Star Wars Rebels: The Forgotten Droid
March 17, 2016 7:45 AM - Season 2, Episode 17 - Subscribe
The allure of a new replacement leg strut causes Chopper to abandon his post on the Ghost and be left behind when the crew make a quick escape. After seeking shelter on an Imperial cargo hauler, the droid makes a new friend and ends up saving the rebel fleet.
Trivia!
Trivia!
- The light carrier stolen in "Homecoming" now sports some cosmetic changes, such as orange markings, yellow decals, and Sabine's starbird symbol on the starboard side of the bridge.
- AP-5 is named after series producer Athena Portillo. According to Dave Filoni, the 5 comes from Portillo's height.
- AP-5's design stems from the Death Star Droid, and his proportions better match the early Ralph McQuarrie sketches of that character, specifically the rounded shoulders.
- The stacked containers on the cargo ship have "THIS SIDE UP" written in aurebesh.
- The Ugnaught merchant's wares consist of a number of droid parts, such as a protocol droid and astromech heads.
- The newly discovered planet is called Atollon.
- Hera's anger with Chopper is evident when she uses his "full name" of C1-10P.
It's definitely a bit of a screeching halt from the momentum of "Shroud of Darkness," and there's three episodes left, but only two weeks. The final two episodes, "Twilight of the Apprentice" parts 1 and 2 will air two weeks from yesterday. Next week, based off the mid-season trailer, we know that Sabine will be shooting at a giant spider-like thing on a planet. There's a synopsis somewhere that I haven't taken the time to actually read. So in less than a fortnight, Season Two will be over and we will have to wait until the fall for Season Three.
posted by Atreides at 9:53 AM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Atreides at 9:53 AM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
What? I loved this episode.
We finally got to see Chopper shine, and learn a little bit more about him *and* he got his own C3PO.
Plus, I never had the Death Star Droid figure, and they were always kind of cool, I thought.
I admit, it might have been placed poorly in the season, but maybe we need this pause for comic relief before ... you know... the grimdark.
posted by Mezentian at 2:21 AM on March 18, 2016
We finally got to see Chopper shine, and learn a little bit more about him *and* he got his own C3PO.
Plus, I never had the Death Star Droid figure, and they were always kind of cool, I thought.
I admit, it might have been placed poorly in the season, but maybe we need this pause for comic relief before ... you know... the grimdark.
posted by Mezentian at 2:21 AM on March 18, 2016
I liked this.
I liked that the heist was all background, to the extent that you see the stormtroopers chasing the rebels in the background.
It also adds interesting new wrinkles to the age old question "What the hell is up with droids in the Star Wars universe"
Also the continuing thoughts on the logistics of running a rebellion is pretty cool.
AP-5 really did sound like Alan Rickman though.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:47 AM on March 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
I liked that the heist was all background, to the extent that you see the stormtroopers chasing the rebels in the background.
It also adds interesting new wrinkles to the age old question "What the hell is up with droids in the Star Wars universe"
Also the continuing thoughts on the logistics of running a rebellion is pretty cool.
AP-5 really did sound like Alan Rickman though.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:47 AM on March 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
AP-5 really did sound like Alan Rickman though.
*sigh*
Too soon, man.
But that is awesome casting right there.
posted by Mezentian at 4:50 AM on March 18, 2016
*sigh*
Too soon, man.
But that is awesome casting right there.
posted by Mezentian at 4:50 AM on March 18, 2016
Really enjoyed this episode.
Probably a "duh", but just in case someone has missed the obvious, "C1-10P" looks like "CHOP" if you squint.
posted by Fleebnork at 6:58 AM on March 18, 2016
Probably a "duh", but just in case someone has missed the obvious, "C1-10P" looks like "CHOP" if you squint.
posted by Fleebnork at 6:58 AM on March 18, 2016
"C1-10P" looks like "CHOP" if you squint.
So that's how they got the name, Chopper!
(Don't feel bad, until this ep, I didn't notice his legs).
posted by Mezentian at 7:02 AM on March 18, 2016
So that's how they got the name, Chopper!
(Don't feel bad, until this ep, I didn't notice his legs).
posted by Mezentian at 7:02 AM on March 18, 2016
I think this episode would have been better received a little earlier in the season, instead of following right after "Shroud of Darkness," which was stupendous. But, since it involves leading the rebs to a new base, it's hard to push it anywhere else. I also agree, it feels as if they like to drop a little levity right before the utterly serious and potentially devastating finale.
I have to confess, I've never been a major fan of Chopper. He's a little too flamboyant and over the top in his behavior. If he wasn't an astromech, but say housed in the body of Zeb, everyone would agree he's a bit of an A-hole. He's probably the least reliable member of the crew and, he's got a violent penchant for attacking and killing others. But, as I say, I'm not a major fan, but I can tolerate him in small doses or when he's wielding a blaster and rolling around like crazy.
