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Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Review

When I heard that Disney was making a Star Wars anthology series called ‘Tales of the Jedi’ I was stoked. I thought they’d be adapting the 90s comics of the same name. Instead of taking us back 4,000 years, though, Disney copped out by treading familiar ground with characters we already know, like Ashoka and Dooku. After watching it, though, I thought this anthology series turned about two Jedi and the paths their lives took wound up being better than I thought. It encapsulated two different views on the world and how each Jedi viewed it. One of them saw the world for what it was, while the other saw it for what it could be.

That, and we got to see Ashoka as a baby.

Despite seemingly having nothing in common, there are a lot of parallels between the stories of Ashoka and Dooku. Both were raised by the Jedi and held them up on this pedestal. They saw them as the good guys who always did what was right. However, as they got older, they realized things weren’t so black and white. That the Jedi had lost their way, serving a Republic rotting from the inside out. That ultimately made both disillusioned with the Jedi and leave the order.

Nor can we blame them. As we see in both Dooku and Ashoka’s stories, the Jedi had many problems. Despite claiming not to, they served a corrupt Senate and its self-serving whims. Dooku especially grows frustrated as he keeps seeing how selfish those in power can be. Eventually, they both lose faith in the Jedi and decide to leave them behind. 

A Story of Cynicism vs. Idealism

Tales of the Jedi makes no secret how flawed the Jedi had become. However, it also contrasts Dooku and Ashoka’s stories through one key fact: how they dealt with these realizations. Dooku let this anger and resentment build up until he finally snapped and became Sidious’ unwitting pawn. The bitter irony is that Sidious was probably responsible for much of the Republic’s corruption. 

On the other hand, Ashoka, despite briefly giving up, ultimately refuses to give up hope. That for all the flaws in the Galaxy, it was still worth fighting for. That the ideas of the Jedi still meant something. That’s why, when the Empire comes looking for her, she chooses to fight back. As a result, she sets out on the path that will ultimately see her help build a rebellion that will bring the Empire down.

Don’t Let Bad Things Break You

Overall, if I had to say what the theme was behind Tales of the Jedi was, it’s the struggle between cynicism vs. idealism. Not blind idealism, though. I mean being idealistic despite knowing how much people can suck. Dooku saw the Galaxy as rotten and let it corrupt him. Ashoka, though, despite all she went through, decided that despite this, it was still worth fighting for. And in the end, Ashoka’s way of thinking gets vindicated when the Empire finally falls. 

Now, if Disney would just let the Jedi come back, I’d have no problems with Star Wars.

I Give ‘Tales of the Jedi’ a 3.5/5

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Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 15 Review

We knew that with the rise of the Empire, the Clone Troopers would be replaced. It was a tragic inevitability of canon that this would happen. However, the last episode saw the Imperials move faster than few could guess. They’re already introducing the Stormtroopers, Kamino got cleaned out, and worst of all, Hunter got captured! Now, the Bad Batch has to return to the one place they swore never to go back to: Kamino. And what happens there will drop the curtain on the age of Clone Troopers, for good.

Return To Kamino

Following Hunter’s capture on Daro, Crosshair uses him as bait to lure the rest of the Bad Batch. Despite knowing it’s an obvious trap, the team goes anyway. However, Hunter’s not on Daro. He’s on Kamino.

Despite promising Omega that they’d never go back, none of the squad hesitates to return to Kamino. Instead of army of Clones and Kaminoans they expect, though, there’s no one there. No one at all. The Empire has moved everyone and everything of value off-planet. The only thing left is an empty, lifeless city.

To see the city on Kamino now empty and quiet is very unsettling. Throughout The Clone Wars, Kamino was a place filled with life, duty, and purpose. Now, it has nothing left to do but wait for the inevitable end. Therefore, it’s only fitting that the Bad Batch plays a starring role in the cloning facility’s final act.

Big Revelation

Throughout The Clone Wars, audiences were repeatedly reminded of the fact that the Clone Troopers were people, not tools. While they mostly looked and sounded the same, they formed their own personalities and world views. And sometimes, they would end up disagreeing on these. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Bad Batch themselves.

At the episode’s climax, the Bad Batch and their former comrade, Crosshair, engage in a tense standoff with each other in the training grounds. Both sides make ovetures to get the other to join them. Crosshair even points out that his brothers left him behind before giving him a chance, and that working as mercenaries is beneath them. Crosshair even kills his new team just to show them he can be trusted. Then a surprise shootout with training droids sees the group team up one last time.

