Lit Clone Wars Continuity Discussion (Spoilers Allowed)

Literally nothing about this episode really makes sense.

There's a Republic cruiser hanging in space... yet their just blindly letting the droids run a mining camp and mining an explosive to destroy said cruiser. How did the droid mining camp even get there? How does the clone trooper get there and go unnoticed by the Republic cruiser as well? Especially if he's coming from some out-of-system and from a battle no-less.

The "see, your just a slave to a different person/entity" thing makes no sense either. What is in it for the chef to have him? He 1) does pay him, 2) he even subsidizes his rent because his pay doesn't fully cover it (Gregor said all of this in the episode). So what does Borkus get out of it? A worker that he pays above and beyond for? Does Gregor do anything else for him? The episode shows that Gregor has downtime after work and Borkus doesn't do anything with him (as far as this episode), so why does Borkus keep him, keep him in the dark, and go above and beyond for him, but then get mad at him, and basically tries to act like a slave-owner/feudal lord once he goes to leave?

Why not just hire one of the other random 40 people milling around for basically apparently no purpose.

The entire town/structure of this planet is so stupid and poorly conceived that it just makes the mind explode with how stupid TCW portrays planets, societies, systems, governments, institutions. They overlook so much of the small things of why people are people, and just expect people to look at an episode and think, "Well, yup, there's a city in the middle of the desert, and yup, there's an enemy base there. Done deal."

It's so infuriating.

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The cruiser was a part of a Separatist plot D-Squad has to stop next week.

=> ???

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Battle_of_Sarrish

Apparently the battle referenced in this episode was featured in an earlier comic.

Cruisers aren't omniscient you know, and picking up a small group of battle droids or a single clone trooper is probably beyond the ability of a cruisers' sensors, if the command crew even bothered to check.

As for the mining camp, it is seems simple enough - this city was always a mining town, and the droids went in to take it over because the republic used it to resupply.

I get the impression that Borkus is lying about the rent thing. Given his behavior, I think it most likely that Borkus is actually paying Gregor far less than he would normally have to for someone of that position, and that he is counting on Gregor's amnesia and gratitude to keep him from finding out he is being under paid.

You expect them to give you the planet's history out of no where?

I see the place as the equivalent of a truck stop, with a bit of ghost mining town thrown in. Basically, just a place people pass through on their way to other places, some people who live there because they want isolation, and a minor operation mining that explosive material.

Yup! I thought that was an awesome detail. If Routine Valor wasn't intentionally written to establish the plot for this particular episode, this is by far one of the best uses of the EU we've seen to date.

Apparently, a lightsaber costs more than a used starship. Very interesting.

You ever play Republic Commando?

Seriously, those things would just. NOT. DIE!

For both, I imagine it is for the explosive stuff that was being mined. The Republic ship was probably there to stock up on supplies as well, and the local sep commander saw an opportunity to kill a cruiser without fighting.

So many great things in the Episode Guide:

1. Once again they acknowledge how awesome Republic Commando (the game) and Republic Commandos are, with Gregor described as "one-man army".
2. Filoni pretty much admitted refusing to kill Gregor off, saying that "After Maul came back everything is fair game" and "I keep my promises" Yay!
3. They acknowledge all the EU references in this episode: conduit worms, Malachor, Sarrish. Very nice.
4. "Kowakian Monkey Island". "Admiral Snackbar". "Land O' Capes". All of that is canon. You hear that, Wookieepedia?

The Malachor reference was nice and seeing a commando in action was just awesome beyond words. Almost felt like watching Republic Commando again... I mean with the HUD and the excellently placed explosive barrels to kill droids!

Yeah, I mostly agree.

Clone troopers, especially commandos, have a lot of potential as employees, but Borkus isn't mining any of that potential. At the very least a clone trooper is an excellent physical specimen capable of heavy manual labor, but anyone can wash dishes.

The thing about Gregor's rent was a classic method of enforcing slavery/indentured servitude. Just say the slave's expenses are more than their wages and they're in debt to you forever.

Yeah, I found myself starting to ask these questions as soon as the episode started....then I hit myself in the head with a hammer and kept watching.

When it comes to TCW, I've realized that I pretty much have to shut down that part of my brain. Five seasons of TCW has pummeled my thought process into submission.

from the episode guide...some new CANON fun etablissements!


so... Evazan's TCW whereabouts are now known ha! and guess where Ackbar once ate and got an idea

Leia: We need to rescue Admiral Ackbar from Daluuj so he can join the Rebellion.
Han: Oh yeah! Admiral Snackbar! The Hero Of Everyone Hungry!
Leia: No, it's Ackbar.
Han: Hopefully he didn't have too ruff in the kindergarten.

Maybe he wanted to break his spirit first and he had something else in mind in the long run.

And as Rocky (of Rocky and Bullwinkle) used to say, here's something you'll really enjoy. (Although some indirect anger generated by being reminded about what LucasArts used to be). New style, or one-off? Hopefully the former.

Man, Ackbar's really into product placement!

