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| Tuesday, November 4, 2008 10:34 PM |
| On the Viewer - Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Episodes 1 & 5) |
 by Fëanor |
These are easily the best episodes of the series I've seen so far, and I think it's no coincidence that they also happen to be the two episodes in which Anakin and Ahsoka have the smallest parts. Episode 1 focuses on competing attempts by the Republic and the Separatists to secure the support of the Toydarians. Yoda acts as the representative of the Republic, and Count Dooku and Asajj Ventris represent the Separatists. The Separatists try to prove to the Toydarian leader that the Republic and their Jedi can't possibly protect his people by showing that Yoda can't even protect himself. They shoot Yoda's ship out of the sky. But Yoda and his clone troopers survive and propose a deal: if they can reach the rendezvous point where the Toydarian leader is waiting by sundown, then the Toydarians will join the Republic; otherwise, they can join the Separatists. The leader agrees. So Ventris sends an entire droid army after Yoda and his small band of troopers. But of course, an army is no match for Yoda. With clever strategy, and lots of leaping and light saber wizardry, Yoda picks the droids and their tanks to pieces and makes it to the rendezvous point on time. The clone soldiers help too, of course, and in the process Yoda even teaches them a lesson about life and war. The Toydarians honor the agreement and go with the Republic. Yoda shames Ventris (he makes it very clear how many steps below him she is in wisdom and power), and she runs off with her tail between her legs. Great, great stuff.
But the most recent episode, "Rookies," is even better, and is definitely the best episode of the show I've seen so far. It focuses on a small group of rookie clones staffing an outpost near Camino, the "home planet" of the clones. They've seen no action, as nothing ever happens at their outpost - but it's also an essential outpost, because if the Separatists get past it, they can take out the Republic's key clone production facility, and cripple their army. Rex and Cody, veteran clones who are close with Anakin and Obi-Wan, respectively, are heading to the outpost for an inspection - but Grievous and a large Separatist fleet is headed there, as well, with a small strike force going ahead of them that will disable the outpost so Camino has no warning of the coming attack. But a small band of rookies manages to escape the strike force and join up with Rex and Cody, and together they hatch a desperate, last ditch plan to take the outpost back - or, if necessary, destroy it.
One of the difficulties the show has come up against, in this episode more than ever before, is differentiating one character from another when they're all literally clones of one another. I did find myself having a little bit of trouble keeping them apart, but overall the writers and animators do a pretty good job making each of the clones a separate individual with his own recognizable personality and physical traits. In fact, they're surprisingly interesting and well written characters, with funny, moving dialogue. The episode also introduces some interesting new droids - commando droids - and includes some fantastic action sequences. There's comedy, violence, cleverness, fun characters, and even an emotionally effective ending. Color me impressed! Here's hoping there will be plenty more episodes of the show in the future that focus more on the clones than on the Jedi. |
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