I have good news about Clone Wars, everyone: this episode was 100% worth the wait. After a lackluster 4-episode arc, season 7 bounces back with a vengeance as it introduces the beginning of the final storyline, the Battle for Mandalore. There’s a ton in this episode (it’s a bit longer than past ones), but three things really stuck out to me that made it my personal favorite episode of this season so far!
- Anakin felt like a real human being for once
One of the main problems I have with the prequel films (and conversely, a main reason why I love Ahsoka) is that Anakin feels extremely cold and detached from the very beginning. During his arc, we are supposed to believe that his story is one of tragedy in which this bright-eyed, relatable person gets lost and embraces the darkness, but in every film scene that we see adult Anakin in, he simply does not seem very invested in those around him or particularly linked to humanity that heroes are traditionally supposed to care about. However, this episode of Clone Wars not only shows Anakin caring about someone other than himself but even displays the real relationships he was supposed to have all this time. Anakin teases and jokes with Obi Wan, improvises a battle strategy founded upon trusting his Clone Troopers, and goes out of his way to help Ahsoka and display his investment in her wellbeing. For the first time in recent memory, Anakin acts like the empathetic human being he’s supposed to be, and his interactions with Ahsoka alone make his inevitable turn even more impactful compared to the lifeless script that poor Hayden Christensen had to make the most of.
- Timeline and characters made sense (and even improved what we already know)
Every character behaved in a way that made sense during this episode, and man, that is a rare occurrence nowadays in narrative media. During the initial battle scene, Obi Wan’s and Anakin’s respective personalities and approaches to conflict are displayed: Kenobi with his careful, measured approach, and Skywalker with his characteristic flair for improvisation and aggression. Ahsoka returns to the Jedi for help with Mandalore, and though she is happy to see her old friends, she is still thoroughly disillusioned with the Order and is quick to call out the Jedi’s questionable priorities and allegiances. Bo-Katan is as determined as ever, and she doesn’t hesitate to treat the Jedi with contempt even as she requests their help. Rex and the clones are ecstatic to see Ahsoka and eager to follow her into battle, Anakin is torn about his responsibilities and relationships. Even smaller characters like Gar Saxon have little moments where their personalities shine through and build toward their identity we know them to eventually have. Even Maul, though very briefly on screen this episode, has an extremely in-character line about wanting to settle his business with Obi Wan. Everything felt right, and the timeline that it establishes–Ahsoka leading the siege on Mandalore as Revenge of the Sith begins–really helps flesh out the conflict and adds more weight to Ahsoka and Anakin’s final goodbye.
- Action was as good as it has ever been
After some relatively slow episodes in terms of, you know, things happening, this episode gives us not just one but two full battle scenes to enjoy. Clone Wars is at its best when it balances its action and character focuses, and this episode was an excellent example of that. Seeing the Clones and Jedi outsmart the Droid Army felt like old times. It was also great to see the showrunners fully embrace their online medium and lean a bit more into violence in the action, as we see Ahsoka dispatch and blow up several Mandalorian forces on her way to air-surfing down the planet’s surface. Not everything needs to be ultra-violent, but it was honesty a little cathartic seeing real fights after so many snail-pace episodes in the last arc.
This was my favorite episode of the season so far, and I can’t wait to see the final conflict with Maul play out as well as how much of RotS is included on screen.