As bad as things have gotten between them, it was nice to see Crosshair fight alongside his brothers once more. However, it also serves as a reminder that things can’t go back to how they once were.

The Awful Truth About Crosshair

Hunter tries one last time to appeal to Crosshair, saying it’s not his fault. It’s the Inhibitor Chip in him that’s making him act like this. However, Crosshair drops a bombshell, revealing he got his chip removed some time ago. Thus, many of his actions have been of his own accord.

I know that this revelation may be controversial. However, I personally find it to be a very good plot twist. All this time, we’ve assumed that the new attitudes of the Clone Troopers were wholly because of the Chips. The fact that Crosshair got his removed and still serves the Empire willingly throws a lot into question. How many other Clones are serving the Imps by choice rather than brainwashing?

Regardless, it’s clear that the Empire doesn’t value Crosshair’s loyalty. Once things go south, they don’t hesitate to fire from orbit on the facility, sending it to the depths of Kamino with the Bad Batch still on it. Though not before giving us one last, haunting shot of how devoid the city has become. A sad, ignominious end to the once great Clone Army.

A Great Cliffhanger

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would see the end of Kamino as we know it. Yet here we are, with the legacy of Kamino sinking into the abyss, with our heroes along with it. With the announcement of the show getting a second season, we know that the Bad Batch will get out of this mess. However, it’s going to be fun seeing how they do so. In addition, there’s still the matter of Crosshair. Can he still be redeemed? Considering how redemption is a big theme in Star Wars, probably. Yet it’s not going to be an easy process. Crosshair may not even want to change.

With the announcement of The Bad Batch getting a second season, the second part of the finale next week may start Crosshair’s redemption arc. It would certainly be interesting to see. Until then, though, I hope to see how the squad escapes from Kamino once more.

I Give “Escape From Kamino” a 4/5

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Star Wars: The Bad Batch Episode 14 Review

Last week, The Bad Batch dropped the ball with a filler episode. However, this week, the show returns firing on all cylinders! With only three episodes left, the show’s headed towards its endgame with a lot left up in the air. Besides telling the story of Omega and the Bad Batch, the show gives us insight into the early days of the Empire. And this week, we got a surprise that few could’ve seen coming. This week, we got to see the very first Stormtroopers!!

No, seriously. The early Stormtroopers appear in this episode.

An Unexpected Rescue

While on yet another job for Cid, the Bad Batch gets a surprise call from Captain Rex. Another Clone Trooper’s trying to desert the Empire, but got captured doing so. Thus, Rex wants them to bust him out, something that Echo persuades the others into. It’s not just any Clone that they’re rescuing, though. It’s none other than Clone Commando Gregor.

Fans of The Clone Wars and Rebels may remember seeing Gregor in the past. In The Clone Wars, he was an amnesiac Clone who went MIA after being found by Republic droids. Years later, he’s living with Rex and Wolfe on an old AT-TE in retirement, and his sanity has taken a hit or two. In this episode, though, we get to see what he’s like in that transitional period of his life. He’s already displaying some of his craziness in Rebels, and he’s not happy with how his life’s going.

The reason’s simple: Stormtroopers. While it’s not made clear how much time’s passed since the Clone Wars ended, it’s likely only been a few months. A few months, and already Darth Sidious’ begun replacing the Clones with their largely inferior successors. And it is glorious! In a great tribute to their designer, the late Ralph McQuarrie , the early stormtroopers wear armor based on his original concept art. The rugged and rough nature of this new armor serves as a great transition between the Clones and the Stormtroopers. The message is clear: the days of the Clones are done.

The End of the Clone Troopers

In another inevitable development that reinforces the end to the days of the Clone Troopers, this episode reveals that the Empire’s cancelled their contracts with Kamino. In other words, no more Clone Troopers will be created, and the future of the ones remaining is in doubt.

It’s common knowledge that within a few years, the Clones were largely phased out in favor of the Stormtroopers. While there were a few still serving the Empire by the time of the classic films, most of them seemed to have vanished. Now the answer may be far clearer than it once was. With the coming of the Stormtroopers, the Empire couldn’t have an army of elite Clones running around. Thus, they may have decided to wipe most of them out.

The events of this episode bring further credence to this idea. The Empire starts moving Clones off Kamino, and when their Prime Minister tries to cut and run, the Empire arrests and executes him. In other words, they’re tying up loose ends, and the Clones could be next.

Set for the Endgame

While the Bad Batch gets Gregor out of prison, it comes at a cost: Hunter gets captured. The last we see of him, he’s being met in his cell by Crosshair.

