Empire Minute 24: The Choking Bit

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Date

February 13th, 2014

Summary

Piett steps forward, as the admiral moves away, slightly confused, touching his throat as it begins to constrict painfully.

Guests

Damon Ciarelli

Notes

Film

• Starts with General Veers explaining Admiral Ozzel's tactics to Darth Vader in his egg.
• Ends with Leia explaining the rebel's tactics to the rebels (in their egg - or base).
• The first time that Vader chokes someone to death.

Podcast

• Coming out of light speed further away would give the rebels more time to notice the fleet.
• An alternate approach is to come out of light speed on the other side of the planet and then slowly travel around the planet as a countdown runs on when you'll be able to attack your target (as seen in Star Wars). This is the conventional or text book attack strategy for the Empire. Darth Vader would have definitely preferred this.
• The rebels must have energy sensors that detect a spaceship coming out of light speed nearby but don't detect a spaceship slowly sneaking up on the them.
• If the Empire used their standard approach of sneaking up on the base as described above, what would their strategy have been? Deploy their forces without the rebels ever knowing; nuke the base or power generator from orbit?
• Or was this whole hyperspace thing just an excuse for Darth Vader to get rid of Ozzel - given that "he's as clumsy as he is stupid"?
• The nature of the relationship between General Veers and Admiral Ozzel. They are definitely rivals.
• Veers has probably had it easier with Vader than Ozzel given the Veers is in charge of ground troops which are only deployed from time-to-time; Ozzel is in charge of the Starfleet which is always involved in the action.
• Veers may have talked Ozzel into coming out of hyperspace too close to the rebel base so that Vader would get rid of Ozzel.
• Vader uses 'remote choke' over the internet in this scene. Does Vader have to at least see someone before he can choke them or can he choke anyone he wants to? Also, does he accidentally choke people while he's asleep and just dreaming about doing it?
• Piett ignores Ozzel choking - is this always the case in the Star Wars universe? If you see someone choking then do you just assume that Darth Vader is doing it?
• Darth Vader has clearly taken control of the Empire following the Battle of Yavin and has declared himself to be the Super Grand Moff.
• Ozzel doesn't get to finish his sentence "..and are preparing to...". What were they planning to do? Deploy the army; shoot lasers at the rebels;
• Admiral Ozzel as a secret rebel agent for coming out of lightspeed too close to the system.
• Captain Piett is not particularly enthusiastic about anything that is happening, including his promotion. He knows that every step up the Imperial corporate ladder is another step closer to being forced choked.
• The Imperial promotion system is shown in this scene. Its very quick and Vader seems to have absolute power to promote people. Also, there's no paperwork or discussion of benefits involved in the promotion.

<Start at 8:20>

Meta Minute

• 21:25 podcast episode length.

Quotes

• Damon: I'm Damon from www.bog.io.
• Damon: As Darth Vader "Ah no, I choked the guy at the 7/11. It wasn't his fault; I feel so bad."
• Alex: That's that romantic song, isn't it? Choking in Your Sleep.
• Pete: The next time I'm in a restaurant and someone is choking I'll be like "Is Darth Vader angry at you? Or did you...oh, ok, no."
• Alex: As Darth Vader talking to Piett following his promotion "Talk to HR; they will settle this for you."

Link

http://www.starwarsminute.com/2014/02/13/empire-minute-24-the-choking-bit/

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