Ahsoka Tano faces a deadly threat in the form of mind-controlled clones in “Brain Invaders,” an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS premiering at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, December 4 on Cartoon Network. TM & © 2009 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.
At the height of the last episode, Luminara Unduli is taken hostage by the Geonosians, who aim to make her their servant through the use of Geonosian brain worms. (A ripoff of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’s Ceti eels? Well, ceti eels enter the brain through the ear, whereas Geonosian brain worms go through the nose. Totally different!)
This week, Ahsoka Tano and Barriss Offee, along with some clones, head back toward Republic space–but it turns out some brain worms have hitched a ride. As you see in the clip, this doesn’t bode well for the Padawans:
Ashley Eckstein, who voices Ahsoka, suggests that the Padawan’s loyalty to the clones repeats Anakin Skywalker’s well-known problems with attachment:
“Due to Anakin’s teaching, I do feel that Ahsoka is developing similar attachment issues. Only time will tell if those issues will play a part in her destiny. . . Over the course of the Clone Wars so far, Ahsoka has spent most of her time with Anakin, and she is really beginning to emulate him. She is becoming more and more like her Master in every episode; we’ll see if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”
The opportunity to work with another Padawan, however, provides a useful corrective:
“Ahsoka has become a better, more well-rounded Padawan because of her friendship with Barriss. . . After becoming friends with Barriss, Ahsoka is now able to look at things from another point of view. She’s realizing that they each have different strengths, and as a team they work well together. When I think of the two of them together, I think Padawan Power!”
I’m not sure “Padawan Power” is quite as appealing as “Mandalorian Mayhem,” but breaking Anakin’s hold on Ahsoka is probably a good idea.
The episode airs Friday at 9pm Eastern/Pacific on The Cartoon Network.
