#71 Season 4 Episode 5

“Understanding is honoring the truth beneath the surface.”

After groundquakes have devastated the planet Aleen, a Republic relief effort arrives, including the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO. When the native Aleena’s pleas go unheard, it becomes the duty of the droids to embark on a surreal journey through Aleen’s subterranean world to save the planet.

Mercy Mission Preview and starwars.com Episode Guide.

Original Airdate: 7 October 2011
Writer: Bonnie Mark
Director: Danny Keller

Concept Art and Trivia

Supervising Director Dave Filoni, an aficionado of wolves, created Clone Commander Wolffe’s new armor deco. He opted for a helmet with a visor similar to that worn by Clone Commander Neyo in Episode III because it best suited the design of the wolf emblem. Wolffe has had a different look each season.

For those who need a hand figuring out which clone is Boost, and which one is Sinker: Boost’s helmet has the ragged gray markings under the visor. Sinker has the gray chin and “cheeks.”

Speaking of chins, one of the design cues that help differentiate the female and male Aleena aliens is the relative size of their jawbones.

Sharp-eyed viewers will have spotted Aleena riding atop dragonfly-like can-cells before this episode. They’re in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, flying next to the Wookiee catamarans on Kashyyyk. Can-cells have been seen in the series on Teth (in The Clone Wars movie) and on Rodia and Ryloth in Season One.

Orphne’s frog-like tongue has a suction-cup tip, and can extend up to 10 feet. As can be seen in this artwork by Randy Bontag, Orphne’s original design had less of a flattened head shape.

The huge excavation site seal that leads into the underworld is inlaid with intricate carvings. It features three Aleena standing amid vines, one wearing a crown. Underneath a ribbon-like line that bisects the disc, there are roots, beetles, and what appears to be stairs descending into the underworld. Art by Thang Le.

A map of the Aleena city shows northern and southern sections divided by a relatively empty field that houses the city’s main landing pads. An excavation site is the epicenter of the quake. The refugee camps are based on landing pads. Art by Russell Chong.