Full slide-show up here now, if anyone is interested:

http://forum.starwars-figuren.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=115

Just...HOLY ****!

I think that my have been my all-time favorite episode. Seriously.

 No Anakin, no Obi-Wan, no Ahsoka, no Padme, no Clones, Senators, no need. Just pure freaking awesomeness from start to finish. I swear to God, that was better than like 95% of the entire PT stuff.

It just worked on so many levels, to actually be able to produce such a compelling, emotionally intense experience through an animated medium is simply awesome. I mean, for the first time ever, I actually felt a real sense of dread and danger from a droid assault. 99% of the time those guys just come off like such clowns it's hard to really imagine them as a credible enemy. But the whole element of overwhelming force and technology and sheer brute force was really on display, which I guess is their real strength.

They actually got you to feel something for a previously loathsome character like Ventress, they've really added depth to her in a way I never could have predicted.

The whole atmosphere was just great, I love the Dathomiri landscape, the undead army was freaking cool as hell, even if a little Return of the Kingy, Asajj whooping Greivous' ass, Dooku getting worked over like a rented mule...everything just seemed more intense in this episode.

Five stars, baby. Can't wait for the last three episodes.

And I officially will never be completely happy again until we have Nightsisters in animated figure form. 

Saw a bunch of boxes of Avengers toys on a pallet at Walmart last night, but I had no inclination to even try opening them. Wake me when the Skrulls start to ship...

Regular aisle for me.

Thanks, I saw some tonight, same deal. They had a Bom, Keyan, couple of Black Endor Rebels, etc. Decided to pass, but may hit them again at a later date.

I also saw an old TCW Deluxe set of Count Dooku and Speeder Bike in the red/white packaging, still on the shelf at full price for $16.97. WTF?

Got these both today in the mail...very nice additions to the MOC collection.

Interesting that Gearshift is only referred to as "Clone Trooper". I figured he would at least be identified on the cardback but nope, just plain old clone trooper.


FWIW, the brain worms in the other set with Scythe are unique sculpts compared to the ones that came with Barriss. Very well done.

Bonus find at lunch...the last SOTDS figure at any Target in the metro area: believe it or not, Hevy!

Well worth the $2.38.

They had a SOTDS AAT too, but the box had been opened and I wasn't sure I wanted to risk it. Maybe later this week if I get bored. I've bought pretty much everything else at this point.

What was really new about these?  The Clones?  In the grand scheme of things those aren't a tremendous loss, but I think we may see those some time this year.  It's been said before and it bears repeating:  If Hasbro has shown a product publically, then more than likely it's going to make it's way to market.  They've shown a committment to doing that time and again, even if it take a while.

The Clones in each set were new, yes: Gearshift and Scythe. You also get some cool molded brain worms too.

I'm not so sure this will ever see a mass release here in the States. Hasbro has already stated that stores are not carrying forward any SOTDS merchandise, which is how both of these sets were to be packaged domestically.

As far as them showing these publically, well, they have made their way to market - overseas and in Canada. we're just not likely to get them here I think. Hasbro may repackage the clones somewhere down the line in a BP or something like that, but I don't think we're likely to see that this year, if ever.

I do hope I'm wrong though, I would much prefer to have the SOTDS packaged version with the DVD included. I just don't feel great about the prospects right now.