A Thousand Stars: Episode III, Part 7

[matril]

We have a brief interlude of Grievous returning to his hideout, with the confirmation that he is in fact reporting to Darth Sidious. Before that, though, take note of something in this shot of his arrival.



See the Viceroy standing hopefully at the right hand corner? And see how Grievous just charges right past him -- and all the other Separatist leaders -- without a hint of acknowledgement?

Then he enters his private conference with Sidious, and the contrast could not be more extreme.



Complete servility. Sidious's image even stands on a raised platform to give him that much more prominence as Grievous grovels and bows. You see, this is how a Sith Lord runs things. We'll witness it in the Empire even more. It is a hierarchy of bullies, with each rank punching down at the guy beneath them. I have no doubt that the Separatist movement includes idealists and reformers with the best of intentions, but unfortunately, they have been misled. The ones actually in charge want only power, and the one at the very top is using that greed to gain all the power for himself.

By the way, I think it's pretty clear that Grievous hasn't the slightest notion of Sidious's double identity. Dooku knew, though he was deceived about Palpatine's plans for Anakin to replace him. But Grievous doesn't show any awareness that the kidnapping of the Chancellor was staged. I suspect that to him, all humans look much the same as each other, and he wouldn't consider the resemblance meaningful. It makes sense in terms of how Palpatine is using him and masterfully playing both sides of the war. But either way, Grievous is yet more proof that there's always a bigger fish.

Next time, dream turns to nightmare...

Comments

[krpalmer]

A moment in between these two shots, when Grievous emerges from an elevator to finish rushing to the hologram table, sometimes looks peculiar and amusing to me because he passes in front of a window looking down on the landing area he'd just been in and it's possible to think him "enormous." Of course, this goes straight on to that second shot you mentioned where he's trying to look small.

I remember "Grievous might not think about comparing Palpatine and Sidious" was brought up back during "Star Words." After seeing it here I did wonder about the possibility of him not having actually captured Palpatine himself; that's not how it happened in the original Clone Wars animated mini-series, but I have to admit to considerable detachment from the "Expanded Universe" these days after too many attempts to use it to diminish the actual Star Wars movies. Then, though, I did really notice your comment about Grievous not showing any hint of knowing he's another actor in a scheme.

[matril]

Yeah, while I do enjoy speculating about offscreen stuff, I'm firmly in the camp that the movies ought to be enjoyed and fully understood on their own, without the need to "research" expanded materials. Any time someone would try to explain head-scratching parts in the Disney Space Movies with "Well, it makes sense if you've read the book/film guide/back of the toy package" told me they were poorly done movies. The supplemental stuff can sometimes be a fun addition, but it shouldn't be required reading.

[krpalmer]

I fear I was thinking of the more overblown "the Expanded Universe proves Star Wars has to be made by other people to appeal to those who've now grown up!" rhetoric. The first Clone Wars miniseries, moving beyond novels or even comics to animation, might have been a particularly enticing example for some. (Then, when George Lucas was collaborating with the different people making the computer-animated Clone Wars series, that show not hewing to every last detail set down in the previous novels, comics, and animation kept sparking controversy among the usual suspects...)

[matril]

Agreed. There will always be people to appoint themselves as gatekeepers of the "correct" canon. I admit that I've myself obsessed over tiny details; it's part of how I enjoy being a fan. But that's the operative word, "enjoy." If it ceases to be fun and turns into sour pedantry -- particularly against the very creator of the story! -- then it just sucks all the joy out of fandom.

I will say that if Disney's mishandling of the property has accomplished anything, it's persuaded some former naysayers that maybe, shockingly, Lucas actually has a better understanding of the saga than outsiders.