tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83240876850260143742024-03-05T15:07:05.656-08:00Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Episode ReviewsThis blog unaffiliated with LucasFilm.CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-82796818900211635692014-02-13T05:30:00.000-08:002014-02-13T05:30:02.750-08:00Star Wars: The Clone Wars Final Season - The Lost Missions - coming to Netflix March 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Great news for fans of The Clone Wars! <a href="http://starwars.com/news/star-wars-the-clone-wars-final-season-the-lost-missions-to-hit-netflix-on-march-7.html">The final, unaired episodes of The Clone Wars will be released on March 7th, along with the rest of the series, on Netflix. </a>Hooray for Netflix, a constant refrain in my household.<br />
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Hopefully, I can return to the blog for a bit and review those episodes, as they'll be released all at once.<br />
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Also, considering Star Wars Rebels approaches, and of course...STAR WARS EPISODE VII...(cough, ahem)...seems like a fun time to write more in this space.<br />
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So stay tuned!<br />
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CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-16035346391325773302013-03-11T11:27:00.002-07:002013-03-11T11:27:15.184-07:00Star Wars: The Clone Wars comes to an end...thoughtsAnnounced today on the Star Wars website, <a href="http://starwars.com/news/a-new-direction-for-lucasfilm-animation.html">Season 5 of the Clone Wars was the series last. </a>There's also other news regarding Detours and a tease of more content and a new animated series on a "previously untouched" time period. Clearly, the new powers that be believe that there's more overall interest in content that relates the original trilogy.<br />
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I have yet to post my reviews for the final story arc. We'll see if they happen - as you know I've been extremely up and down on posting here. Life just got in the way of consistently reviewing the show. Still, I was glad to have Star Wars to look forward to week after week, loved the series, and am glad to have shared it with so many of you.<br />
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I will say this: Ahsoka Tano came to a perfectly respectable end, probably the best way they could have pulled it off. Her final moments are perfect. They leave some questions unanswered, sure, but isn't that a bit better than a thorough, retcon-style explanation of why a character created AFTER the prequels doesn't appear in Episode III? Basically, we have all we need. We know she's no longer a Jedi by the time the purge happens. We know that Anakin isn't mourning her death, she's just an another example of his dissolution with the Jedi overall. It deepens his story, but doesn't become required viewing to understand him.<br />
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From the start, I found Ahsoka difficult to enjoy.. She just wasn't really meant for me to enjoy. She was designed as a young, female protagonist. A window into the series to a new generation of kids.<br />
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As such, I can't speak to how successful she was. I can only say that I came to find her more and more effective as a character, and I think if the series is the story of Ahsoka, then they married her story to the overall arc of the Jedi's fall especially well. Their moral compromise is reflected in her final story in a way that I think is sharp and entertaining.<br />
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In the end, though, most of my favorite episodes and stories just didn't feature her. She seemed, to the Star Wars series overall, an unnecessary addition. With so many Jedi, so many clones, so many bounty hunters, so many smugglers, I still don't quite get why we needed to add the bratty, teenager to the mix. Even if she grew up over five years.<br />
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So... a qualified thumbs up to the final arc. They did their best to make Ahsoka a part of the Star Wars canon, truly matured her, and worked her into the larger story. If I was never really the audience for her, that doesn't mean I didn't love the series. I did.<br />
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In the end, though, it's time to move on. The prequel era has, between the films and Clone Wars series, a full and well-told story, with vast battles, beautiful animation, new wrinkles, and mysterious places for conjecture. Hours of stories for us to watch, re-watch, and appreciate.<br />
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The Force was with this series. I can't wait for what's next. <br />
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<br />CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-80037584280399553252013-02-07T11:33:00.000-08:002013-02-07T11:33:06.317-08:00Season 4, Episodes 14, 15 and 16 - Maul and Mandalore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The three episode story arc of "Eminence," "Shades of Reason" and "The Lawless" are a spectacular addition to the Star Wars canon and feature much earned, emotional high points that have been hinted at throughout the Clone Wars series. Deaths of major characters, high action, prominence of fan favorites; it's more than a stand-alone adventure. It exists squarely in the expanded, thrilling world created by Filoni and his team, and shows how invested in new characters.<br />
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In this arc, Maul and Opress are found by Death Watch floating in space. Near death, the brothers are saved by the Mandalorian terrorists. Immediately, both parties begin to use the other for their respective, temporarily mutual goals. But as with all villainy, betrayal is inevitable. The Sith don't share power. (Not even with Black Sun, a crime syndicate first introduced in the EU in the mid-1990s.)<br />
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Woven throughout the story is the resolution of the fantastic Satine story started back in Season 2; which places her pacifism up against the bloody history of her people. It's a compelling story, which expands on our understanding of Obi-Wan, the politics of the war, the fate of pacifism in the face of unrelenting war. We also find Death Watch's story come to what appears to be an effective and thrilling close.<br />
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Finally, the story of Savage Opress is also finally resolved here, sadly and satisfyingly, in a way that feels appropriately grand and brutal.<br />
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Visuals of the arc are top-notch, including Maul-inflected designs for Death Watch, the gorgeous environs of Mandalore, and the home of Black Sun. Action is also thrilling, with non-stop duels, battles in the air, fist fights; culminating in a Sidious/Maul/Opress showdown that will surely thrill most of the faithful.<br />
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So...what more could a Star Wars fan ask for?<br />
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Well, I will say that there are times when "getting what you think you want" borders on fatigue. Where once the idea of Boba Fett and Jango Fett was unique and mysterious, we've now literally seen 15 on screen at a time, firing flamethrowers. Star Wars has to closely guard that specialness. I loved the episode, but I was aware that there's a danger in too much of a good thing.<br />
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Also, I've always felt that Sidious should fight a little less like Maul. A little more lightning and a little less two-handed dueling. But that's a quibble. At best.<br />
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This arc was an answer to the disposable last arc, but also seems to herald (perhaps) Clone Wars moving towards new stories entirely. What lies in store for Ahsoka, considering what we've just witnessed? Is her fate sealed? I'm excited to find out.<br />
