Episode 2 is inspired by “The Godfather”, “Taxi Driver”, “1984”, “Dune”, “Valérian and Laureline”, “King Arthur”, “Gone with the Wind”, “Blade Runner”, “Willow”, “Lord of the Rings” and “Back to the Future 2”.
-Episode 2 takes place 10 years after Episode 1, we are at the peak of the 3rd Clone Wars.
Episode 2 opens in Alderaan. Palpatine was just reelected and extended his term. He declares that from now on, The Republic will become “The Empire”.
-He visits the Planet and there is a failed assassination attempt on the President. Anakin and Obi-Wan are pursuing the assassin, Oxus, who works for Darth Maul and the House of Mandalore. We see how Anakin’s worldview changed due to the War: His attitude became more aggressive than in Episode 1, more pessimistic and hawkish, shaped by the War. While Obi-Wan politely tries to solve the Crisis, Anakin handles it by force.
--Anakin and Obi-Wan are brothers in arms, best friends.
-Obi-Wan reminds Anakin about what Yoda told him in Dagboah: “While the dark side is quicker, easier and more seductive, it isn’t more powerful than the light”. Kenobi, while he trusts and loves Anakin, tells him that he needs to be patient and find balance within himself to truly unlock his potential. Anakin understands.
-Maul established himself as a political leader who hunts down Republican troops and the political rival of The Republic. He creates his political force in the Outer Rim and through criminal organizations.
Alderaanians adore Anakin, and again, like in Episode 1, the audience experiences the High Society of the Republic through Anakin’s eyes, who was raised as a poor boy from Corellia. Anakin became good friends with The President. During the party, Anakin invites Nellith to dance. While Bail is a bit jealous, he and Anakin are on better terms and now Anakin’s social status allows him to hang out with Nellith.
-Palpatine greatly expanded government control during the war after the chaos and crime that spread in the Galaxy. Many Senators were bribed. Corruption, bribery, and terror have reduced the High Council to all but a devoted few. In a discussion between Obi-Wan, Bail and Anakin, Bail expresses his worries about the direction of The Republic after Palpatine starts to appoint Governors from his political party and after The Republic was rebranded into The Empire
Bail tells Obi-Wan about an alliance he is building, if Palpatine will take things too far.
-Anakin, as a leading Jedi-Knight, and under Palpatine’s orders, killed some of the Leaders of the House of Mandalore at the time between Episode 1 and 2. Anakin and Nellith became a couple but are in an on-and-off relationship.
-In an Imperial Base on Alderaan, The Jedi Knight Minch informs that one of the biggest Cloning facilities was located on the Planet of Had Abbadon V. Meanwhile The Jedi and the Senate want to send Anakin on a diplomatic mission to the Planet of Utapau.
-Anakin offers to target the leaders of the House of Mandalore and torture them until they surrender. Obi-Wan is a bit conflicted with Anakin’s brutal methods, but Palpatine is impressed and praises him.
-Nellith volunteers to join Anakin with her droids C3PO and R2D2.
-Bendu and Clieg Whitsun tell Obi-Wan that while Anakin became the most powerful Jedi, he has a lot of anger. Obi-Wan denies it and is confident that he trained his student just as well as Yoda.
-Obi-Wan and Bail Organa, alongside Bail’s Alien sidekick Burtt are sent to the Planet of Had Abbadon V to investigate and stop the large cloning facility that is in there, led by the wealthy Clone Master, the trader baron Orvan Kadar.
Kadar is a “space Tony Montana”, with mixed elements from people like Lucky Luciano
-Meanwhile, Darth Maul blackmails a group of scientists to help him advance the Death Star’s construction.They are targeted by evil space pirates
-During Anakin and Nellith’s flight, they are targeted by House of Mandalore’s ships. While Anakin is the best star pilot in the Galaxy, Anakin and Nellith’s ship crashes at the Planet of Kessel.In Kessel, Anakin and Nellith see how poor, corrupt, and violent the Planet is. Anakin explains that this is why Law and Order must be enforced no matter what. Nellith finds herself somewhat agreeing with him but with a lot of doubts.
-They are attacked by a tribe of locals that knocks Nellith unconscious. Anakin is brought before the leader of the tribe to prove his bravery. Eventually, he challenges the Leader of the tribe to a 1 on 1 battle with no weapons and wins easily, earning the tribe’s respect and becoming its Leader.
