World Building: Revenge of the Sith

Posted by Bret on 11/22/21 at 07:05 AM Category: World Building

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Next up in our series on 3.75" world-building, is Revenge of the Sith.

For your convenience, heere are links to our previous articles. For scoring of each scene, we judge the currently available 3.75" world-building assets against the potential for future world-building (max of 10) if Hasbro were to fill the gaps - tempered by "awesomeness." For example, a score of 3/4 would indicate that a display of the scene is nearly complete, but has a relatively low potential for "wow" factor, even if fully completed. A score of 6/10 indicates that Hasbro has some work to do to fill the gaps, but if completed the scene could serve as a centerpiece of any collector's display.

World Building:
A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
The Phantom Menace
Attack of the Clones

Following an entire film based on Anakin's childhood and then a choppy and meandering whodunit/romance, George Lucas had a lot of work to do in order to wrap up the prequel trilogy. He did a decent job with Episode III, which was burdened by having too much to do in one film. But like TPM and AOTC, this certainly didn't hinder collectors from being sucked into the world-building possibilities of the 3.75" scale. We got to see no fewer than 12 planets, and even though most of them were only for a few seconds each, Hasbro took advantage of most of them. Additionally, there were significant scenes from inside The Invisible Hand as well as Tantive III. While maybe not quite as toyetic as AOTC, Revenge of the Sith has, and still has, plenty of potential.

Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Battle of Coruscant - (Space Battle / Invisible Hand)

Space battles are fun, although the displayability is a bit tricky. Nevertheless, we've got the main players in the Battle of Coruscant. Anakin and Obi-Wan's starfighters, ARC-170's, V-Wings, Droid Trifighters, and Vulture droids. If you want to beef up your forces with more Hasbro vehicles that weren't necessarily shown on screen, canon does have several more present such as V-19 Torrents, Hyena Bombers, and Droid Gunships. As for characters, we have pilot versions of Obi-Wan and Anakin, Clone Pilot Oddball, R2-D2, and R4-P17 (R.I.P.). Once on board the invisible hand, we've got several versions of Battle Droids, Droidekas, and Super Battle Droids (including a scene-specific version that interacts with R2-D2 to recreate the oil-on-fire hijinks. We also have a (terrible) Chancellor Palpatine and a Count Dooku (who needs a TVC version badly). Moving on to the bridge scene, we have Grievous, blue battle droid pilots, and Magna droids. and Lushros Dofine. Finally, to add an exclamation point to the world-building options, we have the fire/rescue ship captain.

World Building Score: 4/7

The good news is that we have just about every starfighter class ship and droid, as well as just about every character seen on screen, with the possible exception of some of the background Neimodians that made up Lushros Dofine's bridge crew. it's an impressive array of ships, and a decent showing of action figures. The downside here is that we have next to nothing as far as environmental pieces, backgrounds, or playsets. The only thing we have is a control console accessory that came with Dofine. While the hangar is probably something that wasn't toyetic enough, it seems Hasbro could have made an observation deck, where Palpatine's rescue / Dooku's death take place. The other possibility would have been the bridge, which could be packed with figures. And there's Dooku's escape pod as well as the Fire/Rescue ship (since we have the pilot...). All in all, the available vehicles give us almost everything we need for the space battle itself, since we can assume that capital ships are off the table. The scenes inside the Invisible Hand, on the...other...hand..., are a bit bare without some playsets/environments. Those would really fulfill the true potential of this scene.

Coruscant [pre Order 66] - (Senate / Padmé's Apartment / Jedi Temple / Opera / Palpatine's Office)

Post-battle, there are several locales of interest on Coruscant prior to that whole Order 66 thing. We've got an exterior shot of the Senate, in which a bunch of V.I.P.'s meet up to congratulate (and debrief) Palpatine, Obi-Wan, and Anakin. We've got many of those V.I.P.'s: Bail Organa, Mace Windu, Mon Mothma, Orn Free Taa, Meena Tills, Jar Jar Binks, Chi Eekway, and Terr Taneel (wrong outfit). We also have the all gold C-3PO, R2-D2, as well as an FA-4 Pilot droid (which you probably used as Dooku's pilot on Geonosis). You can also see a blue Senate Guard in the background.

