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The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Sphere of Influence
Episode No.: 48 (Season 3, Episode 4)
Original Air Date: October 1, 2010
Production No.: 225 (Season 2, Episode 25)
“A child stolen is a lost hope.”
Written by Katie Lucas, Steven Melching
Supervising Writer: Drew Z. Greenberg
Directed by Kyle Dunlevy
Cast:
Jennifer Hale as Senator Riyo Chuchi and Trella Bare’Ah
Corey Burton as Chairman Papanoida, Count Dooku and Sib Canay
Seth Green as Ion Papanoida
Tom Kenny as Lt. Tan Divo, Greedo, and Trade Federation envoy
Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano and Twi’lek dancer #1
Nika Futterman as Chi Eekway Papanoida and TC-70
Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker and Neimoidian guard
Gideon Emery as Lott Dod and Gotal
Catherine Taber as Padmé Amidala
Kevin M. Richardson as Jabba the Hutt
Meredith Salenger as Che Amanwe Papanoida and Twi’lek dancer #2
Tom Kane as the narrator
Matthew Wood as battle droids
David Acord as Rotta and Brainee
Synopsis: Chi Eekway and Che Amanwa, Chairman Papanoida’s daughters, are kidnapped and held for ransom. Ahsoka Tano teams up with the Senator from Pantora, Riyo Chuchi, to aid the new chairman in recovering his family before the Trade Federation can unduly influence the future of his planet.
The Chairman and his son, Ion, track down the kidnapper — Greedo — on Tatooine, and rescue Che Amanwe. Meanwhile, Ahsoka and Chuchi find Chi Eekway held captive aboard a blockading Trade Federation battleship over Pantora, and expose Trade Federation officer Sib Canay as a Separatist conspirator.
Returning Characters: Senator Riyo Chuchi, Senator Lott Dod, Senator Padmé Amidala, Jabba the Hutt, Anakin Skywalker, Clone Captain Rex, Lt. Tan Divo, Rotta the Hutt, TC-70
New Characters: Chairman Papanoida, Chi Eekway Papanoida, Che Amanwe Papanoida, Ion Papanoida, Sib Canay, Greedo, Trella Bare’Ah.
Secrets Revealed
- Chairman Papanoida is based on George Lucas’ cameo appearance in the opera house scene in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Papanoida’s family members are based on Lucas’ children. Given the amount of dialogue delivered by Papanoida, voice actor Corey Burton plays the role, who gives a nod to the character’s roots by basing his voice on another famous director, Orson Welles.
- Chi Eekway Papanoida is based on Katie Lucas, the writer of this episode, who also appeared in Episode III as the Senator of Pantora. Hasbro previously released a Chi Eekway action figure, and incorrectly speculated that the blue-skinned Senator might have had Twi’lek head-tails under her heavy robes. Katie also appeared as a purple Twi’lek nightclub patron in Episode II, and Anakin’s friend Amee in Episode I.
- Che Amanwe Papanoida is based on Amanda Lucas. She had previously appeared in the live action movies as Senator Terr Taneel (in Episode III), a nightclub patron named in Episode II, the voice of Neimoidian pilot Tey How in Episode I, and a spectator in Jabba the Hutt’s box at the Podrace arena.
- Ion Papanoida is based on Jett Lucas. Jett’s name was the inspiration for Dexter Jettster in Episode II. Jett has previously appeared in the live action movies as Zett Jukassa in Episodes II and III.
- Though not technically visited in the course of the episode, images of Pantora appear during the newsreel narration.
- Lott Dod makes reference to the “Treaty of 1647,” a legal covenant that assures the Trade Federation’s neutrality. No hint is given, however, of what calendar this may refer to.
- If you thought you spotted Senator Onaconda Farr roaming the Senate hallways, you’re correct. This episode takes place before the Rodian Senator’s death in “Senate Murders.”
- Embo and Sugi from the season two episode “Bounty Hunters” have cameo appearances inside Jabba the Hutt’s palace.
- In the 1990s, the book Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina told a different tale of Greedo’s past that presented him as a misguided youth orphaned by Rodian clan wars and corrupted by bounty hunters. George Lucas’ take on the character established Greedo on Tatooine as of Episode I (he’s around Anakin’s age, and seen scuffling with Skywalker in a deleted scene included in the Episode I DVD) and the Rodian has pretty much always been a luckless thug.
- Ion calls Greedo “sleemo,” which is Huttese for “slimeball.”
- The Twi’lek dancer who aids Baron Papanoida in finding Greedo is unnamed in the episode, though she is identified as Trella Bare’Ah in the script and credits.
- Rodians have green blood.
- Also seen, but without speaking roles, are Orn Free Taa, Chancellor Palpatine, Mas Amedda and Captain Typho.
