Clone Wars 2003's Palpatine

[GuyWithTheCrossguard]

I just want to take a moment to discuss the interpretation of Palpatine in the 2D Clone Wars series from 2003. Although Nick Jameson is definitely not my favorite voice for the character, the way they wrote him for this series is unique and very underrated among fans, in my opinion. This is mainly because they did a phenomenal job at separating the "Chancellor" and "Sith Lord" personas that the Palpatine character contains. In order words, they actually try to hide the fact that Palpatine is Sidious, as opposed to other incarnations where it's made extremely obvious Palpatine is evil. The current Clone Wars series is the most prominent example of this (looking at you Tim Curry, although I do like his voice). Even with this series being post-ROTS when all audiences knew the truth and the writers had the freedom to show Palpatine working in the shadows, it wasn't really an excuse to make Palptine's good guy facade barely believable. Even Ian "The Senate" McDiarmid himself was more suspicious when being good guy Palpatine than Nick Jameson, and this was before the reveal in ROTS. Palpatine in Clone Wars 2003 actually made me forget that he was the evil mastermind behind everything on multiple occasions. Take this scene with General Grevious for example. When Grievous barges into Palpatine's office with the intent to kidnap him, his attempt to be defensive and intimidating towards the 4 armed cyborg Jedi killer was extremely laughable. He just comes off as this silly oblivious old man on the verge of senility, a performance shown throughout pretty much the whole series... and then I remember he could completely obliterate everyone and everything in that room if he wanted to: Grievous AND the 3 Jedi prepared to protect him... and it's actually shocking, even with the knowledge of Palpatine's true identity. It's insane when you realize this guy and the literal demon we saw in The Rise Of Skywalker are the same person. 

[Lord_S_Gray]

You make a good observation there, the senator persona was crucial to getting Palpatine where he is and makes a critical part of his character development in slowly dropping that after the declaration of Empire. That bumbling but genial facade was something i'd have also liked to see maintained much more.

[DarthProdigal]

You make a good observation there, the senator persona was crucial to getting Palpatine where he is and makes a critical part of his character development in slowly dropping that after the declaration of Empire. That bumbling but genial facade was something i'd have also liked to see maintained much more.

Then if you haven't already pick up a copy of Darth Plagueis by James Luceno. IMO it's a must read for any fans of Darth Sidious, because it's true he's a master of deception. Living double and triple lives, it's no wonder he loses his mind inevitably. How can you pretend to be your polar opposite for decades without losing it at least slightly. It's like a mole from some terror cell groomed from birth to become president, all to get the launch codes; by the time you're sworn into office and ready to push that Order 66 button do you even know who you really are or whom you serve? The character is as unique as he is iconic.

[Hulk10]

Hmmm yes the new Clone Wars Palpatine was really well done. I couldn't figure out his angle when he asked the scientist to clone the Zillo Beast. I was thinking. What is Sidious's angle. What is his game, what is he up to?

[TheCharlax]

Hmmm yes the new Clone Wars Palpatine was really well done. I couldn't figure out his angle when he asked the scientist to clone the Zillo Beast. I was thinking. What is Sidious's angle. What is his game, what is he up to?

Sorry, but I believe you are referring to the wrong Clone Wars series.  

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5BtE52BS9Y" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5BtE52BS9Y</a>

[DarthRondoudou]

I member seeing this. Chara design was... Peculiar.
And jedi were soooooooooooo overpowered... (Wind punching droids or sending a sand crawler fly off, IIRC).
But it was interesting nonetheless. Especially the grievous scenes were he expanded his lightsaber collection and the explanation beyond his coughing.

I still have to go through the new clone wars series. And Rebels. Too many things to see. So little time...

[Hulk10]

I dont think the Jedi were overpowered in this show. Plus they gave a good explanation for Windu's strength. He was using the Force.

[DarthRondoudou]

I dont think the Jedi were overpowered in this show. Plus they gave a good explanation for Windu's strength. He was using the Force.

Of course he was. Still, punching holes in metal droids seems pretty OP to me. plus sending ships flying.

[Darth Tepes]

Of course he was. Still, punching holes in metal droids seems pretty OP to me. plus sending ships flying.

Well the EU actually explained what we were seeing there..... Shatterpoint.   It was a force ability that took a ton of training and focus to use.  It allowed the user to see the "shatter Point" in any structure.  The Shatter point, when hit with a physical or Force blow would break almost all if not the entire structure.  Mace was the last Jedi to use it before Jacen Solo.  Jacen used it to kill an assassin squad of Mandalorians by shattering their Beskar armor making them vulnerable to saber strikes.

[DarthProdigal]

Of course he was. Still, punching holes in metal droids seems pretty OP to me. plus sending ships flying.

Yeah, I think you meant OP like in terms of preestablished power scaling right? Like OP in comparison to historical records of the movies and other things for "standard ideas" of Force Push... I mean there is over the top, and more in keeping with traditional standards; at least that's my take on it. That even the most gifted and powerful Jedi seemingly had some interesting limits mid combat or until exhausting themselves. Sand crawlers are super big and heavy, just flinging them around like toys would be some seriously high echelon effort; that may in all likelihood leave the Force user rather drained. I kind of want to watch this a bit now for reference.

Shatterpoint by definition surely falls squarely into the OP category by most definitions, people often rule it's use out completely in RP and as a power because it fits the definition of overkill so squarely. But seeing it used, oh awesome for sure.

[Hulk10]

Lets not forget the Force allows us to do things others would not be able to do. So I call punching through metal droids fair game.

[TheCharlax]

Yeah, I think you meant OP like in terms of preestablished power scaling right?

To be fair, I feel like every non-droid combatant in this series is OP (for the better).  If anything Grievous stands out the most in this regard, for curb-stomping teams of Jedi masters and padawans on two separate occasions, lol.

Perhaps unintentionally (or intentionally, given Tartakovsky's brilliant reputation), this sets up an even greater contrast between said characters and the series' deceptively air-headed Palpatine. 

[Hulk10]

Palpatine does seem rather airheaded in that show.

[DarthRondoudou]

Well the EU actually explained what we were seeing there..... Shatterpoint.   It was a force ability that took a ton of training and focus to use.  It allowed the user to see the "shatter Point" in any structure.  The Shatter point, when hit with a physical or Force blow would break almost all if not the entire structure.  Mace was the last Jedi to use it before Jacen Solo.  Jacen used it to kill an assassin squad of Mandalorians by shattering their Beskar armor making them vulnerable to saber strikes.

I'm meh convinced by this kind of stuff. And it's also this kind of stuff that made me hate the force unleashed game. (yup, didn't even try the second one). That and the terrible console to pc port.

[Hulk10]

Force Unleashed sounds interesting to me.