The Clone Wars: Season 5 (spoilers/discussion/speculation)

[the fifth man]

I think Han is about 8 years old at the time of this series...

Still just a little boy. He was probably a handful even then.

[DigiFluid]

New preview clip from SDCC today

[the fifth man]

New preview clip from SDCC today

Thanks for posting the link to this.

[mandogater]

New preview clip from SDCC today

Thanks for the link, DigiFluid!!!!! That clip has me amped to see the rest of that episode and any arc that leads to it!!!!

[Teddybrown]

Looks good, cant wait for more sneak peaks!

[DigiFluid]

Summarizing the Clone Wars SDCC panel from yesterday afternoon


The Menace of Maul

It made sense to start off where Season 4 ended off, by talking about Maul. In most of the press that accompanied the season finale, Dave had spent time talking about the deranged, scavenger Maul, but not the collected Maul that emerged once Mother Talzin exorcized the madness from his mind.

"He is a trained Sith. He had as his master the most successful Sith Lord ever in Darth Sidious. We don’t want the Sith Lords to be just blunt weapons, always burning, pillaging and destroying. We like to show that there’s an intellect behind that," said Dave. "What we reveal about Darth Maul this season that you’ve never seen before is that he’s really quite sinister. He’s quite tactical. And he has great knowledge as to why Sidious was successful as a Sith Lord himself."

And what of Savage, the mustard to Maul’s ketchup? “Savage expects a different relationship than he ends up with his brother,” said Filoni. “He doesn’t realize the wickedness of his brother, or his brother’s true intentions. He and Maul have to work out some issues between them.”

During Q&A someone rightfully pointed out that the so-called Rule of Two that keeps only two Sith Lords in hiding in the galaxy is being severely strained by these brothers. Filoni mentioned that this has not gone unnoticed by Darth Sidious. It’s time for the true Sith master to get things in order.

The Writer's Room

Since we had Matt Michnovetz with us, I just had to talk about some of my favorite episodes from Season 4, the hard-hitting four-parter set on Umbara, which Matt wrote.

“George came up with the story,” explained Matt, “and he came into the room and pitched us this idea. He draws a lot of inspiration from classic movies, as a writer on the show, part of your homework is to go and look at the inspiration for these things. He wanted to do a battle from the movie The Longest Day. We had a couple of those. He wanted to base the story a little bit around an old Jimmy Cagney movie called What Price Glory, which is a great source of inspiration of this, as well as The Caine Mutiny. I took inspiration from an episode of M*A*S*H*, where we added a little bit of that idea of where the commanding officer was doing things that weren’t necessarily in the best interests of the troops.”

Dave revealed that in the original script, Rex was the one to pull the trigger on the hated General Krell, but they ultimately decided it was not fitting with Rex’s character, and Dogma would fill that role perfectly.

On the subject of the writer’s room, I brought up the fact that Season 5’s slate of episodes have some very impressive story credits: Chris Collins (The Wire, Sons of Anarchy), Christian Taylor (Six Feet Under, Lost), Brent Friedman (Gemini Division, Dark Skies) and Charles Murray (Castle, V, Criminal Minds) and Matt, who was a story editor and writer on 24.

“It makes you step up your game when you’re in a room with these guys, because they’re fantastic,” said Matt. “You sit down and read their scripts and you’re just blown away and you think, man, maybe I better take another pass on my script before I turn it in. I think George wanted to bring in a lot of drama writers and really craft the characters, especially in Season 5. I think it’s our best season yet. Were really honing where these characters are and where they’re going.”

Another credit to add to Matt’s name is a key writer on Star Wars 1313, which we can’t talk about in any detail just now.

The Heroes in Season Five

Turns out Anakin and Padmé’s relationship isn’t all picnics on Naboo. “There’s been this idea that it’s this kind of perfect bond,” said Dave. “We said, maybe they have challenges. Maybe they have to work on it. He’s a lot younger than her. He can be impetuous. He can be childish. She’s more mature. She’s the intellectual. She’s the Senator. Does that cause problems for them? That’s one of the things we looked into. We will find out, also, a little bit more about how much Obi-Wan knows about what’s going on. People have always wondered that.”

