presumed that Grievous had done it. The General reactivates the Magnas and instructs them to secure the perimeter. He also locks all the doors preventing any quick exit.

One of the Clones with the Jedi sends out a message to his comrades outside, "Contact the fleet at Bestine. We've engaged Grievous and require reinforcements". A Magna Guard fires a powerful pulse cannon destroying the ship. Reinforcements will now be never sent.

Patrolling the perimeter, Magna Guards also close in on Kit Fisto's personal fighter. Fisto orders R6 to take off. He does so, but has to pull off some acrobatic moves to shift a lone Magna who has managed to cling on.

The Jedi are confronted by a Holo image of Grievous, "Welcome to my Lair," he says, "It has been prepared for uninvited guests... like you!"

The trap door in the floor falls away and they all fall through heading towards a deadly furnace. Resourcefully, they manage to pull themselves out, but another Clone is killed. Now it is down to just the two Jedi and a single clone.

There is no time to recover. Grievous' hideous pet, Gor, makes a dramatic entrance. An big ugly looking monster. It is a Roggwart, a beast with sharp teeth and a powerful tail, it makes a rancor look like a pussy cat!

It is a big struggle, but Gor is eventually slain. The last Clone has been unfortunately killed. Nahdar severs the beast's tail and Fisto delivers the final killing blow. The young Nahdar Vebb is very angry at the Clones deaths and is determined to make Grievous pay for what he has done. He seems to be having a battle of conscience. Kit Fisto reminds him, "Revenge is not the Jedi way". This echoes back to the moral of the episode, "Most powerful is he who controls his own power".

During the fight, Grievous has been repaired by the EV droid. He them receives an incoming message from Count Dooku and learns the whole affair has been one big set up. Dooku purposely led the Jedi to his Lair and also deactivated his personal Guard. The Count just wants Grievous to prove his worthiness. Grievous cuts off the transmission in disgust, he wants the Jedi dead!

The Jedi are hiding and see Grievous exit the control room. They sneak in, but are observed by the EV Medical Droid who swiftly raises the alarm. Nahdar is still hell bent on destroying Grievous. So strong in fact that it clouds his judgement. As the Control room door rapidly closes he is separated from Kit Fisto and alone.

Three Magna Guards immediately move in to attack Nahdar. Grievous taunts from the sidelines and once the Magnas are eventually defeated, takes over the battle himself.

"You can't defeat us all," says Nahdar defiantly. "Of course I can," Grievous confidently retorts. Fisto takes out the EV droid in the control room, but looks on helpless as Grievous kills Nahdar with a blaster while blocking his thrust with duel lightsabers. His many arms gave him a massive advantage against a newly qualified Jedi Knight.

Grievous looks up to the monitor screen which Kit Fisto is watching, "I will kill you all! Do you hear me Jedi!". Fisto decides its time to leave and arranges to regroup with R6 and his ship at the South Landing Bay. Grievous is planning to stop him.

As he waits at the South Landing Bay, Grievous makes a dramatic appearance with all four lightsabres whirling round at high speed. The pair do battle and are joined by three Magna Guards. Surrounded, it looks like Fisto is defeated when R6 makes a very late, but welcome appearance. The Jedi Master gracefully backflips onto to it and the ship speeds away.

Count Dooku is dismissive of Grievous' performance and just comments there is room for improvement, much to the cyborg's annoyance.

Back on Coruscant at the Jedi Temple, on hearing of the Padawan's death, Master Yoda has the episodes final wise words, "In this war, a danger there is, of losing who we are."

Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 9, Cloak of Darkness

The Clone Wars: Season 1, Episode 9, Cloak of Darkness introduces us to Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and contains a lot of lightsabre duels. The Moral of the episode is "Ignore your instincts at your peril."

Vice Gunray captured! Senator Padme Amidala has scored a victory against the Separatist Alliance on the remote world of Rodia, securing the arrest of the diabolical Confederate leader, Nute Gunray. The Jedi Council has dispatched Master Luminara Unduli and Anakin Skywalker's Padawan, Ahsoka, to escort the Viceroy to Coruscant under heavy guard. Once there, he will face trial for his many war crimes.

The captured Gunray attempts to bribe the Clones to aid his escape, but they are loyal and not at all interested. The Viceroy is taken to a holding cell in the detention block of the Republic Warship on route to Coruscant. Master Luminari warns the young Ahsoka not to underestimate Gunray and his resourceful allies.

