Carnage of Krell is the aptly titled finale to the Umbara Saga, that will have you on the edge of your seat until the final credit's roll. This is the best episode of the entire series. Yes, we have said that about every episode in this story arc, which is an indication of just how good this story is.
This episode picks up just moments after the conclusion of Plan Of Dissent. Krell has ordered Fives & Jesse to be court marshaled for disobeying his direct orders, regardless of the fact that their action resulted in the destruction of a Separatist supply ship that was supporting the Umbaran Capitol. Rex, once again tries to convince the General to reconsider. Krell does, just not the way Rex had intended. Krell decides that instead of a drawn out court martial proceeding, the execution of Fives & Jesse will more directly impress upon the other clones, that HE is in control.
Rex organizes a firing squad, lead by Dogma. As the condemned are lead to their execution, Five's tries one last time to convince Rex that Krell has just been using him to control the other clones. When Fives & Jesse are lined up for their execution and the firing squad is preparing to fire, Fives calls out one last time and pleads with his clone brethren. Their blaster rifles pointed right at him.
"Wait! This is wrong, and we all know it! The General is making a mistake and he needs to be called on it. No clone should have to go out this way! We are loyal soldiers, we follow orders but we are NOT a bunch of unthinking DROIDS! We are MEN! We must be trusted to make the right decisions. Especially, when the orders we have been given are WRONG..."
Dogma cuts him off, and shouts the order, FIRE! The firing squad follows their orders without hesitation... but when the smoke clears. It is revealed that every clone on the firing squad deliberately missed their mark. Fives and Jesse are surprised and bewildered but alive. Outraged by this traitorous act, clone trooper Dogma insists that they must follow their orders. To which Captain Rex coolly replies. "Good luck finding anybody to do it."
As Rex and Dogma report the failed execution to Krell, they are interrupted by a transmission from one of General Kenobi's squad leaders. He reports that a squad of Umbaran's have broken past their perimeter and stolen Clone armor and equipment. Krell, disgusted with Rex, orders he and his men to intercept the Umbaran's and protect the airbase at all costs. The clones of the 501st immediately encounter heavy fire. Although who is firing at them isn't clear at first, they quickly spot what they believe to be Umbaran insurgents in Clone armor. The fire fight intensifies, but Captain Rex suddenly notices that something is terribly wrong.
Rex, takes a helmet off one of the enemy combatants to reveal a CLONE! Filled with horror, Rex runs through his own ranks shouting to his men, that the enemy isn't their enemy at all! He runs head long towards the advancing clones waiving his arms, "They're Clones!!!" Once the fire fight ended and the smoke clears, Rex finds the squad leader... It's Waxer! Rex ask's his dying comrade who gave the order to fire on them. Waxer tells him that Krell had ordered them to attack the 501st, saying that THEY had been infiltrated.
Suddenly Rex realized, Jedi General Pong Krell is worse than crazy. He is a traitor! The combined forces trek out of the jungle and towards the airbase to arrest Krell. Unfortunately, Krell will not go easily. Once the Jedi jumps into action he tears apart the clones and escapes into the Jungle. As they move to intercept, Dogma threatens to stop them, in a last ditch effort to conform to his flawed orders. Unable to fire upon his clone brothers, he stands down, and Rex has him arrested.
Once again, The clones comb the jungle for their Jedi adversary. Krell taunts them through the tall brush and when he does attack, rips apart the clone lines with a blur of blue and green light sabers. Finally certain that he has the remainder of the clones on the run, Krell runs into a Sarlaac that tries to have him for a snack. The clones had lured Krell to this spot completely without his knowledge. As he finally wrestles free of the creature while also deflecting blaster fire. He struggles to his feet just as he stunned into unconsciousness.
Once inside the holding cell, Krell reveals that he is no longer naive enough to follow the Jedi way. He admits to being an acolyte of Count Dooku, though never actually admits to being in league with him. He promises that once the Umbaran's retake the base, that he will hand over control of Umbara to the Separatists! While all this has transpired, the airbase continues take heavy fire from attacking Umbaran's. Realizing that he cannot allow Krell to simply give the Separatists everything that his clones have fought and died for, He decides that Krell must die.
It is not a stretch to say that The Umbara Saga is the best story arc of Star Wars: The Clone Wars so far. A cinematic epic that unfolded on the small screen, The Umbara Saga is unlike anything else in the Star Wars cannon. the only well known characters in this story arc were Clones. Captain Rex and ARC Trooper Fives were the only characters that the audience had any history with, and Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker were reduced to cameo roles. The battle carnage was real compared to the clone versus droid action we have become accustomed to. The Umbaran's were flesh and blood humanoids that didn't say silly things when they died. It was tragic. It was tense. It was amazing.
Most importantly, The clones became so much more that just disposable characters. They became more endearing, and dangerous. As audience members, we hated Krell just as much as the clones did. We had an emotional connection to these Clones and we were emotionally effected when some of our favorites paid the ultimate price. We blamed Krell and thusly were satisfied when Krell finally paid the price. Even though it didn't quite happen they way you thought it might. Once again, Dave Filoni and the amazing crew of Star Wars: The Clone Wars have created something that is so much more than Star Wars fans could have ever asked for. Astonishing.
-Admiral Duke
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