Star Wars: Droids Review, Episode 10

This episode is the original start of the Mungo Baobab arc. Though it takes place chronologically after The Great Heep, it aired six months before that special. The episode begins in a cantina, where Mungo and the droids are waiting for an informant, who turns out to be a two-headed dude. So far so good. The informant sells Mungo a map of the Roon system in exchange for some potato skins. Apparently the Roon system is hidden, and is the source of valuable Roonstones. Mungo wants to set up a lucrative trade route. If this is veering too close to an economics lesson, we are saved by the timely arrival of some Stormtroopers. R2 uses the jukebox to defeat them, which is silly. Next we get a high-speed chase to the library. Which is to say, they casually drive away from the Stormtroopers whose staff guns are even less accurate than their regular guns.

At the Baobab archives, Mungo learns how to find the legendary Rainbow Comets, which will lead them through the "Cloak of Sith", a dust cloud that hides the Roon system. So, why did they need the map if they already had that information? And why does everyone know about Roon, but nobody knows how to get there? It seems like the map is just a MacGuffin. Good thing Star Wars never tried to pull that again. Meanwhile, Admiral Screed has been sending probe droids to the Cloak of Sith, and one has returned with a message from Governor Koong. Koong volunteers to turn the Roon system over to Imperial control in order to improve his business interests. Apparently Koong has a lucrative pirating business in the Cloak of Sith. Again, there's something messed up here. Who is he selling to if nobody knows where this place is?

So Mungo sets off to follow the rainbow comets through an asteroid field, which makes sense somehow. Unfortunately they run into some very dangerous radioactive space clouds. They come up with the brilliant plan to shoot the coulds, which works perfectly, and they catch up to the comet, which leads them to Governor Koong's giant spaceship bird. Things look grim, but Koong mistakes a guy with a beard and two droids for Imperial emissaries. Koong shows off his operation, which involves storing lots of explosives in unsecure locations. Everything is peachy until the actual Imperials come, looking a lot more Imperial.

Mungo and the droids sidle away then make a run for it through the maze of cargo but are eventually captured. Mungo is put in the tribble canister, and R2 is put to work. C-3PO gets strapped to the old reprogramming table. Things are looking pretty rough for our heroes until R2 remembers that he can basically do whatever he wants to. In this case, he uses his smoke screen and jumping abilities. The Stormtropers' random blaster shots mixed with the boxes of explosives start to produce the expected results, and Mungo, the tribbles, an old prospector, and 3PO jump on a cart that R2 drags away. This is slightly faster than walking, I guess. During the evacuation of the spacebird, Screed insistes on stealing Mungo's ship for some reason. What a jerk. Mungo and the droids take Koong's ship. I don't know if there was a point to all that. Oh yeah, and there's the Roon system. Right there. If you look in that direction. Trade route established!

This isn't a bad episode, it's just...unnecessary? There's a bit of a "when are they going to get to the fireworks factory" here, like everyone is treading water and setting up the rest of the Roon arc. The whole premise of finding Roon doesn't pass the logic test. I guess we shouldn't dig too deeply into the plot of a children's cartoon from 33 years ago. (Or major motion pictures from more recently). I like Screed in this episode, and Mungo at least has a little bit of personality. Governor Koong is annoying, but his guard guys are kind of awesome-looking and his bug sidekick Gaff is alright. This show has come along way in terms of pacing and dialogue.

Now let's get back to celebrating the Sail Barge campaign, so we can move on to demanding a realistic Mungo Baobab in the Vintage Collection.

Best Moment: (20:33) I've never been a Star Trek guy, but even I can recognize the Tribble homage. The Tribble (officially Mupple) giving C-3PO varying hairstyles is wonderful. Give that guy a spin-off movie.

Most WTF Moment: Besides the absurd plot points, and the whole archivist droid nonsense, nothing stands out. I guess I have to go with R2's extended dance sequence (1:08).

Unreleased Action Figures: Governor Koong, Gaff, Mungo Baobab

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