Meanwhile, the Emperor to be is concerned of Nute Gunray's capture and the sensitive information the Jedi may extract from him. Over Holo-transmission he is told by Count Dooku, that he plans to send his apprentice, Asajj Ventress to infiltrate the ship to either free Gunray or silence him.

Aboard the Republic Warship, Nute Gunray is questioned by Master Luminara. Gunray is not immediately forthcoming with his answers and completely losing control, Ahsoka flies in threatening the Neimoidian with her green lightsabre. Shocked, Luminara pulls her away. "Terror is not a weapon that the Jedi use". You can tell Ahsoka is Anakin's Padawan... she is developing the same worrying traits that he himself has.

Suddenly the ship comes under attack from Droid fighters. Droch-Class Boarding Ships land in and cut through the hull. Super Battledroids drop into the ship and immediately engage the Clones in a laser fight. Master Luminara rushes to help and instructs Ahsoka to stay behind and safely guard Gunray.

As the droids drive the Clones back into the ship, Dooku's apprentice drops into the now quiet area unchallenged. A fallen Clone trooper tries to get out a warning message, but is rapidly decapitated with double lightsabres before getting the chance!

As Luminara takes out the troublesome Super Battledroids, Ventress is making her way to the power core of the ship through the ventilation ducts. Reaching the core, she stealthily evades the attention of a look-out droid to plant Detonation charges around the area.

Ventress is fast. She cuts through a floor panel and drops into the detention block where Nute Gunray is being held and where Ahsoka and some Clones are standing guard. Ahsoka duels Ventress in the first lightsabre fight of the episode. Luminara senses the danger and makes her way to aid the Padawan. Gunray makes himself known, and during her fight with Ahsoka, Ventress releases the Viceroy from his prison. She parries one of the Padawan's thrusts, expertly twists, kicks her into the cell, and seals her inside. Nute Gunray is unable to conceal his amusement.

Master Luminara rushes into the Detention block. Using the force she releases Ahsoka from the cell. Now the fight is Ventress verses both Ahsoka and Luminara. Luminara orders the Apprentice's surrender. This seems to have the desired effect. Ventress deactivates both her weapons and raises her hands aloft. Then the Detonators go off that she'd previously placed at the core! Explosions rock the ship and in the moment of confusion, Ventress jumps over Luminara and runs away. The entire ship has been crippled.

The Jedi, Commandoes and Clones have Gunray for now. Ventress is still on the ship and is determined to complete her mission in order to be judged worthy of being Count Dooku's apprentice. Luminara goes after Ventress alone. She gives implicit instructions for Ahsoka to stay guarding the Viceroy.

Ahsoka is not sure about leaving Luminara to tackle Ventress on her own. She has already seen first hand what she can do. We are brought back to the Moral of the show here, "Ignore your instincts at your peril". Ahsoka discusses the dilemma with the surrounding Clones and Commandoes. Each seem to have their different opinion. Gunray honestly says, "All I know is, I never risk my own skin unless I have to". This finally makes Ahsoka's mind up. She leaves to help the Jedi Master. The Clones and Commandoes are adequate forces to guard Gunray.

They exchange a long lightsabre battle around the inactive ship's power-core, but Ventress is gradually getting the better of Jedi Master Luminara. She kicks the Jedi off a platform and she tumbles downwards, hitting the deck below. She is just about to deliver the killing blow when Ahsoka arrives and force pushes her a distance away.

Ventress briefly engages the pair again before force jumping high up to the platform above. She sends a electronic signal to one of the Commandoes guarding the Viceroy. He is a Spy! Ventress' sole purpose was to lure the Jedi away so Nute Gunray could be more easily rescued!

The Spy Commando, Argyus, shoots another of the guards, frees Gunray and immediately uses him has a human shield. Clearly its not overly important if Count Dooku receives him alive or dead... although alive is probably preferable. There is a very brief struggle with a remaining Clone Trooper, but Argyus and Gunray make it to the escape ship and depart unchallenged through the Docking bay. Ventress escapes the Republic Warship in an Escape Pod and joins them aboard.

The Commando never receives his big pay off from Dooku for his treachery against the Republic. Asajj Ventress spears one of her lightsabres right through him. "I always had a good feeling about you," Gunray comments.

The episode ends with Master Yoda summing up the days miserable events, "Troublesome is the treachery of the Republic Guard Argyus. All around us our enemies are."

Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 4, Destroy Malevolence

Episode 4, Destroy Malevolence sees the epic conclusion to the Malevolence trilogy in season 1. It has the Moral, "A Plan is only as good as those who see it through." This episode is the first in the Clone Wars saga to see Padme Amidala and also the famous partnership between droids C3P0 and R2D2.

Grievous is in retreat. Before the battleship Malevolence can destroy an Outer rim clone Medical base, a Republic Strike force under the command of Anakin Skywalker, cripple the Warship disabling its dreaded Ion Cannon. Now the Jedi relentlessly pursue the Malevolence.

The episode starts with General Grievous fleeing the battlefield, chased by three Republic Warships. Although crippled, the Malevolence is so big, it sustains all damage the Jedi can inflict upon it. Plo Koon advises they need reinforcements.

All is not lost for the evil Separatists. Count Dooku communicates to Grievous that an important Galactic Senator is heading his way. He adds, "With her as your hostage, they will call off their attack."

The Senator in question is, of course, Padme Amidala piloting her Naboo ship that we have seen in The Phantom Menace. With C3P0 for company, Padme has been tricked by a false trip off from Palpatine. She is expecting to sign a treaty with The Banking Clan, but on exiting Hyperspace finds herself bang in the path of the Malevolence!

"Get out of there as fast as you can!" shouts Anakin. But it's too late. The Malevolence tractors the small ship inside.

Grievous laughs as the Jedi immediately stop firing. "So Predictable," he quips. He orders immediate repair of the hyperdrive.

Very unsurprisingly, Anakin decides to embark on a rescue mission. Kenobi follows.

Plo Koon is dismayed, "I'm afraid Master Skywalker is taking a terrible risk."
"You get used to it," answers Ahsoka. You can see that Anakin is reckless even in these early stages before his ultimate destiny of course to being Darth Vader. Anakin's plan is simple... Just fly there, land and hope they don't spot them. Even Kenobi is a little sceptable about this one.

Before Grievous can reach her in the hangar, Padme self-destructs the ship and goes on the run inside the Malevolence with protocol droid Threepio.

Battle-droids are so busy searching the ship for Padme and carrying out badly needed repairs, they fail to notice Anakin and Obi-wan enter via one of the airlocks. They quickly take out a pair of battle-droids and Anakin locates and rescues Padme. Anakin's plan is to then leave...

"We can't leave yet," says Padme, "I overheard Grievous. Their hyperdrive is almost repaired."

Remember the episode moral? "A Plan is only as good as those who see it through."

Kenobi communicates that he will make sure the hyperdrive stays offline. Grievous is listening in, "We'll see about that Jedi!" and leaves to take care of business.

When Obi-Wan Kenobi reaches the hyperdrive section he finds Droidekas, Battle droids and General Grievous all waiting for him. He is totally surrounded. The Jedi force jumps out of the firing line, force-pushes Droids off the gantry and then again using the force, uses the Droidekas as bowling balls to take out the majority of the remaining droids before escaping on route to Anakin.

"That was impressive," comments a Battle-droid of Kenobi's amazing display. Grievous powerfully slaps the droid away, "I will deal with this Jedi myself!"

Anakin and Padme make it to the Central Command center and take out the droids there. Skywalker has an idea and reprograms the ships navigation computer. The pair then escape to rendezvous with Kenobi and their ship The Twilight

Despite a brief lightsaber conflict with Grievous, Kenobi manages to meet with Padme and Anakin and together along with C3PO and R2D2 they escape the burning Malevolence. Grievous and several other one-man fighter ships make chase in a last ditch effort to destroy them.

As he pursues his target, Grievous orders the partly repaired Malevolence to jump to hyperspace where he will later meet up with them. They try to, but due to Anakin's tinkering with the navigational computer, the Battleship turns and crashes into a nearby moon. The vessel is totally destroyed. Grievous has failed.

General Grievous cuts off a communication from Dooku, "General, we await the Malevolence at the rendezvous point. Have you made your escape yet?"

Clearly he hasn't. Things have gone terribly wrong, their new weapon nullified and the Republic claiming victory. The General hyperspaces away.

Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 3, Shadow of Malevolence

Clone Wars, Episode 3 Malevolence is the second part of the Malevolence trilogy. The Moral of the Episode is, "Easy is the Path to wisdom for those not blinded by themselves."

