I wouldn’t worry too much about the violence. There are a few neck snaps and one bloodless spear impalement. There’s nothing as racy like Asajj kissing a dead man.
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SAVAGE THEATRICAL REPORT[/align]
[align=left]- To start with, the opening space battle is a blast. In the theater, I was able to sit center in the last row (almost under the projector.) This is the same position I sat when I viewed ROTS for the first time. I had a big case of déjà vu as the opening sequence in this arch is obviously structured in the same manner as Sith’s.
- The running theme from the show and films is that the bad guys only look out for themselves and treat others poorly.
Sidious specifically tells Dooku that he is worried that Dooku is training Asajj to kill him. Since she has become to powerful, Sidious wants her dead.
Later, Dooku tells Savage that he is being trained to destroy Sidious so that they can rule the galaxy.
The cannibalistic nature of the Sith is demonstrated with the three way duel between Asajj, Dooku, and Savage. Visually, it was interesting to see a red doubled-bladed saber versus a red single saber versus two red sabers. It reminded by of the Jedi Academy video game.
- Asajj is treated by the Witches with something called the water of life. Witches hold this water in bowls and a mist emanates and surrounds Asajj. Later, with Savage, the water is not used. The witches chant in rhythm and the mist appears. The mist is also used to make Asajj and two Sisters invisible. Savage’s metal staff is conjured from the mist as well.
- Mother Talzin and Asajj place their index fingers on Savage’s temple to control him.
- The series has its first ever flashback. It is shown in the same gauzed manner of Anakin’s vision in ROTS and Ahsoka’s premonitions this season.
As a baby, Asajj is given to Siniteen male by Mother Talzin. She says that Asajj was promised to him. They go live on an unidentified world. The Siniteen male dies when she is a child. At this point, a Jedi adopts her when he sees her use the force to ward off pirate attackers. The Jedi is later killed by pirates.
As a child, Ventress is indeed cute. She wears a shoulder-less dress that reminded me of Betty in the Flintstones.
Tip of the hat to
JWFan, who correctly
identified teenage Asajj from an earlier teaser trailer. She wears a comb-over hairstyle and is seen training along side her Jedi mentor who is a middle-aged white male. He is square jawed with Eeth Koth-like tattoos on his face. His haircut is essentially the same as Obi-wan’s in TPM. Both he and she use green bladed lightsabers. When he dies, she picks up his saber and delivers her first blow with her signature dual-sword style.
I wonder if the show will have further flashbacks sequences in the future. (Will Qui Gon make a cameo?)
- Asajj dons her new hooded outfit through most the arch. It comes complete with a ninja style scarf which she wears over her mouth.
Her weapon on the Clone Wars magazine cover is not a lightsaber whip, but a rope and sickle.
- During the night attack on Dooku, Asajj wields a blue lightsaber and the two Sisters wield green blades. Lightsabers are used to make Dooku think that he is being attacked by Jedi.
- It’s hard to read Mother Talzin. She can be compassionate towards her daughters, Asajj, and Savage. Yet, there is also a streak of depiction and cruelty in her. Her voice has a slight processed echo. It’s like Sidious’ in ROTS only more subtle.
Talzin states that Dooku had performed a favor for her in the past. It is left unsaid as to what that favor was.
Contrary to an earlier report, Obi-wan and Talzin had not meet prior to this arch.
- Savage’s fraternal ties to Maul are somewhat ambiguous. They are brothers in the sense that they are part of the same clan. Whether they came from the same mother is not fully disclosed. His markings closely resemble Maul’s while his fellow clansmen are all unique. Their colors range from red to orange to yellow. Their pupils are yellow and glow in the dark. (Savage’s pupils later develop the red Sith ring on the outside.)
The Iridonian males on Dathomir are wholly submissive to the Witches. Asajj verbally abuses and physically beats a few without resistance. She has little trouble when fighting them in combat.
- During, the trial sequence Savage and Asajj fight hand-to-hand for awhile. It’s a well choreographed and exciting sequence.
- As a whole, Savage is not a simple clone of Maul, but his own outright character. In a number of ways, he is portrayed sympathetically. He looks out for a fellow clansman, tires to resist Asajj, is forced into the Darkside against his free will, is forced to kill someone close to him, is shocked by Dooku for all his mistakes, and is called Monster by Dooku, Asajj, and Obi-wan.
After his transformation, his voice becomes more like a low growl. When he is not speaking, he gives periodic gorilla grunts. His fighting style is powerful and full of rage. At one point, he sends both Anakin and Obi-wan flying through the air like rag dolls.
- In a move to appease EU’ers, Mace states that Maul’s species is from Iridonia, but he came from a clan living on Dathomir.
- One of the biggest laughs came during a training sequence. At one point, Dooku tries to get Savage to lift heavy stones with the force. After a failed attempt, Savage whines that Dooku wants the impossible a la Luke in ESB.
- There are some brief and legitimately funny Battledriod hijinx during the final fight. One hapless droid gets shoved into a furiously advancing Savage.
- Earlier in the episode Mother Talzin locates Savage in her crystal ball. Through the ball, he is seen moving and scowling. Conversely, Maul’s face is expressionless. He doesn’t even blink. I wonder if Maul’s inertness is a hint to his condition?
- The three episodes are called “The Night Sisters,” “Monster,” and “Witches of the Mist.” All three story credits go to Katie Lucas. If I remember correctly, “The Night Sisters” and “The Witches of the Mist” are directed by Giancarlo Volpe and “Monster” is directed by Kyle Dunlevy.
- In regard to the trailer, it looks the show is venturing into fantasy territory. There is indeed a white bearded, pointy-hated, and Merlin type wizard in the footage. There is also a white-clad woman who looks like the good witch from the Wizard of Oz. The most ominous being is a very tall black-clad, white headed, bald gentleman who looks like pure evil. At one point, it appears that he turns himself into a giant bat.
In terms of locales, a rocky planet figured prominently. This is where Anakin and Ahsoka face off (not Dathomir). Evil Ahsoka looked discolored and veiny.
There is one shot where Obi-wan and Ahsoka are walking on a lifeless planet. Where they step, a bubble of life and energy surround them. Plants and trees come alive within this bubble.
Even Piell wields a green lightsaber and is seen fighting Battledriods on a Republic Destroyer’s bridge.
I’m not sure about the guy in carbonite. It almost looked like a clone (or Jango).[/align]