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Rating (out of five): *****CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-37405515084359930202013-02-07T11:11:00.002-08:002013-02-07T11:11:51.620-08:00Season 4, Episode 13 - Point of No ReturnThe story of D-Squad comes to a not-terribly rousing ending with Point of No Return, a decidedly kid-friendly story arc. In this episode, the team finds themselves aboard a Republic cruiser, fully expecting to get home safely. Things are, though, not exactly what they seem. Which surprises exactly no one.<br />
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There's some standard and perfectly acceptable action to be found here, a few "last minute saves" and quite a big (very fancy) explosion. Certainly, being The Clone Wars, you never feel as if the entire cast of characters will not be killed - in fact, you can almost bet that someone will go. So it's hard to uniformly dismiss the episode as unwatchable or bad. It's simply much ado about very little. None of our main characters are at risk, R2-D2's near death isn't fooling anyone, and in the end, we learn what it means to be a soldier. Or something along those lines.<br />
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My main complaint about the D-Squad storyline is that, even as it gives us a few great moments of R2-D2 heroism, the rest of team feels extremely young-skewing and not terribly funny. Gascon, especially, seems immune to useful information - such as when he insists the empty ship is nothing to worry about. His silliness just never convinced me or made me feel invested.<br />
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Rating (out of five): **CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-43367363335573803402013-01-08T13:01:00.002-08:002013-01-08T13:01:55.023-08:00Catching Up - Capsule Reviews of Season 5 Episodes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, why not? Following is a rundown of quick and dirty capsule reviews for the Season 5 episodes of the Clone Wars...up to the 100th Episode.<br />
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Revival (** 1/2) Felt like running in place. The last episode of Season 4 features lightsaber fights with the SithBrothers, and so does this. Plus, they're run off by pirates. <br />
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A War on Two Fronts (** 1/2) The Onderon campaign begins with some so-so characters learning about guerilla warfare.<br />
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Front Runners (**) More Onderon. Ahsoka trains them to fight. I shrug.<br />
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The Soft War (**) More of the same of a story that doesn't do much for me. Feels like quoting better stories with lesser characters.<br />
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Tipping Points (***) - The conclusion of the battle is well staged and tense, with a notable loss for our heroes. Still, I just never got all that invested.<br />
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The Gathering (****) - Usually, the focus on the younglings (yes, I know it's a kid's show but still) bores me. This time, I have to admit, I loved it. Gorgeous visuals, great use of Yoda, lovely story.<br />
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A Test of Strength (****) - More plucky young characters that are more likeable than usual. Wooden lightsaber handle? David Tennant-bot? Come on! That's awesome.<br />
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Bound for Rescue (***) - The story gets a lot more conventional with this installment.<br />
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A Necessary Bond (** 1/2) - Well staged action, and I still like the kids, but conventional and forgettable.<br />
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Secret Weapons (**) - Something about this failed to grab me. Band of misfits scenario has been done better, I guess.<br />
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A Sunny Day in the Void (**) - These characters just didn't enthrall me for some reason.<br />
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Missing in Action (*** 1/2) - The 100th Episode of the Clone Wars. Even though I haven't been in love with this particular cast of characters - the Clone recovered from amnesia pretty darn fast - I like the remote location and the final segment was exciting.<br />
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As you can see, I've got a little fatigue with Season 5. More minor characters have taken center stage and not necessarily to great effect.<br />
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And with that, I'm caught up! I hope to be back to regular reviews!<br />
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<br />CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-25647240972202361222013-01-07T13:32:00.000-08:002013-01-07T13:32:54.101-08:00Complete Season 4 Capsule Reviews<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, Okay. It's been over a year since I posted on this blog. I'm ashamed, embarrassed, etc. Life got in the way of regular blogging and reviewing. It happens to the best of us. Well, to the best of me anyway.<br />
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I guess all it took for me to come back to the blog was NEWS THAT THERE WILL BE MORE STAR WARS MOVIES!<br />
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Holy. (Cough) Crap.<br />
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I'm going to make it up to you. Below are capsule reviews with star ratings for every episode of Season 4.<br />
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<b>Water War</b> (***) - The opening of the season shows more technical verve than an engaging story. The story of Prince Lee Char continues the Clone Wars tradition of trying to prove that any kid with spunk can lead hardened soldiers if he or she just believes in him or herself. Still, cool visuals.<br />
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<b>Gungan Attack </b>(*** 1/2) - More of this, but still...Gungans to the rescue. I cheered when that happened, yo.<br />
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<b>Prisoners</b> (*** 1/2) - More amazing animation but still... the Prince? Loved Tamson though. <br />
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<b>Shadow Warrior</b> (****) - Better than it had any right to be. Most Jar Jar episodes are. Extra star for the heroic Tarfuls scene. Why did I care? Why?!<br />
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<b>Mercy Mission </b>(** 1/2) - Droids meet floating environmentalist fairy. Forgettable episode if it wasn't so weird. Basically, it's the Riddles in the Dark scene from the Hobbit, with more jokes and colors. And beeps.<br />
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<b>Nomad Droids </b>(** 1/2 ) - Just some weird stuff that happened to the Droids. Willow reference earns it an extra half-star.<br />
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<b>Darkness on Umbara</b> (****) - Establishes a new totally creepy planet, an ambiguous new leader, and some fantastic action. <br />
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<b>The General </b>(**** 1/2) - Walter. Murch. Directed. This. Some of the best action of the series. <br />
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<b>Plan of Dissent</b> (*****) - Stellar. Dee Bradly Baker's best ever work and truly challenging episode of the series. One of my favorites.<br />
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<b>Carnage of Krell</b> (***) - Good, but a bit of a cop-out. Krell turning to the Dark Side is a bit too morally easy. Wouldn't it have been better if he truly believed that this was the <i>meaning </i>of lacking attachment? Not all villains are the Sith.<br />
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<b>Kidnapped</b> (***) - The beginning of a story arc based on the popular comic book. Good, but didn't blow me away. Obi-Wan was fun here. <br />
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<b>Slaves of the Republic</b> (****) - Anakin's relationship with slavery is explored here in a way that I enjoyed. Solid, intriguing episode.<br />
