Season 1, Episode 16 - The Hidden Enemy

The Hidden Enemy is a brief prequel (or at least precursor) to the Clone Wars movie. It, therefore, takes place prior to the introduction of Ahsoka Tano, but after Attack of the Clones. The entire Clone Wars series leads into Revenge of the Sith, which is the last of the trilogy of prequels. To which I say: Star Wars continuity officially needs a spreadsheet. Maybe two. I haven't even mentioned those, you know, original three movies.

I bring this up because The Hidden Enemy has lots of little nods to the Clone Wars movie. It takes place of Christophsis, it mentions "heavy cannons" (which were the focal point of the first battle in the movie), and Asajj Ventress makes a point of getting off-world just in time to be on her mark for the start of the film. Why, exactly, it was deemed necessary to give people the events immediately prior to the Clone Wars movie isn't immediately clear to me. At least now we know.

All these little references make The Hidden Enemy a sort of oddball of an episode. At its core, beyond the obligatory set pieces, is a story that I suspect will have a big impact on fan's understanding of the clones. The idea of a clone traitor, despite the fact that the clones were bred for "obedience" and loyalty (according to the Kaminoans) means that the clones aren't brainwashed, but instead, participating in a culture of service. The line is a thin one between service and servititude where clones are concerned: they're bred (heck, grown) for combat, by the truckloads, but they're also individuals in their way. To see a clone trooper that openly disdains the Jedi opens the door for the story to come.

And so, the main story of Commander Cody and Captain Rex as Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson works very well. Cody and Rex have been well-established as characters now, and watching them feels familiar and fun. The interrogation and subsequent hunting of the traitor are certainly fun and full of fun character notes and smart moments.

The rest of the episode, though, isn't as well thought out. Obi-Wan and Anakin have a secret plan to, apparently, drive directly up to the front door of Separatist central. If that's your plan...why make it secret to begin with? Then, when they fight Asajj Ventress, she announces to them that she has an informant. What good is an informant inside your enemies camp if you announce his existence to them?

Why, I'm forced to ask, are they really fighting her at all? Not that I don't enjoy a good lightsaber duel. I do. It's one of my favorite things. (It's on the list with Brooklyn Lager, Kettle Chips and comfortable shoes.) I just like there to be a reason for the fight. My standards are low on this point. If it was "If you want to leave here, you'll have to get through me" or "I am going to make a very real attempt to kill you" I'd be satisfied. In The Hidden Enemy, it's pretty clear we're watching a lightsaber duel so we know why Obi-Wan and Anakin aren't around while the clones are sorting stuff out.

(Let me go on record, though, of loving the Asajj vs Obi-Wan flirt/fight dynamic. I can't wait until we get an episode in Season 2 that sounds like Who's Afraid of Virigina Woolf? with lightsabers. I pray for it at night.)

With these three disparate elements (the mystery, the movie lead-in, and the lightsaber duel), The Hidden Enemy tries to do too much and feels, as a result, thinner than it should with such rich material. The core story, though, answers a burding question about the clones' psychology, and rolls out in an entertaining way. That makes it an episode that's required viewing for clone wars fans, flaws and all.

Rating (out of five) ***

Season 1, Episode 9 - Cloak of Darkness

Cloak of Darkness is so elegantly plotted and so fantastically directed, that it pains me to admit I found its one major flaw so frustrating. Somehow, the writers of The Clone Wars have the relationship between Ahsoka Tano and, well, everything utterly upside down. They did, though, finally start to get Asajj Ventress right.

Before I go there, let me get the important part out of the way: Cloak of Darkness is an episode that could be proudly shown to almost any skeptical Star Wars fan as proof that The Clone Wars series rocks. The twists and turns of the plot all add up perfectly, the characterizations are spot on, and the choices made are, generally, good ones. Also, the action is phenomenal here: the best fight choreography that the series has seen yet.

One major plus for this episode is the deepening of Asajj Ventress, making her seem legitimately threatening. So far in The Clone Wars series (not counting her original 2003 introduction), Ventress has sneered and run around, but generally been bested by the A-List Jedi like Yoda and Obi-Wan. Putting her up against Luminara Unduli gives her room to kick ass, and Cloak of Darkness takes advantage of the opportunity.

Luminara is also well-realized here, and well-voiced by Olivia D'Abo (of Wonder Years fame). Since her first appearance in Attack of the Clones (for seconds) she's captured fan imagination, mostly because of the uniqueness and beauty of her design.