I thought AP-5 was the real star and focus of the show and maybe the Alan Rickman-esque voice had something to do with it. It was confirmed on Twitter that the similarity was intentional, though I wonder if it was a tribute to Rickman's passing or a tribute to his voicing of Marvin. I guess it really depends on the timing of the recording. This episode probably comes as close as any to raising the whole Droid/Slave question, making a very focused point of not just the sentience of a droid, but that they actually have hopes and what not, and are bound in a mechanical/programmed bondage against their will. The Captain was maybe a little over the top, but he obviously was meant to be as abusive as possible, and I'm not convinced that Chopper didn't bludgeon him to death with the leg at the end. (I GOT TO SEE HIM BREATHING LATER).
The background antics was fantastic visual storytelling.
The weirdest thing was the planet at the end. For a moment, I was convinced it was Yavin that they had arrived at (here's a link to a comparison of the two planets). BUT, the preview for next week concerning "The rebels check out their new planet!" or something, looks nothing like Yavin IV, so I don't know if that's the gas giant or not, if they check out Yavin II - IV before settling on the jungle forest moon....baffling!
posted by Atreides at 8:42 AM on March 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have to confess, I've never been a major fan of Chopper. He's a little too flamboyant and over the top in his behavior. If he wasn't an astromech, but say housed in the body of Zeb, everyone would agree he's a bit of an A-hole. He's probably the least reliable member of the crew and, he's got a violent penchant for attacking and killing others. But, as I say, I'm not a major fan, but I can tolerate him in small doses or when he's wielding a blaster and rolling around like crazy.
I thought AP-5 was the real star and focus of the show and maybe the Alan Rickman-esque voice had something to do with it. It was confirmed on Twitter that the similarity was intentional, though I wonder if it was a tribute to Rickman's passing or a tribute to his voicing of Marvin. I guess it really depends on the timing of the recording. This episode probably comes as close as any to raising the whole Droid/Slave question, making a very focused point of not just the sentience of a droid, but that they actually have hopes and what not, and are bound in a mechanical/programmed bondage against their will. The Captain was maybe a little over the top, but he obviously was meant to be as abusive as possible, and I'm not convinced that Chopper didn't bludgeon him to death with the leg at the end. (I GOT TO SEE HIM BREATHING LATER).
The background antics was fantastic visual storytelling.
The weirdest thing was the planet at the end. For a moment, I was convinced it was Yavin that they had arrived at (here's a link to a comparison of the two planets). BUT, the preview for next week concerning "The rebels check out their new planet!" or something, looks nothing like Yavin IV, so I don't know if that's the gas giant or not, if they check out Yavin II - IV before settling on the jungle forest moon....baffling!
posted by Atreides at 8:42 AM on March 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
I was kind of hoping the new base planet would be Dantooine. Maybe that's off-limits until Rogue One.
posted by The Tensor at 12:18 PM on March 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by The Tensor at 12:18 PM on March 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeah, Dantooine would be nice. Though, it would have to be abandoned somewhat soon so it could fall into A New Hope as:
"Our scout ships have reached Dantooine. They found the remains of a Rebel base, but they estimate that it has been deserted for some time. " -report giving to Tarkin
So the question is, how long is "for some time," and does that amount of time exist in the two to three years between where we are in Rebels and Leia giving it up as the location of the rebel base.
posted by Atreides at 1:16 PM on March 18, 2016
"Our scout ships have reached Dantooine. They found the remains of a Rebel base, but they estimate that it has been deserted for some time. " -report giving to Tarkin
So the question is, how long is "for some time," and does that amount of time exist in the two to three years between where we are in Rebels and Leia giving it up as the location of the rebel base.
posted by Atreides at 1:16 PM on March 18, 2016
I say have them build and start using the Dantooine base in Rebels, then have them abandon it (in Rebels, in Rogue One, or offscreen) a couple of months before Star Wars. That should be plenty of time to allow for the Imperials sent to check out the base to conclude, "Why, the food in this space fridge is spoiled! They must have left a while ago."
posted by The Tensor at 4:10 PM on March 18, 2016
posted by The Tensor at 4:10 PM on March 18, 2016
Relive the Tragic History of Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano Before Their Epic Battle (that's io9, this is YouTube, should anything, uh, untoward happen to io9.)
posted by Mezentian at 9:07 PM on March 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Mezentian at 9:07 PM on March 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
If she dies, fair enough.
If James Earl Jones isn't the voice.... I will be annoyed.
posted by Mezentian at 8:20 AM on March 19, 2016
If James Earl Jones isn't the voice.... I will be annoyed.
posted by Mezentian at 8:20 AM on March 19, 2016
Allegedly, Dave Filoni had a special recording studio setup in James Earl Jone's house so he can still record Vader parts.
posted by Atreides at 3:48 PM on March 19, 2016
posted by Atreides at 3:48 PM on March 19, 2016
Maybe I'm underselling how much I liked it. I really liked it. Just felt like a side-track.
posted by French Fry at 11:25 AM on March 20, 2016
posted by French Fry at 11:25 AM on March 20, 2016
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