We have Padmé in her nightgown for the first apartment scene. While there isn't much potential here, it is notable that we see Padmé's apartment a few more times later in the film, including twice before Order 66 is issued.

The Jedi Temple gets a few interior shots. We have Yoda and Anakin for their quarterly one-on-one meeting in which Yoda has to complete his senior managers' performance evaluation. Following that, we get a nice hallway shot, which is sadly pretty devoid of interesting Jedi characters. Anakin enters the briefing room, which would make a pretty cool set, even though there's no actual meeting on screen. Later, we get a shot of the council, which has a bit of a different makeup since we last saw it in AOTC. Besides there being 6 new members, a few participate via hologram. We get another shot of the council when Yoda is participating via Kashyyyk. We even see the entire council as a hologram in front of Yoda as he sits with Tarful and Chewbacca. Finally, there's a scene from a war room (different from the previously mentioned briefing room) in which Mace and Anakin are present, and are discussing tactics with Yoda, KI-Adi Mundi, Commander Cody, and Aayla Secura. Fortunately, we have all of these figures available to us. It is notable that there is a short scene of Mace, Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Anakin aboard a gunship flying through the Coruscant sky lanes. The interesting point here is that this is possibly the only time the all-white Phase 2 Clones can be spotted in the film. I believe it was discussed somewhere on the internet that this was an editing error, and that these should have had the gray markings of the 41st Elites.

We get some more quality time inside Palpatine's office, although here we only have Palpatine and Anakin to work with. We are then introduced to the Opera House. Here's another opportunity for some world building. The exterior shot has none other than George "Baron Papanoida" Lucas standing about, along with his real-life daughters playing Terr Taneel (this time in the outfit offered by her action figure) and Chi-Eekway (who couldn't be bothered to change her clothes for this event). Inside, we've got Palpatine, Anakin, Mas Amedda, and Sly Moore.

World Building Score: 4/7

For the Senate arrival, we're missing the Jedi shuttle (the civilian version of which was in AOTC) which takes Obi-Wan and Anakin to the Senate following the successful rescue of Palpatine. As for the V.I.P.'s, we have do have many of them, as mentioned above, but we are also missing Nee Alavar, Giddean Danu, Tundra Dowmeia, Malé-Dee, along with some of the senatorial aides seen in the background. There are also a few protocol droids, BD-3000 luxury droids, and some identified platform crew droids that are mingling with the FA-4's. Perhaps most importantly, we lack Padmé in the outfit she wears when she greets Anakin after the meeting.

For Padmé's apartment, we do have her nightgown figure, but not the matching Anakin (with removable shirt). Such is the male-dominated world of action figure collecting. For a couple of follow up scenes prior to Order 66, we have Anakin in his basic outfit, but neither of two outfits worn by Padmé.

While several of the Jedi Council figures could use an upgrade, we have almost everyone, except Coleman Kcaj (just use Coleman Trebor, nobody will know!). Otherwise, the scenery in the temple is so bare of actual Jedi (probably because they're off fighting the war) that we really are just watching Anakin and Obi-Wan tour the place. A lot of folks would love an updated Jedi Council chamber. I'm happy we at least have what we have already, but I'm not opposed to something better.

For the opera, we can see senator Tundra Dowmeia (previously spotted as part of the greeting party following the battle), some Ishi Tibs, Aqualish, and Twi-Leks, along with another BD-3000 Luxury droid. Inside, Senator Sweitt Concorkill can be seen prior to being dismissed by Palpatine. Also of note, you can see Anakin sprinting onto the opera platform from a DC0052 Speeder, an air car used by the Jedi on Coruscant. It's the first time we see it, with a few more opportunities to come.

The potential here is decent because of the general preponderance of character/alien variety in many of the scenes. We have a lot, but need more to reach that full potential - especially environmental sets. An opera box seat would be cool so that you can reenact that one time at band camp when Palpatine told Anakin about Darth Plagueis the Wise. Padme's apartment had 3 scenes at this point. The Jedi Temple is of course an opportunity for Hasbro to do something special.

