![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Clone Wars Debriefing: "Shadow Warrior"
Oct. 1st, 2011 08:53 amIt might have seemed to have resolved rather quickly--it is 22 minutes after all--but "Shadow Warrior" packed a lot, combining comedy and tragedy.
For all of the times, especially in the first season, that the show seems to hang a banner saying, "Here's our homage to Eps IV-VI" this one recalls the Naboo scenes from TPM so well, you'd almost think Kyle Newman wrote it.
The show begins with the alliance Padmé had forged between the Gungans and the human Naboo on the brink of falling apart. Padmé arrives on Naboo with her "Jedi bodyguard" Anakin (of course) to straighten it all out before the Gungans march alongside the Separatists on the Naboo. Jar Jar takes them down to Otoh Gunga where they happen to catch a speech by the Gungan leader, a different guy from Boss Nass. He's blathering on about how much the Naboo suck while his obviously evil looking shaman Rish Lu--there's even a big bone shoved through his nose--stands next to him approvingly. Anakin figures out the Boss (not to be confused with Bruce Springsteen) sounds like he's stoned; once he uses the Force to snatch off the necklace, the leader is fine. But Rish Lu (like Cardinal Richelieu, get it?) stabs the leader and puts him in the hospital. Since Anakin has seen "Kagemusha" and Jar Jar strongly resembles the leader, he suggests Jar Jar disguise himself as the leader and stop the Separatists. Jar Jar gets more than he bargained for, having to sit there and negotiate with General Grievous.
The Gungans, who now know they've been manipulated, fight Grievous and get the best of him. But not without it costing the life of General Tarpals, another movie character killed off on the show. Count Dooku dials up Darth Sidious and asks him what to do. Sidious suggests that they trap Anakin and use him to bargain for Grievous. Sidious knows it will totally work and it does. Dooku thanks Rish Lu for his efforts by killing him off and proceeds to fight Anakin with several Magna Guards. I fully expect a future cut of ROTS to have the altered line, "My powers have doubled since the last time we met, Count. Last Thursday." Still the duel was great and once again, Dooku offers the truth that the Sith have controlled everything since TPM. And that's followed up by more torture!
Padmé is tested and once again she tries to put duty even above her own feelings but Sidious's instincts are right and it doesn't take much arm-twisting from Jar Jar and the Gungan leader to agree to the prisoner exchange. One of the show's rules is that Anakin and Grievious cannot meet. Notice Anakin is unconscious and he's carried face down while Grievous's head is in a force field, so Dave Filoni won't have to go into hiding for contradicting canon.
The animation continues to amaze, capturing the visuals of TPM beautifully. Music from the film is used to great effect. Tarpals's sacrifice was a terrific scene even though I was pretty sad to see him go. I liked Tarpals in TPM. But I absolutely loved the comedy of errors during Jar Jar's negotiations with Grievous. Say what you want about the klutzy Gungan, he's a great b.s.-er.
Anakin and Padmé shippers will enjoy this episode too even though they're in the presence of others much of the time, putting the damper on pure mush. It's a miracle those twins were ever conceived.
Next week: Artoo and Threepio in "Gulliver's Travels"
Oh and stay off of TFN's Clone Wars discussion board. It's completely overrun by people who hate the show.
For all of the times, especially in the first season, that the show seems to hang a banner saying, "Here's our homage to Eps IV-VI" this one recalls the Naboo scenes from TPM so well, you'd almost think Kyle Newman wrote it.
The show begins with the alliance Padmé had forged between the Gungans and the human Naboo on the brink of falling apart. Padmé arrives on Naboo with her "Jedi bodyguard" Anakin (of course) to straighten it all out before the Gungans march alongside the Separatists on the Naboo. Jar Jar takes them down to Otoh Gunga where they happen to catch a speech by the Gungan leader, a different guy from Boss Nass. He's blathering on about how much the Naboo suck while his obviously evil looking shaman Rish Lu--there's even a big bone shoved through his nose--stands next to him approvingly. Anakin figures out the Boss (not to be confused with Bruce Springsteen) sounds like he's stoned; once he uses the Force to snatch off the necklace, the leader is fine. But Rish Lu (like Cardinal Richelieu, get it?) stabs the leader and puts him in the hospital. Since Anakin has seen "Kagemusha" and Jar Jar strongly resembles the leader, he suggests Jar Jar disguise himself as the leader and stop the Separatists. Jar Jar gets more than he bargained for, having to sit there and negotiate with General Grievous.
The Gungans, who now know they've been manipulated, fight Grievous and get the best of him. But not without it costing the life of General Tarpals, another movie character killed off on the show. Count Dooku dials up Darth Sidious and asks him what to do. Sidious suggests that they trap Anakin and use him to bargain for Grievous. Sidious knows it will totally work and it does. Dooku thanks Rish Lu for his efforts by killing him off and proceeds to fight Anakin with several Magna Guards. I fully expect a future cut of ROTS to have the altered line, "My powers have doubled since the last time we met, Count. Last Thursday." Still the duel was great and once again, Dooku offers the truth that the Sith have controlled everything since TPM. And that's followed up by more torture!
Padmé is tested and once again she tries to put duty even above her own feelings but Sidious's instincts are right and it doesn't take much arm-twisting from Jar Jar and the Gungan leader to agree to the prisoner exchange. One of the show's rules is that Anakin and Grievious cannot meet. Notice Anakin is unconscious and he's carried face down while Grievous's head is in a force field, so Dave Filoni won't have to go into hiding for contradicting canon.
The animation continues to amaze, capturing the visuals of TPM beautifully. Music from the film is used to great effect. Tarpals's sacrifice was a terrific scene even though I was pretty sad to see him go. I liked Tarpals in TPM. But I absolutely loved the comedy of errors during Jar Jar's negotiations with Grievous. Say what you want about the klutzy Gungan, he's a great b.s.-er.
Anakin and Padmé shippers will enjoy this episode too even though they're in the presence of others much of the time, putting the damper on pure mush. It's a miracle those twins were ever conceived.
Next week: Artoo and Threepio in "Gulliver's Travels"
Oh and stay off of TFN's Clone Wars discussion board. It's completely overrun by people who hate the show.
