“Who a person truly is cannot be seen with the eye.”

We travel back to Naboo with Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) and Padme Amidala (Catherine Taber)in this episode written by Daniel Arkin. Shadow Warrior debuted on 30 September, 2011.

There is unrest under the surface of Naboo as the Gungans are seemingly on the verge of joining the Separatists. But Anakin discovers that Boss Lyonie (Ahmed Best) may be under the influence of someone who prefers to remain hidden – although blatantly obvious.

The obvious baddie, Rish Loo (Corey Burton – and the name is obviously a nod to the Dumas character with a slightly similar name) leads to a more recognisable villain arrives on Naboo, General Grievous (Matthew Wood).

Anakin and Padme come up with a plan as they realise how similar in appearance Lyonie and Jar Jar Binks (also Best) appear. This allows them to draw out the Separatists and expose their efforts with the Gungans.

It’s cool to see Naboo back on the screen, and it’s computer generated small screen appearance seems completely in line with what we have seen on the big screen prior to this.

Of course with Binks present you know there’s going to be some silly humour, but it’s kept fairly restrained, which is a good thing, and seeing the Gungans throw down against Grievous (because Anakin can’t confront him until Revenge of the Sith) is pretty cool, as well as what the confrontation costs them, and Grievous.

“Understanding is honoring the truth beneath the surface.”

Mercy Mission was written by Bonnie Mark and first aired on 7 October, 2011. R2 and Threepio (Anthony Daniels) find themselves front and centre in this story that sees the droid duo travelling to aid the Aleena. Their planet has been suffering sever quakes, and although there is a clone squadron on hand it will follow to the pair of droids to solve the problem.

The tiny Aleena actually don’t bring the Ewoks to mind, and are in fact very much their own culture. Threepio keeps making a mess of things with the clones, but seems to get along pretty well with the Aleena. And, of course, R2 just seems tolerant not only of the little aliens, but Threepio as well, best friend or not.

I love the fact that the droids get to go on an adventure and have some fun without some of the other main characters. We know their not in any real danger, but can’t help but enjoy the romp they find themselves on.

They also get a chance to save the planet as they meet the beings under the surface who share the world with the Aleena. Fun.

“Who’s the more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?”

Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle pen the last episode up this week, which is also an adventure for our favourite droids. It debuted on 14 October, 2011.

R2 and Threepio get dropped off aboard Jedi Master Galia’s (Angelique Perrin) cruiser following their previous adventure, only to be thrown into another one when the Republic falls under attack by Separatist forces.

The two droids escape (?) in a Y-Wing, something Threepio isn’t keen on, but R2 is able to fly (mostly) before crash landing and plunging into another adventure that tests the protocol droid’s etiquette and endurance, and the astromech’s sense of adventure.

There are nods to Gulliver’s Travels and to The Wizard of Oz, but there could have been a better way to make this homage. It’s silly, and doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the exemplary arcs and stories that fill out most of the series. And it’s just unfortunate that it deals with our favourite droids.

Still, it’s behind me now.

More next week as the Clone Wars rage on in a galaxy far, far away. May the Force be with you.