Kashyyyk

One of the big ground battles featured in ROTS (albeit, for only a few shots) is from Kashyyyk. Hasbro certainly gave us plenty to use as fodder for this scene, even though it wasn't very long. We've got Yoda, Luminara Unduli, Tarrful, Chewbacca, and Merumeru, along with Commander Gree and the 41st Elite scout troopers and tons of Wookiee warrior variants. Republic vehicles in the 3.75" line include the awesome Juggernaut Turbo Tank, AT-AP, AT-RT, swamp speeders, and Wookie flutter craft. We even have a few "just off screen" figures based on the comics, like Quinlan Vos and Commander Faie, among others. For the Separatists, we have the battle droids of course (some versions with camo coloring), Persuader Droid Enforcer tanks (snail tanks), Heavy Missile Platform gunships, and Dwarf Spider Droids. We even have the Can-Cell, the giant dragonfly that can be seen in the opening shot.

World Building Score: 7/8

There's a lot to work with here, but there are still a few notable items missing. We don't have King Grakchawwaa, who can be spotted standing next to Luminara in the first sequence. We don't have the double-fuselage catamaran. We also don't have any environmental pieces. There are some Wookiee cannons that can be spotted on the beach, and it would be great if we had the treetop command center, complete with the holographic table of the Jedi Council. But even without those things, you can set up a very impressive battle scene, and you can take it next level with some simple use of natural sand or twigs/sticks/branches/trees. Hasbro has generally done the big ground battles quite well, and Kashyyyk is no exception.

Utapau

Utapau is another battle setpiece, but this one is a little more elaborate and developed than Kashyyyk. Utapau is first shown when Grievous arrives in a Sheathipeade class shuttle following his fleeing the Battle of Coruscant. We have a nice world-building moment as Grievous storms past several of the Separatist leaders. We've got 5 of the 6 in this shot, but Shu Mai, San Hill, Wat Tambor, Poggle the Lesser, and Nute Gunray seem to all be wearing new costumes that are not accurately represented in our figures, which are based on AOTC. But we do also have a holographic Sidious, with whom Grievous communicates.

Just before, Obi-Wan arrives in pursuit, there's a short scene in a hangar aboard a Republic star destroyer. For this we have Obi-Wan and his second Jedi Starfighter (after he crash-landed the first one aboard the Invisible Hand) along with his new astromech, R4-G9, and Utapau hologram. We've got Commander Cody, 212th Clone Troopers, and Firespeeder pilots. Hasbro also gave us V-Wing fighters, which can be spotted in the foreground. Of course we also have the awesome LAAT/i Gunship.

After Obi-Wan arrives on Utapau, we get a series of scenes that have some nice world-building potential. Obi-Wan lands and is greeted by Tion Meddon, while some Utai mechanics tend to Obi-Wan's starfighter. There are varactyl's in the background, after which Obi-Wan ends up riding one named Boga. We also see a shot of Greivous addressing the Sep leaders again. This time we see Passel Argente and Po Nudo, which exist in the line. After Obi-Wan performs his "Hello there" move, we can faithfully recreate the entire duel, including the Magnadroids, as well as battle droids, super battle droids, and droidekas. Shortly after Obi-Wan disables Grievous, the 212th arrive. Grievous jumps into his weird wheelbase, and we've got a Boga/Wheelbike-style car chase, which we can also display in 3.75". As for the early battle, we've got several variations of 212th clone troopers, gunships, AT-TE's, vulture droids, battle droids of all types, and crab droids. Like Stacy's mom, Utapau has got it going on in 3.75". After Obi-Wan finally catches up to Grievous, we are able to recreate their duel, including Grievous's flaming out from a few blasts to the gut sac from Obi-Wan's firing of the uncivilized blaster. Not only do we have these figures, even the scene specific "fire Grievous", we also have his ride, Soulless One, which Obi-Wan commandeers to escape shortly thereafter.

World Building Score: 7/8

For Grievous's arrival, we are missing Tikkes, one of the most well known Sep leaders not represented in the 3.75" line. And one of the most prominent ships that is missing from our collections is the Sheathipede shuttle. It made an appearance in each of the 3 prequel films, numerous appearances in The Clone Wars, and was used as The Phantom II in Rebels after the first one was destroyed. It's one of my top 5 mid-sized vehicles that I wish Hasbro would make.

