Finally. The action and excitement of battle has returned to Star Wars: The Clone Wars. If the previous two episodes, which starred R2D2 & C3PO, were inspired by the 1980's animated series Star Wars: DROIDS then this week's episode, "Darkness On Umbara" was surely inspired by Steven Spielberg's WWII epic, Saving Private Ryan. Not the story, but certainly the action sequences.
The episode begins as many have. Jedi Master's Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker and their Clone troopers are preparing for an invasion of a Separatist held planet. Like so many times before, the invasion commences. And, that is where all semblance of previous Clone Wars episodes begins to evaporate. The invasion of Umbara is captured in an astonishing cinematic style. Never have the stakes of battle seemed so high, and never has the carnage of battle been captured in such realistic terms on the show.
As Skywalker and his troops begin to make preparations for their assault on the Capital city, Jedi Master Krell arrives with orders for Anakin Skywalker to return to Courascant. The remainder of the episode focuses on Krell and his rigid, almost hateful leadership style. Captain Rex is frustrated by the General's attitude towards clones and is torn between loyalty to his clone brethren and his duty to follow orders... No matter who they come from.
Next week, the saga of General Krell continues! Once again the episode seems to have a lot in the way of battle action, which can only be a good thing. Season 4 of The Clone Wars is proving that Filoni and crew can indeed produce a strong and entertaining show with inspiration as wide ranging as 1980's camp and Oscar winning cinema.
-Admiral Duke
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