How Aliens inspired an episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars

How Aliens inspired an episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars

As a fan who has spent countless hours immersed in both the Alien and Star Wars universes, I must say that the similarities between “Legacy of Terror” from The Clone Wars and Aliens are nothing short of delightful. It’s as if George Lucas and James Cameron were old friends swapping ideas over a beer at a sci-fi convention.


Back in 1986, when James Cameron’s masterpiece, Aliens, graced our screens, it left an indelible mark on the sci-fi genre. It was a sequel that breathed life into the universe of Alien, fleshing out Ripley as a lead character, delving deeper into the sinister Weyland-Yutani corporation, and, let’s face it, upping the ante on those terrifying creatures known as the Aliens. Fast forward almost 40 years, and another Alien film is about to premier this month, sending fans of this iconic franchise into a frenzy. Interestingly enough, both Alien enthusiasts and Star Wars devotees might spot some intriguing parallels between this action/horror classic and an episode from the much-loved series, The Clone Wars.

How Aliens inspired an episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars

In the second season of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”, the Republic military revisits the planet Geonosis, where the initial conflict with the Separatists began under Poggle the Lesser’s command. Following a successful landing and the destruction of a key weapons facility, an episode titled “Legacy of Terror” unfolds as Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker hunt for Luminara Unduli, who has mysteriously gone missing and is being held captive by zombified Geonosian forces. They eventually locate her within the catacombs, guarded by Karina the Great, the Geonosian queen. In terms of appearance, Karina bears a striking resemblance to the Xenomorph queen from “Aliens”, with both characters sharing a prominent head crest and long egg sacs.

How Aliens inspired an episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars

In a similar vein, the army of resurrected Geonosians shares traits with Xenomorphs, functioning as a collective consciousness and capturing their prey. They transport these captives to their lair, where they insert an alien entity within them. Although the mechanisms differ, both species employ this method of implantation. In the film ‘Aliens’, the Xenomorph queen births facehuggers that latch onto victims’ faces and impregnate them with an extraterrestrial embryo, which in due course hatches and kills its host. Geonosians are less gory in their approach. They invite newcomers to their hive by introducing them to a mind-altering parasite that crawls into the victim’s nose, transforming them into zombie-like creatures under the control of the hive mind. While not identical, both species manipulate their hosts, gaining more control over their collective consciousness as a result.

How Aliens inspired an episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Both queen appearances also play out similarly, though with slightly different tones. Aliens is, after all, an R-rated horror movie, so the scene is naturally much darker. After the child she has come to care for, Newt, is taken to the alien hive, Ripley goes into the belly of the beast to rescue her. She finds Newt bound to the wall, where a facehugger will inevitably find her. After saving the girl, Ripley encounters the queen before setting fire to the nest of eggs and escaping in the elevator as the structure counts down to self-destruct.

How Aliens inspired an episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars

In a more playful tone, The Clone Wars adopts a humorous slant, yet the overall setting remains recognizable. Obi-Wan and Anakin venture into subterranean passages reminiscent of Xenomorph lairs due to their architecture, where they discover Luminara pinned against a wall by the queen Geonosian, on the verge of being contaminated with one of their mind parasites. Following some witty exchanges, the Jedi and their clone troops divert the Geonosians using light, a substance they dislike. They rescue Luminara and narrowly escape through an unused chute as the catacombs implode. Though catering to distinct demographics, it’s undeniable that the storyline depicted in “Legacy of Terror” pays tribute to the final scene in Aliens.

It’s hardly unexpected that the “Clone Wars” episode mirrors a classic sci-fi film’s themes, given the dedicated fanbases of both franchises. This connection is delightful nonetheless. Among Season 2’s top episodes, “Legacy of Terror” stands out particularly, as it pays homage to an exceptional movie. With both the “Alien” and “Star Wars” series continuing their cultural impact with upcoming projects, fans eagerly anticipate when these universes will intersect in a future installment.

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2024-08-16 20:51

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