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<b>Escape from Kadavo</b> (*** 1/2) - Trying to convince the Queen that she's a slave too? Shrug. Another decent episode with good action - but never feels like more than just one more adventure. <br />
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<b>A Friend In Need </b>(* 1/2) - Eh. Ahsoka and Lux. I will never watch it again, I'm sure.<br />
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<b>Deception</b> (****) - Fun and creative. Obi-Wan shaved! Plus - they're totally assholes to Anakin. <br />
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<b>Friends and Enemies</b> (***) - More of this story. Sort of a reverse buddy cop scenario. Thumbs up, but nothing spectacular.<br />
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<b>The Box </b>(***) - Best of times and worst of times. Tons of cool characters and creative action - but if you really think about the "test," it doesn't make a lot of sense. <br />
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<b>Crisis on Naboo</b> (**** 1/2) - A great ending to this story arc, fun action. I love how Naboo looks in this series.<br />
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<b>Massacre</b> (*****) - Totally. Awesome. Episode. Ventress's story earns its place in the Star Wars canon here. Brutal.<br />
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<b>Bounty </b>(**** 1/2) - Pure fun. Ventress - freed from the limits of Sith-dom, on a solo caper with the bounty hunters we know and love. <br />
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<b>Brothers</b> (*** 1/2) - This season's episode with the biggest build-up. One-half Star Wars pure myth-making...one-half bullshit. Bringing Maul back always seemed like a stunt to me. Plus, Morley? What's that about? Still, looks terrific and Maul is creepy.<br />
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<b>Revenge </b>(***) - Obi-Wan and Ventress versus the Brothers Grimm. Awesome action, fan-candy, but felt extremely convenient and conventional to me.<br />
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So there you have it. My favorite stuff was Umbara and what they did with Ventress... all complicated and beautifully animated and sad. I know Darth Maul was the big return, but I'm not convinced they needed him back from a story perspective. CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-71838316221582189042011-09-16T07:38:00.000-07:002011-09-16T07:38:14.515-07:00Season 4I've been missing in action!<br />
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Sorry that the last few episodes of Season 3 escaped my reach last year, although I hope to get back to them later on. Ahsoka still sort of gives me hives, so The Most Dangerous Game episodes just sort of made me yawn on initial impact. Oh well. Say *** for the animation. I loved, loved, loved the Prison Break episodes, though. Absolutely awesome.<br />
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Looking forward to Season 4 and coming back strong with some episode reviews for you all. <br />
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I'll also say that I have my copy of the Star Wars Complete Saga Blu-Rays and frankly...they're awesome. Even though there are changes to the original trilogy (get with the program or don't, but quit complaining people); there are also some changes to the prequels for the eagle-eyed. Good ones I think.<br />
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Anyway, I'm back.CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-1215357557044841312011-04-24T20:00:00.000-07:002011-04-24T20:17:08.178-07:00Season 3, Episode 15, 16, 17 - Overlords Trilogy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqrwwgFwiZEbp0pGK2cej5kMD4ks_OOLvieMpzpEJ5aU-xLi0oLq18FgesClgBZEweMprQm8BHYDBawVbq21c8SOBcIppF3jD18vxL7N1SLjBSZfmwVcMozypBK609vS2-dXACLBxB4U/s1600/epguide315.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqrwwgFwiZEbp0pGK2cej5kMD4ks_OOLvieMpzpEJ5aU-xLi0oLq18FgesClgBZEweMprQm8BHYDBawVbq21c8SOBcIppF3jD18vxL7N1SLjBSZfmwVcMozypBK609vS2-dXACLBxB4U/s400/epguide315.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570970615757503922" border="0" /></a>If Luke Skywalker's journey is the classic hero myth, then what does that make Anakin's. At once the hero and villain of the Star Wars mythology, Anakin's journey spans what are essentially two life-times, two selves. In The Overlords Trilogy ("Overlords," "Altar of Mortis" and "Ghosts of Mortis") the meta-narrative of the Star Wars series is transformed into an allegorical showdown. <div><br /></div><div>Here, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano are drawn to a mysterious, uncharted planet that appears populated only by three Force-Wielders: Father, Daughter and Son. These spirits represent the Light Side, the Dark Side and a sort of parent/cop that keeps the two sides in check.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Clearly, the creative team of <i>The Clone Wars</i> threw everything but the <a href="http://www.eeggs.com/items/44796.html">kitchen sink</a> at these episodes. For that reason, there are great pleasures for fans to be found in these episodes, such as the voices of Pernilla August and Liam Neeson, as well as images re-rendered from the films. There's an operatic sensibility at play here in the best tradition of Star Wars. I'm sure that this trilogy, for some, will mark the high point of the Clone Wars series. They're gorgeous, intense, and creative.<br /><br />If I have reservations about these episodes, then, it's simply that the show is speaking it's subtext out loud. In short: to display struggles between the Light Side as a glowing woman and the Dark Side as a Sith-ish angry guy...it's all a bit <span style="font-style: italic;">too literal</span>, even for a series that isn't hiding it's influences. For all the beauty and grandeur of the Overlords Trilogy, and all the intriguing additions to the mythology of the series... it really never tells us anything we don't know. In fact, it expressly tells us everything we would pick up simply by watching the films, and <span style="font-style: italic;">thinking</span> about what they mean.<br /><br />I also am perpetually skeptical of erasing the memories of characters in order to avoid continuity issues. It ranks right up there with "It was all a dream" for storytelling cop-outs. If you can't fit what you're doing into the existing mythology without cheating, maybe a few storytelling tweaks are in order. For example: what if Ahsoka saw Anakin's future, instead of Anakin himself? Wouldn't that fuel the existing series without complicating or challenging the character arcs of the films?<br /><br />Obviously, the above aren't small problems with the storytelling, but they're not deal breakers either. Any Star Wars fan would be foolish to let those quibble overwhelm the exceptional animation, character moments and drama of the Overlords Trilogy. A terrific and exciting part of Star Wars, built to be controversial for sure, but also with a keen eye on pleasing fans and enriching the mythology.<br /><br />Rating (out of five): ****<br /><br />Note: Yes, I realize the season finale has come and gone as of this posting! I'm catching up. My apologies!<br /></div></div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-85659255373589073942011-03-18T06:19:00.000-07:002011-03-18T06:20:22.750-07:00Bad reviewer!Okay, I know I've been away from the site for waaaay too long. I'm going to catch up by reviewing Overlords as a trilogy in one post and Citadel as a trilogy in another post. I went on a honeymoon (to Guatemala, which I totally recommend) and have been running around being my usual frantic self. But I have not forgotten you!CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-60386979146627532642011-02-07T06:30:00.000-08:002011-02-07T07:22:13.159-08:00Season 3, Episode 14 - Witches of the Mist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjsnv-yjgVwC9I6nqjx1V3eIvilTvUz6PsSzTk1qyVFAUISUQAucbdRLTSoi-gVaAR5yAQ_OJYZnxVZKhK0DDD0JkrKjaxugK1aFr3fP3kMIP6FsSFBwGf5DWxV5H8dY9Fdji4XTlsZo/s1600/epguide314.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjsnv-yjgVwC9I6nqjx1V3eIvilTvUz6PsSzTk1qyVFAUISUQAucbdRLTSoi-gVaAR5yAQ_OJYZnxVZKhK0DDD0JkrKjaxugK1aFr3fP3kMIP6FsSFBwGf5DWxV5H8dY9Fdji4XTlsZo/s400/epguide314.