Those hoping Obi-Wan might catch a break this season after getting so clobbered last season had best not relax just yet. “You’ll understand at the end of this why he lives in the desert alone,” said Dave.

Ahsoka will have a very eventful season. “She has a great year. More than any other year there’s development on her character in a major way. I know that we’ve some things up with the character of Lux Bonteri last season, we follow through with a lot of that this season, and then we continue to see some pretty big things.”

The Rise of Death Watch

When George Lucas’s vision of Mandalore was first revealed in Season 2 of The Clone Wars, some viewers were surprised by what they saw – especially the beliefs held by Duchess Satine’s pacifist movement. Now, in Season 5, we’re seeing Pre Vizsla poised to retake the warrior heritage – all part of the big plan of the show (and something we all had to keep mum about during Season 2).

“They’re a culture, and like any culture in our world, they change and evolve,” said Dave. “They have highs and lows. If you’re a warrior race for thousands of years, chances are at one point you probably had a devastating effect on your people. The big question is how long – if that is truly who you are in your soul and your heart – how long can you deny that? How successfully can you deny that? That made it a lot more interesting for them as a civilization.”

Bo-Katan, only briefly yet memorably seen last season, returns to The Clone Wars (voiced by Katee Sackhoff) in a big way. “She’s gonna do more this season than Boba Fett ever did,” said Dave, throwing out an apologetic nod to Daniel Logan in the audience. Also, Dave took the time to clarify that, despite some rumors to the contrary, an armored Fett does not appear in Season 5.

“I really like that character of Bo-Katan,” said Dave, explaining the simple reason for her creation was to give female fans more opportunity for armored cosplay. “Let’s give the ladies some cool armor.”

Military Matters

We learned that Matt is working on a clone commando-centric story for a future episode, but only a single clone commando will appear in Season 5. (“He’s a very important character in his episode,” said Dave). And while there may not be many new armor types in Season 5, the role of the military – particularly the non-clone forces – will be examined.

“We brought Tarkin into the show for a reason,” said Dave. “Tarkin represents something that’s coming The Jedi made a deal, and they didn’t realize it. They told Palpatine that they’re keepers of the peace and not soldiers. That’s true, but it’s a mistake. Because they’re the right kind of leaders, and Tarkin is the wrong kind of leader. But Tarkin and his kind use that as leverage, and slowly but surely they start to get themselves in, and they start to take over what you know as the Republic military. You are going to see that happen.”

[mandogater]

Thanks again, Digi!!! Looks like lots and lots of intersting things will be happening in season 5.

[Teddybrown]

http://www.starwars.com/watch/inside...on_obiwan.html
Interesting interview

http://www.starwars.com/watch/tcw_se...n_sneak_1.html
Nice sneak peak.

[DigiFluid]

Er..those are the same link

[DigiFluid]

And if anyone's not heard already, the premiere has been announced for September 29!

[Teddybrown]

Oops, thats me not paying attention, edited the 2nd link in now...

[DigiFluid]

Ah, excellent! Looks from the link like that one is from Comic Con earlier this summer, and I hadn't seen it. I don't know how I missed it, thanks for posting

[mandogater]

And if anyone's not heard already, the premiere has been announced for September 29!

Thanks for the info!!! *Runs to mark date on calendar*

[DigiFluid]

Info from today's TCW panel at CVI. Text dump from IRC, talking with fellow Wookieepedians:


[11:56] <+CVI|Trak> Who wanted to know about the
[11:56] <+CVI|Trak> TCW panel?
[11:56] <Yorik-Et> Here
[11:56] <+DigiFluid> That was Yorik
[11:56] <+DigiFluid> And I'm interested
[11:56] <+CVI|Trak> Alright
[11:57] <+CVI|Trak> SPOILER ALERT
[11:57] <+CVI|Trak> they showed about 4 or 5 arcs
[11:57] <+CVI|Trak> youre only intersted in the republic commando?
[11:57] <Yorik-Et> Yep
[11:57] <@Xd1358> go on
[11:57] <+CVI|Trak> its part of the droid arc
[11:57] <Yorik-Et> How long?
[11:58] <+CVI|Trak> production numbers 415-417
[11:58] <Yorik-Et> Ok
[11:58] <+CVI|Trak> probably the third arc in the season
[11:58] <+CVI|Trak> after maul, after onderon
[11:58] <Yorik-Et> Ah, wait
[11:58] <+CVI|Trak> and after anakin/obiwan
[11:58] <Yorik-Et> Onderon:
[11:58] <+CVI|Trak> nvm, fourth
[11:58] <+CVI|Trak> production numbers 504-506
[11:58] <Yorik-Et> This femal onderon-rebel
[11:59] <Yorik-Et> Does she have a name?
[11:59] <+CVI|Trak> yes
[11:59] <+CVI|Trak> i was in front row but it was small font
[11:59] <+CVI|Trak> the boy is called Saw Gerrera
[11:59] <Yorik-Et> :-(
[11:59] <+CVI|Trak> of that im sure
[11:59] <Yorik-Et> Ok
[11:59] <+CVI|Trak> the girl is Sleena or Steena
[11:59] <+Jang|Away> Saw Gerrera?
[11:59] <Yorik-Et> Ok, thanks
[11:59] <@Xd1358> Sounds like a Mexican crimelord.
[11:59] <+CVI|Trak> want to know about the onderon arc?
[11:59] <+DigiFluid> So it's Maul/Mandalore, Onderon, an Anakin/Obi-Wan arc, and then the RC one?
[12:00] <+DigiFluid> Yes
[12:00] <Yorik-Et> No, the droids
[12:00] <+CVI|Trak> yes
[12:00] <+CVI|Trak> RC = droid arc
[12:00] <+CVI|Trak> then theres a mustafar/mandalore arc
[12:00] <Yorik-Et> But i wanted to do the article about therebel in jedipedia
[12:00] <+CVI|Trak> and then theres an episode with obi-wan and bo katan
[12:00] <+CVI|Trak> now about onderon
[12:00] <Yorik-Et> MY bo-katan!
[12:01] <+DigiFluid> Any idea if the teasers are leading us in the right direction? Is Satine toast?
[12:01] <+CVI|Trak> Anakin goes to the Jedi Council and along with Ahsoka and Lux Bonteri has the idea to start local insurgents on multiple planets
[12:01] <+CVI|Trak> He thinks that the people don care which side there on as long as the war is over
[12:01] <Yorik-Et> Ok
[12:02] <+CVI|Trak> they then start an insurgency on Onderon against the separatist army
[12:02] <+CVI|Trak> the onderon people are headed by Ahsoka, Saw Gerrera and that Sleena girl
[12:03] <+CVI|Trak> they are supported by some mixture of kaadu/horse, fambaas and flying creatures
[12:03] <+CVI|Trak> the separatists have taken Isis city and the insurgents want it back
[12:03] <Yorik-Et> Ok
[12:04] <+DigiFluid> Ooh Isis
[12:04] <+CVI|Trak> a few locations on Onderon:
[12:04] <+Tyber> Iziz!
[12:04] <+DigiFluid> Yes, that
[12:04] <+DigiFluid> haha
[12:04] <+CVI|Trak> Wilderness, Isis City Gate, Isis City Throne Room, Isis City Palace Cloisters
[12:04] <+Tyber> Iziz
[12:04] <+CVI|Trak> productions numbers are 415-417
[12:05] <+Tyber> Not Isis
[12:05] <+CVI|Trak> now the next arc
[12:05] <+CVI|Trak> it was written Isis in the concept art
[12:05] <Yorik-Et> Yep
[12:05] <+CVI|Trak> 100%
[12:05] <+DigiFluid> 515-517?
[12:05] <+CVI|Trak> no, 415
[12:05] <+Tyber> Bah!
[12:05] <+CVI|Trak> but the production numbers are different from the actual order
[12:06] <+Jang|Away> Tyber, you know it's hard to say Iziz. That's why they changed it to Isis
[12:06] <+CVI|Trak> the next episode is 420, a conversation with obi-wan in anakins quarters in the jedi temple
[12:06] <+CVI|Trak> there is a small statue of anakins starspeeder