On board the Republic star destroyer we're only missing some of the random astromechs that can be seen rolling around. It's unlikely Hasbro would ever make any kind of hanger environment piece, but the location can be seen multiple times during The Clone Wars, most prominently during the series' ultimate battle aboard the Tribunal.

For Obi-Wan's Utapau arrival, while we have his starfighter, we don't have the ROTS-era 6-engine hyperspace ring. While we have a varactyl, we don't have the flying dactillions. While we have Tion Meddon and a Pau'an warrior (security), we lack the 2 dignitaries that roll with Meddon. We don't have an ROTS (or AOTC, for that matter) Nute Gunray, which gets more annoying every time I think about it.

Other than the Sheathipede and a couple of the Separatists, there's not a whole lot to add here. It's unlikely Hasbro would create any kind of Utapau environment, which is too bad, because it was a cool backdrop for all the fighting going on. A landing platform would be a nice environmental piece, but probably a near zero possibility.

Coruscant [Order 66] (Jedi Temple / Palpatine' Office )

We return to Coruscant as the Clone Wars rage, and we find Mace Windu and Anakin at a war planning table, speaking with holographs of Yoda, Ki-Adi Mundi, Commander Cody, and Aayla Secura. We have all of these figures (although most are aging), even the ones in holograph form. As Palpatine sets into motion the final hours of the Republic, he reveals to Anakin that he is the Sith responsible for galactic events, and that only he can help Anakin save Padmé. Once again, we have a scene in the office, this time with the mural of the Great Hyperspace War in the background. After Anakin declines to strike Palpatine down, he tells Mace about the revelation, who organizes his team to arrest Palpatine.

We return to the Temple to find Darth Anakin leading the 501st Legion into the Jedi Temple. The battle ensues, and while we don't really have Jedi specific to the scene on screen, only a few have been canonically identified. Shaak Ti was killed off screen - and while we have her figure, she is on many fans' top 10 lists for a TVC update. Finally, we have Jett Zukassa, Bail Organa, and some 501st Clones who have a small skirmish at a landing platform. Commander Appo is one of these clones, who is wounded by Jett's surprise attack. While The Clone Wars has Appo wearing a destinctive arrow on his helmet, the ROTS version is indistinguishable from other members of the unit.

World Building Score: 4/7

We've got all the figures for these scenes, although we really do need an updated Chancellor Palpatine from the 2005 salt shaker version, so he can properly make short work of the Jedi. Yet another holographic battle planning table is missing from the line. We also have some nice shots of the DC0052 Jedi Speeder that Anakin uses to zip around town, so that vehicle seems more intriguing as a Hasbro toy as the film progresses. Oh---we don't have Padmé in her "staring sadly out the apartment window" outfit.

So at this point, Palpatine's office has now had several pivotal scenes in AOTC and ROTS. Not only is it a place where various Jedi, Senators, and aides have gathered, but it's the location where Anakin learns the true nature of his mentor, where the Jedi fight/fail to arrest Palpatine, and where Darth Vader is born. It certainly is a place that is at least somewhat worthy of a playset/environment of sorts. Sadly, the chances are pretty slim. And once again, we get some good shots of the Jedi Temple, specifically the grand stair entry and some interior shots, including a classroom. Cin Drallig, and two padawans named Whie Malreaux and Bene are all shown fighting Darth Anakin via hologram. There is also the shot inside the classroom, with the wee younglings hiding from the carnage. Interestingly, incredibly, it seems like the small boy who walks up to Anakin looking for help is unnamed in canon. One neat addition to the line would be Bail's car. I would also enjoy an Appo figure based on his TCW appearance with the arrow marking on his helmet, but that's just me.

Mygeeto

We get a few moments on snowy Mygeeto. Hasbro has given us the Ki-Adi Mundi (we need an update!), Commander Bacara (who I just learned was CC-1138), and Galactic Marines. B2 Super Battle Droids and Octupturra Droids are front and center for the Separatist forces.