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570955520267762610" /></a>The third part of the superb <i>Nightsisters </i>trilogy of episodes doesn't reach the emotional heights of the middle episode, Monster, but it's a more-than-satisfying finale. It also announces a more ambitious outlook for the Clone Wars as it's own series. <div><br /></div><div>The rousing introduction of Savage Opress for viewers, is an alarming act in the Clone Wars universe. Obi-Wan and Anakin are sent locate this new warrior and stop him. Of course, they're not aware that they're merely side players in a power struggle between Asajj Ventress and her former master Count Dooku. Like much of the <i>Nightsisters </i>trilogy, we're privy to an expressed philosophy of the Sith and their lionization of power. This is all about what it means to be Sith.</div><div><br /></div><div>In a scene reminiscent of General Grievous introduction is the original Clone Wars microseries, we see Savage humbled by Dooku. These lessons are not only a way to expose Savage's comparative crudity; but lay a path for the final act of the episode. We see Dooku at his most powerful and in his element, expressing his power, explaining his beliefs, and abusing a servant.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, Opress is designed as a Sith weapon, and a deadly one. This episode sees the death of a character first introduced in the premiere of the series, King Katuunko. I have to admit, I was surprised by the suddenness and ferocity of this character's death, especially because he was always shown to be particularly noble and particularly willing to stand up to the Separatists. A worthy reminder that standing up to the villains is brave because it can, in fact, cost you your life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Inevitably, this episode leads to and out-and-out lightsaber battle between Dooku and his estranged apprentices, as well as the Jedi. The battle itself is cinematic and played well into the various styles of the combatants. It felt a little bit arbitrary (a lightsaber duel to close things out, as usual) but it was excellent action for action fans. The results of the battle were a tad more inviting: Ventress still on her own, and Opress severing his ties with Dooku.</div><div><br /></div><div>The final moment seemed more designed to get water cooler chatter than to make much sense. Intriguing? Sure. Logical? Maul was chopped in half. What could possibly be more dead than that?</div><div><br /></div><div>Rating (out of five): **** 3/4</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-45160371331241314832011-01-15T08:55:00.001-08:002011-02-07T06:41:56.696-08:00Season 3, Episode 13 - Monster<a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYSoUqGSYqQZF-A9k7RMmv2grmAdsh3KWyT1RkxqoPwpmDXpjRHNU0MQEA4-4Iab0_BMAMkaxhB23T3lksogtfVRWbP9scKjyzQZlKg1JZCmRAcZT7i9x6tuBWR7tDHSPO177KaTbsOk/s1600/epguide313.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYSoUqGSYqQZF-A9k7RMmv2grmAdsh3KWyT1RkxqoPwpmDXpjRHNU0MQEA4-4Iab0_BMAMkaxhB23T3lksogtfVRWbP9scKjyzQZlKg1JZCmRAcZT7i9x6tuBWR7tDHSPO177KaTbsOk/s400/epguide313.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562457415161365474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Monster</span>, the second part of the "Nightsisters Trilogy", is notable for many reasons. One is that it is the introduction of Star Wars latest villain, the much-anticipated Savage Opress. Second, it's main characters, apart from Count Dooku, are entirely of the Clone Wars continuity. Asajj Ventress, the Nightsisters, The Dathomirian Zabraks, Mother Talzin, Savage himself: none of these characters appear in the films. Still, though, they are richly drawn here, brought to a level of character development and emotion that rivals their more established counterparts. Third, it's one of the darkest tales the Clone Wars has yet attempted, and that daring will undoubtedly pay dividends. Finally, it actually deepens Darth Maul and therefore, The Phantom Menace.<div><br /></div><div>The story picks up where Nightsisters leaves off, as Dooku, attacked by shadowy figures with red and blue lightsabers, believes he has been targeted by the Jedi. He asks Mother Talzin to create a new assassin for him to replace Asajj Ventress, who he believes to be dead. Talzin sends Asajj to a nearby village of males, Zabraks all, much like Darth Maul. Yellow, instead of red, (because of their homeworld? Racial difference?) these Zabraks are forced to fight for their lives, to prove themselves worthy of becoming a servant to the Nightsisters.</div><div><br /></div><div>The ensuing episode is superb. Savage, voiced by veteran actor Clancy Brown, is a far better character than I'd anticipated, a spirited and even heroic warrior. What fuels him to "win" the competition is a fierce desire to protect his kin, Feral. It's this very heroism that causes his downfall, as he is forced into servitude and essentially has his identity wiped away by the magic of the Nightsisters.</div><div><br /></div><div>The entire enterprise does more to establish the villainy of the Dark Side than many. Here, we literally see what were good characters destroyed and turned into destroyers. Death is dealt to the innocent. And all the while, there's something surprisingly sad about Savage. Is the good individual buried inside this new Sith Assassin? Or has it been entirely eviscerated? Savage is a "Monster," all the moreso for having been once generous and good.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, it also begs the question, is this the process that created Darth Maul? And, if so, doesn't it mean that his former self could possibly have been just as sympathetic? </div><div><br /></div><div>The action is excellently choreographed, and the mood is chilly and frightening. The final action sequence, designed to highlight just how dangerous Savage Opress is, is quick and effective. The final moment, though, and Dooku's declaration, brings us back to the very nature of the Sith and their cycle of power struggles for their own sake.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sensational all around, and one of the best episodes of the series. All the better for resting the weight of the drama on as yet unseen characters.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rating (out of five): *****</div><div><br /><br /></div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-34853578926531105832011-01-14T13:09:00.000-08:002011-02-07T06:42:38.631-08:00Season 3, Episode 12 - Nightsisters<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSnWbXefQ4tL0uQeszpxNz7A4DdxDjWRWkEtdCSJNBEBSDDNs936YCr-gnubyq4usfgloKoLgnxO5FOc_rsgdh1GCc-whurypfqpbVEtM2kGbLVMM9dRFaVhCSa4FcI-KbEjX1PLb7Nc/s1600/epguide312.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSnWbXefQ4tL0uQeszpxNz7A4DdxDjWRWkEtdCSJNBEBSDDNs936YCr-gnubyq4usfgloKoLgnxO5FOc_rsgdh1GCc-whurypfqpbVEtM2kGbLVMM9dRFaVhCSa4FcI-KbEjX1PLb7Nc/s400/epguide312.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562151874183807474" /></a>The Clone Wars returns from it's holiday hiatus with the Katie Lucas penned <i>Nightsisters</i>. After a full half-season largely consisting of episodes about interest rates, <i>Nightsister </i>is a welcome return to some of the more exciting elements of the Star Wars universe, namely, the machinations of the Sith and the character of Asajj Ventress.<div><br /></div><div>Ventress takes center stage here. Her original introduction, as a part of the original Clone Wars miniseries of awesome animated shorts in 2003, has been nearly written out of the mythology. Now, in flashbacks, we are privy to a more complex and rich history for her than ever before. In many ways, Asajj has been useful because she can handle the lightsaber dueling, keeping Dooku where he should be: largely behind the scenes. She also has developed a fun flirtation with Obi-Wan. Other than that, though, we've rarely seen her as more than a hired sword, a sort of extra-powerful bounty hunter. With <i>Nightsisters</i>, she's given some long-awaited depth. (I'm aware that much of this mirrors existing EU backstory, but we all know until it hits the screen all bets are off.)</div><div><br /></div><div>We also confront the inevitable: Asajj is that she is a third Sith in a universe where Sith come in pairs. She is Dooku's apprentice, even as he serves Palpatine. <i>Nightsisters </i>finally pulls the trigger on this loaded fact.