Well, yet another episode that features plot lines about interest rates. Pursuit of Peace follows the proceedings of Season two's murder mystery episode Senate Murders. All in all, this episode does everything it can with a plot that, like last week's episode, relies heavily on buzzwords from today's political climate.I won't retread what it is I like about the complexities of the Clone War (read my review of Heroes on Both Sides for that). That being said, there's very little that can be done to make conversations with cheating bankers get the blood boiling. It's clear that the chase scene and a few scenes were thugs threaten Senators were included to make the overall plot some energy.
It's because of these sequences that the episode has a sort of identity problem. By reducing the difficult decisions of Senators to "I don't want to get beat up"...they back away from the reasons that someone might escalate a conflict. On the other hand, it's hard to argue that what this episode needed was more conversations that take place in offices. The final few moments, though, are given a nice bit of stagecraft as screens show Padme essentially addressing the entire planet.
So...all in all I thought the episode itself was well put together and animated. It was a bit clunky, but not ineptly assembled. Maybe my problem with it was, essentially, one of context.
The episode as a stand-alone is fine. Season 3, though, has been filled with episodes that seem focused on the backroom deals and political ethics surrounding the war. Look at Supply Lines , Sphere of Influence, Corruption, The Academy, Assassin, and Heroes on Both Sides. Including Pursuit of Peace, that's 7 of the aired 11 episodes that feature political lessons, or that star Senators giving speeches or making difficult votes. I think I've hit my saturation point.
Rating (out of five): ***
4 comments:
I've never been put off by Star Wars' political side, in fact I find it quite interesting and capable of making creative stories. Usually. The first few political episodes of Season 3, like what you mentione, Supply Lines, Corruption, etc. where incredibly dull.
With that said, I really enjoyed these last two episodes, and reading the reports from the Savage Oppress screenings, I think season 3's second half will rectify the dullness of it's first few episodes.
Maybe it is because I tend to watch Clone Wars on Saturday mornings to indulge my inner child, but I am really ready for the latter half of this season to blow things up.
Also, if winning this vote was so vital to Palpatine and Dooku, why was the job of intimidating and killing senators left to the Keystone Cops of bounty hunters? Surely they could have afforded better.
I get it that the wanted to add depth with this political stuff and Filoni says there will be a pay off for it down the line but there's just been far far too much of it this season. I can't remember the last time I saw any actually "war" which is odd considering its in the show name twice. The sneak peak trailer for the next half of season 3 does look amazing though so hopefully it will pay off having sat through this stuff.
I absolutely love Star Wars! Been a fan since the pilot episode first aired. The success of this show deserved. Now that I have Sling technology with DISH Network, I never miss any episodes. I live a very busy life and I use my iPhone to watch the shows while on my lunch break at work. Being that I am an employee and customer of DISH I can’t recommend the TV Everywhere feature enough to anyone with a busy lifestyle. You can’t do this with U-Verse.
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