The New King

"The New King" is the sixth episode of Star Wars: Droids: The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO. Written by Peter Sauder and directed by Ken Stephenson, the episode originally aired on ABC on October 12, 1985.
==Plot summary==
===Skirmish in space===
Jessica Meade transports Prince Mon Julpa, Jann Tosh, C-3PO and R2-D2 back to the planet Tammuz-an, so that Julpa can regain his rightful place as king. During the journey, R2-D2 plays a hologram message by Putch Gundarian advising his nephew to take care of himself. Currently, the royal Vizier Ko Zatec-Cha has subverted the throne with plans to rule the planet once he regains the royal scepter of Tammuz-an, his symbol of office. To this end, he hires the bounty hunter IG-88 to capture Mon Julpa and acquire the scepter.
Jann Tosh and the others are flying through space when a pirate corsair named Gir Kybo Ren-Cha attempts to overtake their ship. Jessica's expert flying prevents them from being blasted into pieces, and they receive assistance from an unlikely source: IG-88. The assassin droid opens fire on Captain Kybo's ship, preventing him from overtaking the heroes. He doesn't want anyone destroying his bounty.
===Trouble on Tammuz-an===
Jann and the others finally arrive at Tammuz-an. In order to secure Mon Julpa's position as ruler, he must return the royal scepter to the Keeper of the Tower at the top of the royal palace by the first sun of the equinox. They take up temporary residence at one of the townhouses in the capital city. Jessica Meade goes to a local medical station to treat some wounds she received during her battle with Captain Kybo. Zatec-Cha's guards intercept her at the med-station and abduct her.
Meanwhile, Jann Tosh notices Zatec-Cha's aide, Vinga skulking about outside the castle. Jann and the droids chase after him, leaving Mon Julpa defenseless. Jann, Threepio and Artoo turn into an alleyway where they find several of Zatec-Cha's guards waiting in ambush. The trio escape Vinga and his guards following a pursuit through the streets. Back at the townhouse, IG-88 grabs the royal scepter and uses it to capture Mon Julpa.
===Fight for the scepter===
At the royal palace, Vizier Zatec-Cha boasts of his plan to claim the scepter and rule Tammuz-an. Mon Julpa is defiant. Zatec-Cha intends to feed him and Jessica to his pet. Vinga and the guards arrive with news that Jann and the droids have escaped. Jann, R2-D2 and C-3PO infiltrate the royal palace. They are trapped and fall down a trap door which leads to a labyrinth containing several obstacles including droids, a lava pit, and dangerous chambers.
Meanwhile, Zatec-Cha and Vinga take the captive Mon Julpa and Jessica to a large pit containing a large monster known as a Durkii. Having escaped the obstacle course, Jann, C-3PO and R2-D2 end up in the Durkii's pit with Mon Julpa and Jessica. Following a brief struggle, R2-D2 calms the creature down by removing several bothersome insects known as Kleex from its scales. With the pests removed from its hide, the Durkii ceases to be a threat.
Once they escape, they race to the uppermost towers of the palace to stop Zatec-Cha before the first sun. Zatec Cha hurls obstacles at Mon Julpa and his allies. The Vizier and his henchmen fight Jessica and Jann for the scepter while flying various skiffs. R2-D2 and C-3PO also fly a flying machine, taking out two of Zatec-Cha's henchmen.
Zatec-Cha and Vinga reach the tower but are pursued by the droids, Jessica, Jann, and Mon Julpa. Following a brief struggle, Mon Julpa beats Zatec-Cha and places the royal scepter in its housing, thereby solidifying himself as the proper ruler of Tammuz-an. Zatec-Cha howls with rage while Vinga attempts to change side. Mon Julpa orders the guards to seize them. Zatec-Cha vows revenge, claiming he has spies. C-3PO falls of R2-D2, prompting the protocol droid to tell his astromech counterpart that next time R2-D2 should go on top.
===Celebration===
The droids, Jann, and Jessica attend Mon Julpa's coronation ceremony. To show his gratitude, Mon Julpa makes Jann an advisor to his court. He also gifts Jessica with a new ship and escort. Jessica says she plans to stay around to rub shoulders with royalty. C-3PO and R2-D2 also receive medals for their services. The two droids foil a plot to steal jewelry and medals.
==Release==
"The New King" was released as part of the feature film The Pirates and the Prince on VHS format in 1999 and on the Star Wars: Droids DVD in 2004.
==Continuity==
The craft retconned to be the R-22 Spearhead is seen at a spaceport, and is identified in the next episode as an A-wing, although A-wings have not yet been invented during the time period the series is set in. Some have speculated that "A-wing" may simply be a nickname for the craft developed by the Tammuz-an, which the Rebel Alliance adopted as their name for the craft when they later used it.
Although the B-wing wasn't invented until 1 ABY, a B-wing can arguably be seen in this episode. Leland Chee has suggested that the vehicle appearing to be a B-wing might actually be an H-60 Tempest bomber. If true, this would be reminiscent of the R-22 Spearhead retcon.
Ko Zatec-Cha hired IG-88 before the events of "The Lost Prince"; the droid was mentioned to be searching for Mon Julpa in that episode.
The ship that IG-88 pilots was identified as IG-1000 in Part 2 of Abel G. Peña's online blog The Droids Re-Animated, and classified as a modified variant of the TIE/LN starfighter.
==Credits==
==Appearances==
==Sources==
*
*
*
*
==Notes and references==
106