Just like that, the stage becomes set for a final confrontation between Crosshair and his former squad. And there’s no guarantee if any of them will make it out of this fight alive. With only two episodes left, the stakes are high, both in-universe and in a meta sense. If The Bad Batch pulls this off well, then fans can chalk this series up as a success. If not, then the Bad Batch will likely be forgotten as fans move on. I’m hoping that it will be a success though, as there’s plenty more stories to tell in this era of Star Wars.

I Give “War-Mantle” a 4.5/5. Bonus Points for Delta Squad Member Scorch Appearing!

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Ashoka Tano; few characters in Star Wars have had such a complex journey, both in-universe and in the real world. When she debuted in the pilot movie for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, people thought she was an annoying tag-along that would die before the show’s end; she did, but it didn’t stick. Twelve years later, though, and this former Jedi turned rebel stands as one of the franchise’s greatest heroes. Now, after months of speculation, and two weeks since the name drop in “The Heiress”, the fans wish came true.

THANK YOU, DAVE FILONI!

Ashoka Tano’s Journey Continues

Canonically, the last time we saw Ashoka was sometime after the fall of the Empire. She and Sabine Wren left in search of Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger, who disappeared into the Unknown Regions at the end of Star Wars: Rebels. Flash-forward four or five years, and she’s fighting the forces of a corrupt magistrate on Corvus. Fighting, and winning. In fact, if it weren’t for the Magistrate’s willingness to kill the townspeople under her thumb, I think Ashoka could have taken her down with little effort.

Fans of Star Wars may know that the Jedi took a lot of inspiration from depictions of the Samurai of Japan. That influence is very much prevalent in “The Jedi”, down to Ashoka’s role in the episode. If the Jedi are Samurai, then Ashoka’s a Ronin, a wandering, master-less Samurai trying to help those in need. She’s fighting to free a town from its cruel lord, which leads to a final showdown between her and the Magistrate in the latter’s compound. The backdrop’s got some heavy Oriental influences to it, while the fight itself resembles what you might expect from Akira Kurosawa’s films. In other words, Ashoka spends the whole episode kicking ass, and I love it.

Mando Learns More About Baby Yoda

When Mando arrives on Corvus, the Magistrate’s desperate enough to get rid of the former Jedi that she hires him to kill her. Big mistake, though, as all he does is talk to her about Baby Yoda. Or rather, she communicates with Baby Yoda using the Force, while Mando’s left in the dark. She seems pleased by what she learns, and is happy to share it with Mando.

It’s here that we actually learn more about Baby Yoda’s past. He was once a Jedi Youngling living in the Temple. When Order 66 saw the Temple attacked, someone took him away and hid him. He’s been alone and in hiding ever since. We also learn Baby Yoda’s real name: Grogu.

Yeah, I’m still calling him Baby Yoda.

Despite Mando’s argument that the Child should be trained to control his Force powers, Ashoka refuses. She says that the bond that Grogu and Mando have could lead to him tapping into the Dark Side. She knows from first-hand experience how that can end badly for everyone.

Ashoka makes a good point: Jedi who let fear and negative emotions cloud their judgement are dangerous. However, I think that Ashoka’s suffering from slight PTSD over the fact that her master became Darth Vader. That’s why she won’t train him, even after Mando helps her free the town from the Magistrate.

She does, however, point him on another path.

Two Big Name Drops

The reason why Ashoka was fighting the Magistrate was because she was wanted information. It’s not until the end of the episode that we actually learn what it was she wanted to learn: the location of Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Fans of Rebels will remember him as the blue-skinned Admiral of the Empire that served as the big bad for the latter half of the show. He and Ezra disappeared into the Unknown Regions in the series finale, hence Ashoka’s quest to find Ezra. The fact that we got his name dropped by Ashoka means two things. Firstly, that Thrawn’s still alive and operating somewhere. Secondly, that Ezra Bridger is most likely alive as well.

The episode ends with Ashoka and Mando going their separate ways, so there’s no indication that she will return in the future. However, it’s likely the events of this episode could set up Ashoka for her own series focusing on her search for Ezra. Or maybe the two will intersect in the future.

Ashoka does point Mando and Grogu in the right direction, though. She tells them to travel to the planet of Tython. There they’ll find the ruins of an old Jedi Temple that’s strong in the Force. Grogu will be able to use it to choose his own path; if he wants to, he can call out to another Jedi through the Force.