</div><div><br /></div><div>We also meet the Nightsisters themselves. Designs that mirror the "Sith Witches" that have floated around the EU, we see now that they are matriarchal mystics from Dathomir. Spectral and frightening, I loved the introduction of a powerful new force and their bizarre rituals. Truly fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>In many ways, Asajj is the Sith Ahsoka. We know she won't see Episode III, and we know she's a Clone Wars era character only. I'm heartened to see they're taking new steps with her, and look forward to see how the depict her fate in this series. I hope they'll take the same approach with Ashoka soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>Clearly, this is set up for the coming of the much hyped Savage Opress, and in that, the episode has a bit of a "only the first act" sense of being incomplete storytelling. Still, a great return to form for the series, and I look forward to the next part of the tale.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rating (out of five): **** 1/2</div><div><br /></div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-10957252367816982932011-01-07T06:43:00.000-08:002011-01-07T06:49:57.302-08:00And....we're back. With big news!First...Star Wars: The Complete Saga will finally hit Blu-Ray in September 2011. Great news there. I wish I could just hibernate until then. Like all fans, I'm waiting to see just what will be on these discs. All three prequels had extensive DVD releases with deleted scenes and documentaries. Plus, there was an extensive documentary produced about the making of the entire saga with the first DVD release of the original trilogy. Will we see these materials simply reproduced and repackaged with some additional extras? Or will we see newly produced extras for this edition and deleted scenes from the original trilogy too?<br /><br />It does seem like they're signaling heavily that we'll get some new stuff here and that's exciting.<br /><br />Also...will there be changes? At this point, I'd be surprised if they were unaltered.<br /><br />Also... tonight The Clone Wars returns with Nightsisters. The previews of the rest of the season look extremely dark and thrilling. Looking forward to it, as I've felt Season 3 has been a bit lackluster so far.CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-84149095376104474652010-12-06T06:36:00.000-08:002010-12-07T12:24:05.772-08:00Season 3, Episode 11 - Pursuit of Peace<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPz7cBhCDwh7URqgu-k_hRriHKb46KEdGYGXLrUcVrlCQL0i1oR9eoMNcpRAvc9bP0wdhAmwQ40kewP8gKqfWxI1q1qqTAIZjm4S9oWnyp3YchUagdOqOZvnDBQ0SZv7s2b5I-cUY0GUM/s1600/epguide311.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPz7cBhCDwh7URqgu-k_hRriHKb46KEdGYGXLrUcVrlCQL0i1oR9eoMNcpRAvc9bP0wdhAmwQ40kewP8gKqfWxI1q1qqTAIZjm4S9oWnyp3YchUagdOqOZvnDBQ0SZv7s2b5I-cUY0GUM/s400/epguide311.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547578338215585714" /></a>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.<div><br /></div><div>I won't retread what it is I like about the complexities of the Clone War (<a href="http://swclonewarsreviews.blogspot.com/2010/11/season-3-episode-10-heroes-on-both.html">read my review of Heroes on Both Sides for that</a>). 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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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. </div><div><br /></div><div>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. </div><div><br /></div><div>The episode as a stand-alone is fine. Season 3, though, has been <i>filled </i>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rating (out of five): ***</div><div><br /></div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-90434912102230644432010-11-29T08:12:00.000-08:002010-11-29T08:15:48.501-08:00Irvin Kershner has diedSad news for Star Wars fans...Irvin Kershner, director of The Empire Strikes Back, has passed away at 87. It goes without saying that The Empire Strikes Back was the best of the six films and the best Star Wars story ever committed to any medium. It goes beyond that though: it was massively influential through the culture. It's echoes are felt everywhere, with memorable lines and characters and images that have become a part of the cultural landscape.<div><br /></div><div>It wasn't automatically going to work out that way. We all know that sequels do not always surpass their predecessors, let alone entirely deepen and expand on them. This was a truly great piece of popular art, and Kershner was at the helm.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for what you did for all of us. May The Force Be With You, Always.</div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-40877466637953157672010-11-22T08:19:00.000-08:002010-11-22T09:10:45.388-08:00Season 3, Episode 10 - Heroes on Both Sides<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobXHRJOn3vJ8feJFh5_sJn6f3iz1r68AMu2XTSLlHdwD0fo4gt0NFFFznMLohiZiZdQUqEdE2wW7DlRNUWCDqEL0QiNVleOpubM-kPA9SENptm2NY68SZ9nasD-j7JW2abPkrT8EraCQ/s1600/epguide310.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobXHRJOn3vJ8feJFh5_sJn6f3iz1r68AMu2XTSLlHdwD0fo4gt0NFFFznMLohiZiZdQUqEdE2wW7DlRNUWCDqEL0QiNVleOpubM-kPA9SENptm2NY68SZ9nasD-j7JW2abPkrT8EraCQ/s400/epguide310.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542409580928696754" /></a>I find myself conflicted as I write this review of <i>Heroes On Both Sides</i>, a landmark episode of the Clone Wars series, that highlights the inherent Catch-22 of the prequel-era storytelling. The episode moves the scattered chronology of the series forward significantly, aging Ahsoka and moving Anakin's attitude and wardrobe closer to that of his ultimate fate in <i>Revenge of the Sith</i>. It also fully embraces the muddled political story that Lucas is telling in the prequel-era.<div><br /></div><div>In many ways, the prequel-era politics are a large dramatic setback for the stories. Our heroes are never clearly fighting for anything except the idea of the status quo and "Democracy" even as we see that the very ideals they fight for are subverted by leadership. The Separatists interests in leaving the Republic are entirely confusing: are they leaving because they believe in the idea that the Republic is corrupt? If so, why do they have their own Parliament? What policies have driven the Separatists away? And if they are so against, for example, corporate influence, why are the stand-ins for the Separatists always members of the Corporate Alliance or the Banking Clan? </div><div><br /></div><div>Making things worse is that, essentially, the war itself and the issues involved are entirely an invention of the Sith. Both leaders are in cahoots, escalating an invented conflict in order to push the galaxy towards Imperialism. Why? Because the Sith are bad, basically, and they want to rule the galaxy. Power, in a sense, for its own sake. </div><div><br /></div><div>In short, it's hard to keep track of why our heroes are at war, and with whom. It makes for stories that are harder to tell, and have a bigger barrier for mainstream consumption.</div><div><br /></div><div>What's both wonderful and terrible about what I've written above is that it is, in fact, no more or less complicated than real war, especially the wars of today. Like it or not, the prequel-era stories are a mirror to their time.</div><div><br /></div><div>The wars of the United States do not have popular support. They were started on evidence that is discredited, and the countries we invaded were states not directly related to the loose affiliation of terrorists that attacked us. These wars have abstract goals, have complicated players, have costs and benefits that are hard to pin down. We've done unethical, even criminal, things (torture, for example). We're not at war with the Nazis in the US; we're at war with ourselves and our values. It's unsatisfying and unresolved, and perhaps that's one of the things that the prequel-era stories get exactly right. Whether or not you're on the left or the right in the US, it's impossible to feel as if our reason for fighting is clear cut and fixed. </div><div><div><div><br /></div><div><div>My attitude towards this episode, in that context, is also unresolved. In a lot of ways, it's tough to sit through and be entertained by a plot driven by deregulation of the banks (which shoehorns an unrelated contemporary hot button issue in an uncomfortable way) and a lot of chat in sitting rooms. Some of Ahsoka's lines are inelegantly shoved into scenes for the utility of speaking for the younger members of the audience ("I don't understand!" "All I know is the Separatists are bad!" "Politics sure aren't black and white!"). I can't say I don't see the reasoning, but I did wince a few times.