A deadly weapon unleashed. The Separatist's Battleship Malevolence advances unopposed into Republic space tearing apart any ship that stands in its path. After a daring rescue and narrow escape, Anakin Skywalker prepares a counter-attack on the enemy ship and its diabolical Droid Commander, General Grievous.

A strike force is commisioned by the Galactic Senate to hunt down the enemies new powerful battleship. Anakin Skywalker develops a somewhat aggressive plan involving bombers. Anakin is confident and single minded in his thinking while Master Plo Koon has some reservations.

Meanwhile, Count Dooku assigns Grievous and The Malevolence a new target, a secret Republic Medical station based on the Outterrim. It is unprotected and treating over 60,000 wounded clones.

The Jedi learn of the Malevolence's target, but it is not possible to evacuate all the occupants in the limited time. Anakin's strike force immediately launch, determined to get to the Medical Station before Grievous. Their path is a very dangerous one. To catch the Separatist battleship, they must take a short-cut through a notorious smugglers path through a gas nebulae. Despite encountering a number of large gas creatures, the Strike force make it through with limited damage.

Over Holotransmission, Dooku alerts Grievous a small strike force has been launched to attack them. He adds, "Skywalker is leading the mission. Do not underestimate him.". Grievous does not seem too concerned, he is confident in the Ships mighty Ion weapon.

The Republic Medical station is in sight. Both The Malevolence and Anakin's strike force arrive at roughly the same time. A Battle is very imminent !

"I want every single ship destroyed!" screams Grievous and immediately fires the Ion Cannon.

Unwavering from his original plan, Anakin orders his squadron into a steep climb in order to clear the enormous blast wave from the weapon. Two of his squadron are destroyed and some others left without power failing to complete the maneuver.

The battle is in full motion. Blasts exchanged every milli-second. Whilst Anakin can pull off the complicated moves, with the exception of Plo Koon, his squadron are unable to keep up this level of intensity. Acting as his rear-gunner, Padawan Ahsoka warns him of this. Anakin is still unwavering.

General Grievous prepares the Ion Cannon for another devastating blast.

Plo Koon communicates, "If we can do enough damage, the weapon may overload when Grievous tries to fire."

Finally Anakin sees the logic and is broken free of his single minded plan. We are reminded of the episode's moral, "Easy is the Path to wisdom for those not blinded by themselves".

The Ion Cannon is taken out of action with a volley of accurate torpedoes and it explodes causing massive damage to The Malevolences systems. The Separatist's have lost both primary weapons and the hyperdrive is disabled.

The ship in flames, General Grievous orders a full retreat back to Separatist space.

Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 2 - Rising Malevolence

Episode 2, Rising Malevolence introduces us to Jedi Master Plo Koon. Through him, we learn the Moral, "Belief is not a matter of choice, but of conviction."

The Clone star fleet are under siege. Dozens of Republic Warships have been destroyed in merciless attacks that leave no survivors. Rumours spread of a terrible new Separatist weapon. In the face of growing fear, the Jedi Council send Master Plo Koon to hunt down the menace before it can strike again.

The Separatist weapon transpires to be a huge Ion Cannon mounted to a Subjugator-Class Starship called The Malevolence. It has both Count Dooku and his cyborg apprentice, General Grievous aboard. When fired, the Ion blast drains all hit ships caught in the expanding shock wave of all their energy. Totally defenceless, the powerless ships are then ruthlessly eliminated.

Leading three Republic Cruisers, Plo Koon finds and follows the enemy ship. Unfortunately he is quickly discovered and Dooku fires the Ion cannon onto them. Helpless, the three Republic ships are then totally obliterated. All too easy.

Before the destruction, Plo Koon and a number of Clone Troopers manage to flee into various escape pods. Count Dooku wants no witnesses to the use of the new weapon and orders the Pods destroyed. Hunter Pods launch, full of Battle-Droids, to seek them out within the huge debris-field. Plo Koon and his troops hope of survival seems very bleak, but the Jedi repeatedly tells them, they will be rescued. His belief is strong.

Meanwhile, having lost communications with the mission, Anakin Skywalker and opinionated young padawan Ahsoka, break orders and decide to go look for them. On finding the breach, Grand Master Yoda is not impressed, "Twice the trouble, they have become."

The pair are wasting time in the Debris-field when they are needed else where. The Chancellor himself tells them, "Return at once."