While it hasn’t been made any big appearances in the new canon, Tython had a big impact in the old Expanded Universe. Located in the Deep Core, Tython’s thought by some to be the homeworld of the Jedi Order. The Jedi abandoned it after their founding before returning millenia later, only for it to be abandoned once more. If Tython is Mando’s next destination, then I can’t wait.

Dave Filoni Does it Again

Overall, this episode was amazing and worth the months of waiting. Rosario Dawson knocked it out of the park as Ashoka and I hope we see more of her in the future. Dave Filoni once again demonstrated why he’s one of the best people to take over the reins of Star Wars while showing off his love for the franchise. And we finally got some clues regarding Baby Yoda’s past. Stellar episode overall; one of the best of the series.

This is the Way.

I Give “The Jedi” A Solid 5/5

Stray Observations

• Listen closely and you’ll hear Ashoka and Yoda’s themes play at certain points in the episode
• Morai the owl-thing is back!

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Oh, yes; this is the stuff that I’ve been wanting to get out of The Mandalorian! After last week consisted of attack of the ice spiders, it felt like the show lost some of its steam. However, it not only got said steam back this week, but went into overtime. Since there’s no way for me to talk about this episode without spoiling it, I’m going to assume that if you’re reading this, then you already watched the episode. That, or you don’t care about spoilers. Buckle up for ‘The Heiress’, because it’s going to tie back to some fan-favorite shows in Star Wars.

The Titular Heiress of Mandalore

So, after getting Frog Lady to her husband safely on the water moon of Trask, Mando gets the info he wanted: the whereabouts of other Mandalorians. A group of Quarren take him on their boat…only to try and kill him and feed Baby Yoda to a sea monster.

At the last minute, the Mandalorians that Mando was looking for swoop down and save them both. And they’re not just any Mandalorians: it’s the Nite Owls, led by Bo-Kotan Kryze.

If you never watched Star Wars: the Clone Wars or Rebels, Bo-Katan is a Mandalorian that was introduced as part of a terrorist group that sought to bring back Mandalore’s warrior past. When the Empire took over, she fought against them as their leader. She was also the previous owner of the Darksaber, now in Moff Gideon’s hands.

With that fact in mind, when I saw that Gideon had the Darksaber, I was afraid that Bo-Katan may be dead. The fact that she’s not can only mean that Gideon stole or won it in battle. As a result, the heiress is gathering forces to bring him down

She and Mando don’t get along at first.

This is the Dank Farriq Way

Back in Season One, we learned that Mando’s tribe never took off their helmets as part of their warrior creed. I thought it was weird at first, but didn’t question it; thought it was something new that they adopted after the Empire drove them into hiding. It turns out it’s not.

Bo-Katan drops a massive bombshell on Mando and the audience, revealing that the group that took him in is, in truth, a fringe group of Mandalorians that broke off from everyone else. They’re so strict that even Bo-Katan, the heiress of Mandalore, curses when she learns he’s one of them.

This revelation that what he knows may not be the norm for his people shakes Mando to the core, and will no doubt have some long-term implications. However, it may be for the best though. Even when he was with his Tribe, Mando didn’t seem like got along with that many members. Learning that there are other ways for Mandalorians to live may encourage him to be more open-minded. At the moment, though, he’s more focused on finding a Jedi to help look after Baby Yoda. So, after helping Bo-Katan out, she points him in the right direction.

Which ends up confirming Star Wars fans wildest hopes.

The Return of Ashoka

This is not a drill people! Bo-Katan Kryze herself has confirmed it: Ashoka Tano is going to be in The Manadalorian! While it had been all but confirmed months ago, hearing her name being dropped in-show is still a big milestone. As a result, we finally get to see the next chapter in the incredible story of Ashoka Tano.

Canonically, the last time we saw Ashoka, she and Sabine Wren were going on a quest to find Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger. That happened sometime after the Battle of Endor. Yet according to Bo-Katan, she’s living on a forest planet called Corvus. Either she and Sabine succeeded in finding Ezra, or something happened. Still, the former Jedi is Mando’s best bet in keeping Baby Yoda safe; and personally, I think she’d make a great teacher.

‘The Heiress’ Hit all the right notes

By a wide margin, ‘The Heiress’ is one of the best episodes of the show thus far. It hits all the right notes, balancing the world-building, action, and fan service to deliver an amazing chapter to this amazing show. What makes it all the more impressive is that, at thirty-six minutes, it’s one of the shortest episodes of the series. If you haven’t seen this show by now, then for the love of all that’s holy, go watch it! This is the way.