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Also, the moment where a young man "checks out" our newly early teen Ahsoka struck me as, shall we say, in poor taste.</div><div><br /></div><div>All that being said, though, I can't help but admire the goals of and existence of this episode's major themes. The Republic has killed good people. That the Separatists may simply have different political ideas. That sometimes what drives people to fight is fear, not reason. That there are those that profit from war financially. The message is anti-establishment, deeply subversive. This is a story about questioning the reasons for fighting, questioning unthinking loyalty, and about not judging the "enemy." Considering the demographic of this audience likely skews below 15, I have tremendous respect for the audacity of presenting those messages in this way. Even as we know the outcome, to watch politicians manipulated away from peace, even as its offered to them, is painfully resonant. </div><div><br /></div><div>Imperfect and clumsy as moments in this episode may be, <i>Heroes On Both Sides</i> reflects reality back to us, and asks us what we see. Our political landscape is foggy, dramatically slippery. The stakes, though, remain life and death, freedom or tyranny. The story of finding, or losing, ones moral compass in a confusing world may not always be as <i>fun </i>as the story of dogfighting with the bad guys. That doesn't make it a story that shouldn't be told.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ratings (out of five): ****</div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-75821911373346712512010-11-13T10:02:00.001-08:002010-11-13T10:25:54.191-08:00Season 3, Episode 9 - Hunt for Ziro<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQiCy5dbcBovvCpwokPVdUkWNkSuFkMuNMyuDhIwqEYJ6K_zCBSKFeQ3TCbGVAJypPEVtdxRqjdpmzB1IP4q5AtkZVlJC8p9AXUttxdmqgmG8O-iiqBhEPgiWO2JpCo8wf9hyphenhyphen_-3s9iE/s1600/epguide309.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQiCy5dbcBovvCpwokPVdUkWNkSuFkMuNMyuDhIwqEYJ6K_zCBSKFeQ3TCbGVAJypPEVtdxRqjdpmzB1IP4q5AtkZVlJC8p9AXUttxdmqgmG8O-iiqBhEPgiWO2JpCo8wf9hyphenhyphen_-3s9iE/s400/epguide309.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539096377677160530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.</span><br /><br />That's a bit more like it! The ninth episode of season three picks up the pace decidedly from the last few episodes. Chronologically following the debut of Cad Bane (the season finale from Season 1, Hostage Crisis); Hunt for Ziro follows Obi-Wan Kenobi and the screen debut of EU darling, Jedi Quinlan Vos.<br /><br />I've made no secret of my dislike of the Ziro the Hutt character. From his original introduction in The Clone Wars movie to his subsequent appearances, Ziro is simply an ill-conceived character. He's silly, he's mildly offensive (the big city Hutt is sexually ambiguous and swishy). He makes Jar Jar Binks seem like a breath of fresh air.<br /><br />How fantastic, then, to see the creative team focus on his creepiness, as opposed to his silliness. His love scene with Sy Snootles is nothing less than audaciously vile: weird in a way that actually made me laugh out loud.<br /><br />Her eventual betrayal of him is perfect, of course. It reinforces the dangerous world of Jabba's palace. The Hutts have lost a whole lot of steam in The Clone Wars series. Jabba's "son," and the silly looking Hutt Clan, Ziro's Mamma, and Ziro himself...they all contribute to the Hutts as sight gags, as opposed to dangerous criminals. In this episode, the split the difference nicely. Ziro is wicked and manipulative. Sy Snootles? A murderer. (The death of Ziro gets this episode an extra half star from me, just for giving me the satisfaction.)<br /><br />The episode was full of imaginative touches. The dance sequence homage to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom; the mummified Hutt; the nasty little lizards that crawl on Mamma the Hutt. It had a sense of whimsy and ideas that I really enjoyed.<br /><br />Furthermore, we meet Quinlan Vos at last. For me, his debut was fun, if not iconic. Obi-Wan refers to him as "crazy" but I never really understood why he was more brash or distinct from, say, Anakin. I'm hoping they can go a bit further with that aspect of his character, but I liked him well-enough.<br /><br />The action sequence, though, between Vos, Kenobi and Cad Bane was easily the best action sequence of the season and, I would say, among favorite action sequences of the series. Bane comes off as creative and dangerous, and it was a thrill to watch him and the Jedi leap and tumble through the new (and intriguing) world of Nal Hutta.<br /><br />One hope for Vos is that now we have a character whose adventures can be new to us. He's a loner, he's got a history to establish (I loved that they made reference to a previous run in with Cad Bane), and he's got unique powers. I look forward to Vos-centric episodes, and maybe, an extended rivalry between him and Bane. It's set-up here perfectly. I hope they see it through.<br /><br />Rating (out of five): **** 1/2CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-3380275175281137222010-11-11T07:35:00.000-08:002010-11-11T07:40:35.119-08:00Season 2 Blu Ray thoughts<div>I picked up the Clone Wars Season 2 Blu-Ray. Love the presentation of the discs. Season 2 looks amazing in high definition.</div><div><br /></div><div>One little quibble: the extras are a bit buried. The Season 1 set has an icon next to each episode, which allows you to see a quick mini-documentary about the making of the episode, and it lets you know if that episode has additional footage. All of the Season 2 extras are buried in the Jedi Archives feature. In fact, it took me a minute to realize where the "deleted scenes" were... and I'm a huge fan of DVDs. It shouldn't be hard to find that sort of popular material.</div><div><br /></div><div>So...great set, great season, but the Season 1 set is laid out in a slightly more fan friendly manner, I'd say.</div><div><br /></div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-61188792511379414412010-11-11T07:33:00.000-08:002010-11-11T07:35:39.324-08:00Savage Oppress PreviewsTwo of 'em. Picked up from <a href="http://theforce.net">TFN</a>. Savage Oppress versus Quinlan Vos FTW!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:596049" width="512" height="319" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="configParams=vid%3D596049%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A596049" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" base="."></embed><div style="margin:0px;padding:4px;width:500px;text-align:center;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><a href="http://www.mtv.com/ontv/" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">MTV Shows</a></div><br /><br />AND<br /><br /><div><object width="576" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://d.yimg.com/nl/ytv/site/player.swf"><param name="flashVars" value="shareUrl=http%3A//tv.yahoo.com/star-wars-the-clone-wars/show/38472/videos/22903025&repeat=0&vid=22903025&"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed width="576" height="324" allowfullscreen="true" src="http://d.yimg.com/nl/ytv/site/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="shareUrl=http%3A//tv.yahoo.com/star-wars-the-clone-wars/show/38472/videos/22903025&repeat=0&vid=22903025&"></embed></object></div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-24365532960725665302010-11-08T13:35:00.001-08:002010-11-08T13:52:13.245-08:00Season 3, Episode 8 - Evil Plans<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZ9ZopWOO-t6CA8L7tdvwkBC0_QHa_Ar3CEDIy-sVj8ooD_8_PGsG4IfEGzEF2XNEm8wQIJ3M12bHdUQYs82_kO5owwpyaK7k-kQy4qNqDIL8HXLP5vRGpkavzz99c340bac6wgSvKUE/s1600/epguide308.