World Building Score: 4/5

Not much for Hasbro to do here as far as environments, as we only see a damaged bridge span with a bunch of debris. The most prominent item missing here (besides a K-AM update) is the UT-AT, or Unstable Terrain Artillery Transport, a couple of which can be seen providing support for the troops on the bridge. It's vaguely similar to an AT-TE with repulsorlift skis instead of legs. While a neat looking vehicle, I wouldn't hold my breath for an Hasbro version.

Felucia

Jumping to Felucia, we've got Aayla Secura, Commander Bly, and the 327th Star Corps clone troopers, supported by AT-TE's, AT-AP's, and swamp speeders. We've even got the gelagub just for giggles. You can actually spot some Confederacy Homing Spider Droids and AAT's in the background as Secura and the Clones step up to a clearing to observe the enemy, just seconds before Order 66 is issued.

World Building Score: 4/5

The only thing we're missing here is something we'll never get - the AT-OT troop transport, which can be seen in the establishing shot of the Republic forces on Felucia. Other than that, the only thing missing is some kind of environmental piece. Not sure how retail-worthy some giant ferns, glowy flowers, and other jungle fauna would be. Perhaps a trip to your local hobby shop could do the trick.

Cato Neimoidia

Here we basically just see an aerial shot of a city on Cato Neimoidia, and a few seconds of some ARC-170's flying in formation with Plo Koon's Delta-7 Jedi Starfighter. We get a quick shot of Sidious's hologram issuing Order 66 to Clone Pilot Jag, and then we see him shoot down and kill Plo Koon.

World Building Score: 3/3

We have the ships and the figures. Jag isn't a named Hasbro figure, but you can substitute a generic clone pilot. If anyone knows if there is any distinctive markings on the character's helmet or uniform that differentiate him from a regular pilot, please let us know in the comments so we can demand a figure.

Saleucami

Here we've got a quick shot of Stass Allie on her speeder (which seems similar to the ones later seen in ROTJ) as well as Commander Neyo and a fellow trooper riding on their Republic speeder bikes. Hasbro has given us these figures and speeders. If you're feeling randy, you can even use an upended AT-PT as battle debris in the background.

World Building Score: 3/3

The only thing possible (but basically impossible) would be some weird terrain backdrop, or maybe the scavenging birds that are seen picking through some clone trooper corpses in the swamps.

Coruscant [Post Order 66] - (Sundered Heart / Jedi Temple / Senate)

Yoda, Chewbacca, and Tarfful say goodbye as the Jedi Master departs Kashyyyk in his escape pod. Anakin and R2 arrive in his second starfighter to meet Padmé and Threepio at her apartment. Then after Obi-Wan flies Grievous's personal ship away from Utapau, we get a look aboard Sundered Heart, also known as Tantive III. It's close enough that we have the Tantive IV walls playset as a backdrop for much of the dialogue. We also see Boba Fett piloting the ship in a cockpit scene. We then return to the Jedi Temple, following it being sacked by the 501st. We get a look outside, and of course we have Yoda, Obi-Wan, and the clones to recreate the skirmish. Sadly, Hasbro never gave us the two-pack of Yoda impaling a 501st trooper with his wee lightsaber. Inside, we see the communications room where Obi-Wan adjusts the signals to any survivors, as well as the security room where he watches "tape" of Anakin slaughtering younglings. Palpatine addresses the Senate with Sly Moore and Mas Amedda at his side. Shortly thereafter, Obi-Wan visits Padmé to break the news that he's going to have to kill Anakin.

World Building Score: 4/7

All of these characters mentioned above have 3.75" figures, with the exception of some of Padmé's outfits. Also, the Palpatine we have from this scene is quite terrible, and very much needs a modern update. While we have the Tantive (IV) hallways and a senate pod, we don't have much else as far as backgrounds, environments, or accessories. The potential for world building here lies mostly within the halls of the Senate and Jedi Temple, which we've discussed already numerous times. The rest this part of the film gave us some cool figure options, but the chances of Padme's apartment, the Sundered Heart cockpit, or any other scenery making their way into the line is probably zero. Oh yeah, that DC0052 Jedi Air Car makes another appearance after Obi-Wan used it to get to an from Padmé's apartment. I think it made it's mark, and is deserving of a neat little toy. And lastly, we see Padmé's latest chrome yacht. While we don't have a viable starship toy, we do have a mini-rig version, which is kinda neat, even though it just holds one figure in the cockpit.

