Understanding is honoring the truth beneath the surface.
The world of Aleen is torn by a planet-wide seismic disaster. Padmé dispatches Commander Wolffe and his clone troopers to help evacuate the survivors and rebuild their settlements, then join Plo Koon's forces as was their original mission. R2-D2 is on board to interface with and repair the Aleen central computer, with C-3PO along to serve as a translator.
Tropes:
- Breather Episode: Compared to the otherwise serious stories in the series' fourth season, this episode and the next one are lighthearted romps.
- Bulungi: Aleen, home to a tropical tribal culture of small humanoids, has shades of this.
- Call-Forward: The way the Aleeni treat C-3PO is highly reminiscent of how the Ewoks will decades hence; even their voicework in similar in pitch (though not in language).
- Deadly Gas: The planet's air is toxic to the lifeforms below the surface, as is the underground air to the Aleena, and the seal that prevents them from seeping past each other must be replaced properly.
- Double Take: Warthog does this upon first seeing an Aleena.
- Down the Rabbit Hole: How R2-D2 and C-3PO get into their adventure.
- Glad I Thought of It: R2 realizes that "water" is the solution to Orphne's riddle, but 3PO quickly assumes that he thought of it, and continues to press the idea for the rest of this episode.
- Large and in Charge: Inverted ith the Aleeni. Their chief is among the shortest of the adults.
- Plant Person: The creatures of Aleen's underworld are Ent-like humanoids who are initially hostile to intruders.
- Poor Communication Kills: The Aleeni ask the clones to "make peace in the ground". What the clones think: they want the clones to stop the earthquakes. What they mean: reseal the gap to the underworld, which gas is toxic to us and vice versa for the natives.
- Riddle for the Ages: Not the actual riddle in the trope below, but it is never explained how the seal between the surface and the underground was breached. The plant creatures claim the Aleeni "attacked" it, but not only do they seem far too small to have moved such a large and heavy piece of stone, they only show worry and fear when trying to obtain the droids' help, not guilt or contrition, and there wouldn't seem to be a reason for them to have done so in any case. Since only the aftershocks are the work of the plant creatures, presumably it was the initial earthquake that brought the Republic's aid which shifted the seal, but this is never confirmed.
- Riddle Me This: How Orphne gives the droids clues for the way back to the surface.You can run, but cannot walk.
You have a mouth, but cannot talk.
You have a head, but never weep.
You have a bed, but never sleep.
Ask yourself, who are you? - Ridiculously Cute Critter: The Aleeni are designed to be totes adorbs and fun.
- Robosexual: Orphne, the underground fairy, acts like she's attracted to C-3PO.
- Seen It All: As the transports are landing, one of the tiny natives rides by on a flying animal.Trooper: Great, it's gonna be one of those planets.
- Shout-Out: C-3PO's fearful reaction to the lights of the tunnel and R2-D2 extinguishing them with spray only for them to manifest again resembles Gimli frantically trying to fight off the spirits in the Paths of the Dead.
- Sour Supporter: Commander Wolffe is uptight and strict, which contrasts with the episode's relaxed atmosphere.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Warthog's first impression on the Aleena.Warthog: Great, it's gonna be another one of those planets.
- Will-o'-the-Wisp: Orphne first manifests in the form of light circling the droids and then leading them down the tunnel.
