The Clone Wars: Episode 208: Brain Invaders Discussion Thread (Spoilers Allowed)

I can't tell if Gry you're being serious or sarcastic about that Simpsons comment...

In any case I need to rewatch this episode. My first thoughts were that it was good, not great. Leaving the confins of the medical ship was a detramentto the episode, as it never had that claustrophobic feel too it that it should of had. The tension could have been very strong, but because we kept jumping back and forth off ship I didn't worry for Ahsoka or Barriss as much as if they had just kept it on the ship. I also felt as if the episode couldn't make up it's mind if it wanted to be a scary haunted ship episode or one in which it was rogue clones vs. Jedi and not doing either all that amazingly.

I really liked the setting. And even though I don't think it was the right call I did enjoy Anakin and especially the part where he "interoggated" Poggle... though I have to wonder why the drastic change in behavior? This is not the first time Ahsoka has been on her own and in jeopardy. And I needed more of a reason for him to treat Poggle that way - wouldn't the Jedi find out about it after talking to Poggle himself. Would have been nice if Anakin had wiped his short term memory or something... that would have been chilling. In any case, I guess I can say he was more rough with Poggle because he had tried to have him, Padme and Obi-wan executed - though I never did think Anakin really thought there was a chance of that given how cocky he was/is.

Still, some good Anakin/Vader nods and I liked how he pulled Rex aside at the beginning and told him to keep his eyes open. Very Han Solo-ish.

I feel like this could have been a good two parter with the worms and they could have ended with a big cliff hanger and then upped the ante... like they fail to stop the worms from getting onto the medical station or something and that would have turned this into the episode they were going for -- I think they were rushed.

But hey at least it wasn't slow! Ahsoka and Barris had some good conversations, especially where we got some of Ahsoka's thoughts on her master. That was brillant - as was Anakin and Ahsoka's convo at the end. Also good. Unsettling would be another word for it.

But like I said I need to rewatch this episode because there are a few more things that are bugging me and also things that I really liked.

No, I'm not being sarcastic. I'm a huge Simpsons fan, but apparently not as huge as ChrisMathers to be able to remember such minutae.

Just got around to watching this episode, very well done. I really like the relationship between Barriss and Ahsoka, also nice tie in with ROTS with Anakin darker methods.

Are you serious? That is hilarious! Good catch, man. I guess the writers are having some fun coming up with names for all of the background clones.

ChrisMathers ftw.


fanboy - problems with Anakin's behaviour? Really? Remember Mystery of 1000 Moons? He was practically blowing steam the entire episode he was so worried.

She's 14, 15. Do you expect rocket science? Have you ever heard them talk?

At least she's growing on me. Feel like she's going to meet a sad fate before ever reaching adulthood.

What?!

When I saw this scene I thought that it was likely that Barriss could sense her in the force and therefore wasn't able to sleep anyway. The thing that surprised me was that they had such a huge stateroom on the ship, but had to share the room. You could have had two perfectly sized individual cabins for that and barriss could hve caught up on her sleep (and been brainwormed without having to be shocked).

I thought this episode was brilliant. The Vader moment was perfectly done, completely understandable but quite shocking in a children's cartoon. The "If there's one thing we clones know, it's how to stop Jedi" line is just perfect, it shows that the entire war is preparing the clones for Order 66 without them knowing it. Just those two moments alone make this episode worthwhile, but the action was smooth and the threat fairly real so all in all great.

I'm not really a very big Simpsons fan, it's just that I used to watch that show all the time when I was a little kid and there were certain episodes I really liked. That episode was one of my favorites - Grampa was telling Bart about what he did in the war, telling him about his squad. There was Sheldon Skinner, Iggy Wiggum, Arnie Gumble, Company Commander Flanders, Private Montgomery Burns, and the four redshirts - Griff, Asa, Ox and Edge.

So I'm not a big Simpsons fan, but all it takes for me to remember something like that from a movie, show, game or book is to read/watch/play it and enjoy it and somehow it just gets stuck and I can't help but remember it. I don't know what to call that...eidetic memory? I dunno, I just never forget names is all.

This episode is my favorite so far. The scene where Anakin interrogates Poggle the Lesser was most shocking though, I almost felt sorry for Poggle. Can't wait for the next episode!

This episode was awsome! Much better than Legacy of Terror which was a dissappointment for me. The only thing I dislike is that Barriss seems so young. In every other source, including the movies, she looks and acts much older. Putting that aside, I love the way she and Ahsoka interact and hope to see more of them in the future. By the way, did anyone else have trouble keeping track of which clone was which? I haven't even gotten Rookies figured out yet!

Yes, I believe these clones were the hardest to keep track of, especially since they introduced those new hairdos. Edge had a funny one.
As for Rookies, these would be it:
Echo: hand print and also uses Electrobinocs
Hevy: Jerk with big gun
Fives: The guy who survived like Echo but has no real significance
Cutup: was eaten by Eel and was also a jerk
Nub: was killed by Droid Commandos. Doesn't matter.
Droidbait: same as Nub
O'niner: their sergeant

Yeah, this was the hardest episode to keep track of the clones, not sure why. And my friend said that must have been the "Fashion Squadron" cause they all had thos stylish and well-groomed hairdos.