Eminence preview, and some other stuff: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2013/01/06/star-wars-in-comics-books-and-tv/1805347/

Episode was mostly entertaining, overall much, much better than the past episode though it started quite slow. Wasn't necessarily the best place to have a mid-season break.
Gregor was awesome as expected. This show really is at its best when it focuses on the clones, Gregor was no exception. So many amazing nods people have pointed out; I loved the Malachor reference since Kotor2 will always be one of my favorite games. Combined with the Republic Commando homage, another of my absolute favorite games, this was a winning element. The HUD was fantastic. Glad to hear that Gregor may be back, though not quite impressed with yet another example of Filoni constantly telling us what's coming and spoiling tension. Remember Ima-Gun Di?

One major problem I had was Gregor's sudden love for the Republic. I get it was his returning memories, but when he stood up to the mustache-twirling level of evil Sullustan about no longer being a slave and being a soldier, I was a bit "Eh?". One of the things that's so interesting about the clones is that they are essentially slaves. I like the idea that it was a contributing factor to the discrediting of the Jedi in the galaxy's eyes. And then TCW actually hasn't ignored this idea overall, like with The Deserter episode. But the whole "I'm not a slave, I'm a soldier of the Republic" just didn't do it for me. It made me feel sorry for Gregor, which may well have been the intention, but I think the whole thing went a bit too far in glorifying the Republic and the military. I guess the episodes aren't really long enough for Gregor to have a hard time going from being essentially free to being a soldier/slave again sadly.

Also, I was quite disappointed with Borkus turning out to be so villainous. I really liked the idea of him actually trying to save Gregor, having found a wounded soldier with no memory, given him a job and kept his armor hidden so he didn't go back to a war where he would get killed. Could have been an interesting perspective on the war and the way the clones are essentially bred to die. But instead Borkus devolved into a cackling villain. Seriously, that line where he shouts that they would all be begging for a job, before starting to maniacally laugh like Dr Robotnik was so ridiculous.

EDIT:
Also, I was just checking the Wook and saw that the Maul/Mandalore arc is only 3 episodes long. Is this a thing? We get four episodes for everything except for Maul, who should arguably be the biggest character this season?

The first episode of the Season was originally also part of the Maul arc they just fired it off way to early I a plan too utterly confuse us.

Full Throttle and Day of the Tentacle, yes. But personally I'm rather upset by the fact that they felt the need to represent MI with by far the weakest entry of the series...

I didnt

I knew the episode was aired out of order but I didn't realize it was meant to be a part of the arc, thought it was separate. So seriously only 4 episodes for Maul that we know of? When they brought him back, despite the fact that it was more than a bit silly, I at least thought we were going to get a serious chunk of story and was actually looking forward to seeing a rogue version of the Maul that could have been, but if this it for now that's insane. Why bring him back and not use him? I actually like Savage too, thought he was surprisingly entertaining and engaging as a character but it doesn't seem as if anything is going to come of that story now.

Such a waste. Though I hope to proven wrong.

So I've now had the chance to read all of Shadow Conspiracy. I must say that Jason Fry did an excellent job taking the major events of this rather significant arc, and tying them in with minor retcons that puts the entire nature of the Mandalorian conflict in perspective. Without spoiling anything too deep, I will mention some things the novelization detail that the episode likely will not.

1. Satine's father was a former warrior, and if I recall correctly, clan leader. The clan wars are mentioned numerous times, and I believe he may have encouraged Satine to join the new Mandalorians based on the brutality of their former conflict.
2. Clan Vizsla is mentioned by name, and their involvement in the clan wars is also referenced, I believe.
3. Jason Fry very explicitly states that parts of Mandalore have been rendered uninhabitable, while the rest of the planet remain intact (complete with references to greenery, rolling hills, and other more typical Mandalore features). Keldabe and Sundari can co-exist with no real issue.
4. Without spoiling anything specific, there's plenty of room left amidst the ending for Spar to step in and become Mandalore at some point later on. Just about 'everything' changes in this arc.
5.

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To give you another detail on this, Bo-Katan tells Obi-Wan to call in the Republic after the civil war erupts on Mandalore. The episodes end shortly after this, as she helps him escape. I'm sure a forced occupation attempt by the Republic could easily push the populous to follow Spar, rejoin the Separatists, and form the Super Commandos.

6. Lots of fun Maul EU references, such as his memory of wiping out Black Sun's leadership in the previous EU material, and a clear reminder that Sidious only wished them to be crippled, not destroyed.

That's all I can think of for now.

They are Mandalorians - they properly had several Battles of Mandalore a month just do to stuff like cattle raids, gambling debts and marriage disputes.

I still think the whole Mandalorian-thing is a big mess.
At some point, Durge banded together with some rogue Jedi to defeat Mandalore. Was this at the same time the Jedi and the Juridicals assaulted Mandalore and Mandalore turned into a white dessert?
And then, there is the whole Spar issue...
They could start by explaining how Pre Vizla and Tor Vizla are related.