The Hunter Pods have systematically critically damaged all the Escape Pods and just have Plo Kloon's left. Battle-Droids have cut into each one, venting the air into space. "No one is coming," remarks one of the Clone Troopers. Koon still believes they will be rescued. As the droids attempt to cut into their Pod, Plo Koon goes outside to confront them. He can survive the harsh environment of space for a short period. The Jedi Master destroys the Droids and the Hunter Pod, but more will be on the way.

Time running short, just about to leave the Debris-field, Padawan Ahsoka senses Plo Koon's presence and they tractor the beleaguered Pod and its survivors into the Lading Bay of their ship.

The angered Dooku barks, "I don't want any witnesses!". Grievous fires the Ion Cannon at them.

Needless to say, Anakin Skywalker pulls off some pretty amazing moves through the debris-field outrunning the blast and when clear, Hyperspaces to safety. Now the Republic are aware of the Separatist new Ion weapon and are free to devise a plan against hit.

Count Dooku is not best pleased with the turn events and blames General Grievous for the failure, a convenient fall guy if ever there were one.

"Plo Koon always said some one would come for us," a Clone Trooper says. This brings us nicely back to the moral of the Episode, Belief is not a matter of choice, but of conviction.

The Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 1, Ambush

The opening episode of The Clone Wars cartoon saga was actioned packed and a brilliant season opener. It really set the scene and gave us a good idea of what to expect in further shows.

In essence, this was a Yoda episode which had the Moral, "Great Leaders inspire Greatness in others".

The Galaxy is divided by war. Peaceful worlds must choose sides or face the threat of invasion. Republic and Separatist forces vi for the allegiance of neutral planets. Desperate to build a Republic Supply Base in the system of Toydaria, Jedi Master Yoda travels to secret negotiations on a remote neutral moon.

Unfortunately Count Dooku has already caught wind of this plan and dispatched his dark apprentice to Toydaria to gain support for the Separatists instead. Large Droid Ships block all transmissions to the planet and prevent Yoda's ship from making a landing.

After a brief space battle, Master Yoda makes it to the Planet surface with a small group of Clone Troopers via an Escape Pod. His ship then flees the system.

Dooku speaks to the Toydarian King over a Hollo-Communication pushing for his allegiance as his female apprentice Ventress stands watching. Yoda cuts in, much to the Sith pairs annoyance. The Toydarian King is now unsure which side his world should join. Ventress suggests a battle between Yoda and the Battle Droids they have on the Planet. Unknown at this point is the very high number of Droids and Tanks the Separatists have waiting in reserve.

Yoda and his small band of Clone Troopers have far supirior wit and tactics to the Droids, but are driven back by shear number. They retreat into a rocky valley. His troops are giving up hope, but Yoda, the great leader that he is, inspires them to be the best they can. This brings us back to the Moral of the Episode, Great Leaders inspire Greatness in others.

The Final showdown... Yoda is unbelievable and takes out just about everything. He is a Jedi Master after all. Somersaults, jumps, exploding tank metal on green lightsaber, amazingly fast movement, it is all there in glorious high definition cartoon graphics. We've never seen Yoda quite like this.

Just when we think his luck will finally run out, his Clone Troopers bring down a heavy rock slide destroying a large group of advancing Droidekas.

Toydaria unsurprisingly decide to join the Republic. The King has seen the Separatists for the cheaters that they are and now know they could never be trusted. Ventress tries to assassinate the King with her twin red lightsabres, but is stopped with ease by the arriving Jedi Master Yoda. He is far stronger in the force.

"Cowards are those who follow the Darkside," he tells her.

The dark apprentice escapes in her ship to fight another day.

Episode 1 was very enjoyable to watch and as mentioned before really set the scene for what was to become this great Star Wars series.

Christopher Lee Knighted - Arise Sir Count Dooku

Congratulations to Christopher Lee, who was knighted by the Prince of Wales last week.

Now to be known as Sir Christopher Lee, the honour has been late coming for the 87 year old actor.

Born in Belgravia, Westminster, England, Sir Christopher has had a very successful and varied acting career. To date he has featured in a staggering 266 films since 1948.

His most famous and biggest roles have been, Count Dracula in a series of Hammer Horror films, Francisco Scaramanga in the James Bond Movie, The Man with the Golden Gun, Saruman in The Lord of the Rings Movie trilogy and of course, Sithlord Count Dooku in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.