THE PLOTLINE OF EPISODE 2
JAN 9
Nathaniel Reed wrote: "[...] By the way, I appreciate it would be more work for you, but is there any chance a chronology can be created for *2 and *3 ? It need only be in a text outline, rather than images, and it would help to parallel the forum by stringing together the stronger / more popular rumours."
> JAN 13 - REACTION 1
'The Anonymous One' wrote: "I would surmise that the Clone Wars do not begin until Ep 2. In Ep 2, the Clone Wars erupt and Kenobi is eager to join the war and he encourages Anakin to join also (in ANH Kenobi tells Luke that Owen thought Anakin should not have gotten involved in the war effort and Owen feared that Luke might also join Kenobi on some "idealistic crusade") 

Joining the Clone Wars is the beginning of the end for Anakin. Anakin becomes one of the greatest Jedi warriors of the war and his powers in the Force draws Palpatine's attention. Palpatine exploits Anakin's delusions of grandeur and recklessness and entices him to "try" for himself exactly why the dark side is so compelling. Anakin joins the Sith Lords and turns his back on family and friends.  All the while the Jedi battles with the Mandalorian warriors take a heavy toll on the Jedi during the Clone Wars setting up Palpatine's opportunity to crush the war-weakened, but still victorious, Jedi Knights in Ep 3 . . . "
> JAN 16 - REACTION 2 
  
Streen Bean wrote: "That makes some sense, although Streen Bean believes ep1 (the 'fun adventure movie') with all the fighters and everything will see the beginning of the Clone Wars- kind of like the way WWI led to WWII, but with the first war being much shortened."
> JAN 18 - REACTION 3 
  
Gary Dowling wrote: "From what I've read, the only thing happening in Ep. 2 is Anakin begins his fall to the Dark Side and the Clone Wars.  I disagree with this being the focus of the whole movie.  I'm sure there's other good stuff, but what should happen is a sequence of events that begins the transformations for Palpatine to take power.  The Clone Wars should be shown to be a distraction for Palpy to get set up, and every once in a while, see him working behind the scenes. Near the very end, after the climax, see him standing next to a Senator, and asking for an owed favor.  This is supposedly how he becomes Emperor, calling in favors and remaining unnoticed until ready to spring."
> JAN 20 - REACTION 4 
  
JOM wrote: "The plotline for this episode will be fairly simple.  George Lucas himself has told us already that SW2 involves the Clone Wars and Palpatine's rise to power.  He also said, I believe, the rise to power of Palpatine will get slightly more "airtime" than the Wars do.  McCallum has also stated that the wedding of Anakin and Padme will be at the end of this episode. 

We can also make some assumptions based on some info from the previous movies.  This episode is where Kenobi is a General fighting for Bail Organa of Alderaan.  We can assume Anakin will become a hero along with Ben for their deeds during the Wars. 

Although some of the early signs and events will point to it, but I don't think that there will be any "falling" to the dark side for Anakin  here.  This will be reserved for the wonderfully tragic SW3."
> JAN 20 - REACTION 5 
  
Anthony Renaud wrote: "A lot has to happen during 2.  Anakin and Padme have to fall in love (ala Han and Leia), Anakin has to begin his descent, dissention between Anakin and Obiwan has to be developed, and Palpatine's rise to power and his grand scheme explored.  But, as Lucas mentions during the interview before ESB on the re-releases, the second movie is really the second act in a three act play.  And the job of the writer is to take the heros and place them in the absolutely worst predicaments, they are at the lowest point at the end of act II.  Now considering that the prequel trilogy itself is a tragedy, where will that leave us at the end of Ep 2?  What will be this great low point for the heros?  One possibility is that the split between Anakin and Padme occur at the end of 2, but that doesn't leave a lot of time to develop their relationship up to begin with.  I assume that Anakin and Obi-wan have their big falling out.  I originally thought that this would be the ideal place for their big duel, but other people on this discussion board have convinced me otherwise.  So, how will it end?  Or, as the overall arc of the prequels being tragedy contrasts with the overall arc of the present trilogy, will the end of Ep. 2 constrast the depressing end of ESB, and end up being happy and celebratory, like the marriage of Anakin and Padme?
    
Because of Lucas' statements during the interview, I'm inclined to believe that the end of Ep. 2 will also be a downer, so perhaps Anakin's courtship of Padme will occur only during the first half of Ep. 2, the marriage in the middle, and then things start going south for Anakin from there on in.  Disillusionment with the republic, falling in with the wrong crowd, rejecting Obi-wan, the whole bit."