I Give “The Heiress” a 5/5.

Stray Observations

• Mando needs to get the Razor Crest fixed or find a new ship. Because it looks like it’s not going to last much longer.
• Baby Yoda doesn’t eat any more eggs!

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Last week, we saw The Mandalorian begin its sophomore season with as big a bang as possible. There were explosions, Tusken Raiders, a giant Krayt Dragon, and the return of a legendary character. So how does it follow up on that? Two words: Giant. Spiders!

The Rigors of Being a Parent

The first thing we see as the episode starts is Mando fighting off a bunch of random bandits that were after Baby Yoda. And he absolutely wrecks them, all while showing how protective he is when it comes to the child. He lets one of the bandits take his jetpack in exchange for the child’s safety. Granted, he then uses that to drop the bandit out of the sky, but it’s the thought that counts.

As awesome as it is to see Din Djarin go Liam Neeson on the bad guys, it should be noted that he has yet to truly get into the mindset of being a parent. It’s not just Baby Yoda’s safety that should be his concern, but ensuring that he’s got a moral compass by being a good role model. Even when that means doing things he doesn’t want to do.

The crux of the episode is that Mando gets another lead on finding more Mandalorians. But in exchange, he has to ferry this Frog Woman and her eggs to her husband so they can have a family. A simple task, were it not for the fact that they have to travel at sub-light speed the whole time.

Then to make things worse, a New Republic patrol shows up and recognizes him from the raid on the prison ship from last season. Next thing we know, they’ve crashed on an ice planet filled with giant spiders.

Mando’s first instinct is to break off the deal and save himself and Baby Yoda, but the Frog Lady calls him out on this in front of the child. This is the moment where Mando truly becomes a parent. He knows that helping the Frog Lady won’t help them survive, but he’s got to set a good example.

Baby Yoda Needs Morals

As cute as he is, Baby Yoda’s still a child; and children tend to get in trouble. In this episode, Baby Yoda ends up causing his adoptive father a lot of trouble.

Several times throughout the episode, Baby Yoda tries to eat the Frog Lady’s eggs when Mando’s not looking. It’s a running gag with a lot of shades of dark comedy. On the one hand, it reminds us of a kid trying to sneak candy past an adult when they’re not looking. On the other, it’s a bit sociopathic considering how these are eggs that will hatch into living beings.

It’s moments like these that hammer home how Baby Yoda needs to be taught the difference between right from wrong; especially since he’s Force Sensitive. If not, he could end up hurting a lot of people when he’s an adult in who knows how many centuries from now. That, or he’ll get himself killed like how he almost does in this episode.

Spiders!!

The real highlight of this episode, though, were the giant ice spiders! After Baby Yoda tries to eat one of them, a horde of vicious spiders appears and tries to kill Mando, Baby Yoda, and the Frog Lady. And they are absolutely terrifying to look at. On par with the best monsters that Hollywood can conjure, this horde of spiders is nightmare-fuel that will make most people tremble in fear. Look at it!

Believe it or not, these phobia-provoking creatures aren’t new. They’re based on a concept for monsters that Luke would have encountered on Dagobah in Empire. That in itself is an impressive call-back that shows us how deep Jon Favreau’s willing to dig to make The Mandalorian awesome. Most impressive.

A Filler Episode or Bigger Plot Point?

At first glance, it feels like this episode’s just a filler meant to pad out the season. However, a few of the episodes from Season One also gave off that same vibe, only to end up becoming important as time passed. In this case, that prison break, and Mando’s subsequent good deeds pay off. Those New Republic pilots wind up saving him from the spiders before letting him go. Thank you, karma.

At the moment, though, I feel like this episode doesn’t live up to the season premiere. Sad as it is, I will likely forget about those spider monsters in the next few episodes, as they have no real bearing on the plot.

I Give “The Passenger” a 2.8/5.

Stray Observation

• Dave Filoni made another cameo in this episode as one of the X-Wing pilots. Nice to see the heir of George Lucas living the dream.

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In the months since the season finale of The Mandalorian, Star Wars fans have been active online trying to speculate on what could happen in Season Two. Would a Jedi appear? Would we learn how Moff Gideon got the Darksaber? But most important, would we see the return of fan favorite characters such as Boba Fett and Ashoka Tano? While the jury’s out on Ashoka (despite what this post says,) the season premiere just confirmed the return of a certain legendary bounty hunter. The original Mandalorian himself, back from the dead.