We also see the introduction of the Senate Commandos, a cross between the Imperial Guard and a Clone Trooper in design, who are decidedly NOT Clones. Where they take that storyline is rather telling: the Clones are shown the be dedicated to following orders. We see the upside of that in Cloak of Darkness. (There is, of course, a rather serious downside...)

The only problem I have with Cloak of Darkness isn't actually a small one: what the hell are they doing with Ahsoka? Are we intended to believe that Luminara Unduli, Jedi Master, is not only more naive about Asajj Ventress than Ahsoka is, but also would declare herself a fool and thank Ahsoka for saving her life by the end of the episode? Suffice to say, I feel a bit like the Master-Padawan relationship between the cloying Ahsoka Tano and just about every other Jedi is entirely backwards. She tells Anakin what to do, defies Yoda and Obi-Wan, has a personal relationship with Plo Koon, and now, all but shames Luminara. Whe does this padawan start learning from Jedi Masters, as opposed to teaching them?

Rating (out of five): *** 3/4

Season 1, Episode 1 - Ambush

A little less than two months after the release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars as a feature, the first season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars began on Cartoon Network. It aired two episodes on October 3rd, 2008 back-to-back, the first of which was a stand-alone episode entitled "Ambush."

This episode was, at the very least, extremely encouraging. Yoda is en route to the coral moon of Rugosa, to meet with King Katunnko of Toydaria (Watto's race). Upon arrival, the Republic cruisers are immediately ambushed (hence the title) and Yoda and three Clone Troopers find themselves alone and outgunned.

Asajj Ventress argues that the inability of the Jedi to defend even themselves should lead King Katuunko to conclude that he should accept Separatist protection. Yoda, unwilling to concede defeat, swears to avoid capture and reach the Katunnko before the Separatists can stop him.

In short: Yoda and three Clone Troopers against a bunch of battle droids. The outcome is never in doubt, but the execution of the episode had much to prove after the lackluster feature. Happily, Ambush announces the series more auspiciously than did the film release.

Any Star Wars fan could have predicted some of what Ambush offers effectively: Yoda being generally terrific at tearing up metal. The central battle scene, where Yoda dismantles boatloads of battledroids and tanks, is a whole lot of fun. The Clone Troopers are well-realized as well. This episode is about 70% Yoda fighting; and on that criteria alone, it's all you could ask for.

What is more satisfying is that there was clearly an effort made to show the side of Yoda that appears in The Empire Strikes Back. He smiles, he laughs, he makes cryptic statements; he's generally less dour and officious than he is in most of the scenes in the Prequel Trilogy. His interactions with the Clone Troopers show actual concern for them as individuals, and an instinct to mentor.

There are elements of this episode I think, though, could be easily overpraised. Yoda's "wisdom" in this Episode isn't Shakespeare...it's far more of the Saturday morning cartoon variety. There's nothing particularly wrong with that, but it does show how difficult it is to capture the tone and feeling of Empire. Yoda in Ambush has the quality of a mentor and some basically good advice; Yoda in the Empire Strikes Back speaks about the essential nature of the Force and the path of belief. There's really only a surface level comparision.

Also prevalent is the lack of tension. The outcome of the Episode is pretty clear from the get-go, and the idea that even a thousand Battle Droids could defeat Yoda alone is almost laughable.

Plus, Katuunko seems relatively generic. If Watto's race of Toydarians are resistant to mind-tricks, for example (remember Episode I?) then there seems to be something distinctive about them. Katunnko is noble and well-meaning. He's pre-sold on Yoda, and rooting for him. Not much of a negotiation.

Laughable, in fact, is what the Battle Droids are in this episode. As it was in the Clone Wars movie (and to an extent in the prequels) the Battle Droids have gone completely backwards. They're not a threat: they're a gag reel. Which works, frankly, intermittently. I won't deny that I guffawed at a couple of Battle Droid one-liners, but its a choice that needs to be balanced in the long run.

The other reservation I have with this episode is its treatment of Asajj Ventress. Ventress was originally introduced, even given a backstory, in the Genndy Tartakovsky 2003 series. If the new series is intended to replace the Tartakovsky series, then why is Ventress treated as if she's always existed? The time-line, here, is a bit muddled. It's not the best storytelling device to just say "Oh, you remember Ventress from the other series? She's in this one too."

All that said, Ambush hits a lot of the right notes. It's contained, effective, light and fun and Yoda seems like the Yoda we know and love. Plus, the action is wonderfully directed. A good, if not terribly ambitious, beginning.

Rating (out of five) *** 1/2