Season 2 Episode 17

“A little courage can go a long way.”

Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka crash on Felucia and seek aid from the local spice farmers only to learn that the farmers are the ones who are in real need. Beset by Hondo Ohnaka and his band of pirates who plan to steal their crop, the farmers have contracted four deadly bounty hunters to protect their wares. In an unlikely partnership, the Jedi must work with the farmers’ hired guns to beat back Hondo and his brigands.

Bounty Hunters Commentary, Rumi’s fate, Preview and starwars.com Episode Guide.

Concept Art and Trivia

Concept art of the nysillin crops on Felucia

The episode begins with an unusual title card, specifically mentioning Akira Kurosawa, an influential film director greatly admired by George Lucas. The original Star Wars was very much inspired by the works of Kurosawa, particularly the 1958 movie The Hidden Fortress. Another Clone Wars episode, “Lightsaber Lost,” is a nod to Kurosawa’s work — the 1949 film, Stray Dog. “Bounty Hunters” is the clearest tribute yet to Kurosawa, and his legendary movie The Seven Samurai. Its tale of a beleaguered village hiring mercenaries for protection against brigands has inspired a host of movies — most famously the American remake, The Magnificent Seven, as well as comedies like ¡Three Amigos! and A Bug’s Life. An early storyline in the Star Wars Marvel Comics series in 1978-1979 has a similar story, with Han Solo leading a group of hired guns to protect a village threatened by bandits.

In the script, some of Embo’s dialogue was presented as English. His first words to Anakin were “You’re outmanned, laserblade.” This prompts Anakin’s reply, “It’s not always about the numbers.”

Embo is voiced by Dave Filoni reading French really badly.

Concept art of mercenary Embo and his heavy bowcaster

Concept art of mercenary Rumi Paramita

The Aurebesh text on the escape capsule reads: “CAUTION – Explosive Extrusion”

If Sugi’s blaster pistol looks familiar, it’s no accident. It’s the same type of weapon brandished by Boba Fett in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.