The droid two-parter wraps up with one of the most effective episodes of the series thus far.
“You hold onto friends by keeping your heart a little softer than your head.”
1. Of course
Last week, the thought crossed my mind, “Maybe R3 is a double agent?,” but I dismissed it. I shouldn’t have, because by about 2 minutes into this episode, it was clear that R3 was a double agent. By the time the show reveals it, I’m pretty sure every single viewer had figured it out. And while it shows Grievous actually doing something fairly useful he, again, manages to fuck it up, and walk away with nothing.
2. This show loves dumb nicknames
After ‘Stinky’ in the film, this shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, but still – this feels like the clearest definition of a studio note that’s ever been. “Make kids laugh!” So, R3 is called either ‘Stumpy’ by Anakin or ‘Goldy’ by Ahsoka, and I cringed each and every time.
But we also get a moment of droid clumsiness that was so clearly telegraphed that it would have been absolutely shocking if the droid had managed to hold onto the device without dropping it. I’ve been told that the humor subsides in the future, and I truly hope that is the case. I’m fine for a laugh here or there, but these have a Lucas-specific habit of going as broad as possible, because kids are dumb. [See Binks, Jar-Jar]
3. Dat score, tho
One of the pleasant surprises about the show has been its distinct score, which hints at the John Williams grandeur but never quite goes all in. This episode introduced some electronic near-rock and roll elements, which added to the espionage feel to the episode. A score is one of those elements of film and television that can easily sneak by unnoticed; this episode’s jumped out and socked you in the mouth, in the best possible way.
4. High intensity
I have to hand it to director Rob Coleman and writers Kevin Campbell and Henry Gilroy, this episode packed quite a punch, and felt dangerous and intense, despite the fates of almost all the characters being pre-ordained by the prequels. There’s no way that Artoo getting taken apart would actually have led to all the Republic secrets getting out – there’s just no way an item of that importance wouldn’t have been mentioned in Revenge of the Sith, but the show moved everything just close enough to calamity to make the episode feel significant.
The espionage flair didn’t hurt either – jumping from their ship to the Separtist base, sneaking around the hallways, it all evoked the best kind of spy film, with a healthy dose of A New Hope thrown in for good measure.
5. Obi-Wan’s frustration
The show has been quick to show Obi-Wan and Anakin’s fraternal relationship, and though Obi-Wan disagrees with his former Padawan at times, Anakin tends to not really rankle his mentor too much. Not here – Obi-Wan seems legitimately pissed that Anakin was so impulsive and defied clear orders. While he wasn’t screaming and yelling, it felt at times like he was giving the classic “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed” conversation.
And I get that, because in this instance, they are both part of a military operation that depends on a clear chain of command. But that, again, brings me back to, perhaps, my least favorite part of The Clone Wars – the militarization of the Jedi. I know this isn’t a problem unique to this series, but I just miss my magical hermit Jedi, instead of my ‘that’s an order’ Jedi.
