Clone Wars -- "Conspiracy" (Ep. 6.2)

-- The wise benefit from a second opinion.

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[Well, actually, considering that we're into season six, now, probably no one new is going to sign up, BUT! Hop over to The Armchair Squid for his take on the current episode.]

The Jedi have sent Tup to Kamino to find out what caused him to assassinate Jedi Master Tiplar. This is somewhat like Brer Fox throwing Brer Rabbit into the briar patch. Not that it's exactly the Kaminoans fault. Apparently, they really just don't "get" the Jedi and don't understand that "Lord" Tyrranus is a Sith and not part of the Jedi Order. And it doesn't really seem to bother them that they are taking secret orders from one "Jedi" that they must not let any of the other Jedi know about.

Or maybe they just don't care because why question the money?

At any rate, it puts the Kaminoans at cross purposes with the Jedi and, specifically, Fives.

Fives, of course, doesn't much care for anyone else's agenda if it puts Tup, his best friend, in danger, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to save Tup's life, a life the Kaminoans plan to end to cover up the fact that clones have inhibitor chips in their heads put there at the behest of the Sith.

Again, this is a great arc and one of the most significant ones in the series. You should do yourself a favor and watch it.

Also, the droid character AZ-3 is a good addition for the episode. Its relationship with Fives is interesting to watch.

One other interesting note: There are empty seats on the Jedi Council. I'm not sure if they've shown that before, but there are at least two seats empty during a consultation in this episode.


"I always wanted to have human feelings. But I do not. Goodbye."

Angels Unbound: Jhudiel (a-to-z) and Clone Wars -- "ARC Troopers" (Ep. 3.2)

Jhudiel

Jhudiel is an Archangel and in charge of rewarding those who toil, especially those who toil for spiritual labors. He holds a crown in one hand as the reward for those who faithfully fulfill their work. However, in his other hand, he holds a three-thonged whip so that he can "exhort" those who flag in their efforts to greater diligence. He is of the flaming Sacred Heart, and it can be seen burning within him at all times. It is the mercy of the Father which never goes out.

Clone Wars

-- Fighting a war tests a soldier's skills, defending his home tests a soldier's heart.

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As the previous episode directly precedes the first season episode, "Rookies," this episode comes directly after it. It makes for a good followup to "Clone Cadets" by wrapping up the dangling plot thread of 99. So, yeah, 99 gets to learn the fate of Hevy, and we get to learn the fate of 99.

The episode revolves around an attack on the planet Kamino, the clones' de facto homeworld, by General Grievous and Asajj Ventress. Of course, with those two involved, nothing is as it seems. Also, of course, Anakin, being the charging in type, completely misses it and goes for the feint. That tends to be his role. But it gives Obi-Wan a chance to work out what's really going on.

So, while the larger plot deals with the Jedi:

We have Obi-Wan facing off against Grievous. That's always a good thing and helps build toward the climax of their eventual confrontation in Revenge of the Sith.
We also have Anakin going toe-to-toe with Ventress. Also, always good. In a lot of ways, they're like Harry and Draco... you know, if Harry was eventually going to become a Sith.

The real story focuses on the clones and what it's like for them to be defending their home rather than fighting on some other world. We get a full spectrum view: young cadets cutoff from the rest of their group, fresh troopers (Fives and Echo) just returned for reassignment, seasoned veterans (Cody and Rex) who have been away for a while, and the outcast who didn't cut it as a clone trooper (99). Kamino is home, though, to all of them, and they all come together to defend her.


"Only you could be worried about the ships I already shot down."

Angels Unbound: Dumah (a-to-z) and Clone Wars -- "Clone Cadets" (Ep. 3.1)

Dumah

Having a body covered with eyes is not an uncommon thing among Angels. I don't know how often it occurs, but I've already included another of them, Uri'el, in the Shadow Spinner world. It's kind of freaky, if you ask me. Dumah is an Angel of Death, another recurring theme, and carries a fiery rod. He is the Angel of silence and the stillness of death. I like that. As quiet as the grave...

Clone Wars

-- Brothers in arms are brothers for life.

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Remember when I said these episodes were not all in order? Well, this is an example of that. "Clone Cadets" is the prequel to the season one episode "Rookies." It's an interesting story to tell considering that we already know what comes next. Bittersweet.

The five members of Domino squad do not get along and are considered jokes, at best, by everyone else. They are so bad that Shaak Ti, the Jedi onsite, is having to consider whether they will wash out of training, something, evidently, that just doesn't happen.

Shaak Ti is distressed enough by the evident failure of the squad that she talks to the Kaminoans about it, and they, in a round about way, blame the Jedi. The Jedi killed Jango Fett, their genetic source of clone material, so it's the Jedi's fault that the newer clones aren't holding up. They suggest finding a new source of genetic material or, the implication is, shut up about it.

There's an interesting character, a failed clone, called 99. He's in charge of maintenance, maintenance being where the failed clones go, apparently. 99, as is so often the case with service personnel, is able to see and hear things that probably he shouldn't be aware of. Mostly, though, he is just an outsider, an interesting perspective from one of the clones. Because of his position, though, he's able to offer valuable advice at a key moment and teach one of the clones a valuable lesson just because of the source. The whole relationship that happens there is rather touching. And, again, bittersweet, since we know what's going to happen to that trooper.

It's a good, very good, episode. It's another that explores the individuality of beings who should all be essentially the same and what can happen when the individuality is allowed to remain rather than trying to force them all into conformity.