Why didn't the changeling change?

Haven't been to these boards in a while, so apologies if this often discussed dear moderators...

But why when the changeling assassin - forget the name - runs to hide in the bar, why doesn't she just change identity and walk past Obi and Anakin and out the door to safety?

 

I dont know either.

 

She did a good job hiding anyway. If Obi-wan wasn't a Jedi, then she could have shot him, perhaps shoot Anakin as well, then skedaddle. Changing form is useless in the presence of Jedi Knights.

 

What proof of that? Anakin was surprised by the brief change during the chase and told OB he thought it might be a changeling. Might implies that he could not sense such by force means - it was just that he saw something odd when grappling in the sky car.

 

Zam could have changed back into her normal form, but that would be like taking off the ski mask in the middle of a robbery.

 

From the official site:

Thinking that the Jedi had dropped their guard, Zam attempted to sneak-up to Obi-Wan and shoot him in the back. The Jedi Knight spun around in a blinding flash and quickly cut off Zam's arm.

No need to change if they were not looking for her.

Leave=they might know some stuff=jango gets mad=end of her career=her death

 

But why hang around to attack the Jedi? Her mission was to kill Padme, not them.

 

yes, but they were protecting her. and the way to get to her was through them

 

she doesnt know if they've seen her or got any goods on her.

 

This is a good question, I hadn't thought of it before. I looked up the databank entry for Clawdite; the species of Zam Wesell. From the write-up:

"Retaining an adopted shape requires concentration, and distracted or dead Clawdites revert to their original form."

However, this still doesn't explain why she didn't change her form into something else; unless it requires even more concentration to change form than to retain the current form. *shrugs* I really don't know what the in-universe answer is.

Although the real answer is that she wasn't intended to be a changeling until after the scene was originally shot. Anakin's line about her being a changeling was added later. From the script:

OBI-WAN: "Do you see him him?"
ANAKIN: "I think he's a she..."
OBI-WAN: "Then be extra careful..."

Obviously Obi-Wan doesn't trust women.

 

Didn't know that. Less would have been more if you ask me. Pointless complication introduced to try to jazz up what would have been fine anyway

 

I know you're kidding, but what Anakin said was:

"I think he is a she. And I think she is a changeling."

THAT'S when Obi-Wan said to be careful!

 

It is but his point was that it wasn't that way in the original script. Its a shame to see a good joke cut.

 

Why change? She'd still have on the same outfit.

'Then why not change clothes?'

Because she'd have to swipe them from somebody, which would cause a ruckus. Oh look! Jedi! They'll take care of it! She went that way!

As for why kill the Jedi. She was hired to kill Padme. The Jedi were obviously her guardians as they came back with her assassin droid. Get rid of them, especially when they aren't looking, and your job, and identity, is safe.

 

Er... but it isn't her identity, that's the point

 

Her clawdite shape is her own identity. She didn't want to show them what she really looked like.

About reallife explanations: The concept of changelings was probably introduced because of something that happens in ROTS. I think a changeling will use his/her special gift in that episode.

 

The funny thing about changelings is that the creature that appears in Ep2 isn't one of what is commonly referred to as a changeling in folklore. Traditionally, a changeling is not a shape-shifter (like what we see in Ep2) but a creature that takes the place of a kidnapped child and then permanently adopts its features. The parents will never catch on by seeing the thing change shape, only by its villainous behavior.

Kind of like if a evil clone took the place of a benign original or or an evil original took the place of a benign clone.

 

Oh, I missed the part about it being in the original script.

[Emily Litella]
Neee-ver mind!
[/Emily Litella]

 

What with all the bodacious babes roaming around? Safer to blend with surroundings.

 

Er... but it isn't her identity, that's the point

Splitting hairs aside, the rest of my point made sense.

 

If you're right, why didn't she stand and fight, or engage in an aerial duel? Instead she ran away and all I'm asking is why she didn't continue, since she was hardly caught in the club

 

Stand and fight? What, you mean against the Jedi? No... that'd be stupid.

Ariel duel? What do you mean?

She simply tried to ambush them. Would've been a good plan except Obi was on to her.

What she should have done if she knew better was just kept on running. But she thought she could take at least one of them out and went for it.

 

Watch the sequence again.

 

No really. I have the scene pretty memorized and I have no idea what you mean. Could you please elaborate?

 

The answer to this question is quite simple. Its the "genius" of Lucas' story writing.

He so expertly includes a shot into 'Clones that establishes the fact that Zam is a shape shifter...and the fact that he posesses the CGI know-how to implement such a scene.

The changeling eludes her pursuers by slipping into a bar. The most logical move now would be to sneak into the back, and change into something else, and split.

No...she elects to pull her gun...and possibly shoot him...in front of dozens of witnesses.

Now, if you're gonna shoot someone in the back...in front of witnesses...it would wise to do it from a distance...quickly...and split, right? No...she saunters up to him, gun sticking out for all to see.

And...we know what happens next.

Pure storytelling genius.