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.

Star Wars Creatures: Kwazel Maw

The Kwazel Maw is a non-sentient swamp slug that lives in the waters of Rodia.

Its skin has attractive blue and green bio luminescent markings and is even immune to a large number of laser blasts. Despite its toughness, the creature seems quite friendly... to the right person. Jar Jar Binks was able to befriend one in the Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 8, Bombad Jedi.

Kwazel Maw have two large eyes, but mainly use their antennae to search for food. Similar to the much drabber swamp slugs of Dagobah, Kwazel Maws can live up to 100 years.

Jar Jar named the one that helped him defeat Nute Gunray and his Battledroids as "Boogie".

Clone Wars: Season 1 - Episode 8, Bombad Jedi

Clone Wars, Season 1, Episode 8, Bombad Jedi is set on the planet Rodia and sees the first of Nute Gunray and Jar Jar Binks in the cartoon saga. The Moral of the episode is, "Heroes are made by the times". The Heroes in this case turn out to be Binks and C3PO!

The Clone Wars threatens the unity of the Republic! As battle rages across the galaxy, more worlds succumb to the seductive lure of the Separatists and leave the Republic. On a vital mission of peace, Senator Padme Amidala journeys to the Outer Rim world of Rodia, desperate to ensure its loyalty remains to the Republic.

Padme lands her personal ship on Rodia preparing for the talks. Jar Jar Binks and the protocol droid, C3PO are also with her. Rodia is a swamp planet, a bit like Naboo, Binks comments. As she departs, Padme instructs both C3PO and Jar Jar to remain aboard the ship. It's rather odd that she brought them along in the first place, if they were going to perform no needed task. It's a good job she did though!

Amidala meets with Rodian Senator, Onaconda Farr. They've been friends since Padme was a little girl and Farr was a strong supporter of her father in the Senate. But, Onaconda is now dismissive and even angry with the Republic. His planet has suffered many hardships and his people are lacking basic supplies. He has felt ignored by the Republic and has already done a deal with Nute Gunray, leader of the Separatists!

It's a trap! Farr has arranged to swap Padme for the badly needed supplies and the Separatist's protection. "I'm sorry my sweet," he says, "I had no choice". Padme is quickly surrounded by Battledroids who were waiting for her planned arrival.

Battledroids storm the Landing Bay where Padme's ship is stationed with C3PO and Jar Jar Binks beside it. The pair fail to get back on board in time and Binks flees leaving C3PO helpless on his back. In any battle, you should not be anywhere near the creature of Jar Jar. It's a very dangerous, unpredictable place to frequent. In running, Binks' leg gets caught on a wire causing a large circular Electro-Magnet to descend. It activates, snapping up 3PO, then ascends again. Wildly trying to help his friend, the Gungan madly pulls levers and the heavy magnet swings into the attacking Battledroids converting them to instant scrap metal.

A large crab droid enters. This is more than C3PO can take, who screams out a string of unhelpful instructions. C3PO and Jar Jar Binks could never be described as a dynamic duo! More by accident, Binks flips on top of the Crab. In trying to remove him, the droid is disorientated, then falls out the raised Landing Bay into the swamps below. Jar Jar of course survives... this character is seemingly laser-proof.

Happy at their victory, Jar Jar leans back on the levers he used earlier, turning off the Electro-Magnet. C3PO plummets to the ground, Ouch! Some more tampering and the Gungan manages to completely wreck Padme ship. "Well, that's the end of our ship," 3PO comments dryly, "Typical".

Depsite their original instruction, Jar Jar Binks and C3PO leave the ship on a rescue mission. It is unclear just how succesful these unlikely two will be. Binks dons a disguise which consists of a brown Jedi like robe. This has got to be just the worst plan ever.

Vice Gunray arrives at the planet to pick up the prize of Senator Padme Amidala. Watched by Binks and C3PO, they are quite quickly spotted with Binks being somehow mistaken for a Jedi. Bink escapes through some grating to the swamp waters below while the gold protocol droid is escorted away.

Underwater, Jar Jar encounters an odd looking monster called a Kwazel Maw. It is a large serpant type creature. It seems big, but unthreatening. The Gungan resurfaces as Onaconda Farr leads Nute Gunray and his droids away.

Senator Onaconda starts to have serious doubts whether he has done the right thing joining the Separatists. Padme is chained up against his wishes and is due for execution. Nute Gunray has not provided the supplies they badly need and it is a little doubtful whether he ever will. Gunray just wants Padme eliminated.

Before Gunray reaches the high tower Padme is being held captive in, she manages to break her bonds, trick the droids, and escape. She runs into C3PO and blasts the two Battledroids escorting him. Padme orders the Protocol droid to find a Communication Terminal and send out a distress signal to any nearby Republic ships. Jar Jar Binks is scaling the tower hellbent on continuing his heroic rescue mission unaware that the Senator has already escaped.

Nute Gunray finally arrives at the holding point to be told of Padme's escape. Bink turns up over the wall at exactly the same time on his Rescue mission. "It's the Jedi!" a droid shouts. They all start firing and Binks falls backward, Yo-Yoing on a vine wrapped round one leg. Saved again! The Gungan sure is lucky! At the base of the Tower, Padme provides covering fire whilst Jar Jar again escapes through the grating to the swamp waters. Super Battledroids throw explosives into the waters in an attempt to blast him out. The odd beast Jar Jar had encountered earlier, saves him by protecting him in his mouth as the bombs explode. He then releases him unharmed.

Against such overwhelming numbers, C3PO and Padme are eventually cornered. This looks like the end... but you strongly suspect it may not be. A row of Droidekas are poised ready to execute them. Gunray gives the order, "Ready... aim...

Binks and the Kwazel Maw save the day. The huge beast jumps out the waters and totally devastates all of Gunray's forces. To say he's surprised is somewhat of an understatement. The creature then pushes Gunray's ship off the high Landing Bay, over the edge and into the swamps below. Nute won't be leaving the planet any time soon. Jar Jar comments of the beast, "I made a very good friend!". Yes... you could say that. :op

Rodian Senator Onaconda realises he has made a terrible mistake and places Nute Gunray under arrest. The arrival of several Republic Warships responding to C3PO's previously sent distress signal seal Nute's fate. Seemingly he will now spend the rest of the war in a prison cell. Onaconda pledges his Planet's allegiance to The Republic.

The episode ends with a Holo-transmission from Chancellor Palpatine who arranges to send Rodia the much needed supplies it needs. The Capture of Gunray is a major victory for the Republic, he declares.

I don't know... I think Palpatine may be up to something... maybe. :o)