I wanted to do this review spoiler-free, but after seeing the season premiere, I can’t do that. You have been warned!

Tatooine: It just can’t seem to stay out of the spotlight.

Tatooine, home to Jawas and Tusken Raiders; birthplace of the Skywalker family; and a planet that just can’t seem to avoid attracting attention! In his quest to return Baby Yoda to his people, Mando follows a lead about a Mandalorian back to Tatooine. There, deep in the deserts, is the old mining town of Mos Pelgo. He doesn’t find a Mandalorian, though. It’s just a resident of Tatooine, Cobb Vanth, wearing Mandalorian Armor. After the Second Death Star blew up, the town was taken over by bandits. Vanth managed to buy Mandalorian armor from a group of Jawas and uses it to protect the town.

It’s not just any armor that Vanth’s wearing, though: it’s the armor of the legendary bounty hunter, Boba Fett. The last time we saw him in the canon, he was eaten by the Sarlacc, but a character that badass would have their story end like that. Somehow, Jawas got their hands on his armor, and now the Mandalorian wants it. To him, a non-Mandalorian wearing it is an insult to his people.

I’ve never seen the actor playing Cobb Vanth before, but I’ve seen a lot of people singing his praises, and I can see why. He carries himself like a classic, old west sheriff; the John Wayne to the Mandalorian’s Clint Eastwood. And thankfully, these two fight over the armor, because there are bigger fish to fry.

Krayt Dragons Scare Me

If you don’t know what a Krayt Dragon is, I don’t blame you; you should be grateful you haven’t seen one. It’s like if you crossed the Sandworms from Dune with an acid-spitting T-Rex: terrifying! And to save Mos Pelgo from destruction, Vanth enlists Mando to help him kill it. But it’s so dangerous they have to enlist the townspeople; and the Tusken Raiders.

Yeah, given how vicious they’ve been to people in the franchise, it’s hard to see anyone allying with Tusken Raiders. However, when you think about it, they’re indigenous people trying to take back their home from the outsiders who are trespassing. Sound familiar? As a result of that mindset, the writers go out of their way to show that the Tuskens and Settlers can work together.

What follows is an epic battle that I refuse to spoil because it’s as good as anything the movies could ever give us. All you need to know is they win, and Mando gets the armor.

Boba Fett is Alive

In the final moments of the episode, as the Mandalorian rides into the sunset, we get a look at this guy.

If you guys don’t know who that is, I don’t blame you. But that’s the guy who played Jango Fett in Attack of the Clones. Jango Fett was not only the template for the Clone Troopers, but the father of Boba Fett. Ergo, this guy is most likely Boba Fett himself! He’s alive!

How Boba Fett escaped the Sarlacc is of little concern. He’s a badass, so it wouldn’t be that hard. What we should be asking is how did is armor get stolen? Was he too weak to stop that from happening? And why would he remain on Tatooine all this time when he could have left and continued his bounty hunting career? My only guess is that he was hunting for his armor, and now that the Mandalorian has it, he will want it back.

This brings us to an interesting idea: will Boba Fett be a recurring character this season? More importantly, will he be a friend or foe to Mando and Baby Yoda? I wouldn’t mind seeing the three working together, but I’m also curious to see what would happen if they fought. It would show us just how good the Mandalorian really is or isn’t. Regardless, Boba Fett has a role to play in this season, and I only hope that they do his character justice. Without Boba Fett, there would be no Mandalorian!

I also hope that we see more of Cobb Vanth. He and the Mandalorian have a good dynamic going, and I’d like to see them work together more the future. Vanth may not be a foundling or Mandalorian by birth, but he’s got the heart of one.

I Give “The Marshal” A 5/5. Best Episode Yet.

Stray Observations

• You guys noticed how Mando let those Pit Droids work on his ship? Maybe working with IG-11 made him soften his hatred for droids. That’s character development!

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7, Episode 11

From the moment The Clone Wars started, we knew this moment was coming. With three words, Darth Sidious almost wiped out the Jedi Order: “Execute Order 66.” Now fresh off the heels of its best episode, we get the saddest moment in Star Wars history.

I could not keep my eyes from getting misty, and neither could most fans, it seems. An entire generation remembers the collective horror of seeing Order 66 on the big screen, and “Shattered” reopens that old wound anew.

From the start, the episode is fraught with tension. We know what’s coming, but can’t stop it. Not when we see the Council talking about Palpatine. Not when we hear what’s happening to Anakin. And not when we see Rex turn his blasters on Ashoka.

