Wookieepedia

READ MORE

Wookieepedia
Register
Advertisement
Wookieepedia

"The most dangerous beast is the beast within."
―Moral[4]

"The Zillo Beast Strikes Back" is the nineteenth episode of Season Two of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series and concluded a two-part storyline started with the previous episode, "The Zillo Beast." It aired on April 10, 2010 in the UK and on April 16 in the US. This episode chronologically precedes the fourth episode of Season Two, "Senate Spy."

Official description[]

Republic forces bring the Zillo Beast back to Coruscant for study. When it escapes, the Jedi must choose between saving millions of lives and destroying the Zillo Beast, the last of its kind.

Plot summary[]

"The sooner we unlock the Zillo Zeast's secrets, the sooner we can end this terrible war."
―Supreme Chancellor Palpatine[4]
Episode 19
THE ZILLO BEAST STRIKES BACK
A calculated risk! Following a costly
victory on the planet Malastare,
Chancellor Palpatine orders Jedi
Knights Mace Windu and Anakin
Skywalker to transport a fearsome
Zillo Beast captured during the battle
back to Coruscant.

After seeing that not even a
lightsaber could harm the beast,
Chancellor Palpatine hopes to unlock
the secret of its invulnerability to
create new armor for the Republic's
clone troopers. Tensions run high as
the most dangerous life form in the
galaxy touches down on the Republic's most
populous planet....

The Zillo Beast is transported to Coruscant for study. Mace Windu is skeptical and fears that the creature is too dangerous to have been brought to the planet, though Supreme Chancellor Palpatine assures him that determining the secret of its invulnerability will bring a closer end to the war. Windu brings his concerns to Obi-Wan Kenobi, who believes that, regarding what the Zillo Beast is capable of, bringing the creature to Coruscant is not worth the possible military benefits. When Windu explains that the Chancellor failed to heed his warnings about the danger, Obi-Wan suggests they let someone else try.

TZBSB Promo

"The Zillo Beast Strikes Back" promotional poster

Meanwhile, study of the Zillo Beast is taken under personal study by Doctor Sionver Boll, who has it sedated and restrained. As she explains to Palpatine, attempting to remove the creature's scales to examine them in order to synthesize a stronger armor would be extremely painful to it. Palpatine suggests that killing it would be the best option. Boll protests, stating that the Zillo Beast isn't only the last of its kind, it may also be sentient; Palpatine dismisses the possibility, stating that the giant beast is simply an animal. In response, the beast growls at his comment and stares angrily at the Chancellor. Palpatine orders the use of the Malastarian fuel to be used as a poison to quickly kill the beast and threatens to replace Boll if she doesn't have the stomach to do it.

At the Senate, Anakin sees Obi-Wan talking to Padmé Amidala. He quickly guesses that she and Obi-Wan want him to talk to the Chancellor to discuss the fate of the Zillo Beast. Padmé points out that the beast was brought to Coruscant against its will and has no literal voice to defend itself so she thinks that she and her husband need to be that voice. Reluctantly, Anakin agrees. When both he and Padmé meet with the Chancellor, the latter and Mas Amedda try justifying that killing the beast is for the greater good, to which Padmé challenges that killing the last of a species in secret and without debate can be good for none; Anakin stays neutral and acknowledges both points of view while thinking that a reasonable solution will present itself: Palpatine remarks that Master Kenobi has taught him well, though Padmé is less impressed that Anakin is taking Palpatine's side, not hers. Anakin says that he is but admits that their old friend and mentor has a good point since the people of the Republic are dying and they have to find a way to win the war.

Back in Boll's lab, she attempts to administer a small dosage of Malastarian fuel as a poison gas to euthanize the Zillo beast. Unfortunately, when a small amount was applied, the creature becomes agitated and aggressive, breaks free of its bonds, smashes its way out of the laboratory and starts rampaging across Coruscant, unhindered by all efforts to stop it. When it sees the Senate, it makes its way towards it, planning on getting revenge on Palpatine. The Chancellor, Padmé, Anakin, and R2-D2 evacuate to the former's escape shuttle, only to be caught by the beast just as they take off. Anakin comes up with a dangerous plan to free them by slicing off the front part of the shuttle, while Yoda and Aayla Secura distract the beast. But when the front half splits off, Anakin, Padmé, R2 and C-3PO fall out, while the Chancellor and a Senate Commando fall a level below, escaping a certain death thanks to Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu, who Force-grip the front half of the Chancellor's ships, interrupting its course. R2 manages to grapple himself to the side of the building, preventing C-3PO from continuing his fall, while Anakin helps Padmé up from slipping off the edge. The Zillo beast then attempts to crush Palpatine with its hand, only for R2 to quickly fly in and save the Chancellor, while the commando is crushed saving him. Gunships arrive and open fire; at Palpatine's orders, they fire flares first to get the Zillo Beast's attention, then when it roars at them, the gunships fire poison gas bombs straight into the monster's mouth. As the gunships continue to bomb the beast, the gas cloud begins to spread, though Anakin, Yoda and Aayla use the Force to protect themselves, Palpatine and Amidala from the gas. As all the Jedi look on in regret, the Zillo Beast, confused, in pain and dying, finally succumbs to the poison and falls from the roof of the Senate to its death below.

The next morning, the body of the Zillo Beast is carted away. Anakin laments that it was sacrificed for their mistakes. Palpatine promises everyone that he'll make sure that sacrifice was not in vain. As he and the Jedi part ways, Palpatine gives new orders to Dr. Boll: clone the Zillo Beast.

Continuity[]

The Jedi Temple Archives feature on The Complete Season Two Blu-ray includes the deleted scenes "Strategy in the Jedi War Room" and "Trapped in Palpatine's Shuttle."

The Zillo Beast is deliberately meant to be a parody of the iconic Japanese movie monster Godzilla right down to a similar sounding name and promotional poster.

Credits[]

Appearances[]

By type
Characters Organisms Droid models Events Locations
Organizations and titles Sentient species Vehicles and vessels Weapons and technology Miscellanea

Characters

Canon characters

Legends characters

Organisms

Canon organisms

Legends organisms

Droid models

Canon droids

Legends droids

Events

Canon events

Legends events

Locations

Canon locations

Legends locations

Organizations and titles

Canon organizations and titles

Legends organizations and titles

Sentient species

Canon species

Legends species

Vehicles and vessels

Canon vehicles

Legends vehicles

Weapons and technology

Canon technology

Legends technology

Miscellanea

Canon miscellanea

Legends miscellanea

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

Wiki-shrinkable
Explore all of Wookieepedia's media for this article subject:
Audio · Images

External links[]



Advertisement