Full Series The Clone Wars: Episode 206: Weapons Factory Discussion Thread (Spoilers Allowed)

PLEASE DO NOT DISCUSS SPOILERS FOR EPISODES 207 OR LATER IN THIS THREAD.

Use the General Discussion (Spoilers Allowed) thread for any discussion beyond Episode 206!

[image=http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6807/weaponso.jpg]

"No gift is more precious than trust."

Synopsis: Luminara and Anakin act as decoys to divert new enemy super-tanks, while Padawans Barriss Offee and Ahsoka attempt to destroy a Separatist droid factory.

Director: Giancarlo Volpe
Writer: Brian Larsen
Supervising Writer: Drew Z. Greenberg
Key Characters: Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker, Luminara Unduli, Barriss Offee, Clone Captain Rex, Poggle the Lesser, TX-21
Key Locales: Geonosis


Explore the Official Episode Guide HERE
Check out the official webcomic tie-in HERE! (once posted)

 

Ah; I see that you're posting these new episode discussion threads, Gry.

I do hope this new episode won't be a "Hannah Montana in Star Wars" type episode. I still don't like that Barriss is a Padawan, she should be a Knight.

 

Yay new Tactical Droid! And yay Rex being important enough to be included on a small character list!

 

Yeah, for once I got the drop on the other guys, so I decided to act on it. Don't have the power to make it sticky yet, though. We'll have to wait for one of the big boys for that...

As I said before, this episode is quite risky. It's ok for Ahsoka and Barriss to have some animosity between them, but if they are not careful about Ahsoka's attitude towards her, it'll just be fuel for the haters.

It bugs me that Barriss is a padawan as well... though not too much...

 

I don't mind that too much either...I don't think there is alot known about Barriss to say it's a huge continuity error, but it is quite a departure from the Gennedy series. And I like her look. And the fortune cookie's interesting; I wonder if it's a lesson both Barriss and Ahsoka will take to heart.

 

That Tactical Droid in the web-comic was awesome looking...some kind of different droid. Hopefully we see him or ones like him in the the actual show itself. It could provide another interesting twist to the Tactical Droid. Much more complicated design in that one.

 

NO GIFT IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN TRUST is a wonderful opportunity to see how Ahsoka Tano
compares to, and interacts with, a more seasoned and traditional padawan.

Barriss Offee did not even build her first lightsaber until she was sixteen... I wonder what her
opinion of Ahsoka will be? And Ahsoka was more than willing to second-guess and challenge
Luminara Unduli's opinions and decisions (and got some good glares from Luminara in the process).
It will be interesting to hear what she thinks about Barriss's ideas.

Oh, and don't the Jedi have some bylaw that states, "Any padawan that begins to act or appear in any
way similar to Hannah Montana, must be immediately taken to Tatooine and thrown into the great Sarlac" ?

 

This episode is gonna be great. Can't wait till Friday.

 

Think positive. The double x chromosome will not hurt you!

It's a "Batgirl and Supergirl adventure" episode. Chicks rule.

Speaking of Batgirl/Supergirl, I'm not loving that mini girly-cape that Barriss is wearing.

 

Yay! Barriss! Barriss Barriss Barriss! This will be good. I hope.

 

As I've posted in several threads, they really have a chance to balance Ahsoka with Barriss here - I'm okay with Barriss being a Padawan, despite previous "continuity" (why don't we throw that term out the window? lol).

If they somehow make Ahsoka out to be superior to Barriss, I think I will lose a great deal of respect for the TCW series. I mean, enough for me to contemplate not watching it. Fortunately, looks like the writers share my opinion.




<img src="http://www.starwars.com/theclonewars/news11102009/padawans_img.jpg">

In the Hands of The Padawans...

Operating without the supervision or protection of their respective Jedi Masters, Padawans Ahsoka Tano and Barriss Offee embark upon a desperate, last-ditch effort to destroy the droid foundry established by Poggle the Lesser on Geonosis. But when their descent into the Geonosian catacombs becomes a deadly journey into darkness, they must rely on each other's strengths to find the light and complete their mission in "Weapons Factory," an all-new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, November 13 on Cartoon Network.

"The one thing I really think is great about The Clone Wars is how it has a message in it of courage and loyalty and honesty and hard work," says Meredith Salenger, who provides the voice of Barriss. "Barriss is very bright, honest, professional and brave. She would much rather sacrifice herself for the protection of others and the completion of her mission. Just learning those things -- the tenets of the Jedi way -- is important for kids. The Jedi have good values."

Perhaps best known for her starring role in Disney's The Journey of Natty Gann, Salenger welcomed the opportunity to embody one of the Jedi role models from George Lucas' "galaxy far, far away." Of particular interest, though, was the prospect of exploring a new type of interpersonal dynamic within the Order -- specifically the burgeoning friendship between Ahsoka and the strait-laced Barriss.

"Her Jedi Master is Luminara Unduli, who is very by-the-book and ordered. As a loyal student, Barriss tends to be just as structured in her approach to dealing with situations," Salenger says. "However, I think the more time she spends with Ahsoka, the more she tends to improvise a bit and trust her own instincts. Like most relationships, you are always learning from your friends who have different attitudes about life. When Barriss is with Ahsoka, her vulnerability and curiosity come out. With best friends, you can't help but be influenced by one another."

A newcomer to the world of voice acting, Salenger found herself influenced -- and inspired -- by the cast and crew of The Clone Wars, though she also found herself drawing from her own well of inner fandom.