Okay, my favourite part of this was that Anakin was hiding something from Ahsoka, or wording himself real carefully. He probably doesn't feel too much remorse.

I liked the clone trooper with the gelled-back hair.

It sure was cold on the bridge. I wonder why Ahsoka doesn't sleep with blankets (unless that's been answered already).

The clone trooper was "Trap"

And yes, the two Padawans sleeping without a blanket was maybe strange. But during the scenes where Ahsoka was cold, she shouldn't be wearing a tube top then.

True Garth. Maybe they just go back and forth with Anakin's attitude regarding Ahsoka too much... or maybe I was just surprised considering he was the one who volunteered her for the mission. IDK felt like a piece was missing... but I did like the interogation scene... I guess being a big fan of hero Anakin I'm a little worried they are going to push him too dark too fast... or worse, toggle back and forth with no character continuity.

So I rewatched the episode on my computer (just love the way the episode flows without the commercial breaks or fade ins/fade out). Good episode, I still say they shouldn't have left the confines of the ship and just had Ahsoka communicating with Anakin via holocomm only (to add to the claustraphobia of the episode). And I would have like a little more of a chase with Ahsoka on the run to up the drama... though I did enjoy the Barriss/Ahsoka fight I think they could have even gone further with that. I felt like they want to make it difficult for Ahsoka as far as to stay alive she needs to kill Barriss, but at the same time she doesn't want to because it's her friend/fellow Padawan. 22 minutes was enough time to deal with that (IMO) especially with the show toggling back and forth with the Anakin/Poggle stuff.

I also thought the way the clone got taken over by the worm at the beginning was a little too obvious and cliche, but the scene where he rolls the eggs to the other clones' bunks and they worms infect the sleeping clones was satisifyingly creepy.

One big problem that just doesn't sit with me is the whole intention of the worms. Were they part of a larger sceme to take over th clones and thus tip the war in the Seppys favor? It just seems like a n after thought because of a lack of foreshadowing. The proper thing to do would have been to introduce the "zombie Geonosian soldiers" in an episode before and have the Jedi/Republic wonder where they came from and and what pirpose they served and then have us meet the Queen, rather than the focus being on these new tanks and battle droid assembly line when clearly the brain worms posed the bigger theat.

Oh, one funny little thing, if you watch the credits they list Ahsoka as "ASHOKA." Seems even the creators can't keep it straight! LOL.

Haha yes! A couple of those haircuts were downright Rico Suave.

*Trap: Company Commander; slicked-back hair with blue paint and giant Tango Company insignia on chestplate.
*Ox: same hairstyle as Trap, no company insignia on chestplate, bizzare one-eyed thing on arm. Basically if you see a guy with slicked-back hair, look at this chestplate, that'll help you differentiate.
*Pulsar: standard paint scheme, goatee, weird segemented-sideburn-thing going on. He's the guy who wakes up Scythe.
*Scythe: first trooper to be infected, bald, tattoo of jaws on his forehead.
*Edge: white hair, DC-15 long rifle in the beginning, switches over to DC-15 carbine on the ship (his buddy Ox does the same thing), Tango Company insignia on left side (the viewer's left) on his chestplate.
*Havoc: same head model as Pulsar, with regular, longer sideburns, blue stripe on chestplate, and goatee.

Lemme know if I missed anyone.

Now THAT would have been hilarious. "Hey Edge, nice extensions!"

<img src="http://livewrongandprosper.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/rico.jpg">



fanboy- agreed that it would have been cool to see Ahsoka only by holocomm

One of the few episodes so far where the music really added a lot to the atmosphere.

Loved the nice little bridging moments between the trilogies.
The TPM laser walls being incorporated into the Tantive-esque corridor, for example.
Or how awesome some of those Clones looked with their retro hairdos.

Yes, some of the hair styles that the clones had in this episode made me think 50's and 60's retro stuff....can't remember which one had it, I think it was either Ox or Edge. Definately varies it up a bit.

I meant Anakin, Not Ahsoka. I also think it should have been Ahsoka to figure out that it was the cold that stopped the worms, not Anakin. It was too easy that way they did and made Ahsoka way to reactive, rather than proactive in stopping the threat.

I wonder if there is some kind of fashion code for the clones, like they have in the military here... something that keeps them from getting too "out there." As far as i know we haven't seen any clones with long hair -- for my money as long as the hair doesn't become cumbersome or create a combat problem (last thing I want to see is some battle droid ripping out a clones hair in hand to hand fighting) I say they should go for it. I personally liked the retro look and also the guy with the choppy sideburns. Also, Gree's hair cut is probably my fav so far.

Sorry, I meant Anakin, not Ahsoka. I agree but we never would have got the Poggle interrogation scene.


With respect to Ahsoka learning about the cold, I guess they could have set it up so she accidentally discovers how to beat them....but then, don't most of us have a problem with Ahsoka being super-powered as it is?

Super Padawan!

If it fits the story I'm fine with it, it's when they go out of their way to make her super-Ahsoka at the expense of other characters talents and intelligience is when it bugs me. This episode would have been perfect for her to figure this out on her own without making someone else look dumber than her.

And yes I'm aware of the interoggation scene... they could have used it in a different episode I guess...