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZ9ZopWOO-t6CA8L7tdvwkBC0_QHa_Ar3CEDIy-sVj8ooD_8_PGsG4IfEGzEF2XNEm8wQIJ3M12bHdUQYs82_kO5owwpyaK7k-kQy4qNqDIL8HXLP5vRGpkavzz99c340bac6wgSvKUE/s400/epguide308.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537295764350497282" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><br /></span></a><div><br /><div><a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Finally (I'm catching up on my reviews today!) another in a series of so-so episodes. This one isn't dull, per se. Instead, <i>Evil Plan</i>s is absolutely weird. Here's what happens: C-3PO and Artoo get sent to go buy fruit; R2-D2 goes to a spa; the writers explain to the 5 people who care how Cad Bane could break into the Senate building so easily in the last episode of Season 1 (Hostage Crisis); C-3PO get <i>hilariously </i>tortured; we see the mustached and costumed images of the cartoonish Hut Clan leaders discuss freeing Zirro the Hutt.</span></span></a></div><div><a><br /></a></div><div>I wouldn't say it's actually <i>bad </i>because it's just so bizarre that it's worth watching. I love the droids, and it's nice to watch them have their own episode. Anthony Daniels continues to be the hardest working man in Star Wars.</div><div><br /></div><div>I do think, though, that I hope that we'll see more of the Artoo and Threepio from A New Hope. Notably, that Threepio is not the funny one in that duo...he's the straight man. Watch it again. Artoo is beeping away what are undoubtedly rude or off-color comments, and Threepio is offended or horrified. Lately, we see Artoo seem amused by this Felix Unger counterpart. But to me, Artoo is the one with all the jokes. We just only hear half the line: that's what's funny.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not too much to add to review this episode other than it made me half-smile and half-scratch my head. You have to sort of see the Artoo gets a massage/Threepio gets tortured scene to believe it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank the Maker next week is something worth getting excited about: <i>Quinlan Vos. (</i>Sadly...Zirro.)</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><div>Rating (out of five): **</div></div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-56739871008981496022010-11-08T13:12:00.001-08:002010-11-08T13:34:55.466-08:00Season 3, Episode 7 - Assassin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qgAb0aShUY8brUGO5Av3MbeouIPfP4Eoor9jXjADHG2KTTQ-1umXZ4OtCNgjepB4Cumxcbhq04xiQ3rk-90hZ6plP3gse9zryJZf1QQV7CZZiWnw7nknltY5R028aULUtHPJcPkebh4/s1600/epguide307.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qgAb0aShUY8brUGO5Av3MbeouIPfP4Eoor9jXjADHG2KTTQ-1umXZ4OtCNgjepB4Cumxcbhq04xiQ3rk-90hZ6plP3gse9zryJZf1QQV7CZZiWnw7nknltY5R028aULUtHPJcPkebh4/s400/epguide307.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537289963391711826" /></a>Ahsoka Tano is having terrifying visions, which lead her to believe that Senator Amidala's life is being threatened by Aurra Sing. Another episode that is focused on our female cast ("You've come a long way, baby!"), <i>Assassin </i>puts Ahsoka in charge of protecting Padme during an important speech on Alderaan. <div><br /></div><div>Before I go into the details of this episode, I'd like to quote the official site:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">This episode, more than others, reveals the convoluted chronology of stories from the first two seasons. The Season Two finale, "</span></span><a href="http://starwars.com/theclonewars/guide/episode222.html" style="color: rgb(9, 119, 255); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">Lethal Trackdown</a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">," actually takes place </span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">before</i><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> the Season One finale, "</span></span><a href="http://starwars.com/theclonewars/guide/episode022.html" style="color: rgb(9, 119, 255); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">Hostage Crisis</a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">."</span></span><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.3; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">In a chronological flow of events, the series begins with the action on Christophsis ("<a href="http://starwars.com/theclonewars/guide/episode216.html" style="color: rgb(9, 119, 255); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; ">Cat and Mouse</a>," "<a href="http://starwars.com/theclonewars/guide/episode016.html" style="color: rgb(9, 119, 255); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; ">The Hidden Enemy</a>"), which introduces Ahsoka to the Clone Wars ("The New Padawan," which was incorporated into feature film). Then, the kidnapping of Rotta the Hutt introduces Ziro the Hutt, and the movie ends with Ziro's incarceration. Many Season One and Season Two episodes then follow, with Season Two's trilogy of Boba Fett episodes introducing Aurra Sing into the storyline. The crashing of the <i>Slave I</i> leads the Jedi to mistakenly believe that Aurra is dead, until she surfaces in this episode, which brings back Ziro -- chronologically -- for the first time since his imprisonment. The story continues in the next Season Three episode, "Evil Plans", and Aurra will somehow be freed from captivity in time for Cad Bane's attack on the Senate in Season One's "Hostage Crisis." The drama surrounding Ziro and his freedom then picks up in "Hunt for Ziro," the ninth episode of this season.</p><p style="line-height: 1.3; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Get that? Right. Look, I really don't mind any of this if the episodes are good. But in upcoming episodes (see: the next episode Evil Plans) the Secrets Revealed theme might as well be "Retcon - The Season." Continuity is important to someone - but let's face it - <i>I'm</i> someone who follows this stuff closely and even I don't care exactly <i>when </i>Ahsoka got good at using a Jedi Mind Trick or when Aurra Sing bit the bullet. Continuity isn't plot.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.3; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">That being said, this is yet another Perfectly Fine Episode. Aurra Sing seems threatening enough to warrant a few moments of stylish action and Ahsoka's visions are cryptic enough to have some mystery about how they play out. Padme, even, gets into the action is absolutely fun ways.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.3; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The problem though (and it's not small) is that we <i>know </i>that Padme is not killed here. Our visions of the future are 100% more accurate than Ahsokas. We are absolutely certain of the future, because we have seen Padme's funeral already, folks. We also know that Ahsoka's attempts to be the best Jedi she can be and believe in herself will have little bearing on the larger Star Wars narrative. Certainly, there might be a little girl watching who is learning to trust her instincts and be confident (and hey, I'm not completely heartless) but without a whole lot of help from some expert animators, this story lacks much tension, and this type of story <i>deals entirely</i> in tension.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.3; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Not that I have any illusions about being listened to by the creative staff - but maybe if Ahsoka were to protect another Senator whose fate is unknown, the exact same episode would have been doubly effective.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.3; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Rating (out of five): ** 3/4</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.3; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p></div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-36399226497198282242010-11-08T12:45:00.000-08:002010-11-08T13:11:53.645-08:00Season 3, Episode 6 - The Academy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNBqHRWNDAh3GQluS7jYHGdlUiLNXn3E_qmFF8TKo0GDiQaFjXwWY5r2V5RV_qaTPahj5AUtxY3Hdd4opbeBpnAjs2Uv_ByvYT0C2goLJLf9Dkcy2ImTi-wDV93vyCnUguhqD3eoLnAE/s1600/epguide306.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNBqHRWNDAh3GQluS7jYHGdlUiLNXn3E_qmFF8TKo0GDiQaFjXwWY5r2V5RV_qaTPahj5AUtxY3Hdd4opbeBpnAjs2Uv_ByvYT0C2goLJLf9Dkcy2ImTi-wDV93vyCnUguhqD3eoLnAE/s400/epguide306.