"Who isn't a Star Wars fan? I remember standing in line outside the movie theater with my Dad when the very first Star Wars came out. I honestly feel blessed to be part of it -- though since working on the show, I've learned a lot more about the Star Wars universe," she says. "Working with Dave [Filoni] is like working with the most creative and imaginative guy ever. He is so much fun; he is so good at directing the actors and creating a visual of the scene and what our characters are going through. I thank him all the time for bringing me on board."

 

"Her Jedi Master is Luminara Unduli, who is very by-the-book and ordered. As a loyal student, Barriss tends to be just as structured in her approach to dealing with situations," Salenger says. "However, I think the more time she spends with Ahsoka, the more she tends to improvise a bit and trust her own instincts. Like most relationships, you are always learning from your friends who have different attitudes about life. When Barriss is with Ahsoka, her vulnerability and curiosity come out. With best friends, you can't help but be influenced by one another."



This is what I hoping for in this episode...it's starting to sound more promising.

 

I just hope it's not just Barriss that learns to be more spontaneous, but that also Ahsoka learns something from her, like respect and taking things seriously.

 

This episode is another direct response by LUCASFILM to fan polls, surveys and message board
feedback regarding First Season. The main complaint about FS revolved around "silly roger-roger
droids" that were more clown than enemy, and that the Jedi never fought any flesh-and-blood
opponents who could really "fight back". In other words, the show was too family-friendly, and antiseptic.
The renewed fighting on Geonosis handled that. The second major complaint(s) involved Ahsoka Tano
and padawans, specifically, "Ahsoka's a brat," and "Where are they?" This episode should help
solve, or at least ameliorate, both issues.


Ed/ I've suggested that fans might not grind on Ahsoka so much if she wore something other than
leather go-go boots, spandex tights, a micro-mini skirt and tube top, but hey...

 

"I think the more time she spends with Ahsoka, the more she tends to improvise a bit and trust her own instincts."

I have a bad feeling about this... Why not the other way around?

 

Seeing as we haven't seen too much character development in Ahsoka up until now, I have my doubts about whether she'll actually learn anything, although I really hope she does. Barriss is one of my favorite EU characters -I liked her in the MedStar books. Her animated portrayal looks to be pretty good as well. My biggest worry is that they'll do as they did in "Cloak of Darkness" and make her out to be so much more powerful than a Jedi/ Jedi Padawan with more experience.

 

"Her Jedi Master is Luminara Unduli, who is very by-the-book and ordered. As a loyal student, Barriss tends to be just as structured in her approach to dealing with situations," Salenger says. "However, I think the more time she spends with Ahsoka, the more she tends to improvise a bit and trust her own instincts. Like most relationships, you are always learning from your friends who have different attitudes about life. When Barriss is with Ahsoka, her vulnerability and curiosity come out. With best friends, you can't help but be influenced by one another."

I have a very bad feeling about this

That being said, I'll keep an open mind until we see it, since that is just a quote from the voice actor.

Why do the structured always need to learn to improvise from the carefree? Is there some unwritten rule that the more instinctive, the, uh, rule-benders are more successful and likeable than everyone else?

What happened to slow and steady gets the job done?

 

NEW VIDS OP WEAPONS FACTORY:

TV Promo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e6rRbaVxso&translated=1

Clips go in the clips thread - Gry

By the looks of things: awesome

 

Giancarlo Volpe.. didn't he work on 'Avatar'? Or am I late to notice this?

The clip has them working together pretty smoothly, but maybe that's near the beginning of the episode. It does sound like Bariss will learn more from Ahsoka than the other way around. Ahsoka will probably learn to work with someone she doesn't see eye-to-eye with, instead of gaining from Bariss's obediant personality. Because.. well, kids don't like rules. BUT, of course we'll have to wait and see how it plays out.

I'm kind of wondering about the fortune cookie's emphasis on trust instead of, say.. respect for other's differences. It could be that Bariss just won't trust Ahsoka because she thinks her way is the best. Or maybe it'll be about Ahsoka being unhappy that Anakin doesn't trust her to handle the mission, like Luminara trusts Bariss.

I'm also wondering about those words shown in the preview: "In a fight.. You work together.. Or use your skills." Too simple or too obscure?

 

Oh, I agree...but as much as I don't really like Ahsoka's character, I do hope also that Barriss will take something away from the experience, yet I don't want her to become another Ahsoka clone just as much as I know Ahsoka will probably not become a 'model' padawan like Barriss.

You know, I'm staying away from the clips on this one, I don't want them to influence my opinion before watching the actual episode.

 

Seeing Barris in this is cool but iirc, she is(or used to be)around the same age as Anakin and should be at least an advanced upper level Padawan or Knight at this point, but I don't know where in the timeline the series takes place. It'll be interesting to see how she works with Ahsoka since she worked with Anakin at least once in their padawan days.

 

Without going into detail, I can safely say that if given the chance... Chris Hansen would be at the doorstep of some of Ahsoka's fans in an instant.

And oh goodie... another episode where Ahsoka is glorified and another character is made to look like a blind idiot in exchange.

If I'm proven wrong, well, alllllllllllllllllrighty then!

 

Type the words "Transformers" and "slash" into google, and you'll find that anyone can be the subject of lust. That doesn't place the blame on the writers.

Again, there's some epic tunnel vision going on here when it comes to the sexual objectification of female characters.

 

Can we please stop with the discussion of Ahsoka's sexuality or lack thereof? I thought we went through this in great detail a few months ago.


At any rate, don't read too much into what Barriss' voice actor says: keep in mind, she was asked specifically about Barriss, and what her personality is like, so she's focusing on changes to Barriss.