-While Anakin and Nellith are in love, their different Political views are explained: While in Episode 1 they shared similar views, in Episode 2 Anakin supports Palpatine and Tarkin and believes on Law and Order and that everything is legitimate to bring Order to the Galaxy, while Nellith is much more humanist and believes in Peace. Their differences aren’t affecting their relationship and Anakin expresses his desire to have a family with Nellith and hand his son his Lightsaber. (Using real-world politics, Anakin is a Neoconservative while Nellith is a Liberal)
-In the Orbital City of Had Abbadon, Obi-Wan and Bail Organa are targeted by House of Mandalore troops that are after Organa. Burtt nearly gets killed protecting Bail but survives. Obi-Wan, Bail, and Burtt are going undercover pretending to be smugglers, and are attempting to spy on Kadar. As they are noticed by some officers of the House of Mandalore, they are finding themselves targeted again.
-Kadar is a wealthy crime lord and a former member of the wealthy clone-tribe of Ashardi
-Anakin and Nellith meet many different Aliens and people who are suffering under the House of Mandalore.
-Meanwhile, for the first time, we are introduced to The Emperor. During The Emperor’s conversation with Maul, The Emperor explains that Maul needs to conquer Had Abbadon V and murder the remaining members of the Senate from the Alderaanian Party. The Emperor further explains his plan: Use Had Abbadon’s resources to fund the construction of the Death Star. Maul kneels and agrees
-In Kessel, there is a violent massacre against the locals who rebelled against the House of Mandalore. Anakin loses control, commits a brutal slaughter against the Mandalorian troops. Anakin outsmarts some of the seniors there by pretending to be Maul and then catches them off guard, killing them brutally.
-In Had Abbadon V, Maul captures Obi-Wan and Bail
-Maul feels a disturbance on the Force. He talks to the Emperor who explains Maul’s mission: To kill Anakin Skywalker.
-Anakin senses that Maul is in Had Abbadon V, and insists on going there alone. Nellith forces him to take her with him.
-Anakin, Nellith, DV-4, R2D2 and C3PO are arriving at Had Abbadon V, and an amazing Battle starts. Burtt, Obi-Wan and Bail destroy the cloning facilities of Had Abbadon
-Obi-Wan urges Anakin to go with him and leave the planet as the Battle is over and they will bring everyone to justice - but Anakin refuses. Obi-Wan tries to stop him but Anakin pushes him and goes after Maul by himself. Nellith goes with Anakin.
-While searching for Maul, we see Anakin becoming more aggressive, starting to mirror his future self and this is where we hear Vader’s theme
-Anakin finds Maul in a subverted Vader vs. Luke, where Anakin is the one who surprises Maul. Maul taunts Anakin and reveals that he used to be a bit like him - A boy from the outer rim, but he was found by the Black Knights of the Sith, the Dark Jedi Knights, and by their Lord - The Emperor. Anakin uses the Dark Side like we saw him earlier, and shows a level of power that surpasses Maul. Anakin chops his hand and knocks him down. Maul is shocked and for the first time seems terrified. Anakin stares at him in a dark and scary look; like he is a machine. Nellith urges Anakin to bring Maul to justice, but Anakin strikes him down.
-Arriving at Coruscant, Anakin receives a standing ovation for killing Maul.
We see Obi-Wan and Bail talking with some human soldiers about the future alliance, but they are still not sure what to do.
-Anakin goes to Palpatine’s office. His office was changed to a throne room. Palpatine turns around. We see the whole view of Coruscant from the background. The two start to talk, Palpatine further tries to corrupt Anakin. Palpatine slowly reveals his true identity to Anakin, as the true Emperor of the Dark Side. Anakin is terrified, but Palpatine offers Anakin to take his rightful place on his side. Palpatine reveals to Anakin that he is older then he can possibly imagine, and that only through the Dark Side Anakin can bring order to the galaxy and have the family he always wanted. He tells him to imagine all the good he can do, and that he can sense his anger and fear of losing Nellith. Palpatine reveals to Anakin that some Jedi Knights, including Obi-Wan, are creating a Rebellion against their Empire. Anakin looks at the view of Coruscant and bows before a satisfied Palpatine.
In the background, there are broadcasts of Tarkin declaring that anyone who opposes the Empire will be hunted down. Nellith looks worried.
-Obi-Wan and Bail are meeting some Jedi Knights and human soldiers we met earlier. They agree to form an Alliance.