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537283839453816818" /></a>Following on the heels of Corruption is <i>The Academy</i>, an Ahsoka focused episode. In The Academy, Ahsoka has been brought to Mandalore to educate the elite children of Mandalore about, you guessed it, corruption. The kids get into all sorts of trouble, Scooby Doo style, as they try to figure out how high up the government the criminal element goes.<div><br /></div><div>Prime Minister Almec, featured in each Mandalore episode, features prominently here too, along with Satine as well. Those characters are especially effective, and Ahsoka isn't as terrible as she is capable of being. Still, the incorrigible youngsters at the center of the episode's action didn't exactly thrill me. They felt light-weight and expedient, and barely distinguishable from one another. Also...<i>Cadet Korkie</i>? Really?</div><div><br /></div><div>Certainly, there's little doubt about who the villain turns out to be if you've watched the previous episode or you've watched a mystery in your life. I will admit, though, that the final act of the episode was played in a more harrowing way than the opening of the episode led me to expect. So, whatever half star I might remove for giving Ahsoka so much to do, the creative team gets back in making our heroes appear to be in real jeopardy. </div><div><br /></div><div>All that's done well here, though, falls prey to the same general malaise I felt when watching the previous episode. I love Star Wars (I mean, no one's paying me to write this blog, folks) but episodes about Smart Alec kids saving an entire planet from bad guys just leave me cold. At the end of the episode I though: Okay what moment was new, exciting, shocking, grand? Even retreads like Grievous Intrigue - which offer little new plot - have action and spectacle on their side. Here, though, between plucky Ahsoka and her kiddie Cadets, I felt no such resonance or sense of wonder. Just a workmanlike episode in an oddly workmanlike season.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ratings (out of five): ** 1/2</div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-77500189888214647342010-11-08T12:09:00.000-08:002010-11-08T12:44:15.824-08:00Season 3, Episode 5 - Corruption<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhyphenhyphen07qoq9YQWVTWMw5SX6zBqE8OROazhS6upe7FekU03X-cWqlavlpIqCKBdycZPuzAWRvgvZq0rQdJQZdtJY_UldJQBBDMj87AthAT_hupeBKi0BeE5p8oMuADWgcLuL1bKQTgf7FYo/s1600/epguide305.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhyphenhyphen07qoq9YQWVTWMw5SX6zBqE8OROazhS6upe7FekU03X-cWqlavlpIqCKBdycZPuzAWRvgvZq0rQdJQZdtJY_UldJQBBDMj87AthAT_hupeBKi0BeE5p8oMuADWgcLuL1bKQTgf7FYo/s400/epguide305.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537275501147336914" /></a><div><br /></div>In <i>Corruption</i>, The Clone Wars returns to Mandalore and Dutchess Satine, one of the best characters introduced in Season 2 (and from the best of the story arcs as well). The episode itself is actually the first of a duology, although it stands up perfectly well on its own.<div><br /></div><div>Here, we see the complications inherent in attempting to remain outside of the system. The pacifism of Mandalore has meant that they are neither dealing directly with the Republic nor the Separatists. Resources are scarce, and a black market rises to fill the hole left where regular commerce is failing. When the profit motives and unethical business practices become a real hazard (unhealthy doses of a toxin leak into children's meals) it's up to Satine, with Padme's help, to move beyond the political squabbles and discover the culprits. </div><div><br /></div><div>The episode plays out in a relatively straightforward manner. Satine and Padme follow leads, find themselves in danger, are horrified by the corruption around them, and unravel the mystery. The animation has evolved to the point that little character moments are far more nuanced, and Mandalore's design is always fun to see. I also enjoyed the relationship between Satine and Padme well-enough, although geniality isn't exactly dramatic. </div><div><br /></div><div>Which is, perhaps, the biggest issues. <i>Corruption</i> is never exactly ho - hum, but it never feels <i>inspired </i>either. There's no villainous character whose invention seems sinister enough to be more than generically greedy, and never a heroic moment that's unexpected. Neither disappointing nor exhilarating, this episode sort of left me feeling unmoved. Which is, shall we say, not a good thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>As with <i>Supply Lines</i>, it's admirable to see the writers tackle complex issues like political corruption and greed in a way that's palatable for younger viewers. Unfortunately, it's a delicate balance to communicate this type of nuance to children, and there were, for my taste, a few too many lines that bring down the subtlety hammer in order. The word Corruption itself is stated...five times? More? In 22 minutes? Is this overkill for a viewer like me, or simply necessary for some viewers? Hard to tell. For me, as a longtime fan, the hamfisted "teaching moments" stick out a bit too often.</div><div><br /></div><div>Again, watching this episode never made me feel unhappy to have tuned in, or overly bored. But a lesson in civics followed by a couple of gun fights? Bring on Savage Oppress please.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rating (out of five): ** 1/2 </div>CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-84407333464187510312010-10-27T13:01:00.000-07:002010-10-27T13:30:18.393-07:00Season 3, Episode 4 - Sphere of Influence<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGHFJQd-ujCClv0nFf0doV7vrysfjhcuYRdiJZo5NBHduQNdakxdw4MsOc1VNd6_wVKQe95umHR8wq0WV5swcyze7BW6PrDhEIG38We5RFTNXPLO2gfKumTi677MQjHbaQxhxYtXkwXA/s1600/SphereofInfluence.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGHFJQd-ujCClv0nFf0doV7vrysfjhcuYRdiJZo5NBHduQNdakxdw4MsOc1VNd6_wVKQe95umHR8wq0WV5swcyze7BW6PrDhEIG38We5RFTNXPLO2gfKumTi677MQjHbaQxhxYtXkwXA/s400/SphereofInfluence.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532818607837953506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sphere of Influence</span> is a fun, zippy, but ultimately minor episode of the series with one distracting-and-delightful detail: it stars the George Lucas clan. Chairman (wasn't that Baron?) Papanoida (get it?) is, in fact, modeled after Lucas himself. To see him and other characters modeled after his own family running around solving a mystery and firing laser guns is...well... a hoot.<br /><br />Luckily, as the sight gag is apparent in every frame, the episode is not played for laughs. A kidnapping tale, Sphere of Influence is excellent for what it is, even if it never quite soars. In keeping with the Season 3 theme, this episode returns to one of the few new characters not instantly shot: Senator Riyo Chuchi from <a href="http://swclonewarsreviews.blogspot.com/2009/02/season-1-episode-15-trespass.html">Trespass</a> (one of my favorites).<br /><br />It also checks in on young Greedo. Yes, indeed, Greedo. And takes us to the Mos Eisley Cantina. To see George Lucas and family in the Mos Eisley Cantina in a firefight with Greedo? C'mon people. It's like a love letter to nerds.<br /><br />That's why, really, it's a minor miracle that the intrigue of the episode plays out relatively smoothly. I can't say that I thought it was all that memorable - the story was standard fare - but I enjoyed it while it lasted. Also, the politics seemed to work well in the story, as opposed to being a story about <span style="font-style: italic;">the fact that there were political issues.</span><br /><br />One little nitpick: doesn't Greedo speak Huttese? What's with all these prequel era characters speaking basic? Did I miss a meeting?<br /><br />Rating (out of five): ***CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324087685026014374.post-42996454663910517712010-10-12T08:59:00.000-07:002010-10-12T09:00:24.200-07:00Supply Lines and Sphere of Influence coming soonHey everyone -<br /><br />I'm getting married on Saturday, so that's taken up all my excess brain-space. The reviews are coming soon!CloneWarsFanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14632969286971697094noreply@blogger.com1