[12:06] <+DigiFluid> Oh I see. 4.22 was prod. 4.14
[12:06] <+CVI|Trak> and a poster with a race between sebulba and ben quadrinaros
[12:07] <+CVI|Trak> my aurabesh was not good enough to decrypt the letters fast enough
[12:07] <+Jang|Away> Ahsoka is hidden underneath Anakin's bed
[12:07] <+CVI|Trak> Obi-Wan is talking because Yoda is worried about Anakins reaction to Rush Clovis
[12:07] <+CVI|Trak> Anakin saying that there should only be business relationships with senators
[12:07] <Yorik-Et> Clovis, this slimy...
[12:08] <+CVI|Trak> and it shows how faster Anakin is to anger
[12:08] <+Jang|Away> Anakin has Clovis and Ahsoka
[12:08] <@CavalierOne> No fear about spelling Iziz. Later sources have it correct, meaning that's what we go with
[12:08] <+DigiFluid> God I hope the concept art has clearer production numbers this year
[12:08] <+CVI|Trak> not sure, apparently there is a relationship between Rush and Padme
[12:09] <+DigiFluid> And the website is back to being good like it was in season 3 instead of the **** they made it into for season 4
[12:09] <+CVI|Trak> Now for the droid&mandalore arc
[12:09] <+CVI|Trak> Do we have an article on the planet Abafar already?
[12:09] <+CVI|Trak> sry, droid/RC arc
[12:09] <+Tyber> Someone needs to point Iziz out to them...
[12:09] <+CVI|Trak> Alright
[12:10] <+DigiFluid> Spy any interesting new assets? Ships, planets, what-have-you?
[12:11] <+CVI|Trak> Abafar is a planet in the Outer Rim that frequently had meteor showers in its atmosphere. It was sparsely populated during the Clone Wars, with a diner and a separatist facility.
[12:12] <+CVI|Trak> but lets start at the beginning
[12:12] <+CVI|Trak> A pit droid called WAC 47 and four astromechs including R2-D2, QT-KT and a yellow and a green one get a task
[12:13] <+CVI|Trak> 100% sure about the spelling
[12:13] <+CVI|Trak> but it might change from the one on the concept art
[12:13] <Yorik-Et> Yep
[12:13] <+CVI|Trak> there are led one by a tiny midget general called Gaszon Zilkin
[12:14] <+Nahdar> the anx?
[12:14] <+CVI|Trak> they are tasked with stealing an encryption module from a separatist fregate
[12:14] <+CVI|Trak> they capture a separatist shuttle to do that
[12:15] <+CVI|Trak> the pit droid is actually steering the shuttle during hyperspace, comic relief im sure
[12:15] <+CVI|Trak> then theres the meteor shower and he doesnt know what to do
[12:15] <+CVI|Trak> the general tells him to drop out of hyperspace
[12:16] <+CVI|Trak> and then they are in the middle of the meteor shower, are hit by a few of them
[12:16] <+CVI|Trak> Then the power goes out
[12:16] <+DigiFluid> One would think the nav charts would avoid that lol
[12:16] <+CVI|Trak> TPM reference now when the droids go to the hull to repair it
[12:16] <+CVI|Trak> then they crash on Abafar
[12:16] <+DigiFluid> Particularly since meteor showers are specifically mentioned as a nav hazard in the original movie
[12:17] <+CVI|Trak> Abafar is a snow planet, they crash in a region called the void
[12:17] <+CVI|Trak> somehow they end up at a diner where Gregor works
[12:17] <Yorik-Et> Gregor?
[12:18] <+CVI|Trak> he has the same height as a clone trooper
[12:19] <+CVI|Trak> and that midget has to convince him to help them
[12:19] <+CVI|Trak> r2 scans his arm and apparently there is an implant or a marking that shows hes a clone trooper
[12:19] <+CVI|Trak> or republic commando actually
[12:19] <+CVI|Trak> then the droids infiltrate the separatist facility
[12:20] <+CVI|Trak> to draw atention
[12:20] <+CVI|Trak> black beard
[12:20] <+CVI|Trak> yellow armor