Seeing Rex being forced to turn on Ashoka reinforces the tragic genius behind The Clone Wars for me. Before this show, the Clones were just one of a million faceless soldiers. As we watched them fight and grow, alongside the Jedi, though, they became human. Which only makes seeing Order 66 even more heart wrenching than the first time around. They were pawns of Darth Sidious, pieces in a game that only he knew was being played!

Thankfully, Ashoka is able to remove the inhibitor chip in Rex and snap him out of it, but that’s of little comfort. We know there are thousands of Clones who will come out of a trance and realize “what have I done?” Any surviving Jedi will be left with feelings of betrayal. That’s the tragedy of Star Wars. And The Clone Wars plays it for all its worth.

It’s hard to follow up on a show’s best episode, but “Shattered” more than does so. It’s not grand or epic, but personal and emotional.

On May the Fourth, we have the final episode of The Clone Wars. With Order 66 in full swing, we’re going to need a lot of tissues. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go cry some more about this. #ScrewYouDarthSidious

May the Force be with you.

I Give “Shattered” a 4.8/5

Stray Observations

• “I’m sorry, citizen. These matters are for the Council to discuss.” Not even a sorry from Windu. There goes any sympathy for him
• Hearing the remix of “Anakin’s Dark Deeds” is the icing on the cake.
• Anakin’s password is 8-1-0-8. August 10th, 2008 was the day the show premiered
• Had Ashoka told the Council about what Maul said, or tried to tell Anakin, it could have stopped him from doing what he did.

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Twelve years on, and I still remember going going to see Star Wars: The Clone Wars in theaters with my old man. Little did I know at the time, but the movie that critics tore to shreds would spawn one of the best cartoons I have the pleasure of viewing, Star Wars: the Clone Wars. With the release of Revenge of the Sith three years prior, everyone thought the circle of the Skywalker Saga was now complete. Thank the Force that Lucasfilm proved us wrong.

If you recall my earlier post on the subject, I have a bit of a soft spot for the Prequel Trilogy, in spite of its flaws. As a result, I took to The Clone Wars fairly quickly, to the point where I had a weekly ritual for watching it. I would grab an old lightsaber I had lying around, and when the opening started, I would swing it around like a Jedi before striking a cool pose. It was totally nerdy, but I didn’t care. I would end up watching The Clone Wars throughout its five year run on Cartoon Network, and as a fan and a critic, I can safely say that kept the flame of Star Wars alive during that time.

A Grand Adventure…

In hindsight, I realize that there was a pattern to the show regarding its tone. At the start, it seemed a lot more light-hearted and fun, with very little continuity between episodes. The writers made the whole thing seem like some of grand adventure, with an epic clash of good vs evil. It was still a show about a galaxy-spanning war, but seeing the heroes win every week made us forget about that. 2

Looking back, I now see this as a deliberate attempt by Filoni and the writers to induce a sense of idealism. We would start with something exciting and pure, like the kind of war movie you’d expect John Wayne to star in. That’s how many used to think wars were like: dangerous but exciting. Maybe we just wanted to think like that because we knew what awaited us at the very end. As the series continued, though, it began to delve into more nuanced stories that went beyond the war. Suddenly, the grand adventure didn’t seem so grand anymore.

…Suddenly Gets Darker

I think I mentioned it before, but one thing I loved about The Clone Wars was how it matured as it got older. Slowly, the reality that we were watching a war that would end with the fall of the Jedi began to re-assert itself. Then came the Umbara Arc; while it wasn’t the best arc in the show, for me, it was what really drove home the truth about the conflict. The Jedi would ultimately go into hiding, Sidious’ Empire would rise, and darkness would reign.

After that, I just saw the show get progressively darker and cooler before we got the darkest story yet: Ashoka on the run. Ever since the film, fans had been wondering if Ashoka survived the Clone Wars. Thus, when she wound be falsely accused of crimes she didn’t commit, we thought this is it. Ashoka’s done for. Anakin cleared her name, but the damage was done.

After seeing the Jedi Council throw Ashoka to the wolves with so little hesitation made me lose almost all respect for them. No wonder she chose to leave the Jedi order. Deep down, though, I was also relieved, as it meant Ashoka would survive the war. However, it would be years before we found out what happened to her, or to Rex. Star Wars: The Clone Wars was cancelled, a victim of Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm and the Disney-Warner Bros. War.