Mustafar / Senate

While Palpatine is busy declaring the First Galactic Empire, Anakin is off to Mustafar, passing a couple of Mustafarian sentries on his way to the command center. There, we get one last look at all the Confederacy leaders. We've established that we have most of them, with Tikkes notably absent. But we also have VERY scene specific versions of Passel Argente and Cat Minh, both of whose figures sport lightsaber slashes across their chests. You also get to display your Neimodian sentries here. Padme and Obi-Wan arrive, and the duel begins. You can display your figures in the (terrible) Mustafar playset, or you can go with the pretty cool hover platforms. For some deep cut backgrounders, Hasbro offered us the lava miner and panning droid. When the duel is complete, we've got a pretty awesome crispy Anakin figure, as well as the Shock Troopers that arrive with Palpatine to rescue him.

In the Senate, we get a look at another of Emperor Palpatine's offices, where Yoda makes short work of the Imperial guards. Mas Amedda makes a hasty exit, and this duel begins. We've got Yoda and an pretty awesome Palpatine, and they can fight it out around your senate pod(s). At the conclusion of the fight, shock troopers arrive to help find Yoda.

World Building Score: 4/7

We have all of the figures mentioned above, with the exceptions of Tikkes and ROTS versions of Nute and Rune. Their scene is the most visually interesting as far as character variety go, and is great for world building, although we lack a control room environment. As for the Senate, the most glaring omission for me is the lack of the chancellor's/emperor's pulpit. We have the senate pod, but no place to put Palpatine (or Valorum!).

Polis Massa / Coruscant Medical

Obi-Wan takes Padmé and the droids away from Mustafar and meets Yoda and Bail on Polis Massa, where the locals have a top notch medical facility to help care for Padmé and her babies. We've got all of these figures (except for the Polis Massan pair on the surface of the rock wearing spacesuits.). Meanwhile, Anakin is taken to Coruscant where he gets taken care of in a Dr. Frankenstein-ish lab of horrors. We have the crispy Anakin, Palpatine, and the 3 medical droids, along with the bed.

World Building Score: 4/5

We don't have anything for the Polis Massa environment, nor do we have the birthing droids. The hover-stretcher used to transport Anakin to the medical bay would be a neat addition to the line, while Palpatine's shuttle probably has no shot.

Closing (Star Destroyer / Sundered Heart / Naboo / Alderaan / Tatooine

The film ends with a few closing shots. We see Padmé's funeral on Naboo. We have versions of several characters who are in attendance, although not necessarily the exact outfits: Jar Jar Binks, Boss Nass, and Sio Bibble. Next, we see Vader, Palpatine, and a young Tarkin, aboard a Venator-class Star destroyer bridge - which looks almost identical to an Imperial Star Destroyer bridge. We move on to Alderaan, where we see Bail and Breha Organa with baby Leia. Then we see Obi-Wan, with an epode, deliver baby Luke to Owen and Beru Lars at the homestead. We have all of these characters mentioned in figure form.

World Building Score: 4/6

The most notable character missing is probably Queen Apailana of Naboo, who is given a nice prominent shot at the funeral. We don't have Padmé lying in state in her floating coffin. We're missing generic grey-suited Imperial officers to compliment the star destroyer bridge that we don't have (but really should). There are no environments for Alderaan, but we do have a (terrible) Lars homestead.

As you can really see if you managed to read most or all of this breakdown, ROTS was pretty ambitious as far as different characters, environments, planets, and ships. There is also a lot of jumping around between locations. It's a far different film visually from those in the OT, that more or less had one location per act.

Hasbro gave us a ton of figures and vehicles, and one playset and one beast for Revenge of the Sith. There isn't much that is missing as far as figures are concerned, but some Palpatine and Padmé outfit variants, along with a few more Separatists, would probably knock out about 90% of the missing. We got some nice ships, with the Jedi starfighters, ARC-170's, V-19's, and some ground vehicles. The Mustafar playset isn't great, but it has some useful aspects. There's a lot to digest in the film as far as toy potential, but Hasbro generally came through pretty nicely.