Get ready for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, heading your way Friday night at 9:00 pm in a double sized hour long season premier. Picking up where the feature length film of the same name left off, The Clone Wars focuses on the struggle of the Old Republic and its Jedi Knights versus Count Dooku and the Separatists. The war is been instigated by the evil Darth Sidiuos who is posing as the Supreme Chancellor of the Old Republic.

An exciting time in Star Wars lore, viewers will follow the adventures of Anakin Skywalker and his young apprentice Ahsoka Tano. You might remember the spunky young sidekick from the full length film, now she’s back for more as she and her master face off against none other than the vile General Grievous.

Even though Anakin and his apprentice are the stars of the show, a lot of attention will be paid to the ever expanding supporting cast of characters. Characters like Jedi Master Plo Koon will get the all star treatment as the series progresses.

“I liked the design of the Plo Koon character, and I also liked that he was a Jedi Master,” supervising director Dave Filoni says of his initial attraction. “Like so many Star Wars fans, I had always wondered what other Jedi were like – and The Clone Wars presented an opportunity to explore those characters”

Plo Koon is featured in both of Friday night’s episodes that are entitled ‘Ambush’ and ‘Rising Malevolence’. Plo Koon has been stranded aboard a mysterious ship with a hand full of clone troopers and has to fight for survival until a rescue can be mounted by Anakin and Ahsoka. Little do they know that the ship they’re stranded on is piloted by none other than General Grievous himself!

“We were able to examine both Plo Koon’s personality and Ahsoka’s background by showing their bond and the extreme loyalty of Anakin and Ahsoka to their Jedi comrades,” writer Steve Melching says. “They know he’s stranded and might not be alive, but if there’s even a chance, they’re going to find him. They have to deviate from their mission to try to rescue him, but they can’t endanger their larger mandate.”

Star Wars: The Clone Wars airs this Friday October 3rd at 9:00pm on the Cartoon Network.