#96 Season 5 Episode 9

“Choose your enemies wisely, as they may be your last hope.”

When General Grievous launches a full-scale attack on the pirate base on Florrum, Ahsoka and the younglings fight side-by-side with Hondo and his pirates to turn back the Separatist forces.

Now free of the pirates, Ahsoka Tano resumes her role as chaperon to a group of adventure-seeking younglings. The situation has become far more dangerous, however.

A Necessary Bond Commentary, Preview, Bonus clip and starwars.com Episode Guide.

Original Airdate: 24 November 2012

Writer: Christian Taylor

Director: Danny Keller

Concept Art and Trivia

This episode answers what exactly happened to Hondo Ohnaka’s base, which was seen destroyed in “Revival,” the season opener. Originally, “Revival” was planned to air later in the season, in proper chronological order, but it was moved to the start in order to better showcase the Darth Maul storyline. In “Revival,” Hondo describes his base being overrun by General Grievous.

The entrance to Hondo’s secret ship vault is marked by a downed vessel — it’s the same animation model as Anakin Skywalker’s Twilight, but heavily distressed.

The Slave I makes its first appearance since “Lethal Trackdown,” the Season Two finale. In that episode, the ship still bore Jango Fett’s paint scheme. In the intervening time, Hondo repainted it with the colors it will bear when it becomes Boba Fett’s vessel.

The evolution of the Slave I. Clockwise from top right: ILM model from Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones; Lucasfilm Animation model from Season Two; paint scheme illustration for Season Five by Kilian Plunkett; ILM model from Star Tours: The Adventures Continues

Ironically, Ahsoka is saved by the very vessel she caused to crash in “Lethal Trackdown.”

Another connection: Ahsoka and the younglings escape through the geyser trenches that are quite similar to the gorges she chases Aurra Sing through in “Lethal Trackdown.”