[12:20] <+CVI|Trak> and markings on his helmet
[12:20] <+CVI|Trak> similar to a hockey helmet by one of filonis favorite goalies
[12:20] <+DigiFluid> Yellow...completely, or just kind of coloured that way the way commanders have yellow highlights?
[12:20] <+CVI|Trak> im not that big of a fan of the RCs, so i could not judge
[12:21] <Yorik-Et> So the name of the RC is Gregor?
[12:21] <+CVI|Trak> no, yellow highlights, white armor
[12:21] <+CVI|Trak> exactly
[12:21] <+CVI|Trak> and he shoots the separatist droids from behind while the droids draw attention
[12:21] <+DigiFluid> Ah yeah okay. I thought you meant yellow armour and was thinking that would look a little odd lol
[12:21] <+CVI|Trak> there are battle droids, super battle droids, droidekas and binary load lifters
[12:22] <+CVI|Trak> and fuel tanks that the RC uses to shoot the droidekas
[12:22] <+CVI|Trak> thats all i know about that arc
[12:22] <Yorik-Et> Ok
[12:22] <Yorik-Et> Thank you
[12:22] <+CVI|Trak> want to hear about the black suns?
[12:22] <+DigiFluid> So..this is a 'retired' RC, living and working at a diner on a Sep world?
[12:22] <+CVI|Trak> thats the mustafar/mandalore arc
[12:22] <+CVI|Trak> exactly
[12:22] <+CVI|Trak> not sure what that planet is
[12:22] <+DigiFluid> Hm.
[12:23] <+CVI|Trak> when they crash, it is in an ice desert
[12:23] <+DigiFluid> I guess that's one way of hiding from the Republic
[12:23] <+CVI|Trak> the diner could be at a different planet as well
[12:23] <Yorik-Et> Hmmm
[12:24] <+DigiFluid> Well thanks for taking notes and sharing, trakkity
[12:24] <+DigiFluid> Appreciate it =)
[12:24] <+CVI|Trak> the Death Watch and Maul/Savage are like-minded allies
[12:24] <+CVI|Trak> actually im 3po
[12:24] <Yorik-Et> And what about the bo-katan-arc?
[12:24] == CVI|Trak has changed nick to CVI|C3PO
[12:24] <+DigiFluid> Or 3PO then
[12:24] <+CVI|C3PO> that comes later
[12:24] <+CVI|C3PO> so the death watch want to take over mandalore
[12:25] <+CVI|C3PO> and they team up with darth maul who wants to become a player in the galaxy and not just a subordinate
[12:25] <+CVI|C3PO> so they fly to mustafar with 4 shuttles
[12:25] <+CVI|C3PO> theres a Black Suns Fortress
[12:26] <+CVI|C3PO> all of the members of the black sun are faleens
[12:26] <+CVI|C3PO> the leader is called Xiton Maj

[Teddybrown]

Could you post a summary of that text, as its slightly confusing...

[Teddybrown]

I think I know what your talking about, is it this trailer?
Nice summary too.
http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/08/26/st...usive-trailer/

Holy **** This looks good!

Spoiler:

Mandalorians working with Maul!
Darth Sidious entering the mix!
Secret driod mission!
More dark side Anakin
More clones!

I cant wait!

[DigiFluid]

Another fantastic trailer!

[Replicator Todd]

This show's epicness level just keeps building on itself! Finally Republic Commandos? Scorch is my favorite Commando. Very excited to see Sidious is going to be mopping the floor with Sith pretenders.

[mandogater]

I think I know what your talking about, is it this trailer?
Nice summary too.
http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/08/26/st...usive-trailer/

Holy **** This looks good!

Spoiler:

Mandalorians working with Maul!
Darth Sidious entering the mix!
Secret driod mission!
More dark side Anakin
More clones!

I cant wait!

Thanks for the link, Teddybrown!!!!

I can't wait for this new season to start!!!!!!!

[DigiFluid]

Even though I already commented....I must echo the two posts sandwiched between this one and my previous post. I can't kriffing wait!