The Return

Lucasfilm’s put up a sixth season on Netflix, but to be honest, I didn’t really watch it. The fire had just gone out for me. However, like many fans, I hoped for the day when the final episodes of the show would be made. So, when word came that a 7th and final season of Star Wars: the Clone Wars would air on Disney+, I was filled with joy.

Thanks to material that’s come out since the show first ended, we already know how the series will end. Ashoka will face off against Maul, Order 66 will begin, and she and Rex will go into hiding. However, that’s not going to make the whole thing any less exciting. So you can bet you credits that I intend to review every episode of this final season. So, come back tomorrow night to see my review of the first episode of the final season, “The Bad Batch.” If the promo’s are anything to go by, though, it’s going to be good!

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU.

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Star Wars, The Mandalorian, Episode 6 Review

Remember how I said that The Mandalorian had a bit of Samurai Jack in its veins? After this week’s episode, I’m convinced that’s what they plan on doing the rest of the season. The standalone adventures are fun, but the show needs to move the plot forward. Instead, we get an entire episode devoted to the art of fanservice.

Not that kind of fanservice.

The Job

Mando’s in need of some money, so he turns to an old friend named Ran for a quick job. However, the job in question involves freeing an associate of his from a New Republic transport ship. Worse, it also involves working with a team of scoundrels, one of which is his ex, Xi’an.

It’s here where we get our first bit of fanservice. One of the criminals, a Devaronian called Burg, is played by none other than Clancy Brown. I love Clancy Brown; his deep and menacing voice is so much fun to listen to. Fans of DC and Nickelodeon know him as the voice of Lex Luthor in the DCAU, Mr. Krabs on Spongebob, and one of my favorite villains, Long Feng from Avatar: The Last Airbender. In Star Wars, he’s provided the voice for Savage Oppress in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Ryder Azadi in Star Wars: Rebels. He’s a Star Wars veteran, and it’s great to see him at work again.

After meeting the rest of the team, the group takes the Razor’s Crest and infiltrates the prison ship. All throughout the trip, though, the others get on Mando’s nerves. They try to get him to take off his helmet, one of them tries playing with Baby Yoda, and they’re basically jerks.

The Betrayal

In the end, the group makes short work of the droids guarding the prison before making it to the only person actually working there. This is where we get our next big piece of fanservice. The guard in question, Davan, is played by Matt Lanter. Fans will know him as the voice of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I credit that show with helping to make Anakin a likeable character, and Matt’s portrayal played a big part in that. Sadly, Matt’s time in the franchise gets cut short as Davan’s killed by Qi’Ran. However, he does set off a distress beacon alerting the New Republic. As a result, the team scrambles to get the prisoner out, who turns out to be Qi’Ran’s brother. The group then thanks Mando by locking him in the cell. Big mistake.

It doesn’t take too long for Mando to get out and take control of the ship, which he then rigs to separate his traitorous team. The episode then shifts into slasher flick meets Alien as the Mandalorian hunts down each member. It’s a good way to showcase his skills and see him pay back a couple of jerks. The moral of the story is: don’t mess with the Mandalorian.

Fanservice 3: the Final Act

So in the end, Mando gets the job done and brings the prisoner back to Ran, though he leaves the rest of the team to rot. Ran then tries to kill Mando, but Mando saw it coming so he left them a surprise. He took the tracking beacon from the ship with him and placed it on Ran’s station, thus siccing three New Republic X-Wings on them.

We now get our final major bit of fanservice, as each of the X-Wing pilots is played by directors for different episodes of the show. We have Dave Filoni himself living his dream of being in Star Wars playing Trapper Wolf, which is a badass name. There’s Rick Famuyiwa, the director of this very episode playing Jib Dogger. Finally, there’s Deborah Chow, who made the best episode of the show, playing Sash Ketter. They make short work of the station while Mando gets away.

Better than Last Week’s

There are only two episodes left in The Mandalorian this season, and in one week, The Rise of Skywalker comes out. In other words, now’s the time for the franchise to double down on quality content, because Star Wars fever’s high. I’ve even neglected to watch a Christmas special a day so I could prepare for Rise of Skywalker!

This episode wasn’t the best the show’s given us so far, but I think it’s still an improvement over the Tatooine episode. That marks a low in the show. That said, I may be giving “The Prisoner” some leeway because of the fanservice it gave us. Relying on fanservice too much, though, isn’t a good idea, as it detracts from the show’s plot.

Speaking of plot, I hope the final two episodes will actually continue the story of Baby Yoda and the people hunting him. These standalone episodes are fun, but they need to move the plot along.

I Give “Chapter 6: The Prisoner” a 3/5.

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